With THE WORD and a word for the Day: Calumniate

...perhaps one of the most asked, and concerning, questions about the Bible is : What is the "unpardonable" sin- e.g. "blasphemy against the Holy Spirit."

The Greek word translated "blasphemy" in Mark3:29 is βλασφημέω / blasphēmeō [G987]. This Grk word means to calumniate the character of another. What does "calumniate" mean? I'm glad you were wondering so that I could tell you...

Calumniate basically means to damage the reputation of another. [How many know that one's actions{not just words} can often result in the defamation of an entire corporation?]
In reference to blasphemy of/calumniating the Holy Spirit, this is when a professing born-again follower of Christ [and "partaker of the Holy Spirit"{cf. Heb6:4}]  premeditates and knowingly commits sin despite having conviction from the Holy Spirit against that sin. Such behavior is not only an offense to the Holy Spirit{Eph4:30}; but also, is defamatory of the Christian-walk which is guided by the Holy Spirit. [Someone may ask: "How is it defamatory if no one knows about it?" -Well, "the eyes of the Lord are in every place..."{Pro15:3} ...and He's the main Witness all should be concerned about since it's His Spirit we are calumniating.] How do I justify such an emphatic statement concerning the presumed scriptural-ly elusive: "unpardonable sin?"

Some suggest that "the unpardonable sin" nowhere dictated in the Scriptures... ...but let's first talk about the word "nowhere." I'm sure most have been given a word puzzle in which you were told to construct a word list making as many words as you can from the word "____." Well, I'm going to address just two words extracted from "nowhere."
Obviously, we all know that "no-where" means not to be found anywhere... ...but is it true that the "unpardonable sin" is no-where to be found explained in the Scriptures? -Or is the answer NOW-HERE: In the chapters of Heb6:4-6 and Heb10:26-31 we are given a clear and decisive occasion for which sin would be "unpardonable:"
} Hebrews 6:4-6
Heb 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

} Hebrews 10:26-31
Heb 10:26  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Heb 10:28  He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Heb 10:29  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
Heb 10:30  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
Heb 10:31  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

...so let's sum it up: Jesus informs us that blaspheming the Holy Spirit is unpardonable; Heb6:4-6 and Heb10:26-31 informs us that it is unpardonable to sin with premeditated knowledge of that sin... ...thus "blasphemy of the Holy Spirit" aka "the unpardonable sin" is to calumniate the Holy Spirit through sin(s) of commission.

Suffice to say, if you have confessed all known sins{the Holy Spirit will reveal it} and genuinely repented of those sins, then according to 1John1:9, God is "*just*"{meaning that He will discern whether one has genuinely repented} and we can trust that, if our repentance is genuine, He will "forgive us and **cleanse us of all unrighteousness.**" So, if you know, through the Holy Spirit, that *right now* you have confessed and repented of all sins for which the Holy Spirit has convicted you -then *right now* you are "cleansed of ALL unrighteousness" and therefore not [/no longer] guilty of "the unpardonable sin." If while reading this the Holy Spirit convicts you of any sin then confess and genuinely repent right now to receive forgiveness and cleansing... ...then follow Jesus' advice: "You are to no longer continue in sin"{cf. John5:14/John8:11}.

-------------------------------------------------------
cf. Calumniate-  http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calumniate

All The Days Of Our Lives: From Loath To Love

Has the passing of each hour of the day become an occasion for loathing..? ...do any find that joy is as fleeting as water through a sieve..? There is a remedy-

Begin by examining yourselves{rf. 2Cor13:5}; discern, at this moment, whether or not everything you have said, done, and/or thought has been done in a manner which could be characterized as honoring and having reverence for God{rf. 1Cor10:31}.
To discern correctly, we must first establish what is the acceptable standard. The ONLY standard by which we may test and discern the genuine-ness of our profession of faith in Jesus Christ is by that standard which God's Son, Jesus Christ, set for us{rf. 1John2:6}.
Furthermore, within the words in red{i.e. Red-letter Editions}, we discover that Jesus expressly instructed and authorized His Apostles to speak and teach on His behalf{rf. Luke10:16}; meaning that the writings penned by His Apostles which appear outside of the Gospels{i.e. Letters and Epistles} are as authoritative as Christ's own words for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, and for training in righteousness{rf. 2Tim3:16}.

