The second time
There are only a few occasions in the bible where heaven and earth are called as witnesses. This is one of these occurrences. You can find another couple here.
Moses calls upon the heavens and the earth to be witnesses
The prophet Moses calls upon the heavens and the earth to be witnesses to his speech before God’s people will enter the promised land. The second time that the words ‘live for ever’ are mentioned in the bible is when both the heavens and the earth are called as witnesses by the prophet Moses. He says,
Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth …
Moses, just before his death, continues to address all of God’s chosen and reminds them that our God is a just God and one of truth. Moses reminds the people that God made and saved his people and led them through the wilderness despite the people being perverse and corrupt. God did so alone without any other gods beside him.
Yet the people rewarded God’s kindness by sacrificing their children unto devils and strange gods.
Moses then prophesises that God will punish the lawbreakers and those without faith and He will reward those that hate Him.
It is suggested that in the day of judgment those people call upon their gods for help and ask for their statues and images to rise up and help and protect them.
It is your life
Moses tells the people that their Maker is pretty peeved with the mediocre loyalty and faithfulness He receives in return for the fierce loyalty and protection He gives to his people always.
Moses finishes his speech and prophesy by saying that our life depends upon following God’s law and we are to tell our children to do the same.
See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me:
I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal:
neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say,
Command your children to observe to do,
all the words of this law.
For it is not a vain thing for you;
because it is your life …
This is the second time in scripture that the words ‘live for ever’ are mentioned.
all rights reserved copyright myemmanuel 2014
Freedomborn ... Aussie Christian Focus
We will continue to sin Mimi unless we put our flesh to death by the Spirit (see below) but how wonderful that Jesus has set us free from the bondage of sin so we can say no to it and if we Love God we will want to say no to sin.
Romans 8 :12-15 Therefore, brothers/ sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. or if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Colossians 3:4-6 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
Galatians 24 -26 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
2 Corinthians 7: 1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Christian Love in Unity with Jesus – Anne
Mimi
Thank you for your feedback Anne. Your interpretation is one that is commonly taught by churches. What we’ll find out as we go step by step through the scripture verses on living for ever is what God and His Son have to say about the potential of living for ever and how this lines up with the commonly taught church doctrine.
The second time ‘live for ever’ is mentioned is when heaven and earth are called to witness by God’s prophet Moses, who says that people’s disobedience will get them into big trouble. Moses tells us that God’s law ‘is our life’ and disobeying (refusing to follow the commands of) Him who ‘lives for ever’ will be our downfall.
Step-by-step, Sola Scriptura.
May you live for ever!
Mimi
Freedomborn ... Aussie Christian Focus
Mimi it seems you are in error, although what I shared is confirmed in Scripture it is not often shared today in Churches or Bible studies etc, although it was taught in the early Church.
As we know and it is also confirmed in Scripture, there is only one way we can have freedom from sin and that is through Jesus Christ, many say we will sin till we die but we are just forgiven but this is in error, when we are Born again we have God’s seed and no longer sin, we can’t we have His Nature and having the mind of Christ means we no longer choose to sin and we walk as He walked, if we don’t we are not Born again of The Spirit and have not put our flesh to death and so have not been perfected in Love, not saying we won’t be and we are forgiven until we have been, God knows those who are His.
John 8:34-36 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
1John 3: 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.
1John 3:9 No one who is Born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been Born of God.
John 8:34-36 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the Family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
1 John 2:4-6 He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the Love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.
1John 5 18-20 We know that no one who is Born of God sins; but He who was Born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.
1 John 3: 1-11 ( 6-7 ) Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.
1 John 4:17-19 Herein is our Love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in Love; but perfect Love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in Love. We Love Him, because He first Loved us.
2Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in Peace; and the God of Love and Peace shall be with you.
Christian Love in Christ Jesus – Anne
Mimi
Dear Anne, I love your choice of scripture quotes here particularly the verses in 1 John 2:4-6 ‘He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him …’ sum up and reiterate what Moses said the second time the words ‘live for ever’ appear in scripture.
So where do you think Moses was in error? I know you say that it seems that I am in error but I merely summed up a chapter with 52 verses into a few paragraphs to highlight the context of where the words ‘live for ever’ are used for the second time.
The above blog post only quotes Moses’ words, they are not my words but Moses. When you click on the blue all the scripture references are there for anyone to read for him or herself and check my summation against original scripture. I fail to see any errors, but if I made any, please point them out to me so that I can correct them.
As I said before I am very familiar with your interpretation because this is the belief that virtually every churchgoing Christian has told me about over the years and I appreciate that you share your convictions with me.
However in the above post I merely quoted the second time that the words ‘live for ever’ are mentioned in the bible.
I find it awe-inspiring that Moses called heaven and earth to witness at this particular time and think it is fair to say that Moses did so because his words mark a significant event.
God bless
Mimi
Freedomborn ... Aussie Christian Focus
I don’t doubt what Moses said Mimi but you are living under the old Covenant, we are now under the New Covenant in Christ Jesus, if we have accepted the free gift of Salvation through heart repentance and if we have we put our flesh to death and aim to be perfected in Love, and when we are Born again we don’t sin because we can’t sin, we have God’s seed or Nature and He doesn’t sin!
1John 3:9 No one who is Born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been Born of God.
