tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28591318268570516532024-03-12T21:33:42.703-07:00duff gordonduff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-57831873760158363272013-05-01T12:17:00.003-07:002013-05-01T16:37:50.101-07:00The Cowardly LionsOut of fear (presumably), Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night and in this darkness entrusts Nicodemus with powerful truths....<br />
<br />
All from John 3:<br />
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council.<br />
....right after Christ's proclamations Nicodemus confesses his faith in Jesus...."Rabbi WE know that you are a teacher from God....(v.2) He believed his miracles were from God. (2b) The one preceding miracle John tells us is the turning of water into wine. To Nicodemus Jesus states: "I tell you the truth no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. (v3) ...."Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. (12,13) Christ makes his other -worldly statements to Nicodemus after Nicodemus confesses that Jesus was God's miracle worker and he is a teacher of God. Why is this so critical? Because by admitting Jesus is a teacher from God he logically would be accepting of all his teaching. Certainly this talk of a "new birth" was difficult for Nicodemus but there is no talk of Nicodemus' outright rejection of Christ.<br />
Continuing on....."For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." vv 16-17<br />
<br />
Now what may or may not be a dig at Nicodemus as Jesus proceeds with "This is the verdict :Light has come into the world, but men love darkness instead of light." But no, Nicodemus is a child of God. A frightened one, but one nonetheless. He insists on meeting Jesus at night. And he had at least one other believer from the Pharisees. " Rabbi, <b>We know</b><i> y</i>ou are a teacher who has come from God.<br />
<br />
But you object that Nicodemus is a coward- so what? Do I have to mention Peter's denials? Or the times Jesus alluded his executioners "Again they tried to seize him ( the Jews seizing Jesus), but he escaped their grasp. (Jn 10:39) Because his time had not come. (Jn 7:6) Do you think that God loves less the Coptic Christians and Christians in Iraq because they are coy? Was Nicodemues to offer himself as a Christ believer so the Sanhedrin so he could enjoy a stoning?<br />
<br />
But we do see growth in Nicodemus"<br />
<br />
Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them "Why didn't you bring him in? No one ever spoke the way this man does, the guard's declared. Has any of the rulers of law -there is a curse on them. " Nicoearlier who was one of their own number, asked, Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing? They replied, 'Are you from GAlilee too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee. (Jn 45-52)<br />
, who had gone to Jesus<br />
<br />
The Burial of Jesus:<br />
<br />
Later, Joseph of Arimathea, asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus. the man who had earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nichodemeus brought a mixture of myrh and aloes, about 75 pounds. Taking Jesus' body the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen.<br />
<br />duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-64472326104038562642013-03-17T15:25:00.000-07:002013-03-17T15:25:37.690-07:00Repent your RepentanceI know the scene well. A college fellowship, a higher living preacher, almost everyone for that matter involved in evangelism is exhorting his non Christian audience to REPENT! For the vast majority of these preachers do not know what the word means. As I said, I know what they exhort and their meaning of repent is simply to be sorry for your sins and in that sorrow to change ones lifestyle and believe in Jesus Christ.<br />
<br />
But wait a moment...if salvation is partially dependent on ones repentance (or sorrow) how do I know I am sorry enough? I am shedding no tears! Or just a few....This is the problem with a Campus for Christ type evangelism...it is based on the emotion of the individual instead of relying what Christ has accomplished for the individual irrespective o the broad spectrum of emotions he may feel. Finito.<br />
<br />
Back to the proper meaning of "to repent" in Greek. It is "Metanoeo" "<i>To think differently</i>...i.e. <i>reconsider" "To think diffidently after being informed with the truth"</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Whenever you find a verse on repentance it may involve many varied subjects that one simply changes his mind about... <br />
<br />
Below is a short fictional biography of a young mans repentance.....<br />
"I never believed Jesus was the Christ until I read and reread John's Gospel..it was than when I repented (changed my mind) and embraced that He is the Son of God. I never thought before I was a Christian that living with my girlfriend was immoral and in fact it took me a few months of reading the Bible and the exhortations of a few Christian peers that made me repent and change that situation. I am sad about having lived that way but honestly I never shed tears over how sinful I was...am I to manufacturer extreme sorrow? Even now when I sin I do not always feel sorrow which makes me ironically assured me of my depravity! I know myself and if I became "super Christian" I would get puffed up and drift from Christ as I wouldn't need him in my conceit "<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-22641255308907614562013-02-16T14:27:00.001-08:002013-02-16T14:27:55.831-08:00The Testimony I Would Like to HearI am thinking of all the celebrity and politicians verbal testimonies through the years- some stumbling, most looking for the correct language. What I want to hear, just once is this....<br />
<br />
I believe in God the Father Almighty,<br />
The maker of heaven and earth<br />
And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord<br />
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit<br />
Born under the virgin Mary<br />
Suffered under Pontius Pilate<br />
Was Crucified dead and buried<br />
He descended into hell,<br />
The third day he rose again from the dead<br />
He ascended into heaven<br />
and sitteth on the Right Hand of God the Father Almighty<br />
From whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.<br />
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,<br />
The Resurrection of the body<br />
And the life everlasting.<br />
<br />
"That's my testimony, is yours the same"?<br />
<br />
Just Once.duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-48364886491418732642013-02-14T15:36:00.000-08:002013-02-14T15:36:04.194-08:00Re-Training our MindsAccording to one golf psychologist golf's intrigue comes from hitting that good shot- because it releases endorphin's in the brain thus subtly addicting the player.<br />
<br />
Daughter Georgia has been playing close to ten years now and we have gone back and forth on the "secret" to golf and we finally agree on it.<br />
<br />
Her mechanics are solid and has an envious swing. She is is a "driving range phenom" . How to translate all of that God given talent into low scores is a totally different matter. What a head game golf is! My left foot, my grip, my take-away- these thoughts in competition can drive the better golfer mad.<br />
<br />
And so the secret appeared. The secret to golf is to stare down the target and swing like a five year old. Just as one trusts his ability to drive a car a golfer has to trust his swing. Caution to the wind. You know all of the fundamentals, the proper grip, the stance, just trust!<br />
<br />
And so it is with the Christian life- you have studied the scripture, you pray, you have read and most importantly you have committed your faith in Jesus Christ. Yet you are stuck- you are too introspective and go through a litany of faith tests and fail everyone of them. It's because you are looking inside.<br />
<br />
"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, this is the way; walk in it." (Isa 30:21) So walk in it!<br />
<br />
And that is as charismatic as I will ever get.<br />
duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-69075629001184500492013-02-07T09:40:00.001-08:002013-02-07T09:40:32.711-08:00TO THE FREE WILLERS OF THE WORLDI must admit that this is my favorite subject, i.e. making fun of those who think they make decisions with God.<br />
<br />
I always thought this would make a great motion picture- the life of Lazarus before (JOHN 11)and after his being resurrected by Jesus who states emphatically he is doing this miracle so others may believe.<br />
<br />
You know my theory that for the most part Jesus did not like miracles-they basically drained him and proved his divinity as he preferred to live a simple faithful life that He was the Son of God.<br />
<br />
So picture the scene as Lazarus is raised and goes after Jesus...."What are you doing...I was in glory and you brought me back. "Send me back Jesus, send me back"!<br />
<br />
Do you think Jesus asked Lazarus his preference or he did what would glorify God ?<br />
<br />
Do you think he asks our permission whether we are to undergo a trial or a miracle?<br />
<br />
TO GOD BE THE GLORYduff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-73139471978601583602013-02-02T13:18:00.000-08:002013-02-02T13:18:59.627-08:00A righteous boy was born the other day. He may not know it but he is seen by God as perfect in every way. When it's his time he may come kicking and screaming, but God always has his way. He took the Pharaoh down and raised Lazarus up, and neither asked His permission.<br />
<br />
This child is not of the world but a child of God. His name is Judah, named after Christ the King, the "Lion of Judah". Although a great lion he demands his infants be brought to his throne for his blessing. And so it will be.duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-24396174253541456132013-01-26T12:29:00.000-08:002013-01-27T10:42:18.512-08:00HELL, NO"But I say unto you that whosever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of judgment;and whosever is angry without a cause shall be in danger of judgment and whosever shall say to his brother , Raca, shall be in the danger of the council, but whosever shall say, 'thou fool, shall be in the danger of hell fire. (Matt 5:22) KJV<br />
<br />
And I say unto my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him who, after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell; yea I say unto you , Fear him. LK 12:4-5 KJV.<br />
<br />
From the Schofield Reference Bible: Greek Geena equals Gehenna, the place in the Valley of Hinnom where, anciently human sacrifices were offered (2 Chr.33:6; Jer. 7:31) and where the continuous burning of rubbish illustrated to the Jewish people unending judgment upon the wicked. The word occurs in Mt 5:22,29,30; 10:28, 18:9; 23:15,33; Mk.9: 43,45,47; Lk 12:5; Jas.3:6<br />
There is a certain bond between Roman Catholics and Protestants and has to deal with the eternal and very physical punishment who end up being hell. The influential John Stott was the last casualty of a reformed theologian who was "cut off" for wanting to debate this issue. I believe I can make a case against eternal punishment but I need a fair hearing.<br />
<br />
I know it is against the academic rules to use Wikipedia but nonetheless let's look at their take on the the beginnings of the word hell.."The modern English word hell is derived from old English Ref hel, helle (about 785 AD)( to refer to a netherworld of the dead)........Subsequently the word was used to transfer a pagan concept its Christian theology and it's vocabulary (however for the Judea- Christian origin of the concept Gehenna)<br />
<br />
