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Human Limits and Boundaries, WHY?

by fact-s.net

Human Limits and Boundaries, WHY?

It has been an established precept that man has “freewill” to choose between “good or evil”; the way that leads to life or death“. And, the instruction was to “choose life“, to do “good“, as in:

Deut. 30:15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil,
Deut. 30:19 “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;”

Blast from the Past:

Throughout the history of Israel, direct communication with her leaders or indirectly through prophets or angelic beings, the admonition against evil and to follow the Decalogue(Ten Commandments) are etched in their minds from generation to generation. Yet, was anyone consistent with following the Law? Not even Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, all the way through the prophets, until the human Jesus came to the scene . The Ten Commandments were given to be followed consistently, yet humanity has failed. As Romans 3:10-18 King James Version (KJV) states:


“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:Their feet are swift to shed blood:Destruction and misery are in their ways:And the way of peace have they not known:There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Rom. 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God“.

And, looking through the lens of history, humanity has done a lot of choosing, summarized as a coalescence of good and evil. Even before the murder of Abel by Cain, the Great Flood at Noah’s time as in: Gen. 6:5 

“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” and Nimrod’s Tower of Babel, wickedness, death and destruction were perennial, intermixed with good deeds, protracted and continuing through antiquities.

Afterwards, what comes to mind are the successive empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greco-Macedonia and Rome, with their glory marked in cruelty and rapaciousness, now gone. Then, came the modern experience on dictatorship, monarchy, autocracy, socialism, communism, Greek democracies and Constitutional democracy establishing a Republic. The USA and Europe exemplify the latest political system, immersed and challenged since WW II, through the Cold War and currently Radical Jihad. 

Extent of Human Experience and Why:

Along this “wrinkle of time”, were progress and retrogress, up and down and sideways, either subsequently or simultaneously in every corner of the world. Elation and jubilation soon replaced by depression and sorrow, then interspersed with a lull of peace. Even good health and recovery from disease do not guarantee against eventual sickness or death. Truly, everyone gets experience in success and failure, exposure to positive-negative, ying-and-yang, victory and defeat. 

And the pendulum continues to swing back and forth, ever so slowly, yet still within its boundaries. The circle of life begins and ends where it started. Indeed, while each epoch is uniquely different in details, there is nothing new under the sun. As written in Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NLT):

 “History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.”  

But why all this human experience of stretching its reach, pushing the envelop, doing our very best only to find out that we can only go so far? Somehow, no matter what we do or don’t do, it comes to no avail? We are still found wanting.

It appears that what is palpably clear is to inculcate in us the reality of our limits and boundaries. As celestial bodies cannot go beyond their orbits, terrestrials also have capabilities that are limited. Everything created by God and even by humans, have limits. Our brain has capacity and our brawn has finite ATP that needs regenerating. Car, airplanes and satellites can only go so far. Even “gizmos” need update in operating systems and type of phones e.g., iPhone 5 to iPhone 6, to 6s, otherwise, functionality suffers.

Consider the Apostle Paul, well-educated under teacher Gamaliel and supposed to be at the peak of his apostleship, exposed human inadequacy when he writes, in: Romans 7: 15

“What is wrong with me? How come? The very good that I want to do, I do not do. That which I don’t want to do, is precisely what I do.” 

Not that Paul violated the Law, because he did not, although he followed it, not perfectly. He was referring to dilemma in decision-making between two equally compelling choices beyond and unrelated to the Law. This verse should not be used to justify violating the Law. Rather, he found himself inadequate in many respect, having a flesh-composed, thereby emphasizing the need for a change to immortal body.  

With the limits and boundaries already set in all creation, it is obvious that we are not “empowered” to go farther than our physical limits. Somehow, we are made to realize by the vast human experience, that humans are created but lacking in capabilities and full potential. Undoubtedly, everything can only be done by someone or something within endowed abilities.

Mechanical power is needed to drive engines for transport, as electrical power is needed to bring light to the world or energize machines. But, all “physical power” can only affect the physical milieu. 

Atheists, Agnostics and Job?

Arguably, some atheists and agnostics have not committed adultery, murder and the like, i.e., follow the Law to some extent although not perfectly as in…Rom. 2:14, 

“Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it.“(NLT)

Still, their acts were a confluence of “good and evil”, and were not up to the level of execution God has planned for us, since “all our righteous acts are as filthy rags”How about Job, isn’t he perfect? Notice, Job 2:3

“And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and eschews evil?(KJV)

The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.”
God defined the acts of Job as “perfect and blameless” and He ruined him “without cause”.

Yet, Mark 10:18 states that no man is good, but God: 

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good–except God alone”(NIV).

How can one reconcile what appears to be a discrepancy in these verses? This can only mean that while the action of Job was “blameless“, his good work did not come from God but from Job himself, much like good action to some extent comes from “atheists” themselves. It was not good enough to a level that fulfills his requirement. Undoubtedly, progressive revelation then teaches us that, more than consistency of “good work“, is how it comes about as determined by the “decision-maker”, God. He wanted good actions of humans to be coming from Him as planned. Those actions have to originate from Him so that no human can “boast” as in Eph. 2:8-9, 

“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by (your own) works, so that no one can boast.”

Humans are created “from the ground“, earthy and flesh-composed. A “new creation” is being made that comes ” from above“, heavenly and spirit-composed. And the Father has started it through Jesus, as in, 

“The kingdom of God is at hand“.(Mark 1:15).

Need of What and What it takes to get it?:

What is it then that is needed? Why is man incapable of fulfilling His requirement regarding following the Law? Rom. 7:14 may help us understand why. It states, 
King James Bible:

“For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal,(Greek sarkikos or flesh),..

Holman Christian Standard Bible:”For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am made out of flesh, ..”

The preceding verse is critical to our understanding of our deficiency. It maintains that since the Law is spiritual, it can only be discerned and followed spiritually. And, man(of flesh) cannot use physical or “flesh” power to follow what is spiritual. Being material, not spirit-composed, man can only use physical sense to appreciate material things. 

