Today, the reply addresses conversion, becoming a Christian, and being released from fear. Correctly understood, conversion is a transforming of ones spirit content. For GOD, wrath against sin is not merely an emotion or feeling that comes and goes; it is a permanent aspect of the fullness and makeup of Deity. Christians worship a divinity who is a creator and a god of judgment. GOD has put forth all that exists and has life; and already has pronounced a sentence of death and condemnation against sin that will persist, and not obey divine will to be gone from within either angels or mankind. While many correctly shrink away from GOD and from showing proper awe and reverence, others offend by being defiant and rebellious. Many want to forget about their sins, their own being “bad”, and their own bad experiences, and are not willing to confess their sins to GOD, and rely on his imparted Spirit to give them strength to repent of, reject, and resist sin. There also are those who turn away from Christ when they discover his disciples must expect to endure opposition, persecution, and suffering without displaying anxiety, cowardice, despair, and vengefulness. All Christians are not fully mature, and some do communicate and impart their own misgivings, personal opinions in place of authentic doctrine, unresolved inner conflicts, and uncertainty. Even so, for followers of Jesus Christ, coercion, intimidation, and threats are not part of the divine process whereby sinners become cleansed and renewed to share communion and fellowship with GOD. The sacred process for salvation to transform sinners into Christian believers is carried out by the Holy Spirit (also called the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Prophecy, the Spirit of Truth). Instead of finite tools such as argument, debate, logic and carnal reason, the Spirit employs forgiveness; the Incarnation, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; divine law; sacred events (miracles); multiple divine promises; prophecy; and the sharing of oneness without sameness. The fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” forum using the ID “Solitary Wiccan” (Level 6 with 12,956 points, a member since May 06, 2014) posted the following:
Why do Christians use fear when converting people?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. (Luke 1: 68-75, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Place of Torment? (08/21/2017); On Law and Sin (06/07/2017); No Fear In Love? (05/17/2017); Conversion is by GOD? (08/23/2016); Fear That Acknowledges GOD? (07/15/2016); Correct Awe and Respect (02/04/2016); Awe? (08/09/2015); About Conversion (09/03/2012); By Grace (09/04/2012)
“Solitary Wiccan” sinners fear the punishment that may come by judgment, the elimination of all sin and sinners who do not accept salvation. Christian believers are required to share the full truth; and it is the plainly spoken truth that often makes hearers aware of their guiltiness, shame, and need for divine forgiveness. Baptism, conversion, and new life do not result from bullying, politics, threats, and violence. By the teachings of Jesus Christ, Christians do not implant or impart sin to those who do not have it. All who live on the earth will be challenged and must pass through life experiences of change, disappointment, growth, loss, and suffering. To many of us it is a fearful truth that we also are accountable to our Creator, and now, while we live, are being examined and reviewed by our immortal, invisible Maker for our maturity and readiness to continue existence as companions to divinity.
GOD revealed to Moses that the fullness of deity (we say, Godhead; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) requires obedience to divine law, and also practices judgment. The inseparable aspects of divinity include balance, faith, holiness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, person, presence, restraint, wisdom, and wrath against sin. Attitudes, behavior, and recurring patterns in ones life make visible the otherwise unseen spirit content residing within them from the makeup of GOD. The operations of sin oppose the continued existence of divine law, the Law Giver, and the Creation maintained through sacred law.
When we start out on new journeys in life we often feel fear and uncertainty; similarly, those who become “born again” must “grow up again,” and become ripe (mature) for harvest at the return of Jesus. Love that may be childlike and weak must become mature and strong. Sinners who turn to Jesus Christ through baptism and rebirth come under a special umbrella of divine protection described in different ways (for example, as atonement and propitiation for sin, “his shed blood and broken body,” “the shield of faith,” and eternal life that begins while the believer is still living on the earth). In addition to receiving sacred knowledge in place of secular information, developing believers are built-up (edified) to display “holy boldness,” humility, and reverence in judgment that complement and soften divine wrath along with impartiality, mercy, and righteousness. Consider the following that uses language from the Bible:
(1.) 1st John 4: 15-18, King James Version (KJV): 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
(2.) Hebrews 10: 19-27, KJV: 19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
(3.) Romans 8: 5-9, KJV: 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and made a part of our own spirit makeup. (For example, (4.) Revelation 21: 6-8, KJV: 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.) 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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