When Jesus spoke about hell he wasn't speaking about hell. According to WIKI that was a later pagination of the word gehenna. So when Jesus spoke of Gehenna he used the word Gehenna which it should remain in our Bibles today. He was speaking of a well known physical place where rubbish burned and sacrifices had been offered..."Fear him who, after he had killed, hath power to cast into Gehenna; yea I say unto, Fear him".<br />
<br />
So we have allowed and continually allow "hell" with all of its baggage such as art and horrific layers of suffering to continue. There is one passage in Matthew and one in Revelation that seems a slam dunk to those who hold to hell- in this case "The lake of fire":<br />
<br />
[Jesus said:] “When the son of man comes in his glory, and all his angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the and the goats on his left.<br />
Then the king will say to those on his right.'Come you are blessed by my Father: take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.<br />
Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord , when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?<br />
The king will then reply, 'I tell you the truth , whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.<br />
Then he will or to those on his left, Depart from me, you are cursed, into an eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not invite me in. I needed clothes and you did not clothe me. I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'<br />
"They also will answer , 'Lord,when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did no help you?'<br />
"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."<br />
"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the the righteous to eternal life" Mt. 46, 31-36<br />
This then is the single most powerful verse for eternal conscious suffering of the unrighteous.<br />
<br />
The only way I can argue against this verse's plain interpretation (and I know it is a stretch) is that the unrighteous that perish, suffer eternal punishment in the perspective in what they have lost- because they have lost eternal life in that sense they are punished eternally even though they lose consciousness.<br />
<br />
Why do I say lose consciousness? Because Paul uses Perish when he discusses what happens to the unbeliever at death. It implies a burning up and a cessation of suffering. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness ; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God. (I Corinthians 1:18 c.56 AD)<br />
There are others (Rom. 2:12, I Cor 8:11, 2 Cor 2:15, 2 Cor 4:16, 2Col 2:22, 2 Thess 2:10. Also in Hebrews 1:11, 2 Peter 2:12, 2 Peter 3:9<br />
<br />
The only way I can argue against this verse's plain interpretation (and I know it is a stretch) is that the unrighteous that perish, suffer eternal punishment in the perspective in what they have lost- because they have lost eternal life in that sense they are punished eternally even though they lose consciousness.<br />
<br />
Why do I say lose consciousness? Because Paul uses Perish when he discusses what happens to the unbeliever at death. It implies a burning up and a cessation of suffering. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness ; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God. (I Corinthians 1:18 c.56 AD)<br />
There are others (Rom. 2:12, I Cor 8:11, 2 Cor 2:15, 2 Cor 4:16, 2Col 2:22, 2 Thess 2:10. Also in Hebrews 1:11, 2 Peter 2:12, 2 Peter 3:9<br />
Then there is the verses in Revelation 20:13....15 The sea gave up the dead that were in it and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he hat done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.<br />
This talks about unbelievers entering a lake of fire which is "the second death" . I don't believe anyone knows what the second death means accept to take it literally that those who enter die.<br />
<br />
John the Gospel writer quotes Jesus as using the word perishing: "..that whosoever believeth in him should not perish (Jn 3:16)<br />
<br />
So my first case against hell is that it is a pagan word and not biblical. Not that Gehenna is such a pleasant place but it is different then medieval paintings of hell. No doubt the Roman Catholic Church clung to it because he that holds the keys to hell is more to be feared than the keys to Gehenna. As to the infamous Matthew passage we have an apparent contradiction because Jesus himself uses perishing. We have a quandary here. Does the Matthew verses "trump" all of the perishing verses? That there is no mention of hell or judgment in the Acts? There will be a judgment "after certain days, when Festus came with his wife, Drusilla, he sent for Paul, and heard concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, self control, and judgement to come, Felix trembled. Acts 24:25<br />
This is the message of the NT. Faith in Christ have life and those without face judgment<br />
Then there is the verses in Revelation 20:13....15 The sea gave up the dead that were in it and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he hat done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.<br />
This talks about unbelievers entering a lake of fire which is "the second death" . I don't believe anyone knows what the second death means accept to take it literally that those who enter die.<br />
<br />
John the Gospel writer quotes Jesus as using the word perishing: "..that whosoever believeth in him should not perish (Jn 3:16)<br />
<br />
So my first case against hell is that it is a pagan word and not biblical. Not that Gehenna is such a pleasant place but it is different then medieval paintings of hell. No doubt the Roman Catholic Church clung to it because he that holds the keys to hell is more to be feared than the keys to Gehenna. As to the infamous Matthew passage we have an apparent contradiction because Jesus himself uses per<br />
ment<br />
ishing. We have a quandary here. Does the Matthew verses "trump" all of the perishing verses? That there is no mention of hell or judgment in the Acts? There will be a judgment "after certain days, when Festus came with his wife, Drusilla, he sent for Paul, and heard concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, self control, and judgement to come, Felix trembled. Acts 24:25<br />
This is the message of the NT. Faith in Christ have life and those without face jug<br />
Than we have all of Paul's and Peter's Epistles. Not once doe they mention hell- rather they talk of non believers as perishing. Perishing implies termination of any suffering. See Rom.2:12,1 Cor 1:18, 1 Cor 8:11, 2 Cor 2:15, 2 Cor4:16 , Col 2:22, 2Th2:10, Heb 1:11, 2 Pet 2:12, 2 Peter 3:9<br />
<br />
So we have the earliest most influential letters where no eternal suffering is mentioned for the unbeliever, only perishing.<br />
<br />
The idea of judgment is clear, along with the warning of gehenna. At the judgment how long a person suffers is not clear, although, again, perishing implies an end to suffering. Hell is a pagan perversion and it is time for Reformed and Roman Catholics to translate it back to Gehenna.<br />
<br />
If a literal hell is to be expected than why did not the Acts, Peter and Paul not mention it in the early<br />
Church? Why do we continually allow a pagan term ,namely hell to replace gehenna?<br />
<br />
I am not saying that a strong case cannot be made for "Lake of fire" as opposed to "hell" as in the Mathew and Revelation verses. There should be a mature discussion as to why the early church has no mention of eternal damnation, given the dire warnings that Christ and John of Revelation give.<br />
<br />
<br />
And 2 Jude : "Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame, wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness. One can see this is a view entirely different than our other quotes<br />
<br />
In conclusion we have Jesus talking about perishing of the lost but also portraying an awful fire that seems to exist forever. What to do? What to say? The strength of the hell position are the words of Jesus while Jesus himself introduces perishing in John's Gospel.<br />
<br />
So we have quandary. Does Matthew's passage trump all the others because Jesus said it? Does the perishing "theory" trump the Matthew passage? I believe in a court of law the perishing theory would prevail although I would be left with reasonable doubt.duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-40132913181695959422013-01-26T12:28:00.000-08:002013-01-26T12:28:36.923-08:00Red Letters?As JOJO pointed out in one of her comments the official Westminster Confession states that all scripture is equal. That is to say we do not stratify scripture.<br />
<br />
If this true why do we purchase "red letter" bible edition's -where Jesus' words are highlighted in red.<br />
<br />
This causes many problems- Do we pit Jesus against Paul? Against OT Patriachs? Jesus said that every<br />
"jot and tittle" of the law (Mt 5:18) will be fulfilled; in other words scripture written outside of him be fulfilled.<br />
<br />
Enough with the Red Letters , all scripture is of equal weight and value. Don't play that Jesus card on me!<br />
<br />
DEDICATED TO MY GRANDCHILD OF JOANNE AND GREY, A CHILD OF THE CONVENANT.duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-19849150289312187262013-01-22T13:03:00.002-08:002013-01-22T13:03:56.156-08:00the "Great Commission" who says so?Jesus never pronounced that what I am about to tell you I want you to call forever "The Great Commission."<br />
<br />
It's about time we start thinking for ourselves instead of letting Bible editors make stuff up.<br />
<br />
Why aren't the verses I quoted on my Hell, No?, The "Great Commission"?<br />
<br />
Re: The separation of the goats and the sheep?(Mt 25-31-46)<br />
<br />
Why isn't the ten talents the greatest commission? (Mt 25: 14-30)<br />
<br />
Any number of Christ's narratives that contain a command(s)<br />
<br />
So although this is one of my shortest missives it is important because we have to question what tradition has<br />
<br />
handed us unless Christ Himself has named something himself.<br />
<br />
<br />duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-7877364795070853822013-01-20T12:39:00.001-08:002013-01-20T12:39:36.818-08:00Why we baptize whole families.<br />
Because that is how it was done in Acts. The earliest Church in action<br />
<br />
Acts 1:5<br />
Acts 2:38<br />
Acts 2:41<br />
Acts 8:12<br />
Acts 8:13<br />
Acts 8:16<br />
Acts 8:36<br />
Acts 9:18<br />
Acts 10:48<br />
Acts 11:16<br />
Acts 16:15<br />
Acts 16:33<br />
Acts 18:8<br />
Acts 19:3<br />
Acts 19:4<br />
Acts 19:5<br />
Acts 22:16<br />
<br />
In some of the verses above entire families were baptized. Baptists say that because an infant isn't mentioned means we cannot assume. We have to read these verses in light of Jesus' words in Matthew: "Then let the little children place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. J<b><i>esus said, let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. When he had placed his hands on them</i></b>, he went on form there. Mt 19,13-15<br />
<br />
In light of theses verses how could you keep a child from his hand? This is one of two sacraments which means that the grace of God is imparted to the child. Follow the words of Jesus- no "dedications" but baptism- have him or her be touched by Jesus. Not to be crass, but infant baptism "worked" for my three and it is a wonder in God's faithfulness to watch him bring each one into saving faith. Dear God, thank you for your faithfulness. .<br />
<br />
<b><i>Do not hinder them!</i></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-83272875843795596992013-01-12T12:58:00.000-08:002016-09-21T12:24:01.328-07:00HELL, NO?<br />
"But I say unto you that whosever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of judgment;and whosever is angry without a cause shall be in danger of judgment and whosever shall say to his brother , Raca, shall be in the danger of the council, but whosever shall say, 'thou fool, shall be in the danger of hell fire. (Matt 5:22) KJV<br />
<br />
And I say unto my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him who, after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell; yea I say unto you , Fear him. LK 12:4-5 KJV.<br />
<br />
From the Schofield Reference Bible: Greek Geena equals Gehenna, the place in the Valley of Hinnom where, anciently human sacrifices were offered (2 Chr.33:6; Jer. 7:31) and where the continuous burning of rubbish illustrated to the Jewish people unending judgment upon the wicked. The word occurs in Mt 5:22,29,30; 10:28, 18:9; 23:15,33; Mk.9: 43,45,47; Lk 12:5; Jas.3:6<br />
There is a certain bond between Roman Catholics and Protestants and has to deal with the eternal and very physical punishment who end up being hell. The influential John Stott was the last casualty of a reformed theologian who was "cut off" for wanting to debate this issue. I believe I can make a case against eternal punishment but I need a fair hearing.<br />
<br />
I know it is against the academic rules to use Wikipedia but nonetheless let's look at their take on the the beginnings of the word hell.."The modern English word hell is derived from old English Ref hel, helle (about 785 AD)( to refer to a netherworld of the dead)........Subsequently the word was used to transfer a pagan concept its Christian theology and it's vocabulary (however for the Judea- Christian origin of the concept Gehenna)<br />
<br />
When Jesus spoke about hell he wasn't speaking about hell. According to WIKI that was a later pagination of the word gehenna. So when Jesus spoke of Gehenna he used the word Gehenna which it should remain in our Bibles today. He was speaking of a well known physical place where rubbish burned and sacrifices had been offered..."Fear him who, after he had killed, hath power to cast into Gehenna; yea I say unto, Fear him".<br />
<br />
So we have allowed and continually allow "hell" with all of its baggage such as art and horrific layers of suffering to continue. There is one passage in Matthew and one in Revelation that seems a slam dunk to those who hold to hell- in this case "The lake of fire":<br />
<br />
[Jesus said:] “When the son of man comes in his glory, and all his angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the and the goats on his left.<br />
Then the king will say to those on his right.'Come you are blessed by my Father: take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.<br />
Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord , when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?<br />
The king will then reply, 'I tell you the truth , whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.<br />
Then he will or to those on his left, Depart from me, you are cursed, into an eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not invite me in. I needed clothes and you did not clothe me. I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'<br />
"They also will answer , 'Lord,when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did no help you?'<br />
"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."<br />
"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the the righteous to eternal life" Mt. 46, 31-36<br />
This then is the single most powerful verse for eternal conscious suffering of the unrighteous.<br />
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The only way I can argue against this verse's plain interpretation (and I know it is a stretch) is that the unrighteous that perish, suffer eternal punishment in the perspective in what they have lost- because they have lost eternal life in that sense they are punished eternally even though they lose consciousness.<br />
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Why do I say lose consciousness? Because Paul uses Perish when he discusses what happens to the unbeliever at death. It implies a burning up and a cessation of suffering. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness ; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God. (I Corinthians 1:18 c.56 AD)<br />
There are others (Rom. 2:12, I Cor 8:11, 2 Cor 2:15, 2 Cor 4:16, 2Col 2:22, 2 Thess 2:10. Also in Hebrews 1:11, 2 Peter 2:12, 2 Peter 3:9<br />
Then there is the verses in Revelation 20:13....15 The sea gave up the dead that were in it and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he hat done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.<br />
This talks about unbelievers entering a lake of fire which is "the second death" . I don't believe anyone knows what the second death means accept to take it literally that those who enter die.<br />
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John the Gospel writer quotes Jesus as using the word perishing: "..that whosoever believeth in him should not perish (Jn 3:16)<br />
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So my first case against hell is that it is a pagan word and not biblical. Not that Gehenna is such a pleasant place but it is different then medieval paintings of hell. No doubt the Roman Catholic Church clung to it because he that holds the keys to hell is more to be feared than the keys to Gehenna. As to the infamous Matthew passage we have an apparent contradiction because Jesus himself uses perishing. We have a quandary here. Does the Matthew verses "trump" all of the hell fire verses? That there is no mention of hell or judgment in the Acts? There will be a judgment "after certain days, when Festus came with his wife, Drusilla, he sent for Paul, and heard concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, self control, and judgement to come, Felix trembled. Acts 24:25<br />
This is the message of the NT. Faith in Christ have life and those without face judgment<br />
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Than we have all of Paul's and Peter's Epistles. Not once doe they mention hell- rather they talk of non believers as perishing. Perishing implies termination of any suffering. See Rom.2:12,1 Cor 1:18, 1 Cor 8:11, 2 Cor 2:15, 2 Cor4:16 , Col 2:22, 2Th2:10, Heb 1:11, 2 Pet 2:12, 2 Peter 3:9<br />
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So we have the earliest most influential letters where no eternal suffering is mentioned for the unbeliever, only perishing.<br />
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The idea of judgment is clear, along with the warning of gehenna. At the judgment how long a person suffers is not clear, although, again, perishing implies an end to suffering. Hell is a pagan perversion and it is time for Reformed and Roman Catholics to translate it back to Gehenna.<br />
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If a literal hell is to be expected than why did not the Acts, Peter and Paul not mention it in the early<br />
Church? Why do we continually allow a pagan term, namely hell to replace gehenna?<br />
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I am not saying that a strong case cannot be made for "Lake of fire" as opposed to "hell" as in the Mathew and Revelation verses. There should be a mature discussion as to why the early church has no mention of eternal damnation, given the dire warnings that Christ and John of Revelation give.<br />
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And 2 Jude : "Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame, wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness. One can see this is a view entirely different than our other quotes<br />
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In conclusion we have Jesus talking about perishing of the lost but also portraying an awful fire that seems to exist forever. What to do? What to say? The strength of the hell position are the words of Jesus while Jesus himself introduces perishing in John's Gospel.<br />
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So we have quandary. Does Matthew's passage trump all the others because Jesus said it? Does the perishing "theory" trump the Matthew passage? I believe in a court of law the perishing theory would prevail although I would be left with reasonable doubt.duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-17494483881481133312013-01-11T12:31:00.003-08:002013-01-11T14:56:45.926-08:00Do not get stuck on the 6 day CreationIn the beginning God create the heavens and the earth, now the earth was (a) (tohu wabohu) formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep,and the over the waters..Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.<br />
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Let me ask my audience if God ever needed two or three tries at anything- or when the Son healed someone was it ever a partial healing?<br />
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Why then after creation did God need a "second chance" ?<br />
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Please note my (a) footnote above. It is in all NIV bibles- It's no big deal except it changes what happened after creation COMPLETELY. The note is explained "or <b>possibly became</b>" formless and empty. The other two times when<i> tohu wabohu is used to describe a condition produced by divine judgment in the only other two texts where the other two words compare in conjuction (isa 34:11) ( Jer 4:23) Schofield Refererence Bible</i><br />
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I am no Hebrew scholar so I cannot make a case for the footnote other than the Schofield note. At any rate, due to the huge sea change it brings to these verses one would think that it deserves more than a microscopic footnote.<br />
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I prefer "<b>became</b> formless and empty" as opposed to "<b>was</b> formless and empty" because God's perfect creation in verse one" "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Why then would the next verse say immediately "Now the earth was formless and empty right after God tells us "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth??<br />
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As I said above God does all things perfectly but something happened to His perfect creation. Some of the speculation is that Lucifer, trying to exceed God, was thrown out with his minions. Isa 14:12. Eze 28:12<br />
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Something big happened that God seemingly started over.<br />
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So if you are in the sciences and people mock the creation remember the tiny footnote which make it impossible to know the age of the earth.duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-59343799159270703602013-01-10T12:59:00.003-08:002013-01-11T11:17:02.968-08:00Did the Father and His Son have two distinct wills?The vast majority believe that Jesus did have his own distinct will, different from his Father' s.<br />
This appears evident when he went through his trial at the Mount of Olives just before his being crucified.<br />
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<i>Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not enter into temptation. He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, Father, i<b>f you are willing, take this cup</b> <b>from me</b>; yet <b>not my will</b> but thine be done. An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthen him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. </i>Lk.22, 39-44<br />
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Notice first that Jesus exhorts his disciples to pray that they not enter temptation. Jesus always puts others ahead of himself except for the few times when he wanted to be alone with his father.<br />
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Now this appears to be a trial that he perspired to the point of blood falling down to the ground. The intensity of his anguish cannot be underestimated.<br />
