Sunday, September 23, 2018

(09/23/2018) Christian Beliefs Are Forward-looking





Today, reply is on the character and process of the Scriptures as forward-looking. Salvation often requires a clear and complete break with the past (we say, “burning our bridges behind us,” and “new wine into new bottles.”). We should recall Israels lament looking back (Numbers 11: 4-6, King James Version (KJV): 4 And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? 5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: 6 But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.); and Jesus taught, “Remember Lots wife.” (Luke 17: 32, KJV) Christians are to face the future without fear, and continue to acknowledge the Old and New Testament Scriptures because both provide many immutable and unchanging truths. Followers of the Lord are wise to consider that, in the same way it is an error to long for and set our hearts on present circumstances and carnal things, it is an error to examine present events seeking signs and portents from GOD that will foretell the future. For those who will stand before GOD in judgment as disciples of Jesus Christ, their past condition as sinners and transgressors that was written within the Book of Life will be covered by the blood of atonement, and their condemnation is cast into “the sea of forgetfulness” through sacred practices such as rebirth, faith, forgiveness, and hope (the expectation of divine fulfillment for things promised and prophesied). The fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” Religion and Spirituality forum who uses the ID “Anonymous” (Level 1 with 3 points, a member since February 16, 2016) posted the following:



What does the Bible say about missing the past?

I really miss the 90’s and early 2000’s those were the good days, but I heard somewhere that God says don’t look back but keep looking forward, so I was wondering is it a sin?



THE GOLDEN ARROW: What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time. (Nahum 1: 9, King James Version, KJV)



THE DOUBLE DAGGER: “The End Is Near” (03/14/2018); On Facing The Future (01/17/2018); Time and Sacred Events? (03/30/2017); Sin Must Be Personal (04/29/2016); A Dry Thirsty Land (05/01/2016); Sin Turned To Goals (05/02/2016); They Shall Not Be Mentioned (05/03/2016); Remembering Lot’s Wife (11/04/2014); Sinless Until Advent? (11/05/2014)



Anonymous”, be encouraged! Christian believers are to look to the past for admonition, correction, guidance and warnings; even so, their consciousness is to be forward-looking and focused on the Advent of Jesus Christ (we say, his appearing; the harvest; the Rapture; the Second Coming). The revelation of divine fullness (we say, the GODhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) is given to make the Creator knowable, known, accessible, and approachable to all created beings and living creatures. In place of mysteries, puzzles, riddles and secular knowledge sinners who turn to GOD are provided with comfort and edification through gifts that include divine law, sovereign proclamations, covenant promises, prophecy, sacred knowledge, a structured lifestyle, and multiple opportunities for service and sharing within a community of believers. Sinners must become “born again” through baptism, become joined to GOD through the Holy Spirit, and “grow up again” as “developing believers.” Consider the following that uses language from the Bible:

(1.) Deuteronomy 32: 1-7, King James Version (KJV): 1 Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. 2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: 3 Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. 4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. 5 They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation. 6 Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee? 7 Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.

(2.) Ecclesiastes 7: 9-11, KJV: 9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. 10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. 11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.

(3.) Ezra 3: 10-13, KJV: 10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. 11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: 13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

(4.) James 4: 13-17, KJV: 13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

(5.) Matthew 16: 1-4, KJV: 1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. 3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (6.) 1st Thessalonians 4: 13-18, KJV: 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.) 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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