“…one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift…And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers…” (Ephesians 4:6-11)
The bible says that God is the Father of all and in us all. And that he has gifted some among mankind to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers. Why the gift of these persons?
”…for the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12-13)
Equip and edify (build up) saints with the TRUTH of what God has done through Christ Jesus until we "ALL" come to unity of faith in and knowledge of God. And minister the good news message of reconciliation?
“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us (apostles, etc) the MINISTRY of RECONCILIATION.” (1 Corinthians 5:18)
And what is RECONCILIATION? It is to be at PEACE with God because He is at peace with the world...
“…that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)
It is interesting to me that the Greek word translated “reconciliation” and “reconciled” is “katallasso” in the above verses. It has reference to God changing the way he looks at mankind as a result of the blood of Jesus. God is now AT PEACE with the world “not imputing their trespasses to them” as a result of the cross. BUT it is a one-sided peace (God toward mankind) UNTIL creatures change the way they look at God…and ALL mankind will do so eventually.
In Colossians the Greek word for “reconciled” is “apokatallassó”. Notice the “apo” before “katalllasso”. I think it means a two-sided peace because this word is only used in Colossians where it is written that all on the earth and all in the heavens will be reconciled to God…
“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile (apokatallasso) all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” (Colossians 1:20)
TWO SIDED PEACE! When created beings change their view of God as an angry God who in His wrath will torture them for their sins to the correct view of a loving Father who has saved them from sin, they have peace toward God. They trust Him and love Him and rest in that peace.
One day the whole creation will be at peace with God and apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are to minister THIS TRUTH to others. Paul was the first to receive and minister this truth to the world…
“Now then, WE (apostles, etc.) are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore YOU (mankind) on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might BECOME the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:19-21)
The Apostles, etc are no longer to plead with mankind to be saved…that is a done deal and is a free gift from God Paul tells us in Romans 6:23. They are to plead with mankind to be at peace with God because He has “made him who knew no sin to be sin for us” so that the world might become the righteousness of God in CHRIST JESUS.
For my wife, children and grandchildren..and anyone else who may be interested!
"Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory…” (1 Corinthians 2:6-8)
Paul tells us that it was the wise rulers (religious and political) of this age that crucified their Lord, but we learn from Peter in his sermons in Acts chapters 2 and 3 that it was God’s Will. And they are forgiven for Jesus asked the Father while on the cross… "Father forgive them, they do not understand what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34).
The wise men of today…Philosophers, Theologians and Politicians… still do not know what they are doing but are many times just “the blind leading the blind” (Matthew 15:14). They refuse to see…but God reveals His Plan to those who learn to love Him…
“…but just as it is written, THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM. For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God…” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)
Only by believing the Word of God will the Spirit reveal the Glory that will be manifested when the whole creation is reconciled to God, and mankind is complete in the very image of God…
“…the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words." (1 Corinthians 2:11-13)
Be patient and THANKFUL mankind, we win…because God, in His wisdom, has predestined his creation to Glory!
Paul tells us that it was the wise rulers (religious and political) of this age that crucified their Lord, but we learn from Peter in his sermons in Acts chapters 2 and 3 that it was God’s Will. And they are forgiven for Jesus asked the Father while on the cross… "Father forgive them, they do not understand what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34).
The wise men of today…Philosophers, Theologians and Politicians… still do not know what they are doing but are many times just “the blind leading the blind” (Matthew 15:14). They refuse to see…but God reveals His Plan to those who learn to love Him…
“…but just as it is written, THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM. For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God…” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)
Only by believing the Word of God will the Spirit reveal the Glory that will be manifested when the whole creation is reconciled to God, and mankind is complete in the very image of God…
“…the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words." (1 Corinthians 2:11-13)
Be patient and THANKFUL mankind, we win…because God, in His wisdom, has predestined his creation to Glory!
“For those whom he foreknew (mankind) he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” (Romans 8:29-31)
I think Christians have erred in limiting “those He foreknew” to only those who “get saved” as the different church groups define what is necessary to be saved. God Himself has called all mankind into existence and has promised, in spite of evil and our sin, to save, justify, reconcile and glorify all mankind when His work in finished….God is FOR US, not against us!
“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope (assurance) that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now." (Romans 8:20-22)
For 2000 years theologians and philosophers have reasoned from its bondage to corruption, rather than from trusting the promises of God. There personal views have robbed most of mankind of the "blessed hope (assurance)" of the return of Christ to finish what God started. God subjected the whole creation to evil, suffering and futility, but it was necessary, and temporary, and all creation is to be "set free" into the "freedom of the Sons of God". Those Christians who do not believe this see no hope for those they consider unbelievers...because they do not believe that the GLORY promised by God is for ALL and will far exceed the "sufferings of this present time".
Many spend their entire lives trying nobly to end as much suffering as possible…thy are to be commended and we should do our part…but there is no less suffering and evil today than when they started those valiant efforts. Others do nothing but threaten sinners that they will not only suffer in this life but will suffer a million times more in hell if they do not repent, get saved and join their church...sending missionaries all over the world with such a message. It does not seem to me that God gets any glory from this, just disdain from those who cannot fathom a loving Father doing such to his suffering, even evil, children.
Nevertheless to the humble and mature person who will believe God, Paul speaks...
"Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory…” (1 Corinthians 2:6-8)
The wise, highly educated religious and political men, crucified Jesus, but they were ignorant. For had they believed God they would not have crucified Jesus. But if they had not…we all would be lost…how ironic. And they did so, in spite of their wisdom, because it was God’s will for Jesus to be crucified…
"Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know--this Man, delivered over BY THE PREDETERMINE PLAN AND FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death…And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, HE HAS THUS FULFILLED.” (Acts 2:22-24; 3:18-19)
I think Christians have erred in limiting “those He foreknew” to only those who “get saved” as the different church groups define what is necessary to be saved. God Himself has called all mankind into existence and has promised, in spite of evil and our sin, to save, justify, reconcile and glorify all mankind when His work in finished….God is FOR US, not against us!
“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope (assurance) that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now." (Romans 8:20-22)
For 2000 years theologians and philosophers have reasoned from its bondage to corruption, rather than from trusting the promises of God. There personal views have robbed most of mankind of the "blessed hope (assurance)" of the return of Christ to finish what God started. God subjected the whole creation to evil, suffering and futility, but it was necessary, and temporary, and all creation is to be "set free" into the "freedom of the Sons of God". Those Christians who do not believe this see no hope for those they consider unbelievers...because they do not believe that the GLORY promised by God is for ALL and will far exceed the "sufferings of this present time".
Many spend their entire lives trying nobly to end as much suffering as possible…thy are to be commended and we should do our part…but there is no less suffering and evil today than when they started those valiant efforts. Others do nothing but threaten sinners that they will not only suffer in this life but will suffer a million times more in hell if they do not repent, get saved and join their church...sending missionaries all over the world with such a message. It does not seem to me that God gets any glory from this, just disdain from those who cannot fathom a loving Father doing such to his suffering, even evil, children.
Nevertheless to the humble and mature person who will believe God, Paul speaks...
"Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory…” (1 Corinthians 2:6-8)
The wise, highly educated religious and political men, crucified Jesus, but they were ignorant. For had they believed God they would not have crucified Jesus. But if they had not…we all would be lost…how ironic. And they did so, in spite of their wisdom, because it was God’s will for Jesus to be crucified…
"Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know--this Man, delivered over BY THE PREDETERMINE PLAN AND FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death…And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, HE HAS THUS FULFILLED.” (Acts 2:22-24; 3:18-19)
"And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." (Romans 8:23-25)
The problem I see with most people, even Christians, or especially Christians, is that we are more concerned with the journey than with the final destination. When our eyes are fixed on the evils along the way, we forget what awaits when we arrive. If we just learn to believe God and accept that evil is necessary, but temporary, we begin to see people differently along the way, and start to see the destination…the place where mankind arrives safely in the arms of a loving Father, changed in part by the journey, but finished to perfection by the Master craftsman before the Great White Throne.
So how can we love the God who subjected His creation to suffering and futility on the journey? Because we have been told in the Scripture about the sequel, the destination, and yes the deliverance of all creation and the redemption of all, and the immortality of a perfect new body….Yes, I believe the Bible… all things are working for good!
"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints (mankind) according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God - all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:26-28)
Theologians have told us that God only works things out for good for those who love God. THAT IS NOT WHAT PAUL IS SAYING. He is saying that ONLY those who love God SEE that even though God subjects His creation to "futility" and suffering, he is working it out for the good of ALL....and eventually the whole creation will be "set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God." (8:20-21)
The problem I see with most people, even Christians, or especially Christians, is that we are more concerned with the journey than with the final destination. When our eyes are fixed on the evils along the way, we forget what awaits when we arrive. If we just learn to believe God and accept that evil is necessary, but temporary, we begin to see people differently along the way, and start to see the destination…the place where mankind arrives safely in the arms of a loving Father, changed in part by the journey, but finished to perfection by the Master craftsman before the Great White Throne.
So how can we love the God who subjected His creation to suffering and futility on the journey? Because we have been told in the Scripture about the sequel, the destination, and yes the deliverance of all creation and the redemption of all, and the immortality of a perfect new body….Yes, I believe the Bible… all things are working for good!
"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints (mankind) according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God - all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:26-28)
Theologians have told us that God only works things out for good for those who love God. THAT IS NOT WHAT PAUL IS SAYING. He is saying that ONLY those who love God SEE that even though God subjects His creation to "futility" and suffering, he is working it out for the good of ALL....and eventually the whole creation will be "set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God." (8:20-21)
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God." (Romans 8:18-19)
There is much suffering in this world. From the homeless in our country to the poor and starving in other parts of the world. Tender hearts are broken and their tears fall when they see such suffering. It all seems so futile and pointless. Why are those suffering...suffering?
“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now." (Romans 8:20-22)
The Greek word translated “hope” above is “helpidi” and does NOT mean hope as we understand the word 2000 years later. We say we hope our team wins, knowing that it might not. But the word “helpidi” has the idea of an assured outcome, therefore a confident expectation or the assurance that what is hoped for will come to pass.
In the above verses we are told that it is God who subjected His creation to futility and bondage to corruption....but in the "hope" (assurance) that our bondage to corruption is temporary, and that all creation is to be freed. It is upon this ASSURANCE that my salvation resides and allows me to love this God who “created evil”.
“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7)
Some of our translations refuse to translate the Hebrew word above as “evil” and instead insert calamity, disaster. Etc. But the Hebrew word is “ra” and is the same word translated evil in Genesis 2:17…
“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eat thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:17)
Why do theologians try to hide this fact from people by changing the meaning of the word evil when translating Isaiah 45:7?
To me it is because these same men also believed that hell was a real place God created to punish and torture evil men for all eternity. And if God created this evil knowing that most of humanity would suffer endlessly because of it, then what does that say about their GOD? But God is GOOD, and has a purpose for everything, and all will eventuate in good for all his creation. Paul tells us plainly that God “subjected it, in hope (assurance) that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God."
There is much suffering in this world. From the homeless in our country to the poor and starving in other parts of the world. Tender hearts are broken and their tears fall when they see such suffering. It all seems so futile and pointless. Why are those suffering...suffering?
“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now." (Romans 8:20-22)
The Greek word translated “hope” above is “helpidi” and does NOT mean hope as we understand the word 2000 years later. We say we hope our team wins, knowing that it might not. But the word “helpidi” has the idea of an assured outcome, therefore a confident expectation or the assurance that what is hoped for will come to pass.
In the above verses we are told that it is God who subjected His creation to futility and bondage to corruption....but in the "hope" (assurance) that our bondage to corruption is temporary, and that all creation is to be freed. It is upon this ASSURANCE that my salvation resides and allows me to love this God who “created evil”.
“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7)
Some of our translations refuse to translate the Hebrew word above as “evil” and instead insert calamity, disaster. Etc. But the Hebrew word is “ra” and is the same word translated evil in Genesis 2:17…
“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eat thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:17)
Why do theologians try to hide this fact from people by changing the meaning of the word evil when translating Isaiah 45:7?
To me it is because these same men also believed that hell was a real place God created to punish and torture evil men for all eternity. And if God created this evil knowing that most of humanity would suffer endlessly because of it, then what does that say about their GOD? But God is GOOD, and has a purpose for everything, and all will eventuate in good for all his creation. Paul tells us plainly that God “subjected it, in hope (assurance) that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God."
“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? (Galatians 1:8-10)
Pretty harsh wouldn’t you say? Paul says anyone who preaches a gospel contrary to what he had preached to them was accursed – meaning “devoted to destruction” (death-not tortured in hell).
So don’t you think it important to know what Paul preached, and receive it?
So what did Paul preach?….you will have to read Romans through Philemon to get it all but 1 Corinthians 15 will give you a good summary.
But it is what he did NOT PREACH about that is very interesting to me….he did not speak of eternal conscious torment in hell even one time…even to deny it. Why? Because it never crossed his mind that anyone would believe such a thing. So how did the doctrine get introduced into the church?
Well, as I read history, it was not introduced into the church until around 187 AD when Christian teachers like Tertullian of Carthage began to blend Greek philosophy — human speculative reasoning - with the teachings of God’s Word. And Plato (427-347 BC) had talked about hell as a place of torment for immortal souls almost 400 years before the birth of Jesus. It was not based on the Bible but on Greek myth and philosophy. Bible verses were later sought to uphold the ancient philosophies of the Greeks, and were added to the teaching of the Church as best I can tell.
Eventually under the influence of Augustine, in about AD 430, the concept of endless conscious torment was brought into general acceptance by the Catholic Church in the Western world, and has remained a “destructive heresy” of both the Catholic and Protestant Church to this time. That is why I am wary of the opinions of “wise men”, even those of well respected theologians and philosophers…I prefer to read the Bible for myself.
I like what A. W. Tozer says about men who are constantly seeking the approval of wise men…
“I cannot believe in the spirituality of any man who keeps an eye open for the approval of others, whoever they may be. The man after God's own heart must be dead to the opinion of his friends as well as his enemies. He must be as willing to cross important persons as obscure ones. When we are wholly lost in Him the frantic effort to please men will come to an end. The circle of persons we struggle to please will be narrowed to One. Then we will know true freedom, but not a moment before.” (A. W. Tozer - The Price of Neglect, Page141)
If I am lost…at least it is in His Word, not in wise men and their philosophies!
Pretty harsh wouldn’t you say? Paul says anyone who preaches a gospel contrary to what he had preached to them was accursed – meaning “devoted to destruction” (death-not tortured in hell).
So don’t you think it important to know what Paul preached, and receive it?
So what did Paul preach?….you will have to read Romans through Philemon to get it all but 1 Corinthians 15 will give you a good summary.
But it is what he did NOT PREACH about that is very interesting to me….he did not speak of eternal conscious torment in hell even one time…even to deny it. Why? Because it never crossed his mind that anyone would believe such a thing. So how did the doctrine get introduced into the church?
Well, as I read history, it was not introduced into the church until around 187 AD when Christian teachers like Tertullian of Carthage began to blend Greek philosophy — human speculative reasoning - with the teachings of God’s Word. And Plato (427-347 BC) had talked about hell as a place of torment for immortal souls almost 400 years before the birth of Jesus. It was not based on the Bible but on Greek myth and philosophy. Bible verses were later sought to uphold the ancient philosophies of the Greeks, and were added to the teaching of the Church as best I can tell.
Eventually under the influence of Augustine, in about AD 430, the concept of endless conscious torment was brought into general acceptance by the Catholic Church in the Western world, and has remained a “destructive heresy” of both the Catholic and Protestant Church to this time. That is why I am wary of the opinions of “wise men”, even those of well respected theologians and philosophers…I prefer to read the Bible for myself.
I like what A. W. Tozer says about men who are constantly seeking the approval of wise men…
“I cannot believe in the spirituality of any man who keeps an eye open for the approval of others, whoever they may be. The man after God's own heart must be dead to the opinion of his friends as well as his enemies. He must be as willing to cross important persons as obscure ones. When we are wholly lost in Him the frantic effort to please men will come to an end. The circle of persons we struggle to please will be narrowed to One. Then we will know true freedom, but not a moment before.” (A. W. Tozer - The Price of Neglect, Page141)
If I am lost…at least it is in His Word, not in wise men and their philosophies!
I want to pause in my assault on false teachers and teaching for one day at least…..in order to assault the rest of us Christians...just kidding...I think.
My oldest brother recently posted this comment on his Facebook page:
What does "following Christ" really mean? Just an idea. Jesus was certainly not religious in any sense of the word.
It started me thinking, as usual, so blame him for what follows ...although I thank him for making me think and “reason” about my view of Scripture.
My mind went immediately to the words of Jesus quoted by Luke...
“Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple (follower). Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it…So then, none of you can be my disciple who does not give up all his own possessions?” (Luke 14:25-28)
Pretty harsh words, who was he talking to? The large crowds FOLLOWING him hoping to get something from him (food, healing,etc). The same crowd who not long after would be screaming “crucify him”. But he loved them and had compassion for them, and would in fact die for them and all other sinners. But for now he told them what it takes to really follow him.
First: hate your father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters and your own life.
Second: take up your cross (and die on it)
Third: consider the cost
OK, forget the commentaries and alterations to the above made over the past 2000 years by the pious super duper high IQ holy men. Their opinions don't count. Believe Jesus...think about what he said above...and then form the logical conclusion with respect to what he was saying in light of all else we know in the Bible about Jesus and what he has done for mankind. I have thought about it and here is my conclusion...Jesus is saying...
“You sinners are not me, I am a unique, one of a kind, never to be cloned man WHO HAS NEVER SINNED. So where I am going you are not qualified to come. And what I am going to do you are not qualified to do. I am going to abandon Mom and everybody else I love together with all my possessions and die on a cross...for you sinners. And in doing so I am going to save your miserable selfish asses...why? Because our Father God is gracious and merciful. Believe it or not my heavenly Father and I created you and we love you, and so saving you is the right thing to do. As for you and those who come after you...well count the cost of what I alone can and will do...and just bow your head and simply say...THANK YOU JESUS!” (The Bible - Robert's paraphrased version)
We Christians, especially the elite do gooder types, need to stop putting ourselves on a pedestal, self-righteously claiming to be “followers of Christ” with a 20 year perfect attendance pin to prove it....for even if we “surrender our life to Christ” or join a monastery and eventually attain the official designation of “Saint so and so” or even if we would die on behalf of all mankind...all of them would stay dead anyway.
So I choose to place my faith and hope in what the Bible says God and Christ Jesus have done for sinners...
“God demonstrated his love for us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us....for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:8-10; 6:23)
My oldest brother recently posted this comment on his Facebook page:
What does "following Christ" really mean? Just an idea. Jesus was certainly not religious in any sense of the word.
It started me thinking, as usual, so blame him for what follows ...although I thank him for making me think and “reason” about my view of Scripture.
My mind went immediately to the words of Jesus quoted by Luke...
“Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple (follower). Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it…So then, none of you can be my disciple who does not give up all his own possessions?” (Luke 14:25-28)
Pretty harsh words, who was he talking to? The large crowds FOLLOWING him hoping to get something from him (food, healing,etc). The same crowd who not long after would be screaming “crucify him”. But he loved them and had compassion for them, and would in fact die for them and all other sinners. But for now he told them what it takes to really follow him.
First: hate your father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters and your own life.
Second: take up your cross (and die on it)
Third: consider the cost
OK, forget the commentaries and alterations to the above made over the past 2000 years by the pious super duper high IQ holy men. Their opinions don't count. Believe Jesus...think about what he said above...and then form the logical conclusion with respect to what he was saying in light of all else we know in the Bible about Jesus and what he has done for mankind. I have thought about it and here is my conclusion...Jesus is saying...
“You sinners are not me, I am a unique, one of a kind, never to be cloned man WHO HAS NEVER SINNED. So where I am going you are not qualified to come. And what I am going to do you are not qualified to do. I am going to abandon Mom and everybody else I love together with all my possessions and die on a cross...for you sinners. And in doing so I am going to save your miserable selfish asses...why? Because our Father God is gracious and merciful. Believe it or not my heavenly Father and I created you and we love you, and so saving you is the right thing to do. As for you and those who come after you...well count the cost of what I alone can and will do...and just bow your head and simply say...THANK YOU JESUS!” (The Bible - Robert's paraphrased version)
We Christians, especially the elite do gooder types, need to stop putting ourselves on a pedestal, self-righteously claiming to be “followers of Christ” with a 20 year perfect attendance pin to prove it....for even if we “surrender our life to Christ” or join a monastery and eventually attain the official designation of “Saint so and so” or even if we would die on behalf of all mankind...all of them would stay dead anyway.
So I choose to place my faith and hope in what the Bible says God and Christ Jesus have done for sinners...
“God demonstrated his love for us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us....for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:8-10; 6:23)
“The LORD God commanded the man, saying, From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it YOU WIL SURELY DIE…” (Genesis 2:16-17)
Here is a quote from an article by a Christian fundamental author and bible teacher I read this morning…
“Part of the awful impact of sin is the death it produces in lives: "sin reigned in death.” (Romans 5:20). "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Sin brings "spiritual" death.
Such is a good example of an otherwise good teacher subtly passing on what is false, probably unaware of the problem. He boldly and correctly identifies the awful impact of sin and even quotes the Scripture correctly. So what is the problem? Do you see it?
OK, after correctly quoting the Scripture he makes the statement “Sin brings SPIRITUAL death”. Which of course is false. There is absolutely nothing in the Scripture he quoted about “SPIRITUAL” death. Nor is there any Scripture I can find in the Bible about sin causing “SPIRITUAL” death. Christian teachers use the term all the time but they are simply passing on the Greek Philosopher’s ideas about the immortality of the soul, another one of those…
“Secretly introduced destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them”. (2 Peter 2:1).
The bible says the consequences for Adam’s sin and every other sin ever committed is “death”, and even a child knows what death is...only Greek Philosophers and Theologians do not know. When we die, we are dead! Genesis 3:17 and Ecclesiastes 12:7 tells us when a person dies the “spirit” returns to God who gave it, not the “soul”. The body returns to the earth from which it was formed . The Bible says the "soul" is the result of God joining body and spirit…the "soul" it simply ceases to exist when the spirit departs the body…
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7)
A good example would be what we do every day when we turn on a light. The electrical power (spirit) is joined to the light bulb (body) and light appears (soul). When the switch is turned off the power flows out of the bulb and the light goes out and is no longer seen UNTIL the power (spirit) returns.
Our ONLY HOPE is in Jesus who has promised to return and RAISE THE DEAD by putting the “spirit” that returned to God at death into a “new body” that God will provide, and our “soul” will once again spring forth into life! The bible is really clear about all of this…if we could only keep the ideas of the Philosophers and Theologians out of it!
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord…For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (Romans 6:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
Here is a quote from an article by a Christian fundamental author and bible teacher I read this morning…
“Part of the awful impact of sin is the death it produces in lives: "sin reigned in death.” (Romans 5:20). "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Sin brings "spiritual" death.
Such is a good example of an otherwise good teacher subtly passing on what is false, probably unaware of the problem. He boldly and correctly identifies the awful impact of sin and even quotes the Scripture correctly. So what is the problem? Do you see it?
OK, after correctly quoting the Scripture he makes the statement “Sin brings SPIRITUAL death”. Which of course is false. There is absolutely nothing in the Scripture he quoted about “SPIRITUAL” death. Nor is there any Scripture I can find in the Bible about sin causing “SPIRITUAL” death. Christian teachers use the term all the time but they are simply passing on the Greek Philosopher’s ideas about the immortality of the soul, another one of those…
“Secretly introduced destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them”. (2 Peter 2:1).
The bible says the consequences for Adam’s sin and every other sin ever committed is “death”, and even a child knows what death is...only Greek Philosophers and Theologians do not know. When we die, we are dead! Genesis 3:17 and Ecclesiastes 12:7 tells us when a person dies the “spirit” returns to God who gave it, not the “soul”. The body returns to the earth from which it was formed . The Bible says the "soul" is the result of God joining body and spirit…the "soul" it simply ceases to exist when the spirit departs the body…
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7)
A good example would be what we do every day when we turn on a light. The electrical power (spirit) is joined to the light bulb (body) and light appears (soul). When the switch is turned off the power flows out of the bulb and the light goes out and is no longer seen UNTIL the power (spirit) returns.
Our ONLY HOPE is in Jesus who has promised to return and RAISE THE DEAD by putting the “spirit” that returned to God at death into a “new body” that God will provide, and our “soul” will once again spring forth into life! The bible is really clear about all of this…if we could only keep the ideas of the Philosophers and Theologians out of it!
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord…For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (Romans 6:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
”For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. However not all men have this knowledge…” (1 Corinthians 8:5-7)
I suppose that there are as many gods and lords as there have been cultures and religious men over the years. And of course Paul is talking about those men or idols made up by men that people worship. He does not condemn such people to hell, but simply says that all men do not have the knowledge of the “one God, the Father, from whom are all things…and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things”. But they will one day, if not predestined to do so in this life, then after the resurrection of both the just and the wicked. Jesus told his listeners...
“Verily, verily, I say to you — He who is hearing my word, and is believing Him who sent me, hath life age-during, and to judgment he doth not come, but hath passed out of the death to the life…. Wonder not at this, because there doth come an hour in which all those in the tombs shall hear his voice, and they shall come forth; those who did the good things to a rising again of life, and those who practiced the evil things to a rising again of judgment." (John 5:24-29 YLT)
Jesus was speaking to Israel concerning the Kingdom AGE to be established on earth and Revelation 20 tells us this AGE will last 1000 years. At the BEGINNING of that Kingdom those who did the “good things” will be raised from the dead to LIFE and LIVE in that AGE (Daniel 12 tells me that resurrection will occur exactly 1335 days after the Messiah Jesus returns to earth) and these will rule and reign with Christ during that AGE. Revelation also tells us it is at the END of that AGE that the wicked who have practiced “evil things” will be raised from the dead and judged. So what happens to them at the "judgment"?
“And when the thousand years may be finished, the Adversary (Devil) shall be loosed out of his prison, and he shall go forth to lead the nations astray…and there came down fire from God out of the heaven, and devoured them; and the Devil, who is leading them astray, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are the beast and the false prophet, and they shall be tormented day and night — to the ages of the ages. And I saw a great white throne, and Him who is sitting upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven did flee away, and place was not found for them; and I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God… and they were judged, each one according to their works…if anyone was not found written in the scroll of the life, he was cast to the lake of the fire…— this is the second death…” (Revelation 20:7-15)
The Bible is true, men not so much. Christianity has made the “lake of fire” equivalent to their fictitious hell, but GOD says the “lake of fire” is the "SECOND DEATH". I choose to believe God, you can believe who you want.
But you say, they are still dead. Yes but not forever. I won’t quote the Scripture now but Revelation tells us about an AGE that will follow the 1000 year AGE. It is the AGE of the New Heaven and New Earth. Those of the first rising will continue to rule and reign with Christ while the rest will be dead the SECOND time. Paul was given the mystery of what happens at the close of that age and it is summarized as follows…
“And now, Christ hath risen out of the dead — the first-fruits of those sleeping he became…for even as in Adam all die, so also in the Christ all shall be made alive, and each in his proper order, a first-fruit Christ, afterwards those who are the Christ’s, in his presence, then — the end, when he may deliver up the reign to God, even the Father, when he may have made useless all rule, and all authority and power — for it behoveth him to reign till he may have put all the enemies under his feet — THE LAST ENEMY IS DONE AWAY – DEATH...for all things He did put under his feet…and when the all things may be subjected to him, then the Son also himself shall be subject to Him, who did subject to him the all things, THAT GOD MAY BE ALL IN ALL….The Death was swallowed up — to victory...” (1 Corinthians 15:20-54 YLT)
I am confident that my family and I, along with most of you, will be among those in the “first rising” and we will be happy about it and we do not have to more about the second death (the lake of fire).
“Happy and holy is he who is having part in the first rising again; over these the second death hath not authority, but they shall be priests of God and of the Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6)
But I am equally certain that the bible teaches that death, even the second death, will be abolished and all of God’s creation will have then been reconciled to God by Christ Jesus.
“And himself is the head of the body…a first-born out of the dead, that he might become in all things…first…and through him to reconcile all things to himself — having made peace through the blood of his cross — through him, whether the things upon the earth, whether the things in the heavens. And you — once being alienated, and enemies in the mind, in the evil works, yet now did he reconcile, in the body of his flesh through the death, to present you holy, and unblemished, and unblameable before himself…" (Colossians 1:18-22)
I suppose that there are as many gods and lords as there have been cultures and religious men over the years. And of course Paul is talking about those men or idols made up by men that people worship. He does not condemn such people to hell, but simply says that all men do not have the knowledge of the “one God, the Father, from whom are all things…and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things”. But they will one day, if not predestined to do so in this life, then after the resurrection of both the just and the wicked. Jesus told his listeners...
“Verily, verily, I say to you — He who is hearing my word, and is believing Him who sent me, hath life age-during, and to judgment he doth not come, but hath passed out of the death to the life…. Wonder not at this, because there doth come an hour in which all those in the tombs shall hear his voice, and they shall come forth; those who did the good things to a rising again of life, and those who practiced the evil things to a rising again of judgment." (John 5:24-29 YLT)
Jesus was speaking to Israel concerning the Kingdom AGE to be established on earth and Revelation 20 tells us this AGE will last 1000 years. At the BEGINNING of that Kingdom those who did the “good things” will be raised from the dead to LIFE and LIVE in that AGE (Daniel 12 tells me that resurrection will occur exactly 1335 days after the Messiah Jesus returns to earth) and these will rule and reign with Christ during that AGE. Revelation also tells us it is at the END of that AGE that the wicked who have practiced “evil things” will be raised from the dead and judged. So what happens to them at the "judgment"?
“And when the thousand years may be finished, the Adversary (Devil) shall be loosed out of his prison, and he shall go forth to lead the nations astray…and there came down fire from God out of the heaven, and devoured them; and the Devil, who is leading them astray, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are the beast and the false prophet, and they shall be tormented day and night — to the ages of the ages. And I saw a great white throne, and Him who is sitting upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven did flee away, and place was not found for them; and I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God… and they were judged, each one according to their works…if anyone was not found written in the scroll of the life, he was cast to the lake of the fire…— this is the second death…” (Revelation 20:7-15)
The Bible is true, men not so much. Christianity has made the “lake of fire” equivalent to their fictitious hell, but GOD says the “lake of fire” is the "SECOND DEATH". I choose to believe God, you can believe who you want.
But you say, they are still dead. Yes but not forever. I won’t quote the Scripture now but Revelation tells us about an AGE that will follow the 1000 year AGE. It is the AGE of the New Heaven and New Earth. Those of the first rising will continue to rule and reign with Christ while the rest will be dead the SECOND time. Paul was given the mystery of what happens at the close of that age and it is summarized as follows…
“And now, Christ hath risen out of the dead — the first-fruits of those sleeping he became…for even as in Adam all die, so also in the Christ all shall be made alive, and each in his proper order, a first-fruit Christ, afterwards those who are the Christ’s, in his presence, then — the end, when he may deliver up the reign to God, even the Father, when he may have made useless all rule, and all authority and power — for it behoveth him to reign till he may have put all the enemies under his feet — THE LAST ENEMY IS DONE AWAY – DEATH...for all things He did put under his feet…and when the all things may be subjected to him, then the Son also himself shall be subject to Him, who did subject to him the all things, THAT GOD MAY BE ALL IN ALL….The Death was swallowed up — to victory...” (1 Corinthians 15:20-54 YLT)
I am confident that my family and I, along with most of you, will be among those in the “first rising” and we will be happy about it and we do not have to more about the second death (the lake of fire).
“Happy and holy is he who is having part in the first rising again; over these the second death hath not authority, but they shall be priests of God and of the Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6)
But I am equally certain that the bible teaches that death, even the second death, will be abolished and all of God’s creation will have then been reconciled to God by Christ Jesus.
“And himself is the head of the body…a first-born out of the dead, that he might become in all things…first…and through him to reconcile all things to himself — having made peace through the blood of his cross — through him, whether the things upon the earth, whether the things in the heavens. And you — once being alienated, and enemies in the mind, in the evil works, yet now did he reconcile, in the body of his flesh through the death, to present you holy, and unblemished, and unblameable before himself…" (Colossians 1:18-22)
Grab yourself your favorite beverage, for this may take a little longer than usual. As promised yesterday, I want to tell you what I consider to be the most egregious of the “secretly introduced destructive heresies” which was introduced and remains in Church doctrine. I will use two different translations of Matthew 25:46 to help reveal this “heresy”...
“These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:45-46 NASB)
“And these shall go away to punishment age-during, but the righteous to life age-during” (Matthew 25:46 YLT)
So which is it - “eternal” punishment and life as the NASB has it, or “age-during” punishment and life as the YLT has it?
Once again I went to the concordance and the oldest original Greek manuscripts. I found that the Greek word translated “eternal” and “age-during” is “aionion” with the Strong’s Concordance number 166. So I used a research tool and called up all 71 verses in Scripture where “aionion” is used to find its meaning by it use. And I found that almost every time either “eternal” or “age-during” would fit and make sense, except for three times, one of which I will quote in this post…
“In hope of eternal (G166) life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world (G166) began” (Titus 1:2 KJV)
G166 refers to the Strong’s number and is the Greek word “aionian”. Notice that the same Greek word is translated IN THAT SAME VERSE both “eternal” and “world” in that English translation. But if the word really meant eternal why not translate it “eternal” in both places? Pretty obvious, because it would not make sense!
When God used the word it must have meant the same thing in both places because he is not a God of confusion. So I concluded that “aionion” must mean “age-during” as the YLT (and other translations) indicate, because it makes sense in all 166 places it is used. So the YLT is correct in my opinion and the verse correctly reads…
“Upon hope of life age-during, which God, who doth not lie, did promise before times of ages” (Titus 1:2 YLT)
Then I realized the word “aionion” is an adjective. An adjective describes its noun. And an adjective can never be greater than the noun it describes. (My High School English teacher Mary Jo Gurley would be so proud of me). So I looked up the noun and found it to be the Greek word “aion”, Strong Concordance number of 165. It is used 128 times in the NT. Again looking at all of those verses the only English translation that fits in all places is...drum roll...AGE.
So despite the fact that most English versions of the Bible translate“aion” and “aionion” use eternal or everlasting, they are wrong, and Young's Literal Translation – YLT is correct. It means AGE…IT HAS A BEGINNING AND AN END!
In my opinion, mistranslating the noun “aion” and its adjective “aionion” is the most egregious example of false teachers “secretly introducing destructive heresies”, which has the effect of “denying the Master who bought them”, or at least what he came to do...save sinners, not eternally condemn and punish them. Those mistranslated verses are used (out of context) to back up the horrible heretical doctrine of eternal conscious torment in hell...THE MOST EGREGIOUS “secretly introduced heresy” of all, that of course is only my opinion.
God indeed chastens both believers and unbelievers during this AGE in which we live. Good Fathers do that. And He will chasten (punish) unbelievers during the next two ages spoken about in the Scripture. But not forever, just for the AGE it refers to. And even then NOT in the torture chamber of Greek Mythology and Christian false doctrine. What Father would do that?
So back to Matthew 25 above. What age is Jesus referring to and to whom is Jesus speaking? Well this post is too long as it is so just read Revelation 20 in Young's Literal Translation...Jesus is speaking to Israel, and the age lasts 1000 years...followed by the age of the New Heaven and New Earth. And then read 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 where Paul “completes” the Word of God by assuring mankind that “as in Adam all die, even so in Christ ALL shall be made alive…and God will be ALL in ALL”.
So now, as Paul Harvey used to say, you have the REST of the Story!
“These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:45-46 NASB)
“And these shall go away to punishment age-during, but the righteous to life age-during” (Matthew 25:46 YLT)
So which is it - “eternal” punishment and life as the NASB has it, or “age-during” punishment and life as the YLT has it?
Once again I went to the concordance and the oldest original Greek manuscripts. I found that the Greek word translated “eternal” and “age-during” is “aionion” with the Strong’s Concordance number 166. So I used a research tool and called up all 71 verses in Scripture where “aionion” is used to find its meaning by it use. And I found that almost every time either “eternal” or “age-during” would fit and make sense, except for three times, one of which I will quote in this post…
“In hope of eternal (G166) life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world (G166) began” (Titus 1:2 KJV)
G166 refers to the Strong’s number and is the Greek word “aionian”. Notice that the same Greek word is translated IN THAT SAME VERSE both “eternal” and “world” in that English translation. But if the word really meant eternal why not translate it “eternal” in both places? Pretty obvious, because it would not make sense!
When God used the word it must have meant the same thing in both places because he is not a God of confusion. So I concluded that “aionion” must mean “age-during” as the YLT (and other translations) indicate, because it makes sense in all 166 places it is used. So the YLT is correct in my opinion and the verse correctly reads…
“Upon hope of life age-during, which God, who doth not lie, did promise before times of ages” (Titus 1:2 YLT)
Then I realized the word “aionion” is an adjective. An adjective describes its noun. And an adjective can never be greater than the noun it describes. (My High School English teacher Mary Jo Gurley would be so proud of me). So I looked up the noun and found it to be the Greek word “aion”, Strong Concordance number of 165. It is used 128 times in the NT. Again looking at all of those verses the only English translation that fits in all places is...drum roll...AGE.
So despite the fact that most English versions of the Bible translate“aion” and “aionion” use eternal or everlasting, they are wrong, and Young's Literal Translation – YLT is correct. It means AGE…IT HAS A BEGINNING AND AN END!
In my opinion, mistranslating the noun “aion” and its adjective “aionion” is the most egregious example of false teachers “secretly introducing destructive heresies”, which has the effect of “denying the Master who bought them”, or at least what he came to do...save sinners, not eternally condemn and punish them. Those mistranslated verses are used (out of context) to back up the horrible heretical doctrine of eternal conscious torment in hell...THE MOST EGREGIOUS “secretly introduced heresy” of all, that of course is only my opinion.
God indeed chastens both believers and unbelievers during this AGE in which we live. Good Fathers do that. And He will chasten (punish) unbelievers during the next two ages spoken about in the Scripture. But not forever, just for the AGE it refers to. And even then NOT in the torture chamber of Greek Mythology and Christian false doctrine. What Father would do that?
So back to Matthew 25 above. What age is Jesus referring to and to whom is Jesus speaking? Well this post is too long as it is so just read Revelation 20 in Young's Literal Translation...Jesus is speaking to Israel, and the age lasts 1000 years...followed by the age of the New Heaven and New Earth. And then read 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 where Paul “completes” the Word of God by assuring mankind that “as in Adam all die, even so in Christ ALL shall be made alive…and God will be ALL in ALL”.
So now, as Paul Harvey used to say, you have the REST of the Story!
“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be FALSE TEACHERS among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them….” (2 Peter 2:1)
The last couple of days I have given some examples of what I consider to be false teaching introduced by false teachers through bad translations of the Bible, but today I want to look at how Peter told us to identify false teachers and apply it to myself. So let’s see what he says about these false teachers…
First, Peter says that “false teachers” are those who “secretly introduce destructive heresies”:
Applying this to myself I can honestly conclude that I do not fit in this category. I post my views on Facebook or my Blog for everyone to see….quoting the Scripture from which I have arrived at my views. No secrets.
Second, Peter says that “false teachers” are those who are “denying the Master”:
Well if you read my posts I not only do not deny that Jesus is the Master but base all of my views on my belief that he is the Word of God, the only begotten Son of God, and the express image of God. I believe the Bible when it says that JESUS alone is the way, the truth and the life and NO ONE gets to the Father except through him. I believe that his death on the cross, burial in a tomb, and resurrection to life is the basis for the salvation and reconciliation of all. And I also believe the Bible when it says that Jesus is Lord of ALL, not just a few Christians. It clearly says…
“For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all…” (Romans 10:36)
The Bible says he is really, really Lord of ALL, whether organized Christianity believes it or realizes it or not. All will eventually confess it because the Bible says so, regardless of what men say…
“…every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father… and no one can say, Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.” (Philippians 2:11; 1 Corinthians 12:3)
God willing, tomorrow I will address the most egregious “destructive heresy” which was “secretly introduced” into the Church over 1500 years ago by the very false teachers Peter warned us about, and which even today causes most Christians to deny their Master the glorious VICTORY of what the Bible clearly says he will do….save and reconcile mankind to God…I know because I used to be one of those Christians who denied it.
The last couple of days I have given some examples of what I consider to be false teaching introduced by false teachers through bad translations of the Bible, but today I want to look at how Peter told us to identify false teachers and apply it to myself. So let’s see what he says about these false teachers…
First, Peter says that “false teachers” are those who “secretly introduce destructive heresies”:
Applying this to myself I can honestly conclude that I do not fit in this category. I post my views on Facebook or my Blog for everyone to see….quoting the Scripture from which I have arrived at my views. No secrets.
Second, Peter says that “false teachers” are those who are “denying the Master”:
Well if you read my posts I not only do not deny that Jesus is the Master but base all of my views on my belief that he is the Word of God, the only begotten Son of God, and the express image of God. I believe the Bible when it says that JESUS alone is the way, the truth and the life and NO ONE gets to the Father except through him. I believe that his death on the cross, burial in a tomb, and resurrection to life is the basis for the salvation and reconciliation of all. And I also believe the Bible when it says that Jesus is Lord of ALL, not just a few Christians. It clearly says…
“For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all…” (Romans 10:36)
The Bible says he is really, really Lord of ALL, whether organized Christianity believes it or realizes it or not. All will eventually confess it because the Bible says so, regardless of what men say…
“…every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father… and no one can say, Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.” (Philippians 2:11; 1 Corinthians 12:3)
God willing, tomorrow I will address the most egregious “destructive heresy” which was “secretly introduced” into the Church over 1500 years ago by the very false teachers Peter warned us about, and which even today causes most Christians to deny their Master the glorious VICTORY of what the Bible clearly says he will do….save and reconcile mankind to God…I know because I used to be one of those Christians who denied it.
Yesterday I mentioned 1 Timothy 4:10 and that it is a good example of how different translations into English can “secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them”. (2 Peter 2:1). Here are two different translations...
“…we work hard and do our best because our hope is in the living God, the One Who would save all men. He saves those who believe in Him.” (1 Timothy 4:10 New Life Bible)
“…we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.” (1 Timothy 4:10 NASB and most other translations - over 15 that I looked at)
So which is correct? Is God the “savior of all men, especially believers” like almost all translation have it, or is it that he “would” save all men but will only save “those who believe” as set forth in the NLB?
Again, I went to the resources I mentioned yesterday to find out. I found that the majority of English translations are correct and that "God is the Savior of all men, especially believers” is the best translation. So the creators of the NLB are false teachers…at least in these verses.
And I am concerned because I know that most Christians believe like the bad translation reads...!
One does not "deny the Master" just by denying that Jesus is the Master, but also by denying what he has done...saved sinners as Paul tells us...
"...Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners..." (1 Timothy 1:15)
He does not say "offer" to save, but to "save". To deny this is to deny the Master in my opinion so I have chosen to believe God.
This is another example of what I consider to be a “destructive heresy” that is “secretly introduced” by mistranslating the Original language of the bible into English by adding words that are not in the text.
God loves and Jesus died for all people, even false teachers…and although those who “secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them” will be saved, in my opinion, they may miss out on the reign of Christ during the next two ages.
“…we work hard and do our best because our hope is in the living God, the One Who would save all men. He saves those who believe in Him.” (1 Timothy 4:10 New Life Bible)
“…we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.” (1 Timothy 4:10 NASB and most other translations - over 15 that I looked at)
So which is correct? Is God the “savior of all men, especially believers” like almost all translation have it, or is it that he “would” save all men but will only save “those who believe” as set forth in the NLB?
Again, I went to the resources I mentioned yesterday to find out. I found that the majority of English translations are correct and that "God is the Savior of all men, especially believers” is the best translation. So the creators of the NLB are false teachers…at least in these verses.
And I am concerned because I know that most Christians believe like the bad translation reads...!
One does not "deny the Master" just by denying that Jesus is the Master, but also by denying what he has done...saved sinners as Paul tells us...
"...Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners..." (1 Timothy 1:15)
He does not say "offer" to save, but to "save". To deny this is to deny the Master in my opinion so I have chosen to believe God.
This is another example of what I consider to be a “destructive heresy” that is “secretly introduced” by mistranslating the Original language of the bible into English by adding words that are not in the text.
God loves and Jesus died for all people, even false teachers…and although those who “secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them” will be saved, in my opinion, they may miss out on the reign of Christ during the next two ages.
“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be FALSE TEACHERS among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them….” (2 Peter 2:1)
I think of a “prophet” as one to whom God originally spoke the Words (the Scripture) found in the Bible and were told by God to tell others what God said. As best I can tell, these ORIGINAL Words of God given to the prophets were codified into what we now call the Bible around 325 AD.
I think a “teacher” is anyone who explains those Words to others. The Apostle Paul seems to be the last Prophet to receive any ORIGINAL Words of God because he says that his ministry was to reveal the mystery previously hidden and therefore COMPLETE the Word of God...
“...I became a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given me towards you to COMPLETE the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but has NOW been made manifest to his saints...” (Colossians 1:24-28 Darby)
In figuring out false teaching I start with the assumption that anyone, including myself, could teach what is false, even without knowing it. So I test what I hear and what I am taught and my own views by referring to the best English translation of the Bible I can find. And even when I find a good translation…I REMEMBER that it is a translation done by men and the translation itself is NOT INSPIRED even though the ORIGINAL Words were. So the translation could sometimes be in error. As an example let me quote another translation of part of the above verses in Colossians...
“...I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to FULFILL the word of God...” (King James Bible)
So was Paul to “fulfill” the word of God or “complete” it? A teacher who does NOT want to teach falsely needs to know if there is a difference and if so, figure out which is correct. How?
The only way I know to check is by going to the oldest original language manuscripts and check the meaning of the translated Greek, Hebrew or Aramaic word for themselves. Good Concordances and Interlinear Bibles are available online for free these days so I just Google it. In the above verses I came to the conclusion that COMPLETE was the most accurate English word. And the mystery that Paul was given to teach had up until then “been hidden” from past generations.
Another example of mistranslation is found in Titus 2:1...
“For the grace of God has appeared that OFFERS salvation to all people.” (NIV)
“For the grace of God has appeared, BRINGING salvation to all men”. (NASB)
So is salvation “offered” to mankind as the NIV has it, or “brought” to mankind as the NASB (and most others) have it?
Back to the above mentioned online resources to check it out for myself. I found that the idea of “offers” is not found in the original Greek text but the idea of “bringing ” was there and therefore the best English translation. So at least in that verse, the translators of the NIV are in error and “false teachers”, so in my opinion they “secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them”...at least deny the magnitude of what our Lord (Master) accomplished for mankind.
Tomorrow I will look at – 1 Timothy 4:10 which again may provoke some of you to wrath… so you may want to read it in as many translations as you can before you read my post.
I think of a “prophet” as one to whom God originally spoke the Words (the Scripture) found in the Bible and were told by God to tell others what God said. As best I can tell, these ORIGINAL Words of God given to the prophets were codified into what we now call the Bible around 325 AD.
I think a “teacher” is anyone who explains those Words to others. The Apostle Paul seems to be the last Prophet to receive any ORIGINAL Words of God because he says that his ministry was to reveal the mystery previously hidden and therefore COMPLETE the Word of God...
“...I became a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given me towards you to COMPLETE the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but has NOW been made manifest to his saints...” (Colossians 1:24-28 Darby)
In figuring out false teaching I start with the assumption that anyone, including myself, could teach what is false, even without knowing it. So I test what I hear and what I am taught and my own views by referring to the best English translation of the Bible I can find. And even when I find a good translation…I REMEMBER that it is a translation done by men and the translation itself is NOT INSPIRED even though the ORIGINAL Words were. So the translation could sometimes be in error. As an example let me quote another translation of part of the above verses in Colossians...
“...I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to FULFILL the word of God...” (King James Bible)
So was Paul to “fulfill” the word of God or “complete” it? A teacher who does NOT want to teach falsely needs to know if there is a difference and if so, figure out which is correct. How?
The only way I know to check is by going to the oldest original language manuscripts and check the meaning of the translated Greek, Hebrew or Aramaic word for themselves. Good Concordances and Interlinear Bibles are available online for free these days so I just Google it. In the above verses I came to the conclusion that COMPLETE was the most accurate English word. And the mystery that Paul was given to teach had up until then “been hidden” from past generations.
Another example of mistranslation is found in Titus 2:1...
“For the grace of God has appeared that OFFERS salvation to all people.” (NIV)
“For the grace of God has appeared, BRINGING salvation to all men”. (NASB)
So is salvation “offered” to mankind as the NIV has it, or “brought” to mankind as the NASB (and most others) have it?
Back to the above mentioned online resources to check it out for myself. I found that the idea of “offers” is not found in the original Greek text but the idea of “bringing ” was there and therefore the best English translation. So at least in that verse, the translators of the NIV are in error and “false teachers”, so in my opinion they “secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them”...at least deny the magnitude of what our Lord (Master) accomplished for mankind.
Tomorrow I will look at – 1 Timothy 4:10 which again may provoke some of you to wrath… so you may want to read it in as many translations as you can before you read my post.
“But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, or no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” (2 Peter 1:2-3)
And so Peter begins by saying that all Scripture is from God. Then he warns his listeners of false prophets who would arise and be among them…
“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.” (2 Peter 2:1)
I believe this is true because I believe the Bible. And that was 2000 years ago, no telling where these “secret heresies” will be embedded among churches after 2000 year sooooo….the difficult thing is to figure out the "false prophets" are and especially what they "secretly introduced" into the church since they have been mingling with the church for 2000 years.
It has been my experience that most Christians today suspect anyone who disagrees with them...I am kind of like that too I suppose. The only difference is in my way of thinking even the false prophets get saved eventually just like everyone else. But to them, a least some of them, they are concerned that I am going to hell because of my views…I love them for that concern…
We should remember it is MEN who are the false prophets, and MEN translate the original language of Scripture into English, and MEN interpret the Scripture, sometimes in error. I suspect false prophets think that they are not…if I am one, I sure don’t think so.
So how can we know?
OK here it is….READ AND STUDY THE BIBLE FOR YOURSELF unless you are afraid to find out!
And we will do that tomorrow…just a warning so you can avoid my post tomorrow if you want. I’ll never know….which is the beauty of Facebook and Blogs.
And so Peter begins by saying that all Scripture is from God. Then he warns his listeners of false prophets who would arise and be among them…
“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.” (2 Peter 2:1)
I believe this is true because I believe the Bible. And that was 2000 years ago, no telling where these “secret heresies” will be embedded among churches after 2000 year sooooo….the difficult thing is to figure out the "false prophets" are and especially what they "secretly introduced" into the church since they have been mingling with the church for 2000 years.
It has been my experience that most Christians today suspect anyone who disagrees with them...I am kind of like that too I suppose. The only difference is in my way of thinking even the false prophets get saved eventually just like everyone else. But to them, a least some of them, they are concerned that I am going to hell because of my views…I love them for that concern…
We should remember it is MEN who are the false prophets, and MEN translate the original language of Scripture into English, and MEN interpret the Scripture, sometimes in error. I suspect false prophets think that they are not…if I am one, I sure don’t think so.
So how can we know?
OK here it is….READ AND STUDY THE BIBLE FOR YOURSELF unless you are afraid to find out!
And we will do that tomorrow…just a warning so you can avoid my post tomorrow if you want. I’ll never know….which is the beauty of Facebook and Blogs.
“…we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things.” (1 Timothy 4:10)
I can imagine being asked by a defensive church leader. Robert, assuming that the above verse is true (as if the Bible might not be true) and God is actually the Savior of all men and does so, what exactly are we to do, close all the churches, seminaries and missionary organizations?
I would bow my head in prayer and ask the Father for permission to say YES – but before I did he would go on to ask:
Doesn’t obeying the 10 commandments, repenting when we sin, joining a church, sacrificially giving, getting baptized, reading the bible, winning people to Jesus, getting involved in AWANA, fighting abortion, bashing Obama for his love of Islam and attending and supporting the local church please God?
So I would swallow my pride and humbly say. I don’t know but it will sure please 20% of the Christians I know who need some help in doing those things.
Let’s be honest, none of those things are specifically said in Scripture to please God. But the Bible does specifically tell us what DOES please Him.
The Old Testament prophet Micah, speaking for God to Israel, tells them as simply as can be said what God required of them (simply is the way God says things that are important to Him like He is “the Savior of all men”)…
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
And just as clearly Paul reminds Titus his friend of what everyone is to do since the grace of God has brought salvation to all men…
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” (Titus 2:11-14)
Pretty clear to me. To sum it up from the Bible…rather than the creeds of religious institutions.
Be just, kind, and humble….and love people!
I know, it is not as easy as it sounds….but it is SIMPLE.
I can imagine being asked by a defensive church leader. Robert, assuming that the above verse is true (as if the Bible might not be true) and God is actually the Savior of all men and does so, what exactly are we to do, close all the churches, seminaries and missionary organizations?
I would bow my head in prayer and ask the Father for permission to say YES – but before I did he would go on to ask:
Doesn’t obeying the 10 commandments, repenting when we sin, joining a church, sacrificially giving, getting baptized, reading the bible, winning people to Jesus, getting involved in AWANA, fighting abortion, bashing Obama for his love of Islam and attending and supporting the local church please God?
So I would swallow my pride and humbly say. I don’t know but it will sure please 20% of the Christians I know who need some help in doing those things.
Let’s be honest, none of those things are specifically said in Scripture to please God. But the Bible does specifically tell us what DOES please Him.
The Old Testament prophet Micah, speaking for God to Israel, tells them as simply as can be said what God required of them (simply is the way God says things that are important to Him like He is “the Savior of all men”)…
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
And just as clearly Paul reminds Titus his friend of what everyone is to do since the grace of God has brought salvation to all men…
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” (Titus 2:11-14)
Pretty clear to me. To sum it up from the Bible…rather than the creeds of religious institutions.
Be just, kind, and humble….and love people!
I know, it is not as easy as it sounds….but it is SIMPLE.
To lighten things up a bit:
I was around 16 years old and was sitting in my pew next to a friend minding my own business. It was the close of a service and the Pastor was extremely happy because he was in the baptistery to baptize those who had walked the aisle during the revival. All was quiet and reverent when the Pastor announced “buried with Christ in Baptism, raised to walk in newness of life”. I was not as intent on what was going on as some because I had already been baptized myself 3 times. As I recall I was irreverently trying to make bubbles with my saliva with my mind in lala land. THEN IT HAPPENED…down he went into the water and up he came, at which time my friend leaned over to me and said…
“WEEEE, another sinner bites the dust”
It was his fault not mine!…those bubbles spewed out over the balcony onto the unsuspecting people below and we just could not stop laughing. THEN, just as suddenly as we laughed, FEAR seized my body as a saw the Pastor and congregation looking up to where we were sitting. “Oh crap Wayne…we’re going to hell for sure.” Next service I was the first down the aisle and all was well until…well you get it, there is always the next thing that makes you happy, then turns to guilt and fear…and repentance is there to save the day! Thank you Jesus.
Now let me ask you. Reading that story, did you laugh? If you did then you are fine…keep attending the church you attend. If you reacted in self-righteous horror…you may have a problem…get out!
Just thinking.
I was around 16 years old and was sitting in my pew next to a friend minding my own business. It was the close of a service and the Pastor was extremely happy because he was in the baptistery to baptize those who had walked the aisle during the revival. All was quiet and reverent when the Pastor announced “buried with Christ in Baptism, raised to walk in newness of life”. I was not as intent on what was going on as some because I had already been baptized myself 3 times. As I recall I was irreverently trying to make bubbles with my saliva with my mind in lala land. THEN IT HAPPENED…down he went into the water and up he came, at which time my friend leaned over to me and said…
“WEEEE, another sinner bites the dust”
It was his fault not mine!…those bubbles spewed out over the balcony onto the unsuspecting people below and we just could not stop laughing. THEN, just as suddenly as we laughed, FEAR seized my body as a saw the Pastor and congregation looking up to where we were sitting. “Oh crap Wayne…we’re going to hell for sure.” Next service I was the first down the aisle and all was well until…well you get it, there is always the next thing that makes you happy, then turns to guilt and fear…and repentance is there to save the day! Thank you Jesus.
Now let me ask you. Reading that story, did you laugh? If you did then you are fine…keep attending the church you attend. If you reacted in self-righteous horror…you may have a problem…get out!
Just thinking.
Why Did God Create Evil?
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:2-7)
The last two days I have been thinking about God’s plan for mankind, and I concluded in studying the word saint in the Scripture that all people are saints in God’s eye. Paul says above that it is God’s intention and choice to bless us, not curse us. In fact God decided and PREDESTINED this before He created any of us…and He knew that ALL would sin and fall short of the glory of God in this present evil age which must have been why he created evil…
“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7)
And the Bible seems to indicate that the reason He created evil and allows mankind to sin is so that he can reveal his MERCY and GRACE and demonstrate His LOVE by redeeming sinners through the blood of Christ Jesus…
“God demonstrates His love towards us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us…God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have MERCY on all...In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His GRACE which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him” (Romans 5:8; Romans 11:32; Ephesians 1:8-9)
One day God will finish what He has begun in an age yet to come and says that we should view the evil we are experiencing in this age as follows…
”...with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been PREDESTINED according to HIS PURPOSE who works ALL THINGS after the counsel of HIS WILL." (Ephesians 1:10-11)
The last two days I have been thinking about God’s plan for mankind, and I concluded in studying the word saint in the Scripture that all people are saints in God’s eye. Paul says above that it is God’s intention and choice to bless us, not curse us. In fact God decided and PREDESTINED this before He created any of us…and He knew that ALL would sin and fall short of the glory of God in this present evil age which must have been why he created evil…
“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7)
And the Bible seems to indicate that the reason He created evil and allows mankind to sin is so that he can reveal his MERCY and GRACE and demonstrate His LOVE by redeeming sinners through the blood of Christ Jesus…
“God demonstrates His love towards us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us…God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have MERCY on all...In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His GRACE which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him” (Romans 5:8; Romans 11:32; Ephesians 1:8-9)
One day God will finish what He has begun in an age yet to come and says that we should view the evil we are experiencing in this age as follows…
”...with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been PREDESTINED according to HIS PURPOSE who works ALL THINGS after the counsel of HIS WILL." (Ephesians 1:10-11)
Saints - Part Two
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 1:1-2)
Yesterday I was thinking about who the saints are and want to continue my thoughts. Religious dogma has altered the meaning of “saint” to restrict it to a few people whom their particular sect considers to be more righteous than other folks…even praying to them on occasion. It appears to me, however, that to God all mankind are holy to Him and set apart…therefore Saints….despite the fact that He also clearly says, “there is none righteous, no not one”, and “all have sinned”. God created mankind to be made into His image. At least that is how I read the Scripture. But only a few of these saints have been “faithful” since their creation.
Paul was chosen to reveal the glorious future of all mankind to those who God has predetermined to hear and believe in this present evil age…and it has been my experience that those who hear and believe the good news of the eventual reconciliation and salvation of all rejoice. They are at peace with God, giving Him praise and thanksgiving for this promise. Some of them are driven to tell others about it...like Paul who said…
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He PREDESTINED us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of HIS WILL, to the praise of the glory of His GRACE, which He FREELY bestowed on us in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:2-7)
But whether the faithful saints are destined to tell anyone or not, one future day, after the final resurrection of both the just and unjust, and after death has been abolished, ALL people will be completed by God into His righteous spiritual image…and ALL will believe and rejoice in their Salvation…God’s plan will be complete and He will be "ALL in ALL".
“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive….The last enemy that will be abolished is death….so that God may be ALL in ALL.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)
I get the impression sometimes that we Christians do not think it fair that God would save everyone. But we should have the same kind of attitude about it as Christ Jesus had…
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus… He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-7)
And why did he have this attitude? Paul again tells us it was to demonstrate the LOVE of God for mankind (Saints) and that He would deliver mankind from His wrath (death)….
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him…for the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:8-9; 6:23)
Sorry Christians, but we do not have the franchise of God’s love as a result of any wise decision we make in this life…God loves everyone the same and Jesus died for ALL and as a result of his faithfulness God has highly exalted HIM and every knee will eventually bow and confess him as the Lord of their Salvation…
For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11)
This makes a “faithful” saint happy.
Yesterday I was thinking about who the saints are and want to continue my thoughts. Religious dogma has altered the meaning of “saint” to restrict it to a few people whom their particular sect considers to be more righteous than other folks…even praying to them on occasion. It appears to me, however, that to God all mankind are holy to Him and set apart…therefore Saints….despite the fact that He also clearly says, “there is none righteous, no not one”, and “all have sinned”. God created mankind to be made into His image. At least that is how I read the Scripture. But only a few of these saints have been “faithful” since their creation.
Paul was chosen to reveal the glorious future of all mankind to those who God has predetermined to hear and believe in this present evil age…and it has been my experience that those who hear and believe the good news of the eventual reconciliation and salvation of all rejoice. They are at peace with God, giving Him praise and thanksgiving for this promise. Some of them are driven to tell others about it...like Paul who said…
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He PREDESTINED us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of HIS WILL, to the praise of the glory of His GRACE, which He FREELY bestowed on us in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:2-7)
But whether the faithful saints are destined to tell anyone or not, one future day, after the final resurrection of both the just and unjust, and after death has been abolished, ALL people will be completed by God into His righteous spiritual image…and ALL will believe and rejoice in their Salvation…God’s plan will be complete and He will be "ALL in ALL".
“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive….The last enemy that will be abolished is death….so that God may be ALL in ALL.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)
I get the impression sometimes that we Christians do not think it fair that God would save everyone. But we should have the same kind of attitude about it as Christ Jesus had…
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus… He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-7)
And why did he have this attitude? Paul again tells us it was to demonstrate the LOVE of God for mankind (Saints) and that He would deliver mankind from His wrath (death)….
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him…for the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:8-9; 6:23)
Sorry Christians, but we do not have the franchise of God’s love as a result of any wise decision we make in this life…God loves everyone the same and Jesus died for ALL and as a result of his faithfulness God has highly exalted HIM and every knee will eventually bow and confess him as the Lord of their Salvation…
For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11)
This makes a “faithful” saint happy.
Saints - Part One
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. To the SAINTS who are at Ephesus who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 1:1-2)
Paul had no choice in the matter of becoming an apostle, it was the WILL of God for him. And he wrote this letter to saints “who are FAITHFUL”. Not to all Saints, but to the faithful saints…meaning of course that there are also saints who are unfaithful…which made me start to think about the term “saints” in the Scripture.