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If one hears 100 sermons on this passage 99 are going to state that Jesus' cup was supped by the Lord, and that Christ in his humanity asked the Father in vain to escape this cup..<br />
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Yet this is not true. I have to give credit to Donald Grey Barnhouse who uses the whole of scripture to shed light on this:<br />
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<i> During the days of Jesus' life he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and <b>he was heard</b> because of his reverent submission. </i>Heb 5:7<br />
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According to Hebrews the "cup" must have been some kind of death. We are not talking about the crucifixion in that he obviously went through that death for his elect. Perhaps the thought that made him sweat blood was an eternal death that he saw in his humanness as possible. The thought of being separated from his Father from eternity? I am simply guessing here.<br />
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To reiterate there was never two wills here. Think about the eternal Godhead having more than one will. Imagine His saying no to His Son in "whom HE was well pleased". Of course it was the Father's will to have this feared cup pass from his Son from eternity. What Jesus wanted Jesus received from the Father. How else could it be?<br />
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Anyone who preaches that Christ "sucked it up" and drank the cup is proof texting one verse and is wrong. <br />
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The Father and Son could never have two wills. Thanks to the author of Hebrews we know the whole story.<br />
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<i><br /></i>duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-56635841882784154272013-01-07T13:28:00.003-08:002015-03-15T20:36:20.971-07:00P is for Perseverance of?The reformation's TULIP is for Total Depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace and Perseverance of the saints.<br />
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While going through my father's things years ago I found a little slip of paper with TULIP spelled out.<br />
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What was so exciting the was his description of which I have never read before or after!<br />
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He wrote after "P" "perseverance <b><i>of God in</i></b> the saints.<br />
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This simple addition was so exciting, not only because it was unique but because it is the truth of scripture backing it. .<br />
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Without God guaranteeing our "finishing well" we are on our own to make sure that happens.<br />
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Philippians 2:12:<br />
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"Therefore my dear friends, as you have always obeyed- not only in my presence , but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your out your salvation with fear and trembling, <i>f</i><b><i>or it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." </i></b><br />
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Romans 8:30<br />
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"<i><b>And those he predestined, he also called,those he called, he also justified, he also glorified."</b></i><br />
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I have written about this before-- one is either in the kingdom or not. One is either a Christian or he is not. There are no in between stages.<br />
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Also I Corinthians 3:16, I Corinthians 6:19, Galatians 3:20<br />
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"P" is for Perseverance of God in his saints. We can trust God to have us persevere in our faith!! Now what that may look at we don't know....only God knows.<br />
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duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-80562929325955648322013-01-06T15:01:00.001-08:002013-01-06T15:22:03.593-08:00Because it hasn't happened doesn't mean it won't happenWe human beings have extremely short memories when it comes to epic events. The stock market has had three significant sell offs in three years and yet there is almost complete complacency out there of our having another even as we face "a cliff". Millions live in known flood zones and think that "it won't happen to me". Over and over this occurs.<br />
We can only imagine our forgetfulness of our Lord's return in that it has been nearly two thousand years. We tend to make the illogical mistake that the peers of Noah did which is thinking "because it hasn't happened it won't."<br />
As usual our thinking is backward. Rather we should be saying "Everyday that passes brings us closer to the Lord's return". Most scholars concentrate on the lengthy Matthew 24 when studying the second coming . while Luke 17 is shorter, it has two "signs", absent in Matthew, that will be active before Christ returns.<br />
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The fist sign is that of Noah: " Just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will also be in the days of the Son of Man". Lk 17: 26 One can scour the Scripture about Noah but only one cause is given for the flood....<br />
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"The Lord saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time." The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain." So God destroys everyone save Noah and his family.<br />
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Millennial-ists are those that believe that we Christians will usher in the Millennium through evangelism and our good works.<br />
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NO!! Christ clearly warns us that things will get worse as the time for his return approaches. We will see "wickedness" increase as birth pangs ebb and flow with greater and greater intensity until<i> the</i> birth (his return). (Mt 24:8)<br />
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Do I have to argue that violence is on the increase just as in the time of Noah? We cannot help but be horrified at senseless massacres on a worldwide scale, yet we must expect them in increasing tendency.<br />
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Another Noahic sign was disbelief in the coming flood. Oh how Noah was mocked for building the ark. Again why? Because of the logic that there had never been a flood and thus there never will be one. The idea was preposterous. So Christians that confess the return of Christ are mocked and hated. It is amazing in light of the natural peace of Christianity how we are despised and yet this hatred is is an epidemic around the globe , but not surprising (you will be hated for my names sake) Mt 10:22<br />
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Now for the second sign,- the sign of Lot. Lot chose of his own volition an area to live "Abram lived in the land of Canaan while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord." (Gen. 13:12-13)<br />
Next scene: Lot is at the city gates implying that he was a respected man. Now as I will show, the sins of Sodom was aggressive homosexual sin. Do you think he would have enjoyed his standing if he was speaking up against this sin? Does today's fear of speaking against sexual sin remind you of Lot's attitude? <i>This apprehension by God's elect is a sign of Lot imo.</i><br />
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While Lot is at the city gates two angels (lit messengers) appear to Lot and Lot is adamant that they stay at his home. The next scene is violent. "Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom- both young and old surrounded the house. They called to Lot, Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out so that we can have sex with them" (Gen 19:4-5) This is like is a feeding frenzy for foreign flesh. Active homosexual behavior and it's bold advocacy is a sign of Lot. All sexual activity outside of marriage is forbidden as well. (Acts 15:20)<br />
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The third sign of Lot comes from learning about his wife. It says that as God is providing his family a way of escape from Sodom, the command of God is to not look back. "But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. (Gen 19) When we are in bondage to some evil place or even some substance and God provides a way out, do we look back?<br />
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Lot is a great example of a "worldly Christian". But you may say I doubt he was a believer at all- and yet Peter calls Lot "a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless, 2 Peter 2:15 Again, the question is whether Lot kept all his pains about the wickedness around him to himself. It appears he kept his mouth shut due due to his being respected in Sodom. We all know what would happen to us if we were especially vigilant against the worldwide pro homosexual lobby.<br />
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In conclusion we must not be overcome by the violence getting increasingly worse- nor as the homosexual agenda enjoys official ecclesiastical standing which is absurd in light of scripture. ( Romans 1: 26,27 and 1 Corinthians 6:9 ) "Scholars" tell us that the sin of Sodom was Lot's lack of "hospitality". This is absolutely pathetic statement in light of scripture in order to justify homosexual behavior.<br />
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As we see these signs it adds to our faith because Jesus' warnings are coming to pass in front of our very eyes. Say no to the thoughts that it has been two thousand years so forget about the second coming. In God's timetable it has been only two days! (2 Peter 3:8)<br />
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I should say something about those who struggle with homosexuality; my advice is to live a single celibate life and not to marry. Paul practically begs all people to stay single. (1 Cor 7) Follow his words if you struggle with these urges. The time is near. Christ tells us to take up our cross. Every Christian has a burden from time to time.duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-36459649687839780402012-12-24T13:21:00.001-08:002012-12-24T17:07:50.279-08:00When did Jesus know?<br />
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<b>When did Jesus know?</b><br />
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Have you ever thought about Jesus' first recorded miracle- the turning of water into wine?<br />
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How it seemed Christ was perturbed at his mother's insistence?<br />
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This isn't the only time Christ was weary over performing miracles.<br />
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I have a theory why this was.<br />
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We have all heard of OCD, or obsessive compulsive disorder.<br />
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The hallmark of this disorder is the need for certainty. If we examine the best known OCD, that of hand washing , the desire is to be certain that one's hands are perfectly clean which of course is impossible to know. OCD applies especially to the serpent's promise in Genesis: "you shall know good and evil"<br />
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The cutting edge treatment for OCD is to expose oneself to the bacteria one fears and telling the patient the hard truth that he cannot know that his hands are pure. Reassurance that they are clean is the worst thing to say to and OCD'er.<br />
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What does this have to do with Jesus? Picture Jesus growing up - we DO NOT know what Mary and Joseph told him as a young boy. Rather it says that Mary pondered her knowledge of whom Christ was in her heart.<br />
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We are told that Jesus knew from an early age the Scriptures and argued with the teachers of the Law.<br />
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Yet we simply cannot know when he discovered that he was the Christ child, the Savior of the world.<br />
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In my opinion it was a learning process just as we learn that we are loved by God so Jesus learned who he was strictly through the scriptures. "I was born in Bethlehem of a Virgin, could it be that I am<br />
He? He must have flinched in horror at the reading of Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53.<br />
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But you say, where is the record of his early miracles? There is none, which goes to my theory.<br />
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The act of miracles would confirm to him, OUTSIDE OF FAITH, that he was the messiah. It would be like the OCD patient being told his hands are clean. Jesus had to believe in his being the messiah just as we have to believe in Christ- by his word.<br />
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Thus when Mary pushed Jesus into turning water into wine Jesus did not want the reassurance the miracle would provide. It says Hebrews He was tempted in all things we are...which must include faith and the lack of it.....It's almost like she wanted to brag on him- come on Son, it's time!<br />
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So we too are to rest in God's word, "Therefore since the promise of entering his rest stands be careful that none of you be found let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it" Heb 4:1<br />
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"There remains, then, a sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. " Heb 4:11<br />
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Not that we shouldn't do good works to prove our faith, but rest assured Christ didn't need to do a thing in order to know who he was. Let us rest in the scriptures too when we doubt our being the Children of God because "our hands are dirty".<br />
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"Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those are being tempted" Heb<br />
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The thought I want to leave with you is that ALL of Christ's miracles were done for our lack of faith, certainly not his. In fact says that all of God;s works were done at creation "And on the seventh day God rested from all his works." Heb 4:12<br />
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In the raising of Lazarus "Lazarus is dead and for your sake I am glad I was not there so you may believe Jn10. Just before Lazarus is raised "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I know that thou always hear me. I knew that you always hear me, b<i>ut I say this for the benefit of the people standing here. </i><br />
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Hebrews exhorts us is to enter that rest.<br />
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This next statement may be heretical ..."Jesus did not know he was the Son of God, he had faith he was the Son of God."<br />
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Backing up my premise is when Jesus was in the wilderness and refused to do any signs or wonders. Rather what was his retort? He quoted scripture alone to Satan. Faith springs from believing, not doing. <i>sola fide</i><br />
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But you say Christ had to be certain of his Son-ship and yet the Bible is clear that Jesus voluntarily "emptied himself" of his divine prerogative.......<br />
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Your attitude should be that of Christ Jesus<br />
Who, being in the very nature God., did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on the cross!<br />
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Then we have the real stumbler....when Christ was asked by his disciples...when the end of things would be and he answered that only the Father knew that.<br />
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There is no certainty in this life but we have been given the gift of faith. That's as good as it gets.<br />
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For JOANNE<br />
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<br />duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-47931057023948335212010-12-21T17:56:00.000-08:002010-12-21T17:56:13.152-08:00The Secret to Understanding the New Testament.Big claim. Yet another secret to life. No one told me this, it isn't talked about. As far as I know, there are no books about it or sermons given concerning this secret. It took me to the age of 50 to figure it out. But then it hit me- big. As far as I know it is mine, so I pass it on to you. For being a faithful reader.<br />
Who is the most prolific writer in the NT? It is Luke, the "beloved physician" . A full 27% of the NT. He wrote a two part screenplay, if you will. . What most of us do is read part 1 and try to conclude what part 1 means without having read Part 2. This is ridiculous. Tell me if I am wrong. The secret to understanding any two part screenplay is to read part #2 like a hawk in light of what he has learned in #1. It is the sequel (if it is any good) that informs or should interpret the first part. The first part should leave us a bit baffled and hungry for more. It is the first part that gives us clues and questions on how it is all going to play out. The lead actor in a two part drama cannot be understood completely until the author completes his character at the conclusion. In some dramas there are often large twists that make one totally rethink who the lead really is. Ask yourself this- if you had to take an exam about the meaning of a book would you pick the first half or the latter? Ok, call my bluff- I know nothing about literature and drama. Help someone. <br />
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The two part drama is known as Luke-Acts. Most scholars believe it was one book written by the same author. As you know the Church fathers took the first part, namely Luke and made it the third book in the NT...Matthew, Mark, Luke- known as the Synoptic Gospels. Then they took "The Acts of the Apostles," namely part #2 and had it follow John's Gospel. So the novel was in effect broken up.<br />
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I implore you to put them back together again and read them as a unit, the way Luke intended. <br />
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The Synoptics were always a very difficult read for me. That is because Jesus is often portrayed as a taskmaster who keeps raising the bar of the hearers. You thought the 10 commandments ( Decalogue) were tough? He now says that if you even think of these things you are guilty. It seems that we have to give more and more in order to make it into heaven...our righteousness "must exceed those of the Pharisees" . I would presume that each of us has his or her own frightening stories. It is the Synoptics where hell is introduced by Christ. No wonder I almost always preferred to read John- where one finds forgiveness and atonement and eternal life. <br />
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I have mentioned this before that for the Reformers scripture MUST be separated into law and gospel, for Paul tells us that God gave the commands (or Law) in order for us to sin more! Thus we would stop being self deluded and come to Christ for forgiveness. This is the Reformers "secret" to interpreting the Bible, the separation at all times between law and Gospel. They would say that there is a lot of law in the Synoptics; that is Christ high commands are laid out in order to bring us to him for forgiveness.<br />
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Trying to unify the bible without this separation is impossible. It turns into, "Jesus says this, but over here he says that, and we will lose our minds trying to put together. <br />
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My Luke- Acts "secret" is really a different slant on the Reformers separation between Law and Grace. Luke is often tinged with Law. Christ tells of hell in the "Rich man and Lazarus" and of radical self denial as the path to his kingdom. <br />
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The Acts on the other hand is full of Grace, of Resurrection and how to obtain eternal life. This life is clearly received through faith alone in Christ. As to Law the Jerusalem Church had a big Pawwah about whether or not gentiles had to effectively become Jews in order to follow the Law and than follow Jesus. This proposition was rejected. The council did not want the Gentiles burdened by keeping the Law! The Gentiles had only to believe in Christ. Oh- there were two other bits of advice, and this is humorous- to abstain from meats offered to idols and from sexual immorality. Obviously the first is no problem in today's society- as to the second- how are we doing? <br />
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So I urge everyone when confounded with a parable or story that Christ gives in Luke (or even Matthew or Mark) - Read it in light of Acts- where Luke tells us what Christ must have meant because in his mind there could not have been a contradiction! Right? Either Luke himself holds to a contradictory religion or he sees ALL of it as in harmony. My argument again- is to use the Theology in Acts to understand the theology of the Gospels- in fact one could take it to the limit and say that it is a key book in understanding the entire Bible.<br />
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I will do a rewrite - it is messy- special request to get it out early.duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-68755594390601752192010-11-28T18:41:00.000-08:002010-11-28T18:41:18.702-08:00First BloodBack to the Garden. The first couple fell- and hid. Isn't that what happens on every single cop TV drama? The detective announces who he is and off we go for the obligatory chase scene. It was no different with our foreparents. As soon as they had tasted of the forbidden fruit, they realized their nakedness and sensed that God was after them:<br />
"She also gave to her husband, who was with her and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.<br />
Now there is much too much in here theologically so to keep it short so I am going stay with the advent of the fashion industry. "The fall of man and fashion. " I hope to highlight in my short lessons how exquisite and exact the Hebrew scriptures are as they speak to the human condition- so that one may learn to realize that there really is the divine hand behind them." Gen. 3 <br />
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Now we may infer that with the introduction of sin into the human world that the innocence of the man and the woman was gone for they knew they were naked. I don't want to get sidetracked but feel compelled to comment on how powerfully this rings true in all of our experiences. That no matter how hard we try, and no matter how many voices teach us how natural the naked state is that we know full well, deep down, that something is amiss when it comes to reclaiming this part of our lost innocence. <br />