[So then, having established that the whole of the New Testament has the authority of Jesus Christ upon it, let's continue-]
Within the NT Scriptures we are expressly and explicitly given the standards which God, through Christ and the Apostles, has established. Some examples of those standards can be found in 1Corinthians13 where we are taught what things are essential in all human relations; in 1Corinthians7 we discover the blueprint for successful and God-honoring marriages; in Galatians5 we are given criteria by which we may discern between the works of the flesh and the fruits of the spirit...

Now, what all this brings us back to is this- Examine yourselves!

Do you want to love life and enjoy every minute of it? Then take to heart the message of this devotional and ponder it along with these inspired words from Peter:

1Peter3:10-11
10 For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, 11 and he must turn away from evil and do what is good. He must seek peace and pursue it,..

...are there resentments in any one's heart{rf. Matt6:14-15,18:21-35/Heb12:15}; are there foul words or critically harsh words spoken{rf. Eph4:29/Col3:8/Matt12:34-37}; does your entertainment consist of things which God abhors{rf. Col3:17(NLT)/Ps101:3/Job31:1/Matt5:8}...? ...TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO WHAT IS GOOD!{rf. 1Thess5:22/1Peter3:11}... ...confess and repent of such things and God can be trusted to be faithful and just in forgiving you and cleansing you of all such things{rf. 1John1:9}; from this point on diligently strive to imitate Jesus in all you think, do, and say{rf. 1John2:6/Eph5:1} -then you will begin loving all the days of your life! 

REFUTATION OF KJV ONLY-ISM

The KJV, like other translations, is a VERSION{*note the "V" in kj-V} of the scribal copied autographs which God has preserved for millenia. A scholarly study of these autographs, using Textual Criticism coupled with Lexical Semantics; thus understood in their in their original form and language(i.e. Aramaic, Hebrew, and Greek); reveals that the essential differences between most *English* translated VERSIONS and the autographs amount to the semantical difference between the words "dog" and "canine." For instance: James2:3 KJV- 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the >gay< clothing, HCSB- 3 If you look with favor on the man wearing the >fine< clothes ...the Greek word translated both "gay" in the KJV and "fine" in versions such as ESV and HCSB is: λαμπρός / lampros [G2986]. Note the literal meaning as presented in Thayer's Greek Lexicon: Thayer Definition: 1) shining 1a) brilliant 1b) clear, transparent 2) splendid, magnificent 2a) splendid things, i.e. luxuries or elegancies in dress or style ...now then, in today's social economy, which translation do any of you think represents the literal "thought" which James intended to convey: "gay" clothing or "fine/splendid" clothing? [Just a short "FYI:" Versions of Scripture are classified as "Formal Equivalent"{e.g. "Word for Word rendering (ex. KJV, ESV)}; "Dynamic Equivalent"{e.g. "Thought for Thought" rendering (ex. NLT, NIV)}; “Paraphrased”{(ex.The Message, The Amplified Bible)}; and a more modern approach: "Optimal Equivalent"{e.g. the combination of F.E. and D.E. to attempt optimal conveyance(ex. HCSB)}. As stated previously, the differences between these VERSIONS in what is TAUGHT within Scripture is essentially negligible at most.] Also NECESSARY to consider is that meanings of words from the KJV era have changed over the centuries. Take for instance Gen1:28. In Gen1:28 Adam and Eve were commanded to be fruitful and "replenish"[KJV] the Earth. In our modern dictionaries, "replenish" means "to fill *again.*" However, in the KJV era, "replinish" simply meant- "to fill/complete." Most unabridged dictionaries still contain this original definition and Webster's Dictionary of English Words[c. 1828] contains only the original definition[ http://www.webstersdictionary1828.com/... ]. So, when the NLT reads "Fill the Earth..." -it is ESSENTIALLY [or more accurately stated "Dynamically"] equivalent to the KJV "...replinish the Earth." Quarrels over VERSIONS sincerely detract from the goal of Scriptures in WHATEVER language they may be translated into... [question- are Scriptures translated today from **the autographs** into foreign languages less authoritative than foreign versions translated from the KJV?]; ...which said goal is to reveal God and His will for mankind through His Son... ...virtually all versions I have read and compared have this common goal and achieve it! KJOnly-ist are similar to the Pharisees in this one respect... ...the insistence on KJV-only against all other *versions* of Scripture works to prevent some others from coming to an understanding of the Scriptures [and entering God’s kingdom] which even some KJOnly-ist fail to comprehend themselves. Christianity is not about translations brothers and sisters -it's about **genuine** LOVE FOR GOD! ...and my ESV, KJV, HCSB, NLT, NASB, NKJV, NASB, NKJV, NIV,.. **each one** **clearly and equivalently** teach me what "love for God" is [and personally, I think the NLT; pertaining to this particular verse; captures the *purest* and clearest essence of what the Holy Spirit intended to convey through John]: 1John5:3- ESV--> 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. KJV--> 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. HCSB--> 3 For this is what love for God is: to keep His commands. Now His commands are not a burden, NLT--> 3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. NASB--> 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. NKJV--> 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. NIV--> 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome

"...And this is what was preached to you as the Gospel" -1Peter1:25

Since "the Gospel of Christ" is the "power of God unto salvation..." ...it is paramount that we comprehend precisely and thoroughly what the "gospel" is, according to the Apostles of Jesus Christ, if we are to be saved by its power -right?
Now, I will not use many words here, but I will direct your attention to a chapter of Scripture; 1Peter chapter1; which will take about 3 to 5 minutes to read. Be sure to read the entire chapter and I want you to specifically note the latter of vs25:
--> "...and this is the word that was preached as the Gospel to you." [HCSB]

[...assuming you have read the chapter -yes? Then please continue]
So essentially and apparently, Peter set about to sum the Gospel within the first chapter of his epistle. Will you reflect with me, now, upon a few points of this "good news" summarized by Peter in 1Peter1; which is RARELY presented nowadays as part of the "Gospel?" -a few points which, if/when, ignored render the "Gospel" *incomplete* and thus "the power unto salvation" effectually impotent?

[Taken from HCSB]
vs13 "...get your minds ready for action, being self-disciplined..."
vs14-15 "As obedient children... (15) "...as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in ALL your conduct..."
vs17 "...you are to conduct yourselves in reverence..."
vs22 "By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves... (or, "Having purified yourselves by/through obedience to the truth.)

Please keep in mind that 1Peter ch1 represents only a summary... ...obviously the Gospel consists of more than just what is summed in 1Peter1... ...but within this passage it is inarguably dictated that the biblically prescribed Gospel consists of a call to holiness... ...the whole of the NT presents holiness as an ACTION -i.e. vss15,16 "...BE(*action* verb) holy"... ...Jesus wasn't "just" holy, Jesus *DID* holy... ...and "if we claim to be Christian then we will pursue diligently the imitation of Christ"(1John2:6 paraphrased).

My closing thought, "salvation" is not merely a "moment of conversion" and/or moment of baptism event... ...we are expressly and explicitly told in 1Peter1:5 that "THROUGH FAITH" God is "protecting us{e.g. as a mother hen guards her chicks} *until salvation is revealed on the last day*." In ch1{vs17}, and as we continue through the Epistle of 1Peter, we are admonished to persist in the pursuit of holiness with reverence toward God THROUGHOUT our mortal lifespan.