The Hebrew word for Saint is “qodesh” and the Greek word for Saint is “hagios” and both are translated not only “saint” but “holy” in the English versions of the Bible. The short definition is “set apart” or “holy” or “sacred”. But it has nothing to do with a person’s goodness or righteousness as Christian dogma implies but simply refers to any person or thing God sets apart, and is therefore “unique” or “special” just because God says so. The Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple was simply the most special place of the special places in those structures. It was where God met with the High Priest once per year and where the Arc of the Covenant with Israel was kept.
The Bible says that when God created mankind He set them apart as a unique or special class of “living souls” to be made into God’s own image…
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a LIVING SOUL…Then God said, Let Us make man in Our IMAGE, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them…” (Genesis 2:7, 26-27)
ALL those descended from Adam and Eve are set apart…or “SAINTS”, special animals who are to receive salvation as a gift of God’s GRACE…not according to their Godly works.
Listen to both Peter, the apostle to Israel and Paul the apostle to both Jew and Gentile as they talk of this Salvation….
Peter: “As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the GRACE that would come to you…fix your hope completely on the GRACE to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ...you shall be holy...” (1 Peter 1:10-15)
Paul: “For the wages of sin is death but the free GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord…It is by GRACE you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is a GIFT of God, not of works…” (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-10)
Mankind is a special creation of God (saints) because He says so…we all become sinners and miss the mark in this life...but He is mighty to save!
The Joy of Your Salvation
King David lamented to God…“Restore to me the joy of your salvation.” (Psalm 51:12)
I think many Christians have lost the “joy” of their salvation. David lost it due to the guilt associated with his sin and I suppose that still happens. But many who have lost this joy are not sure why? They are faithful members of a local church.
I sympathize with them because I lost my joy while actively involved in a local Church as a deacon, lay preacher, and bible teacher, and serving on an international mission board. But the more I served the less joy I had. After 25 years of working in the local church trying to please God, all I had was “guilt” that I just did not do enough, which guilt was regularly reinforced by well-meaning pastors and guest evangelists who would imply that most people would end up in hell because the church was not doing a good enough job to save them.
AND THEN IT HAPPENED…GOD OPENED MY EYES TO THE TRUTH. I had labored all those years to DO what God in Christ had already DONE for the lost.
Opening my eyes was pretty simple really. First He showed me that the doctrine of eternal conscious torment in hell was a lie and showed me the truth about those mistranslated passages used to teach such a horrible fable. Then it was simply a matter of believing the Bible, especially the message Jesus gave the Apostle Paul to preach to the nations…
“To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things…It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance…for it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of ALL MEN, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things” (1 Timothy 4:1, 7, 9-11)
In this same letter to Timothy written 2000 years ago, Paul warned that the days would come when people would fall away from this faith and pay attention to doctrines of demons…
“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons…have nothing to do with worldly fables…” (1 Timothy 4:1, 7)
This falling away began to happen toward the end of Paul’s ministry as shown in Paul’s 2nd and final letter to Timothy where he encouraged him to….
“Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me.” (2 Timothy 1:15)
This turning from the gospel of the salvation of all given to Paul to a gospel of a mere “offer” of Salvation was well established in the Church by the fourth century AD along with some myths of deceitful spirits which are still taught as doctrines in Churches today…myths which have robbed mankind of the JOY OF THEIR SALVATION.
The JOY of my Salvation is my most precious possession!
I think many Christians have lost the “joy” of their salvation. David lost it due to the guilt associated with his sin and I suppose that still happens. But many who have lost this joy are not sure why? They are faithful members of a local church.
I sympathize with them because I lost my joy while actively involved in a local Church as a deacon, lay preacher, and bible teacher, and serving on an international mission board. But the more I served the less joy I had. After 25 years of working in the local church trying to please God, all I had was “guilt” that I just did not do enough, which guilt was regularly reinforced by well-meaning pastors and guest evangelists who would imply that most people would end up in hell because the church was not doing a good enough job to save them.
AND THEN IT HAPPENED…GOD OPENED MY EYES TO THE TRUTH. I had labored all those years to DO what God in Christ had already DONE for the lost.
Opening my eyes was pretty simple really. First He showed me that the doctrine of eternal conscious torment in hell was a lie and showed me the truth about those mistranslated passages used to teach such a horrible fable. Then it was simply a matter of believing the Bible, especially the message Jesus gave the Apostle Paul to preach to the nations…
“To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things…It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance…for it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of ALL MEN, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things” (1 Timothy 4:1, 7, 9-11)
In this same letter to Timothy written 2000 years ago, Paul warned that the days would come when people would fall away from this faith and pay attention to doctrines of demons…
“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons…have nothing to do with worldly fables…” (1 Timothy 4:1, 7)
This falling away began to happen toward the end of Paul’s ministry as shown in Paul’s 2nd and final letter to Timothy where he encouraged him to….
“Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me.” (2 Timothy 1:15)
This turning from the gospel of the salvation of all given to Paul to a gospel of a mere “offer” of Salvation was well established in the Church by the fourth century AD along with some myths of deceitful spirits which are still taught as doctrines in Churches today…myths which have robbed mankind of the JOY OF THEIR SALVATION.
The JOY of my Salvation is my most precious possession!
Without Faith - Part Two
“…without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Yesterday I pointed out that the Bible clearly says that God is going to save ALL ISRAEL as His unconditional promise. God is no respecter of persons and so the Bible also clearly says that God is going to unconditionally save everyone else. God says it and only those who believe what he says have FAITH that pleases God. Here is His unconditional promise…
“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires (wills) all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time... it is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance, for it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things.” (1 Timothy 1:15; 2:3-6; 4:9-11).
The Bible cannot say it any plainer than this and I have chosen to believe the Bible rather than men. The above is an unconditional promise and one either believes what God says or doesn’t…our choice. But God is going to do what he unconditionally promises whether you believe Him or not. And it is my opinion that any other gospel proclaimed does NOT please God.
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” (Titus 2:11-14)
Yesterday I pointed out that the Bible clearly says that God is going to save ALL ISRAEL as His unconditional promise. God is no respecter of persons and so the Bible also clearly says that God is going to unconditionally save everyone else. God says it and only those who believe what he says have FAITH that pleases God. Here is His unconditional promise…
“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires (wills) all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time... it is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance, for it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things.” (1 Timothy 1:15; 2:3-6; 4:9-11).
The Bible cannot say it any plainer than this and I have chosen to believe the Bible rather than men. The above is an unconditional promise and one either believes what God says or doesn’t…our choice. But God is going to do what he unconditionally promises whether you believe Him or not. And it is my opinion that any other gospel proclaimed does NOT please God.
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” (Titus 2:11-14)
Without Faith - Part One
“…without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Biblical FAITH is an interesting topic to study. The Greek word for faith is “pistis” and a short definition is simply “belief” or “trust”. As related to God in the Scripture it has to do with whether you believe and trust what God says. Of course it is important to actually KNOW what God has said. Simply believing or trusting what another person says about God is NOT the faith that will please God according to the Bible.
I have made the choice to have FAITH (believe and trust) that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. I cannot prove it and do not spend any time trying to do so. I have also chosen NOT to believe that there are any other writings or teachings which are the inerrant Word of God. What that does for me is to give me a solid foundation upon which to test other people’s opinions about God and life in general. I do not condemn their opinions, I just do not believe them when I find that those teachings do not line up with what the Bible says. I apply this to the teachings of Christianity and well as all other Religions of the world.
"Therefore say to the Israelites, This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone.” (Ezekiel 36:22)
In the Bible God sometimes promises to do certain things if the object of the promise is obedient. Other times God tells us things that He is going to do without conditions of obedience attached. The above refers to one of those unconditional promises to Israel as follows…
“For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God. Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness…” (Ezekiel 36:24-28)
This has NOT happened yet, but God has promised to SAVE Israel and change them without any conditions, and in spite of the fact that they have “profaned His name among the nations”. FAITH simply believes and trusts God to do what He says. Here God says He will one day SAVE Israel and make them CLEAN. If you do not believe God is going to do this for Israel, then you do not have the biblical FAITH that pleases God. Paul believed God and wrote to the Romans…
“…and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob. This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins…from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved…for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:26-29)
Biblical FAITH is an interesting topic to study. The Greek word for faith is “pistis” and a short definition is simply “belief” or “trust”. As related to God in the Scripture it has to do with whether you believe and trust what God says. Of course it is important to actually KNOW what God has said. Simply believing or trusting what another person says about God is NOT the faith that will please God according to the Bible.
I have made the choice to have FAITH (believe and trust) that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. I cannot prove it and do not spend any time trying to do so. I have also chosen NOT to believe that there are any other writings or teachings which are the inerrant Word of God. What that does for me is to give me a solid foundation upon which to test other people’s opinions about God and life in general. I do not condemn their opinions, I just do not believe them when I find that those teachings do not line up with what the Bible says. I apply this to the teachings of Christianity and well as all other Religions of the world.
"Therefore say to the Israelites, This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone.” (Ezekiel 36:22)
In the Bible God sometimes promises to do certain things if the object of the promise is obedient. Other times God tells us things that He is going to do without conditions of obedience attached. The above refers to one of those unconditional promises to Israel as follows…
“For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God. Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness…” (Ezekiel 36:24-28)
This has NOT happened yet, but God has promised to SAVE Israel and change them without any conditions, and in spite of the fact that they have “profaned His name among the nations”. FAITH simply believes and trusts God to do what He says. Here God says He will one day SAVE Israel and make them CLEAN. If you do not believe God is going to do this for Israel, then you do not have the biblical FAITH that pleases God. Paul believed God and wrote to the Romans…
“…and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob. This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins…from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved…for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:26-29)
Would you save all your children if you could?
“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them…The LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.” (Genesis 1:7; 2:8)
There are certain things God does for mankind just because he wants to, creating Adam and putting him in a garden paradise was the first one of those things we are told about in Scripture.
“…seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat...by faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.” (Joshua 6:4-7; Hebrews 11:30)
There are certain things that God will do for people only if they have the faith to do the things he says must be done, like blow trumpets and march around the walls of Jericho seven times to get it to fall down.
The critical question in regards to being RECONCILED TO GOD and SAVED from death, the consequences of sin, is simply…Does God reconcile and save people because he wants to, and without them doing anything to get it?
