2024

Of Law, Lawlessness, Legalism, Obedience and Righteousness – putting it all together.

Law:There is no existence animate or inanimate, no social organization whether club, sport, entertainment or government without codes, regulations, protocol, laws, instructions to guide.  Why?  To get along, to be able move forward, to continue, to protect.  Divinely: “so that we might always prosper and be kept alive” Dt 5:24, “that it may go well with you” 6:18  and “enjoy a long life” 6:2,  “so that it may go well with you and your children forever” 5:29.  Since with God there is no coercion, no compulsion there is no demand in His command, only a burning desire, a plea, a “perfect” plea ( Ps 19:7), a“pure” plea ( Pr 30:5) for our individual and collective non-paralleled or exceeded best good.  This is why the word translated command or commandments OT or NT are equally translated instructions or prescriptions.   Divine laws are always for our best good and the LORD “is the only (true, kind) law (instruction, prescription) giver” James 4:12.

Lawlessness: Sin (behavior that harms, whether or not we realize or admit it) is lawlessness 1Jn 3:4. He planed and desires the best for everyone.  Lucifer is the man of lawlessness (2 Thes 2:3).  One interpretation of Lucifer’s new name Satan means, author of chaos.   Science, mathematics, weather, sports, education, life, community, state, nation anything, everything is chaos without law/direction.   2 Peter 3:17 warns us “not to be carried away by the error of lawless men”.   

Legalism: Legalism is not in the keeping, doing, obeying, following instructions, prescriptions, or law.  If that were true Eve as well as Adam and Cain and all friends of Christ (Jn 15:14) as well as your child and dog, if they were to obey your best judgement would be legalists.  Nor is it legalism for an apple or your foot to fall to the ground.  If any of these were, when Christ says, “If you love me, keep My commandments,”Jn 14:15 we could trumpet legalism, as well as when God says, “Happy are they that do His commandments that they my have right to the tree of life”  Rev 22:14.  Yes, we could stand outside the City walls stammering about legalism.  Legalism is in the why one does what one does, in the underlying motivation, not in obeying.   Do you follow His instructions because you feel you have to obtain favor, to avoid distress, to earn something desirable – even if it is eternal life?   If so that is legalism, in yourself or in the one next to you.  But be aware you cannot fully determine another motives, but you need not continue in legalism yourself.   Attempting to do moral behaviors on our own will end up as legalism since we will find we/ourselves inadequate to accomplish our desires since our righteousness we’ll find is but filthy rags.  Php 3:6.  

Obedience:Obedience has, is, and always will be the gold standard.  The Lord encourages us to keep His commandment/commandments/instructions/prescriptions over 850 times with 250 of those  times in just the New Testament along with obey/obedience/obeyed greater than 250 times in scripture with some examples given right away in Genesis chapters 2,3,4 and ending the scriptures with “to keep” and “do” 7 times in the last 14 verses of the last chapter of the Revelation of Jesus Christ (YLT).  The overcomer of harmful/harming thoughts, attitudes, motivations that lead to self-centered behavior has always been the apple of God’s eye.  Like we call a precious daughter a princess, God in mid-earthly history, called a temporal nation a group of overcomers (Israel & Israelites are the same Hebrew word) and we “the Israel (Israelites) of God” Gal 6:16 are to overcome as Jesus, the Anointed One “overcame and sat down by His Father” Rev 3:21.  Overcoming the self-centeredness of disobedience and following His prescriptions for our best good is His deep desire, invitation and enabling.  We can’t find the capability via the purity of motivation with-in us to obey His commandments (S) Jn 15:10; 14:21, His “word” 1 Jn 2:5.  Even though Jesus said, “If you love me you will keep [ASV/obey NEB/ will be keeping (S)] my commandments.” Lk 11:28.   And again, “Go therefore and teach all peoples… to keep all the commandments I gave you.” Mt 28:20 Rieu.   Yes, “we know that we love him, if we keep His commandments” 1 Jn 2:3.  “for this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments” (instructions, prescriptions) Jn 5:3.  “Blessed are those who do His commandments/instructions.” Rev 22:14.  We do via Christ in us, John 17:26  thus Christ being our righteousness Jeremiah 23:6 & 33:16. 

Righteousness:Righteous & righteousness is referred to greater than 540 times in scriptures.  Desired by all Christians, in part because God will “separate the wicked from the righteous” Mt 13:49 and take the righteous to the “new heavens and the new earth” as an eternal home for them  2 Pe 3:13, Mt 25:46.  Righteousness flows from the other-centered character image into which we were originally created enabling us to be righteous .  Yet most Christians don’t really know what righteous/righteousness means.   In the Hebrew of the Old Testament they mean, “upright in accordance with God’s standard, thus innocent.”(S).  In the Greek of the New Testament they mean, “the act of doing what is in agreement with God’s standards”(S).   And in English, “acting in accord with divine moral law.” (MW).   “Yet with the just decree [s, commandments, acts of righteousness (S)]  of God before their minds, they never grasp the truth…!” Romans 1:32 Knox.  That, “He who does what is right is righteous.” 1 Jn 3:7.  How do we attain to that righteousness?   By & in faith, Ro 1:17; 10:3-4, asking Christ to live in us “both too will and to do His good will.”  Philp 2:13.  Yes, His faith and character motivation since “He is righteous” Ps 119:132; 145:17; Isa 33:15.  Christ in us thus becomes our “hope of glory” Col 1:27 meaning both sanctification (His character instilled in us via the Holy Spirit Gal 5:22) and translation.  Thus those of past ages by faith looking forward to the reality of the righteous God’s sacrifice on this earth, Jer 23:6; 33:16 via the sacrificial lamb, and those after the reality, in faith looking back on His condescension, life, death and resurrection – may both have His righteousness in them and now us, thus “The just [the forgiven, the innocent, the righteous acting in accordance with God’s moral standards (S) of all ages] “shall live by faith.”  Habakuk 2:4 &  Romans 1:17.   Live by the faithful reliance He had in the gentleness, goodness, power, patience, compassion, self-control and love of His Father Jn 14:10; 17:22-23.  That’s how King David obtained a renewed, clean heart and right spirit with-in him Ps 51:10 and so by the same pathway can we.

What is the Christian Bible about? Some say the Bible is about the nation of Israel.  It is not.  Divinity – God, Father, Christ, Jesus, Son of God, Son of Man, Lord are used over 14,500 times . Thus divinity is spoken of at least 5 times more frequent than Israel, Israelites etc.  If one adds pronouns of Divinity the frequency exceeds the number of verses in the biblical common text. Christ put it this way —“These are they that testify of me” Jn 5:39 KJV.  The Bible was written during the time of earth’s history when God was giving the opportunity to a nation to be His ambassador of His love on/to this earth.  They blew it, like the patriarchs before them and like they, their house was in Christ’s words, “left to them desolate.”  Salvation for them is possible individually, yes, as it always had been for them and for everybody, but without the privilege of being as a nation, divinity’s representative on Earth.  This is Paul’s repeating thought pattern in his letter written to the Roman gentiles concerning them, the Jews and Jerusalem  Rom.1:16:17; 2:10; 2:14; 2:29; 3,9; 3:23; 4:12-17; 5:1; 5:18; 8:27; 9:2-14; 9:6; 9:24-33 ; 10:1,12, 19-21; 11:1-32; 15:7; 16:26.  Plus  “us” 30+ times and “we” 60+ times, and “all” used 50+ times to the Romans.  He continued in the letter to the gentile Galatians in 3:18-29  and 6:16 calling all believers “the Israel of God”.  It helps clarification to realize Hebrew was their race, Jews their nationality, and Israel their divinely given ideal spiritual identity as victors/over-comers Gen. 23:28. The nation of Israel was never the central focus, but God’s purpose to develop ambassadors of His love in and through Israel was. 

Most of His promises to them were fulfilled in what is now history, some via the post exile return to their land, with Ezra’s and Herod’s temples, and in bringing the Savior to this earth, His death, burial and resurection. And its good to realize that all of His threatenings or promises are alike conditional — conditional upon our response, a reality made plain from the beginning in places like Deut. chapters 27-30 and Ez.18:24-32 (observe all of the ‘if you’s’ in scripture). The unchanging desire of God is for all to be victors/over-comers thus forever friends with God.  Christianity is the third ( Deut. 17:6; 2 Cor. 13:1; 1 Tim. 5:16 ) and final way God has designed and is using humans to spread to humans the news of His unfailing love to the unknowing and unbelieving world.