Even the only spirit-component of man, the “spirit of man”, can only “will” but cannot actually perform all what it wants. This teaching among religions that, with our own material and “earthy” power, we can fulfill the expectation about following the Law, maybe misguided. Paul continues:
Rom. 7:18

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing; for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good, I find not”.

Eph. 8:8 states, “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”(ESV)

Notice that Paul acknowledged the “weakness ” or deficiency of his “flesh-body” and “to will“ (to do good) is present in him. For Paul to say, like Job, that he can follow the Law by himself or by his own power, will not be congruent with what is required as planned by the Father. More than Paul, it was Jesus who originally emphasized this, as in,

Matt.26:41 “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”.(NIV)

After Christ realized this, he made a final decision to accept the will of the Father to go through the most horrible death by crucifixion, so we can have this “power” to do God’s will. 

Matt. 26:42 “A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.”…

Jesus knew about the “weakness of the flesh” and the need for “spirit-power” that can only be given “from above”. That was why Jesus decided to “take the cup“ in the garden of Gethsemane, be crucified and was resurrected to obtain from the Father the gift of the Holy Spirit to be given subsequently to humans. No wonder then that Paul in Romans 7:25 writes: 

“Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.“(NIV).

Why Thank God the Father for Jesus Christ?

It is because there is no other “name given” (Jesus) as in Acts 4:12:

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved“(NIV).

Were it not for Jesus’ death as a Passover to reconcile us to the Father and after 3 days and 3 nights his resurrection, the Holy Spirit would not have been given to Jesus to be sent to us. If he was not resurrected and did not go back to the Father, he would not have been given the Holy Spirit for us, as in:
John 16:7

“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”

This promised spirit-power from the Father was first sent by Jesus specifically to the disciples after his resurrection, then generally at Pentecost, 50 days from Jesus’ resurrection(Acts2:1-4). The disciples have to wait to receive this power as in Luke 24:49 

“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven”(NLT)

What is the Holy Spirit for?

At the outset, we have seen that human experience teaches man of his own limits and boundaries. Whatever “good” he does that comes from himself, is not good enough for God. As Isaiah. 64:6 states,

“…and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags...”

The “good” that man does, has to come from God, not from the man himself. Indeed, a “tall order” for humans. Goodness has to be the “fruits of the Holy Spirit” which is given by the Father as a gift. The Law being spiritual has to be followed “in spirit and in truth”. The flesh-composition is “weak” and from the beginning was created deficient to follow what is spiritual. The spirit of man can only “will” but “how to perform what is good”, as expected of God, humans cannot. As it is written in Rom. 3:10-17(NIV)

“There is no one righteous, not even one;there is no one who understand, there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless, there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.The poison of vipers is on their lips.Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways,and the way of peace they do not know.”

Humans are in need of the Holy Spirit from the Father. And even the human-Jesus (Acts 17:31; I Tim. 2:5; Rom. 5:15) needed it and was given for the first time to him (being the first of the firstfruits) after water-baptism at the river Jordan(Matt. 3:16). It became available to others, as “firstfruits“, on that particular Pentecost(Acts2:1-4). And, even with this “in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit” in “man-Christ Jesus”, his flesh-composed body has to be helped by Simon of Cyrene in carrying the cross. Similarly, even with the “in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit”, he has his own “freewill” that had to align with the Father, as in Luke 22:42

What then is the Holy Spirit for? 

The following Bible quotes give us the function of the Holy Spirit:
In John 14:26, it states

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

Romans 8:6-9English Standard Version (ESV)“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”

2Cor1:22 New Living Translation:“..and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.”

Gal. 5:21-22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.       

I Cor. 7:7, “I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that“.(NIV)

I Cor 12:7-11,”But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”

Rom. 8:15-17 “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

Summary:

Humans were created from the beginning with limits and boundaries. We are composed of flesh from the “dust of the ground” and made alive only by the “breath of life” given by the Creator (see Genesis Chapters 1 and 2). As such, we have the “spirit of man + flesh” to become a “living (person)soul“. As flesh, we can not fathom nor discern unadulterated spiritual things unless revealed to us from Him. Other spirit-beings like the Devil and his demons can plant spiritual things that are false or partly true to deceive us. Even Peter, on his own, did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah without this truth revealed to him by the Father(Matt.16:13-17). On our own, we can do good things and appreciate what is spiritual to a certain extent, but God wants to have all of these to be pure, truthful and to come from him as a gift, so that “no one can boast”. We are blind and deaf to what is spiritual as in,

Romans 11:8 – (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day



But the Holy Spirit was promised to be given to us as in, Isaiah 43:8 – Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears

This Holy Spirit will guide our “spirit of man” to “hear and see” at our appointed time, as in:John 9:39 – And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

Notice those who received the Holy Spirit ,Matthew 13:16 – But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

We need the Holy Spirit of the Father to empower us with this capacity to understand spiritual things. If we think we truly can by ourselves, without His Holy Spirit, we are misled. This Holy Spirit can interact with the “spirit of man” for guidance and learning the wisdom of God and to be “one” with Him. 

The ability for goodness that God requires for man to do has to come from Him as a gift. That is why, “by grace we are saved”. Jesus had to die as a consequence of humanity’s sin, to reconcile us to the Father, be resurrected (be alive to receive as in Romans 5/10) by the Father, go back to heaven to receive this gift of the Holy Spirit and subsequently be given to us. As the Law was originally written in “tables of stone”, i.e., our stony heart, but with the Holy Spirit in us, the Law will be written in our heart and mind to fulfill the prophecy in:
Ezekiel 36:26,”I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.(NIV)

This “spirit-infusion” (in-dwelling) fulfills the prophecy in:Jeremiah 31:33 “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

Heb. 8:10 “I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

The Holy Spirit in us is the key that opens the door to our capacity to follow the Law. The presence of this Holy Spirit in us will secure our adoption as children and heirs of the Father to “bear fruits“. This is the strategic plan of God, with impeccable execution to create a “new creation” as in 2 Cor. 5:17,

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!

Once we are changed at resurrection from “flesh” to immortal body, Paul’s wish to do what he wanted to do in Romans 7: 15 will be a reality. 


Understanding our limits and boundaries leads us to the gospel and destiny of humanity, to be members of the God-Kingdom, all spirit-composed beings, one with Jesus and one with the Father. 

God Bless 🙏😇

Original post: August 29, 2016

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Critique is welcome on foundationacts@yahoo.com

Focus of Christian message: the great commission 

by fact-s.net

Focus of Christian message, What should it be?

Attending Christian church services through the years , one cannot but be ingrained into our consciousness, the reality of God, his attributes of omnipresence, omniscience and omnipotence. Along with these are his grace and love for his awesome creation…humans.

So great is this love (John 3:16) that God the Father gave up his future only begotten “Son” man-Jesus. This Son is the YHVH ELOHIM in the Old Testament (the Logos/Word Creator in John 1:1), who took off his divine spirit-composition and powers to incarnate into a human being, as “man-Christ Jesus“.Although human, he was still categorized and confirmed, like us, as “god” in Ps. 82:6 and Jn.10:34. See also “What is God”.

Being flesh-composed at incarnation, he was subjected to death for humanity to be reconciled to the Father(Romans 5:10). Jesus’ death was substitutionary for humanity’s eternal or second and irreversible death which is a penalty for Adam’s sin (representing the whole mankind) from the garden of Eden.

Being human and flesh-bodied as Jesus was, we can die the first death, being matter-composed, a reversible death. Without resurrection from this, this death would have been eternal. But, it was “appointed for man to die“, being mortal and flesh-composed and will be resurrected. While Jesus died the first death having “mortal body” and acknowledged by the Father as “eternal/irreversible death” for Adam and mankind, he did not experience eternal death because this man-Jesus was resurrected into a spirit-body (and so shall we) as promised by the Father; this to prove the future resurrection towards eternal life for humans (I Cor. 15:1-58). Without resurrection, Jesus could still be dead, as we would, and the promise of the Father was for nought. 

But, this is not all. After resurrection, Jesus had to go to the Father. Otherwise, a most important gift and “power-tool” (the Holy Spirit) to empower us would not be received by him, to then be given subsequently to us (John 16:7, a “spirit-baptism“).

The Father can only give this as promised to YHVH/Logos who became his Son, before being given to us. We need this Holy Spirit of power to be “baptized into us” by Jesus (John 1:33), because “the flesh is weak“. Even if the spirit of man is willing (Matt. 26:41), we need to be empowered by the “immersion/baptism of the Holy Spirit” in us to overcome evil and be “one” with the Son and the Father, as members of the God-Kingdom. This Spirit will then “bear fruits” in us and will be reflected in “good works” (Gal. 5:22-23).

This work of the Holy Spirit is crucial for us to develop into “children of God“, the attainment of which will manifest at resurrection as a change in a “twinkling of an eye” from mortal flesh to immortal spirit-bodies. (I Cor. 15:52-56.). This same Holy Spirit dwelling in Jesus at river Jordan (Matt. 3:16), developed him to be “Son (begotten child) of God”(Rom.1:4), by resurrection from the dead, “firstborn of many brethren”(Rom. 8:29), firstborn from the dead (Col. 1:18), the first of the firstfruits (Ezek. 44:30 ESV), the wavesheaf offering ( Lev 23:10-14). Similarly, this Holy Spirit “in-dwelling in us” will have to bear fruits, as it did to man-Jesus, to develop us into “children of God”, one with Jesus and with the Father, as members of the God-kingdom.

Therefore, Christians should focus, on this gift of the Holy Spirit given by the Father because this is a basic ingredient needed in the “ongoing creation” of and for us to be in the Kingdom of God. This “kingdom” is more than a “government“. It is about a “family of God”, a “new creation”(2Cor. 5:17), that was never done before until Christ. Prior to this, all that was created were angels, inanimate objects (planets and universe) as well as living creation like plants, animals and humans, all matter-composed and not spirit-composed, except angels. But, when Adam was created in the garden of Eden, he was only a type of “human” that would come in the future. The anti-type , the “2nd Adam“, was this man-Jesus, to start this “new creation”, the “children of God”. Man-Christ Jesus was the human template with the “spirit of man“, which is the temple for the Holy Spirit to be baptized and dwell into; see I Cor. 3:16-17: 6:19-20; 2Cor 6:16-17; Acts 7:48-51, Acts 17:24-25.

Like other humans, the man-Jesus has the “spirit of man”(the breath of life”) which came directly from the Creator. Growth and development occurred in Jesus’ life from birth, childhood and through adulthood. But at the river Jordan, his “spirit/breath-of-life” was then “Holy Spirit-baptized” as infused by the Father. It was at that time that he was empowered and thence miracles happened, not before.

Even as a child, Jesus did not have the power of the Holy Spirit until adulthood. This power was given to him only after coming out of water baptism at river Jordan (Lu.3:22). The same Holy Spirit empowered him to overcome evil, especially the temptations of Satan (Matthew 4:1-11) in the wilderness. Similarly, this was the power that Jesus used to decide whether to follow “his will” or not (Lu.22:42). The apostles (John 20:22)and others received this “spirit-baptism” on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-31).

In the same manner, we receive this Holy Spirit to take the path of Jesus and follow, not the pull of our flesh, but follow His example. And when we do, we will be on our way towards becoming “children of God”. 

This is the great commission: to preach this good news of coming creation of the God-kingdom, through spirit-baptism in the name of the Father and the Son.

God bless 🙏😇👍

Original post: March 29, 2016,

Hyperlink post; 1/22/2021

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Critique is welcome at foundationacts@yahoo.com

ON PACKING HEAT?

by fact-s.net

On Packing Heat …Rev Jerry Falwell Jr., Chancellor of Liberty Univ. vs. Rev. John Piper, Chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary.

