Tuesday, November 20, 2012

(11/20/2012) According to the Eternal Purpose

      Today’s presentation (below) focuses on the church of Jesus Christ as an endowment for the holy angels; and there is more on the value to full Christian belief for those portions of the Bible printed in red ink and identified as the words spoken by our Savior.



THE BATTLE AXE: Reading Only The Red Part (11/19/2012)—As surely as setting a glass of milk or a magazine atop the closed Bible was punishable by “tongue-lashing”, one could never throw a Bible into the trash that had frayed, missing and torn pages. The element of fear in many homes that surrounded the Scriptures, was as serious and solemn as when a flag must be burned after the desecration that occurs when the flag is dropped and touches the soil. Many regarded the red-letter Bible as actually printed using the blood of Jesus, and the red part was not from any book-maker’s ink. Even among scholars, forms of Bible-olatry are found where various collations, footnotes, languages, and translations are exalted as “more scholarly than thou.” Where the Old Testament writings may be characterized as forecasts and projections, New Testament writing is witness and testimony that affirm completed events, and continue the revelation of things already in process that are yet to be fulfilled. Mature believers, who themselves have been touched by the spiritual power of the Bible, generally endorse the counsel given by the Apostle Paul to Timothy, the first bishop and elder appointed to raise up churches among the Gentiles: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2nd Timothy 3: 16, King James Version)



THE GOLDEN ARROW: Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. (Ephesians 3: 8-12, King James Version)



THE DOUBLE DAGGER: To See With New Eyes (11/06/2012); A Partnership? (11/05/2012); Seeking and Being Sought (11/04/2012); When Prayer Works (10/11/2012); Sin Unknown? (10/10/2012); The Gender of Angels? (10/09/2012); Repelled by the Bible? (08/13/2012); Marriage and Civil Law (08/14/2012); Coveting The Throne (03/07/2012); Bible Boring? (09/29/2010); Swearing? (09/30/2010)



      As I sat with my older brother and sister at Sunday morning breakfast, my brother strongly disagreed when I made point based on a Bible verse that is found in the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians. Proclaiming the supremacy of GOD over heaven and earth, I declared that mankind is on display before the holy angels and the living creatures of heaven. The church of Jesus Christ is an instrument for divine purpose that includes communicating sacred truth regarding sin, repentance, and the prolonged existence of spirit being.

      The angels were created as “finished” beings containing the full measure of divine endowment they would use throughout their presence and service before GOD. Included were such gifts as authority, joy, knowledge, and self-will. These holy beings were made having neither mortality nor immortality; and were not to be all-knowing or able to predict the future. Given that GOD did not create sin, sin is not spirit matter, and divine purpose does not include the operation of sin among the created, angels of the host were given no knowledge and understanding of sin, of repentance from sin, or of the evil (i.e., widespread damage, sudden reversals, upheaval) that results by sin. This permits us to say, both men and angels have been created with a peculiar ignorance. Even so, sin first appeared within the heavens; and various divine procedures are now in effect as an endowment that enables all to detect and resist sin.

      For mankind, embracing the earthly ministry, death, resurrection, and eternal priesthood of Jesus through spiritual re-birth establishes a divine nature and sacred will that are untouchable by sin. The breath of life bestowed upon mankind at Creation is increased and supplemented through the Holy Ghost (also called the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, and the Spirit of Prophecy). The divine content that resided within the heart and mind of Jesus are imparted as indwelling spirit. Such features should be seen as awe, faith, hope, humility, longsuffering, love, obedience, truth, wisdom and wrath against sin. When men hear, internalize and live the tenets of the Gospel, their spirit content is transformed; and they begin to operate as sons and daughters of GOD, who display incorruptibility, eternal life, and immortality.

      Thus, for the heavenly host, mankind serves as a living declaration from GOD that depicts otherwise invisible, and unknowable sacred purpose, and spirit truth. The angels do not know family and intimate relationships as men and women; and the ministering spirits are organized according to hierarchies and ranks that include dominions, powers principalities, and thrones. The church revealed as a mate and paramour to GOD perfected by Jesus Christ expresses and proclaims spirit-person and divine will just as Creation, the law, judgment, and prophecy.

      There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, those angelic beings that seek to have dominion in the earth (called demons, devils, unclean spirits) are finite beings who were endowed to exist as princes and rulers within the heavens. These are not suited to reign upon the earth and within the same frameworks and limitations of mankind (e.g., flesh, mortality, time and space). Their efforts to rule will always be frustrated, and smashed apart by such features as death, fear, human error, lack of divine perspective, and mankind’s physical weaknesses.) 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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