(04/29/2016) Sin Must Be Personal

Today, points are shared on the cross making sin visible as congenital, organic, and personal.  So long as sin is dealt with only using terms that are academic, analytical, distant, and impersonal, sinners will comprehend no need for atonement, propitiation, and the blessings from the cross.  Salvation will continue to them as nonsense, remote, and superfluous until they resist and restrict their own sin through change, confession, rebirth, growth, repentance, sacred practice, and sanctification.  Where the sinner can not grasp the desperate need of a murderer for pardon from GOD, the horror in a thief’s need for mercy continuing to go unanswered, and the inescapable predicament that will be faced by family, friends, and others, the sinner will continue as blind to the surpassing goodness, grace, lovingkindness, and righteousness of GOD.  One of the many fighters at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Anonymous” (required  profile information not shared) posted the following:

Just one thing I have trouble understanding?

Is how are all sins = when the U.S will give a murderer a higher penalty than a theif?

Also I'd rather have something stolen from me, than to be murdered. I don't think its fair that a murderer has just as a = chance in heaven than a theif.

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.  For in that he died, he died unto sin once:  but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin:  but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.  For sin shall not have dominion over you:  for ye are not under the law, but under grace.  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  (Romans 6:  8-16, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  GOD’s Answer to Injustice? (04/28/2016); It Takes The Cross (04/22/2016); Sin As Our Inheritance? (06/08/2015); Finite Will, Self-will and Sin? (06/01/2015); Living not Dying for Our Sins? (11/27/2014); Eternal Life By Means of Carnal Death? (11/28/2014)

“Anonymous”, in the same way the blood of Jesus Christ must flow from the cross in spite the barriers of time and space to immerse us within divine atonement and propitiation, disciples and followers of the Lord must be touched by the cross to realize that sin is “personal”.  Until  one acknowledges their own accountability for sin, experiences their own disgrace, guilt, and shame, or correctly responds to the threat of their own eternal separation from divinity, their hearts and minds will only be committed to argument and debate where sin as an abstraction, a weakness found only within others, and no cause for alarm or change on their own part.  Christian believers are to experience rebirth, wherein one receives a fresh endowment of spirit content from the makeup of Deity.  Inseparable aspects of the full GODhead are imparted such as faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, love, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  It is the Spirit of GOD that permits us to realize the enormity of sin as a contradiction of all existence.  Because you are still operating using finite scales where sins are being measured as “bad”, “worse”, and “worst of all,” your comprehension and spiritual growth are being “stunted”.   Sin opposes the continued existence of all divine law, the Law Giver, and all Creation that depends upon law for divine order.  It is written:

(1.)  Philippians 2:  5-11, King James Version (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.

(2.)  2nd Peter 3:  5-10, KJV:  5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:  6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:  7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.  8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  9 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.  10 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.

There is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (3.)  1st John 1:  5-10, KJV:  5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:  7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(04/28/2016) GOD's Answer to Injustice?

The death of Jesus Christ upon the cross as a divine provision for healing and justice is in view, today.  By establishing faith, hope (i.e., specific sacred expectations), and victory over death through resurrection and ascension, the cross serves as the remedy for multiple evils among believers and within the society at large.  The disciples of the Lord are further equipped to meet challenges that include being falsely accused, betrayal, inequality, oppression, poverty, pretension, presumption, slander, and tyranny.  Divinity is by no means blind, indifferent, unaware, or uncaring.  The writer at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Gift” (Level 1 with 73 points, a member since March 31, 2016) posted the following:

What is God's encouragement for those disheartened because of injustice ?

