(12/22/2019) Blame and Punishment Removed?

Today, reply is on the multiple appearances of blame and punishment within the holy writings. For created beings and living creatures to correctly discern and resist the operations of sin, all must receive fresh endowments of spirit substance imparted from the makeup of GOD. Sin has not been put forth from divinity, has no sacred content, and is no ordinary physical object you may put in your pocket. Sin opposes the continued existence of all sacred law, the Lawgiver, and the divine order that serves as the universe. Sin promotes a return to the chaos, confusion, and flux that were in place before the founding of heaven and earth (we say, preexistence). Sin may dominate consciousness and self-will (willpower) within the living; and can not be controlled or eliminated using finite human tools such as emotion, imagination, logic, and carnal reason. Responding to sin, to one another, and to GOD require a correct understanding of sin. Divine mechanisms and operations now exist to release mankind from sin, and restore the living as companions to divinity. It is written: Ezekiel 33: 11-20, King James Version (KJV): 11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. 13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. 14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; 15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. 16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live. 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. One of the fighters at “Yahoo! Answer” using the ID “Anonymous” (no profile is shared) posted the following:

If all references to blame and punishment were removed from the Bible, would it represent a better set of teachings, despite being shorter?

Updated 2 mins ago:

Or are blame and punishment simply too central to Christian teachings, the Bible would lose a lot of its appeal to the simple minded followers who yearn for people to be punished?

THE GOLDEN ARROW: And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20: 10-15, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Sin Opposes All Existence (12/13/2019); More Required Than Crucifixion? (12/10/2019); A Death Penalty Necessary? (11/27/2019); The Commandments Against Sin (11/26/2019); The Perfection Of Divinity (09/17/2019); The Penalty of Death? (04/26/2019); Divine Priesthood on Earth (01/31/2018)

“Anonymous”, a full and complete revelation of GOD requires the appearance of divinity on the earth using human flesh as Jesus Christ. The teachings of the Bible focus on the appearance of the divine priesthood on the earth entrusted to Adam that was patterned after the sacred operations within heaven where Jesus is High Priest. The issues of correction and remission for sin with forgiveness and reconciliation exist as (1) artifacts of divine order, (2) immutable conditions for the continuance of heaven and earth, (3) the sanctions appearing within the law, (4) unchanging eternal purpose, and (5) the expressed will of divinity (we say, the proclaimed, sovereign will of GOD). Through divine works (e.g., anointing, birth, aging, death, resurrection) that make divinity knowable, known, visible and approachable, created beings and living creatures are granted “sacred knowledge” and inseparable spirit substance from the makeup of GOD that men must contain so they bear the image of GOD, and may resemble, reflect, and reveal the character and likeness of Jesus Christ. Included are balance, completeness, faith, forbearance, holiness, joy, longsuffering, lovingkindness, oneness without sameness, personhood, wisdom, and wrath against sin.

When divine fullness appeared to Moses, GOD permitted the prophet to see aspects of his glory, and declared to Moses with an audible voice how divinity was to be known and spoken of. In addition to the authority and power that appear in Creation, the presence of GOD who is immortal, incorruptible, and invisible spirit is to be acknowledged as a deliverer and savior, and as a “God of judgment.” Judgment involves more than condemning and damning finite human attitudes, behavior, and conduct. Divine judgment includes (when possible) applying mercy to those who are guilty; assigning and establishing meaning, standards, and values; delivering admonitions, cautions, and warnings; determining the absence/presence of divine substance; distributing divine rewards; eliminating the operations, presence, and effects of sin from the universe; gathering and grouping tools and workers; making visible otherwise hidden aspects of divine fullness (e.g., grace, impartiality, restraint, righteousness); providing clear examples that demonstrate correct responses to divinity; and continuing existence along with eternal life. Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible; and a selection from the music ministry of Steve Green:

(1.) Exodus 34: 4-8, King James Version (KJV): 4 And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone. 5 And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. 8 And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.

