The Christian's clarion call to the world is 'Accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior'. The word accept means: To take or receive with approval or favor, to agree or to consent to. You will come to see that the use of the word 'accept' has become the basis of misunderstanding of how salvation really works.
Most Chrisitians have the following viewpoint of God:
God sent his son, Jesus, with a message that if the world would receive it they would be saved from destruction. All day long God has his arms stretched out longing for people to respond favorably to this message of life.
The greatest problem with this line of thought is that the responsibility is placed on the unbeliever, and all he need do is ACCEPT Jesus and he will be saved. This is nonsense, because the scriptures paint a very different picture of salvation. Consider:
Acts 13:48
When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many AS HAD BEEN APPOINTED to eternal life believed.
The word 'accept' denotes a choice of the accepter. If you ask me to accept something that must mean that I have a choice in the matter. But is salvation a CHOICE?
John 1:12-13
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
John tells us here that those who come to God DO NOT do so by THEIR OWN will but by THE WILL OF GOD. In order to continue on to understanding you must come to see this verse as a GOVERNING principle when dealing with salvation. We are born of God NOT BY OUR WILL but BECAUSE of God's will. We see this again in Galatians:
Galatians 1:4
...who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the WILL OF OUR GOD and Father,
Again, acceptance denotes the will of the accepter. But salvation is not based on our choice. Consider
Ephesians 1:4-5
...just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
Here we see God doing the choosing AND the predestination. The problem is that when most Christians read this they assume that God does this by his foreknowledge. This is ridiculous because we just read in John where it states that salvation is based on an act of the will of God.
Ephesians 1:11
...also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,
Again this act of predestination was ACCORDING to his PURPOSE. Just as a side bar let me try and explain predestination. God wants to build a fence so he FIRST makes a hammer. When the time comes when the job requires the use of a hammer he selects that hammer. The hammer DOES NOT accept him. The hammer was MADE FOR THIS PURPOSE. Consider:
2 Timothy 1:9
...who did save us, and did call with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, that was given to us in Christ Jesus, before the times of the ages,
Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
What were the tools used to BRING us to God? Grace and faith, consider:
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
Acceptance? Not hardly! The grace was GOD's and the faith used was GOD's gift.
Colossians 3:12
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
Again the choice was God's.
Listen to Paul's description of his salvation:
Galatians 1:15-16
But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles...
Look at this; God set him apart, God called him through his grace, WHEN IT PLEASED GOD he revealed his son in him. Wow this is amazing. NONE of these things that established the salvation of Paul had ANYTHING to do with him but EVERYTHING to do with God.
1 Thessalonians 1:4
...knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;
God's choice and NOT your acceptance.
2 Thessalonians 2:13
But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
This verse again shows that our salvation is BASED NOT ON the foreknowledge of God but the CHOICE OF GOD. So we must conclude that salvation is NOT based on our ACCEPTANCE but on GOD's choice.
What about whosoever believeth?
Let us look at the most famous verse of the entire bible:
John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Ahhhhhh you say does not this verse denote us choosing and accepting God. Nahhhhhhh it doesn't. There are several 'whosoever believeth' verses throughout the New Testament but does that tell us HOW we are saved or does it allow us to IDENTIFY who is being saved? When we see the phrase 'whoever believes' this is an identification, because we see that belief comes about by faith and we saw earlier that the FAITH THROUGH WHICH WE BELEIEVE IS OF GOD. This therefore is a way of DETERMINING who is born of God. It is like having a bunch of fruit trees in your yard and not knowing which of them is a Mango tree. So I come to you and say 'the tree that produces a mango fruit is a mango tree'. In the same way whosoever believes IS born of God
So do we ACCEPT God into our lives? No, but he CHOOSES us into his. The fallacy that we 'accept Jesus' bears exposing because Christians the world over harbor the SILLY notion that unbelievers RESIST God. We are born of God BY HIS WILL and NO ONE can resist his will.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Why do CHRISTIANS sin?
How is it that Christians continue to sin? Aren't we suppose to be different from those in the world who can't help themselves? Is it even possible to stop sinning? God understands doesn't he? After all I am only human, a sinner saved by grace, right?These questions are all applicable to the body of Christ. I have, as I am sure you have, wrestled with the reality of sin. This post will address these issues and shed light on the road to our maturity.
What do you understand by the terms 'Saved', and 'Born of God'? Most Christians would not see ANY difference between the two, and in fact they would have no problem with using these terms interchangeably. They would be wrong, because these two concepts are completely different.
Are you saved?
Christians use this opening line when 'witnessing' their faith to an unbeliever. It too represents a way of gauging the individuals current spiritual state. But does it really? The word 'saved' is listed over 50 times in the King James Version of the New Testament. The problem is that to our understanding the word 'saved' is an event. This simple misconception of the term has led us to believe that a person can be 'saved' in an instant. But is this true? Consider Jesus' use of this term:
Matthew 10:22
You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
Matthew 24:13
But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
These two instances where Jesus uses the word 'saved' denote a PROCESS and not an event. This is confirmed by the Apostles' use of the word. Consider:
Luke 13:23
And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are BEING saved?”
Acts 2:47b
...and the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
1 Corinthians 1:18
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
2 Corinthians 2:15
For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;
It is clear that the word used here represents a process. But a process of what? The word translated 'saved' in these instances means to 'make whole, to heal and to make well'. This helps our understanding, because it causes us to to see that 'being saved' is the process whereby God makes us whole by healing us and making us well. So to the question 'Are you saved' the more accurate answer from a Christian is 'No, but I am BEING saved'.
So what does it mean to be Born of God?
This is where we have an instantaneous event. Consider:
John 1:12-13
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who WERE born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
1 Peter 1:23
...for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.
1 John 3:9
No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
1 John 5:1
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.
1 John 5:4
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world —our faith.
It is clear from the use of the words 'were born', 'have been born' and 'is born' that to be 'Born of God' happens immediately. The correlation that exist between 'born of God' and 'being saved' is that ONE INITIATES THE PROCESS OF THE OTHER. When one is born of God you automatically begin the process of being saved.
Consider Babies.