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ:  (he is Lord of all:)  That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;  How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power:  who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.  And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:  Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;  Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.  And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.  (Acts 10:  36-42, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Trust and The Cross? (04/20/2016); The World and The Cross? (04/19/2016); A Guarantee of Judgment? (04/15/2016); Enduring As A Believer? (12/06/2015); All Is Vanity? (07/28/2015); Assurances of Salvation? (10/07/2013); Of War and Judgment (10/08/2013); Heart, Brain or Spirit? (10/09/2013)

“Gift”, for many the death of Jesus Christ upon the cross has been only a spark that kindles the fires of bereavement, condemnation, loss, and sorrow.  The Lord was arrested, provoked, and falsely accused before the High Priest and Sanhedrin court.  He also was tried, mocked, and scourged by Herod and by Pontius Pilate, representing the civil law of Judea, and the Roman empire.  Even so, in the plan of GOD to make Deity fully knowable, and correctly known to created beings and living creatures, the cross is the foremost answer from GOD addressing the vast range of needs for affirmation, comfort, empathy, and encouragement.  Mature Christians trust that, through operations of the Holy Spirit, blood, correction, and truth from the cross continue to flow to here and now.  Like mercy, justice is a rubric of judgment—restoring balance and peace by applying divine law (i.e., the expressed will of GOD) to resolve conflict and settle disputes.  Justice and mercy become accessible only by entering into judgment, and are never the outcome of reprisal, retribution, and revenge.  The outcome of judgment always is blessing.  The demands of judgment include agreement, attention to detail, authority, balance, completeness, corroboration, discipline, discovery, humility, impartiality, lawfulness, order, righteousness, truth, and unity.  Injustice (simply put, unfair treatment) relates to bias, denial of benefits, oppression, persecution, prejudice, and violation of ones privileges and rights established through law.  It is faith and the promises of GOD that allow believers to close their spirit to injustice.  Thus, the cross also should be respected as an assurance that divinity will prevail over all corruption, cruelty, violence, and miscarriage of judgment.  Consider again how these ideas are shared using language from the Bible:

(1.)  Malachi 3:  13-18, King James Version (KJV):  13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?  14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God:  and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?  15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.  16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another:  and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.  17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.  18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

(2.)  Romans 5:  17-19, KJV:  17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)  18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

(3.)  Ecclesiastes 5:  8, KJV:  8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter:  for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

There is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.)  Exodus 34:  4-8, 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.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(04/27/2016) Products of The Cross?

Points are shared on evolution, salvation, and believers as products of the cross.  The attitudes, behavior and thoughts within mankind that result from the operations of sin are not justified by the blood of the cross.  Only rebirth, permanent change, sanctification, and walking in the Spirit are atoned for and justified.  Thereby the disciples and followers of Christ are made to exist as “a new creation.”  The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “R&S007” (Level 6 with 18,970 points, a member since June 28, 2010) posted the following:

Are religious people the most fit products of evolution ?

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:  Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.  (1st Timothy 6:  20-21, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  The Cross and Critical Thinking? (04/13/2016); The Cross was Premature? (04/07/2016); Not Through Human Will? (01/29/2016); The Scale of Salvation? (12/13/2015); Growing Up Again? (12/09/2015); By More Than Believing (12/04/2015); An Eternal Plan and Process (07/05/2015); Believers and Evolution? (02/02/2015)

“R&S007”, through operations of the Holy Spirit, blood, correction, and truth from the cross are flowing to here and now, because sin can not be eliminated, removed or even resisted relying upon finite human tools of intellect, logic, mathematics, philosophy, science, and technology.  Mature Christian believers count themselves to be products of the cross (i.e., a spiritual process entailing, atonement, life, death, rebirth, judgment, forgiveness, mercy, resurrection, and eternity), rather than outcomes of “evolution”, a set of human ideas to describe the mechanical and natural processes recognizable as the order established by divinity through Creation.  By Jesus Christ appearing as divinity incarnate (we say, in flesh and bone), specific tools are provided for the transformation of created beings and living creatures to serve Deity as immortal, incorruptible life companions.  In addition to sacred knowledge, there must be sanctification, sacred practice, and the in-filling of believers with inseparable aspects of the spirit content that are the makeup of divinity (e.g., faith, holiness, joy, love, righteousness, wisdom, and wrath against sin).  Consider again how these ideas are shared using language from the Bible:

(1.)  John 3:  6-7, King James Version (KJV):  6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

(2.)  John 4:  23-24, KJV:  23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth:  for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  24 God is a Spirit:  and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

(3.)  Romans 8:  28-31, KJV:  28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called:  and whom he called, them he also justified:  and whom he justified, them he also glorified.  31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

There is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually taken in.  (For example, (4.)  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

(04/26/2016) The Forms of Prophecy?