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The clothing. No doubt Eve picked out wonderful and complimentary fig leave colors and sewed them impeccably for their first outfits.The significance here is that God did not approve:<br />
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"The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them." Gen. 3:21 <br />
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What I am about to explore now is conjecture, but one I believe makes sense in light of all of Scripture.<br />
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I believe it is fair to speculate that the animal that gave his life for their clothing may have been the first blood spilled since the Garden was formed. We know that the Lord God promised that Adam that he would die if he ate of the forbidden fruit. Here, perhaps, is the first death- a sacrifice if you will of an innocent animal to hide the effects of sin of Adam and Eve. Since the first sin we have been hiding from our sin(s), denying our sins with multitudes having shed their blood in wars caused by the fruit of sin. Adam and Eve thought they could get away with fig leaves. There is no death involved in fig leaves! That was the first couples way of "sweeping their sins under the rug" Does it not remind you of the devastation that afflicts an entire family and town when an addict begins with his denials and the family follows suit and enables?<br />
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So God slays an animal. The first blood is spilled. This is the first family lesson that heavy payment will be due to make this thing aright. In a very real sense that animal atoned for their sin. I believe it foretells the righteous covering that Christ provides his children with which costs the very Son of God his own blood. And what is the story of every single religion outside Christianity? TO TAKE FIG LEAVES AND TO COVER YOURSELF. To bring your rags to God one day and say, "Aren't these prettier than the bloody ones"? That is the devils lie- that you can become shameless by the use of your own craftiness and works. Christianity says that blood must be poured for "Without the spilling of blood there is no remission of sins" Heb 9:22. For the Jew the lifeforce is in the blood- it is precious. Think of Jesus' emphasizing his spilled blood of the new testament...<br />
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"But now, a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known, to which the Law and Prophets testify (remember Genesis is part of "the Law", RDG) . This righteousness <i><b>from God </b><b>through faith</b></i> comes in Christ Jesus to all who <i><b>believe</b></i>. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and are <b><i>justified freely by his grace </i></b>through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a <b><i>sacrificice of atonement</i></b>, through faith in his<b><i> blood</i></b>. Rom. 3<br />
Don't rely on what you are wearing, what you are doing. Come properly dressed before God.<br />
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Readings: Hebrews 9duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-78989091377858842022010-11-28T11:47:00.000-08:002010-11-28T17:03:50.994-08:00Do You Fear, Dread, or Hate God? You are in some famous company<div style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;">Before they were "Protestants", two of the most influential Catholics either hated or feared God with all of their being. I'll let you read of their trepidations from their own respective pens:</span></div><div style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;">Martin Luther:</span></div><div style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">Though I lived as a monk without reproach, I felt that I was a sinner before God with an extremely disturbed conscience. I could not believe that he was placated by my satisfaction. I did not love, yes, I <i><b>hated</b></i> the righteous God who punishes sinners, and secretly, if not blasphemously, certainly murmuring greatly, I was<i><b> angry </b></i>with God, and said, "As if, indeed, it is not enough, that miserable sinners, eternally lost through original sin, are crushed by every kind of calamity by the law of the decalogue, without having God add pain to pain by the gospel and also by the gospel threatening us with his righteousness and wrath!" <i><b>Thus I raged</b></i> with a fierce and troubled conscience. Nevertheless, I beat importunately upon Paul at that place, most ardently desiring to know what St. Paul wanted.</span></div><div style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">At last, by the mercy of God, meditating day and night, I gave heed to the context of the words, namely, "In it the righteousness of God is revealed, as it is written, 'He who through faith is righteous shall live.'" There I began to understand that the righteousness of God is that by which the righteous lives by a<i><b> gift of God</b></i>, namely by <i><b>faith</b></i>. And this is the meaning: the righteousness of God is revealed by the gospel, namely, the passive righteousness with which merciful God justifies us by faith, as it is written, "He who through faith is righteous shall live." Here I felt that I was altogether born again and had <i><b>entered paradise </b></i>itself through open gates. There a totally other face of the entire Scripture showed itself to me. Thereupon I ran through the Scripture from memory. I also fount in other terms an analogy, as, the work of God, that is what God does in us, the power of God, with which he makes us wise, the strength of God, the salvation of God, the glory of God.</span></div><div style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">And I extolled my sweetest word with a love as great as the hatred with which I had before hated the word "righteousness of God." Thus that place in Paul was for me truly the gate to paradise. Later I read Augustine's <i>The Spirit and the Letter, </i>where contrary to hope I found that he, too, interpreted God's righteousness in a similar way, as the righteousness with which God clothes us when he justifies us (</span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Augustine passage included below</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">). Although this was heretofore said imperfectly and he did not explain all things concerning imputation clearly, it nevertheless was pleasing that God's righteousness with which we are justified was taught.</span></div><div style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">John Calvin:</span></div><div style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
"O Lord as I had been educated from a boy, always professed the Christian faith. But at first I had no other reason for my faith than that which then everywhere prevailed. Thy Word, which ought to have shone on all thy people like a lamp was taken away, or at least suppressed as to us. And lest anyone should long for greater light, an idea had been instilled into the minds of all, that the investigation of that hidden celestial philosophy was delegated to a few, whom the others might might consult as oracles- that the highest knowledge befitting plebian minds was to subdue themselves into obedience to the Church. Then the rudiments in which I had been instructed were of a kind which could neither properly train me to legitimate worship of the Deity, <i>nor pave the way for me to a sure hope of salvation</i>, nor train me aright for the duties of the Christian life. I had learned, indeed, to worship Thee as my God, but as the true method of worshiping was altogether unknown by me, I stumbled at the very threshold. <i>I believed as I had been taught, that I was redeemed by the death of thy Son from the liability to eternal death, but the redemption was one whose virtue could never reach me. I anticipated a future resurrection, <b>but hated the thought of it, </b>as being an </i><i>event most dreadful</i>. And this feeling not only had dominion over me in private, but was derived from the doctrine which was then uniformly delivered to the people by their Christian teachers. They, indeed, preached clemency towards men, </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>but confined it t</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b> those who should show themselve</b>s <b>deserving of it</b></i>. They, moreover, place this desert in the righteousness of works, so that he only was received into thy favor to Thee by works....When, however I had performed all of these things, though I had some intervals of quiet,<i> I was still far off from true peace of conscience; for whenever I descended into myself, or raised my mind to thee, <b>extreme terror seized me</b>- terror which <b>no</b> expiations nor satisfactions could cure. "</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is a very good thing to be in the place where one is terrified of God and his judgment. First, it implies that one believes there is a god with "whom we have to do." Secondly it means that the Word of God is doing it's first job- which is to bring everyone into dismay over his or her own condition. This is the most emotionally painful place one can ever be - to believe that God's perfection and justice hangs over him like a hammer. There is not a moments rest in that place. Now what Luther and Calvin discovered is the key to any Reformed teaching and that is that ALL of the commands of God are there to lead us to Christ. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">This is where we find the love of God, when we realize that His "rules" are there as a set-up to bring us to Christ for forgiveness. "The Law (of Moses) was added so that trespasses might increase." (Rom.6:20) The Church at the time had replaced God's plan of offering Christ's free forgiveness to those of heavy mind with even more rules and "merited grace" -an oxymoron of the highest order, and a term still used today. They wanted to control any grace that was being handed out- hence the indulgences and other means of winning approval of the official Church. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><hr align="LEFT" /></span></div><div style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">How could anyone not fear and hate a God that provided a bar too high with no relief offered. Once Luther and Calvin, after being released from their horrific bondage by discovering Christ's forgiveness in the word was total and free could not stop themselves from changing the world. Say no to the bondage instituted by men and claim the freedom offered in Christ...."It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened by a yoke of slavery." Gal. 5 </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><hr align="LEFT" /></span></div><div style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">More Reading= All of Romans and Galatians....!!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><hr align="LEFT" /></span></div><div style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br />
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</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><hr align="LEFT" /></span></div>duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-82578357641711315542010-11-20T10:57:00.000-08:002013-01-07T11:20:59.401-08:00IF God is good and all powerful why does he allow death and suffering?Well, someone had to take it on. The most sincerely and insincerely asked theological question of all time. Here goes.<br />
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There are a lot questions about the afterlife, namely, what will heaven be like? The scriptures give us some clues but when measured against the fact that Christianity is about the promise of life eternal with God there is very little to go on. One might think that there would be chapters written on the specifics of heaven. My point here is that God decided to tell us tidbits in light of the absolute and overwhelming beauty heaven must entail. What we can be assured of is it is a place and Christians will be going there because he said so. He has given us his word.<br />
