Celebrated feminist Gloria Steinem is quoted as saying...
"The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off." (Pardon her French)
That is the reaction I generally get from Christians to the truth that Jesus is the Savior of ALL mankind, that the hell of religion is a myth, and that the whole creation will be reconciled to God...but it is the teaching of the Bible...
"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him...This is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...we have placed our hope in the living God who is the savior of all people...God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against us, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation...in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace." (John 3:17; 1 Timothy 1:15; 4:10; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Ephesians 1:7)
Our Missionaries are to declare the truth about the grace of God, that Christ Jesus has Saved mankind and his blood has redeemed mankind, and his cross has reconciled all creation to God - "it is finished"!
Here, in a nutshell, is the gospel of Grace...
"...because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:4-5)
"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)
“For even as in Adam ALL are dying, thus also, in Christ shall ALL be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22)
“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not counting their sins against them.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)
“And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile ALL unto Himself.” (Colossians 1:20)
“God our Savior…will have ALL men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4)
"...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, especially believers. Prescribe and teach these things...it is finished" (1 Tim. 4:10-11; John 19:30)
Missionaries are to be sharing the above message of grace. In fact, even Missionaries are not "believers" unless they "prescribe and teach these things". That may piss you off at first, but it it is the correct Message of grace that sets people free. And this message from God has a success rate of 100%.
For my wife, children and grandchildren..and anyone else who may be interested!
The Soul Is Not Immortal
"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of SOUL and SPIRIT, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)
Soul and Spirit are not the same. When God joined His Spirit (breath power) with a body He "formed" from the soil, it became a "living SOUL". This is true both of mankind and other animals and birds.
"And Jehovah Elohim formed Man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and Man became a living SOUL...And out of the ground Jehovah Elohim had formed every animal of the field and all fowl of the heavens, and brought them to Man, to see what he would call them; and whatever Man called each living SOUL, that was its name." (Genesis 2:7; 19 Darby)
Christianity has robbed mankind of the difference between "SOUL" and "SPIRIT" , treating them as one and the same thing, and attributing immortality to both. The SOUL is not immortal and will NOT "inherit God's Kingdom" because all Souls have a body of flesh and blood formed from the soil.
Soul and Spirit are not the same. When God joined His Spirit (breath power) with a body He "formed" from the soil, it became a "living SOUL". This is true both of mankind and other animals and birds.
"And Jehovah Elohim formed Man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and Man became a living SOUL...And out of the ground Jehovah Elohim had formed every animal of the field and all fowl of the heavens, and brought them to Man, to see what he would call them; and whatever Man called each living SOUL, that was its name." (Genesis 2:7; 19 Darby)
Christianity has robbed mankind of the difference between "SOUL" and "SPIRIT" , treating them as one and the same thing, and attributing immortality to both. The SOUL is not immortal and will NOT "inherit God's Kingdom" because all Souls have a body of flesh and blood formed from the soil.
"But this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit God's kingdom, nor does corruption inherit incorruptibility." (1 Corinthians 15:50)
Only in a "SPIRITUAL body" can humans "inherit God's Kingdom". God's Kingdom is the Paradise now in the third heaven. This was a mystery until revealed to the Apostle Paul. No one yet has been "born again of the spirit. When "born again" the spirit now at rest will be awakened out of sleep and joined with a new immortal "spiritual body". Only then will they receive their allotment (inheritance) which is to enter, see and enjoy the Kingdom of God. For now our loved ones who have died are resting in peace (the spirit sleeping) and return to God. They are waiting for "the trumpet to sound" just like we the living are waiting for it...
"Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all fall ASLEEP, but we shall all be changed, in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must needs put on incorruptibility, and this mortal put on immortality." (1 Corinthians 15:51-53 Darby)
This "SPIRITUAL BODY" is not the same as a "living SOUL". It is not made from the "dust", it has no flesh, bones or blood. It is "imprudent" to think that it does.