The forms and process of prophecy, divine revelation, and the cross are in view, today.  The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “A-Theist” (Level 7 with 32,417 points, a member since August 01, 2012) posted the following:

Christians what's the point of following prophecy for believers?

Didn't the book of John clearly stipulate that prophecy is for non-believers?

Update:  @Queen: John 20:31.

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and pourtray upon it the city, even Jerusalem:  And lay siege against it, and build a fort against it, and cast a mount against it; set the camp also against it, and set battering rams against it round about.  Moreover take thou unto thee an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron between thee and the city:  and set thy face against it, and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it. This shall be a sign to the house of Israel.  Lie thou also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it:  according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt bear their iniquity.  For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days:  so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.  And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days:  I have appointed thee each day for a year.  Therefore thou shalt set thy face toward the siege of Jerusalem, and thine arm shall be uncovered, and thou shalt prophesy against it.  (Ezekiel 4:  1-7, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Revelation and The Cross (03/27/2016); The Last Prophet? (09/27/2015); Manifest Only Unto Us? (05/01/2015); The Spirit of Truth? (02/11/2015); Why Prophets Were Sent to Israel (11/23/2014); The Need for Prophecy Then and Now (11/24/2014); Prophetic Demonstrations (09/06/2013); Why GOD Prayed to GOD (09/07/2013)

“A-Theist”, followers of Christ are to trust that, through operations of the Holy Spirit, blood, correction, and truth from the cross are flowing to here and now.  The death of Jesus Christ upon the cross is a “prophetic demonstration” (i.e., a sacred event performed by a spokesperson from GOD that indicates and portrays divine intent, eternal purpose, and continuing process from divinity).  Prophecy is an aspect of full revelation whereby GOD, who is completely spirit, is made knowable and known to created beings and living creatures.  Prophecy is provided from GOD throughout the holy writings, however, does not always appear in the form of audible utterances (we say, messages, proclamations, and verbal statements) from the Holy Spirit (also called, the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Prophecy, the Spirit of Truth).  Given presence of the Spirit is also made visible and manifest through sacred gifts that include healing, miracles, speaking in tongues, and interpreting tongues, there are counsels to the early church declaring the potential of prophecy to confuse and misdirect those not part of the congregation, who have not been prepared to receive spirit content, and who are strangers to the body.  Consider how this is stated using language from the Bible:

(1.)  Ezekiel 4:  9-15, King James Version (KJV):  9 Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentiles, and millet, and fitches, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof, according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon thy side, three hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof.  10 And thy meat which thou shalt eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels a day:  from time to time shalt thou eat it.  11 Thou shalt drink also water by measure, the sixth part of an hin:  from time to time shalt thou drink.  12 And thou shalt eat it as barley cakes, and thou shalt bake it with dung that cometh out of man, in their sight.  13 And the LORD said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them.  14 Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted:  for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.  15 Then he said unto me, Lo, I have given thee cow’s dung for man’s dung, and thou shalt prepare thy bread therewith.

(2.)  1st Corinthians 14:  1-5, KJV:  1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.  2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God:  for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.  3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.  4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.  5 I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied:  for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

(3.)  Romans 8:  26-27, KJV:  26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:  for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:  but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

(4.)  1st Corinthians 14:  22-24, KJV:  22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not:  but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.  23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?  24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

There is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually taken in.  (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

(04/25/2016) Sin Also Made Incarnate?