(2.) Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14, KJV: 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

(3.) 1^st Corinthians 3: 11-17, KJV: 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uZcGaixMhg.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

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THE BLACK PHOENIX

Washington, DC

(08/24/2014) Some People Are Just Bad?

The idea that some are bad people who can not be saved, comes into view, today.  A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “Darryl” (Level 2 with 604 points, a member since October 28, 2010) posted the following:


Where does the Bible stand on this issue? 

As a Christian, I believe there are some people who are just bad people - not good people who do bad things bad just bad evil people that no matter what their background, opportunities or lack of, life, socio-economic background, etc will be bad people.

I do think most criminals do suffer from disadvantages, trauma, low intelligence, etc that led them to do bad things but could have been good people.

But I do believe there are such thing as truly bad people - where does the bible stand on this ?

I also believe that a man is defined but what he does - so if a man does bad things - he is a bad man and vice-versa.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the LORD toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house that I have built for thy name:  Then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.  If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near;  Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness;  And so return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name:  Then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling place, and maintain their cause,  And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them:  (1st Kings 8:  44-50, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Humility Needed for Salvation? (08/15/2014); False Angels of Light? (08/16/2014); All Sins Are Equal? (06/25/2014); Sanctify Yourselves? (06/26/2014); Self-control and Law (04/15/2014); A Conflict of Interest? (04/16/2014); A Conflict of Interest? (03/17/2014); Unclear Scriptures? (03/18/2014)


“Darryl”, here are a few points to consider for a correct understanding of the Bible, of mankind, and of salvation:

(1.)  The holy writings document eternal purpose, covenant relationships, sacred events (we say, miracles), godly interventions, and operations carried out by the Spirit of GOD whereby divinity has been shown to be active and present (we say, revealed) to created beings and living creatures.  While thousands of lives over the course of thousands of years are used to establish a clear image of the Invisible, the Scriptures are very different from writing intended for academic study, amusement (we say, entertainment, fiction, stories), biographies, history, and philosophical speculation.  Believers are to internalize and experience aspects of spirit process and spirit substance that pertain to the full person of GOD.  Through their baptism (death of ones inborn spirit, rebirth having divine content) followers of Jesus are different from all other finite beings, including angels and men.

(2.)  By operating through and upon their awareness and self-will, sin may dominate created beings and living creatures.  Sin was first recognized as an ungodly influence among the holy angels, and later was introduced upon the earth.  Sin opposes the continued existence of divine law, of sacred knowledge, of GOD as sovereign, and of uninterrupted divine order throughout the earth, the heaven, and the entire universe.

(3.)  In addition to diversity, the life process for mankind embraces divinely directed change and transformation on many levels, and through multiple mechanisms.  Within the frameworks of time and space provided for order among mankind, the final judgment of individuals and of the human race often seems to be delayed, or postponed.  However, the process of GOD is eternal; therefore, only ones death can deny their possibility of salvation.  Ongoing, yet, unseen divine operations include atonement, birth, death, redemption, and sanctification that are accomplished using great subtlety (barely visible differences; hidden shifts and changes).  The person you condemn in this hour, may not yet be irreversibly condemned by GOD, and may have had a saving encounter with Christ by the next time you see him or her.

(4.)  The Adversary encourages men to believe that they are doomed, and can never be saved.  He encourages despair, bitterness, death, and sin by declaring there are those GOD can not claim.  Nothing is impossible for GOD; yet, salvation is by divine grace, not by human deeds and works.  To be fully aware of their place with GOD through judgment and mercy, there is the condition that men willingly accept and acknowledge the provisions from GOD.

There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (5.)  In accounts such as Noah’s flood, and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the eternal wrath of GOD against sin is demonstrated.  The Scriptures plainly declare that all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD.  With this in view, even clergy, those in covenant relationships, those ordained as kings, priests, and prophets—those who have not sinned—the rich as well as the poor, all stand in need of the one salvation provided from GOD through Jesus Christ.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC