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In reference to 1 John 1:8-10: one aspect of gnostic teaching was that God was not entirely perfect (pure); that both good & evil existed within Him. Not only is this belief reprehensible, it also led to diminishing any sin (even the principle of sin) as of no consequence, since God remains unconcerned about it. But John stated that "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" ( 1 John 1:5): God is altogether holy/pure - no darkness or evil can be found in Him. Therefore, if it be said that "we have no sin (i.e. the principle of the existing sin nature in us), we are simply deceiving ourselves". We ought not to believe those false teachers who deny this & by extension, "that we have not sinned (i.e. experientially)" (v10). But John is reminding them that we are sinners by nature & performance, but if we recognize sin for what it is & come to God in confession of it, 'he is faithful and just to forgive us & cleanse us entirely' (v9).
Even another striking false teaching is found in 1 John 4:2,3: the denial of the deity of Christ as the gnostic (docetic) teaching was that deity could never unite with anything material. Their claim that this Jesus was just a man endowed with a special anointing; or another teaching: He didn't have a body & was just a spirit, hence He could not die on the Cross; and probably many others beliefs that would take away from the demonstration of God's Love in the sacrifice of His Son.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
5. Love: Agape-Unconditional. We can't find such a resource in our tool box in our own strength. Go ahead and try and let me know how it works for you. People have; sadly referred to God's love as "reckless"; I will leave out the particular artist that comes to mind with such language...
We are in a feckless world; and the fact that the love of many will grow cold ( Matt. 24:12) certainly extends into the professing church as we see the warning to the Ephesian church ( Rev. 2:4). It is good to be looking for love in the RIGHT places; but sadly many are obsessed with the wrong places; people and situations. In the Body of believers we are commanded to love one another( John 13:34) and of course "they shall know we are Christians by our love (next verse John 13:35). The attributes of love are found in 1 Cor. 13. Our affections need to be grounded there in the fellowship of the saints and our own relationship with the Lord. There are some like myself that I know who have abstained from television for a number of years now. I am living with my parents so watch it sometimes but it is hard to decide when to walk away. Hopefully; we can have a healthy relationship with our cell phone as well as the amount of time on social media or even watching the news. There is much to be avoided with the fear today at epidemic levels; and of course "true love casts out fear." ( 1 John 4:17-18). It is more than for us but for our WITNESS that we avoid having our minds filled with distractions. People will see in our eyes and countenance that we are anchored in Him as Hebrews 6:19 states. We don't need to tell people so much how committed we are they can tell; and let their love or hate for us be dictated by our chastity; and reverence of the Lord Jesus as our Savior and Master.
We are; of course "unworthy servants" ( Luke 17:7-10) along with friends of God ( John 15:15). A healthy balance is good to ponder this upcoming New Year
AMEN
Diary (cont). This diary of course like anything else is our own evaluation. Perhaps an accountability partner can also be there to guide us; and a written record on their part or any specific ideas as to how we are or aren't progressing may be helpful to us. May be a good idea for BFF's....
4. Keeping things in eternal perspective. "All my tears" may say it best as the lyrics to the song go. Revelation promises that He will "wipe away every tear" ( Rev. 21:4). This isn't completed until the end of the Millennium and beginning of the new heaven and earth after the Great White Throne Judgment where many will sadly be condemned. It is only then that death will finally as the last enemy be removed ( 1 Cor. 15:55). It isn't just hyperbole to say that if you are of the remnant that is bearing much fruit and you are patiently enduring contention from those who say all sorts of things against you ( Matt. 5:10-12) that your reward is great and you are greatly blessed. Again; if it is your husband or father saying these things then you have difficult decisions as to how to deal with it. I am convinced that whatever course we need to take God will provide the resources and people to make it clear. There are some things we need to get away from. That subject would be a matter for another pot. Our confidence not fearing (Phillippians 1:28) threats because it is a sign of destruction for the wicked. Also; of course ultimately they can only destroy the body not the soul. ( Matt. 10:28). Overcoming such things from past hurts in your life and for those loved ones who have been violated through God's forgiveness can be needed to avoid a root of bitterness in our hearts ( Eph. 4:21). That verse may not specifically apply as it seems to be missing out on salvific grace; but it could affect how your "enemy" reacts to the Gospel message if YOU have harbored bitterness.