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Before the Fall, God planted a garden in Eden; where he formed many trees, trees which that "were pleasing to the eye and good for food." Among the trees was one called "the Tree of Life" and one termed the "Tree of Good and Evil" . God said "You are free to eat from every tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." We all know that Eve and Adam each partook of the fruit from the tree of good and evil. <br />
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Now I am going to skip over a ton of details and theology to get to my point, which is that God keeps his Word. At the moment they partook they began the process of death. Before the Fall, it appears that Adam was a vegetarian and that there is no mention of the death of anything, so when God told Adam he would die if he disobeyed we do not know what Adam understood by that. Did God have a sit down with Adam to explain the foreign concept of death? We do not know. We do know that no human being had ever died before. God laid down the law, Adam broke it and God kept his word as he always does. So all of today's free will advocates that believe all choices are in your hands and that what you do affects the order of the universe here is your verse. Adam had free will, used it, and brought death and destruction and suffering into the world. Isn't free will the greatest?<br />
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So this is why God allows death and destruction in the world, because he is a God of his word and allowed the ramifications of Adam's choice to enter the world. He did not violate Adam's free will. He did not give a day and an hour when death would end on this earth, and so it goes on. In a sense we got what we asked for. To this day we demand free will because after all God doesn't want a bunch of robots does he? What about our free will then? You see Adam's choice killed our free will because we became spiritually dead and enslaved to the serpent now that we knew good and evil. That is what sin does- it begins a chain reaction of pain destruction in it's path. It was within a short time that murder in the first family erupted after all. ..So you see "we" , as human beings, had free will but lost it with the bite of the fruit when sin entered our race and we began to die. Paul says clearly that before God made us alive in Christ we were slaves to sin, and slaves do not have free will: "...the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, <b><i>nor can it do so.</i></b> Rom. 8:7<br />
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So just as God didn't tell us much about heaven in scripture and yet we trust it will be more than we can hope for, so he told Adam little about death and let him experience the results of his actions which I am certain was more than he could have ever imagined. And so God has let the course of human beings run until that day when he enters our world and conquers once and for all the ramifications of our collective, fallen, choices .<br />
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Unless you have a high view of the fall as outlined in Genesis, namely that it actually happened, you will always be at a loss to understand the horrors and sadness of this world. But if you trust this is what happened that God allowed ramifications of Adam's free will to reign - than it begins to make sense. <br />
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Immediately after the Fall, God comforts the first couple with the promise of the one that will come from her seed that will destroy the head of the serpent whilst suffering an injury to his heal. How exquisite in love and detail. We know now that the Romans did not nail the foot of the criminal to the cross but rather the heel. (Gen 3:15). God cursed the Serpent but blessed our parents with the promise of one that would make it all right again:<br />
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"For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ." Rom. 5:17duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-58432712980295183182010-11-13T19:01:00.000-08:002010-11-13T19:08:58.392-08:00Please Read the VerdictForget about the Bible for a minute. Maybe you get hung up on the idea of it's contents being divinely inspired and you can't get pass that. Your professors have told you that a vast majority of the Gospel accounts are "unreliable" and you just don't know anymore what to believe about the historicity of Christianity. <br />
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Let's pretend for a moment.<br />
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Let's imagine that you turned on the news and there is a huge story about a document discovered , dated 56 A.D, signed by a "Paul". In it he describes his background involving his having been a Pharisee at the time of Christ . He tells of his problem- a very large one, concerning a group of 500 people that have claimed to have seen Jesus Christ after his crucifixion "at the same time". It has been about two decades and of the original 500 witnesses a majority are still alive, along with the disciples and the brother of Jesus, namely James, a post crucifixion conversion so powerful that he was head of the Jerusalem Church. Earlier on in his life Paul, known then as Saul of Tarsus, had actually persecuted to the point of death some of these very witnesses. While persecuting early Christ believers Saul had had his own seemingly fantastical conversion with the resurrected Christ "on the road to Damascus". He is writing then this newly discovered text as a Christian. <br />
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Back to Paul's problem- It appears that Paul has to make a choice as he presses on with his spreading of the good news of the great liberation- of the coming resurrection. If he is wrong about one historical fact that happened in space in time (or had not) then he, Paul would have to face God as a blasphemer that had led many to a false Messiah and God. He had had his own experience, he had had much fellowship with Christ's own disciples and he had the remaining eyewitnesses of the original 500 who were adamant what they saw. Paul after all had been a devout Pharisee and Pharisees believed in the afterlife and the judgment of God. So yes, if this whole thing had been an outright lie or mass hysteria Paul had a whole lot of explaining to do before God. <br />
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Paul makes his choice, the same as always as he lays out the risk reward he is taking- the economics of his gamble.<br />
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If this text were discovered tomorrow and there was consensus of Biblical scholars of it's authenticity it would surely be proclaimed as the greatest Christian discovery of all time. Well it has been with us nearly 20 centuries, it is deemed authentic by the most skeptical biblical scholars and it is indisputably written by Paul. Did your professor mention that? It is commonly called the First Letter to the Corinthians and I have referred to chapter 15.<br />
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The question facing Paul should face every thinking man woman and in the world. If I may be so bold, this account has nothing to do with inspiration but rather cold hard facts. It is historical. Maybe you have rejected Christ by definite decision or by decision by indecision. Maybe you are a Christian but when you are doubting you could use a little more knowledge or facts in your arsenal. Well then I urge you to look at this chapter as an "extra biblical source" of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. <br />
So Paul puts this proposition out there. He puts us all in the jury box and asks us to consider "reasonable doubt". The judge has allowed the evidence as authentic, in fact the prosecutors didn't even object. Imagine yourself in the jury room and someone says there is no way this resurrection thing happened, it is "impossible" . What would you think? When I heard such evidence I knew myself well enough to admit I was done for as far as trying to dispel it in my mind. That is, I knew I would just come back over and over to this story so why bother with waiting? It had what is often called "the ring of truth." What a world opens up that will allow for the possibility that God brings his own back to life - to live forever in his presence. No wonder these witnesses changed the world. <br />
Like an unsolved mystery the evidence may have been in front of us the whole time, it just got buried and may just need new eyes to see the truth . Tonight, before bed, give Chapter 15 a read. Be forewarned, it may keep you awake- forever.duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-53549345974584136232010-11-07T18:21:00.000-08:002010-11-07T18:21:16.560-08:00Why God forgivesOur cable company does something very clever and equally annoying. Every time we turn on the box it defaults back to channel 9 which is their very own local news channel. It is a battle for me to dive for the remote and at least mute this station before I hear the obligatory horrific "news" of the half hour. If anyone needs proof of the reformed tenet known as Total Depravity just turn this channel on for ten minutes. Case closed. The crimes against humanity remain the same while the mug shots of the perps change slightly day to day. Why the child abuse, arsons and crack busts are considered news- when nothing they show is "new" is beyond me.<br />
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It is at the point that I am angered by their insistence to show this sadness 24/7. WE GET IT. The world is a very sad and nasty place. Enough. It is as though they get pleasure out of showing all of the muck. <br />
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This is why God forgives sins. He has said ENOUGH. But we protest that it is because of his love for us, that is, it is about us. No, it is about God. If we as sinners say enough with the ugliness, imagine what the perfect God must think about it. <br />
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Isaiah 43:<br />
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I have not burdened you with grain offerings<br />
nor wearied you with demands for incense<br />
You have not bought any fragrant calumus for me,<br />
or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices.<br />
But <i>you</i> have<i> burdened me</i> with <i>your offenses</i>,<br />
<i>I, even I, am he who blots out</i><br />
your transgressions for<i> my own sake, </i>and <i>remembers your sins no more.</i><br />
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Here we find that God is sick of our sins, they are a burden for him. It is clear in this passage that he blots them out- but for his own sake. He has had enough. <br />
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This follows the pattern that we have been noticing- that God acts on his own for his own reasons and for his own glory. But because of his purity, and subsequent internal demand to annihilate sin we all benefit. This is where we as believers can be bold in our profession of faith. Our witness is not to be one of many tremblings and murmuring "maybe God will forgive me some day" but rather the proclamation that God no longer remembers our sins!! This is the Gospel, the happy news we are to hold onto and to share. Christians are often reluctant to share the Gospel, imo because it has gotten to be a complicated formula of bringing the incense and tithes to him first and to help him forgive us by our doing something. But in this passage he is past all of that. He says forget about it- we couldn't even get that right.<br />
