Coming to Christ as a Living
Sacrifice
Today, reply is to the idea that created beings and living creatures must respond to life challenges, disappointments, frustration, and suffering without always being given payment or rewards from GOD. Regular practice of giving, offering, and sacrifice (i.e., enduring cost, discomfort, and loss to acknowledge divinity; giving up something valued) further establishes the bond and permanent relationship with a sovereign GOD who has practiced Incarnation, sacrifice, and resurrection for the recovery of Creation from sin. While eternal life and salvation cannot be gained, paid for, or won on the basis of human effort, obedience to sacred law, will power in the created and their finite works, the living do receive place as companions to immortal, incorruptible divinity through divine prerogative, eternal purpose, and sovereign will. Through the ministry of Jesus Christ men may be commended for balance, commitment, faithfulness, perseverance, sobriety, and stability. Ownership of the earth, every other sphere of life, and all the fullness of the known universe belong to GOD. The living are to display the inseparable aspects of spirit content from the makeup of GOD. In accord with the Creator, it is our acknowledgment, and presentation of active presence and divine substance that determines our benefits, duration, existence, outcomes of judgment, privilege, quality, and value to GOD. Accountability and duty make it that our lives often center more on demands and things that must be done (like it, don’t like it), rather than works within our comfort zone, our personal preferences, and our favorite things. Divinity is no less faithful, holy, righteous, and true. A fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Road Trip” (Level 3 with 1,156 points, a member since May 12, 2006) posted the following in the Religion and Spirituality forum:
If few people get into heaven, then why should anyone try? Especially if it is so difficult.?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12: 32, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Self-will And Christian Integrity (06/11/2018); Blessed In Our Deeds (05/29/2018); What Divine Salvation Requires (05/15/2018); The Nature of Death (04/25/2017); The Need for Incarnation? (09/29/2016); The Cross a Human Sacrifice? (04/18/2016); The Benefit of Grace (03/19/2013); Magical Resurrection? (03/20/2013)
“Road Trip”, even though we must face challenges, obstacles, and reversals, mankind is not to despair. To ensure that this Creation has every possibility of continuing as immortal and incorruptible, eternal divinity has even appeared on the earth using the form of flesh and blood (we say, Incarnation). While it is true that the Creator is also a God of judgment whose inseparable spirit substance and makeup includes wrath against sin, with him there is also forbearance, forgiveness, longsufferering, lovingkindness, mercy, personhood, restraint, righteousness, and wisdom.
The transgression (violation) of divine law committed by the first pair resulted in mortality (dying and death) becoming a permanent condition for mankind on the earth. Even so, annihilation and the second death (utter destruction) is held back through the multiple divine operations that provide adoption as the sons and daughters of GOD, discovery, gradual growth, inheritance, obedience, “oneness without sameness,” rebirth, repentance, sacrifice, sanctification, and unselfish service. Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:
(1.) Romans 12: 1-3, King James Version (KJV): 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
(2.) Micah 6: 7-9, KJV: 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? 9 The LORD’s voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.
(3.) Ezekiel 18: 4, KJV: 4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
(4.) Ezekiel 18: 20-23, KJV: 20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. 21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. 23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
(5.) 2nd Peter 1: 2-4, KJV: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (6.) Romans 15: 4, KJV: 4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.) 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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