To kneel before the Lord is to have an attitude of grateful, submissive humility.  It can be while sitting, standing, laying, driving, walking, kneeling, tied to a stake upside down like Peter or in a water well shaft like Jeremiah.  The position is subservient too but not determined by the attitude.  Yet like baptism it can be and is in part a public or private demonstration of inner reality.  See Daniel 6:10, Luke 18:13, Psalm 95:6.

We are not saved by the law nor from the law.   Grace gave us the law — for our own good — to keep us from destroying ourselves.  Grace gives us the desire to keep the law because of God’s loving forgiveness – thus born again.  Grace endows us with growth via the fruits of the Spirit —the character traits of Christ.  Grace gives us gifts for the common good of His people. The law, the outer parameters of righteousness, was put into place to protect us rebels from destroying ourselves while the plan of salvation – forgiveness and righteousness within –  was being, in the realm of time (Rev. 13:8 KJV), fully implemented by revealing to us the ways relationships thus people are destroyed.

We are elected by God not to salvation but to be His ambassadors – the witnesses – of His love to all the peoples of this earth. See Isaiah 43:10-12, 2 Cor. 5:20, Isa. 44:1,8

The Christian life is not a journey to the grave with the goal of arriving both late and safe in a pretty and well preserved body.  But to rather skid in broadside, like a baseball player into home plate, throughly used up for God, totally worn-out and loudly proclaiming  – –Yes, next is the trumpet call!  see  1Thes. 4:16.

True Christianity is like a one way road with two lanes and a broken centerline merging visually in the distance.  So law, and freedom, the two foundational principles of the kingdom of heaven, merge into the Person, Jesus Christ, who adds forgiveness, grace, mercy and power via His righteousness – the internal essence of His other-centered love – the center line – enabling us to travel the road safely.

,What you consider the answers are as to why Christ came to this earth, and their order, will color your whole life.  I suggest the first answer is:  In love Christ came to this earth that He might re-create the lost image of God in man. The second:  In doing that He might save at least a remnant of human kind.  The  third is a result: In doing the above He revealed to all the deep love of God.  The fourth again is a result: That He earned the full right to, (but His heart will be full of sorrow) destroy the devil and those who have refused His gracious offer of forgiveness and re-creation by irretrievably choosing the false-front paths of self destruction. An other centered heaven would be an hell for them. But for those who choose to allow Him to re-create their lost character, their “image of God” in them — a kingdom of other-centered love will be a kingdom of joy and peace.

Christian / Christianity, though often used to describe belonging or belief is actually a word describing the being and actions of a person/persons.  A Christian is one who from a heart of tender kindness, self-sacrifices for the greatest good of others.  Christianity is self-sacrificing love in action.  Put another way a Christian is like Christ who came to serve, not to be served, and put most succinctly in Philippians 1:21 — “For to me to live is Christ”.  This has appropriately been said to the most perfect and succinct description of what it truely means to be a Christian, and of the gospel.  

Supreme love for our Creator/Divine Parent/Redeemer and impartial love to man, all created life and respect for inanimate creation are foundational principles of true Christianity and cannot truly exist with out it. Neither can true dominion.

The ultimate goal of a Christian is not in getting too heaven.  It is not in keeping a set of rules.  It is not in winning many to Christ.  It is not in knowing all truth nor knowing all prophecy.  It is not living healthy nor long. It is not even in being forgiven!  Though all these are commendable and desirable. The ultimate goal of a Christian should be to have Christ’s character being his/her’s within.

It only takes a sinner to point out sin but it takes one with divine light within to see or ignite divine light in another.

Sin may be understood as any behavior that in the short or long term, directly or indirectly becomes harmful to life – the present and future gift of God Jn. 10:10.

   PRAYER: May all that I do come from what I am, both witnessing of what He has done for and is doing in me.

Justification ( forgiveness ) is the first gift in the path of return but it is lost if we don’t progress forward filling the sin produced void with the freely offered gift of sanctification.  This two step process is both singular and daily due to the depth, power and presence of sin in us. The good news of the Christian Bible is that if we don’t resist He will implant Christ’s nature, living and active (sanctification) in the life.  Texts: Matt. 18:23-35, Lk. 11:24-26,Rev. 3:5, Gal. 5:22, Col. 1:23, Rom. 6:22, 1 Cor. 1:30, 15:2, Ez.16, 18:26,32, 2Cor. 3:18. God asks us in 2 Corinthians 13:5 to “Examine yourselves, to see to see whether you are in the faith –  Test yourselves”.  This is speaking of sanctification, the second gift.  So what do we look for?  It’s been well noted that when the impulse to help and bless others springs more and ever more constantly from within and the sunshine of heaven is filling the heart and being revealed in the countenance, you know Christ is dwelling in you and your character is being replaced by His.

God’s anger/wrath is:  the respectful removal of resented protective, life saving grace, mercy and instruction.  The granting of our choice, made in freedom to separate from Him while tears flow from His broken heart  ( Mk. 15:34, 2Sam. 18:33, Lk. 6:38, Mt. 23:37-38, Lk. 19: 41-44, Hosea 11:8, Ez.18:30-32, Jer. 8:21, 48:31-32, Job 31:29, Lk.19:41, Rom. 4:25, 2 Sam. 18:33….).  The allowing of the full wages of our chosen sins, is the wrath of God, held off since the fall of Lucifer and then mankind, until the gospel and its response could, in the realm of time, be fully inserted into the equation.  Man’s anger/irritation/aggravation/impatience/wrath is a subjugating, grasping, physiologic and psychologic self-destroying mis-attempt to protect self. Therefore the Bible repeatedly instructs us to put it away,  Jms. 1:12; Eph. 4;31; Ps. 94:12-13; Col. 3:8; 1Cor. 13:5; Mt 5:5,22; Ecc. 7:9; 11:10.   Yes, God restrains both evil’s actions and their results Job 1:10,12; 2:6 (when Satan isn’t wrong in facts he’s wrong in spin) Rev 7:1. The wrath of God is primarily, if not totally, the removal of His restraining actions. The how and when though, might be by His choice.  By removing His grace, He grants, and one experiences the fullness of their own free choice of distrusting His selfless love, to rebel and to reject His gracious offer of restitution. This gives evil it’s full freedom to implode which is it’s only possible result.  This takes place in the polar opposite emotional paradigm of fallen humanities evil wrath.  God weeps!  Man gloats! The removal of that grace is also noted in Rev. 7:1 by four angels who have been holding back the winds of strife and the drying up Rev 16:12 of a river that flowed out from the Garden of Eden — the river of, Eu = good, phrates = I declare. Thus the river of grace or undeserved favor.

God created us and immediately wanted an ongoing growing relationship with us, so he  set up, on our first full day, a special time for and of relationship, ( “made it holy,” and holy is a synonym for God’s presence – Bible Study tools.com ).  Humans turned from God then botched His patriarchal plan to represent and pass on the loving character of God through families in the darkening world. So after approximately 66% of Old Testament time God began the process of setting up a nation church to witness of His love.  They, the Hebrews, ended up with only 200 years of independent rule with kings before God had to try to get them to go right through serious directive redemptive disciplines, which of necessity continued far more on than off in their 1400 years of existence.  In Daniel 9, in an oft misapplied prophecy, He revealed He would give the nation church till 70 AD to finish their movement away from their Creator God.  They didn’t and Christ said their house was “left to them desolate” Mt. 23:38.  Paul affirmed it beginning in Rom 2:9,10,28,29, 3:9, 9:6 Gal. 3:28, 1 Cor. 12:13, and John going from the old to the new Jerusalem.  The world wide church (the new Israel of God – in and of all nations) was initiated sans the sacrificial system, which had pointed to the Sacrifice – now completed.  Yet in the sanctuary’s place, baptism, (OT laver) representing death to sin and being alive in Christ was initiated.  Along with the Lord’s supper to remind of His sacrifice (sweet wine unadulterated, like He, without degrading fermentation wine or bread) and His continuing desire to sustain us (OT bread of His presence, NT Bread of Life) and His desire to be with us again, yes sup together.  Also the OT seven branched candle stick which represented the light of the Holy Spirit was being replaced with an increased witnessing power of the Holy Spirit.  Christ also illustrated for us, while on earth as the Son of man, with more than 84 references in the Bible’s New Testament, continued meetings with God on His Sabbaths — the weekly high-point of the sanctuary service — for relationship.  His disciples continued this practice with some references (John’s) implying over a year of Sabbath meetings up to about 70AD – an option of and for relationship that had begun as a part of creation ( Genesis 2:2,3 ).  Are we as His people post Calvary going to botch meeting with Him on His day ( original language meaning Ex.16:24, 20:11,12,Lev.23:38, Neh.9:14, Isa.58:13, Mk. 2:29, and thus Rev. 1:10 ), missing His full presence and teaching?  And even if we do get with Him are we going to imbibe His character and share His character with others which both the family and nation ‘churches’ previously botched?  Biblically something is established by two or three witnesses.  Here we see God established three major ways to reach humans.  Humans have been given three full chances and the majority each time have refused to accept and/or to be universal witnesses of His love.  Will you be one of the few good men or women in this last of His tries?  

Its been well said that the Patriarchs had the gospel in the stars- the constellations, the Hebrew or Jewish nation whom God desired to be victors/over-comers – true Israelites, had the gospel in the sanctuary, it’s services, and the Hebrew “Bible” (Christianity’s Old Testament), and the Israel of God (the world wide Church) has the gospel in the Scriptures. Again three witnesses that God has done all He could through humanity to spread to humanity the knowledge of His love.

Forgiveness is for the past outward working of evil and sanctification is the cleansing of that evil within James 1:14,15. 

Another look at the ancient question of what is the anger, the wrath, the vengeance of God?: In heaven, the angel Lucifer disbelieved the reality of selfless love both as a government and its personification in God, thus rebellion. If God then allowed and or caused Lucifer’s demise He, God, would have been served by heavenly intelligences, to a degree, out of fear.  To fully reveal the intricacies of this loss event to His unfallen creation, has taken God greater than 6000 years.  The understanding of the full answer is obviously out of our fallen, feeble, short lived mental capabilities.  Yet the necessary essence of what we need is given in clues and examples throughout scripture.  To whit: of His attitude during and following His losses. God shares through David that precious in His eyes is the death of His children, and through Peter in his second letter that He desires that all come to repentance and be saved, and through Hosea “why will ye die”? He also says through Paul in his letters to the Romans and to the Hebrews that vengeance is His and through James that man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God requires.  So in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and again to the Colossians, God’s instructions for Christians – and all- is, to “rid themselves of anger.”  And again to the Corinthians in chapter 13 that “love is not angered” (“easily” is not in the original manuscripts).  Jesus said in Matthew  chapter 5:22 “that anyone who is angry will be subject to judgement” (again the following phrase “without cause” in the KJV is supplied by later translators).  The often recited text preceding Paul’s instruction to rid of all anger – Ephesians 4:26b “Do not let the son go downhill you are still angry” – is at best but regressive permission as a starring point similar to the divorce papers of Deut. 34:1, Jeremiah 3:8 KJV and Mathew 5:31. When reality is given in Malachi 2:16″s “I hate divorce.”  Yes, as Solomon notes, “anger lies in the lap of fools,” and to “remove vexation from your heart”  Eccl. 7:9, 11:10.  God shares His attitude through Hosea in 11:8 and to the Pharisees in Lk. chapters 34,35, and again weeping on His last kingly approach to aging Jerusalem, and again in essence on the road from Jerusalem to Calvary to those who had/have chosen to rebel – to be His enemies – “How, O how can can I give you up, how O how can I hand you over…..My heart is charged within Me, all My compassion is aroused.”  So as King David cried over the death of his rebellious son Absalom (2 Sam. chapter 18) we see Christ crying over the death of His rebellious children.  The vengeance, the anger, the wrath of God is real, and is action associated with a passion born of loss, loss of a unique and beloved part of His creation.  We can see God the Father who is Light pavilioned in darkness at the cross, weeping as His Son suffered the full force of His wrath, anger, vengeance!  No, God has not/nor ever will indulge in the devastating physiologic/psychologic toxic brew of life shortening, life destroying chemicals of human anger, and He instructs/invites and will empower humans not to, if they will but open their hearts to His free gift of sanctification.  As God through David put it, “Be deeply moved but do not sin” Psalm 4:4 Rhm, or Paul in Eph 4:26 “in our anger do not sin”.  Realizing that sin is anything / relationship / emotion / action that brings loss, and yes we live in “the place of cessation” Ps. 38:11 mar. NIV. As we begin to see God crying over each of His repentant or rebellious children, regardless of how, why, or by whom, ( “If not He then whom?” Job asked Job 9:24 )  they are meeting trouble or demise or in the first or second death (Jn. 5:29; Rev. 20:6,14), we see a heart of infinite, unbounded, compassionate love.  A love unaffected by events, slights, covert or overt rebellion.  See the Son’s reaction to human anger, attempted trickery, the lies and shouts of the religious leaders, the spit, blows, mockery and wounds by the Romans, the unfaithfulness of the crowds and even His closest disciples.  See the heart of One whose last enemy to be destroyed is, not a sinful person, not one who has chosen to be an enemy, not even Satan — but death!  See a love that no matter how much it hurts, remains respectful of each (Mt. 26:50; Lk 22:60-62) and each one’s freedom.  When we see Him as He is, we see a heart that can, without reservation be trusted. Other texts considered: Eph. 4:31, Col. 3:8, Matt. 5:31, 8:21, 5:22, Jer. 3:8, 1Cor 15:26, 1Kings 17:20.

In my reading of scripture one can be 100% right on truth but 100% wrong in spirit thus un-saveable.   Yet one can be 100% wrong on a or multiple truths, non- intentionally but 100% right in spirit and be savable. This is especially true if they are open-mindedly searching and applying what they learn. Divine work for an individual ideally becomes like the setting up of the temple in Exodus 40, from the inside out.  Otherwise one’s Christianity can easily become more like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.  That was Christ’s point in His interaction with the rich young ruler of Matt. 19:16-22.

It has well been observed that one can prove anything, to their satisfaction, from scriptures.  Be willing and step back in thought, pray for the Holy Spirit and look at all the entire inspired information on the topic.  Truth can easily be or get lost from one misinterpretation, one seemingly outlier of a text or in intricate (Isa.28:13) downstream arguments, so look at origins also.  This helps immensely with the true state of the dead, the true Sabbath, the truth of origins, Christ’s second coming, marriage, the kingdom of grace and judgement, and diet too name but a few.  Step back and look at the foundation of all grace for solid foundations – Genesis chapters 1-3. For as in compass work, the right beginning has a great influence on the ending pointing and the paths in-between. 

A good divine definition of religious “traditions” of which Christ cautioned about in Mt. 15:1-9 and Mk. chapter 7, is found in Jeremiah 7:31 as “something I commanded not, nor did it enter My mind”.   The entire Bible is the foundation of the book of Revelation with its 505 citations or allusions to the Hebrew Old Testament involving every book thereof.  Revelation means revealing or unmasking, which it does for the Christ (the Anointed One) and of evil, warning in its twenty-second chapter verse 18 that everyone who hears the words of the inspired message and predictions of this book, “if any one adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book (ie. the whole Bible).  And if anyone takes words away from this book of inspired messages God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city which are described in this book”.  This again is but a citation of Prov. 30:5,6 or consider Lev. 10:1 concerning the use of unauthorized fire.  Beware of mere traditions no matter how artfully, loudly or repeatedly they are attempted to be justified.

There may be times in life when we don’t have solid answers to our questions.  But there never need be a time when we don’t have a solid Friend who knows the answers.  At these times rest in His friendship.  

Philippians 4:8 via word definitions: ‘Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is loyal, honest and accurate, whatever is deserving of profound respect, whatever is in conformity with what is morally upright, whatever is free from harshness, alteration, pollution and marked by chastity, whatever is delightful in moral beauty, whatever you can consider with approbation, if there is any excellence, if there is anything deserving of favorable judgement, think about (read, view) these things.’   A 2020 study from the University College of London has revealed that negative thinking increases brain accumulations of tau and beta amyloid proteins associated with Alzheimer’s along with recorded increased cognitive decline in free living people over a period of five years of repetitive negative thinking.  Again affirming that all of God’s instructions to us, are for our best good. Joyfully find them and follow for a better life!

Christianity is to know and show, to give, glow and grow.

Ideally the essence of a person is in their name.  Jacob’s name was changed in Genesis 32:28 to victor or over-comer (Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology – Israel).  God in Daniel 9 determined a time for the Jewish people that they as a nation were to be over-comers, to become true victors and finish their transgressions.  They didn’t and Christ said that their house was “left for them desolate”  Mt. 23:28.  Paul further confirmed that in Gal. 3:7,18, 29 and Eph. 2:11.  Revelation chapters. 2,3 gives seven promises to the, then future overcomers ( gentile, Greek, and Jewish ), in the Israel of God, Rom. 9:6; Gal. 6:16. 

Laws are too inform, to protect, to refine, to define and to make sublime.

Another short look at immortality: Where is the weight of evidence?: The first death is called a sleep at least 50 times in 14 books by 8 different authors. Christ himself called it a sleep, recorded 6 times.  Paul makes it plain that humans put on immortality at the second coming of Jesus in 1 Cor. 15:53,54.  Nowhere in scripture is mankind spoken of as having immortality, an attribute attributed in scriptures only to divinity 1Tim 1:17.  Scriptures records the first lie as “you shall not surely die”( Gen. 3:4 ) and in the last of the last book, –Rev. 20:14— calls the result of the final judgement the second death. Then follows it five verses later informing that there will be no more death.   Death is the cessation of life, its gone!  Its origin noted in Genesis 2:7 to wit: “then the Lord God formed the man of the dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living creature”.  A correct ending comes primarily from an accurate beginning.  Be sure you interpret texts that might lend themselves to various interpretations in the light of origins and the weight of evidence avoiding like a plague emotionalisms.  Understanding death will help one avoid one of the devils last tricks.

We must be covered before we can be filled.  Covered with Christ’s robe of righteousness (His blood) before infilled with the substance of His robe of righteousness.  Two indivisible but different aspects of His robe. As we turn from darkness to light, His light (character) shines upon us — we are covered/forgiven/justified. The second step involves again a request, and again a battle against selfishness, a pleading for the fruits of the Holy Spirit – His character – to infill us (sanctification) to shine within.  This is the greatest gift God could bestow on humans. Then in a beautiful privilege, to let it shine from within. This gift of eternal life in us – Jesus Christ – then becomes our assurance of life eternal.  

The story of the Rich Man and Lazarus found in Luke 16:19-31 is commonly used as a literal teaching of the kingdom of heaven.  Yet one must realize the context and purpose of Jesus’ discourse to properly understand the story.  Luke 16:13 records Christ saying: “you cannot serve God and money.”   The listening Pharisees who were “lovers of money” began sneering, jeering and making sport of Jesus for this concept.  So Christ’s first response was “that which is highly exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” To specifically engage the Pharisees, who saw themselves as teachers of the law, he began on the positive note of affirming the immutability of the Law and then addressed one longstanding, heavenly undesired, no longer needed regressive permission given by Moses in place of the 7th commandment on marital faithfulness.  So challenging was this progressive re-clarification that when Christ had previously addressed it with his disciples in Mt. 19:10 their response was that it would be better not to marry.  Christ then went directly to the point of their scoffing, addressing their widely held belief and teaching that money was the indicator of God’s smile and was an assurance of their entry into heaven.  The story of the Rich Man and Lazarus was Christ’s answer to this money question and from its onset continued unveiling some of their wrong understandings on a number of points.  He began through their unscriptural immortality theology to teach them that money and salvation are not linked by putting the poor man in Abraham’s bosom ( a decietful teaching that put a man or created being (Abraham) in place of Divinity…Other examples include Ex. 32:1 vs. Ex. 6:6; 16; 19:4;20:2 or Nebuchadnezzar in Dan. 4:30 or Lucifer in Isa.14:14 or Gen. 3:5 ) and the rich man in a non-scriptural Grecian borrowed concept of punishing.   The story put heaven and hell in communication – again a concept found nowhere in scripture.  The story then affirms that the Old Testament, properly understood and applied is all that is needed to get to heaven (“these are they that testify of Me” Lk. 24:27,Jn.5:39 — NT Christianity anyone? ).  The rich man’s request for a drop of water was a mirror of the inadequacy of his crumbs for the beggar on earth.  The lessons:  1)  Money is not the ultimate or only blessing of God nor indicator of one’s future.  2)  That what you do – not have – in this life profoundly affects your afterlife.  3)  the teachings of the OT is more then adequate for salvation.  4)  this life is your only chance.  Christ’s twelve teachings about the kingdom of heaven all began with: “the kingdom of heaven is like” and none implied immortality, a residing in Abraham’s bosom, or communication with the dead (a teaching soundly condemned in scripture).  Yet Christ did use some of their inappropriate teachings (“there are many things I would like to tell you but you are not ready” Jn. 16:12), here a parable, to get through to them the afore mentioned time/place pertinent lessons.  The story of the Rich Man and Lazarus must be considered and interpreted as the 14th and last parable (the Bible rarely if ever uses 13 of anything) in the line of the preceding 13 parables beginning in Luke chapter 8 and not as a literal description of heaven from which non-scriptural teachings become weakly supported.                           

Of Freedom / Faithfulness / Future Salvation: Mt. chap 3 records John the Baptist calling sinners and ‘church’ members to “REPENTANCE” meaning take a 180 degree turn.  Mathew chapter 4 records Jesus the Christ beginning his ministry calling for the same.  Revelation chaps 2,3 records Jesus again calling the seven churches, representing the then future of Christianity, to repentance.  Jesus in Jn. chapter 15 speaks of those who “REMAIN” ten times.  Heb. 3:28  tells of the need to “HOLD ON” and Heb. 10:25,38 to “ENDURE’ and “NOT SHRINK BACK” and be destroyed.  Proverbs 26 and 2 Peter 2 encourage us to not be like a dog returning to its vomit.  Ez. 3:20 speaks of the righteous, “TURNING FROM” righteousness, will die and in 33:11 pleading for all to turn from evil ways. The Book of Life, where names are written when one turns to Him, is spoken of 14 times in Scriptures with six of them ( Ex. 32, 1 Jn. 5, Php. 4, and Rev. 3,13,22 ) noting that names may be blotted out.  After ‘turning from evil’ there is a growing and proving process that necessitates remaining,  enduring, Mt. 10, 24, Mk. 13,  and the holding on which produces the OVER-COMERS of  Gen. 32:28 and Rev. 2,3 &21. Mathew 18: 23-35 speaks of a servant who was forgiven (justified) 500 lifetimes of debt yet did not repent (180 degree turn), remain, hold on, endure, overcome, but shrank back, returned to his vomit (Pr. 26:11; 2 Pe. 2:22) and was thus unforgiven.  Belief is both faithfully passive and faithfully active.  As Micah 6:8 shares, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but TO DO justice, and TO LOVE mercy  (“loyalty” NEB, “steadfast love” ESV margin) and TO WALK humbly with your God?”  What of assurance?  We have the only assurance needed of/in faith — that of the faithful love (hesed) that has no measurable width, length, height nor depth — the love of God Eph. 3:18.  HE ( 1 Jn. 4:16 ) is the one constant of the universe.

To better understand the symbolism found at the opening of the 5th seal of Revelation 6:9, of the souls under the altar “calling/crying out in a loud voice, ‘How long, O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge” (note the short book of Jude positioned just prior to Revelation with it’s 7 references to judgement in its 25 verses) “the inhabitants of the earth, and avenge our blood”? Compare the sacrificial system’s symbolism found in the pouring of an individual’s sin offering’s blood at the base of the altar of sacrifice Lev. 4:17,18,30,34; 5:1-10; 9:9. Or again God’s words to Cain found in Genesis 4:10, “The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground” ESV. No they are not existing under the altar!

2021

In addition to the uniqueness of each individual, Christians are each unique in which and how much of each Fruit of the Spirit they have obtained and developed, unique in how they each manifest those fruits of the Spirit, in their unique sphere of influence, in the unique opportunities they have, according to the unique set of gifts of service they have been blessed with, and uniquely developed.