Should Christians be advised to carry gun for “self-defense”? This is a controversial question that all of us are currently confronted with in this era of terrorist violence. Two major leaders of the Christian Community spoke out on this issue using the Bible as basis, albeit, opposing views. Being stalwarts of biblical teachings, does this make sense, using the same source, yet comes out with different take? How come? Or are they just like Peter and Paul or Barnabas, etc. having honest differences in understanding and processing of facts, much like all of us?

Rev Falwell Jr. on Dec 4, 2015 said, “I just want to take this opportunity to encourage all of you to get your permit (to carry gun). We offer a free course. And let’s teach them a lesson if they ever show up here.” This “teach them a lesson” comment may not be his intention, for which he was questioned and criticism extended against “packing heat” for self-defense. While Rev Falwell Jr. of Liberty University expressed his preference to have gun for self-defense, he sounded off on his extended message and assumed motive by saying, “let’s teach them a lesson if they ever show up here.” While “teach them a lesson” may actually come out as a consequence, this comment may conjure up an entirely different motive and was interpreted as “vengeance”.

Rather, the goal should actually be “proximate self-defense” in “packing heat”; not pro-active use of a weapon without one’s life in “proximate or imminent danger”. This controversy maybe resolved depending upon when to use a weapon in self-defense and how this is defined. In my view, it is perfectly reasonable as self-defense to discharge his/her gun if a person comes into a place actually shooting people; a perfect example of “proximate” self-defense and defense of others. In this scenario, there is no doubt about the evil person’s motive to kill and the “proximate” or imminent need to use a weapon for defensive purpose. In this setting, clearly we should defend ourselves and others. This is not vengeance nor proactive use of weapon sans “proximate” jeopardy of one’s life. Our death in the hands of an evil person should not be a “teaching moment” to witness for Christ which can be more effective with us alive. There is a time to die for our beliefs, but not in this particular setting. There will be plenty of time within our short lifetime. This position is not in anyway to cast aspersion to those who may prefer otherwise and “die for the gospel”.

Rev Piper’s position, on the other hand, is summarized in:
“8. A natural instinct is to boil this issue down to the question, “Can I shoot my wife’s assailant?”. In my humble view, if one’s motive to use lethal means is to inflict an “eye for an eye” judgment to your wife’s assailant when your own/or other’s life is not at “proximate risk”, then this response is wrong and falls under “yourself being judge and jury” to convict. We have secular laws where this scenario belongs and can adequately serve justice. Also, Rev. Piper took Rev. Falwell’s comment to mean “revenge”, although this may not necessarily what he meant. See Dec 22, 2015 http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/should-christians-be-encouraged-to-arm-themselves

Continuing to quote on Rev Piper’s position:
“Peter’s aim for Christians as “sojourners and exiles” on the earth is not that we put our hope in the self-protecting rights of the second amendment, but in the revelation of Jesus Christ in glory (1 Peter 1:7, 13; 4:13; 5:1). His aim is that we suffer well and show that our treasure is in heaven, not in self-preservation.”
Does “proximate self-defense” necessarily mean revenge or self-preservation, as in preferring life over death, no matter what?

As critique of Rev. Falwell Jr.’s position is in order, and so it is for Rev. Piper’s. Let us then analyze the biblical references the latter quoted:

Rom 12:1-21 In this whole Chapter, Paul was referring to how Christians should respond to evil and summarized in, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” This verse has nothing whatsoever referring to self-defense in a situation of “proximate loss of life”. We certainly should not use any weapon for “vengeance”. Proximate self-defense is not synonymous with vengeance.
Romans 13:1–4:”Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.” Again, this has nothing to do with “proximate self-defense” but for us to understand that God uses “governing authorities”(certainly not ISIL?) on “wrongdoers” and “rulers are not a terror to good conduct”.

True, the apostle Peter “teaches us that Christians will often find themselves in societies where we should expect and accept unjust mistreatment without retaliation.” But, the following verses in I Peter are not an interdiction against “proximate self-defense”.

“This is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. (2:19)”. Endurance and suffering suggest being alive, not being dead in the hands of terrorists; nothing to do with self-defense.

“If when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. (2:20)” Suffer and endure here again suggest being alive.

“Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless. (3:9). Again repay and reviling suggest being alive.

“If you suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. (3:14)”. Suffer here again suggests being alive.

“It is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. (3:17)”. Suffer here again suggests being alive as dead people do not suffer.

“Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you (4:12).” Note: a surprise and test, suggestive of being alive.

“Rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. (4:13)”. Share is being alive.

“If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed. (4:14).” Insulted not death.

“If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. (4:16)”. Suffer here again suggests being alive, as well as ashamed and glorify.

“Let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (4:19).” Suffer and doing good here, again suggest being alive.

Also, not about proximate self-defense on Luke 21:12–19, “They will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. . . . You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.” Here, they would be taken prisoners, opportunity to bear witness, alive and not dead, to be witnesses.

According to Rev. Piper, “This article is about the people whom the Bible calls “refugees and exiles” on earth; namely, Christians. It’s about the fact that our weapons are not material, but spiritual (2 Corinthians 10:4). It is an argument that the overwhelming focus and thrust of the New Testament is that Christians are sent into the world — religious and non-religious — “as lambs in the midst of wolves” (Luke 10:3). And that exhorting the lambs to carry concealed weapons with which to shoot the wolves does not advance the counter-cultural, self-sacrificing, soul-saving cause of Christ.” On the preceding quote, certainly, no one should shoot “the wolves”, just because we carry weapons or because they are wolves. Rather, when our life is in “actual, not assumed jeopardy” from these wolves already attacking us, then there is no prohibition to “proximate self-defense”.

On the commentary regarding Jesus’ rebuke of the use of a sword:
1. Against the high priest’s servant (Luke 22:49–51). Jesus correctly rebuked his disciples because the Roman soldiers were not there to kill anyone but to merely take or apprehend Jesus to be delivered to the Sanhedrin and subsequently to Pilate; otherwise there would be no formal charge against Jesus of blasphemy, conviction and sentence to death. There was no “proximate” risk to anyone’s life in the garden of Gethsemane and use of sword was not “proximate self-defense”.

2. The church’s nonviolent response to persecution:
Acts 4:25–31 “Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together † against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. And now, Lord, behold † their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”
The setting here in the whole Chapter 4 (and starting in Chapter 3) was Peter and John were preaching about Jesus, his death/resurrection and healed a man known to everyone as lame from birth. About 5,000 people believed them. They were then taken or apprehended by religious authorities and “threatened” to be harmed (or killed?) unless they refrain from preaching the gospel. A lot of people knew what happened and if they were harmed at all, the Sanhedrin authorities would be blamed. It is obvious that those were “empty threats” and eventually they were released. In all of this story, there life was never in “proximate jeopardy of losing”. Nowhere in the whole narrative was there an indictment of self-defense and the element that qualifies “proximate self-defense” was never present.

Acts 8:1–3: Here, it was about Paul taking Jesus followers “to prison”. Again, absence of situation that qualifies for “proximate self-defense” nor any interdiction against it.

Acts9:1–2:”And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.”
The preceding verses show “breathing out” (not actual killing) and “bring them bound”, all of which did not qualify the element of “proximate self-defense”and therefore could not be invoked as self-defense by the disciples.

Acts 12:1–5: Here, the setting was Peter was delivered in a miraculous way from prison and death. Again, absence of situation that qualifies for “proximate self-defense” nor any interdiction against it. As to the death of James, there are no details of the story behind his death and no need to speculate.

Regarding these quotes …
“In fact, Acts 4:25–31 shows the church armed only with prayer and faith in God. Luke 22:36 sees the sword as only a symbol of preparation for pressure, since Jesus’ rebuke of a literal interpretation (22:38) shows that a symbol is meant (Fitzmyer 1985: 1432; Marshall 1978: 825). It points to readiness and self-sufficiency, not revenge (Nolland 1993b: 1076). (Luke, volume 2, page 1747″…
There is nothing wrong “with prayer and faith in God” nor about “readiness and self-sufficiency”. And certainly, “revenge” should not be the initiating force to use a weapon. There has to be present a situation of “proximate danger to life” as in a terrorist gunning down people around you, to invoke “proximate self-defense”.

Rev. Piper accepts the principles that “God ordains the use of the sword by the state in upholding justice (1 Peter 2:13–17; Romans 13:1–4)” but denies “packing heat” ourselves. The following narrative clears this up:
[Jesus] said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough [that’s plenty].” (Luke 22:35–38).
Notice, the disciples were allowed to have swords but not necessarily to be used for revenge nor proactively discharging a weapon without “proximate risk to one’s life”. This was why Peter who cut the ear of the soldier was refrained by Jesus because there was no “proximate risk to anyone’s life” at that time. Events that followed proved this to be so; no one died immediately.

However, I tend to agree with Rev. Piper in these quotes:
1. “The issue is not primarily about when and if a Christian may ever use force in self-defense, or the defense of one’s family or friends. There are significant situational ambiguities in the answer to that question. The issue is about the whole tenor and focus and demeanor and heart-attitude of the Christian life. Does it accord with the New Testament to encourage the attitude that says, “I have the power to kill you in my pocket, so don’t mess with me”? My answer is, No.”

2. “My main concern in this article is with the appeal to students that stirs them up to have the mindset: Let’s all get guns and teach them a lesson if they come here. The concern is the forging of a disposition in Christians to use lethal force, not as policemen or soldiers, but as ordinary Christians in relation to harmful adversaries.”

3.”For example, any claim that in a democracy the citizens are the government, and therefore may assume the role of the sword-bearing ruler in Romans 13, is elevating political extrapolation over biblical revelation”.

4.”…the unique calling of the church is to live in such reliance on heavenly protection and heavenly reward that the world will ask about our hope (1 Peter 3:15), not about the ingenuity of our armed defenses”.

Indeed, according to Rev Piper, “there are ambiguities in the way Christian mercy and civic justice intersect.” , but hopefully, either can be absorbed into the other, by defining what is self-defense and when it is so, i.e, when the element of “proximate” is “clear and present danger”.

Unfortunately, the position of Rev. Piper exposes himself and his followers as “soft targets” for terrorists bent on killing them. Our hope and prayer is for this position not be taken as an “enabler” to put them in “crosshairs” of Jihadists.

In summary, let us not put any additional burden of guilt on Christians as regards packing heat for “proximate self defense” or against such, as there are compelling arguments either way. If anyone wants to “pack heat”, let him do so; if not, so be it. This issue should not divide Christians but to realize that even well-meaning followers of Christ, like Peter vs Paul and Paul vs Barnabas, can have differences in the way facts are processed. Let the “spirit of wisdom” bear fruit in all of us.

Who resurrected Jesus and why?

by fact-s.net

As proof that Jesus is the Messiah, he was resurrected in 3 days and 3 nights (Matt. 12:40 ). Similarly in John 2:18-21 “Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.” Read also Matt 16:21; Matthew 26:61; 27:40;Mark 14:58; Mark 15:29; Acts 6:14

Also, while it is true that his resurrection gives the “adulterous generation”(Matt. 12:39; 16:4) proof that Jesus is the Messiah, the reasons for his resurrection may even be more far-reaching. Aside from being a proof, the following verses give us an inclination as to why:

Rom. 5:6-10″For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
The preceding verses show that the purpose of his death is to reconcile us to the Father since “all sinned“, as in:

Rom. 3:23-26“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

Jesus, being dead means exactly that… dead completely, not alive. And, without him being resurrected or be alive he would still be dead and would not have received the promise by the Father of the Holy Spirit to in-dwell in us, meaning “saved by his life” (Rom.5:10).

And, John 16:7 is clear that Jesus has to be resurrected, be alive, to go to the Father to get this promise of the Holy Spirit and subsequently to dwell in us. Notice, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”
As to the question who is that God who resurrected Jesus? Was he the Father or the Son or the Holy Spirit? In New Testament times, when the word “God” is mentioned, it refers to the Father to differentiate it from Jesus, the Son of God (the Father). Consider then the following:
Galatians 1:1 “Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.”
The apostle Peter stated in his first sermon on the Day of Pentecost: “This Jesus, God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses” (Acts 2:32). Subsequently, in Acts 3:15, he told his audience that they had “killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses”.

The apostle Paul also testified in Acts 13:33; compare verse 37: “God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus”. Continuing now in Acts 17:31“Because He [God] has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man [Jesus] whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead”.

Ephesians 1:20 ” …he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,”

But what about John 2:19; see verse 21 also when Jesus said, “Destroy this temple [referring to His body being slain], and in three days I will raise it up [implying His resurrection]”. If Jesus meant by this that He would come back to life on His own, he contradicted other testimonies. Rather, after God the Father brought life back to him while in the tomb, He would stand up and “raise it up” himself from his lying down to then get out from the grave.

Similarly, the same mechanism will apply to us. The Spirit of God gives power. The Father gives the Holy Spirit that brings about life. And by so giving that spirit of life, this is the power we will then be resurrected with. As Paul tells us, “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he (the Father) who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you” (Romans 8:11, NRSV).

Clearly, it was God the Father who did it as promised by him to YHVH/Creator before the foundation of the world and before the latter incarnated into man-Jesus. The “faith of Jesus“, as referred to in Rom. 3:22, Gal.2:16, 3:22, and Phil. 3:9, is faith “in” someone. There is nobody else to whom the Son can defer to (I Cor. 15:24-28) but to his Father who knows everything(Mk. 13:32). This faith “of” Jesus is faith “in” his Father who he knows will deliver everything he promised. Everything was planned by the Father and was/will be executed by his Son(I Cor. 8:6). They are “one” as they are together in everything, as we will be “one” with them(Eph. 4:6).

Faith vs belief, hope,wishful thinking and trust?

by fact-s.net

 Faith vs belief, hope,wishful thinking and trust?

My understanding on this subject is referenced in Heb 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

The original Greek for faith is “pistis” which means assurance; substance/”hypostasis” or support;hoped/”noieo” or considered/understood; evidence/”elenchos” or proved.

From the above original derivations, one sees the context has symmetry and that “faith/pistis” is consistent with proof; something real, present and seen; not future as in hope or wishful thinking. Paul differentiated faith from “hope” in Rom.8:24 “…hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?” Salvation is future and hoped for as in “the hope of salvation“(I Thessalonians 5:8).

Faith without proof is dead and can only be proven or shown with “works“(James 2:14-26). Faith in Jesus means proof or evidence of Jesus and his power. Being the Creator YHVH (factual, evidentiary, faith or pistis), he can deliver what he promised to us, from whence we believe and  hope to receive actual salvation in the future when we are changed from “mortality to immortality in a twinkling of an eye” (I Cor. 15:51-53). Notice that the personhood and historical reality of Jesus served as the evidence, the anchor, assurance and substance of our hope. Having faith means having proof or evidence from which one derives conviction/assurance, to believe and hope that promises will be fulfilled. Faith in the Father means proof of the Father, his existence, All-powerful, that being so, in itself is evidence that he can deliver on his promises.

The faith of Abraham is evidence-based as he was talking to EL SHADDAI/YHVH/pre-incarnate Jesus himself. He knew he helped him in wars against enemies, that this person is Almighty and can deliver what he promised. While our faith is essential for salvation, the initiating event is the faith “of“ Jesus in the Father, without which, our own faith is meaningless and ineffective . Jesus has faith in the Father because as YHVH Creator of Genesis, he was with the Father from the beginning; a definite proof.

Summary

Because of evidence or substance of things hoped for, i.e., faith(pistis), we base our conviction/assurance. We then believe and trust that what Father God and YHVH/Logos/Jesus promised, they will fulfill.  The apostles did not just “trust“, believe or hope because of lack of proof/evidence. They saw the resurrected Christ and miracles he did.

They did not just believed willy-nilly. In fact, they were skeptical at the end, abandoned and marginalized him as others before him, who claimed “messiah” died at crucifixion and did not resurrect. Peter “denied Jesus 3 times” and Thomas has to touch him for proof. They found evidence, by his resurrection (as he prophesied while with them), that he was what he claimed to be and will fulfill his promise to them, that they believed and trusted.  Faith in God, of all those promised to people and before the apostles, were evidence-based. Then they believed in his promises and trusted in him. Faith is not hope nor wishful thinking or trust. Rather, it is evidence-based and substantive, i.e., can be substantiated with facts.

So, every time we see the word “faith/pistis” in the Bible, take that as meaning fact, proof, evidence, assurance and not belief, trust nor hope. When the Bible says “have faith” it means have “substance…evidence” of and about God through the “eyes of witnesses” , human or divine witness like Jesus, the only witness of the Father. Moreover, faith is given by God as in:

Romans 12:3

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” (NIV)

God bless 🙏👍

Original post: October 27, 2015

Reposted: 3/31/19

Will the Anti-Christ be a Muslim?

by fact-s.net

To begin with, an anti-Christ is an adversary. And the ultimate adversary is Satan.
1 Peter 5:8 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Revelation 12:9 – And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Also, an adversary can be smart and be an antitype, a fitting substitute to the real one. In fact, the end times antichrist that comes onto the scene prior to the second coming of Christ, will be a man who will sit in the Temple and institute the Temple rituals.
2 Thes 2:3-4 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God”

This man is described in Daniel 7:8,20,21,24,25 …”I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.”

These ten horns are ten kings and represent the ten toes of the image of Nebuchadnezzar described in Daniel 2. At the time of these ten horns/toes, a little horn will appear and “pluck out” 3 of the 10, leaving 7 horns, and this is the 8th and was the 7th beast.