The incarnations whereby divinity and sin were made visible upon the cross are in view, today.  Sin does not serve life; nor does sin promote godliness.  Sin attacks everyone and everything that exists; and is arbitrary, indiscriminate, and unsystematic in the way its operations target the living.  Because sin does not appear through sacred process and expressions of the divine will, it is not correct to say the Son of GOD committed sin, or was influenced by sin to display corruption in attitude, behavior, or spirit.  Even so, it is correct to say, the Son of GOD, being in a visible form, through operations of the Spirit of GOD, would be used as a vessel in unseen sacred processes whereby the full substance of sin might be confined, and then destroyed.  A writer at “Yahoo! Answers (Philippines)” using the ID “Political Commentator” (Level 1 with 5 points, a member since December 08, 2015) posted the following:

2 Corinthians 5:21 - What is the meaning of this passage in the New Testament?

2 Corinthians 5:21 - For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
----------------------------------------...

Does it mean that God became sinful by becoming flesh, as the human body has always been prone to sin, and under the influence of Satan's dominion due to the Sin of First Human Ancestors Adam and Eve -

1 John 5:19 - We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind:  for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.  For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:  Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:  Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.  (1st Peter 4:  1-5, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  The Cross a Human Sacrifice? (04/18/2016); Revelation and The Cross (03/27/2016); 3 Persons, 3 Minds? (02/03/2016); The Bridge To Heaven (01/27/2016); Human Life to Manifest Divine Life? (05/14/2015); Living not Dying for Our Sins? (11/27/2014); Eternal Life By Means of Carnal Death? (11/28/2014)

“Political Commentator”, mature Christian believers acknowledge divine law, the use of flesh by divinity to appear upon the earth, and the death of Jesus Christ upon the cross as aspects of a full sacred process (we say, revelation) to make Deity knowable and known to created beings and living creatures.  GOD is a spirit who has put forth material beings, their spheres of activity and life as well as conditions for their duration.  For there to be sacred knowledge that details the character, nature, and substance of divinity, spirit content must be imparted from the makeup of GOD.  Included are inseparable aspects of Deity such as faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, love, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  

Sin also must become incarnate (i.e., made visible as flesh) because the operations of sin dominate awareness and self-will in the living.  Sin may not be destroyed as an ordinary material object.  Sin has no fixed form, yet, has direction, effect, and presence.  Where men lack discernment that comes through a fresh endowment of spirit substance, sin does not appear as contrary, foreign, and antagonistic to flesh.  Many believe sin to be normal, natural, and necessary for life.  Even so, sin opposes the continued existence of divine law, the Law Giver, and all Creation that relies upon sacred law for divine order.

The “exceeding sinfulness of sin” can not be properly detected, recognized and resisted using only finite human tools such as mathematics, philosophy, politics, science and technology.  Again, sin may dominate the living, has no divine content, has not been put forth by the Creator, and opposes the continued existence of the universe.  Multiple sacred operations have been provided to counteract sin (e.g., covenant, inheritance, redemption, rebirth), however, the complete elimination of sin requires the second death that follows final judgment.  Consider how this is stated using language from the Bible:

(1.)  Romans 7:  12-14, King James Version (KJV):  12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.  13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.  14 For we know that the law is spiritual:  but I am carnal, sold under sin.

(2.)  Romans 7:  18-23, KJV:  18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:  for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.  19 For the good that I would I do not:  but the evil which I would not, that I do.  20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.  21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.  22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:  23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

(3.)  Romans 3:  19-23, KJV:  19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law:  that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.  20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight:  for by the law is the knowledge of sin.  21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;  22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:  for there is no difference:  23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

(4.)  1st Corinthians 15:  53-57, KJV:  53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

There is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (5.)  Romans 8:  1-5, KJV:  1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  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.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(04/24/2016) The Dimensions of Death?