A Christian is called to intellectually know the truth but if that’s all, it makes one no different than a history student. A Christian is called to teach, share and preach as an ambassador but that’s not much more than a Buddhist, Hindi, atheist, secularist, politician, or national representative.  A Christian is forgiven – beyond wonderful – yet Christ taught that even this was, by itself, insufficient in the forgiven servant parable of Mathew 18:23-35 (placed in jail), the half of the forgiven/justified -” virgins” – of Mt 25:1-12 and the woman caught in sin John 5:14 with ”go and sin no more lest something worse…”    Thus a Christian who encompasses no more than forgiveness, knowledge, or being an ambassador, even though they may have,  “cast out devils in Your name,” may not find themselves in the New Jerusalem, as Christ says, “I never knew you.”  ie: we never were friends Mt7:22 KJV!   Christ desires, longs for, invites and has made every provision for a close, ongoing, growing relationship with each.  Christ does say, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31, so belief must entail more than intellectual ascent, knowledge, proclamation or a passing acquaintance (believe means trust implying following action per Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance word #4100).   A true Christian must be — be one who has “Christ formed” (Gk “embryoed” and growing: a healthy pregnancy) “within” Gal 4:19, (exemplifying Him, His character being re-created, growing into His image  Jn 1:10,20; 17: 20-26, Col 3:4), after a new birth Jn 3:3.  Scripturally, to know implies an intimate acquaintance beyond the intellectual, even used to indicate marriage consummation.  To be forgiven demands a change, a movement, a growth, in a new direction. Growth in part from deep gratitude Col 3:12-14, desiring to be and being transformed into His likeness with ever increasing glory 2 Co 3:18; 2Pe 1:3-11.  Put another way, justification (forgiveness) individually places one’s feet on the upward path, but it is sanctification (Gal 5:22; Co 3:12; Hosea 14:8), an intimate growing relationship that moves one along the path, thus affirming one’s true commitment.  It is not the distance one has traveled on the path that brings salvation.  One is safe to save if they are on the path – forgiven, and with Christ embroyed (alive!) and growing within – moving upward.  Both forgiveness and growth come by what He did and does — by grace through faith Ephesians 2:8.

The walk/march Justification ( being forgiven ) without sanctification ( being incrementally recreated into God’s  image ) is like attempting to walk/march with just one foot.  The Christian walk/march, just like our current material life, needs both – Lt/Rt-Lt/Rt-Lt/Rt….  We begin with the correct foot of justification – asking for and accepting His, God’s, forgiveness, both once globally, and as commonly daily needed.   Sanctification affirms the sincerity of the justified by the coming to Him for victory over the continuation of that death dealing sin you were forgiven of and of what you’ve newly seen.  Both justification and sanctification coming to us by His grace through our faith which again is a gift from Him (1The 5:23; 2The 2:13; 1 Pe 1:2; Ex.31:12,13).  Asking forgiveness, then asking for His specifically needed character virtue/trait via His great and precious promises (2 Peter 1:3-12) to remove that specific evil from continuing in our lives. (There is His power to do – embryoed in each of His commands/directions/instructions)   God then, when He sees we are ready, reveals another destroying/sinful aspect of our lives and we ask for and then accept His forgiveness, followed by asking for His character virtue to remove that continuing evil from our lives.  Then God, when He sees we are willingly ready,  opens the door to another character defect and we ask and receive forgiveness….Lt/Rt-Lt/Rt-Lt/Rt…walking/marching on the upward path.  Being re-created by the Creator back into His image – His character in which we were created.  Those virtues at times being called the fruits of the Spirit Gal 5:22.  The result of marching with just one foot is warned against in Mathew 18:23-35 with the justified servant, and in 12:43-45 with the house swept clean, both who did not pursue sanctification.  And for those justified but stoping the walk, without turning away from the path, the warning is in the parable of the sleeping virgins of Mathew 25:1-12.  Though justification/forgiveness is absolutely the necessary first step, these parables make it plain that it just doesn’t cut it as the totality of the Christian life/walk.  Paul in Galatians 5:25 put it this way: “If we live in the Spirit” ( in His justification – His robe of righteousness, forgiven), “let us also walk” (movement, improvement, becoming like Him Gal 5:22; 2Pe 1:3-12 sanctified) “by the Spirit.”   Stability and progress, revealing sincerity, are remarkably better with two feet.

Keeping the cart before the horse for the greatest ride of our lives! SALVATION = SAVED FROM THE GUILT OF OUR CURRENT SELFISH PATH OF SELF-DESTRUCTION, THEN BACK INTO THE IMAGE (CHARACTER) OF THE ONE WHO CREATED US, WHICH WILL BE TOPPED OFF LIKE THE ICING ON A CAKE WITH, SAVED TO LIFE ETERNAL.    SALVATION is by God’s unearned, unmerited kindness, termed grace, through our faith in His faithful love.  Grace and love manifested first by Creation (Ge 1,2), then by His desire for and initiation of intimate relationship (Ge 2:1-3; 2:8), by the giving to us a second chance by promise (Ge 3:14-19; Rev 13:8; 1Pe 1:19,20; Titus 1:2; Ep 1:3,4; 3:11,12; Mt; 25:34), by the chasing after His recalcitrant, rebellious children (Ge 4:6,7; Ps 23:6; Rev 22:21), then by the sacrifice of His life ( Jn 3:16; Mt 27:11-28:10) for the life we’ve destroyed and are destroying, (Ez 18:31; 33:11).  Salvation (from) comes to us individually by responding to Him, His grace and love, in deep gratitude (Ps 50:23), confession and sorrow for breaking that relationship via distrust (Ge 3:6) (that’s why Paul/Silas said, “Believe (trust) in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31).  This involves turning away from our self-destructive, self-centeredness with a deepening hatred of it (Ez 18:30; Mt 3:2; 4:17; Lk 13:3; Rev 13:19), and accepting His forgiveness and the offer of His power for internal change(s) (Rom 12:2; 2Co 3:18; Ep 3:19; Ro 8:29; Jn 17:26) (back into).  Changes to other-centered, selfless love with it’s/His tenderness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, patience, self-control, compassion, grace, meekness, humility, perseverance, faithfulness, knowledge, truth and purity (Gal 5:22; Col 3:12; Ep 4:2; 5:9; Ex 34:6,7) being placed within.  Then, like Enoch, we can and will walk humbly into heaven’s life eternal (saved to) because heaven —Jesus the Christ, the Eternal Life (Jn 6:54; 10:28;17:3; 1Jn 5:20)— has entered into us.  From and into come before to. In short, salvation comes to us by gratefully turning  and responding in kind via His grace and power to His faithful love — to Him.

Some say we  ‘Live under grace.’  PTL we do!  Unearned, undeserved kindness!   It’s a narrative starting with Genesis 1:1 — Who earned or deserved the still wonderful world we live in? — and extending through Revelation 22:21 and beyond to infinity, again unearned and undeserved, all emanating from God’s character of faithful loving kindness.  Yet where, how and when does that grace negate even one out of ten short instructions/commands/prescriptions/directions (Strong’s Concordance definitions of the Hebrew word commandments #4687), that God wrote with His finger on stone when He who is grace reveals the reality that His instructions/commands/prescriptions/directions are “perfect” and “more to be desired than gold” Ps 19:7-11, given “for our good,” our relational good Dt 10:13; 12:28 and then instructed, in person by the Giver, that if we ignore/break one, we’ve in reality “broken them all” Mt 5:19; Jn 7:23; Lk 16:17; Jn 2:10;10:25, implying their inter-relational, indivisible wholeness?  The Sabbath prescription¹ seems to be the one of most widespread concern.  Given in Genesis 2:1-3 and Ex 31:12,17 as a sign, a symbol, and as a banner  Ps 60:4; SS 2:4; Isa 40:28, of God being our divine parent, our Creator.   A reality claim repeated by God and man greater than seventy times in such scriptures as in Psalms 96:5lp; Isaiah 44:24; Acts 17:24 and Revelation 14:7 and repeatedly implied by God in Job 38-41.  A relational time given to be a benefit to man Mk 2:27.  In making “Jehovah’s day” (Ex 16:25; Neh 9:14; Isa 58:13; Mk 2:29), holy Genesis 2:2,3, a symbol/sign/flag of His creative power, presence, desire for relationship, and of the One who brings freedom (Ex 20:1 from Egypt, thus by extension slavery to sin in Romans 6:6,16; Heb 2:15), implies this time to be both a blessing for those who enter into its rest Hebrews 4:9-1,11, and/or an indicator of a cold shoulder to Him by those who refuse or choose their own appointment times Luke 14:16-24; Isa 28:12; Dt. 13:18.  Consider the revealing implications of one turning their back on, stomping on, or burning of even a temporal sign/symbol/flag/banner/portrait.  Remember God is “long-suffering”  yet “is not mocked” (treated with contempt) Ex 34:6,7; Gal 6:7KJV.  Grace is not license. 

 1 prescription: 1a) established under common law, b) acquired under common law, 2 making a claim to something by long use and enjoyment, 5a) ancient or long continued custom, b) a claim founded upon ancient custom or long continued use. Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary

Sin (all that destroys life which comes only from God – Gen.1:30; Jn. 10:10) and all who cling irreversibly to their sins, will be destroyed by the full unveiling, the brilliance (outshining glory) of God’s character of loving kindness at His second coming 2 Thessalonians 2:8. The final coup de gra^{^}ce (the finishing stroke) for sin and thus death.  in the divine respectful granting of the guilty one’s chosen path that pays their chosen wages. Wages that come not from God (He offers eternal life) but earned by their sin, the full wages that have been held off by His divine grace.  Destroyed in an event that is the fire of eternal results Jude 7; Ps 21:9; Mt 3:12; Lk 3:17, 2 Thess 1:8-10; 2 Pe 2:6; Rev 20:9,14; 21:4.  Divine wrath, spoken of in scripture, is the condensation into the English language of 19 Hebrew and Greek words.  Their meanings are best described as “a strong feeling of displeasure aroused by injustice, resulting in granting the guilty their chosen wage of eternal extinction.”  An event described variously and over 15 times as “gave up,” “gave over,” “turned over,” and illustrated as a divine turning away with a heart of sorrow.

Those Christians who look for the re-establishment of the earthly Jewish temple with its services are in reality rejecting, along with the Jews, the word and the sacrifice of Christ, that great unparalleled, unsurpassable, universal, and definitive event prophesied in Gen 3:15, toward which the temple and its services had pointed.  Likewise they are rejecting the divine rejection of the temple and the divine destruction and of it, via the divine rending of the temple curtain from top to bottom at the great antitype’s death (Mt 27:51; Mk 15:38; Lk 23:45).   And rejecting Christ’s words, “Look your house is left to you desolate” (Mt 23:38; Lk 13:35). The Greek meaning of the word: “house” is “family thus linage by extension” (Strong”s); “forsaken” is “renounced as something once cherished without intent to recover, synonym ABANDON” (Merriam Webster 9th Collegiate.” Like ancient Cain with his sacrifice, are they expressing deep interest in that which is contradictory to and disaffirming of their expressed faith in Jesus the Christs’ all sufficient sacrifice for them on that earthly cross? Re-evaluate that belief in light of Isa 28:13lp, “the word of the Lord will be to them…a little here and a little there, that they might stumble backwards, and be broken, and snared and taken.” AAT 

Can we as humans, without eventual consequences, make free with that which God has declared sacred, holy?  Ask the Hebrew king David who ignored God’s instructions on how to move the sacred Ark, or Uzzah (likely a Merarite 1Chr 6:29 who’s duty was to move the courtyard curtain and accessories and not a Kohathite who was to move the ark thus was not to be even close to the holy ark of the Testimony 2 Sam 6:3-11, or strong man Samson who allowed his hair to be shorn Judges 13, or Hebrew King Saul offering a priestly sacrifice 1Sam 13:2-14, or Hebrew King Jeroboam trying the same 1Kings 13:1-6.  Today what about Genesis 2:3?  GRACE IS FAVOR NOT LISCENSE.

GOD desires to arouse attitudes and actions of love, respect not subjugation, apology not rationalization, humility not self defense, repentance not vindication, sanctification not rites.  The kingdom of heaven is not about restitution but forgiveness, not about rights but righteousness, not about coercion but invitation, not about tolerance but love, not about getting but giving.  In divine parental (Luke 3:37) love He shares knowledge and power for peace and longevity leaving the choice to say “yes” to us.                                                                         

The second commandment “Love your neighbor as yourself”¹  reveals and constitutes the proof of the first commandment “Love the Lord your God with all your heart…soul…and mind”²                               1  Ex 3:6; Gal 5:14; Mt19:16-24; 18:21-35,    2  Deut 6:5; Josh 22:5

What Paul does with the law that was given and placed within the Ark Ex 25:10-22, in Romans and Galatians is to bring into clearer focus what was designed to protect us from destroying ourselves ¹ while we get our eyes to focus on Christ, thus bringing to reality our revealing of His character of other-centered, selfless love; a new heart; taking away our heart of stone and replacing it with a heart of flesh; re-creating His image within; writing the law on the heart; opening the door of our heart to Him; allowing the sap of His life, the vine, to enter into our dead branch, our dry bones, which was and is the goal of the plan of salvation, super ceding the need of the dry written while not negating the reality of the vital ten prescriptions. 1 Like the ark of the flood: “to keep them alive” Gen 6:19,20

How cultures handle 8 different verities can define each world culture, religion or individual.  These verities are found in the first three chapters of the Christian Holy Scripture which reveal the ancient account of this world’s origin.  Verities to whit:  1  Creator:  Gen 1:1   “In the beginning God”   2  Creation:  Gen 1:1   “created the heavens and the earth”   3  male/female:  Gen 1:27 “male and female He created them”   4  marriage:  Gen 2:23,24  singular “a man…his wife…joined fast.. “flesh of my flesh… “one”)    5  Diet: Gen 1:29 “every seed bearing plant and every tree that has fruit with seed in it they shall be yours for food,” 3:18, “plants of the field”   6  Relationship / respect Gen 1:27 “created in His image”;  2;2,3 a day made for relationships,   Ex 20:10 equalizing all creation in making social justice a weekly reality.  7  Death:  Gen 2:17 Don’t, “YOU WILL DIE,”  vs. the adversary’s words 3:4 “you will not surely die”  (“the permanent cessation of all vital functions…to pass out of existence” Websters 9th ).   8  Her Seed = Christ Gen 3:15 “He (her seed) will crush your (the adversary’s) head”    — All “instructions, clear communications” and “prescriptions” – verities here –  are shared by God “for our own good” — Deut 10:13. ( Strong’s definitions of ‘commandments & statues’)

And each verities’ current malevolent oppugners denial :                                                                                   1  Evolution:  a religion whose foundation is a denial of the loving Creator God, while using “natural selection,” an entity without intelligence or love, as their violent creator god.   2  Worship creation: worship is spending significant time on something while holding it in high esteem: such as green ecology as was predicted in Romans 1:25 and seen throughout pagan history in religions such as Baal (local nature objects) worship.   3  Sexual interchange:  degrades both male and female, morally, mentally, physically – the latter in part via the greatest pandemic this world has seen —STI’s and STD’s!  4  Alternative relationships:  current culture calling marriage the female’s greatest oppression and children their greatest burden thus driving abortion, promotion of unisex and the degrading of marriage and stable social structure as well as both genders.   5  Ingest what you want:  in type, time and quantity being one of the great causes of human degeneration physically, mentally and morally.  6  Go your own way answering to none – you are your own determiner of right and good. You are your own (parent) god.   7  A plethora of possibilities in which an immortal “soul” goes through reincarnation, to hell, to purgatory, directly to heaven, or becomes a wanderer on earth… thus life, “you shall not surely die”.   Making ‘the dead’ then, via these jugglerys of evil through demonic impersonation thought to be available to be ‘communicated’ with.   8  Ignore/deny/dilute Christ – like the French revolution against monetized, coercive, imperialistic, hijacked Christianity, marxism, naziism or communism with their foundations in Godless evolution, or replace Him with another god, many gods like Hinduism, or add saints and priests or just plain paganism.  The wandering paths seem endless.  — And those who follow them bring harm on their own heads  Prov 19:3; Ez 11:21, Hos 8:4. Yet the verities remain.  

Pray that your thoughts will not be on what you or another has, is, wants, plans, has done or is doing but upon how you can represent, demonstrate, reveal the source of Christ’s glory  –  His beautiful character –  to all in your sphere of influence.   

ASSURANCES:  If where we are we have allowed Him to be, then where He is we will also be  Col 1:27; Gal 2:19,20; Jn 5:11,12.  Stated another way:  The Father loves His Son Mk 1:4; Mt 4:11; Lk 22:42; Rev 5:9,13 and if His Son is in us reproducing His character, we will be with Him on His throne, or another, our assurance is of His faithful love 1 Jn 4:18!!

Selfless relational love involves the growth of faith and trust in another, looking increasingly to them as a friend and counselor.  True full and growing other-centered love is so breathtakingly beautiful yet so unnatural that the only path to this love is by having Christ formed within.

OVERCOMES AS I OVERCAME   (Rev 3:21; Jn 14:20,23) Though from the first and always a mixture, the dominant lure used by the adversary of good to inveigle, beguile, seduce and turn God’s people/witnesses away from Him was first distrust in the edenic garden Gen 3:1-4 and then selfish pleasure in the antediluvians Gen 6:1-8; Mt 24:37.  From this self-centered pleasure he added idolatry, which continues to be common in all societies dominated by sensual pleasures, material goods or polytheistic religions by whatever name.   Genesis 32:1-5 records it of the Hebrews at their beginnings, but in Hebraic history it became majorly present Ez 6:9 in the pre Assyrian and pre Babylon redemptive disciplinary/captivity era.  Then moving from idolatry to legalism with the tribe of Judah post Babylon, (though the seeds were planted in Ex 19:8 by all the Hebrew tribes with “we will do everything that the Lord has said”).   From legalism to the formlessness i.e. lawlessness, either in theory or in the practice of modern Christianity, through in part, with current Protestants, a misinterpretation of Paul’s writings.  God’s post Calvary people took over the victors/overcomers actuating, inspirational name God had given Jacob – “Israel” – in Gen 32:28  as the “Israel of God” Gal 32:1-5.  Those who were the now divinely envisioned overcomers of Jn 14:20,23; 1Jn 2:13,14; 4:4; Rev chapters 2,3 and Rev 21:7, (as was the former nation of Israel who found their “lineage left to them forsaken” Mt 23:38 – equal interpretations of the Greek for “house” and “desolate”- as predicted in places such as Deut 28:15-45; and Dan 9:24-27) were called Christians by the people of Corinth.  The current difference from the time of Christ, again, is that the motivationally called overcomers (Isrealites) then deified the law and rejected the Christ Dan 9:24-27; Mt 1;1; Mk 1:1; Lk 2:11; Jn 1:17 – attempting form without love.  And we as the Israel/Christians (overcomers) of God today, deify Christ and reject the law – attempting love without form.  For delightful, useful, beneficial, complete function, God at creation formed each day and then filled it with loving perfection.  We, given a chance to arise from our fallen state must allow Him to re-form, cover us with His robe of righteousness Ps 19:7-11; 119:1; Rom 7:12,  then to fill Gal 2:20; Jn 17:21,23; Lk 11:24,25, us with His righteous character Gal 5:22; 2Cor 3:18; 2Pe 1:2-11 so forming and filling – “Christ in us” Col 1:27.  This is to accomplish in our hearts His altruistic prescription “law” of selfless love ( the new covenant of 1Cor 2:16; 3:16; 2Cor 3) Rom 2:15; Mt 5:17-28, that we may become humble, delightfully useful, joyful victors/overcomers – the divinely envisioned victorious overcoming “Israel” of God Rev 21:7

Could it be that the popular futuristic/concrete/materialistic interpretations of biblical comments concerning modern Israelare but a rehash of the ancient Jew’s temporal / national /concrete / materialistic / self-centered political view of their looked for Messiah?  The reality then as now, was and is in truth, a desire for the spiritual overcoming of all people [ Abrams name changed to Abraham “Father of many nations”].  The Messiah was introducing His spiritual kingdom that was not of geography nor of earthly politics.  Are we, in our materialistic/concrete/political view looking as they, the wrong way?  Yes, there were conditional threats and conditional promises of which some were historically fulfilled in such as Herod’s temple and some not fulfilled because of Israel’s behavior (notice the “If” beginning Ex 19:5; Deut ch 28,28) and God’s disputes with the nation of Israel in Malachi.  Yet the name Israel was and does, though given variable definitions, stand on the foundational and God given meaning of: “overcoming with/in/by God” see Genesis 32:28, Rom 2:28,29; 9:6; 11:13,14,25,26;12:21; Gal 6:16; 1 Jn 5:4; Rev 2:7,11,17,26: 3:12,21; 21:7.

 All humans worship. Worship is defined by deep admiration/adoration/engrossment and or discipleship.  Worship may be of self, gender, a sport, an entertainment, a personage, learning, prestige, wealth or an entity.  It can be power in its many forms or any number of realities.  One ancient, yet modern common form is Baal worship.  Baal worship was and is the humanizing1, then admiringly deifying2  a specific force or object of nature.  A modern example is the granting of intelligence to nature via the term “natural selection”.  Yes, the theory of evolution is one form of modern Baal worship as can be seen also in environmentalism or animal rights.  Another subtle modern (though ancient- see Dt 18:1; 1Sam 28) form is made by isolating and bending the intention of a few Biblical texts to animate lifeless humans, then placing them in purgatory, heaven, hell or in any spirit form so that they may be, among other things, communicated with and or worshiped as in paganism.3  As with all other objects, personages or forms that are worshiped, the above stands counter to the worship, adoration of the true legitimate God who did both create and sustains life.  Creation forms God’s claim for the Godhood (paternity) of this world and its inhabitants – “It is I who made the earth and created mankind …He who created the heavens, He is God” Isa 45:12,18 NIV.  This is repeated directly in various ways well over 70 times in scripture.  For us comes the choice, as intoned by the ancients Joshua and Elijah: “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve if (the Creator) God then follow him, if Baal (in his many forms) then follow him” Jos 24:15; 1 Kings 18:21; Isa 7:15,16 (my compilation).                     1. humanizing: attributing human qualities too.   2. deifying: to extol, to make glorious by bestowing honor, praise, admiration.  3.  Eccl 9:5; 1 Tim 6:16; Ge 2:7.17; Ge 3:19 Ps 104:29; Jn 11:11, 43; 5:28,29. 

A true CHRISTIAN is one who: inspired by God’s selfless love, hungers and aspires to purity and nobility.  One who is invited, responds and enabled by their Creator who – via an eternal gracious sacrifice, provides the means – empowered by His Father’s loving gift of the Holy Spirit – to reproduce Their character of other-centered love that was lost by our freewill choice as a race, as we chose selfishness over selflessness.   “And the Lord God said, 1 ‘Lo the man 2  was one of us, as to the knowledge of good and evil; and now he must not be” 3  “allowed to reach out his hand and take from the tree of life and eat, and live forever”4  Gen 3:23.  Yes, a true Christian is one who is individually, incrementally being remade into His image as he was originally created Gen 1:26.  This again is in response to Their gracious invitation via our freewill faithful submission that is initiated and accomplished by beholding Him Jn 1:29.  The responding invitee will then be welcomed back into eternal other-centered existence at His second coming.    1:NIV,  2:Hebrew equally means “mankind”     3: YLT, 4: NIV

THE KINGDOM(S) OF GRACE AND GLORY    The kingdom of glory: “The vision of the Rock,” Dan 2:45 Taylor;  “ The Son of Man gives dominion to the saints,” Dan 7:13,14 NIV;  “The desolating sacrilege destroyed completely,” Dan 9: 27b;  and again Rev 6:14-17; Rev 11:18,19; Rev 14:1-5; Rev 14:18-20; Rev 19:11-20:6  all speak of the second coming of Christ with the Kingdom of glory.

“And the government shall be upon His shoulders” Isa 9:6.  For clarity of common usage Ill employ as designations – The kingdom of grace and the kingdom of glory as appellations of the two parts of that kingdom.  Realizing though the two parts are inseparably blended aspects/stages of God’s government – His kingdom.  For us, His recorded grace began in Gen 1:1 [ or earlier Rev 13 KJV; 1 Cor2:7; Eph 1:3-6; 3:11,12; Titus 1:2] and extends for those willing — eternally.  And glory denotes both the outshining and the source of that outshining –  righteousness .  