God used the analogy of birth because it aids us in our understanding of this process. Being born of God is not unlike being born a natural baby. What separates a baby from an adult? You may answer, time of course. Not really, what separates a baby from adulthood is IGNORANCE. Adults can talk but babies cannot because of ignorance. Adults can understand but babies cannot because of ignorance. Adults can walk but babies cannot because of ignorance. Does a baby have a tongue, yes they do but they are ignorant of speech. Do they have feet, yes they do but their leg muscles are ignorant of how to get them to move properly. Growth in the life of a baby is in effect the SHEDDING OF IGNORANCE. Consider:
2 Corinthians 2:11
...so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
1 Timothy 1:13
...even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;
1 Peter 1:14
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,
As a baby struggles with ignorance to mature we too as Christians born of God must overcome ignorance (which is the process of being saved ). Like the baby you too have all the capacity to overcome ignorance by the very fact that you were born. But where is this ignorance? Consider:
James 1:14
14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
This 'each one' is not just talking about sinners but EACH ONE. This is the condition of every man. Being born of God DOES NOT remove the lusts from your heart, but rather it is the 'being saved' process that does this. Therefore EACH human, Christian or not, has resident in them lusts. These lusts are different form individual to individual and their combinations are as varied as humans are. One may have lusts toward peadophilia, and murder. Another may have lust to fornication and hateful speech. Regardless of the orientation what is common is that all have these lusts. What makes the person born of God unique is this; they have the capacity through the initiation of the 'being saved' process to overcome these lusts. So why do Christians sin?
James 1:14-15
But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
Here is the process of the development of sin. From this we learn that Christians sin because of their connection with their OWN lusts. The work of God in our lives during the BEING SAVED process is to sever the ties between 'us and the lusts'. This is where Satan is so important. Since God does not tempt anyone to sin he sends Satan to do this. As we renew our minds through the word of God this powerful link between 'us and the lusts' becomes weaker and weaker.
Most Christians see sin as an ever present reality and they do not believe that they are even able to overcome it. But what does God tell us:
Romans 6:11-12
Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,
Paul says consider yourself dead to sin. This is important because the 'being saved' process is suppose to bring about the first death to the Christian. For us the first death we experience is death to sin, and it simply means that we NO LONGER RESPOND TO THE IMPULSES OF SIN.
Many Christians mark the beginning of their experience with some prayer they repeated way back when. This is flawed. How de we KNOW that we have been born of God and have begun the being saved process?
1 John 2:3-6
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
1 John 3:9
No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
These two passages declare to us how we can KNOW that we have entered the process of sanctification:
Do you keep the WORDS of Jesus?
Do you walk in WAYS of Jesus?
Do you continue in or practice sin?
These three questions are the acid test of our faith. Overcoming sin is no pie in the sky state but a REQUIREMENT from God, because it is at this point that we become HOLY UNTO THE LORD. In fact the being saved process has an end result and that is holiness, and holiness is essential because:
Hebrews 12:14
...without holiness no one will see the Lord.
This is why we are told to PERFECT holiness:
2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
The end result of the entire process of being born of God to being saved to holiness is this:
Ephesians 4:13b
... to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Therefore I encourage you:
Colossians 1:10
...so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
ARE YOU MEASURING UP?
What do you understand by the terms 'Saved', and 'Born of God'? Most Christians would not see ANY difference between the two, and in fact they would have no problem with using these terms interchangeably. They would be wrong, because these two concepts are completely different.
Are you saved?
Christians use this opening line when 'witnessing' their faith to an unbeliever. It too represents a way of gauging the individuals current spiritual state. But does it really? The word 'saved' is listed over 50 times in the King James Version of the New Testament. The problem is that to our understanding the word 'saved' is an event. This simple misconception of the term has led us to believe that a person can be 'saved' in an instant. But is this true? Consider Jesus' use of this term:
Matthew 10:22
You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
Matthew 24:13
But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
These two instances where Jesus uses the word 'saved' denote a PROCESS and not an event. This is confirmed by the Apostles' use of the word. Consider:
Luke 13:23
And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are BEING saved?”
Acts 2:47b
...and the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
1 Corinthians 1:18
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
2 Corinthians 2:15
For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;
It is clear that the word used here represents a process. But a process of what? The word translated 'saved' in these instances means to 'make whole, to heal and to make well'. This helps our understanding, because it causes us to to see that 'being saved' is the process whereby God makes us whole by healing us and making us well. So to the question 'Are you saved' the more accurate answer from a Christian is 'No, but I am BEING saved'.
So what does it mean to be Born of God?
This is where we have an instantaneous event. Consider:
John 1:12-13
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who WERE born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
1 Peter 1:23
...for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.
1 John 3:9
No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
1 John 5:1
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.
1 John 5:4
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world —our faith.
It is clear from the use of the words 'were born', 'have been born' and 'is born' that to be 'Born of God' happens immediately. The correlation that exist between 'born of God' and 'being saved' is that ONE INITIATES THE PROCESS OF THE OTHER. When one is born of God you automatically begin the process of being saved.
Consider Babies.
God used the analogy of birth because it aids us in our understanding of this process. Being born of God is not unlike being born a natural baby. What separates a baby from an adult? You may answer, time of course. Not really, what separates a baby from adulthood is IGNORANCE. Adults can talk but babies cannot because of ignorance. Adults can understand but babies cannot because of ignorance. Adults can walk but babies cannot because of ignorance. Does a baby have a tongue, yes they do but they are ignorant of speech. Do they have feet, yes they do but their leg muscles are ignorant of how to get them to move properly. Growth in the life of a baby is in effect the SHEDDING OF IGNORANCE. Consider:
2 Corinthians 2:11
...so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
1 Timothy 1:13
...even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;
1 Peter 1:14
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,
As a baby struggles with ignorance to mature we too as Christians born of God must overcome ignorance (which is the process of being saved ). Like the baby you too have all the capacity to overcome ignorance by the very fact that you were born. But where is this ignorance? Consider:
James 1:14
14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
This 'each one' is not just talking about sinners but EACH ONE. This is the condition of every man. Being born of God DOES NOT remove the lusts from your heart, but rather it is the 'being saved' process that does this. Therefore EACH human, Christian or not, has resident in them lusts. These lusts are different form individual to individual and their combinations are as varied as humans are. One may have lusts toward peadophilia, and murder. Another may have lust to fornication and hateful speech. Regardless of the orientation what is common is that all have these lusts. What makes the person born of God unique is this; they have the capacity through the initiation of the 'being saved' process to overcome these lusts. So why do Christians sin?
James 1:14-15
But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
Here is the process of the development of sin. From this we learn that Christians sin because of their connection with their OWN lusts. The work of God in our lives during the BEING SAVED process is to sever the ties between 'us and the lusts'. This is where Satan is so important. Since God does not tempt anyone to sin he sends Satan to do this. As we renew our minds through the word of God this powerful link between 'us and the lusts' becomes weaker and weaker.