"Imprudent One! What you are sowing is not being vivivied if it should not be dying. And what you are sowing, you are not sowing the body which shall come to be...God is giving it a body according as He wills...It is sown in corruption; it is roused in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor; it is roused in glory. It is sown in infirmity; it is roused in power. It is sown a SOULISH body, it is roused a SPIRITUAL body...But not first the SPIRITUAL, but the SOULISH, thereupon the SPIRITUAL...The first man was out of the earth, made of soil; the second man is the Lord out of heaven...And according as we wear the image of the one made out of the soil , we shall also be wearing the image of the Celestial." (1 Corinthians 15:36-49 CLNT)
So what about Jesus, His flesh and blood body was resurrectedf. And he ate food and showed the disciples his scars in his hands, feet and side. He had "not yet ascended to the Father". That is why he said to Mary at the tomb...
"Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father'" (John 20:17)
After Jesus's body, made of dust, was raised, He spent 40 more days on earth in this resurrected body of flesh and blood appearing to over 500 people. Last of all, he was seen by the Apostle Paul.
"After His suffering, He presented Himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of 40 days and spoke about the Kingdom of God...He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then He appeared to above five hundred brethren at once...and last of all, He appeared to me also." (Acts 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:5, 8)
It is when the flesh and blood body of Jesus "ascended to the Father" after the 40 days, He was "changed, in an instant" from a "soulish body" into an immortal "Spiritual body".
"You will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. And having said these things, they beholding, He was lifted up, and a cloud hid Him from their eyes...He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God." (Acts1:9; Mark 16:19)
This "change" to a glorified Spiritual body was the manifestation of the transfiguration that had been earlier shown in a vision to His closest disciples...
"And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light." (Matthew 17:2)
This "body of His glory" was later seen by our Apostle Paul, who encountered Jesus in His "Spiritual body" on the road to Damascus. Paul was blinded by that "transfigured" glory. Over the next several years the "transfigured" Jesus gave Paul the truth Paul taught in our New Testament books of the Bible. This message had never before been revealed to humanity.
"To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ...which for ages past was hidden in God..." (Ephesians 3:8-9)
Paul heralded this message the rest of his life, the message which has been rejected by most Jews and Christians to this day...it is the message of the reconciliation of all creation to God through Jesus...
"...we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the SAVIOR OF ALL MANKIND, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things...for our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself." (1 Timothy 4:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:8; Philippians 3:20-21)
It takes a body of flesh and blood, joined with the power in the "breath" of God (Spirit), to make a "living Soul". When that body dies, it returns to dust and the "Spirit" returns to God who breathed it into the body and the "living Soul" ceases to exist.
"...when You take away their spirit, they die and return to dust...When his spirit departs, he returns to the ground, on that very day his plans perish...the dust returns to the ground from which it came, and the spirit returns to God who gave it." (Psalm 104:29; 146:4; Ecclesiastes 12:7)
"...when You take away their spirit, they die and return to dust...When his spirit departs, he returns to the ground, on that very day his plans perish...the dust returns to the ground from which it came, and the spirit returns to God who gave it." (Psalm 104:29; 146:4; Ecclesiastes 12:7)
It is the "spirit", not the "living soul", that has returned to God and now is at rest (sleeps) in Paradise, the third heaven of which both Jesus and Paul spoke of;
"And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43)
"I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven...And I know that this man...was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were too sacred for words, things that man is not permitted to tell." (2 Corinthians 12:2-4)
"Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all fall ASLEEP, but we shall all be changed, in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must needs put on incorruptibility, and this mortal put on immortality." (1 Corinthians 15:51-53 Darby)
This "SPIRITUAL BODY" is not the same as a "living SOUL". It is not made from the "dust", it has no flesh, bones or blood. It is "imprudent" to think that it does.
