Today’s post addresses the lessons and warnings from Jesus when asked about a recent slaughter of Hebrews by the Romans, and an accident resulting in more than a dozen deaths that was commonly known to have occurred nearby. The “Yahoo! Answers” Top Contributor using ID “Bruce” (Level 7 with 92,590 points, a member since August 12, 2007) posted the following:
What did Jesus mean about tragic deaths by saying, "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish"?
Luke 13:Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? 3 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
THE BATTLE AXE: Our Need for a Son (03/04/2013)—A need for knowledge, relationship and right standing with GOD exits within all created beings and living creatures as an aspect of their makeup and substance that pertains to their completeness, perfection and quality as the handiwork of GOD. By the revelation of himself through flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, the son of GOD from heaven, GOD has further prepared and transformed human awareness so that mankind may eventually display aspects of divine being that include incorruption and immortality. While the existence of GOD does not result from any thing that has been created, the realms of existence (both heaven and earth) and all they contain are useful (yet unnecessary) as artifacts of divine existence that also make known the extent and continuing operation of divine power, presence and sacred purpose. (See Psalms 19: 1-6, Revelation 21: 1-8 and Revelation 22: 1-5, King James Version.)
THE GOLDEN ARROW: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. (2nd Peter 3: 9-14, King James Version)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Golden Age? (01/10/2013); Translation, Please… (01/11/2013); The Price of Humanity? (12/13/2012); Remembering the Holocaust (12/14/2012); According to the Eternal Purpose (11/20/2012); Henceforth, Of This Fruit (11/21/2012); Before the Fruit? (11/10/2012); The Priesthood of Kings (10/17/2012); Childlike Faith (10/18/2012); Life and Death (09/26/2012); Mob Rule and Violence (09/27/2012); The Common Danger (01/02/2013); Put Every Man His Sword By His Side (01/01/2013); Tragedy? (10/23/2010)
Bruce, may I share a few points that should be helpful? The many lessons taught by the account from Saint Luke include warnings against those who believe in GOD for salvation becoming complacent, presumptuous, sedentary, and self-satisfied. For the most correct understanding, a believer should be aware of various issues having influence at that time:
(1) Divisions among the people of Jesus’ day included longstanding ethnic arrogance and racism displayed as enmity between the Jews (i.e., those from the Southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin) and those of the ten tribes to the North that included Galilee. The separation was not merely on political lines that came by the revolt against the house of David through the person of Rehoboam, son of Solomon. Following dissolution of the Unified Kingdom, there were many efforts to replace Jerusalem as the center for observances and worship, including the establishment in the North of worship for the Golden Calf from Egypt.
(2) That men should be slaughtered while worshipping GOD was thought to indict their worship (i.e., could be taken as evidence that their beliefs were false and their practices idolatrous), cast a light of contradiction, and endorsed spiritual confusion regarding divine judgment, salvation, and other sacred operations of GOD. Unlike anger and emotions that come and go or frequently shift, the wrath of GOD against sin must be understood as a continuous and permanent aspect of divinity that makes GOD who he is in relationship with all Creation. Notwithstanding this, the divine provisions for atonement and propitiation of sins also emerge from eternal, unchanging aspects of divinity.
(3) GOD was identified as a direct cause and active agent in all the collective life experience of the covenant people(s). Birth, death, inheritance, sickness and war were all regularly “explained” as actions by GOD independent of all input from mankind. The accountability of mankind was thought to go no further than counsels, desires, petitions and prayers. More than this, human condemnation was seen the result of bad behavior, poor choices and faulty decision making. Jesus demonstrated that human substance (i.e., such elements as faith, holiness and Spirit) is correctly the primary element determining the life conditions and experience of mankind as well as the duration of human existence.
(4) The purpose of death as the tool of GOD was widely understood as only for the destruction of sinners and the punishment of sin. Endorsing those teachings that spoke to the completion of human mortality and divine resurrection for the dead, Jesus manifested the use of death to complete judgment and establish eternal life through mechanisms of rebirth and resurrection. Rather than concern for the recent tragedies, Jesus warned the multitude to have concern for the second death, the lake of fire and the total termination of ones existence.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, emotionalism, excitement and sensationalism are often our focus and response to events in the flesh. Our salvation may be rightly embraced only where we yield to the imparted, indwelling Spirit from GOD. Repentance for sins is not the product of human cravings, feelings, regrets, thoughts and self-will so much as by operation of the Holy Spirit.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
No comments:
Post a Comment