Today, points, insights and lessons from the cross are shared on how we describe and understand death.  Death is not always bloody, filled with fear, and characterized by physical pain.  The carnal state that men account as death upon the earth is a only a preamble to the second death that endures as a seal upon eternity.  For those who embrace the death of Jesus and his resurrection as their own, eternal life has already begun.  Absence and presence of pain, amounts of blood lost, body counts (we say, death tolls), how directly a cause, outcome or punishment for sin, duration (how long it takes from start to finish), finality, impact, permanence, quantities of courage and fear evoked, and the location or setting of ones death are measurable using finite human senses (e.g., hearing, seeing, tasting, touching).  However, there also are aspects of death that can not be measured using the frameworks of space and time.  Rightly understood, the completion of mortality is as much a sacred event as any having strong emotional, mental, political, psychological, and social aspects.  In the same way, the purity or sin in the lives of two different persons can not be known correctly only upon the basis of things external and surface, what they experience in death—even at the same time and place, appearing as a single incident—can not be known to be the same for both deceased.  The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “OmanLittle” (Level 2 with 622 points, a member since January 13, 2016) posted the following:

Why do people say that Jesus suffered the worst death ever when there were 2 other people on the cross?

I've heard of worse stories of death. Just ask Vlad the Impaler. Or victims of the brazen bull in Ancient Greece. Heck, Jesus had it easy in life. If I was born the son of God with people worshiping me 24/7 then I'd find life pretty easy. Christians are so dramatic

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:  for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.  (1st Corinthians 15:  50-58, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  It Takes the Cross (04/22/2016); The Cross a Human Sacrifice? (04/18/2016); A Guarantee of Judgment? (04/15/2016); Life Is In Blood (12/08/2015); More Than Death Needed (12/07/2015); The Return to Dust? (06/14/2015); Gall Refused on the Cross? (03/20/2015); The Agony of Death? (03/22/2015)

“OmarLittle”, trust that, through operations of the Holy Spirit, blood, correction, and truth from the cross are flowing to here and now.  The death of GOD appearing in flesh as Jesus Christ is understood by mature Christian believers as an aspect of the full revelation of divinity whereby Deity must become knowable and known to created beings and living creatures.  Eternal life is GOD’s intent, and both blood and death became necessary as GOD’s tools.  The elements that describe death go beyond physical pain.  There also are emotional, psychological and spiritual agony as well as a form of peace, release, sleep, suffocation, and the separation of flesh and divine Spirit.

The operations of sin oppose the continued existence of divine law, the Law Giver, and all divine order. Sin is no “thing” created by divinity, has no spirit content from the GODhead, and may not be destroyed or eliminated as a common object.  Sin has direction, effect, and “presence”, and may dominate awareness and self-will within the living.  Sin can not influence divine will, thus, through such sacred operations as water baptism (death of ones inner spirit, rebirth having divine spirit content from the makeup of GOD) mankind is transformed to continue as a “new creation of GOD”.  Christian believers become endowed with inseparable aspects of Deity including faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  

What we now understand as “death” first appears during the Creation of Adam (while a rib was extracted and fashioned to be a woman); and, there is no indication that death must always be painful, can not be “ended” or reversed, or must occur completely within a moment as opposed to continually over time.  Death is effective as a tool to stop sinners from continuing to sin; however, the consequences of their wicked actions, attitudes, and behavior may go on indefinitely long after they are deceased.  The removal of sin, therefore, requires atonement, forgiveness, judgment, sanctification, and other sacred operations.  The vessels of sin, that have rejected divine mercy, and no longer respond to divine will, finally must be irreversibly destroyed through the Lake of Fire.  Consider again how these ideas are shared using language from the Bible:

(1.)  Romans 5:  8-11, King James Version (KJV):  8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.  10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.  11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

(2.)  1st Corinthians 15:  20-22, KJV:  20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

(3.)  Romans 5:  14-17, KJV:  14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.  15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.  16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift:  for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.  17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