"Imprudent One! What you are sowing is not being vivivied if it should not be dying. And what you are sowing, you are not sowing the body which shall come to be...God is giving it a body according as He wills...It is sown in corruption; it is roused in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor; it is roused in glory. It is sown in infirmity; it is roused in power. It is sown a SOULISH body, it is roused a SPIRITUAL body...But not first the SPIRITUAL, but the SOULISH, thereupon the SPIRITUAL...The first man was out of the earth, made of soil; the second man is the Lord out of heaven...And according as we wear the image of the one made out of the soil , we shall also be wearing the image of the Celestial." (1 Corinthians 15:36-49 CLNT)
So what about Jesus, His flesh and blood body was resurrectedf. And he ate food and showed the disciples his scars in his hands, feet and side. He had "not yet ascended to the Father". That is why he said to Mary at the tomb...
"Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father'" (John 20:17)
After Jesus's body, made of dust, was raised, He spent 40 more days on earth in this resurrected body of flesh and blood appearing to over 500 people. Last of all, he was seen by the Apostle Paul.
"After His suffering, He presented Himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of 40 days and spoke about the Kingdom of God...He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then He appeared to above five hundred brethren at once...and last of all, He appeared to me also." (Acts 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:5, 8)
It is when the flesh and blood body of Jesus "ascended to the Father" after the 40 days, He was "changed, in an instant" from a "soulish body" into an immortal "Spiritual body".
"You will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. And having said these things, they beholding, He was lifted up, and a cloud hid Him from their eyes...He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God." (Acts1:9; Mark 16:19)
This "change" to a glorified Spiritual body was the manifestation of the transfiguration that had been earlier shown in a vision to His closest disciples...
"And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light." (Matthew 17:2)
This "body of His glory" was later seen by our Apostle Paul, who encountered Jesus in His "Spiritual body" on the road to Damascus. Paul was blinded by that "transfigured" glory. Over the next several years the "transfigured" Jesus gave Paul the truth Paul taught in our New Testament books of the Bible. This message had never before been revealed to humanity.
"To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ...which for ages past was hidden in God..." (Ephesians 3:8-9)
Paul heralded this message the rest of his life, the message which has been rejected by most Jews and Christians to this day...it is the message of the reconciliation of all creation to God through 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." (Colossians 1:15-20)
And Paul was given the message of the "Salvation of all mankind" and transformation of "the body of our humble state" into "conformity with the body of his glory"!
"...we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the SAVIOR OF ALL MANKIND, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things...for our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself." (1 Timothy 4:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:8; Philippians 3:20-21)
If you want to know the truth about the "soul" and the "spirit", you will not find it in the writings of men, or in the sermons of any Synagogue, Church or Mosque that I am aware of, but you will find it in "the word of God" found in a Bible properly translated. Again, it is NOT the "SOULish body" that we now have that is or will become immortal, it is the "transformed" body, the "SPIRITual body" that will be immortal.
Better To Be Drowned In The Depths Of The Sea
The disciples of Jesus came to him and asked who would be greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Note it is his "disciples" who asked the question...and it was these followers that needed a "change".
"The disciples came to Jesus and asked who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me..." (Matthew 18:1-5)
Have you ever noticed how a little child reacts to being told about God loving them and Jesus dying for them? It makes them happy and they believe without question - UNTIL - they get to some church that tells them if they have not been saved they will be forever separated from God who will eternally punish them in hell. It is still these followers ("disciples") that need to "change" and be saved from judgment, not the "little children".
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:10)
The church who scares "little ones" , or anyone, and causes them "to stumble" from their love for God and Jesus into a phobia of fear needs to "change". In fact, it would be better for such a church "to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea"...
"If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!" (Matthew 18:6-7)
False doctrine is "such things" that Jesus said "must come". And "things that cause people to stumble" will be the source of "woe to the person through whom they come".
On another occasion the people of a Samaritan village did not welcome Jesus. The "disciples" asked Jesus if he wanted them to "call down fire from heaven to burn them up", and Jesus "rebuked" such a "spirit" in them...
"The disciples came to Jesus and asked who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me..." (Matthew 18:1-5)
Have you ever noticed how a little child reacts to being told about God loving them and Jesus dying for them? It makes them happy and they believe without question - UNTIL - they get to some church that tells them if they have not been saved they will be forever separated from God who will eternally punish them in hell. It is still these followers ("disciples") that need to "change" and be saved from judgment, not the "little children".
