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Craig Scott

Pastor, United Church of God

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  • Craig Scott

    What make you say our bibles are corrupted? Are you referring to intentional mis-translations or are you referring to the notion that the word of God can only be understood in its original language [i.e. Hebrew]?

  • Craig Scott
    *Felix W* I am confused by your comment. I cannot tell if you are for, or against, using the written word of God as the authoritative source of revelation. Are you proposing other sources of revelation? If so, what would those be?
  • Craig Scott
    The setting of the sun marks the transition from one day to the next. Therefore, it marks both the beginning of a day and the end of that same day. Analogy: draw a line down the middle of a sheet of paper and write LEFT on one side and RIGHT on the other. The line doesn’t belong to the left side or the right side. The line marks the separation between the 2 sides. As you have correctly noted, in Exodus 12:6 the Passover begins at sunset. That day is the 14th day of the month of Nissan. That day would END 24 hours later also at sunset. Exodus 12:18 is saying… eat only unleavened bread from the sunset that marks the end of the 14th day until the sunset that marks the end of the 21st day. Compare with Leviticus 23:6-8
  • Craig Scott
    Yes, Luther knew his bible well enough to know what it said: "I wonder exceedingly how it came to be imputed to me that I should reject the law of Ten Commandments...Whosoever abrogates the law must of necessity abrogate sin also."-MARTIN LUTHER, from Spiritual Antichrist". Yet, Luther never seemed to take that perspective and teach it clearly enough for folks to remember him by it. He went down in history as teaching the very opposite. I don't know about him coming to this conclusion later in life... by his own words he implies this was always his real position on the matter.
  • Craig Scott
    This message has a follow-up or part 2. You can find it here: https://www.ucg.org/sermons/falling-away-from-the-truth-begins
  • Craig Scott
    If you are looking for part one of this message you can find it here: https://www.ucg.org/sermons/the-rise-of-lawlessness
  • Craig Scott
    The booklet offered in the program gives lots of new testament scriptures. Especially in the chapter "Jesus Christ and the Sabbath". You can read the chapter online here: https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/booklets/sunset-to-sunset-gods-sabbath-rest/jesus-christ-and-the-sabbath [the entire booklet is also online]. Note: some people believe the commands were abolished with Jesus death on the cross and then put back in place one by one as they are mentioned in the new testament to the church. Thus, according to this thinking, any commands not reiterated in the new testament letters to the churches are not necessary for new covenant followers of God. We don't agree. However, even if one did think that the commandments needed to be reiterated in the new testament letters to be valid.... the instructions regarding the Sabbath in Hebrews 4:9 would suffice. The translators of the King James bible may have sought to obscure this key verse by rendering the word "sabbatismos" as rest. The word is better translated "a keeping of the Sabbath". That is how most modern translations now render the word in English.
  • Craig Scott
    2 Corinthians 5:8 is part of a much longer teaching [it actually starts in chapter 4] about the physical body we now have and the spiritual bodies the firstfruits receive when resurrected. The physical body God has given all humanity in the present is temporary. Our true hope is in an everlasting body composed of spirit. Beginning in 2 Corinthians 5:1 the temporary physical bodies we have are compared to living in a “tent” which is by form and function... temporary. When we die we leave this “tent” and look forward to a permanent dwelling place [or home] which is an eternal body… prepared for us by God. The firstfruits receive this eternal spirit composed body when Christ returns. After which, they will always be with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Christ is coming to rule over the kingdoms of the earth. The resurrected ones meet Christ in the air, and remain with Him as He returns to earth to rule. Back to 2 Corinthians 5:8. While we live in these temporary physical bodies we are not present or with Him. So, even though death is still scary, we can face it in confidence, faith, and hope knowing God has the power and desire to raise us up so we might be with Him eternally.
  • Craig Scott
    I believe praying in the spirit is a part of our overall development o a new mind or way of thinking. Let me elaborate: You and all other humans are spiritual creatures as well as physical. You have been given a spiritual component… we at sometimes call it the “spirit in man”. God also gives His Holy Spirit to those whom he chooses. This spirit of God, spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit is therefore in you… interacting with your spirit. The purpose? To bring about a new spiritual creation, a child of God, that will be born into His eternal family. I believe praying in the spirit is your active participation in this development of a spiritual mind 1 Corinthians 2:9-16. Click this link for more info on this site regarding the spirit in man: https://www.ucg.org/search?query=spirit%20in%20man I also have a sermon on the subject here: https://www.ucg.org/sermons/there-is-a-spirit-in-man
  • Craig Scott

    1Timothy 2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men, on behalf of kings and all those who are in authority, that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. For this is good and acceptable before God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth.

    I interpret this instruction from Paul to mean prayer for an outcome that furthers/enables/helps the work of church... to effectively tell people about God's plans for the future, and to teach others how to follow Him and how to take hold of the gift of eternal life He is offering.

  • Craig Scott
    Josh, In John 5:25-29 Jesus Christ tells us that the dead rise from the grave. You might find it helpful to read our in depth bible study guide “What Happens After Death. You can read it online here: https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/booklets/what-happens-after-death Also, the word paradise [paradisos] is an Oriental word meaning a type of idyllic park, a garden of Eden, a place of future happiness on earth. The word paradisos is only used in three places in the NT, Luke 23:39-43, Revelation 2:7, and 2 Corinthians 12:4. Here’s a message I gave in the past year which includes an explanation of the use of the word paradise [paradiso] in the scriptures cited above: https://www.ucg.org/sermons/did-jesus-promise-a-dying-thief-a-free-ticket-to-heaven In short the use of the word paradisos in scripture is a foreshadow of the glorious future when God makes His dwelling place among humanity on a renewed planet earth which you can reference in Revelation 21:1-4.
  • Craig Scott
    Towards the end of this message I got away from my notes and cited John 7:37 as a reference to the "last great day" or the "eighth day" which comes after the 7 days of the feast. Correction: our understanding is that the reference in John 7:37 is to the last or 7th day of the Feast of Tabernacles. Sorry for the error.
  • Craig Scott
    @yframe - Good point! As you say there is a world of difference between mere information (data) and knowledge (understanding)… and putting what you know into practice is indeed the proof that you “know”. There is a good scriptural reference that echoes the point you are making, James 1:22 “be a person who acts upon the information they receive, not just a listener” (my paraphrase).