Grace – though always in existence as a foundation stone of God’s eternal character – was in temporal time brilliantly demonstrably extended in full panoply to fallen mankind via the first salvitic entrance of the Christ ( The Anointed One ) into the domain of fallen mankind.  Thus this fallen world became – past, present and future – His kingdom of special grace  [unearned, unmerited favor].  A kingdom with it’s components for fallen humans of invitation, free choice, cleansing and voluntary infusion of Christ’s hard fought victory (overcomer) over the forces of evil to bring righteousness – His Righteousness ( the image into which we were created ) back into each willing soul/life, thus preparing them for re-entry into the kingdom of glory – the kingdom perpetuating that joyous, glorious righteousness.  Righteousness is the joy of His salvation Genesis 15:1-5 on earth andthe perpetual joy of the kingdom of glory.  Yes, the partial list of texts at the beginning each speak of the second coming as the culmination of this great controversy between evil and good – Satan and God.  Choose your sides! Addendum: A quiver of kingdom of grace texts:  “Repent for the kingdom of heaven (Ex 33:18; 34:6,7 – His character) is at hand” Mt 4: 17;  “Blessed are the poor in spirit (those who feel their need of righteousness) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” – now and future  Mt 5: 3;  “The kingdom of God is come unto you”, Mt 12: 28;   “The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven”  Mt 13:33;   “The keys…” (His righteousness Gal 5:22), Mt 16 :19;  This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached…” (the news of His character of righteousness spread) Mt 24:14; Gen 4:26;   “not taste death till they see the kingdom of God” (His righteousness) Lk 9:27 &1 Jn 3:2;  “Preach the kingdom of God” (His righteousness made available) Gen 4:26, Lk 9:60;   “The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you; “But seek ye first the kingdom of God….and all else will be added…” Lk 12:31;  “The kingdom of God cometh without observation… within you” Lk 17: 20,21.  To know God is to be intimately infused, through the heart and life, with the non-coercive invitational selfless love, motivating and all else will be added….” Lk 12:31; ” The kingdom of God cometh without observation…within you” Lk 17:20,21. To know God is to be intimately infused, throughout the heart and life, with the non-coercive invitational selfless love, motivating and thus producing in temporal time, the spotless character of God: Christ within.

Putting together all the recent factors that are playing out across the globe, there more than seems to be a coordinated, orchestrated effort to rid the planet of most if not all religion as well as most humans (at least not caring if they continue existence), with the attitude of ancient Judah’s King Hezekiah ‘at least it won’t happen to me’.   Orchestrated by the Adversary of all good through various world entities, nations, political parties, power structures and behind the scenes yet to be fully revealed – religions.  Tyranny and oppression leading the way with greed as the foundation and money the lubricant.  Partial truths are told as whole truths with outright falsehoods the language, while unrestrained sensuality and lawless chaos are the underlying modus operandi.  This is occurring as the gracious God of Creation,  Individual Lover, and Granter of Freedom is releasing the restraints He has placed on the Adversary’s influence and conduct to provide a divinely granted time for unrestrained self-unmasking of demonic reality just prior to and leading up to the final conflict between the titans of truth and error, right and wrong, life and death in the battle of – yes – Armageddon.  Reality screams out – choose ye this day whom ye will serve.  Serve not just in deed but in truth both printed and living Truth.  Truth who procreates deeds.  The Truth of the fullness of His imparted, indwelling Spirit of selfless, other centered love that has been shared and come alive on this earth, truth for our best good, the truth in His word and the TRUTH of the WORD.  Time to be filled and overflowing with that Spirit is truly of personal essence!   

CHRISTIANITY 102:  Christianity is a religion of salvation via a personal relationship, not of self-realization, merit, appeasement, purchase, or of passing intellectual, cultural or social fashions.  Biblical salvation is by God’s grace alone (Eph 2:8,9).  “It” is pure gift that begins, progresses and ends with the other-centered love of God (Isa 54:10). The personified “it” is the only fuel (reality) that makes possible eternal living.  Biblical Christianity centers around creation and the Creator’s (Jn 1:1-3) incarnation, life, death, resurrection and High Priestly mediatorial ministry (Heb chap 4-9), the actions of the man Jesus the Christ, the second person of the Godhead, who by choice was gifted by the love of the Father to the human race to extinguish the guilt from sin accrued.  Christianity enters humanity through the Son of God’s condescension, divine-human life, death and resurrection personally received by faith, and through trust in God, continues its transforming work in harmful, hurtful humans as broken but trusting individuals allow God’s Holy Spirit to remake them whole.  Biblical salvation (rescue from dangerous circumstances [S]) is God’s supernatural work through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, without a thread of human contribution.  Jesus’ death on the cross broke the power of Satan and paid all entitled wages humanity has earned from Satan (Ge 2:17; 3:1-6; Ro 6:23; Rev 20:10) because of their sin, reconciling humanity back to God.  Romans 3:25; 1 Jn 2:2 and 4:10 reveal clearly that Christ atoned, meaning expiated:  extinguishing the guilt accrued.  Reconciliation is actualized when the sinner accepts it by faith.  Jesus’ resurrection conquered what the Bible calls the second death (Jn 5:29; Rev 20:6,14; 21:8) for those who enter into communion with Him by faith.  God sent and sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within them (Ps 51:10) to heal their inward brokenness via the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22) making them holy/whole, via His internalized undefinable but realized (1 Cor 13) selfless love – once again in the image of God (Ge 1:26,27).  That atonement was activated – for all as it was His desire that all choose salvation – “from the foundation of the world”  (Rev 13:8; 1 Cor 2:2,7,8; Acts 2:23; 1 Pe 1:19,20; Isa 54:10, Gal 3:8 2 Tim 1:8,9; Titus 1:2 Col 1:15; Mt 25:34; Eph 1:3-6; 3:11,12) since when God speaks it is as good as done (Ps 33:9) even before accomplished in earthly temporal time (thus giving all humanity, past, present and future a level playing field).  Underlying all of this is the reality that humans are indeed badly broken by sin (selfishness), and sins (the harmful actions of selfishness), a result of defection from God.  This inward corruption brings harm that mars, yea destroys the image of God in us.  We are bent to sin by heredity, guilty by choice and behavior, rebellious in spirit and thus deserve the wages we’ve earned.  Sin is an irreducible reality.  It is a falling away from our intended trusting purity and other-centered selfless love – the image of God – toward a harmful, hellish diminishing of all existence – of hiding then running from God (Ge 3:8; Ps 23:6).   Biblical Christianity and reality reveals our human condition is helpless apart from God’s intervention of giving each individual a personal free choice to be pulled out of the bottomless pit of sin.  The Bible is overwhelmingly plethoric in revealing God’s great unbroken, unbelievable, faithful, everlasting love; harshly realistic about our fallen condition; and full of hope in God’s forgiveness and freely given overcoming power to defeat selfishness, deceit and it’s sure sequel of the permanent second death by what God the Father, Jesus the Son of God – the Son of Man – has done, and is now doing as our mediator against accusations of the Devil in heaven’s court (1 Tim 5:24; Dan 7:13,14; Ez 9:6; Rev 22:12; Heb chapters 4 through 9, Lev 23:26-32;16:29-34; Zech 3).  

With all this said and done, the bottom line is that Christianity or salvation is not a certain belief or set of beliefs, not a belonging, not a state, not purchased, not earned via accomplishment or merit, not an event, not even an isolated choice but a turn and a walk, a graciously divinely capacitated growth in becoming Christ-like, being transformed into His likeness with ever increasing glory (Ro 12:2; 2 Cor 3:18; 2 Pe 1:3-12), back into the image in which we were created.  

Said another way, true Christianity, thus salvation involves individual choice, intent and commitment leading to action, faithfulness and growth divinely empowered by the Holy Spirit’s infusion of selfless love in all its virtues into our hearts and lives, gracefully engendered and supplied by beholding and asking of Him as long as our life’s duration affords (Acts 16:31).  Christianity graciously, personally offers salvation from the guilt of harmful thoughts and ways, salvation from the powerful draw of harmful self-centered thoughts and ways, leading to salvations’ continuous purity with the words: “ENTER THOU INTO THE JOY OF THY LORD” MT 25:21,23.

Philippians 3:9-11 tells us righteousness (doing life God’s other-centered way that supports life) comes  (occurs [MW]) by faith in Christ.  To die to self by and while inviting Christ to live within is a most concise summary of the good news – the gospel.  Even more succinctly stated by Paul in Philippians 1:21 as, “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”  

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