Today, reply is on language to correctly describe the transformations of body and mind that must occur for each Christian believer. Doubting in the manner of the Apostle Thomas is not to be commended; however, believing, praising and acknowledging Christ as “my GOD” and “my Lord,” as did Thomas, are not to be dismissed. More than simply fitting in with others, leaving the past behind, seeking self-improvement, or “turning over a new leaf,” repentant sinners are to strive to become Christ-like. The fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” Religion and Spirituality forum who uses the ID “Doubting Like Thomas” (Level 7 with 78,023 points, a member since May 25, 2011) posted the following:
Why does "Let Jesus into your HEART!" sound like a nice invitation while "Let Jesus into your BRAIN!" sounds like a parasitic infestation?After all, the BRAIN is the organ which makes most of the decisions.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3: 13-14, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Those Apt To Teach? (06/20/2018); Changed And Made Christ-like? (06/19/2018); Self-Will And Christian Integrity (06/11/2018); What Divine Salvation Requires (05/15/2018); Accepting Christ, Accepting Change (10/20/2017); Acorns Become Oak Trees? (02/09/2017); Plantings of the Lord (02/10/2017); Become Like Jesus Christ? (10/27/2016)
“Doubting Like Thomas,” the goal of every sinner who returns to divinity through Jesus Christ eventually must become to acquire and display the image of GOD that Jesus revealed by appearing in human form, and ministering on the earth (we say, by his Incarnation). It is inappropriate and unsuitable to speak of Jesus as only being a man in the flesh, the Son of Man (Adam), and a “biological specimen” as though the personhood he shared was only carnal, material, and social. The sinner must undergo a permanent transformation of his own essential makeup that is so all-inclusive and complete, we do not merely say, “from head to toe”, we say, You must be born again! The inborn spirit must die, be buried, and become resurrected, so to speak; and the sinner enters into a rebirth containing divine seed.
Those containing the new seed are “born again,” and become developing believers who must “grow up again” and become mature/ripe by meeting the same life challenges, “growing pains,” hardships, and even sufferings as others on the earth. However, these believers are set apart (we say, dedicated; sanctified) because their fresh endowment of life essence (breath; spirit; word) imparted from the makeup of divinity enables them to exist as sons and daughters of GOD, joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, and those whom the Savior will receive as his harvest from the earth at the Advent (we also say, his appearing; the Rapture; the Second Coming).
Apprehending divinity and becoming Christ-like requires multiple streams of discovery, gradual growth, perseverance, sacred practice, and unselfish service. How we think and speak must express that we are a new creation through Jesus. Thus, believers are encouraged to use meanings and understandings that will acknowledge and strengthen their own and the consciousness in others of the divine presence, the crucial workings of the Holy Spirit, and the interactions among the inseparable, unseen aspects of GOD they have now received. Included are faith, forbearance, forgiveness, holiness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, oneness without sameness, wisdom, and wrath against sin. Developing believers are less like to use such words as “the heart” that describes emotion, deep thoughts, and sentiment; or “the mind” that speaks to attitudes, intelligence, logic, carnal reason, and critical thinking. It is more correct to apply discernment that acknowledges divinity as the origin and source for life, and that recognizes and responds to spirit substance deposited from GOD within events, messages, oneself, other persons, the holy writings, etc. Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:
(1.) Isaiah 55: 6-12, King James Version (KJV): 6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
(2.) Jeremiah 17: 5-10, KJV: 5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
(3.) Philippians 2: 5-11, KJV: 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(4.) Colossians 1: 12-20, KJV: 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (5.) 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.) 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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