5. Unconditional love. Agape love of course is the penultimate aspiration.
So my conclusion is..to ask God for patience or chastisement...that can be left to everyone in their prayer closet.
Further thought here is how to process our "sanctification" so that we may learn from what God is teaching us in the process in real time. Here are some suggestions...
1. Preparing the journey with prayer. Prayer (thankfully) for such matters as asking God to discipline us can also be laden with requests for Him to bring those individuals in our life to guide us in wisdom and discipleship. We should be "proactive" in some sense by always having a mindset of prayer as well as "meditating on the Word day and night". ( Joshua 1:8). We can trust God's Word to give us counsel; wisdom and strength as well as words to respond to others. This; of course does NOT mean we hurl verses in our own anger about God destroying the wicked when we are annoyed with someone.
2. Learning from our mistakes. There needs to be both an avoidance of thinking we can predict the outcome of things based on our human wisdom of similar situations in the past. There are certainly cases where we can see manipulative individuals who are set on a course of action to constantly resist us. There are clearly some situations such as husbands and wives and their relationship that cannot be avoided. There are other cases where I have found it is prudent to be prepared for detours needed to avoid unnecessary time with those the enemy clearly has placed in our path as distractions. I am saying in general here that true guilt due to our own sin is different than imposed guilt of narcissists. In such cases our confidence needs to be in the Lord where the foundation is and the anchor of our souls ( Heb. 6:19). This is key to stand as a bulwark against the fiery darts of the enemy ( Eph. 6:16).
3. Working on a diary. There is some merit to keeping a written record for future use to indicate how we have progressed (or not) in our growth in the Lord.
Resolutions; it is typically pointed out usually start with a wish to abstain from something (usually tied in with the gluttony around the holidays); or perhaps a promise to ourselves that we will behave ourselves in some capacity for the coming year. The overwhelming result; of course is usually a few weeks of concerted effort followed by a slow decline and eventual collapse a few months later. Behavior modification; of course can be done in a worldly sense; complete with advice from "gurus"; hypnosis or other "positive thinking" mantras. It seems in terms of "vows" that men make; unless it is to God Himself or in something such as marriage that is God's established covenant; we are to let our "yea be yea" or "nay be nay"; anything else we swear is sin. ( Matthew 5:37). It is pointless; of course to say that we will wait another 48 hours from today to avoid any obvious sin whether in commission or omission until the New Year; then have no plans to continue it in 2024. If one is a new believer; of course repentance and turning away permanently may just happen to start around New Years Day. We can also rededicate our lives to the Lord from now on.
If we avoid making resolutions; there is another more scripturally based challenge that I will bring up. I should give a caveat..it is even harder to do at least initially. That would be asking God to "chastise us" as He sees fit; or alternatively; to ask Him to grant us patience. These are scriptural requests ( Heb. 12:6) and I am confident that HE WILL ANSWER it. I don't know how not to shout here in caps over this because of the quote from Hebrews He chastises all that means ALL He loves!
I'm afraid to pray it most of the time; no point pretending. I think I'm learning to appreciate these things; as well as the trying people in my life. It is unlikely that I would pray for anyone else either in that light lest I be the test in others lives and they blame me!
Please pray for me still. I am still having trouble with this virus, now also bacterial, respiratory infection. My airways are so tight and I cannot do much exertion or my breathing is compromised. Returned to the doctor Tuesday and had a breathing treatment and started antibiotics. Felt really good this morning, but now I am beginning to get all tight and wheezy again. Please pray that this calms down and I do not need to go to the hospital, which would be the next intervention as I would need IV's, oxygen, and monitoring. Haven't ever needed to get to that point before. But that may be where they send me if I need to go to Urgent Care again this tonight or tomorrow (I've gone 3 times in a week since last Friday since I cannot get in to see my regular doctor.)
Part 6 In conclusion,
So there exists the one true God alone and unique from all creation. He is not a part of creation, nor is creation a part of Him.