From the preceding, it appears that it does not matter whether the “man of sin”, the “end-time beast” is a Muslim or not. Rather, whether the man fits all the descriptions.

Is the parable of talent referring to good works needed to get to heaven?

by fact-s.net

Regarding Matt. 25:14-30, the short answer is, Yes they are required.

But, these good works must not emanate from us. They should not be “our” works per se, like atheists doing good. But works or “fruits” that come through the Holy Spirit that we merely expressed through and shown by “our works”.

As such, no one will boast (Eph. 2:9). By faith of Jesus, it took his death and resurrection for us to receive (Jn. 14:16) the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit. This is a great gift, by the grace of God, to have and we must show “fruits of the Spirit”(Gal. 5:22-23).

Any good work that anyone can do by himself is as “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) and not consistent or reliably sustainable as our “flesh is weak”(Matt.26:41).
Eph. 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Notice the example of Jesus at the garden of Gethsemane:
“He withdrew about a stone’s throw and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done'” (Luke 22:41-42). Matthew records Jesus as making his request of the Father twice: “Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken away from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will'” (Matthew 26:39) and “He went away a second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done'” (Matt. 26:42). Mark records his prayer in a positive way, “‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36).

While not “his will”, he expressed the “will of the Father” through his works empowered by the Holy Spirit. Similarly, we are the “vessel” through which the “fruits of the Holy Spirit” will be manifested. The “fruits/works” are of the Holy Spirit, even if we did those “works” ourselves.

Beware, we might be cut off as in:
Matt. 7:19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Dan. 4:14 “He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches”

See also Matt. 3:10; Lu. 3:9, 13:7; John 15:2, 6;

We need to be overcomers, as in Rev. 3:5 “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life

Is being a good person enough for one be saved?

by fact-s.net

Doing good works, i.e., following the Law, is not a monopoly of God-fearing people. Rom.2:4 “Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it.”(NLT). Even people from godless societies, like atheists, do good to their neighbors. Goes to show that good works can be done by anyone, if they so choose.

But, even our ultimate good works and what maybe the very best to us may not necessarily be so, as far as God is concerned. Notice how the prophet Isaiah included himself in:
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away” (Isaiah 64:6). The word filthy is from Hebrew word iddah, which literally means “the bodily fluids from a woman’s menstrual cycle.”

It is God who defines what is good and pleasing to him. In the narrative offering of Esau and Cain:
“And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto Jehovah. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And Jehovah had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell” (Gen. 4:3-5).
“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh” (Heb.11:4).

Notice that both gave an offering but Abel was by faith, and Cain was not. His offering was rejected because it was offered according to his own presumption of what is best for him that is acceptable and pleasing to God. The “fruit” that he sacrificed for, turned out to be as “filthy rags” because it was not by faith. This narrative suggesting the “righteousness of faith” and not of works.

Similarly, the narrative in Genesis about Adam to become like YHVH,(to be His body/church) had to come not from Adam’s work by himself eating the forbidden fruit. That “oneness with YHVH” can only be achieved, not through man-Adam but through the faith and work of the second-Adam, the man-Jesus.

In summary, good works, i.e., righteousness, is defined by and has to come from God. In fact, the fruits of the Spirit require that they had to come from the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit in us. We could not receive this promise of the Holy Spirit unless by grace and faith, through the death and resurrection of Christ. In Eph. 2:10 and 2 Cor. 3:5, the expression of these fruits of the. Holy Spirit as in “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them”.
There is only one way for anyone to be saved, and that is through the sacrifice of one person, the Creator YHVH, who incarnated to Christ Jesus, as in “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Calvinism, 5 points/TULIPs

by fact-s.net

On the 5 points of Calvinism, please consider my personal position on each one of them:

1. Total Depravity – The consequence of sin is eternal death. And this extends to all humanity since the sin of Adam, with eternal death as punishment, was imputed to all human beings (Rom 5:12-13). Even a newborn that did not sin yet, has eternal death as a consequence of sin. Not anyone’s particular sin but all sin “devolved” from that specific sin of Adam in the book of Genesis. Whether or not there were people before Adam’s creation (according to anthropologist) is immaterial, as imputation still goes back to Adam’s sin. Also, this imputation commenced/was counted when the Law was given to Moses, even when “sin occurred before the Law“(Rom. 5:13); not unveiled until then so that sin will be amplified and defined (Rom. 5:20). This imputation to one man was done so that death of one man, i.e., man-Jesus, will also be imputed to all mankind. There is no other person’s death but Jesus’ that this consequence of sin can be paid for (Rom. 5:6-21). Indeed, a total depravity. See also, Rom. 3:10, Gen. 6:5, Jer. 17:9.

2. Unconditional Election – Election and predestination are unconditional and planned for all by God from the beginning. His love covers all. He planned this even before anyone of us did anything right or wrong. Jesus was the unconditional election before he or any other human did “any works” While that is so, the end-point or outcome of these is still dependent on man’s free will and response. Free will defines the right choice of man-Jesus to follow to become the “Son of God” and for Lucifer to become an adversary, Satan. And so it does for any man.

Romans 8:29-30 , 9:11, Eph.1:4-6,11-12, speak of a group of “predestinated, called and justified”, from where God provides the “chance” to be “glorified” or “saved“. There is that “chance” being given that will result in and bear out “firstfruits” at the “first resurrection” to start the Millenium. And, there is a “chance” to be given after the Millenium that will result in “latter fruits”. This is their 1st chance and not about “second-chances” but a matter of “election”. There is a “timetable“, for everyone, as in Eccl. 9:11 “for time and chance overtake them all“. And these “chances” are referring to the time of offering the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit. With the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit, the person given that chance still have to choose, whether to follow the will of the Father or not. Even Jesus has shown free-will in the garden of Gethsemane to follow the Holy Spirit, (in-dwelling in him from river Jordan,Matt. 3:16), as in “not my will but yours“( Lu.22:42;Matt. 26:39); so, should we all who are called, follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. From these groups that had “election, predestination, calling” and “justification” given “unconditionally” through Christ, will come out the “firstfruits” and “latterfruits” depending on their “oneness” with God.

