Thursday, April 18, 2019

(04/18/2019) The Authenticity of Relics











Matthew 27: 35, King James Version (KJV): 35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. (See image reference below.)





Today, reply is on how relics are determined to be authentic. The imparted gifts (we say, divine seed; the Holy Ghost; spirit substance from the makeup of divine fullness) have been given as the incontestable evidence and witness that endorse the things received by men on the earth that have GOD as their origin and source. Those who sacrifice all to strive for the high prize of GOD are not likely to value relics overmuch. Within the church, relics are not to be used as a conclusive evidence and witness in judgment, or proof that sacred events have occurred, and are actual. Even so, the most important sacred relics have been useful by activating and confirming faith throughout the body of Christ. Included have been clergy, developing Christian believers, evangelical believers, monastics, pilgrims, prophets, stewards, and those who suffer. In many ways, relics are like visions, and are not to be analyzed or questioned. Relics continue to be spoken of as objects that are more relevant to carnal, material, and social living than to acquiring godliness and spirit content. References to relics often appear in fictional accounts, folklore, or legends (e.g., the Holy Grail, the cup filled with wine used as the emblem of his blood when Jesus introduced the Lord’s Supper), and are seldom documented and traced in the writings of academic historians. Given the most well-known relics are identified within the Scriptures, those who acknowledge the diverse holy relics generally agree that their preservation has been accomplished through the grace of divinity in the same way that manuscripts of the holy writings have been discovered, preserved, and passed on. A fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” public forum on Religion and Spirituality who uses the ID “Gone Galt” (Level 3 with 1,657 points, a member since December 04, 2006) posted the following:



What is the authenticity of the Crown of Thorns and other relics saved from Notre Dame fire?

Update: PS -- Yahoo, this is a religious question. Stop changing the category.



THE GOLDEN ARROW: But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 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: 7-14, King James Version, KJV)



THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Keeping Of Relics (04/17/2019); Self-Will And Christian Integrity (06/11/2018); The Meaning of “Faith” (03/28/2018); Divine Priesthood on Earth (01/31/2018); Secular History, Sacred Revelation? (01/11/2018); Relying on Sacred “Evidence” (11/20/2017); Draped Upon The Cross? (02/22/2016); Holy Garments? (09/24/2015)



"Gone Galt", among Christian believers, the operations of faith imparted from the makeup of divinity and the demonstrated presence of revealed eternal purposes of GOD are to determine the authenticity, holiness, integrity, and enduring value for events, man-made objects, oneself, other persons, prophecy, holy writings, etc. Christians are not counseled by GOD to be skeptical or unbelieving, nonetheless, believers are encouraged to stay alert, prepared, and vigilant. Christians are to use their own spirit content from GOD to recognize and respond to spirit content wherever else it appears. Many Christian believers were not aware that there are sacred relics being displayed and maintained as a duty, an inheritance, and a privilege of the church founded by Jesus Christ. Others have long known there are ancient objects and anointed relics being held as treasures by the church, however, they account the significance and value of these items to be no greater than that of ordinary communion ware (e.g., the platen, the monstrance, the chalice). In the effort to avoid false prophecy, academic history, “secular knowledge,” superstition, vanity (emptiness; lack of sacred substance), and worldliness, there are even those who dismiss the idea that relics have any value at all in the modern era. With this in view, numberless believers have been surprised and startled at the recent news that there were relics endangered by the fire that blazed for hours at Notre Dame Cathedral (April 15, 2019, Paris, France). The accord among believers who will meet the Lord at his coming must respond to such principles and understanding as those proclaimed within the Bible. Consider again the following:

1. Psalms 115: 1-8, King James Version (KJV): 1 Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truths sake. 2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? 3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of mens hands. 5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: 6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: 7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. 8 They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.

2. 1st John 2: 15-17, KJV: 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, 3. John 20: 19-29, KJV:  19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.


Image downloaded 9:49 PM, April 17, 2019 @ https://image.slidesharecdn.com/top10relicsofjesuschristpt-i-150928141552-lva1-app6891/95/top-10-relics-of-jesus-christ-pt-1-2-638.jpg?cb=1443449850



THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

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