He IS able and did create everything that exists outside of His essential Being and none of these created things are like Him. He
repeatedly says that there is no one like Him, none can come close to comparison to Him in being, character, eternity,
infiniteness, sovereignty, omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, majesty, glory, or essence. He abides in inapproachable
light. In order for any being to know Him, He must make Himself known to them, whether angels or humans. He always must
condescend to make Himself known and avail Himself in and to creation, whether in heaven or on earth or anywhere in the
universe. God is SO GREAT, we cannot fathom what He is like in totality. He has revealed to us what is necessary for us to know
to be redeemed so that we can then be glorified with Jesus in heaven. This state is the end (both final and aim) of man's
creation. The way Adam and Eve were created before the fall was not the end state of mankind. It was a prelude to what God
had always wanted man to become through Christ. A people bought by His Son through the sacrifice of Calvary, forgiven of their
sin, cleansed from all unrighteousness, made holy by Christ's righteousness, to be presented to Christ as His uncorrupted,
immortal eternal bride in the resurrection to the glory of God.
One Eighty, you have posed some thought provoking ideas in your posts to Richard and I, which I appreciate. I believe you bring
these up because you want to deepen your understanding on these topics. I have endeavored to "give you what I got", so to
speak. I hope my thoughts are helpful to you and drive you to further study to see if what I say is indeed correct or not.
*Just a note: Ontological means that which pertains to the essential nature of a being. "What" one is.
Part 5
We need to make a distinction from using the word "flesh" to denote biological flesh (our body, bones, blood, tissues, organs,
etc.), "flesh" meaning mortal mankind in general, and "flesh" meaning our sinful nature. When Adam and Eve were created all
of these forms of flesh were created good, without corruption. Man was made of biological materials, but also have spiritual and
soulful components which was uncorrupted, too. So, Scripture shows us that humans can be both fleshly and spiritual and be
good, but this was only before the fall of Adam and Eve. Angels do not have a fleshly biological nature like us. They are only
spiritual beings, but can be corrupted, as Satan and the fallen angels show us clearly. So, your deduction that Mankind needs to
be either fleshly or spiritual and not both is incorrect.
You also stated along the lines that "shouldn't anything that comes from God be exactly like Him when it comes to character,
Who or What God Is?" I will definitely say "no" to that query, because rocks, planets, energy are not exactly like God, nor are
angels and humans and animals created exactly like God. Even we can tell that animals, humans and angels are not exactly the
same either. God intended to make a vast innumerably diverse creation that was not exactly like Him. he never intended to
replicate Himself, because He cannot do that. It is impossible for God to create any creature exactly like Himself because He was
never created. The fact that this newly created creature was created by God shows that the two are not exactly similar to one
another. And if it was possible, then God would have created something beside Himself that was God and these beings could
then go on and create others like themselves leaving creation with an infinite number of gods. The Bible clearly states that God
is the only God that exists and none came before Him and none will be made after Him. ( Isaiah 47:8).
Part 5
Adam and Eve were created "good" in every way that a creature can be created. God deemed that they would be given free
agency as He also gave to angels with the possibility to be corrupted. He knew this was the best way for Himself to be glorified in
creation. God knew that this fee agency gave angels and humans the ability to will to follow God in faithful obedience or not. He
also knew that Satan, the fallen angels, Adam, Eve, and all of mankind would not do so even before He created them. In His
divine wisdom, God created these beings this way to display His glory through His interactions with them. We do not know His
divine wisdom in this because He did not reveal it all to mankind. We just have to believe that the way God created angels and
humans is the best, most complete and perfect way for God to have done so. It does not make God unholy to create beings that
can be corrupted by evil they themselves create. Nor does it make evil or sin more powerful than God because it corrupts these
beings. Many people think of evil and sin as actual entities; things created, which would make God the creator of evil. But I
think this is a false view of evil and sin. Evil and sin are things that creatures create in what they think, devise, and do. they do
not have lives of their own outside of the creature who generates it. That is why Christian thought says that mankind is corrupt
in all of his being, having made himself this way by volitional choice. So, angels and humans are the source of sin and evil. This
does not exclude evil entities such as the devil, demons, powers, principalities and authorities in high places. But the evil, itself
does not exist on its own independently of the entity doing the evil.
With this being said, One Eighty, you asked how can humans be fleshly and spirit at once, thinking that it is impossible. But
Scripture does speak otherwise.
Part 4
When God created angels and man, He made them alive by His power to create life, but this is not the every-existing, limitless
life of God. It is life that is limited and dependent upon God's power to continue this existence. It is creaturely life, not divine
life. It is subject to time and space and change. These are not aspects of Divine Life.
When God created animals, he gave them a fleshly life without a spirit and soul. Animals are strictly flesh and bones and
material, although they have a mind and will and instincts and the ability to learn and grow. They are mortal.
Humans have a fleshly, mortal body with a mind, along with a soul, and a spirit. You stated that "flesh gives birth to flesh" and
"spirit gives birth to spirit", most likely referencing 1 Corinthians 15 in which it says that all flesh is not the same (vs. 39)
speaking of human flesh, animal, bird, and fish. And Paul also says that there are celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies. Humans
have terrestrial bodies made of matter (dust), angels have celestial bodies, made of spiritual substance (we don't know about
that) and Christ's resurrected body is another type of body, totally unique from all others, but like what humans will have in the
resurrection (without the divinity).Our terrestrial bodies will be changed to be like His resurrected celestial human body,
composed of incorruptible, immortal substance. (Jesus had flesh and bones when He appeared to Thomas). So, in this chapter
Paul is contrasting the natural Adamic body we all possess first to the Christlike celestial/spiritual body that Jesus possesses
after He died and was resurrected. I don't think that this chapter speaks to your idea that we are either fleshly or spirt, not
both.
In this earthly life, as with Adam, we have a natural body, a soul, and spirit. Adam's personhood was (soul, spirit, and body)
were created good, according to the plan and purpose of God's perfect will.
Part 3
Next, I will speak about "good" and "perfect" in relation to God and to creation.
You have said along the lines that to be good means to be perfect and complete without fault (in an ontological sense). And
you said that everything is either perfect of flawed.
God alone is completely perfect and flawless, without any need to improve or become more good and holy. He cannot do evil nor
conceive it in His Being. He is pure from all taint of corruption and eternally remains so. He does not change to become more or
less holy, ever. But God being this way ontologically does not necessitate that everything He creates is ontologically this way or
also or else they, too, would be God or a separate god. Christianity never affirms this about what He created.
You have said along the lines that for Adam and Eve to be sinless they would necessarily be eternally holy like God is. But I say
that God created Adam and Eve sinless, in a pure state that could change by their own volition. God had a purpose for creating
them this way and His purpose is truly perfect, holy, and eternal. I read what Elliux2 wrote about the definitions of "good" from the KJV dictionary and I will say that the 3rd definition that "good" means "complete and sufficiently perfect in its kind and having the physical qualities best adapted to its design and use..." best fits my view of how God created the universe to be. It is complete, nothing more needs to be added. Each part and object of creation is sufficiently perfect in its kind (rock, force, angel, human) and use (or purpose). All that God created is made of substance that does not possess any "spark of divinity" or essence of God in itself. Rocks, water, etc. are created as inanimate objects, without life. Angels, humans, animals are created as animate objects (alive) God does not "birth" His Spirit in any of His creation. He abides by His Spirin the souls and spirits he created in angels and humans who follow Him.
Part 2
Some people believe that God is an energy or force or the basic unit of existence. This is often termed Monism. It is believed in
religions such as Hindu, Brahmanism, New Age, who call this energy "kai". This is pagan thinking and not embraced by
Christianity over the centuries.
Some People believe that God is All and All is God. Which means that all that exists is God. This is called Pantheism. This pagan
belief admits that a rock is God, the sky is God, spirits are God, people are God, an atom is God. It also admits that God is the
Universe and that He does not exist outside of it as being separate. Therefore, He is dependent on the universe and creation to
exist and changes as time transpires and creation goes through constant changes. (atoms are always moving within themselves,
so any movement in them is a series of changes, such as becoming positively of negatively charged.)
Pantheism also admits that God is a part of all things. Christianity has never supported this pantheistic view of God and
creation. Many Christians mix this view from New Age thinking into their Christian beliefs forming a syncretic viewpoint which is
aberrational.