3. Limited Atonement – The Creator YHVH who incarnated to “man-Jesus”

(anthropos) died for the remission of all mankind’s sin and atoned for all. Atonement is for everyone and is not limited by God, except for the “time appointed” by himself. However, it is limited by each person, (at appointed time of in-dwelling of Holy Spirit) depending upon whether he/she believes in this atoning sacrifice of Jesus. It is also limited to those who are “called” at a particular timetable; those partakers in the first resurrection, then those in the second resurrection. This is the context of Matthew 1:21,John 10:11,17:9, Acts 20:28,

4.Irresistible Grace – this is a gift that is so supreme and sublime that will not be “forced down our throats“. Grace was given before the foundation of the world as planned. But, while given to those predestined, called and in-dwelled to open the spiritual “blindness and deafness”, it can be resisted when it is already in-dwelling, i.e., after given. The Father wants “free will” and Jesus as an example in the “garden of Gethsemane” knew this all along, could have resisted it but, instead, concurred willingly with “not my will” but “his will”. If the in-dwelling Holy Spirit, given as a gift by grace, can not be resisted then where is “free-will”? And, why the need to “persevere and overcome” the pull of the flesh?

5. Perseverance of the Saints – They have to. Otherwise, no reward of immortality/ salvation. But not all will “persevere“. In fact, even those written in the “book of life” and have been “predestined“, “elected“, “called”, “justified” can still be removed from that “book” as in Rev. 2:19. We need to endure, to be saved, as in, “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”(Matt. 10:22). NB. “…shall be..”.

Summary

When humans were created, they were the best of all creation such that angels rejoiced(Job 38:7). But, while “perfect” at creation, humans as flesh-composed, are incomplete and therefore “weak”. Jesus at Gethsemane proved this to himself 3 x before he rejected “his will” and followed “his Father’s will”.

Adam in Genesis was created perfectly but just like the best of any human, he was “incomplete/weak” to attain his goal of “being like him“(God). Predictably, by his “own works” he tried but failed in his goal because he did not have the “Helper” to empower him to overcome. This narrative in Genesis was written for us to understand the principle of “election, predestination” that it would be the “chosen man-Jesus“, the first man (captain/trailblazer)who was predestined to have the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit, which occurred in the River Jordan.

Adam’s sin and death were counted to all; such is “total depravity“. And this, so that one man, “anthropos-Jesus“‘ death, will also be counted for reconciliation with the Father. Jesus is the “only way, truth and life” and no other human could do this, as appointed, an “unconditional election”. Atonement of sins are for all and unlimited by God; for all at their appointed times, at which time man has to choose to follow the in-dwelling Holy Spirit or not. Grace was given out of love, “irresistible” as far as appointed time for Holy Spirit to in-dwell and do”spiritual hearing/seeing“, “predestination/calling”. But this spirit can be resisted( Acts 7:51).

To attain or reach the goal of “immortality/salvation”, and be a spirit-composed member of the “body-of-Christ” the “God-kingdom”, one has to persevere, overcome voluntarily by using this “power of the Holy Spirit” to be guided on actions to take so that the works are “fruits of the Holy Spirit“, not from your own “so no one can boast”

God Bless🙏😇

Original list:10/14/15

Hyperlink version posted 3/15/19

Critique is welcome at foundationacts@yahoo.com.

Since God knew that Adam would sin and Satan would be an Adversary, why create them at all? Also, why not create another Adam?

by fact-s.net

The creation of an angel Lucifer that turned to be an “adversary” (Satan) is known to an all-knowing YHVH. While Lucifer was created perfect, he had a choice: to follow God or be an Adversary . Similarly, he knew that Adam, with his ability to choose, would sin because his flesh-composition is “weak”, i.e., no spiritual wisdom to choose between good and evil. Why not create another Adam? Actually, the “other Adam”, to whom the hope was anchored on, has been created in the person of “man-Jesus” (anthropos) as in Rom. 5:14″…the figure of him that was to come.” But, it begs the question, why then create them in the first place?

Their creation is part of an overall plan to have a “new creation” of “sons of God” that are “one” with and “like” YHVH. The presence of both man and Satan is important. From a man, God will create “sons of God” and therefore needed to be created as an “image” or “temple/tabernacle”, being temporary until the in-dwelling of the Spirit of God. As a man(anthropos) that was created perfect, yet incomplete until the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit at rivers Jordan, Jesus chose correctly to be guided by the Holy Spirit. He then fulfilled the “hope” and trust of the Father in him for the sake of mankind. In the same vein, Satan, being a Deceiver and Tempter, is needed for man to develop the “mind of Christ” i.e., “wisdom” to choose, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, what is good over evil.

This plan from the book of Genesis is the “gospel of the kingdom of God”. Consider the following verses:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

“For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.…I Cor.12:12-13

“For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.…”Rom. 12:4-5

“He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.” Col.1:18

“…concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,…”Rom. 1:3-4

“…But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.” Heb. 2:9-10

In summary, creation of man and Lucifer(who became Satan) is consistent with the plan from the beginning. Their creation is necessary to achieve God’s goal. Salvation from eternal death requires mortals to be changed to immortals. And this, through a process that means a Passover has to be killed for “remissions of sins”. Resurrection of man-Jesus has to occur as we are to be “saved by his life” which enables him, being alive, to receive the “promise of the Holy Spirit” (Jn. 16:7) from the Father. Jesus can then send the Holy Spirit to in-dwell us for “renewing of our mind”(Rom. 12:2) into the “mind of Christ”(,I Cor. 2:16; Phil. 2:5). God the Father is creating “the mind and body of Christ” with many members, Jesus the head of that “body” and “bringing many sons to glory”. All spirit-bodied as the “Son of God” and “one” with him, and by extension, “one” with the Father. All in the “kingdom of God”.

Original post: 10/13/2015