Blessings – Anne
Mimi
Dear Anne, you are once more repeating what is taught in churches, which is also called antinomianism. This is just a fancy word for the belief that people are saved by faith without needing to adhere to God’s Law. Most Christians I know practice antinomianism. I am familiar with the doctrine.
On my blog however at the moment I am merely listing what the bible has to say about living forever by listing where the bible states the words ‘live for ever.’
I understand that you are happy with your convictions and belief that your view is the only valid one. Your faith is between you and God. I respect that.
I also respect God’s prophets such as Moses. For Moses to call heaven and earth to witness; he obviously had an important message to share such as, ‘do all the words of this law … because it is your life.’ As you know Anne, sinning is transgressing God’s law, 1 John 3:4.
I am relaying Moses’ message. I do not add to it nor do I subtract from it. I am sharing it.
Jesus said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them … If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.’ Luke 16:29-31
God bless
Mimi
Freedomborn ... Aussie Christian Focus
When I said you were in error Mimi, it was in regard to you saying that what I share is taught in all the Churches, in most it is not and I do not believe that we go on sinning when our flesh has been put to death, when we are perfected in Love and when we are Born again, as I already shared with you before, when we are Born again, we don’t sin but not just because we are told not to, we can’t sin because we have God’s seed or Nature not Adams, the old has gone the New has come. 1John3:9
Do you think Mimi that I’m the only one who has asked for God’s wisdom and believed I have received it so have no need to keep asking for it and that is why I don’t seek man instead of Jesus to teach me, or that I’m the only one who has also asked for the Gift not just gifts of The Holy Spirit after coming to heart repentance?
I don’t believe that I’m the only one who knows God’s Truth and like others I’m still learning, also not all that is taught in Churches is in error which I have said in some of my Posts, God tells us He even uses the foolishness of preaching and the Songs that we sing in balance and Unity when confirmed in Scripture, teach us His Truth too.
We need to fellowship and worship in the Body of Christ and so we are to find a Church that Loves God and all His Children, not partially but fully, which means they follow His guidelines and teach His Truth by the empowering of The Holy Spirit. what if we can’t find one, is there such a thing as a perfect Church, yes God’s Church is, so every Church if they Love Him should be aiming to be perfected in Love, not just programs.
Luke 11:31 King Solomon was the wisest man of his time and yet we know Jesus is greater in His wisdom, it is Eternal, when He talked about people not listening to Moses and the Prophets and so they would not believe if someone rose from the dead. He was referring to Himself many didn’t believe and still don’t or do they seek Him .
Jesus is our only Teacher and will lead us into all Truth….
Matthew 23:8-10 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in Heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. NKJV
The gift of Teaching is not about man’s fleshy worldly understanding, it is as Paul shares with us in 1Corinthians2:9-16 and so we too share what The Lord leads us to share by the empowering of the Holy Spirit but we are not the Teachers, we are under God’s Authority, not our own and what is shared is to be freely without profit .
Romans 10:4-6 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
We are under Grace until we are Born Again of God’s seed and because He knows who are His and has from Eternity, we will be Born again because we Believe in Jesus as our Lord and Saviour and because we do, we show we do.
Christian Love – Anne.
Mimi
Dear Anne, I’ve responded with regards to your comments on wisdom here, https://liveforeverhowto.wordpress.com/2014/07/04/how-many-times-is-live-for-ever-mentioned-in-the-bible/
With regards to your comments about Moses
From your comment it appears that you are dismissing Moses’ words Anne. Jesus did not add nor subtract to earlier teachings nor did he dismiss Moses’ teachings, he expounded on them.
Jesus may have been talking about himself when he said, ‘neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.’
It is also possible that Jesus was talking about the girl he raised from the dead (Luke 8:51-56) and the man on the bier (Luke 7:13-15) and his friend Lazarus (John 11:42-44). It is very possible if not likely that Jesus was indicating that some people are so blind that they won’t even believe the teachings of the Son of God, a holy person without sin, who raises the dead.
Before he made his statement, ‘neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.’ He said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them … If they hear not Moses and the prophets …
Jesus did not dismiss Moses when he said that. Quite the contrary Jesus spoke about the need for people to listen to the teachings of Moses and the prophets because Jesus’ teachings were referring to the very same teachings and Jesus explained what was meant by Moses’ teachings.
Jesus says, I do as my Father tells me to (John 14:31, John 5:19,30). Jesus didn’t make anything up himself he continuously referred to the prophets.
‘For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. (John 12:49) ‘He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked … I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. (1 John 2:6-7)
And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.’ (John 12:50)
Moses said, ‘Command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life …’
Jesus reiterated what Moses said when he said, ‘his commandment is life everlasting.’
God bless Anne
Mimi
Freedomborn ... Aussie Christian Focus
Since you are now moderating Mimi I will no longer be commenting, it shows lack of Trust.
God bless you and may you find Peace in your Life and Inner Joy in your walk with The Lord.
Christian Love Always – Anne
Mimi
Sorry to hear that Anne. The moderating only means a slight delay so that I can respond at the same time. This was meant to be seen as courteous and not in any way as you take it. None of your posts have been edited in any way.
I wish you well with all your endaveours and much happiness and joy. God bless Anne.
May you live for ever!
Mimi
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