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:10)
The church who scares "little ones" , or anyone, and causes them "to stumble" from their love for God and Jesus into a phobia of fear needs to "change". In fact, it would be better for such a church "to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea"...
"If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!" (Matthew 18:6-7)
False doctrine is "such things" that Jesus said "must come". And "things that cause people to stumble" will be the source of "woe to the person through whom they come".
On another occasion the people of a Samaritan village did not welcome Jesus. The "disciples" asked Jesus if he wanted them to "call down fire from heaven to burn them up", and Jesus "rebuked" such a "spirit" in them...
"But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?" (Luke 9:54-55 KJV)
I cannot think of anything worse than scaring a child with the heathen, Godless, heresy of eternal conscious torment in hell. I would rather be "drowned in the depths of the sea". Truly the "rebuke" of Jesus will fall upon those teaching it and anything else that causes children "to stumble". Unfortunately such teaching continues in the church, but thankfully Jesus will return, and "burn them up" and save all mankind from "their work" and that "manner of spirit".
"...behold I make all things new...children will be as in days of old, and their congregation will be established before Me...I will turn their mourning into joy, and give them comfort and joy for their sorrow" (Revelation 21:5; Jeremiah 30:20, 31:13)
I cannot think of anything worse than scaring a child with the heathen, Godless, heresy of eternal conscious torment in hell. I would rather be "drowned in the depths of the sea". Truly the "rebuke" of Jesus will fall upon those teaching it and anything else that causes children "to stumble". Unfortunately such teaching continues in the church, but thankfully Jesus will return, and "burn them up" and save all mankind from "their work" and that "manner of spirit".
"By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames." (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)
All will then "become like little children"...
"...behold I make all things new...children will be as in days of old, and their congregation will be established before Me...I will turn their mourning into joy, and give them comfort and joy for their sorrow" (Revelation 21:5; Jeremiah 30:20, 31:13)
Liberation Is Coming!
“We know that the whole creation will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God…
The "whole creation" has been promised "liberation" in the Word of God That is the "hope" for the salvation of mankind because it is the "will of God".
...in this hope we are saved…we wait patiently for it…the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God." (Romans 8:22-27)
This promised "liberation" is not immediate, it comes after resurrection, so we have no choice but to "wait patiently" for it. We learning to "wait patiently" as we gain the "knowledge of the truth".
“God our Savior, Who will have ALL mankind to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth... For there is one God, and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for ALL, to be testified in due time." (1 Timothy 2:4-7)
I am not ordained, nor am I a preacher, but I can read. God has said that "all mankind" is "predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son". Theologians limit the predestined to those who join their clubs, but they are wrong. Jesus gave himself a "ransom for all". Paul was ordained by God to preach this "truth". Those ordained by religious institutions rarely, if ever, do so.
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified." (Romans 8:29-30)
Is there anyone God did not foreknow? Of course not, He is Omniscient. The whole creation will be "liberated" - and mankind, all conformed to the image of his Son, the resurrected and "glorified" "children of God".
The "whole creation" has been promised "liberation" in the Word of God That is the "hope" for the salvation of mankind because it is the "will of God".
...in this hope we are saved…we wait patiently for it…the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God." (Romans 8:22-27)
This promised "liberation" is not immediate, it comes after resurrection, so we have no choice but to "wait patiently" for it. We learning to "wait patiently" as we gain the "knowledge of the truth".
“God our Savior, Who will have ALL mankind to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth... For there is one God, and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for ALL, to be testified in due time." (1 Timothy 2:4-7)
I am not ordained, nor am I a preacher, but I can read. God has said that "all mankind" is "predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son". Theologians limit the predestined to those who join their clubs, but they are wrong. Jesus gave himself a "ransom for all". Paul was ordained by God to preach this "truth". Those ordained by religious institutions rarely, if ever, do so.
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified." (Romans 8:29-30)
Is there anyone God did not foreknow? Of course not, He is Omniscient. The whole creation will be "liberated" - and mankind, all conformed to the image of his Son, the resurrected and "glorified" "children of God".
Why Do Bad Things Happen?
Why does God allow evil things to happen?
This question came in a group setting from a person who says he does not believe in God because a real God would not allow children to be sick and abused. It was a good point and I sat there for a moment waiting to see if the Christians in the room had an answer. They did, they blamed it on the Devil and man's free will.
This question came in a group setting from a person who says he does not believe in God because a real God would not allow children to be sick and abused. It was a good point and I sat there for a moment waiting to see if the Christians in the room had an answer. They did, they blamed it on the Devil and man's free will.
Not sure I would believe in God either if that was the only answer I could give. The question deserves a biblical answer and not some manmade hogwash of “free will”, or the "Devil made me do it".
Learning some Bible verses helped me answer the question:
“…the Lord God caused to grow…the tree of knowledge of good and evil." (Genesis 2:9)
"I make peace and create evil, I the LORD do all these things." (Isaiah 45:7)
"It is an experience of evil God has given to men to humble them...He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way" (Ecclesiastes 1:13; Psalm 25:9)
“God is at work in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure". (Philippians 2:13)
“And God shall wipe away all tears...there shall be no more pain" (Revelation 21:4)
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18)
"Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone will be given new life because we all belong to Christ... Let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We shall not all die but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: Death is swallowed up in victory." (1 Corinthians 15:22, 51-54)
So even a guy like me with average intelligence can make the following conclusions based on what the Bible says above.
1. God "created evil", not the Devil..
2. God did so because He wanted mankind to have both "the knowledge of good and evil".
Learning some Bible verses helped me answer the question:
“…the Lord God caused to grow…the tree of knowledge of good and evil." (Genesis 2:9)
"I make peace and create evil, I the LORD do all these things." (Isaiah 45:7)
"It is an experience of evil God has given to men to humble them...He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way" (Ecclesiastes 1:13; Psalm 25:9)
“God is at work in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure". (Philippians 2:13)
“And God shall wipe away all tears...there shall be no more pain" (Revelation 21:4)
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18)
"Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone will be given new life because we all belong to Christ... Let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We shall not all die but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: Death is swallowed up in victory." (1 Corinthians 15:22, 51-54)
So even a guy like me with average intelligence can make the following conclusions based on what the Bible says above.
1. God "created evil", not the Devil..
2. God did so because He wanted mankind to have both "the knowledge of good and evil".
3. God gives us an "experience with evil" to "humble" us and then "teaches" us that "good" is better than "evil". Mankind learns what is good by contrasting it with what is evil. For example, unless you have felt the "evil" of a migraine headache, you cannot appreciate how "good" it feels to be free from one.
4. God is not finished with mankind. He is "at work in you" and everyone else. When he is done He will "wipe away all tears" and "there shall be no more pain" for anyone. And "everyone" will be able to appreciate it because we have experienced and contrasted "good and evil".
5. God has eternity to make up for the evil we must experience. We will be "transformed into immortal bodies" and will know then that "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is to be".
There you have it. My random thoughts and explanation of why bad things happen to even the best of people. The evil we see all around us is part of God's plan on our journey to immortality. Along the way we should try to love others while hating the "evil" we see, holding tight to the "good" that is around us.
4. God is not finished with mankind. He is "at work in you" and everyone else. When he is done He will "wipe away all tears" and "there shall be no more pain" for anyone. And "everyone" will be able to appreciate it because we have experienced and contrasted "good and evil".
5. God has eternity to make up for the evil we must experience. We will be "transformed into immortal bodies" and will know then that "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is to be".
There you have it. My random thoughts and explanation of why bad things happen to even the best of people. The evil we see all around us is part of God's plan on our journey to immortality. Along the way we should try to love others while hating the "evil" we see, holding tight to the "good" that is around us.