Most Christians see sin as an ever present reality and they do not believe that they are even able to overcome it. But what does God tell us:
Romans 6:11-12
Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,
Paul says consider yourself dead to sin. This is important because the 'being saved' process is suppose to bring about the first death to the Christian. For us the first death we experience is death to sin, and it simply means that we NO LONGER RESPOND TO THE IMPULSES OF SIN.
Many Christians mark the beginning of their experience with some prayer they repeated way back when. This is flawed. How de we KNOW that we have been born of God and have begun the being saved process?
1 John 2:3-6
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
1 John 3:9
No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
These two passages declare to us how we can KNOW that we have entered the process of sanctification:
Do you keep the WORDS of Jesus?
Do you walk in WAYS of Jesus?
Do you continue in or practice sin?
These three questions are the acid test of our faith. Overcoming sin is no pie in the sky state but a REQUIREMENT from God, because it is at this point that we become HOLY UNTO THE LORD. In fact the being saved process has an end result and that is holiness, and holiness is essential because:
Hebrews 12:14
...without holiness no one will see the Lord.
This is why we are told to PERFECT holiness:
2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
The end result of the entire process of being born of God to being saved to holiness is this:
Ephesians 4:13b
... to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Therefore I encourage you:
Colossians 1:10
...so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
ARE YOU MEASURING UP?
Monday, October 17, 2011
Knowing God
I have debunked the biblical use of the word 'eternal' in my post 'The Myth of Eternal'. There I proved that the use of this word in most English versions DISTORTS the truth of the scriptures. In fact using the word 'eternal' has robbed us of the truth, in that, it has led us to a critical misunderstanding of a fundamental concept throughout the bible. If I were to ask MOST Christians the question 'What is eternal life' they may answer, 'living with Jesus in complete bliss forever in heaven'. The reason why they would answer this way is because of the word 'eternal'. By the way that answer, or ANY variation of it, is COMPLETELY wrong.
I proved that the word 'eternal' in the Greek scriptures is translated from the word AION which DOES NOT MEAN eternal but an indefinite period of time that has a beginning and an end. Since this is so we can see that the scriptures hold no promise of eternal life but 'AGE-ABIDING life. What does this have to do with the original question? Everything, because 'ETERNAL' life has NOTHING to do with time! So what would be the correct answer to the question 'What is eternal life'. Consider:
John 17:3
3 This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
Jesus gives us the answer. 'ETERNAL' life is not about living forever but about knowing GOD. It is because of the error of 'eternal' that we have lost out on the most overarching promise of Jesus. The word eternal here is the word AION; so it actually renders this verse:
John 17:3
3 and this is the life age- during, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and him whom Thou didst send -- Jesus Christ;
Now this is where we have something beautiful. We have Jesus DEFINING a concept that is used by him and the apostles throughout the New Testament. What's is the definition of 'ETERNAL' (Age-Long) life?
Eternal life is the process whereby one comes to know the TRUE God and Jesus Christ.
I ask you, does Jesus' definition of this life have ANYTHING to do with time?
Now that we have a true definition of the conept of the life that Jesus was describing throughout his ministry we can now get a better understanding of the scriptures. Whenever we see in a typical bible translation the words 'Eternal Life' we can substitute it for phrase 'knowing the true God and his son Jesus'. Let us see:
John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have 'KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUE GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST'.
Mark 10:30
30 but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, 'KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUE GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST'.
Acts 13:48
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to 'COMING INTO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUE GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST' believed.
Romans 6:22-23
22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUE GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is KNOWING THE TRUE GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST in Christ Jesus our Lord.
To some this may be a disappointment because it has nothing to do with getting wings and eating heavenly grapes. What I am saying sounds a whole lot like school! You mean to tell me that I am going through all this trouble on earth to die and go back to school! Give me back my grapes.
When you understand the concept of the life that Jesus promised us you come to realize that this knowledge actually does something to you. Consider:
2 Peter 1:2-4
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
From these verses we see that through this knowledge of God we will:
Have grace and peace multiplied to us
Have everything pertaining to life and godliness
Have precious and magnificent promises
Be partakers in the divine nature
The process of knowing God begins right now in this age, but it is not fulfilled in this age, consider:
1 Corinthians 13:12
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
When we enter the next age it is then that we would be able to come into the full knowledge of God.
So what will this knowledge of God create in us?
...seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature
This true knowledge cause us to be able to share in, become a partner with, the divine nature.
1 John 3:2
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
2 Corinthians 3:18
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
We will come to know fully his Love, wisdom, power, goodness, faithfulness.
Another aspect often overlooked in knowing God is that sin was an essential element in our coming to know him in his fulness. Adam's sin was ESSENTIAL in that it brought man to a state where he could some day completely know God. Sin, essential? Yes, because without sin how could we EVER have come to know the MERCY of God. What is mercy? Consider:
Psalms 103:10
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
That is mercy. Mercy is such an important part of God's character that he would go to extreme measures JUST TO SHOW IT. Consider:
Romans 11:32
32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.
The shutting up of all in disobedience was an action INITIATED BY GOD for the SOLE purpose of DISPLAYING HIS MERCY. Mercy was not a side product of the fall but an intricate part of the nature of God. Thank God for a disobedient Adam.
The whole purpose for our existence is for God to bring sons into the knowledge of their Father and their elder brother. The human race is on a remarkable journey indeed. We are coming to a place where we will finally Know God, and THIS IS LIFE.
I proved that the word 'eternal' in the Greek scriptures is translated from the word AION which DOES NOT MEAN eternal but an indefinite period of time that has a beginning and an end. Since this is so we can see that the scriptures hold no promise of eternal life but 'AGE-ABIDING life. What does this have to do with the original question? Everything, because 'ETERNAL' life has NOTHING to do with time! So what would be the correct answer to the question 'What is eternal life'. Consider:
John 17:3
3 This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
Jesus gives us the answer. 'ETERNAL' life is not about living forever but about knowing GOD. It is because of the error of 'eternal' that we have lost out on the most overarching promise of Jesus. The word eternal here is the word AION; so it actually renders this verse:
John 17:3
3 and this is the life age- during, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and him whom Thou didst send -- Jesus Christ;
Now this is where we have something beautiful. We have Jesus DEFINING a concept that is used by him and the apostles throughout the New Testament. What's is the definition of 'ETERNAL' (Age-Long) life?
Eternal life is the process whereby one comes to know the TRUE God and Jesus Christ.
I ask you, does Jesus' definition of this life have ANYTHING to do with time?
Now that we have a true definition of the conept of the life that Jesus was describing throughout his ministry we can now get a better understanding of the scriptures. Whenever we see in a typical bible translation the words 'Eternal Life' we can substitute it for phrase 'knowing the true God and his son Jesus'. Let us see:
John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have 'KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUE GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST'.
Mark 10:30
30 but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, 'KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUE GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST'.
Acts 13:48
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to 'COMING INTO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUE GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST' believed.
Romans 6:22-23
22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUE GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is KNOWING THE TRUE GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST in Christ Jesus our Lord.
To some this may be a disappointment because it has nothing to do with getting wings and eating heavenly grapes. What I am saying sounds a whole lot like school! You mean to tell me that I am going through all this trouble on earth to die and go back to school! Give me back my grapes.
When you understand the concept of the life that Jesus promised us you come to realize that this knowledge actually does something to you. Consider:
2 Peter 1:2-4
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
From these verses we see that through this knowledge of God we will:
Have grace and peace multiplied to us
Have everything pertaining to life and godliness
Have precious and magnificent promises
Be partakers in the divine nature
The process of knowing God begins right now in this age, but it is not fulfilled in this age, consider:
1 Corinthians 13:12
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
When we enter the next age it is then that we would be able to come into the full knowledge of God.
So what will this knowledge of God create in us?
...seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature
This true knowledge cause us to be able to share in, become a partner with, the divine nature.
1 John 3:2
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
2 Corinthians 3:18
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
We will come to know fully his Love, wisdom, power, goodness, faithfulness.
Another aspect often overlooked in knowing God is that sin was an essential element in our coming to know him in his fulness. Adam's sin was ESSENTIAL in that it brought man to a state where he could some day completely know God. Sin, essential? Yes, because without sin how could we EVER have come to know the MERCY of God. What is mercy? Consider:
Psalms 103:10
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
That is mercy. Mercy is such an important part of God's character that he would go to extreme measures JUST TO SHOW IT. Consider:
Romans 11:32
32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.
The shutting up of all in disobedience was an action INITIATED BY GOD for the SOLE purpose of DISPLAYING HIS MERCY. Mercy was not a side product of the fall but an intricate part of the nature of God. Thank God for a disobedient Adam.
The whole purpose for our existence is for God to bring sons into the knowledge of their Father and their elder brother. The human race is on a remarkable journey indeed. We are coming to a place where we will finally Know God, and THIS IS LIFE.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
The purpose of the Lake of Fire
The Lake of Fire is mentioned only in the book of Revelation. Ask any Christian and their imaginations will come alive with ideas about the Lake of Fire. But what exactly is this Lake of Fire or more importantly what is it's purpose? Consider:
Revelation 19:20
20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.
Okay, we see here that the Beast and false prophet are cast into this lake of fire. What else do we know:
Revelation 20:10
10 and the Devil, who is leading them astray, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where [are] the beast and the false prophet, and they shall be tormented day and night -- to the ages of the ages.
Here we see that the devil will be thrown into this lake of fire. What else:
Revelation 21:8
8 But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Revelation 20:15
15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
From these two verses we can see that ANYONE (HUMANS) not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. What else:
Revelation 20:14
14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
There you have it; ALL the verses that mention the Lake of Fire. I left Revelation 20:14 until last because it gives us a link to understanding what this lake of fire is and its purpose. John saw where DEATH was cast into the lake of fire. This is important to know because another writer talks about death as well. Consider:
1 Corinthians 15:25-26
25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
Paul tells us that Christ must reign until God has put ALL his enemies under his feet. Paul then goes on to say that the LAST enemy will be death. Paul makes sure to say the 'LAST' enemy because there are other enemies that will be abolished. Who are the other enemies? John lists them in Revelation 19:20, 20:10, 21:8 and 21:15 (see above). Altogether the enemies of God are those who REMAIN disobedient in this age. These enemies of God are all to be abolished as Paul says. So how does God abolish death? John tells us how; God abolishes death by casting it into the Lake of Fire. Now here is where the purpose of Lake of Fire is revealed.
John says that Death along with the enemies of God will be cast into the Lake of Fire, Paul says that death and the enemies of God will be abolished. But what does abolish mean?
1 Corinthians 15:25-27
25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27 For HE has put all things in SUBJECTION under His feet.
Paul tells us that the enemies of God will be abolished BY being SUBJECTED under the feet of Christ. Okay, let's look at this:
John says ALL the enemies of God will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
Paul says ALL the enemies of God will be put in subjection under Christ's feet.
Therefore, we MUST conclude that the 'Lake of Fire' and 'Subjection under the feet of Christ' has to be the SAME thing. So how do we find out what is the purpose of the Lake of Fire? We discover its purpose when we understand the meaning of the word 'SUBJECT'. The word subject in this passage is the Greek word 'hupotasso', and this word means, 'TO BRING UNDER CONTROL AND TO MAKE OBEDIENT'. Now we can see the purpose of the lake of fire:
The Lake of Fire is a process used by God to bring ALL His enemies under control thus MAKING them obedient to Christ.
It is AT this point when ALL the enemies of God, that is, everyone not written into the book of life because of DISOBEDIENCE will be MADE OBEDIENT.
Those chosen by God are made obedient NOW, but later ALL will be made obedient. (See post 'Everyone will be salted by Fire')
Revelation 19:20
20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.
Okay, we see here that the Beast and false prophet are cast into this lake of fire. What else do we know:
Revelation 20:10
10 and the Devil, who is leading them astray, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where [are] the beast and the false prophet, and they shall be tormented day and night -- to the ages of the ages.
Here we see that the devil will be thrown into this lake of fire. What else:
Revelation 21:8
8 But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Revelation 20:15
15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
From these two verses we can see that ANYONE (HUMANS) not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. What else:
Revelation 20:14
14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
There you have it; ALL the verses that mention the Lake of Fire. I left Revelation 20:14 until last because it gives us a link to understanding what this lake of fire is and its purpose. John saw where DEATH was cast into the lake of fire. This is important to know because another writer talks about death as well. Consider:
1 Corinthians 15:25-26
25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
Paul tells us that Christ must reign until God has put ALL his enemies under his feet. Paul then goes on to say that the LAST enemy will be death. Paul makes sure to say the 'LAST' enemy because there are other enemies that will be abolished. Who are the other enemies? John lists them in Revelation 19:20, 20:10, 21:8 and 21:15 (see above). Altogether the enemies of God are those who REMAIN disobedient in this age. These enemies of God are all to be abolished as Paul says. So how does God abolish death? John tells us how; God abolishes death by casting it into the Lake of Fire. Now here is where the purpose of Lake of Fire is revealed.
John says that Death along with the enemies of God will be cast into the Lake of Fire, Paul says that death and the enemies of God will be abolished. But what does abolish mean?
1 Corinthians 15:25-27
25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27 For HE has put all things in SUBJECTION under His feet.
Paul tells us that the enemies of God will be abolished BY being SUBJECTED under the feet of Christ. Okay, let's look at this:
John says ALL the enemies of God will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
Paul says ALL the enemies of God will be put in subjection under Christ's feet.
Therefore, we MUST conclude that the 'Lake of Fire' and 'Subjection under the feet of Christ' has to be the SAME thing. So how do we find out what is the purpose of the Lake of Fire? We discover its purpose when we understand the meaning of the word 'SUBJECT'. The word subject in this passage is the Greek word 'hupotasso', and this word means, 'TO BRING UNDER CONTROL AND TO MAKE OBEDIENT'. Now we can see the purpose of the lake of fire:
The Lake of Fire is a process used by God to bring ALL His enemies under control thus MAKING them obedient to Christ.
It is AT this point when ALL the enemies of God, that is, everyone not written into the book of life because of DISOBEDIENCE will be MADE OBEDIENT.
Those chosen by God are made obedient NOW, but later ALL will be made obedient. (See post 'Everyone will be salted by Fire')
Thursday, October 6, 2011
You shall not surely die...
The title statement is the first recorded lie in the bible, and indeed in all of creation. It was uttered by a serpent in the garden and it was directed towards Eve. Not only was this the first lie, but it remains the most ENDURING lie of all time. I say that it endures because this particular lie is the most pervasive lie today. What makes it even more heinous is that this lie now parades itself as a THEOLOGICAL TRUTH.
Well we know what happened, Eve and Adam ate the fruit and just as true as God spoke it death entered the world. I think we can all agree that we have been dying ever since. But what exactly is death? Death was first mentioned by God as punishment for disobeying him. Death literally means the cessation of life or lifelessness. In essence life IS what death IS NOT.
The prevailing Christian thought on death is that at the moment you die, that is your body dies, the 'real' you travels to some other place. If you have been righteous in life you are welcomed into heaven, and if you have been unrighteous in life then you will be cast into a bad bad place. But is it true? Let us look at some problems with this view:
1- The Christian teaching on death assumes that when you die you continue to live. This is based on, depending on who you talk to, presumptions that your body is not you and the real you lives inside of your body. The big problem with this, IF IT WERE TRUE, is that that would mean upon birth in this life you would have IMMORTALITY. Immortality means being unable to die. Think about it, if you die but the real you continues to live then that means that YOU HAVE NEVER EXPEREICED DEATH. That would also mean that you are IMMORTAL. What would be the point of God's punishment for Adam's disobedience? What does the bible say about this?
1 Timothy 6:16
16 (GOD) who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
Paul tells us that God is the ONLY one who possesses immortality, no one else possesses it YET. In fact Paul tells us that we will, IN THE FUTURE, be GIVEN immortality.
1 Corinthians 15:51-54
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
It is NOWHERE written that this process takes place upon ones death. IN FACT PAUL CLEARLY SAYS THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AT THE LAST TRUMPET.
2-Jesus NEVER taught this. In fact Jesus confirms that when you die you are in fact DEAD, not alive somewhere else but DEAD. Consider these words:
John 14:3
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
This one is a doozy! Jesus is comforting his disciples by telling them he is going to prepare a place for them. Now Christians teach that upon death we go to heaven to be with the Lord. How can this be when in the above verse he says:
...I will come again, and receive you unto myself; THAT WHERE I AM, THERE YE MAY BE ALSO.
Does anyone see the contradiction here? If when you die you go to be with Jesus in heaven how is it that he tells you that he 'will come again to RECEIVE you unto myself'. But they teach that you are already in heaven with Jesus! Then he continues, 'that where I am THERE YE may be also'. Wow! This being with Jesus DOES NOT EVEN HAPPEN UNTIL AFTER HE RETURNS!
Jesus even goes further when he says the following:
John 5:28-29
28 Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.
Do you see this? Let's ask Jesus some questions:
Christian teacher: Mr. Jesus, Sir, where are dead christians right now? In heaven right?
Jesus: No they are in their graves
Christian teacher: but we teach that when you return christians who have died will come back with you because they are already in heaven with you.
Jesus: No, upon my return the dead will hear my voice FROM WITHIN THEIR TOMBS
Christian teacher: errr.... Jesus we don't teach that.
Jesus: well guess which one of us is right.
3-The concept of resurrection is negated if we CONTINUE to live upon death. Just think about it. The word resurrect means to RESTORE TO LIFE. Why would we need to be resurrected of we are not dead. But beyond that consider how the bible uses the term:
Luke 20:35-36
35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
Do we REALLY read the bible? JESUS tells us here those who are resurrected FROM THE DEAD cannot die ANYMORE. Why would he say this if they were living with him in heaven? Why would he say that if they were NEVER REALLY DEAD? Additionally, Christians today believe that when you die we will be translated into our spiritual bodies, but Jesus says that we will only be EQUAL to the angels AFTER THE RESURRECTION. Paul tells us as much:
1 Corinthians 15:44
44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
Why do we continue to teach error even in the presence of CLEAR truth?
1 Thessalonians 4:16
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Who is it that will rise first? And what will they be raised to do? The very next verse tells us that they will 'MEET the Lord in the air, AND SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD'. THIS IS THE POINT WHEN THE DEAD WILL FIRST meet Jesus. If you think that's mind-blowing, guess what. PAUL IS STILL DEAD AND HE HASN'T MET THE LORD YET, neither has ANY OTHER Christian who has died.
Where did this teaching come from?
To those who believe the prevailing Christian thought on death, this teaching comes from the same verse you have been probably shouting at you computer since you started reading this post. The verse is:
2 Corinthians 5:8
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Ahhh, you say, doesn't this verse tell us that if we are absent from the body we will be present with the Lord. Let us examine this. To what does Jesus and Paul liken death?
1 Corinthians 15:51
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep...
John 11:11
11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
1 Corinthians 11:30
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
I believe that the comparison of death to sleep was divinely inspired by God to convey to us an understanding of death. Most people when they go to sleep at night they wake at morning. If you are a sound sleeper like most you can go to sleep at 10 pm and awake at 6am. Here is the marvel of sleep, 8 HOURS WOULD HAVE PASSED AND YOU WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF ANY OF THEM. Your last memory would be of you falling asleep and then presto you are awake. This is EXACTLY how death is. For the believer they die (fall asleep) and their NEXT conscious thought is hearing the voice of Jesus FROM THEIR TOMBS. They would NOT BE AWARE OF ONE SECOND of any length of time that might have passed. So Paul is correct in his assertion that ABSENT FROM THE BODY he will be PRESENT WITH THE LORD. After all we have these witnesses:
Ecclesiastes 9:5
5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing...
And
Psalms 6:5
5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee:
The summation of the matter is that when you die you are DEAD. You are not somewhere else with wings or looking down from some great cloud. You are DEAD. Death makes you dead.
Well we know what happened, Eve and Adam ate the fruit and just as true as God spoke it death entered the world. I think we can all agree that we have been dying ever since. But what exactly is death? Death was first mentioned by God as punishment for disobeying him. Death literally means the cessation of life or lifelessness. In essence life IS what death IS NOT.
The prevailing Christian thought on death is that at the moment you die, that is your body dies, the 'real' you travels to some other place. If you have been righteous in life you are welcomed into heaven, and if you have been unrighteous in life then you will be cast into a bad bad place. But is it true? Let us look at some problems with this view:
1- The Christian teaching on death assumes that when you die you continue to live. This is based on, depending on who you talk to, presumptions that your body is not you and the real you lives inside of your body. The big problem with this, IF IT WERE TRUE, is that that would mean upon birth in this life you would have IMMORTALITY. Immortality means being unable to die. Think about it, if you die but the real you continues to live then that means that YOU HAVE NEVER EXPEREICED DEATH. That would also mean that you are IMMORTAL. What would be the point of God's punishment for Adam's disobedience? What does the bible say about this?
1 Timothy 6:16
16 (GOD) who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
Paul tells us that God is the ONLY one who possesses immortality, no one else possesses it YET. In fact Paul tells us that we will, IN THE FUTURE, be GIVEN immortality.
1 Corinthians 15:51-54
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
It is NOWHERE written that this process takes place upon ones death. IN FACT PAUL CLEARLY SAYS THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AT THE LAST TRUMPET.
2-Jesus NEVER taught this. In fact Jesus confirms that when you die you are in fact DEAD, not alive somewhere else but DEAD. Consider these words:
John 14:3
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
This one is a doozy! Jesus is comforting his disciples by telling them he is going to prepare a place for them. Now Christians teach that upon death we go to heaven to be with the Lord. How can this be when in the above verse he says:
...I will come again, and receive you unto myself; THAT WHERE I AM, THERE YE MAY BE ALSO.
Does anyone see the contradiction here? If when you die you go to be with Jesus in heaven how is it that he tells you that he 'will come again to RECEIVE you unto myself'. But they teach that you are already in heaven with Jesus! Then he continues, 'that where I am THERE YE may be also'. Wow! This being with Jesus DOES NOT EVEN HAPPEN UNTIL AFTER HE RETURNS!
Jesus even goes further when he says the following:
John 5:28-29
28 Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.
Do you see this? Let's ask Jesus some questions:
Christian teacher: Mr. Jesus, Sir, where are dead christians right now? In heaven right?
Jesus: No they are in their graves
Christian teacher: but we teach that when you return christians who have died will come back with you because they are already in heaven with you.
Jesus: No, upon my return the dead will hear my voice FROM WITHIN THEIR TOMBS
Christian teacher: errr.... Jesus we don't teach that.
Jesus: well guess which one of us is right.
3-The concept of resurrection is negated if we CONTINUE to live upon death. Just think about it. The word resurrect means to RESTORE TO LIFE. Why would we need to be resurrected of we are not dead. But beyond that consider how the bible uses the term:
Luke 20:35-36
35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
Do we REALLY read the bible? JESUS tells us here those who are resurrected FROM THE DEAD cannot die ANYMORE. Why would he say this if they were living with him in heaven? Why would he say that if they were NEVER REALLY DEAD? Additionally, Christians today believe that when you die we will be translated into our spiritual bodies, but Jesus says that we will only be EQUAL to the angels AFTER THE RESURRECTION. Paul tells us as much:
1 Corinthians 15:44
44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
Why do we continue to teach error even in the presence of CLEAR truth?
1 Thessalonians 4:16
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Who is it that will rise first? And what will they be raised to do? The very next verse tells us that they will 'MEET the Lord in the air, AND SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD'. THIS IS THE POINT WHEN THE DEAD WILL FIRST meet Jesus. If you think that's mind-blowing, guess what. PAUL IS STILL DEAD AND HE HASN'T MET THE LORD YET, neither has ANY OTHER Christian who has died.
Where did this teaching come from?
To those who believe the prevailing Christian thought on death, this teaching comes from the same verse you have been probably shouting at you computer since you started reading this post. The verse is:
2 Corinthians 5:8
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Ahhh, you say, doesn't this verse tell us that if we are absent from the body we will be present with the Lord. Let us examine this. To what does Jesus and Paul liken death?
1 Corinthians 15:51
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep...
John 11:11
11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
1 Corinthians 11:30
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
I believe that the comparison of death to sleep was divinely inspired by God to convey to us an understanding of death. Most people when they go to sleep at night they wake at morning. If you are a sound sleeper like most you can go to sleep at 10 pm and awake at 6am. Here is the marvel of sleep, 8 HOURS WOULD HAVE PASSED AND YOU WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF ANY OF THEM. Your last memory would be of you falling asleep and then presto you are awake. This is EXACTLY how death is. For the believer they die (fall asleep) and their NEXT conscious thought is hearing the voice of Jesus FROM THEIR TOMBS. They would NOT BE AWARE OF ONE SECOND of any length of time that might have passed. So Paul is correct in his assertion that ABSENT FROM THE BODY he will be PRESENT WITH THE LORD. After all we have these witnesses:
Ecclesiastes 9:5
5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing...
And
Psalms 6:5
5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee:
The summation of the matter is that when you die you are DEAD. You are not somewhere else with wings or looking down from some great cloud. You are DEAD. Death makes you dead.
Monday, October 3, 2011
The myth of Eternal.
Eternal is defined as 'having no beginning and no end; lasting forever; always existing'.
Our understanding of the word eternal is paramount in our understanding of God. The word eternal occurs 45 times in the New Testament of the King James version of the bible. The word is used to reference many things that are considered important, we have:
Eternal life
Eternal punishment
Eternal damnation
Eternal power
Eternal weight of glory
Eternal unseen
Eternal building in the heavens
Eternal purpose
Eternal king
Eternal glory
Eternal salvation
Eternal judgment
Eternal redemption
Eternal spirit
Eternal inheritance
Eternal fire
At issue is NOT the word eternal, because this word identifies a concept that serves an essential purpose in understanding in the English language. What is at issue is it's use by the translators of the bible. Contrary to popular belief the bible was not written in English. EVERY version of the bible we have today is a TRANSLATION. This is important to know, because in studying the bible one must realize that in order to have the BEST understanding we must get as close to the ORIGINAL source language as possible. The importance of this is most profound in our reading of the KING JAMES version because this version is A TRANSLATION OF A TRANSLATION OF THE ORIGINAL TEXT. That said let us examine the issue at hand.
If something is ETERNAL it CANNOT have a beginning. Revisiting the definition of the word eternal as 'having no beginning and no ending' some things become immediately apparent. By nature of the concept of eternal anything that is eternal MUST HAVE ALWAYS BEEN. So something CANNOT be eternal if it had not ALREADY been occurring for ALL eternity. Therefore, an eternal state CANNOT be entered. One must have ALWAYS been, in order for one to inhabit the ETERNAL. Eternity, and it's alter ego forever, can ONLY be attributed to God. By it's very nature the concept of eternal in its application to anything created, is FLAWED.
Let us look at the word eternal in the scriptures and let us ask the hard question. Does its usage make sense?
2 Corinthians 5:1
For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
This verse can be connected to the statement of Jesus:
John 14:2
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
By the definition of 'eternal' Paul's statement here makes no sense. If this building from God is 'eternal in the heavens' then how could Jesus have said I go to prepare a place. By the very definition of eternal IT MUST HAVE ALWAYS BEEN. So Paul is telling us that there is a building for us THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN, yet Jesus tells us that he is GOING to prepare a place. How can he GO AND PREPARE something that ALWAYS WAS?
Ephesians 3:11
11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,
Now what was this eternal purpose? The answer is in the preceding verse:
Ephesians 3:10
10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.
Now since this is the stated 'eternal' purpose does it make sense using the definition of the word eternal? There will come a time when the manifold wisdom of God will be known by everybody. Once it becomes known to everyone will this purpose continue OR will it be accomplished?
Let us consider Jesus' use of the word eternal. Consider the most famous of all:
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Christians today see this as the greatest of all promises. Jesus is telling us that if we believe in him we will have eternal life. But I ask you, DOES THIS MAKE SENSE? How can we be given a life that NEVER BEGINS AND NEVER ENDS. Think about this, one cannot be GIVEN eternal life. Eternal means no beginning and no ending; this makes no sense, because at some point your 'eternal' life will BEGIN. If this word was correct then that would mean that YOU ALWAYS WERE, and that would ALSO mean that you can carry the grandiose title,
'he who was, and is and is to come'.
Let us look at this verse again using the definition of eternal:
...that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have a life that has NEVER begun and will never end.
HOW CAN THIS BE SINCE THERE WAS A TIME WHEN YOU WERE NOT!!!!
Here again, consider a question asked of Jesus:
Matthew 19:16
16 And someone came to Him and said, Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?
The rich ruler asked the question because he KNEW that this life that he was seeking was something that he did not yet have. If he already had it he would not ask how to obtain it. Understanding that he asks how to obtain it mean that it was something that could be acquired, but eternal life has no beginning. Again we see the word 'eternal' making no sense. In using the word eternal this is what he asked Jesus:
Teacher what good thing must I do to obtain a life that never began and never ends. If he did not already have this life then upon acquiring the life THAT IS WHEN IT WILL BEGIN.
Let us examine Jesus' use of the word in regards to judgment:
Matthew 25:46
46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
Can you see the immediate problems with this verse? Here Jesus is telling the goats of his parable that they will suffer ETERNAL PUNISHMENT. How can this be? Eternal means having no beginning and no ending, so how can they be promised a punishment to which they ARE NOT YET EXPERIENCING. For this interpretation to be correct there would have to have NEVER been a time when they were NOT suffering punishment.
Something is terribly wrong with the use of the word eternal in these bible translations. So what is the problem? Remember I said that the King James is a translation of a translation? In each of these cases where eternal is used, and many more besides, the word is translated from the Greek word AIONIOS or AION to the LATIN word AETERNUM to the ENGLISH word ETERNAL. Here is the trouble. The translators translated AION (the noun) and AIONIOS (the adjective) as the English word ETERNAL. This was INCORRECT since we can see that the use of the word DOES NOT make any sense in the contexts that it is used. An AION is defined as AN INDEFINITE FIXED PERIOD OF TIME. While time in the period is indefinite it DOES NOT MEAN having no beginning and no ending. Therefore, we can easily conclude that AION cannot be interchangeable with eternal because a word cannot simultaneously be 'a fixed period of time' AND AT THE SAME TIME MEAN 'having no beginning and no ending'. Consider these sentences:
How long has Bob been hitting John with that stick? For an age.
How long has Bob been hitting John with that stick? Eternally.
Do these sentences mean the same thing? In one sentence Bob at SOME point BEGAN to hit John with the stick. In the other sentence THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A TIME WHEN BOB WAS NOT HITTING JOHN WITH THE STICK. This simple example proves that AION (age) cannot be interchangeable with ETERNAL.
Let us look at a verse with the new understanding of the TRUE word AION:
...that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have a life AIONION (AGE ABIDING, AGE LASTING)
But you say isn't God eternal?
Yes he is and Paul uses ANOTHER word to describe him:
Romans 1:20
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
Now this is very interesting, Paul describes God by saying he has ETERNAL power and divine nature. On it's surface one can make the case that since it is used in connection with God it cannot mean that God has power only for an age (AION). This is where the translators were inconsistent, because the word translated 'eternal' in this verse is the word AIDIOS and it DOES MEAN ETERNAL in the english sense and is ONLY used in the bible TWICE and both times it is used in connection with God and his power.
It is therefore clear that the translation of the word AION to ETERNAL is erroneous since it makes no sense to our proper understanding of the word of God. The summation of all of this is that and ETERNAL life can NEVER begin.
Our understanding of the word eternal is paramount in our understanding of God. The word eternal occurs 45 times in the New Testament of the King James version of the bible. The word is used to reference many things that are considered important, we have:
Eternal life
Eternal punishment
Eternal damnation
Eternal power
Eternal weight of glory
Eternal unseen
Eternal building in the heavens
Eternal purpose
Eternal king
Eternal glory
Eternal salvation
Eternal judgment
Eternal redemption
Eternal spirit
Eternal inheritance
Eternal fire
At issue is NOT the word eternal, because this word identifies a concept that serves an essential purpose in understanding in the English language. What is at issue is it's use by the translators of the bible. Contrary to popular belief the bible was not written in English. EVERY version of the bible we have today is a TRANSLATION. This is important to know, because in studying the bible one must realize that in order to have the BEST understanding we must get as close to the ORIGINAL source language as possible. The importance of this is most profound in our reading of the KING JAMES version because this version is A TRANSLATION OF A TRANSLATION OF THE ORIGINAL TEXT. That said let us examine the issue at hand.
If something is ETERNAL it CANNOT have a beginning. Revisiting the definition of the word eternal as 'having no beginning and no ending' some things become immediately apparent. By nature of the concept of eternal anything that is eternal MUST HAVE ALWAYS BEEN. So something CANNOT be eternal if it had not ALREADY been occurring for ALL eternity. Therefore, an eternal state CANNOT be entered. One must have ALWAYS been, in order for one to inhabit the ETERNAL. Eternity, and it's alter ego forever, can ONLY be attributed to God. By it's very nature the concept of eternal in its application to anything created, is FLAWED.
Let us look at the word eternal in the scriptures and let us ask the hard question. Does its usage make sense?
2 Corinthians 5:1
For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
This verse can be connected to the statement of Jesus:
John 14:2
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
By the definition of 'eternal' Paul's statement here makes no sense. If this building from God is 'eternal in the heavens' then how could Jesus have said I go to prepare a place. By the very definition of eternal IT MUST HAVE ALWAYS BEEN. So Paul is telling us that there is a building for us THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN, yet Jesus tells us that he is GOING to prepare a place. How can he GO AND PREPARE something that ALWAYS WAS?
Ephesians 3:11
11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,
Now what was this eternal purpose? The answer is in the preceding verse:
Ephesians 3:10
10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.
Now since this is the stated 'eternal' purpose does it make sense using the definition of the word eternal? There will come a time when the manifold wisdom of God will be known by everybody. Once it becomes known to everyone will this purpose continue OR will it be accomplished?
Let us consider Jesus' use of the word eternal. Consider the most famous of all:
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Christians today see this as the greatest of all promises. Jesus is telling us that if we believe in him we will have eternal life. But I ask you, DOES THIS MAKE SENSE? How can we be given a life that NEVER BEGINS AND NEVER ENDS. Think about this, one cannot be GIVEN eternal life. Eternal means no beginning and no ending; this makes no sense, because at some point your 'eternal' life will BEGIN. If this word was correct then that would mean that YOU ALWAYS WERE, and that would ALSO mean that you can carry the grandiose title,
'he who was, and is and is to come'.
Let us look at this verse again using the definition of eternal:
...that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have a life that has NEVER begun and will never end.
HOW CAN THIS BE SINCE THERE WAS A TIME WHEN YOU WERE NOT!!!!
Here again, consider a question asked of Jesus:
Matthew 19:16
16 And someone came to Him and said, Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?
The rich ruler asked the question because he KNEW that this life that he was seeking was something that he did not yet have. If he already had it he would not ask how to obtain it. Understanding that he asks how to obtain it mean that it was something that could be acquired, but eternal life has no beginning. Again we see the word 'eternal' making no sense. In using the word eternal this is what he asked Jesus:
Teacher what good thing must I do to obtain a life that never began and never ends. If he did not already have this life then upon acquiring the life THAT IS WHEN IT WILL BEGIN.
Let us examine Jesus' use of the word in regards to judgment:
Matthew 25:46
46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
Can you see the immediate problems with this verse? Here Jesus is telling the goats of his parable that they will suffer ETERNAL PUNISHMENT. How can this be? Eternal means having no beginning and no ending, so how can they be promised a punishment to which they ARE NOT YET EXPERIENCING. For this interpretation to be correct there would have to have NEVER been a time when they were NOT suffering punishment.
Something is terribly wrong with the use of the word eternal in these bible translations. So what is the problem? Remember I said that the King James is a translation of a translation? In each of these cases where eternal is used, and many more besides, the word is translated from the Greek word AIONIOS or AION to the LATIN word AETERNUM to the ENGLISH word ETERNAL. Here is the trouble. The translators translated AION (the noun) and AIONIOS (the adjective) as the English word ETERNAL. This was INCORRECT since we can see that the use of the word DOES NOT make any sense in the contexts that it is used. An AION is defined as AN INDEFINITE FIXED PERIOD OF TIME. While time in the period is indefinite it DOES NOT MEAN having no beginning and no ending. Therefore, we can easily conclude that AION cannot be interchangeable with eternal because a word cannot simultaneously be 'a fixed period of time' AND AT THE SAME TIME MEAN 'having no beginning and no ending'. Consider these sentences:
How long has Bob been hitting John with that stick? For an age.
How long has Bob been hitting John with that stick? Eternally.
Do these sentences mean the same thing? In one sentence Bob at SOME point BEGAN to hit John with the stick. In the other sentence THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A TIME WHEN BOB WAS NOT HITTING JOHN WITH THE STICK. This simple example proves that AION (age) cannot be interchangeable with ETERNAL.
Let us look at a verse with the new understanding of the TRUE word AION:
...that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have a life AIONION (AGE ABIDING, AGE LASTING)
But you say isn't God eternal?
Yes he is and Paul uses ANOTHER word to describe him:
Romans 1:20
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
Now this is very interesting, Paul describes God by saying he has ETERNAL power and divine nature. On it's surface one can make the case that since it is used in connection with God it cannot mean that God has power only for an age (AION). This is where the translators were inconsistent, because the word translated 'eternal' in this verse is the word AIDIOS and it DOES MEAN ETERNAL in the english sense and is ONLY used in the bible TWICE and both times it is used in connection with God and his power.
It is therefore clear that the translation of the word AION to ETERNAL is erroneous since it makes no sense to our proper understanding of the word of God. The summation of all of this is that and ETERNAL life can NEVER begin.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)