(03/29/2020) Divine Acceptance of Homosexuality?

The image is being used to depict the challenges regarding repentance and salvation compared to those regarding homosexual conduct and lifestyles.

Today, a Battleaxe continues the discussion of Adam, Eve, and homosexuality. GOD is impartial, and the same condemnation and provisions for salvation are made on behalf of both heterosexuals and homosexuals. Sinners must change to exist before GOD in spirit, rather than in flesh, for there are many conditions and considerations that change the godliness of otherwise lawful conduct. Ones duty to GOD is to change their affection for others, rather than their affections change their duty to GOD. Belief in social privilege as completely the expression of human process and substance denies the effect and power for human life from fixed mechanical process and natural laws as well as from unchanging aspects of divine truth. Many of the present day demonstrations on behalf of homosexuality are not genuine expressions of divine intent. It is as if a committee of those desiring orange juice at breakfast conducted increasingly disruptive and violent protests demanding that apple trees also produce orange juice. Their marches and placards declare there are clear violations of economic opportunity; practices of bias, discrimination, and prejudice; and a withholding of benefits to various groups in the larger population (e.g., those drinking grape juice, grapefruit juice, and tomato juice at breakfast). Insisting that science and technology actually can meet the challenge, the apple growers offer the o-j-lovers the “emperor’s new clothes” requiring that the agitators be warned that the new juice product may have the aroma, calorie count, color, and flavor of apple juice. The ministry of Jesus Christ is not man-made, and does not center in human desire, or what may be accomplished through finite self-will (willpower); rather, the origin and focus of the salvation being offered to all are divine prerogative, eternal purpose, and the sovereign will of GOD. It is written: 1^st Corinthians 3: 16-23, King James Version (KJV): 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your’s; 22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your’s; 23 And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

THE GOLDEN ARROW: He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1: 11-13, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Adam, Eve, and Homosexuality (03/27/2020); The Fall of Mankind (05/16/2019); Responses To Clergy Scandals (03/28/2019); Discernment And Godly Love (06/26/2018); Natural and Spiritual Law? (06/30/2016); Gender, Sex and Christian Beliefs? (05/18/2016); The Judgment Against Sodom? (04/10/2015)

THE BATTLE AXE: Adam, Eve, and Homosexuality (03/27/2020)—(5.) 1^st Corinthians 6: 17-20, KJV: 17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. Fornication is the defilement of spirit substance through sexual joining. Because our appetites and emotional commitments as living persons on the earth may corrupt and defile our relationships with divinity, the operations of human self-will can condemn mankind to irreversible separation from the Creator. Desire appears in the living as a focusing of consciousness and self-will in response to appetite, emotion (e.g., anger, fear, guilt, shame, sorrow), material objects, operations of mind (e.g., fantasy, recall, carnal reason, thought), experiences of sensation (e.g., hearing, seeing, tasting, touching), and operations of sin. Even so, the authority, dominion, and power of consecrated spirit are not to be despised, ignored, overthrown, or suppressed.

(6.) Ezekiel 18: 20-23, KJV: 20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. 21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. 23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? Just as a community may display a statue in the town square, and does not automatically encourage blasphemy, ungodliness, and the worship of idols, all sexual expression has not been labeled by GOD as “original sin” and the transgression of divine law. Among mankind, the judgment of sexual conduct continues to be liberal and tentative, for there are many points of subtlety (i.e., barely visible differences; sudden shifts in meaning and value). Sexual behavior always occurs on many different levels (emotional, physical, psychological, and spiritual) all at the same time. Thus, because of its intent to express love, holding hands and a kiss on the cheek (oral sex) may have enduring power for both partners in a relationship who desire to express continuing innocence and sexual desire. Christian belief, redemption, and salvation acknowledge multiple operations on behalf of mankind that can be carried out only by GOD. Included are atonement, forgiveness, Incarnation, rebirth, redemption, resurrection from the dead, and the second death. Conforming to the standards generated by GOD, who is immortal, incorruptible and invisible, requires that the living receive inseparable aspects from the makeup of divine fullness (e.g., faith, holiness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, wisdom, wrath against sin). While divinity is active presence, and may appear on the earth using human form and flesh, divinity remains spirit, and may indwell the consciousness and self-will of the living.

(7.) Galatians 5: 16-24, KJV: 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Sin opposes the continued existence of divine law, the Lawgiver, and of the divine order that establishes the universe. In the same way authentic human existence now imposes gender, mortality, and other aspects of human makeup that can not be permanently altered or removed by mankind, the presence and process of life essence (breath; spirit; word) imparted from divinity to mankind in Creation does not allow full human control of existence, life, personhood, and purpose. For mankind to exist as a companion of GOD in fruitful relationship also requires that men are to display the image of GOD, and to resemble, reflect, and reveal the character and likeness of Jesus Christ.

(8.) Romans 6: 12-16, KJV: 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 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. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 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? Many mistakenly understand the liberty granted by divinity to mankind through grace to be a suspension of all demands for discipline; for restriction; and for rule through divine law, sacred practice, and the observance of consecrated principle. Sinners who become developing Christian believers may continue to desire approval and endorsement of self-assessment, peer review, and their own strivings to obtain vainglory. Human emotions and feelings of love do not consecrate self-expression and operations by the flesh. The focus of men and women to have lawful relationships in society (same sex marriage) is very different from the process of transformation for eternal life that is being advanced by divine fullness (we also say, divinity; the Godhead; the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit). The issues of being born again and becoming mature/ripe for harvest by the Lord at his appearing (we also say, the Advent; the Rapture; the Second Coming) pertain to the permanent dominion and ownership of Creation, not merely to the privilege for sexual expression within the celestial precincts or among the living on the earth.