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He does it all.duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-6058192470195489662010-11-06T09:40:00.000-07:002014-09-30T13:57:05.992-07:00How Did I End Up Here part IIYou are an agnostic, or a searcher of truth. You believe that through good or bad luck or random choices you have ended up in the spot you find yourself in.<br />
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The most relevant story I can point you to is that of Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar's dream. Here Nebuchadnezzar has to learn the same truth that each of us must learn..that life is not random because God is Sovereign. In the great drama of life it is God who exalts one man and brings another down. <br />
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I follow politics and one thing that has always intrigued me is how some of the dullest most benign individuals can reach a high office while other more charismatic candidates go nowhere. It is inexplicable to me. But then, I have not written this drama called life.<br />
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Nebuchadnezzar had his dream and Daniel had interpreted it. Nevertheless he goes on his merry way full of confidence and power.<br />
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Daniel Chapter 5: <br />
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"All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" The words were still on his lips when a voice came down from heaven, "This is what is decreed for you King Nebuchennezzar; Your royal authority has been taken from you, you will be driven away from the people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes." Immediately what had been said about Nebuchenezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from the people and ate grass like the cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. At the end of that time, I, Nebuchennezar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored, then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him, who lives forever. ......all the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him""What have you done?"...because everything he does is right and everyone who walks in pride he is able to humble."<br />
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Nebuchadnezzar . believed that he was responsible for his own glory- that through his wise choices he had reached the pinnacle of success, that he was his own god. His proclamation is the kiss of death. When he made his bold pronouncement of his "self actualization" he immediately fell into what seems to me to be some kind of psychotic or schizophrenic period. Compare this to Christ who while equal with God, nevertheless submitted himself to life as a man and was obedient and humble to God the Father, even submitting to cross.<br />
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Sanity is defined here. It is the acceptance that God is in total control of the universe and the details of our lives. Insanity is the belief that we shape our own destiny. To become a Christian means first becoming sane- to accept the fact that a loving God is in control and to obtain a foundational peace from this fact. "Because everything he does is right...." Everything!duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-71980923282671117982010-10-31T17:58:00.000-07:002010-10-31T18:04:55.797-07:00How did I end up here? Part IThere is a common feeling that when things are going really really well than 'look out below' - something bad is about to happen. Most Christians will scoff and call this a superstition or lack of faith. Actually it is a Biblical concept- for believers and non Christians alike. Today I should like to offer the Christian some insight to this pattern and in my next posting will attempt to shed some light for "searchers" that find themselves in an unknown place.<br />
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Mark I<br />
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<i>"And it came about in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him; and a voice came out of the heavens: "Thou art my beloved Son, in Thee am I well pleased." And immediately the Spirit impelled him to go out into the wilderness, And he was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to him. "</i><br />
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The assumption for many Christians that Jesus always knew his relationship with the Father and the fact that he was the Messiah even at Mary's breast. Yet we know that in certain instances and categories Jesus chose voluntarily NOT to know certain things, as in the day and hour of his return. Of course that is used as fodder by some: "See he is not God"!! The other extreme has Jesus stumbling into Jerusalem having no clue that the cross awaited him in direct contradiction to the Gospel accounts of his often cited predictions of his impending death. The truth is clearly taught that Christ is the God-man and what balance of knowledge he chose to have revealed was between the Son of Man and his Father. I have surmised that he often left a little off the table in order to walk by faith so it could be written in Hebrews 4: "<i>For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are- yet was without sin."</i><br />
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Jesus gets the public and miraculous confession of his Sonship at his baptism by John. Talk about things going well...but notice the speed in which the Holy Spirit acts to bring Jesus to his next destination- just as in his coming out of the water brought joy "immediately" so Jesus is led to his place of trial "immediately" . I may stray off the reservation a bit here but this is the way I see it unfolding- Jesus, coming to understand who he really was has an outward sign that confirms his self discovery. Jesus never seeks any declaration by word from his Father or deeds that he performs to affirm who he is to himself. In fact he seems to prefer not to have signs but rather lives by faith that he is in fact the son of God, based on the Word of God. He is often the reluctant miracle worker. Remember his attitude when being asked by Mary to turn the water into wine! In the desert he will get his chance to prove his faith- this walking by faith and not sight that he asks us to do. . Here the devil challenges Jesus to prove to himself that in his desperate circumstances of living a 40 day nightmare he is in fact the Messiah. Satan knows FULL WELL who Jesus is. "IF you are the Son of God then turn this stone into bread.. " and Jesus responds that he must live only "by the Word of God",, i.e., by faith. His self knowledge must finally be based on what the Word has to say about the Redeemer. <br />
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So we must not be surprised that at the very moment we may have had that moment and sign of clarity from God, that yes, this Christian business really is true, that we are soon swept away by God the Holy Spirit into a place of darkness where the only thing we have to cling to is a string of faith. It may be that any of us in this situation should do a personal inventory to decide if our trial is one of being disciplined by our loving Father or is to test our faith- so that we may grow in our knowledge of His utter dependability and steadfast love irrespective of what we may or may have not done. That as Paul, having experienced "the third heaven" may be knocked down a notch from some glorious insight back to the dirt of this earth and the endless thorns in our sides.<br />
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As you see friends and loved ones go from spiritual highs to lows it is not our job to act the part of one of Jobs foolish friends and advisers but rather comfort the afflicted and confused. It is our duty to confess that only thing we are certain of is that God is good and his love is not dependent on where we are on the road- whether it seems spiritually high or low. <br />
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How did I end up here? It is God's plan that I be here.duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2859131826857051653.post-71234532424058365032010-10-24T16:35:00.000-07:002010-10-24T21:37:43.863-07:00Would you like to amaze the Son of God?"Amazed" is a strong verb. It is defined as "To affect with great wonder, to astonish" . Using the concordance one will see a multitude of its usage in the Gospels as an apt word to describe how one felt as a witness to the miracles and power of Christ.<br />
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And yet there is one passage that describes the Son of God as being filled with great wonder at a soldier in the Roman army. What a legacy to leave - that the one who raised the dead and turned water into wine would be astonished at the words of a Roman officer, one who had never even met Jesus. <br />
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You probably know the story- A God fearing Roman Centurion has a very ill servant for whom he cares greatly. He has heard of Jesus and presumably had learned of his ability to heal the sick: Luke 7<br />
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<i>When they came to Jesus they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed." For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one. 'Go,' and he goes; and that one. 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant , 'Do this,' and he does it."</i><br />
<i>When Jesus heard this, he was <b>amazed</b> at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said,: I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.</i><br />
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What this Centurion understood and believed meant so much to Jesus that he turned to bellow it out to the crowd following him- as if to say, "You want to be a follower of mine, you want to be a believer in me? "Then understand as this Gentile understands. "<br />
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And so it follows, that if we would want the Son of God to be amazed with us individually and as a body we must believe and confess Jesus Christ's authority over all the elements and principalities that he himself created. That God is God and we are not. That although he is not here to physically touch or to speak to us it does not in one iota effect his ability to affect every detail and needs of our perspective lives. That our desires and hurts are his concern and no occurrence in life is random. Because as the Centurion understood, he is the Lord of the Universe and under him he has power and control over all his creation.<br />
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In an episode that presumably took less than an hour from start to finish, this Centurion had "showed up" all of those that "knew" and had followed and had touched the Son of God. This story is in stark contrast to the panicking disciples in the sinking boat- his own hand picked followers.<br />
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And so we must be careful on how we use terms like "our walk with Jesus" and "discipleship training" when what most glorifies him is the spontaneous faith of the Centurion, who had never met nor touched the living Lord, but nevertheless believed in Him. <br />
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"...blessed are those that have not seen and yet have believed."<br />
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"Let us come boldly then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in the time of need.'duff gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11326154076874371975noreply@blogger.com1