"Be sincere in your love for others. Hate everything that is evil and hold tight to everything that is good." (Romans 12:9)
To The Jew First
"This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses…the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses…Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead…And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great GRACE was upon them all...I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile... (Acts 2:32; 3:15; 4:10, 33; Romans 1:16)
The message of the Jewish disciples to the Jewish people was the RESURRECTION of "Jesus Christ of Nazareth". The resurrection of Jesus proved he was their Messiah and Savior. And when they shared that they had witnessed his resurrection - "great GRACE was upon them all".
At first they went ONLY to their fellow Israelites. Then Cornelius, a devout and God-fearing Gentile, had a vision and sent for Peter. Peter told him about the RESURRECTION of Jesus and Cornelius and his household believed. For the first time, the Jewish followers realized that both ethnic Jews and "DEVOUT AND GOD-FEARING" Gentiles would be included in the Kingdom of God.
The message of the Jewish disciples to the Jewish people was the RESURRECTION of "Jesus Christ of Nazareth". The resurrection of Jesus proved he was their Messiah and Savior. And when they shared that they had witnessed his resurrection - "great GRACE was upon them all".
At first they went ONLY to their fellow Israelites. Then Cornelius, a devout and God-fearing Gentile, had a vision and sent for Peter. Peter told him about the RESURRECTION of Jesus and Cornelius and his household believed. For the first time, the Jewish followers realized that both ethnic Jews and "DEVOUT AND GOD-FEARING" Gentiles would be included in the Kingdom of God.
"At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly...The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles." (Acts 10:1-2,45)
Years later the Jew Saul (Paul) encountered the RESURRECTED Jesus on the road to Damascus and became a witness of his resurrection. At first, Paul spoke ONLY at synagogues where Jews and God-fearing gentiles were allowed. But on his first missionary journey he went to Cyprus where Sergius Paulus, the gentile governor under the Roman ruler Claudius, asked Paul to tell him about the Word of God. And for the first time, a Gentile who was NOT "devout and God-fearing" believed. Paul realized that salvation was the destiny for ALL mankind, not just Jews and Gentile God-fearers, and he taught this truth for the rest of his life under great persecution.
"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 mankind, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things." (1 Timothy 4:9-11)
People who believe and teach this are still persecuted. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus is still the primary message, and the result of his resurrection is the "gift" of Salvation to "ALL mankind" by the "GRACE" of our loving and merciful God.
"For the GRACE of God has appeared bringing salvation to all mankind…so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His GRACE in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 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, so that no one may boast.…" (Titus 2:11; Ephesians 2:7-10)
Years later the Jew Saul (Paul) encountered the RESURRECTED Jesus on the road to Damascus and became a witness of his resurrection. At first, Paul spoke ONLY at synagogues where Jews and God-fearing gentiles were allowed. But on his first missionary journey he went to Cyprus where Sergius Paulus, the gentile governor under the Roman ruler Claudius, asked Paul to tell him about the Word of God. And for the first time, a Gentile who was NOT "devout and God-fearing" believed. Paul realized that salvation was the destiny for ALL mankind, not just Jews and Gentile God-fearers, and he taught this truth for the rest of his life under great persecution.
"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 mankind, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things." (1 Timothy 4:9-11)
People who believe and teach this are still persecuted. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus is still the primary message, and the result of his resurrection is the "gift" of Salvation to "ALL mankind" by the "GRACE" of our loving and merciful God.
"For the GRACE of God has appeared bringing salvation to all mankind…so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His GRACE in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 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, so that no one may boast.…" (Titus 2:11; Ephesians 2:7-10)
A Waste Of Time And Paper
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength...Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)
God gave Israel the Law they were to obey which included what is called the 10 Commandments. The Jewish religious leaders identified a total of 613 laws and have written volumes to explain how to observe them. Then the "Word became flesh", and he reduced that law into two commandments - love God and each other, introducing us to the glory of "grace and truth".
"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth...For the law was given through Moses: grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ." (John 1:14-17)God gave Israel the Law they were to obey which included what is called the 10 Commandments. The Jewish religious leaders identified a total of 613 laws and have written volumes to explain how to observe them. Then the "Word became flesh", and he reduced that law into two commandments - love God and each other, introducing us to the glory of "grace and truth".
The written law brings death to all, yet the new covenant of "grace and truth" "gives life" to all.
"...because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ, even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace that you have been saved!...Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God. And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the law kills, but the Spirit gives life." (Ephesians 2:4-5; Corinthians 3:5-6)
Christian apologists have written hundreds of books about how God deals with what people must do and how they must live life in order to avoid what they say is the justice of His wrath. They conclude that it is just for God to save a few sinners and damn the rest to everlasting punishment in the hell of Greek Mythology.
What a waste of time and paper! Such a conclusion has "severed" them from the very Christ they claim to follow. They have returned to the old covenant of law which "kills" and cannot save, like the Galatian church had done...
"You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace...For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him...This is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all...we have placed our hope in the living God who is the savior of all people, and especially of those who believe...For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive...so that God may be All in all." (Galatians 5:4; John 3:17; 1 Timothy 1:15; 4:10; 1 Corinthians 15:22,28)
What we believe about God and His Christ is important - so believe what God has written, and ignore the opinions of Jewish, Christian, Muslim and other religious apologists.
Who Is Jesus?
"The divine alchemy which transformed the Victim of human hate into the Sacrifice for their sins is almost too wonderful for human apprehension." A. E. Knock - All in All
"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us...He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and 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." (John 1:14; Colossians 1:13-20)
Who is Jesus?
The "Son" of God.
The "image" of the invisible God
The "firstborn" of all creation
The "creator" of all things
The "head" of the church
The "firstborn" from the dead
The "first" in everything
The "reconciler" of all things
The "peacemaker" between God and all things
And did mankind exalt him when he "became flesh and dwelt among us"?
No, we shed his blood by murdering him on the cross.
And what of mankind's vile act? - what do they get for their horrible crime against their creator? Surely the hell of the religions of mankind.
But no, these wicked sinners are SAVED, redeemed by the very "blood" of their ungodly sacrifice. By divine alchemy, this murderous sacrifice became the only Sacrifice that could atone for that horrible sin, and all other sins.
"He is the atoning Sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world....You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (1 John 2:2; Genesis 50:20)
Woe is me, I am undone. I sit here figuratively in sackcloth and ashes. Such Divine Love is truly too wonderful for human apprehension!
"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us...He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and 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." (John 1:14; Colossians 1:13-20)
Who is Jesus?
The "Son" of God.
The "image" of the invisible God
The "firstborn" of all creation
The "creator" of all things
The "head" of the church
The "firstborn" from the dead
The "first" in everything
The "reconciler" of all things
The "peacemaker" between God and all things
And did mankind exalt him when he "became flesh and dwelt among us"?
No, we shed his blood by murdering him on the cross.
And what of mankind's vile act? - what do they get for their horrible crime against their creator? Surely the hell of the religions of mankind.
But no, these wicked sinners are SAVED, redeemed by the very "blood" of their ungodly sacrifice. By divine alchemy, this murderous sacrifice became the only Sacrifice that could atone for that horrible sin, and all other sins.
"He is the atoning Sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world....You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (1 John 2:2; Genesis 50:20)
Woe is me, I am undone. I sit here figuratively in sackcloth and ashes. Such Divine Love is truly too wonderful for human apprehension!
Moses and The Word Of God
Speaking of the Law Moses wrote...
“It is not up in heaven so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it." (Deuteronomy 30:12-14)
The children of Israel were afraid of God so they asked Moses to go up into heaven on Mount Sinai and get the word of God and bring it to them, and then they would do what Moses told them.
"We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all...All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23)
No one can become righteous by obeying the law because we all have "sinned" and "gone astray". That is the bad news - the good news is that "the LORD has laid on him", Jesus, "the iniquity of us all". Faith in this good news justifies us, in other words - believing the Word of God makes us righteous.
“It is not up in heaven so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it." (Deuteronomy 30:12-14)
The children of Israel were afraid of God so they asked Moses to go up into heaven on Mount Sinai and get the word of God and bring it to them, and then they would do what Moses told them.
Paul said this about the above passage in Deuteronomy...
"Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them." (Romans 10:5)
"Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them." (Romans 10:5)
Before Christ Jesus came to save mankind, and make us righteous by faith in him, obeying the law was all that could be done to become righteous. How does that work out for people? Isaiah and Paul both tell us...
"We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all...All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23)
No one can become righteous by obeying the law because we all have "sinned" and "gone astray". That is the bad news - the good news is that "the LORD has laid on him", Jesus, "the iniquity of us all". Faith in this good news justifies us, in other words - believing the Word of God makes us righteous.
Paul further writes this about the passage in Deuteronomy...
"Moses is writing of the righteousness which is of law...Yet the righteousness of FAITH says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ to bring Christ down, or ‘Who will descend into the deep? ’to bring Christ up from the dead. But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, ”that is, the message of FAITH that we proclaim"
Pastors and teachers are not the new Moses, yet most Christians are so afraid of God that they want their pastor or teacher to "ascend into heaven" and come tell them what they need to do to be saved and get right with God. BUT WE DO NOT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING, Jesus our savior has done it for us - he died "for our sin" and God "laid on him the iniquity of us all". As Paul says...
"Moses is writing of the righteousness which is of law...Yet the righteousness of FAITH says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ to bring Christ down, or ‘Who will descend into the deep? ’to bring Christ up from the dead. But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, ”that is, the message of FAITH that we proclaim"
Pastors and teachers are not the new Moses, yet most Christians are so afraid of God that they want their pastor or teacher to "ascend into heaven" and come tell them what they need to do to be saved and get right with God. BUT WE DO NOT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING, Jesus our savior has done it for us - he died "for our sin" and God "laid on him the iniquity of us all". As Paul says...
"...Christ died for our sin according to the Scriptures...If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (from having to keep the Law to be righteous). For it is with your heart that you believe and are made righteous, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith (in Jesus) and are saved (from sin and going astray). "As Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will never be put to shame. For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “EVERYONE, who should be calling on the name of the Lord, WILL BE SAVED.” (1 Corinthians 15:3; Romans 10:5-13)
Few "call on him" in this age, nor "believe in him". But "EVERYONE" will be "SAVED" in the following ages when "every" knee bows and "every" tongue confesses their "faith" in Christ Jesus, and that "faith" will save them as it is written...
"...at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:10-11)
We do not need anyone to "ascend into heaven", or a Seminary or Bible Conference, to get the Word of God and come back and tell us what God says. Jesus is the "Word", and has done what needed to be done to make us "righteous". Have faith that "Jesus" accomplished what God sent him to do - "seek and to save them which are lost" - no need to send Moses back up on the mount or send Pastors, Evangelists and Teachers to Seminary. The Word of God is "near you" and "in your heart". Have "faith" in Jesus, your salvation, the "free gift of God". Then live like you appreciate him.
"And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth...God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ, by grace you have been saved, and raised us up with him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 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, so that no one may boast...the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord" (John 1:14; Ephesians 2:4-9; Romans 6:23)
We do not need anyone to "ascend into heaven", or a Seminary or Bible Conference, to get the Word of God and come back and tell us what God says. Jesus is the "Word", and has done what needed to be done to make us "righteous". Have faith that "Jesus" accomplished what God sent him to do - "seek and to save them which are lost" - no need to send Moses back up on the mount or send Pastors, Evangelists and Teachers to Seminary. The Word of God is "near you" and "in your heart". Have "faith" in Jesus, your salvation, the "free gift of God". Then live like you appreciate him.
"And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth...God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ, by grace you have been saved, and raised us up with him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 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, so that no one may boast...the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord" (John 1:14; Ephesians 2:4-9; Romans 6:23)
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Paul declared… “I am crucified with Christ…” (Galatians 2:20) “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those wh...
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Jesus and his disciples were in the region of Caesarea Philippi. Jesus was 34 years old and had spent three and one half years with his di...
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God said... " By Myself I have sworn; Truth has gone from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow to Me, every t...