Access to divinity, judging others, and recovery from the Fall of Adam are topics, today. For Christian believers, knowing GOD means having certainty that comes by faith, and that asserts GOD is, has spoken, and has done and will do according to his word. This form of knowing should increase as a heightened awareness that the divine spirit is present and active. More than doing a work to censure, criticize and punish others, sinners must achieve their own intimate relationship to GOD as a son or daughter, and joint-heir through Jesus Christ. Our inner substance as created beings and living creatures must be altered by operations of divine Spirit so that our daily routines of life display a testimony like that of Job. It is written: Job 19: 25-27, King James Version (KJV): 25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. Grounded in sacred fellowship, knowledge and practice, the believer is to regularly use discernment to correctly recognize the divine spirit content in events, messages, oneself, and other persons. The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Thomas” (Level 1 with no information on points earned, a member since October 24, 2013) posted the following:
Do only bad people get into heaven?
I mean like Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Islamic radicals, criminals who repent without changing their behavior, etc. as long as they believe in the God of Abraham, right? That is why I shall burn in hell for all of eternity.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (James 4: 1-8, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: To Him That Hath... (07/08/2016); About Other People’s Beliefs (06/22/2016); Knowing? (05/24/2015); According to This Word (09/20/2013); His Burden Is Light? (09/21/2013); A Relationship not Just Knowledge? (06/25/2013); Lost Without GOD? (06/26/2013); How Was GOD Known Before Jesus? (10/06/2012); Jesus, King of Earth? (10/07/2012)
“Thomas”, don’t let your anger against, condemnation for, and disappointment with others claiming to “know” GOD deprive you of your own personal relationship to Deity through Jesus Christ. Given GOD has already judged against mankind in his response to Adam and Eve as a correct expression of the divine will, we as sinners provide no blessing by casting one another down, and doing nothing to cleanse, heal, or lift each other up. Through the Son, the Father has made a way for many to escape the condemnation now in place. Even so, until sinners on the earth begin to take up sacred (instead of secular) knowledge, embrace fellowship with those who are spiritually more experienced, and observe specific divinely provided practices (we say, sacraments), they can not have their own genuine experience of divinity being alive and present with power. In the same way, many claim to “know” a star athlete (e.g., Lebron James, Peyton Manning, Michael Phelps, Serena Williams), yet, only have understandings that come from episodes (i.e., scattered events), the media, or 2nd and 3rd hand reports, many will say, “I know GOD” on the basis of “he-said-she-said.” Inseparable aspects from the makeup of GOD must be received and operate within a person as “new life” and rebirth. Included are faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, meekness, wisdom, and wrath against sin. Those who are “born again” also must “grow up again” meeting the same “growing pains,” life challenges, and suffering as all others in the earth. GOD is a spirit, and can not be engaged using finite human tools that are merely carnal, intellectual, material and social. Truly knowing GOD is possible because the character, nature, and substance of his Son, Jesus, can be imparted to a believer, and promotes permanent changes through gradual growth, learning, and maturing. Consider again how some of this is stated in the language of the Bible:
(1.) Titus 1: 15-16, King James Version (KJV): 15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
(2.) Matthew 22: 29, KJV: 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
(3.) John 17: 1-3, KJV: 1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
(4.) 1st John 5: 20, KJV: 20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
(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.
There is far more that should be said, be carefully examined, and be spiritually understood. (For example, (6.) 2nd Corinthians 13: 5, KJV: 5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
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