Please understand, that nothing expressed here suggests that what we do procures our salvation; nowhere have I conveyed a "works-based" salvation nor legalism... ...allow me to present a word-picture describing salvation as conveyed by Eph2:8,9{and Scripture in general}:

Picture a motorists who has just received a speeding ticket for doing 75 in a 55... ...his court date is set for 6weeks later. During this time, the motorist obeyed all traffic laws... ...at his court appearance, despite all his obedience, the motorists was still declared guilty for his speeding... ...understand, then, that no amount of obedience cancels out even a single act of disobedience{e.g. "all have sinned"}... ...thus, there is nothing we can do to rescind any of our crime(s) and therefore we stand as guilty regardless of ANY amount of "good"... ...the only way to have our record wiped clean is by the order of the Judge... ...we owe for the penalty of our crime(s); but Jesus [the Judge's Son] settled that debt for us... ...thus, on account of WHAT JESUS DID, God declared that, through faith{*see Addendum} in His Son, He would "forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness"{cp. 1John1:9}. So you see, then, we are not saved by our own deeds but by the *Judge's* gracious decision on account of *His Son's self-less sacrifice on our behalf*{"...for you are saved by grace"}... ...so then, apart from Jesus' sacrifice and God's grace, salvation could not be possible regardless of ANY amount of obedience. Interesting to note, so many excise vs10 from Eph2:8-9; yet, when verse10 is "the cherry on top" of what Paul sought to convey with vss8-9:
"For we are His creation- created in Christ Jesus FOR GOOD WORKS, which God prepared ahead of time so that WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM.
...in other words, and enjoined with vss8-9; "You are saved by God's grace and not your own works for which one may boast; indeed, God created us for doing good works [inferred: "What boasting is there in doing what we are SUPPOSED to be doing?" You see, Jesus taught that after having done ALL, we should humbly accept and acknowledge that we've been unprofitable servants because we've merely done that which was our duty to perform{Luke17:10]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Addendum: "Faith" is biblically defined as: -trust in God's word{e.g. as immutable truth}; -dependence upon God's work/providence; and -obedience to God; rf. Hebrews11 and James2:14-26;.. ...outcrops of faith include repentance from, and godly remorse for, sins{cp. Mark1:15/Acts17:30/2Cor7:20

Yes, A Christian Can Have A Nervous Breakdown-

Yes, A Christian Can Have a Nervous Breakdown-

I became a Christian shortly after I married at the age of 21… …skipping ahead 5yrs… …I was extremely athletic and strong in the word of God and witnessed and ministered to co-workers. Many would come to me for advice… …so my Christian integrity was well established among many. On Oct31, 1998… …at the age of 26 all that I was accustomed to was stripped away suddenly and swiftly…

I was training a guy on forklift… …after he lowered the pallet in place, he accidently bumped the rack with the forklift and the pallet right over me fell between its support causing all the frozen product{I worked in a freezer factory} to drop down on top of me. To imagine the impact… …there were 50 boxes weighing 25lbs each stacked and wrapped together… …and they all came down on me at once from 6ft over-head{10ft if you combine the stack height}… …yep, if you did the math, that’s 1250lbs! The force of impact was (I imagine) like getting hit by a flat-faced bus going 35mph. I’m going to move fast from here because I’m moving toward my emotional breakdown and my direct encounter with my Heavenly Father…

…Worker’s Comp was a nightmare. The case manager, [not even a medical professional], inserted in my record that I was a SUSPECTED narcotic abuser because I ASKED for strong pain medication… …[also, my boss doctored-up the actual accident stating that the pallet did NOT land on me but knocked me to the side as I dove away and merely twisted my back… …let me revisit that accident real quick…

The pallet fell at such speed I only had time to throw my hands up and pray… …the impact lifted me off my feet and carried me IN THE AIR downward and 10ft away on the opposite side of the aisle… …600-800lbs remained wrapped and upon my lap crushing my upper body into the pallet of product that was behind my back… …the pallet I was smashed against was not sitting flush on its support; so my BACK was pressed against the pallet while my HIP was slightly shifted under the pallet and against the rack itself… …so, my hip was slightly dislocated… …yep; a BIG OUCH!!! After the medics arrived and placed me on the stretcher [still in an “L” position] I was told that I had to lay flat. I told the medic that I could not move backward; I was stuck!... ….he then placed one hand on my chest and one hand on my lap and [NO “1-2-3”] he just “SNAP” –that was the LOUD sound that even my co-workers whom witnessed the accident heard as I fell to the pallet flat… …so YEEEAAAYA!!! I WAS IN PAIN… …but despite the witnesses accounts my boss doctored-up the report because the company was already in deep trouble with OSHA… ...just to let you know… …after SEVERAL months of following the Worker’s Comp regimen –and being told that if I went to my own doctor then it would not be covered- I went to my own doctor anyway; and he sent me to the right specialist and got the right tests done… …after a few months of seeing the right SPECIALISTS{W/C only sent me to a Physical Therapist :/ }… …turned out that I had a suspected spinal cord stretch injury in my neck and low back{remember the dislocated hip?}, spinal cord contusions, significant soft-tissue damage involving nerves and muscles, whiplash injury, and multiple fractures to my lumbar{lower back} facet joints{joints which allow bending and twisting}… …so yeah, I was asking for some pain relief! [Presently, I have been medically disqualified from the workforce and drawing Soc. Security Disability due to chronic pain which on many days restricts most activities. Thankfully, I am now on an adequate pain-management program prescribed by my physician that allows me to maintain a limited but satisfactory lifestyle.]