There is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually taken in.  (For example, (4.)  Revelation 21:  7-8, KJV:  7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.  8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone:  which is the second death.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(04/22/2016) It Takes The Cross

Points are shared on mankind’s need for the cross as a divine response providing support to human efforts that address relief for death and suffering.  The need for love that operates as unselfish action is not simply an imperative for mankind.  The entire universe and all Creation must have elements from divinity that appear as divine order, eternal purpose, and sacred process. It takes the “hand of GOD” to maintain ongoing existence with life, death, hope, and multiple possibilities for change; and it takes the cross as a ground for believers to be rooted in assurance, balance, empathy, imparted spirit content, and truth.  Mature Christian believers are to trust that answers are continuing to flow to us across time and space through operations of the Holy Spirit, and blood and truth from the cross are reaching to here and now.  Bias, prejudice, and error in judgment persist primarily through false assumptions, vain hopes, sentiment, and inability to restrict ones focus to the specifics of faith and sacred evidence.  The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” who uses the ID “Methane Mama” (Level 7 with 87,759 points, a member since November 02, 2010) posted the following:

Christians, why would you want to worship a God that bestows blessings upon you, while ignoring the desperate pleas of dying children?

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.  To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.  (1st Peter 5:  6-11, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Sign of Divine Love? (04/14/2016); A Guarantee of Judgment? (04/15/2016); Love From The Cross? (04/08/2016); Faith and The Cross? (03/30/2016); Punishment To Show Love? (11/29/2015)

“Methane Mama”, experienced persons in our world who actually do the work of seeking to save the dying (and don’t just talk about it) all understand that, because we  have only finite abilities, crude skills and tools, and may only truly address the things that are external, mechanical, and surface, another dimension and level of “possibility” must come into ones understanding.  To care and dare, is to risk failure, frustration, and betrayal of everything that makes you feel good about yourself.  Despite its fixed patterns for assigning value, decision-making, and exchange, the strength of intellect, mind, and self-will easily become battle-worn, fatigued, and overwhelmed without the safeguards and shields derived through ones inward spirit content.  The assurances provided by divinity, such as Jesus Christ dying upon the cross, provide distance and perspective essential for binding death, and breaking the chains from despair, fear, ignorance, and hopelessness. 

Mature belief in the divine operations pertaining to life are a crucial platform for being focused, grounded, and stable.  The acknowledgement of GOD (we say, praise, reverence, worship) is “existential”, meaning, like having to breathe in and out, taking in food, and putting waste away from ones organs, it is an unavoidable condition for mankind to continue as “alive” upon the earth.  Accepting the limits imposed by our Creator include having no ability to fashion  or acquire knowledge about Deity except through blessings (we say, gifts), divine revelation, and spirit provisions from GOD.  While social importance, carnal pleasure, and satisfaction through material things are possible for created beings and living creatures, desire, self-promotion, self-will and “will power” alone can not eliminate, remove or undo sin, suffering, and wickedness.

It is by the blessing of GOD that we are not emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually crushed by the continuing presence of death in the earth.  Tragedies occur that may be as far away as Ecuador, Houston Texas, or Japan, yet, without strength from GOD, we are impotent, and may only be onlookers who feel a deep sense of loss within our own homes, within our own hearts.  The cross has been granted as an inarguable evidence of divine love, and it is a “good-faith” gesture proclaiming that believers will receive a divine inheritance.  Consider again how these ideas are shared using language from the Bible:

(1.)  Romans 8:  13-17, King James Version (KJV):  13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die:  but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.  14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:  17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

(2.)   2nd Corinthians 1:  21-22, KJV:  21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;  22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

(3.)  Romans 8:  22-25, KJV:  22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.  23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.  24 For we are saved by hope:  but hope that is seen is not hope:  for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?  25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

There is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually taken in.  (For example, (4.)  1st Peter 2:  6-10, KJV:  6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.  7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious:  but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,  8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient:  whereunto also they were appointed.  9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;  10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God:  which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC