Either we have said this or some one has asked us this question sometime in our life: "Are you saved and when did that happen?" For many years I never could really put my finger to it, but I have always felt something was wrong with this doctrine. The Scriptures always place the 'saved' event in the past before the world was made, and accomplished as a done deal at Christ death and resurrection, it was something that occurred at that time for all of us. What I found out through my constant questioning was that When Christ said it was finished just before He died , what what He referring too? Everything was accomplished then, at that moment, and in our past. It is a done deal, we just have to be told of this already done accomplishment and start living in our new Spirit Identity as a fact. Here is a mini study on this topic.
When Were You Saved?
When were Christians today saved, and what works did they have to do to be saved?
Once I was at a lunch counter and reading a biblical commentary when a couple saw me and asked me if I were saved. I told them I was. They said that they were saved at a Billy Graham campaign some 12 years before and I congratulated them, but at the same time I told them I was saved in Christ long before that. They asked when I was saved? I then told them that the apostle Paul tells when I was saved and that it required not the slightest work on my part (whether that work was good or bad). They wanted to know where Paul said that. I told them to read II Timothy 1:9, Here is what the apostle stated as a foundational position of faith regarding our salvation.
"Who has saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."
I told them it was wrong to tell people what they have to do to get saved when salvation is "not according to our works." I informed them further that it was not proper to tell people how to GET saved, when they ought to be told how they GOT saved – that’s right, how they GOT saved in Christ Jesus before the world (or ages of man) ever came into existence. This is why "grace" is the only ingredient in the salvation secured for us by Christ. Our own works, no matter how good they might be, have nothing to do in the matter. And though it is true that a person has to express a faith and belief in Christ and his plan of salvation, even that faith, belief and will-power to accept the Gospel is a gift from God (Philippians 2:13). The fact is, all people who are now saved were saved in Christ, before Adam and Eve were ever placed on earth. This is exactly what Paul taught, and it is the real Gospel of Christ.
By the way, the couple did not like me showing them II Timothy 1:9. They left saying that I had better repent and do proper works (like working up a belief and working up a faith in Christ) or else I was on my way to an ever-burning hell from which I would never escape. They were as deceived as they could be on how salvation is obtained in Christ. I prefer Paul’s teaching in the above verse and elsewhere.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
ARE WE LACKING FAITH TO STEP OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE?
Here is a wonderful post and a pertinent question that I personally must ask myself: Do I really want to be healed? do I really want change in my life? do I really want out of this rut, this prison that I am in? Yes these are questions I must ask myself, and be honest with myself in. Do I really want out of my comfort zone even it it is killing me?
Wow , it is really high time I confront these issues in my life and really find out what I really want to happen in my life. It is funny, or maybe sad, that we are willing to stay where we are because it is so much harder not to. We must own up to our real situation here. I must take full responsiblity for my healing, and that healing can really only come when I hand it and all of it over to God.
God help me to see the true answer in my disabilities, and in my sickness, and the reasons for them. Help me to take up my bed and walk in your Salvation of my spirit soul and my body.Lord help me to see the error of my ways and to come to terms with the truth of them. Lord you know who I am, even when I fail or chose not to see who I really am. Lord please help me to get out of my comfort zone, and rely totally in your will for my life. Thank you Yah ' shua, Jesus , thank you Holy Spirit for revealing the true nature of my rut and comfort zone.
John 5:1-8 When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, He asked him, “Would you like to get well?” (v.6).
more>
He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds (Psalm 147:3).
next>
How would you answer Jesus’ question: “Would you like to get well?” Is there something you’re not willing to give up in order to get well?
Jesus once met a man who had been handicapped for 38 years. After spotting him lying near a pool in Jerusalem, Jesus asked him, “Would you like to get well?” (John 5:6).
At first, that sounds like a strange question. Of course the guy wanted to get well. He’d been handicapped for decades! In asking the question, however, Jesus acknowledged that sometimes people seem more inclined to remain in a crippled and broken state than to be healed.
Ironically, for some, the journey to restoration from personal brokenness seems too scary. Even though the wounds of life have crippled and imprisoned them, it’s what they have gotten used to.
Anyone can get so accustomed to living in a state of brokenness that they’re too afraid to leave it. It’s called becoming institutionalized. This term is used to describe the state of a prisoner who flounders at trying to live in “the real world” once he’s been freed from jail or paroled. Struggling with life outside the prison walls, some ex-cons will commit a crime in order to get sent back to the way of life they know and desire to experience again.
This frame of mind is similar to the one the Israelites slipped into shortly after God miraculously freed them from the bondage of Egypt. A life of slavery was the only life these people knew. And just a few days into their freedom, when the journey became difficult, they wanted to go back (Exodus 16:1-3). Following God into the wilderness toward the Promised Land might have felt too risky. They weren’t ready to “get well.”
God is in the business of restoration, but we need to know that the journey isn’t easy. It sometimes requires leaving behind what’s familiar and heading into new directions (John 5:8).
Here is a response to this devotion that I thought was well said:
BobbiLee says:
March 25, 2009 at 1:53 am
Both in the physical realm and the spiritual one, there are many lessons in this passage for us today as you have pointed out. We do like our “comfort zone.” Wellness requires responsibility and we don’t like to take that on. Instead, like the crippled man in this account, many people would rather take the easier, familiar path. Being dependent on others for our needs and being “spoon-fed” sure is a lot easier than taking responsibility for either physical or spiritual healing.
Some years ago I suffered a serious illness and almost died. It took the doctors eight months to come up with a diagnosis. During that time I depended entirely on the doctors for my healing and was confined to a chair all day and every day. After many months of sickness and pain, I finally realized that I had to allow God into my illness. I also had to take the first step if I ever wanted to get well and strong again.
So. . . one day, as difficult and painful as it was, I took a step, then two, then three. Daily I would take a few more steps than the day before. I stayed in the Word and God spoke to me there. I learned more of God during that time than in all my life before. You are right, the journey isn’t easy. Even in my spiritual life I can take a few steps, then more and more until I am truly walking with the Lord daily. This also takes time, effort and responsibility, but He is worthy and He is worth it.
Wow , it is really high time I confront these issues in my life and really find out what I really want to happen in my life. It is funny, or maybe sad, that we are willing to stay where we are because it is so much harder not to. We must own up to our real situation here. I must take full responsiblity for my healing, and that healing can really only come when I hand it and all of it over to God.
God help me to see the true answer in my disabilities, and in my sickness, and the reasons for them. Help me to take up my bed and walk in your Salvation of my spirit soul and my body.Lord help me to see the error of my ways and to come to terms with the truth of them. Lord you know who I am, even when I fail or chose not to see who I really am. Lord please help me to get out of my comfort zone, and rely totally in your will for my life. Thank you Yah ' shua, Jesus , thank you Holy Spirit for revealing the true nature of my rut and comfort zone.
John 5:1-8 When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, He asked him, “Would you like to get well?” (v.6).
more>
He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds (Psalm 147:3).
next>
How would you answer Jesus’ question: “Would you like to get well?” Is there something you’re not willing to give up in order to get well?
Jesus once met a man who had been handicapped for 38 years. After spotting him lying near a pool in Jerusalem, Jesus asked him, “Would you like to get well?” (John 5:6).
At first, that sounds like a strange question. Of course the guy wanted to get well. He’d been handicapped for decades! In asking the question, however, Jesus acknowledged that sometimes people seem more inclined to remain in a crippled and broken state than to be healed.
Ironically, for some, the journey to restoration from personal brokenness seems too scary. Even though the wounds of life have crippled and imprisoned them, it’s what they have gotten used to.
Anyone can get so accustomed to living in a state of brokenness that they’re too afraid to leave it. It’s called becoming institutionalized. This term is used to describe the state of a prisoner who flounders at trying to live in “the real world” once he’s been freed from jail or paroled. Struggling with life outside the prison walls, some ex-cons will commit a crime in order to get sent back to the way of life they know and desire to experience again.
This frame of mind is similar to the one the Israelites slipped into shortly after God miraculously freed them from the bondage of Egypt. A life of slavery was the only life these people knew. And just a few days into their freedom, when the journey became difficult, they wanted to go back (Exodus 16:1-3). Following God into the wilderness toward the Promised Land might have felt too risky. They weren’t ready to “get well.”
God is in the business of restoration, but we need to know that the journey isn’t easy. It sometimes requires leaving behind what’s familiar and heading into new directions (John 5:8).
Here is a response to this devotion that I thought was well said:
BobbiLee says:
March 25, 2009 at 1:53 am
Both in the physical realm and the spiritual one, there are many lessons in this passage for us today as you have pointed out. We do like our “comfort zone.” Wellness requires responsibility and we don’t like to take that on. Instead, like the crippled man in this account, many people would rather take the easier, familiar path. Being dependent on others for our needs and being “spoon-fed” sure is a lot easier than taking responsibility for either physical or spiritual healing.
Some years ago I suffered a serious illness and almost died. It took the doctors eight months to come up with a diagnosis. During that time I depended entirely on the doctors for my healing and was confined to a chair all day and every day. After many months of sickness and pain, I finally realized that I had to allow God into my illness. I also had to take the first step if I ever wanted to get well and strong again.
So. . . one day, as difficult and painful as it was, I took a step, then two, then three. Daily I would take a few more steps than the day before. I stayed in the Word and God spoke to me there. I learned more of God during that time than in all my life before. You are right, the journey isn’t easy. Even in my spiritual life I can take a few steps, then more and more until I am truly walking with the Lord daily. This also takes time, effort and responsibility, but He is worthy and He is worth it.
Are We Living in Denial?
"The problem with letting ourselves off the hook is that we also disqualify ourselves for salvation. If Jesus came to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21), then only those who admit and repent of their sins can be saved."
Wow is this an eye opener! I read this on a devotional. This devotion was talking about seeing sin and faults in others but not seeing or overlooking and denying the same in ourselves. If we do not see our need , we will never have our needs met in Christ. If we think we are ok , and that we do not have any problems in our character that need fixing, we will never get fixed, period. Jesus came for those that see their need, for those who know they are not perfect, who knows that they really do not measure up, those souls who are honest with themselves, these are the one's Jesus came to help. Those who live their lives thinking they are perfect and have healthy characters, usually are the ones who really need the help, but because they do not see their faults or choose to believe the lie they tell themselves will never truly live an abundant life in Christ. We are all guilty of self deception and it is an evil trap we get ourselves into. We must endeavor to see the traps we set up for ourselves, we must be wise to the deceptions and the lies that the Deceiver hurls at us. We must always be diligent to the schemes of the devil and of ourselves. Let us come to the truthful conclusion of the matter, that yes , we really need help and that we really need His salvation every day of our lives.
"Lord I am well aware of my need for your salvation, I know I don't measure up to who I should be, Lord only by your Spirit am I ever able to live an abundant life here on earth. Lord save me from my sins, my faults, and my self deceptions. Lord, heal me , take my hand and guide me in the way I should go, because I really do need help in finding my way, for I am truly lost and many times I am unaware of the dangers that are lurking in the shadows. Lord I need your angels to watch over me and my loved ones, Lord I need you and I thank you for your salvation today and every day."
Wow is this an eye opener! I read this on a devotional. This devotion was talking about seeing sin and faults in others but not seeing or overlooking and denying the same in ourselves. If we do not see our need , we will never have our needs met in Christ. If we think we are ok , and that we do not have any problems in our character that need fixing, we will never get fixed, period. Jesus came for those that see their need, for those who know they are not perfect, who knows that they really do not measure up, those souls who are honest with themselves, these are the one's Jesus came to help. Those who live their lives thinking they are perfect and have healthy characters, usually are the ones who really need the help, but because they do not see their faults or choose to believe the lie they tell themselves will never truly live an abundant life in Christ. We are all guilty of self deception and it is an evil trap we get ourselves into. We must endeavor to see the traps we set up for ourselves, we must be wise to the deceptions and the lies that the Deceiver hurls at us. We must always be diligent to the schemes of the devil and of ourselves. Let us come to the truthful conclusion of the matter, that yes , we really need help and that we really need His salvation every day of our lives.
"Lord I am well aware of my need for your salvation, I know I don't measure up to who I should be, Lord only by your Spirit am I ever able to live an abundant life here on earth. Lord save me from my sins, my faults, and my self deceptions. Lord, heal me , take my hand and guide me in the way I should go, because I really do need help in finding my way, for I am truly lost and many times I am unaware of the dangers that are lurking in the shadows. Lord I need your angels to watch over me and my loved ones, Lord I need you and I thank you for your salvation today and every day."
THE ORDINARY EVERYDAY LIFE OF FAITH IN GOD
The greatest lessons of living the life of Christ in this journey that I am on, is found in my everyday , non eventful and sometimes boring life. Many come to the Faith in Yah'shua/Jesus with the notion that we must always have great works to do for Him, that we must always feel His presence in our life.That we are to have busy and profound experience in God all the time, that somehow we must live on the mountain tops all the time. But I have found that the greatest work the Lord does in my life is when it would seem nothing is happening in my life. There seems to be no mountain top even in my view, nothing but endless valleys. The days seem to be the same, I do my household chores, I study the word, I pray, and I try to cope with life in Chronic Pain and disability. Day in and day out nothing seems to be changing, in fact it seems everything is getting worse in my life, more pain, more disability, more trials, more lack it would seem. I don't seem to be making any progress instead more things seem to be piling up on me. I don't feel the presence of God's Holy Spirit in my life, and my every day struggles and problems seem to keep coming at me with full force. Sometimes it would seem that it is never ending. All the while I continue crying out to God "where are you in all of this?"
We have this idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing in our life, that surely He is preparing me and equipping me for some great and extraordinary work sometime in the future. But I have found, by reading biographies of people who seem to be living that extraordinary life and by reading about the men and women God worked in , within the pages of the Bible, that there were many years of learning in the mundane ordinary day in and day out struggles that truly prepared them for what they were doing now, and for the great things we have read about. We only see the now in their lives, but we were no where around while they were undergoing the training of God in their ordinary and many times boring lives.
But as I live and grow in the Lord I am finding that God is truly doing a work in me right now in this mundane and ordinary and sometimes boring life this very moment and in every moment of my ordinary day.
I am being taught that God is doing and performing His Work , His way in me, He is pruning and tending the garden of my soul , pulling out weeds and watering and feeding me what I need now in this moment. This time is not being wasted when I ,no matter what the circumstances keep my mind and my heart in Him. It is in the ordinary life that He does His best work, it is the training ground that I need ,to be what He wants me to be, for what ever purpose that He has for me . He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Heb.13:5, Not for any reason , not because of my sin, or waywardness, or sometimes fears and doubts that I may have. He never leaves me even when I do not see Him at work in my life. This wilderness time we all go through is the training ground so that we personally will know and believe that God is true to His word every time, and it is during these ordinary , day in and day out , ups and downs that we personally gain the assurance that no matter what ,God is truly there. God is in me doing His workmanship in me, even when I am unaware of it. This is what we need to get a hold on, this is the time our faith is truly tested, and this is the time we will begin to truly know what and who we believe in. Yes ,God does great things it would seem in other peoples lives, but we must believe that He is doing great things in our lives now , and in many peoples lives, the truly big and wonderful workings of God will be found in the ordinary life that we live in.
If we continue to rely on God's assurance and His word that He has never left us, we will find that we will have His Strength to aid us in keeping on keeping on. The word says that "the secret of the Lord is with those who reverently fear and honor Him"Psalms 25:14
We must endeavor to uncover the 'secret of the Lord' daily in our lives , if we seek Him and His righteousness, we must believe that what ever we 'need' in our lives will be given. The secret here is knowing the difference between need and wants.
Those of us who live very ordinary lives must realize that there really is no 'work' that we have to do for the Lord, His only requirement from us is to Believe in Him and have Faith in Him. It is so much easier for us to do something for the Lord than to merely Trust in Him, we think surely we must be doing more FOR the Lord, we say to ourselves.God wants us to walk 'with' Him not 'work' for Him, He is the one doing the Work, we are called to allow His work to be done in and through us. We must be as Christ was in the world , He said "behold I have come to do Your will O God." Heb.10:9 Jesus' obedience was to the Will of Abba, and this is what we are to do as well. The whole purpose of our training in the ordinary things of life is to get us into 'Right relationship' to the needs of God and His Will. Once God's needs are met in us , He will open the way for us to accomplish His will in meeting the needs of those around us.
Until we come to the point of total reliance on the Resurrection life of Jesus which is what brings us into complete Oneness with the purposes of God we will never be called to do anything else. And that total reliance of his Resurrection life and power is learned in the daily trusting and abiding in Him in the ordinary, commonness of the lives we live.
Lord help me to be aware of you in my ordinary life, help me to rely on your resurrection life and power, help me to see you in all things that happen in my life, help me to come to the point of truly seeking your Will and Kingdom in me. Lord as I live daily in this world, I will trust in you , I will believe in you, and I will abide in you, as your Spirit empowers me to do so.Lord I may not understand what may be going on in my life right now, but according to your word, I will not lean on my own understanding but in all my ways I will acknowledge that you are in control, and in doing so will trust that you will direct my path.
We have this idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing in our life, that surely He is preparing me and equipping me for some great and extraordinary work sometime in the future. But I have found, by reading biographies of people who seem to be living that extraordinary life and by reading about the men and women God worked in , within the pages of the Bible, that there were many years of learning in the mundane ordinary day in and day out struggles that truly prepared them for what they were doing now, and for the great things we have read about. We only see the now in their lives, but we were no where around while they were undergoing the training of God in their ordinary and many times boring lives.
But as I live and grow in the Lord I am finding that God is truly doing a work in me right now in this mundane and ordinary and sometimes boring life this very moment and in every moment of my ordinary day.
I am being taught that God is doing and performing His Work , His way in me, He is pruning and tending the garden of my soul , pulling out weeds and watering and feeding me what I need now in this moment. This time is not being wasted when I ,no matter what the circumstances keep my mind and my heart in Him. It is in the ordinary life that He does His best work, it is the training ground that I need ,to be what He wants me to be, for what ever purpose that He has for me . He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Heb.13:5, Not for any reason , not because of my sin, or waywardness, or sometimes fears and doubts that I may have. He never leaves me even when I do not see Him at work in my life. This wilderness time we all go through is the training ground so that we personally will know and believe that God is true to His word every time, and it is during these ordinary , day in and day out , ups and downs that we personally gain the assurance that no matter what ,God is truly there. God is in me doing His workmanship in me, even when I am unaware of it. This is what we need to get a hold on, this is the time our faith is truly tested, and this is the time we will begin to truly know what and who we believe in. Yes ,God does great things it would seem in other peoples lives, but we must believe that He is doing great things in our lives now , and in many peoples lives, the truly big and wonderful workings of God will be found in the ordinary life that we live in.
If we continue to rely on God's assurance and His word that He has never left us, we will find that we will have His Strength to aid us in keeping on keeping on. The word says that "the secret of the Lord is with those who reverently fear and honor Him"Psalms 25:14
We must endeavor to uncover the 'secret of the Lord' daily in our lives , if we seek Him and His righteousness, we must believe that what ever we 'need' in our lives will be given. The secret here is knowing the difference between need and wants.
Those of us who live very ordinary lives must realize that there really is no 'work' that we have to do for the Lord, His only requirement from us is to Believe in Him and have Faith in Him. It is so much easier for us to do something for the Lord than to merely Trust in Him, we think surely we must be doing more FOR the Lord, we say to ourselves.God wants us to walk 'with' Him not 'work' for Him, He is the one doing the Work, we are called to allow His work to be done in and through us. We must be as Christ was in the world , He said "behold I have come to do Your will O God." Heb.10:9 Jesus' obedience was to the Will of Abba, and this is what we are to do as well. The whole purpose of our training in the ordinary things of life is to get us into 'Right relationship' to the needs of God and His Will. Once God's needs are met in us , He will open the way for us to accomplish His will in meeting the needs of those around us.
Until we come to the point of total reliance on the Resurrection life of Jesus which is what brings us into complete Oneness with the purposes of God we will never be called to do anything else. And that total reliance of his Resurrection life and power is learned in the daily trusting and abiding in Him in the ordinary, commonness of the lives we live.
Lord help me to be aware of you in my ordinary life, help me to rely on your resurrection life and power, help me to see you in all things that happen in my life, help me to come to the point of truly seeking your Will and Kingdom in me. Lord as I live daily in this world, I will trust in you , I will believe in you, and I will abide in you, as your Spirit empowers me to do so.Lord I may not understand what may be going on in my life right now, but according to your word, I will not lean on my own understanding but in all my ways I will acknowledge that you are in control, and in doing so will trust that you will direct my path.
POSITIVE THINKING OR POSITIVE BELIEVING?
There are many self help books and Professional speakers that go around promoting "Positive Thinking and Speaking" to get what we want in the world. As believers is this a good route to take?
Thinking we all know is a function of the mind which cannot exceed what we put in there or how we are hard wired, our attributes. So in Positive thinking we are attempting to push our minds beyond our own limitations, which in my experience results in moving from a world of reality to fantasy.
As a Christian, however, we have far more greater potential for success in our life if we stick to the Biblical way of living in this world through the power of POSITIVE BELIEVING . Our beliefs incorporates our minds but thankfully is not limited by our minds. FAITH actually, thank God, transcends the limitations of our minds and incorporates the real , but unseen realm of the Spirit. The believer's faith is as valid as it's object, which is the Living God, the Living Lord Jesus/Yah'shua, and the Scriptures which are God breathed. With access to the Unlimited, and Infinite God/Yahweh the Creator of the Universe as the object of Christian Faith, there is virtually NO LIMITS to the spiritual heights that Positive Believing can and will take us.
"Lord, You have said in your word that I can accomplish great things with the faith the size of a mustard seed. May my life today be marked by the power of your Holy Spirit that enables me to do all things according to your power, and in the power of Positive believing in your infinite power that is working Your will in my life."
Thursday, June 4, 2009
3 RESURRECTIONS?
In all my studies from various groups , this is one of the few lessons that teach about the 3 resurrections to come. Like many in Christianity I had only been taught 2, but in my own studies, I found that there were 3, but was never bold enough to believe that I may have been right from my own personal studies and so many wrong when it comes to salvation, sin, death immorality of the soul and eternal death.Here below is a small study on the 3 resurrections to come.
Death is a reality all of us must eventually face, but the hope of all Christians and the promise of the Father is the resurrection of the dead. The Bible plainly identifies three types of resurrections: special acts of mercy by God in which He raised people back to physical life, and the spiritual resurrections to eternal life. The best known resurrection is Jesus Christ's triumph over death. When He returns, He will resurrect the saints to eternal life. After the thousand years of His reign, He will resurrect to physical life all who have not had an opportunity for salvation. Finally, the incorrigibly wicked will be physically resurrected to be consumed in the Lake of Fire which is God YAHWEH HIMSELF.
Scripture References: Job 14:14-15; 19:25-26; Daniel 12:2-3; Matthew 27:52-53; Mark 5:35-42; Acts 9:40-41; 20:7-12; John 5:28-29; 11:20-24; I Corinthians 15:3-8, 20-23, 51-52; I Thessalonians 4:13-17; Revelation 20:4-6; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Revelation 20:11-15; II Peter 3:10-12;
Who is resurrected at Christ's second coming? I Corinthians 15:23, 50-53; Revelation 20:4-6; Romans 8:9, 11, 14.
Comment: Only the just, the righteous, will rise at Christ's second coming. God will raise the martyred saints to eternal life, but the unjust dead will not be resurrected until the end of this period. If we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us when we die, we will be resurrected through the power of that same Spirit at that time. In addition to the dead in Christ, those who are true Christians at His coming will rise in the first resurrection (Matthew 24:30-31).
5. What did Paul mean by "the redemption of our body"? Romans 8:19, 23; I Corinthians 15:42-44; Philippians 3:7-12, 20-21; Colossians 1:9-18.
Comment: Paul was willing to suffer the loss of all things so he could experience the power of Christ's resurrection. Since our citizenship is in heaven, our hope lies there. Christ our Savior will change our corrupt bodies into bodies like His glorious body—from mortal flesh to immortal, incorruptible spirit.
6. What does Christ promise the overcoming saints? Revelation 2:17, 26-27; 3:5, 12, 21; Ephesians 2:6.
Comment: Jesus promises the saints that, if they overcome and live His way of life, He will give them a new name that only the recipient knows, as well as the names of God and of His city, New Jerusalem. God will give the saints power over the nations under Christ. They will also be clothed in righteousness and sit with Him on His throne. The resurrection of the saints is so certain that Paul speaks of it as already accomplished.
God has established an order of resurrections. His saints will rise first, followed at length by a second resurrection of most of mankind who never had a chance to know God's truth during their lives. Finally, in a third resurrection, the wicked—those who knew God's truth and rejected it—will come up to face eternal judgment, in the Lake of Fire. It is far better to be in the first resurrection, to live as eternal spirit beings in the God Family, filled with God's own character and incapable of sin.
Comment: Only the just, the righteous, will rise at Christ's second coming. God will raise the martyred saints to eternal life, but the unjust dead will not be resurrected until the end of this period. If we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us when we die, we will be resurrected through the power of that same Spirit at that time. In addition to the dead in Christ, those who are true Christians at His coming will rise in the first resurrection (Matthew 24:30-31).
5. What did Paul mean by "the redemption of our body"? Romans 8:19, 23; I Corinthians 15:42-44; Philippians 3:7-12, 20-21; Colossians 1:9-18.
Comment: Paul was willing to suffer the loss of all things so he could experience the power of Christ's resurrection. Since our citizenship is in heaven, our hope lies there. Christ our Savior will change our corrupt bodies into bodies like His glorious body—from mortal flesh to immortal, incorruptible spirit.
6. What does Christ promise the overcoming saints? Revelation 2:17, 26-27; 3:5, 12, 21; Ephesians 2:6.
Comment: Jesus promises the saints that, if they overcome and live His way of life, He will give them a new name that only the recipient knows, as well as the names of God and of His city, New Jerusalem. God will give the saints power over the nations under Christ. They will also be clothed in righteousness and sit with Him on His throne. The resurrection of the saints is so certain that Paul speaks of it as already accomplished.
God has established an order of resurrections. His saints will rise first, followed at length by a second resurrection of most of mankind who never had a chance to know God's truth during their lives. Finally, in a third resurrection, the wicked—those who knew God's truth and rejected it—will come up to face eternal judgment, in the Lake of Fire. It is far better to be in the first resurrection, to live as eternal spirit beings in the God Family, filled with God's own character and incapable of sin.
At Jesus Christ's second coming the truly faithful Christians will be raised to immortality, but what will happen to those who are not resurrected then? Are all those who died in sin be held fully accountable for their actions in this life, or will God ultimately give everyone a chance for salvation? .
1. Will God resurrect all the dead in the same resurrection? Revelation 20:4-5; Acts 24:15; John 5:28-29; I Corinthians 15:23-24.
Comment: "This is the first resurrection" in Revelation 20:5 refers back to the events of verse 4, which describes those who are raised to immortality at Christ's second coming to become rulers with Him as kings and priests on the earth during the Millennium. The Bible nowhere says God will resurrect all the dead in the same resurrection. The apostle Paul affirms that both the "just" and "unjust" will be resurrected, and Jesus speaks of a "resurrection of life" and a "resurrection of judgment. However, these do not occur simultaneously. God has an orderly plan whereby He resurrects different groups of people at different times, "every man in his own order." This implies a succession of resurrections. Regarding the resurrection of the unjust, "the rest of the dead," who have not understood God's way of life, they must wait in their graves until the thousand years are over.
2. Are the unjust dead eternally lost? Acts 4:12; John 10:1, 9; Revelation 20:7-12.
Comment: The unjust dead are not eternally lost and without hope of having an opportunity to obtain immortality. God will not resurrect them merely to throw them into the Lake of Fire! Salvation only comes through one Person; only by learning of the life and work of Jesus Christ and accepting His supreme sacrifice in payment for our personal sins can human beings be saved. No one can obtain salvation except through Christ, who is the door. Anyone trying to enter another way is a thief and a robber. Therefore, we can enter the Kingdom of God only one way, through Christ.
3. Can a person have a second chance at salvation? II Peter 3:9; I Timothy 2:4-6; Ezekiel 37:1-14.
Comment: In resurrecting humans to mortal life, God will not give them a second chance for salvation—He will give them their first chance! At that time, He will raise those who were deceived and never understood His way, and reveal His plan of salvation to them. God wants all mankind to receive the gift of salvation, but He requires repentance and righteous living. He is responsible to grant people the knowledge of the truth, and only when He calls them do they have their first real opportunity to hear, understand and follow His way of life.
4. What is "the resurrection of judgment"? John 5:29; I Peter 4:17; Hebrews 2:3; 6:4-6; 10:26-29; Matthew 10:15.
Comment: Most modern translations correctly render the last word in John 5:29 as "judgment" rather than "damnation" or "condemnation." God is now judging Christians; we are having our opportunity for salvation now. He holds every Christian accountable for his actions, but the vast majority of mankind today does not understand or believe the truth of God. By "the resurrection of judgment," Christ means that, in a future time, God will raise many from their graves to learn the truth and have their opportunity to walk in it. Based on how they live, God will then decide their fates. I believe that Most of all who have ever lived He will save, but perhaps some, in stubborn rebellion against Him, will condemn themselves to eternal death. But it would seem to me when given the true facts why anyone in their right mind would ever chose never to exist again.But I will leave this option open for the time being until I have enough facts and the Spirit of God reveals the truth as to if All will be Saved or not, right now I will go for the options of Maybe a few will choose eternal death.
5. Will God resurrect physical Israel? Romans 11:2-3, 7-15, 25-27, 30-33.
Comment: God Himself has kept Israel from seeing and hearing (understanding and applying) His truth, giving Israel a spirit of slumber to make possible the salvation of the Gentiles. He has determined to call and choose only a limited number from Israel in this age, allowing the rest to remain blinded. With the rest of humanity, they will rise in the second resurrection and have the opportunity for salvation.
6. What is the Great White Throne Judgment? I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:53-54; Revelation 20:11-15.
Comment: The resurrection of the righteous takes place at Christ's return, but that of the uncalled—the second resurrection—will occur in the Great White Throne Judgment after the Millennium. God is merciful, loving and kind, not willing that any should perish. He desires all to come to the knowledge of the truth and to true repentance at the proper time. He has determined that all will receive this opportunity when He has set up His Kingdom on the earth, an environment most conducive to salvation.
These people will be raised up to physical existence. The "books" that are opened at this time are the books of the Bible in which are revealed true knowledge and understanding. The "Book of Life" will also be opened so their names can be written in it when they repent of their sins, accept Christ as personal Savior, and receive the Holy Spirit. During this time, they will be judged according to their works. Thus, we see most of if not all of humanity standing before God to be judged. God in His wisdom has determined that this is the best way to bring the most sons and daughters to glory and eternal life in His Kingdom.
1. Will God resurrect all the dead in the same resurrection? Revelation 20:4-5; Acts 24:15; John 5:28-29; I Corinthians 15:23-24.
Comment: "This is the first resurrection" in Revelation 20:5 refers back to the events of verse 4, which describes those who are raised to immortality at Christ's second coming to become rulers with Him as kings and priests on the earth during the Millennium. The Bible nowhere says God will resurrect all the dead in the same resurrection. The apostle Paul affirms that both the "just" and "unjust" will be resurrected, and Jesus speaks of a "resurrection of life" and a "resurrection of judgment. However, these do not occur simultaneously. God has an orderly plan whereby He resurrects different groups of people at different times, "every man in his own order." This implies a succession of resurrections. Regarding the resurrection of the unjust, "the rest of the dead," who have not understood God's way of life, they must wait in their graves until the thousand years are over.
2. Are the unjust dead eternally lost? Acts 4:12; John 10:1, 9; Revelation 20:7-12.
Comment: The unjust dead are not eternally lost and without hope of having an opportunity to obtain immortality. God will not resurrect them merely to throw them into the Lake of Fire! Salvation only comes through one Person; only by learning of the life and work of Jesus Christ and accepting His supreme sacrifice in payment for our personal sins can human beings be saved. No one can obtain salvation except through Christ, who is the door. Anyone trying to enter another way is a thief and a robber. Therefore, we can enter the Kingdom of God only one way, through Christ.
3. Can a person have a second chance at salvation? II Peter 3:9; I Timothy 2:4-6; Ezekiel 37:1-14.
Comment: In resurrecting humans to mortal life, God will not give them a second chance for salvation—He will give them their first chance! At that time, He will raise those who were deceived and never understood His way, and reveal His plan of salvation to them. God wants all mankind to receive the gift of salvation, but He requires repentance and righteous living. He is responsible to grant people the knowledge of the truth, and only when He calls them do they have their first real opportunity to hear, understand and follow His way of life.
4. What is "the resurrection of judgment"? John 5:29; I Peter 4:17; Hebrews 2:3; 6:4-6; 10:26-29; Matthew 10:15.
Comment: Most modern translations correctly render the last word in John 5:29 as "judgment" rather than "damnation" or "condemnation." God is now judging Christians; we are having our opportunity for salvation now. He holds every Christian accountable for his actions, but the vast majority of mankind today does not understand or believe the truth of God. By "the resurrection of judgment," Christ means that, in a future time, God will raise many from their graves to learn the truth and have their opportunity to walk in it. Based on how they live, God will then decide their fates. I believe that Most of all who have ever lived He will save, but perhaps some, in stubborn rebellion against Him, will condemn themselves to eternal death. But it would seem to me when given the true facts why anyone in their right mind would ever chose never to exist again.But I will leave this option open for the time being until I have enough facts and the Spirit of God reveals the truth as to if All will be Saved or not, right now I will go for the options of Maybe a few will choose eternal death.
5. Will God resurrect physical Israel? Romans 11:2-3, 7-15, 25-27, 30-33.
Comment: God Himself has kept Israel from seeing and hearing (understanding and applying) His truth, giving Israel a spirit of slumber to make possible the salvation of the Gentiles. He has determined to call and choose only a limited number from Israel in this age, allowing the rest to remain blinded. With the rest of humanity, they will rise in the second resurrection and have the opportunity for salvation.
6. What is the Great White Throne Judgment? I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:53-54; Revelation 20:11-15.
Comment: The resurrection of the righteous takes place at Christ's return, but that of the uncalled—the second resurrection—will occur in the Great White Throne Judgment after the Millennium. God is merciful, loving and kind, not willing that any should perish. He desires all to come to the knowledge of the truth and to true repentance at the proper time. He has determined that all will receive this opportunity when He has set up His Kingdom on the earth, an environment most conducive to salvation.
These people will be raised up to physical existence. The "books" that are opened at this time are the books of the Bible in which are revealed true knowledge and understanding. The "Book of Life" will also be opened so their names can be written in it when they repent of their sins, accept Christ as personal Savior, and receive the Holy Spirit. During this time, they will be judged according to their works. Thus, we see most of if not all of humanity standing before God to be judged. God in His wisdom has determined that this is the best way to bring the most sons and daughters to glory and eternal life in His Kingdom.
Revelation 20 clearly describes three resurrections. We have previously seen that the first resurrection will take place at Jesus Christ's Second Coming. It will include only the "just," who will be raised to life and clothed with immortality (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:33). After Christ's Millennial rule, God will resurrect those who in past ages died in sin and ignorance, having never had a chance for salvation, and in many cases having never heard of Jesus Christ or seen a Bible. Others were spiritually blinded, and God will resurrect them in a second resurrection (Romans 11:7).
Scripture speaks of yet one more resurrection for the group not dealt with in either of the other two. This third resurrection is a resurrection to the second death, for those resurrected will be cast into the Lake of Fire Whom does God raise in the third resurrection? Revelation 20:11-15; John 5:29.
Comment : The incorrigibly wicked are the last of mankind to be resurrected from their graves—from "the sea" (where they may have perished), from death (without burial), or from hades (a grave in the ground). God Himself will sentence these unruly, miserable human beings—hopefully few—and whoever is not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire. As to what the final outcome of this final group of people will be , is for this person yet to be verified.
Scripture speaks of yet one more resurrection for the group not dealt with in either of the other two. This third resurrection is a resurrection to the second death, for those resurrected will be cast into the Lake of Fire Whom does God raise in the third resurrection? Revelation 20:11-15; John 5:29.
Comment : The incorrigibly wicked are the last of mankind to be resurrected from their graves—from "the sea" (where they may have perished), from death (without burial), or from hades (a grave in the ground). God Himself will sentence these unruly, miserable human beings—hopefully few—and whoever is not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire. As to what the final outcome of this final group of people will be , is for this person yet to be verified.
Here you can see that both the just and the unjust are resurrected. Yah'shua taught about different resurrections. Luke 14:14 talks about "the resurrection of the just" where the righteous will be rewarded. The interim or 'space' between these two resurrections defines "the Age", i.e. Aionian life. It is a special reward for certain Christians called to rule with Yah'shua. They will receive life a thousand years before their fellow Christians. They are the firstborn of Yahweh - His firstfruits as it were. It does not mean that their reward will end with that Age. Yahweh does not plan to take back immortality from them.
Likewise, when Yah'shua speaks of the wicked or the unjust receiving aionian judgment, He is once again showing us that their judgment is limited to a specific age. It has both a beginning and an end. Judgment is not perpetual without hope of restoration. The Book of Revelation shows that this age of judgment follows the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of the thousand-year Tabernacles or Sukkot age.
And so, the aionian life reward of those who rule with Messiah a thousand years will commence at the first resurrection and end with the second. The aionian judgment of the unjust will commence with the second resurrection and end with the great Jubilee at the end of time, after all things have been put under the feet of Messiah.
I conclude, with concrete and irrefutable proof, that in the original Hebrew and Greek languages, olam and aionian respectively refer to a limited period of time. That is why most of the early Messianic Community or Christian Church scholars understood the lake of fire to be only age-lasting. The Catholic Augustine was the first to actually argue against this, and he did so on a very flimsy basis (I don't have time to go into that now), because he did not understand the Doctrine of the Ages, and this because he refused to learn Greek. For centuries the Roman Catholic Church did not believe the need to learn Greek which had the effect of perpetuating the error with little chance of correction. The concept of eternal punishment became so deeply embedded in the Western psyche that it remains largely uncorrected today. Just pick up a Protestant Jack Chick tract and you'll see what I mean.
I can confidently dismiss the eternal punishment whipping-boy as an unbiblical lie. Instead, we can focus more on the redemptive heart of our Father in Heaven and really start "judging righteous judgment" (Jn.7:24, KJV). We are freed to preach a gospel of love without fear of contradicting ourselves and coming across as hypocrites worshipping a terrible deity little worse than Satan himself. We can rejoice in Yahweh's fairness, perfect justice and Torah, overflowing love and divine mercy. In short, as believers we can have real hope and give unbelievers that same hope too. Amen.
The doctrine of the resurrection is the truth that the God who resurrected Jesus Christ will also raise all the dead to life. For some, that resurrection will be to eternal life. For many others, it will be to physical life with an opportunity for eternal life.And the rest, it will be a resurrection to the JUDGEMENT that has a beginning and an end. If we obey, serve God the Father and Jesus Christ, and overcome our sins, we have a wonderful future ahead of us: We will inherit all things.
Likewise, when Yah'shua speaks of the wicked or the unjust receiving aionian judgment, He is once again showing us that their judgment is limited to a specific age. It has both a beginning and an end. Judgment is not perpetual without hope of restoration. The Book of Revelation shows that this age of judgment follows the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of the thousand-year Tabernacles or Sukkot age.
And so, the aionian life reward of those who rule with Messiah a thousand years will commence at the first resurrection and end with the second. The aionian judgment of the unjust will commence with the second resurrection and end with the great Jubilee at the end of time, after all things have been put under the feet of Messiah.
I conclude, with concrete and irrefutable proof, that in the original Hebrew and Greek languages, olam and aionian respectively refer to a limited period of time. That is why most of the early Messianic Community or Christian Church scholars understood the lake of fire to be only age-lasting. The Catholic Augustine was the first to actually argue against this, and he did so on a very flimsy basis (I don't have time to go into that now), because he did not understand the Doctrine of the Ages, and this because he refused to learn Greek. For centuries the Roman Catholic Church did not believe the need to learn Greek which had the effect of perpetuating the error with little chance of correction. The concept of eternal punishment became so deeply embedded in the Western psyche that it remains largely uncorrected today. Just pick up a Protestant Jack Chick tract and you'll see what I mean.
I can confidently dismiss the eternal punishment whipping-boy as an unbiblical lie. Instead, we can focus more on the redemptive heart of our Father in Heaven and really start "judging righteous judgment" (Jn.7:24, KJV). We are freed to preach a gospel of love without fear of contradicting ourselves and coming across as hypocrites worshipping a terrible deity little worse than Satan himself. We can rejoice in Yahweh's fairness, perfect justice and Torah, overflowing love and divine mercy. In short, as believers we can have real hope and give unbelievers that same hope too. Amen.
The doctrine of the resurrection is the truth that the God who resurrected Jesus Christ will also raise all the dead to life. For some, that resurrection will be to eternal life. For many others, it will be to physical life with an opportunity for eternal life.And the rest, it will be a resurrection to the JUDGEMENT that has a beginning and an end. If we obey, serve God the Father and Jesus Christ, and overcome our sins, we have a wonderful future ahead of us: We will inherit all things.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
DO GOOD ANYWAY
People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Do good anyways.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for the underdog anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help, but may attack you if you help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you've got and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
~author unknown~
Monday, June 1, 2009
My Idea of where the Bible should be in our lives
I do not believe that any human understanding of the Bible can be so exhaustive and authoritative as to merit use as an “instrument of doctrinal accountability.”I believe that it is in the best interests of all to leave every believer free to interpret the Bible according the dictates of a conscience that is guided by the Holy Spirit. For it is the Holy Spirit of God that should hold preeminence in our lives as Believers.
I believe that each believer should be free to think for themselves, I believe there is a broad consensus among believers concerning the scriptures, as it should be.
I believe that true Christians love and respect the Bible.
We should believe as Christians that the Bible is a holy book in that it holds a separate and unique place in each of our lives. It is the story of God's love. We as believers are part of that story. We as Christians identify with this story and it gives meaning and direction to each of our lives in many different ways.
While I love and respect the Bible, I do not worship it. The Bible is the written word of God. In and of itself it is paper and ink, words and sentences, and has no life. The Bible is not the supreme revelation of God,Jesus the Messiah is. The Bible, points to and must be fulfilled and completed by God's Living Word. Jesus Christ, the Living Word, is the one mediator between God and man. He gives scriptures life by creating from them a spark of understanding in all believers hearts. From that understanding He calls us to a personal relationship with Him. Those who respond in faith to God's call, identify with His story and commit themselves to a life of discipleship. For them, the Bible becomes more than a reliable record of God's revelation in the past. It is the authoritative tradition from which we can view the horizons of life in both time and eternity.
I believe in its divine inspiration and its human authorship.
The story of God's love recorded in the Bible was written by men, but it is God's story. It is the story of the God who created us, gave us life and loved us enough to reveal himself and die for us. Some of the encounters between God and mankind have been documented in written records. I believe that the Spirit of God filled and inspired the writers of the documents that are collected in the Bible. The language, words, and style in which each human author wrote reflects his own individual and unique pattern of thought and understanding at that present time. The meaning and significance of what they wrote, however, transcends their own personal purposes and individual intentions and serves the purposes and intentions of God. I believe that revelations of and from God is progressive and living and did not end 2000 years ago, but is on going within the lives of each and every believer.
“Salvation is not conditioned upon our belief in, or acceptance of, a book.The Bible is NOT what saves us nor is the Bible what we must believe in order to be saved.It is God’s revelation of himself which comes through his direct action upon each of our own individual spirits. . . . God thus becomes our supreme authority and the Bible should be recognized as the authoritative record of his supreme revelation. . . . It is our supreme source of the knowledge of God and his dealings with a people. . .But the true nature of the Bible is that it is the revelation of God in and through Jesus Christ, who is the Living Word and Living Metaphor for our salvation.”
In the words of Glady S. Lewis about the bible and what it means to her as a woman, I find this to be my beliefs as well but her words do it more justice than mine. She says:
"The Bible is a collection of narratives of violence: murder, betrayal, brokenness; in our connections with it through the collegiality of our own brokenness, we find meaning for our narratives-inspiration from the violence done to us AND those which we perpetrate on others. To make it a totem, an object of worship, or a lucky charm violates its spirit and diminishes its force for healing. It is a road map for our journey, a diary for our reflection, and a compass for our direction: a text with many voices, many narrators, many themes, many interpretations...
We learn a great deal by reading the Bible about Jesus which affirms us spiritually and culturally. Especially as women. Especially Jesus and non-Jewish women. He first announced his ministry to one: the woman at the well. Jesus never got entangled with doctrine; he lived it, and while living it, told stories and took care of people. I think this is the edge women have with Jesus. He announced He was the Messiah to a non-Jewish woman-that event came out in a practical ministry setting and conversation — he wanted a drink of water. Of course, the emphasis we get is on his knowing she was a woman with a bad reputation and being kind to her anyway -- chalk one up for male rhetoric.
The Syro-Phoenician woman helped Jesus clarify his ministry by using his language against him. Does the jingo-ism and ethnic chauvinism of Jesus in that passage bother you? After he had fed the multitudes, she came asking him to heal her daughter. He said, “I can’t take the children’s bread and throw it before dogs.” He called her a dog, and I don’t think it was because she was not cute. She said, “Dogs eat crumbs under the children’s table. I would take those.” Jesus checks himself. I am helped enormously by thinking of Jesus as a teacher. I think Jesus had just re-stated the syllabus to 15 freshmen and this Syro-Phoenician woman graduate student walked up with a real question, and Jesus responded in a tone he wanted to use for the freshmen. But she, knowing how to use language and metaphor, turned it on him. Submissiveness? Bah! Balderdash! My exodus experience helps me recognize the divine and it shapes me."
I believe that each believer should be free to think for themselves, I believe there is a broad consensus among believers concerning the scriptures, as it should be.
I believe that true Christians love and respect the Bible.
We should believe as Christians that the Bible is a holy book in that it holds a separate and unique place in each of our lives. It is the story of God's love. We as believers are part of that story. We as Christians identify with this story and it gives meaning and direction to each of our lives in many different ways.
While I love and respect the Bible, I do not worship it. The Bible is the written word of God. In and of itself it is paper and ink, words and sentences, and has no life. The Bible is not the supreme revelation of God,Jesus the Messiah is. The Bible, points to and must be fulfilled and completed by God's Living Word. Jesus Christ, the Living Word, is the one mediator between God and man. He gives scriptures life by creating from them a spark of understanding in all believers hearts. From that understanding He calls us to a personal relationship with Him. Those who respond in faith to God's call, identify with His story and commit themselves to a life of discipleship. For them, the Bible becomes more than a reliable record of God's revelation in the past. It is the authoritative tradition from which we can view the horizons of life in both time and eternity.
I believe in its divine inspiration and its human authorship.
The story of God's love recorded in the Bible was written by men, but it is God's story. It is the story of the God who created us, gave us life and loved us enough to reveal himself and die for us. Some of the encounters between God and mankind have been documented in written records. I believe that the Spirit of God filled and inspired the writers of the documents that are collected in the Bible. The language, words, and style in which each human author wrote reflects his own individual and unique pattern of thought and understanding at that present time. The meaning and significance of what they wrote, however, transcends their own personal purposes and individual intentions and serves the purposes and intentions of God. I believe that revelations of and from God is progressive and living and did not end 2000 years ago, but is on going within the lives of each and every believer.
“Salvation is not conditioned upon our belief in, or acceptance of, a book.The Bible is NOT what saves us nor is the Bible what we must believe in order to be saved.It is God’s revelation of himself which comes through his direct action upon each of our own individual spirits. . . . God thus becomes our supreme authority and the Bible should be recognized as the authoritative record of his supreme revelation. . . . It is our supreme source of the knowledge of God and his dealings with a people. . .But the true nature of the Bible is that it is the revelation of God in and through Jesus Christ, who is the Living Word and Living Metaphor for our salvation.”
In the words of Glady S. Lewis about the bible and what it means to her as a woman, I find this to be my beliefs as well but her words do it more justice than mine. She says:
"The Bible is a collection of narratives of violence: murder, betrayal, brokenness; in our connections with it through the collegiality of our own brokenness, we find meaning for our narratives-inspiration from the violence done to us AND those which we perpetrate on others. To make it a totem, an object of worship, or a lucky charm violates its spirit and diminishes its force for healing. It is a road map for our journey, a diary for our reflection, and a compass for our direction: a text with many voices, many narrators, many themes, many interpretations...
We learn a great deal by reading the Bible about Jesus which affirms us spiritually and culturally. Especially as women. Especially Jesus and non-Jewish women. He first announced his ministry to one: the woman at the well. Jesus never got entangled with doctrine; he lived it, and while living it, told stories and took care of people. I think this is the edge women have with Jesus. He announced He was the Messiah to a non-Jewish woman-that event came out in a practical ministry setting and conversation — he wanted a drink of water. Of course, the emphasis we get is on his knowing she was a woman with a bad reputation and being kind to her anyway -- chalk one up for male rhetoric.
The Syro-Phoenician woman helped Jesus clarify his ministry by using his language against him. Does the jingo-ism and ethnic chauvinism of Jesus in that passage bother you? After he had fed the multitudes, she came asking him to heal her daughter. He said, “I can’t take the children’s bread and throw it before dogs.” He called her a dog, and I don’t think it was because she was not cute. She said, “Dogs eat crumbs under the children’s table. I would take those.” Jesus checks himself. I am helped enormously by thinking of Jesus as a teacher. I think Jesus had just re-stated the syllabus to 15 freshmen and this Syro-Phoenician woman graduate student walked up with a real question, and Jesus responded in a tone he wanted to use for the freshmen. But she, knowing how to use language and metaphor, turned it on him. Submissiveness? Bah! Balderdash! My exodus experience helps me recognize the divine and it shapes me."
True Freedom and Liberty
What is true liberty? It starts with Religion, yes, Religion, it is the foundation of all true liberty that we have as living souls, if we do not have the freedom to believe or not, as we choose, then we are never really free in any other sense of the word.It is our 'beliefs' that truly maps out our paths in how we live and work in this world. Our beliefs shape every aspect of who we are and how we relate to others, our beliefs are who we truly are in this world.
The true test of freedom and liberty in any country or government is the freedom to believe or not in God.
True Religious Liberty is the God-given and indefeasible right of every human being, to worship God or not, according to the dictates of one's own conscience; and, as long as we do not infringe on the rights of others, we are all to be held accountable to God alone, for all our religious beliefs and practices.
The true test of freedom and liberty in any country or government is the freedom to believe or not in God.
True Religious Liberty is the God-given and indefeasible right of every human being, to worship God or not, according to the dictates of one's own conscience; and, as long as we do not infringe on the rights of others, we are all to be held accountable to God alone, for all our religious beliefs and practices.
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