similitude

similitude is defined as: counterpart, double, a visible likeness, image, an imaginative comparison , correspondence in kind or quality, a point of comparison. Basically means one that fits another perfectly. The quality or state of having many qualities in common, a point which two or more things share in common. In NIV, it translates as this: Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. In 1 Corinthians 15:20-24 explains Romans 5:14 better "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power." In Adam, we are born with sin (dead spiritually), however, in Christ, we are born-again with grace (spiritually alive). Romans 8:10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.

How did we get spiritually dead at the time we were born?

Through Adam, we are born spiritually dead. Through Jesus Christ, we are born-again spiritually. Romans 5:12 [ Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ ] Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— Unregenerated person means spiritually dead person. Sin is separation from God meaning spiritually dead facing eternal death. Born-again means spiritually alive facing eternal life. The concept is this: Sin,is where an unregenerate person runs away from God, meaning that a person called a "fugitive" that as a sinner, it is a person's inclination is to flee from God. Like when Adam and Eve sinned, they fled from God and hid. Satan to Eve: "Did God say, you shall not eat of any tree of the garden?" What God really said: "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat for in the day that you eat of it you shall die" (Gen. 1:16-17) Satan to Eve: You will not die. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Gen. 3:4-5) What God really said: "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat for in the day that you eat of it you shall die" (Gen. 1:16-17) Result of the fall: Spiritually: Adam and Eve died since God broke away the relationship with them and kicked them out of Garden of Eden. Death is universal spiritually and also by nature. Physically we are born alive however spiritually dead. When we have Jesus Christ in our lives, we no longer spiritually dead but spiritually alive even though our physical body will continue to decay and will die someday. A spiritually dead person cannot will himself to live anymore than a physically dead person can will himself to come back to life. If the dead person (spiritually or physically) is to come back to life he/she will have to be resurrected by God. In the spiritual realm this means he/she must be born from above. A spiritually dead person is without the Holy Spirit, therefore we do not have the "ability" to get saved on our own. We need the Holy Spirit to prick and quicken us to be alive. Without the Holy Spirit is TOTAL DEPRAVITY". The Holy Spirit is the only person that can quicken people to be saved. 1 Corinthians 2:14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. Acts 7:51 "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 1 Thessalonians 4:8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. John 6:63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Romans 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. 2 Corinthians 3:6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Adam and Eve only had ONE commandmand (law) and still, they broke that ONE (sounds like our kids? ) (Like your mother telling her kids: Don't put your hand in that cookie jar !!!) 1 John 3:4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. Romans 7:8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. Romans 8:7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. Understanding God's Holiness: Romans 7:12 (NIV) So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. There are two ways looking at the Ten Commandments 1. For those who are without Christ in our hearts, if we broke ONE law... we broke them all. We all are sinners and we need to be saved. 2. For those who are WITH Christ in our hearts, the Ten Commandments are about LOVE. Christians do not look at the Ten Commandments as laws but Grace of Love. We are to LOVE God first (first 4 commandments) and we are to love one another (last 6 commandments). Remember, Christ didn't come to destroy the law but to fulfill. Matthew 5:17 Jesus said: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I always wondered what happens to the Gentiles of the Old Testament when the Jews were the "Chosen" People? People talk alot about what happens to the people in the the New Testament period when the Gentiles are finally are included. Why did God chose the Jewish people during the Old Testament time? Deuteronomy 7:6 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people. Why the Law was given and why the priests have to have a tabernacle and sacrifices animals for sins. In the Old Testament Leviticus 9:7 Moses said to Aaron, "Come to the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself and the people; sacrifice the offering that is for the people and make atonement for them, as the LORD has commanded." Hebrews 5 explains that "Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins." that in Hebrews 7 explains that Jesus is the "high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever." People talk alot about what happens to the people in the the New Testament period when the Gentiles are finally are included. Book of Romans, a GREAT book of doctrines. Written by the Apostle PAUL. The actual theme is "Gospel of God". The Whole World is Guilty before God (1:1-3:20) Justification by Faith in Christ (3:21-5:21) Sanctification through Union with Christ in His Death & Resurrection (6:1-8:39) The Problem with Jewish Unbelief (9:1-11:36)

Don't worry and stay focused.

Spirit-filled Believers are those who are spiritual with spiritual attitudes of our hearts that we let the Holy Spirit do what He will through us. Spirit-lead is outlined in Galatians 5:22-23 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is a difference between doctrinal beliefs and practical beliefs. A doctrinal belief is what we hold in teachings, and the practical belief is what you hold in reality and what holds you in your day-to-day living as those great faiths in the Bible who didn't have similar doctrines as we do today. Many of them didn't even have the "Word". They believed the Promises of God when told. Period. Even though there are not many bad doctrinal beliefs but some that are really bad. Therefore practical beliefs will help a believer be strong with God's grace regardless how we hold our doctrinal beliefs. One of the doctrinal beliefs is the essence of faith is guaranteed-physical-atonement where someone believe in faith rather than believe in God. That kind of doctrinal beliefs are as harmful as faith-as-magic creed. A determination to believe what cannot be surely guaranteed can always harm Christian community. Because under the circumstances of guaranteed faith doctrine is not good to attempt trying to understand because many of those who taught those doctrines have said they don't understand why many are not healed but they will add thoughts of all the possibilities of whys EXCEPT one which is God's decision not to heal. We may not like to admit that we do not know and understand but we will continue to torture those who are not healed to step up to the doctrine's standard regardless. Those who have proclaimed healing in the atonement the loudest have sometimes burdened the sick ones with more guilt about being sick. And in their zeal to defend what they perceive to be an important doctrine, they have offered no comfort to those who, for whatever reason, are not healed but offer reasons by placing guilt of whys. "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves" (Romans 15:1). Paul reminded the believers that there will be people who are not as blessed as other believing members within the spiritual community. Paul tells us to bear them, or bear with them in their weakness rather than belittles them for whatever reasons. "Therefore as, we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers" (Galatians 6:10). When in reality, God has given us opportunities to do the Great Commission with our circumstances which means an opportunity that is defined as a providential circumstance which permits us to use to glorify God. All circumstances can turn people to God. Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. James 4:14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Trust God regardless what is going to happen today and tomorrow.