Some people believe that God's divinity permeates every part of creation but still remains distinct. So, this means that God is
not the Universe and the Universe is not God, as pantheists believe. But since they believe that God is the Spirit of the Universe,
therefore a part of it, and permeates all parts of creation, but is still somehow distinct from it, this viewpoint means that God
is thus dependent on the Universe to exist. This belief is called Panentheism and is somewhat of an "halfway" compromise
between pantheism and the true Christian view of God. Like Monism and Pantheism, Panentheism is not a valid Christian view of
who and What God is. These three viewpoints, along with the view that God is just an impersonal "Force", are all pagan views of
God-Who and What He is.
Inn your reply to me and to Richard you have brought up a multitude of concepts, so I am trying to decide how to respond.
I guess the best place to begin is, indeed, as you imply, with Who and What we believe God to be.
Aside from the things you mentioned that we agree on, I would like to address a few other things in this post.
I believe that there is only One God and that His essential Being/Self is not communicable, which means that He cannot part out
His essence to anyone else. He alone possesses this divine nature. He is absolutely unique as a Being. There is no one like Him
because there is and never has been, nor will there ever be any other divine beings "birthed" by Him, emanated from this
nature, nor created as an extension of this nature.
I believe that there is God- and then there is everything else that He created, whether
spiritual beings, corporeal beings, physical matter (organic and inorganic), inanimate things like forces, light, sound waves,
motion, space, and time. Therefore, I believe that God is completely separate from His creation and not mixed into it. This is
called the transcendence of God, often termed that He is wholly other than creation.
I believe that God is also imminent in creation by His omnipresence. In this sense He is everywhere present and in everything.
But in saying this I will clarify that thought God by His imminence, inhabits all of creation, I will say that He is not a part of
creation, mixing His Self with what He created ontologically, making creation part creation and part od's essence (or divine).
God is not One with His creation. He is One within His One Being three distinct Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But He is
not One with creation nor creatures in this sense. God is not One with a rock, water, a worm, angels, or people. Nothing within
creation has even a spark of divinity, because Divinity belongs solely to God, Who is eternally self-existent, holy, perfect.
You and Richard may already know this but just to add this little bit to the conversation on the wheat and the tares. A tare is a plant named bearded darnel plant (Lolium temulentum) it is wheat's evil twin, and it is poisonous, and in small amounts, it is intoxicating. It cannot be identified until the head with the grains appears which is purple. Only at the harvest, they can be known when the angels are sent to sort them out.
God bless,
RLW
Your prayer request is a beautiful prayer within itself. In the Name of Jesus Christ, I pray in agreement with your prayer request. God's Will be done. Amen.
AA,
I noticed your request did not contain petition to God for specific material things, indicating you are seeking His Will and not your own; leaving room for Him. What you leave as vacant, God will fill. And where He is, there must Truth abide! Your faith joyously
stirs my soul.
Peace
GOD IS
PS
I read your post once more before I submitted this reply. What a blessing. Tears of joy. Thank you . And thank you Father for Your Perfect Love and blessings we are about to receive.
I agree 100% that God is the one who preserves us, we are to be confident that "he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." ( Phil. 1:6), and we are "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." ( 1 Pet. 1:5). Our faith saves us (obviously by what Jesus has done for us); the power of God keeps us saved, if we truly believe ( Acts 8:37).
I also agree - not all the wheat and tares are evident, which is why the Lord said to leave them and let them grow together. However, I can assure you, there are many tares that look like wheat, and some wheat that look like tares. True believers can become backslidden, and in some cases, severely backslidden to the point where their life produces no fruit, being saved, "yet as so by fire" ( 1 Cor. 3:15). But, any "believer" who completely abandons the faith simply demonstrates that they were never saved to begin with ( 1 Jn. 2:19).
-Chris
please also pray for my son Ethan he 20 years old he is college and Ethan needs to be saved please pray that he comes to know God until God does please pray for his protection and that he stops smoking weed. please pray that he passes his college classes and that does well in school.
I'm going from memory here. I anticipate and welcome someone with better understanding will satisfy your inquiry on this interesting topic.
I believe Melchizedek is mentioned in just one book of the New Testament; Hebrews. He was King of Salem which means King of Peace, and King of righteousness. He is first mentioned in, I think Genesis. He had no known lineage, nor record of His beginning or end. I believe it is accepted in Orthodox Christian thinking , that He was Jesus, the High Priest (not high on drugs). Even Abraham (I think) tithed to Him.
Peace
GOD IS