Moving along… …over the course of about a year after the accident… …not only had ALL my athletic abilities been stripped from me at once, leaving me physically limited… …but my dignity, too, was trashed as Worker Comp doctor after Worker Comp doctor told me that in their opinion I was just faking and lying; insisting that my account of the accident just isn’t possible. My boss knew the truth… ...yet he lied in the accident report and that was what the doctors and W/C were going on... …my boss told me, himself, that he had never seen anybody come out from what happened to me still being able to stand on two feet [I was injured on Saturday and walked (actually slowly ambulated with extreme pain) into work Monday with my doctor’s note]… …upon seeing me on my feet EVERY co-worker in the lobby gasps in amazement… …and some verbally acknowledged that I was definitely the genuine article (pertaining to my faith)… …my boss said that he had seen three other incidents in his career like what happened to me… …two were killed and the other was confined permanently to wheel chair … …he then expressed how “lucky” I was… …I responded, “’luck’ has nothing to do with it; the Bible says: ‘Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name’”{Ps91:14}… …yet, despite knowing the truth, my boss still lied in the accident report.

…anyway, going back to the period of the Worker’s Comp nightmare. –Because we were involved in litigation against Worker’s Comp, I was receiving ZERO income… [Addendum: We were without income for three years total until I received my W/C settlement and after that ran out it was over 5yrs{8yrs total in waiting} before my Disability was approved… ...each month we saw God miraculously provide for our needs]… …I applied for Unemployment benefits shortly after BEING FIRED; I’m going to skip these details for time's sake; but even though the Unemployment Commission ruled in my favor, I was still denied benefits on account of being unfit for work… …one of the conditions for Unemployment is that you have to be “ABLE, available, and looking for work…” …anyway, not only was income nonexistent, month after month I was racked in pain because the doctors I was sent to by W/C refused to prescribe adequate pain medication … …not only were my exceptional physical capabilities stripped from me… …I could no longer provide for my family… …with zero income we were forced to sell everything of value to meet bills (when we could not find charitable help)… …as our material possessions dwindled, and help was scarce, I wondered how we were going to make the next month’s bills… …one day I just “snapped”… …I couldn’t take it… ...I went to the end-room of our trailor and laid with my face on the floor and wept bitterly and cried with tears of anguish out to my Father as I shook all over from this nervous breakdown… …what happen next may be unbelievable by some… …but it is true… …God spoke to me{if any doesn’t believe this could happen rf. Ps120:1/John10:27}… …while my face was flat to the floor; the room became gloriously bright -and strangely the light seemed to embrace me and warm me… …all my pain vanished for a moment… …I dared not to lift my face… …here is what was said to me; the “{}” are inserted for Bible verse referencing purposes...
[God:] I am with you{cp. Matt28:20}… …the things you are going through were appointed for you{Job23:14}… …I love you; so know that everything I allow in your life is motivated by love because I am love{1John4:8}… …everything has been designed to work together to bring about what is best for you{Rom8:28}... …I will never allow you to suffer beyond what you are capable of tolerating{1Cor13:10b}…”
[Here, God only spoke a portion of 1Cor13:10; I felt within my spirit that He was testing my faith; just as Jesus also had tested the faith of the Samaritan woman{cp. Mark7:27-29}; so I responded…
[Me:] (though I was fearful to speak in the presence of God, I knew I was in my Father’s presence and that He seemed to desire me to respond- so I said) “…then please Lord, ‘through this suffering… …grant me an escape that I may be able to tolerate this suffering{1Cor13:10c}.”

It seemed to me that God was pleased with my response after the light vanished… …and my spirit within was calmed with a surety that is inexplicable- a peace that passes all understanding{Philippians4:7}… …though my pain returned and the reality of “this world’s troubles” returned… …I was comforted and assured that my Father was/is in control of everything. The very next day I received in the mail a free subscription to “the Voice of the Martyrs” magazine. I had forgotten that I had requested this subscription weeks before. As I read its pages, my sufferings… …my cross… became pocket-sized compared to the sufferings of my brothers and sisters in various countries… …as I lifted each brother and sister up to God in intercession, my troubles [and pain] became somewhat trivial in comparison… …”How could I break-down over these light sufferings when my sisters brethren are experiencing 10 times the suffering?”… …as I prayed for my brethren and read about their faith; I also grew in my own faith… …God had provided the “escape so that I could bear my sufferings.”

In closing, I would like to leave you with this short story that inspired me long ago:

A man was taken in a vision to God’s heaven… there he spoke with Jesus, “Lord, my cross is too difficult to bear.” Jesus then took him to stand in front of two doors; “These are the “Cross Closets” in which one may discard their cross in one and chose another cross in the other.” The man entered the first closet and discarded his cross and exited. Jesus opened the door for the next closet for the man to enter… …inside he saw crosses of varying sizes most of which were larger than he remembered his cross being and some of enormous stature… …he then glimpse a small cross in the corner that was smaller than any other… …he then said within himself, “That’s the one I want...” and he carried it out exiting the closet joyful over having found the smallest cross. As Jesus closed the door behind the man, with love Jesus said, “My child, that is the one you just discarded.”

I encourage any and all to request a free subscription to “The Voice Of The Martyrs” at www.persecution.com and also the free book titled “Tortured For Christ”{see also www.torturedforchrist.com}. You will never think that anything you face is too big when you read about what God has helped, and is helping, others to overcome and tolerate… …truly we have small problems and a BIG God.

From God To All Whom Are Suffering

Consider my servant Job... I once told him: "I perform the thing which I have appointed for you..." This is recorded in Job23:14. You see, nothing,.. and I mean NOTHING, can happen to you that has not been FIRST filtered through My approval so long as you abide in my hand. In the Scriptures, in 1John4:8, it testifies of me that "God is love..." ...I am the very embodiment of love... ...therefore you can rest assured that EVERYTHING that happens to you, so long as you are abiding in my hand, is birthed in love and is done or ALLOWED *only* so that you will benefit in some way. I give you this promise which is also recorded in 1Cor10:13--> "I will never allow you to suffer above what you can tolerate but will with any suffering you endure create a way to alleviate that suffering so that you can bear it." Remember this, though you cannot fathom any benefit from your present suffering... so long as you abide in my hand, everything said here stands true... and I promise, as it is recorded in Rom8:28, that ALL THINGS will *work together for good*... ...so long as you abide in my hand.
----------------------------------------------------
There is a resounding message in those improvised words above which were composed strictly from the words of God contained in Scripture [and from a personal "encounter" with God during a time of tremendous suffering I, myself, went through]. Those "whom abide in Him" are the ones whom can claim all His promises and benefits contained in Scripture. It only makes sense doesn't it? So long as you remain in a shelter you are are protected from the outside elements -right? For instance, if you abandon that shelter, even for a moment, during a strong electrical storm, you cannot benefit from that shelter so long as you are not abiding within it.
Read about "abiding in Him" and what happens if we don't abide in Him:
-->1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.2Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.6If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. -John15 (ESV)

So the big question to be answered is: "What does it mean- 'abide/remain in Him'"? That question is answered by John in 1John2:6
--> 6whoever says he abides in him{Jesus} ought to walk in the same way in which he{Jesus} walked.

