Ezekiel 33: 17-20, King James Version (KJV): 17 Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal. 18 When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. 19 But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby. 20 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.
Psalms 102: 9-12, KJV: 9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping. 10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. 11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass. 12 But thou, O LORD, shall endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
Hebrews 10: 28, KJV: He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
1st John 5: 20, KJV: 20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
Hebrews 13: 8, KJV: 8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman. Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it: And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them. And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land. But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (Ezekiel 36: 17-27, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Death is a Divine Tool (09/15/2014); Accountability and Challenge, Not Blame (09/03/2015); What Is Life? (02/06/2015); Mortality Is Required Because of Sin (12/29/2014); Stoning in the OT? (06/07/2014); Suffering Circumcision? (06/08/2014); Immutable GODhead (03/10/2014); Only One GOD (09/14/2013); Weed and Godly Wisdom (09/15/2013); Two Different Testaments? (01/05/2013); The Place for Eternal Life? (01/06/2013)
I recently encountered, again, the widely-spread error that the Bible records the existence of two totally different experiences of divinity: GOD in the Old Testament is cruel, harsh and strict while GOD in the New Testament is kind, loving and merciful. For the living, three different streams for logic and order promote confusion, here: (1) the framework of time and space used to organize all information (e.g., data and signals to the brain from the network of nerves throughout the body as well as emotions, imagination, and thoughts throughout the mind) also declares everything must change; (2) the independent existence of the Son apart from the Father declares there must be differences in their authority, character, form, nature, power, and purpose; and (3) created beings and living creatures now are developed, experienced, and evolved to a level where they are justified when declaring they may judge all the things of their own life experience, including divinity.
There is only one revelation of divinity to mankind, however, it has been provided through multiple agents, devices, processes, and relationships. For humanity, life unfolds through discrete cycles, phases and stages that also may entail inner conflicts, individual differences, forgetting, human error, lapses, and underdevelopment. Divinity may not be made known to finite mankind through a one-time event or single occurrence. Divine revelation must be understood as a continuous, eternal, and ongoing process begun before Creation of the earth and its inhabitants. Revelation proceeds through sacred operations that include deliverance, election, Incarnation, judgment, proclamation, prophecy, rebirth, vision, and visitation. The things recorded as the Testimony of Jesus and the Book of Revelation have their beginning in those of Genesis, and predate both the Nativity and the cross. Thus, we should not think of revelation as an ad hoc reaction, or result of an afterthought.
There is only one GOD described by the Bible, and he has always pursued the same eternal purposes to establish existence, life (all things that exist are not alive), and to maintain the present Creation. Divine law must appear, and with it, the mechanics for sacred process that include assigning value, correction, establishing equity, punishment, rebuke, resolving conflicts, and settling disputes. Thus, it is a further aspect of revelation that we have the display of divine affection and care wherein GOD exalts himself above sinners, and breaks the spirit (we say, humbles, humiliates) of those who are disobedient, disrespectful, proud and unrepentant. GOD’s purpose continues to be their cleansing, healing, recovery and salvation. The alternative to destroy sinners out of hand, or simply ignore them would be more agonizing and terrible for Creation than the final destruction of corruption in the Lake of Fire.
Just as love from GOD is not a one-time event, death is not a one-time event. GOD is not free to reject death as an expression of divine love, and as the correct sacred solution to oppose the operations of sin. So to speak, the divine choice to employ death is not upon the basis of affections, anger, other feelings that come and go, or even upon intent. Death is required on the basis of necessary conditions for perpetually continuing life essence (we say, breath, spirit, word), and for the required tasks to counter the operations of sin without also resorting to the removal of existence. Death is taken up and altered to be a tool for crafting life, and when seen with dispassion and the proper fullness of mind, its use is a further expression of divine commitment, goodness, and love in action.
There is far more to be said, correctly shared, and spiritually understood. (For example, the teaching that there is “one faith, one Lord, one baptism, one GOD and Father of all” reaches back as well as forward, and is to be understood as operating within all that has been provided as sacred knowledge. Sadducees (e.g., Caiaphas, Ananias) and those insisting upon supremacy for ceremonies, formalities and traditions of law (Pharisees) usually do so denying a place to prophecy, and to the imparted Spirit from GOD that is to indwell the believer. Those who disbelieve have been given the same revelation, however, they choose to apply it responding to the dimensions of flesh, not those of a boundless Creator.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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