“…Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep…for as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive…the last enemy that will be abolished is death…so that God may be all in all…Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ…God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation…He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-28; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
People, it is not what YOU DO, but what God HAS DONE in Christ Jesus that guarantees that mankind, ALL OF THEM, will be reconciled and saved at the close of the ages…Some come to know about it in this life and are full of joy and peace, and others, well you know…they join the various religious groups and do what they are told needs to be done to be saved. Nevertheless, the Scripture says about Christ Jesus…
“He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.” (Colossians 1:18-22)
That is the Good News Gospel that I have been asked NOT to share by church leaders and self-proclaimed watchman, but anyone who is not sharing the above good news is simply watching over and participating in man-made religious doctrine , which is not the gospel of the “ecclesia” (church) at all – at least that’s my opinion after studying the Bible for 40 years…the gospel really is Good News For ALL, not just a few.
There are certain things God does for mankind just because he wants to, creating Adam and putting him in a garden paradise was the first one of those things we are told about in Scripture.
“…seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat...by faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.” (Joshua 6:4-7; Hebrews 11:30)
There are certain things that God will do for people only if they have the faith to do the things he says must be done, like blow trumpets and march around the walls of Jericho seven times to get it to fall down.
The critical question in regards to being RECONCILED TO GOD and SAVED from death, the consequences of sin, is simply…Does God reconcile and save people because he wants to, and without them doing anything to get it?
“…Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep…for as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive…the last enemy that will be abolished is death…so that God may be all in all…Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ…God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation…He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-28; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
People, it is not what YOU DO, but what God HAS DONE in Christ Jesus that guarantees that mankind, ALL OF THEM, will be reconciled and saved at the close of the ages…Some come to know about it in this life and are full of joy and peace, and others, well you know…they join the various religious groups and do what they are told needs to be done to be saved. Nevertheless, the Scripture says about Christ Jesus…
“He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.” (Colossians 1:18-22)
That is the Good News Gospel that I have been asked NOT to share by church leaders and self-proclaimed watchman, but anyone who is not sharing the above good news is simply watching over and participating in man-made religious doctrine , which is not the gospel of the “ecclesia” (church) at all – at least that’s my opinion after studying the Bible for 40 years…the gospel really is Good News For ALL, not just a few.
"...ungodly persons who turn the GRACE of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." (Jude 1:4)
I have been told by sincere Christians that they fear that if sinners are told they have been saved by the GRACE of God without any "free will" choice, then they will be prone to "licentiousness" because they would have no restraint.
They simply do not know, or have forgotten their experience with the true GRACE of God, in my opinion. My experience is that the ones who come to know true GRACE endeavor to please God in all that they do, and do not deny their Lord Jesus who brought "salvation to all men" (Titus 2:11).
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men…” (Titus 2:11)
If Salvation was brought to mankind as a “choice”, it seems to me that it is by that choice (a work) that a person would be saved. But we are told in Scripture that Salvation is by the grace of God and excludes the works of men.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works…” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
It does not seem right to me to mix the two and still call it grace. I agree with Paul…
"But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace" (Romans 11:6)
I have been told by sincere Christians that they fear that if sinners are told they have been saved by the GRACE of God without any "free will" choice, then they will be prone to "licentiousness" because they would have no restraint.
They simply do not know, or have forgotten their experience with the true GRACE of God, in my opinion. My experience is that the ones who come to know true GRACE endeavor to please God in all that they do, and do not deny their Lord Jesus who brought "salvation to all men" (Titus 2:11).
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men…” (Titus 2:11)
If Salvation was brought to mankind as a “choice”, it seems to me that it is by that choice (a work) that a person would be saved. But we are told in Scripture that Salvation is by the grace of God and excludes the works of men.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works…” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
It does not seem right to me to mix the two and still call it grace. I agree with Paul…
"But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace" (Romans 11:6)
Capital Punishment and Judgment - According to God
Capital Punishment: Liberal Democrats are against it and conservative Christians make it even worse than death.
"ALL have sinned...." (Romans 3:23)
Therefore...
"...it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27)
God is for Capital Punishment - so I'm for what God is for!
Judgment: Liberal Democrats think they are the gods in charge of it and conservative Christians think the Liberals are going to hell for thinking so.
“When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His son.” (Romans 5:10)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
“Trust in the living God, who is the Savior of ALL men.” (1 Tim. 4:10)
Son, in obedience to God I have determined to believe God and...
"Prescribe and teach these things." (1 Tim. 4:11)
But the Bible is crystal clear that God invented it as the penalty for sin.
"...sin is the transgression of the law." (1 John 3:4)
"...sin is the transgression of the law." (1 John 3:4)
"The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23a)
"ALL have sinned...." (Romans 3:23)
Therefore...
"...it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27)
God is for Capital Punishment - so I'm for what God is for!
Judgment: Liberal Democrats think they are the gods in charge of it and conservative Christians think the Liberals are going to hell for thinking so.
But again the Bible is crystal clear that God is in charge of Judgment. And that Judgment is to save the sinners from death - all of them - by making them new and alive in Christ Jesus.
“For even as, in Adam, ALL are dying, thus also, in Christ ,shall ALL be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22)
"Anyone in Christ is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:17-18)
This Judgment of God is the good news (the gospel) that is supposed to be taught in the Churches who proclaim Jesus is Lord. Here is some more of that good news from the Bible...
"As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12)
“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not counting their sins against them.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)
“God our Savior…will have ALL men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4)
"God commends His love for us in that while we were sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His son.” (Romans 5:10)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
“And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile ALL unto Himself.” (Colossians 1:20)
"...there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who have himself as a ransom for all." (1 Tim. 2:5-6)
“Trust in the living God, who is the Savior of ALL men.” (1 Tim. 4:10)
Son, in obedience to God I have determined to believe God and...
"Prescribe and teach these things." (1 Tim. 4:11)
Another election day…what to do!
Those who believe God are called Saints in the Bible. Note that they believe what the God “says”… not just in a god. As Saints of God we are part of a Theocracy, not a Democracy. God has cast the only vote that matters eternally…and he voted in favor of His enemies and turning them into Saints….go figure…God is not like us!
“…while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation…. one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.…God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ...” (Romans 5:10-11; 2 Corinthians 5:14-20)
Believers, regardless of what we may say or how we vote, are not simply Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Communists or Socialists. We are ambassadors for Christ…or we are not.
“…the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people… For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God.” (Daniel 4:17; Romans 13:1-2)
That being said…VOTE - but remember it is God who determines who among the “lowliest of people” will win.
Those who believe God are called Saints in the Bible. Note that they believe what the God “says”… not just in a god. As Saints of God we are part of a Theocracy, not a Democracy. God has cast the only vote that matters eternally…and he voted in favor of His enemies and turning them into Saints….go figure…God is not like us!
“…while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation…. one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.…God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ...” (Romans 5:10-11; 2 Corinthians 5:14-20)
Believers, regardless of what we may say or how we vote, are not simply Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Communists or Socialists. We are ambassadors for Christ…or we are not.
“…the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people… For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God.” (Daniel 4:17; Romans 13:1-2)
That being said…VOTE - but remember it is God who determines who among the “lowliest of people” will win.
“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the GRACE of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ…” (Galatians 1:6-8)
A truth that benefits everyone, no matter how good it is, is rarely popular. The good news of the reconciliation and salvation of all is a good example. For some reason, believers inevitable fall away from the reality of this Grace into some form of law keeping which separates those worthy of salvation from the unworthy. Instead of growing in Grace, they retreat to the bondage of the Law. They continue to call it Grace, but it is a mixture of Law and Grace, another gospel altogether…which is no gospel at all. Mankind does not want anything for FREE, they want to believe they had some part, however small, in obtaining it. The ultimate Salvation and Reconciliation of all to God is the prime example….But it is free regardless of what religious men say.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
I ran across this quote from A. W. Tozer which seemed pretty well on point today.
“Popular Judaism slew the prophets and crucified Christ. Popular Christianity killed the reformers, jailed the Quakers and drove John Wesley into the streets. When it comes to religion, the crowds are always wrong. At any time there are a few who see, and the rest are blinded. To stand by the truth of God against the current religious vogue is always unpopular and may be downright dangerous... Christianity's scramble for popularity today is an unconscious acknowledgment of spiritual decline.”
I have not found it dangerous yet…just lonely.
A truth that benefits everyone, no matter how good it is, is rarely popular. The good news of the reconciliation and salvation of all is a good example. For some reason, believers inevitable fall away from the reality of this Grace into some form of law keeping which separates those worthy of salvation from the unworthy. Instead of growing in Grace, they retreat to the bondage of the Law. They continue to call it Grace, but it is a mixture of Law and Grace, another gospel altogether…which is no gospel at all. Mankind does not want anything for FREE, they want to believe they had some part, however small, in obtaining it. The ultimate Salvation and Reconciliation of all to God is the prime example….But it is free regardless of what religious men say.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
I ran across this quote from A. W. Tozer which seemed pretty well on point today.
“Popular Judaism slew the prophets and crucified Christ. Popular Christianity killed the reformers, jailed the Quakers and drove John Wesley into the streets. When it comes to religion, the crowds are always wrong. At any time there are a few who see, and the rest are blinded. To stand by the truth of God against the current religious vogue is always unpopular and may be downright dangerous... Christianity's scramble for popularity today is an unconscious acknowledgment of spiritual decline.”
I have not found it dangerous yet…just lonely.
"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind." (Isaiah 65:17)
Sue Ann and I recently took a ride on a helicopter and was able to view the island where King Kong, South Pacific, Donovan's Reef, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Avatar and the Jurassic Park movies were filmed, and where "Tattoo" would announce "de plane, de plane" on the Fantasy Island series. It was awesome and beautiful but it made me think. Most people who have lived on this planet since creation have never ventured more than a few miles from where they were born and where they died. And depending on where they lived, they may not have seen the ocean, a view from a mountaintop, or a tropical island paradise. But I am certain we ALL will see even more wondrous things than this present earth has to offer...so awesome that the former things will not come to mind.
"...just as it is written, THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." (1 Corinthians 2:9)
And all are destined to love Him....in His time.
Sue Ann and I recently took a ride on a helicopter and was able to view the island where King Kong, South Pacific, Donovan's Reef, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Avatar and the Jurassic Park movies were filmed, and where "Tattoo" would announce "de plane, de plane" on the Fantasy Island series. It was awesome and beautiful but it made me think. Most people who have lived on this planet since creation have never ventured more than a few miles from where they were born and where they died. And depending on where they lived, they may not have seen the ocean, a view from a mountaintop, or a tropical island paradise. But I am certain we ALL will see even more wondrous things than this present earth has to offer...so awesome that the former things will not come to mind.
"...just as it is written, THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." (1 Corinthians 2:9)
And all are destined to love Him....in His time.
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