Note in John10 the place of Sanctuary...
27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of **my hand.** 29My Father, who has given them to me,is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the **Father’s hand.**
...it is "in His hand" that Christians find a place of sanctuary and providence. Jesus, in John10, gives the analogy of sheep FOLLOWING their Shepherd. This analogy -e.g. "following"- conveys the identical message of "abiding"{John15:1-7}. To sum, it is those whom FOLLOW Jesus... them whom ABIDE (in His hand)... both of these analogies symbolically representative of a life dedicated to loving and imitating Jesus{cp. 1John2:6}... whom benefit from all God's promises contained in Scripture.
Consider for a moment, shall one find any indulgences of sin in God's hand? -Or must one abandon his Hand to find and/or participate in sin? Can one benefit from a shelter which one has abandoned -irrespective of duration- and no longer abides?
 There is a TREMENDOUS amount of comfort and incomprehensible peace abiding in His hand{cp. Philippians4:7}... if you are currently suffering and are not presently abiding in His hand... then know this: His hand is ALWAYS open!

Six Equals Six

[To those whom reject the literalness of "day" in Gen1]
How many days was Jonah in the belly of the “big fish?” Was it three years,.. three thousand years, maybe,..  or was it three literal 24hr/day periods of time? If you say three literal days; I’m compelled to challenge that interpretation since the challenge is made against the literalness of “days” in Gen1.

“Well, “ one may say, “We know that the three days Jonah was in the big fish are literal because Jesus said that He would be in His tomb three days just like Jonah was in the big fish.” That persuasive argument is based on the Principle of Association; which basically means that when a “subject” of a particular topic is compared with a different “subject” of the same topic –then the subjects are related by Association. The contexts dictate whether the subjects are opposite one from the other or synonymous-ly complimentary. I.e. the “topic” of discussion here is “days.” The “subjects” are: “Jonah in the big fish” compared with “Jesus in the tomb.” The question to be answered is: Are these two subjects contrasted against each other as opposites or correspondent conveying direct parallelism according to surrounding contexts? Obviously, Jesus was not in the tomb for any amount of time other than three literal days so the contexts ABSOLUTELY dictates that the three “days” Jonah remained in the “big fish” were literal days.

My contention is that God has done PRECISELY the same thing to teach us that the days of Creation were literal 24hr/day time periods. As if the *express and explicit* conveyance of “there was evening and morning, the [first, second, etc.,] day wasn't enough to convey the literal meaning of each “day”; God employs Association in Ex20:9-11. Here, God directly PARALLELS our workweek with His own work in Creation:
--> Exo 20:9  Six days you shall labor, and do all your work,
       Exo 20:10  but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.
       Exo 20:11  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

…and for those who IMPOSE a previous creation which preceded Gen1:2- note especially that God *expressly and explicitly* conveyed that from Gen1:1-Gen1:26{e.g. vs11: “…**heaven and earth,** the sea, **and all that is in them,..**”} EVERYTHING was started and completed within six days.

So then, just as we compared the contexts of “Jonah in the big fish” and “Jesus in the tomb” and discovered the PARALLELISM conveys three LITERAL days; let’s discern if the same thing is done with “Creation” and “the workweek.”--> “Six days you shall labor, and do all your work … For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them,..” Hmmm, seems to definitely be a DIRECT parallelism virtually echoing Jesus parallelism of His death and resurrection with Jonah in the belly of the big fish”
--> For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
[The similarities of Association are striking; are they not?]

I have a couple of questions now:
1) Why is “day” in Gen1 the ONLY occurrence of “day” that is debated as to its literalness?
2) What pure-ly *biblical* reference -e.g. a passage void of commentary; could even lead someone to question the literalness of “day” in Gen1?

In conclusion, it has often been punned:
Girl: “Wow, I can’t believe that God took so long to create everything.
Boy: “You mean billions of years?”
Girl: “No, I mean six days,..”
[God could’ve easily done it instantly with one snap of His finger :) -but God had plans to replicate our own workweek to parallel His own work in Creation]

How many days do you want to work? Six = Six