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (9.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyAyVT8asxQ.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

Image downloaded 10:27 AM, March 29, 2020 @ https://aaacomputer4christ.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/20151116-054010.jpg?w=1000

THE BLACK PHOENIX

Washington, DC

(06/06/2019) Jesus Had GOD's Approval

Today, reply is on the sacred knowledge and process among Christian believers whereby Jesus Christ is accepted as having been approved of GOD. Believers in Jesus as their Redeemer and Savior choose to exist as life companions to immortal, incorruptible divinity. Thus, it is written: 1^st John 5: 1-10, King James Version (KJV): 1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. A fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” public forum on Religion and Spirituality who uses the ID “Brother Virgil” (Level 1 with 129 points, a member since May 26, 2019) posted the following:

How do we know that Jesus had God’s approval?

THE GOLDEN ARROW: And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen. (Luke 9: 28-36, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Nothing Impossible For GOD? (04/07/2019); One Died For All (04/05/2019); How GOD Speaks Today (12/10/2018); Sinners Must Become Convicted (11/27/2018); The Meaning of “Faith” (03/28/2018); Knowing the Invisible GOD (09/17/2017); How To Know GOD? (12/12/2016); The Transfiguration of Christ (11/14/2016)

“Brother Virgil”, because Christians are to “know” by faith, by works, and by the seals divinity places upon them, here are some points on divine fullness (i.e., Deity; the Godhead; the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit) from the Bible along with some of the ideas I would pass on to my own sons and heirs:

1. Acts 2: 22-24, King James Version (KJV): 22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

2. The appearance of divinity on the earth as Jesus Christ using flesh and the form of mankind (we say, the Incarnation) requires (1) humanity that is authentic through birth, aging, suffering, death, resurrection, and final judgment; (2) a display of personhood that is genuine through patterns of appetite, awareness, emotion, independence, mind, sensation, and finite self-will (willpower); (3) a recognizable endowment of life essence (we say, breath; spirit; word) imparted to mankind from the substance of the Creator as well as (4) a continuous presentation of the inseparable meanings, standards, and values that project a visible image of GOD who is immortal, incorruptible, and invisible.

3. Isaiah 55: 10-12, KJV: 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

4. Accord among the Godhead acknowledges multiple streams of sacred substance that express divine prerogative, eternal purpose, truth, and sovereign will. Included are faith, holiness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, oneness without sameness, righteousness, wisdom, and wrath against sin.

5. Deuteronomy 18: 21-22, KJV: 21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? 22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

6. Romans 14: 17-19, KJV: 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

7. Assurances, discernment of divine presence, and “knowing” (i.e., being certain; being convicted; being sure) emerge by the continuity, confluence, exchange, and interaction of diverse elements describing godly consciousness. Included are doctrine, sacred events (we say, miracles), sacred law, sacred practices (we say, sacraments), praise, prayer, promises, prophecy, oral traditions, spiritual songs, and holy writings.

8. John 14: 10-12, KJV: 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. 12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

9. All who are turned to divinity for sacred knowledge in place of finite human information and secular knowledge are in a process with GOD to receive conclusive declaration following ongoing service. Believers are to watch, wait, witness, and work as divinity provides expressions of consecration (we say, grace, faith, patience, revelation).

10. Ezekiel 12: 22-27, KJV: 22 Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? 23 Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision. 24 For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel. 25 For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord GOD. 26 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying. 27 Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off. 28 Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord GOD.

11. Things known by faith are to become affirmed on the basis of their completion; their fulfillment; the appearance of peace as the resolution of conflict and the settlement of disputes through the application of sacred law; the disclosure of immutable conditions and unchanging operations that will remain unseen, yet, have existed before the foundation of heaven and earth; and the things proclaimed and possible with GOD being made actual before the living.

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, 12. Correctly understood, the device of father/son relationship is used to establish a consciousness of divine process that is to be fruitful among created beings and living creatures. There are no issues of conflicting authorities, persons within the Godhead opposing one another, or multiple deities requiring each other’s actions and approval to manifest their own personhood. Also, 13. John 10: 17-18, KJV: 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

Image downloaded 3:09 PM, June 05, 2019 @ https://fewox.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/son-of-god.jpg

THE BLACK PHOENIX

Washington, DC

(02/15/2015) Judge Thy Neighbor?

Divine love, judgment and the revelation of eternal righteousness are topics, today.  It has been suggested that, where Christian believers love their neighbor as they love themselves, they should also judge their neighbor as they judge themselves.  The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Some” (Level 1 with 8 points, a member since December 02, 2014) posted the following:


Should Christians change the saying love thy neighbor to judge thy neighbor?

I see more of them judging than loving


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  We are of God:  he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.  Beloved, let us love one another:  for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.  (1st John 4:  6-11, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  What to Do About Liars? (11/14/2014); Refraining Our Tongues? (11/15/2014); Scriptures and Judging Others (03/12/2014); Faith Given By GOD (03/13/2013); The Benefit of Law? (11/15/2013); Are Holidays Bad? (11/16/2013)


“Some”, here are a few points to consider that continue to challenge mature Christian believers, who agree they are made in the image of a god of Judgment:

(1.)  Divinity is being made known and visible to mankind through many different sacred devices and operations.  In addition to such process as birth, death, hope, love, promise, and prophecy, the character and nature of the Creator is further revealed and shown through judgment whereby direction, meaning and value are acknowledged and permanently assigned.  While condemnation and punishment may appear as aspects of judgment, features vital for continuity of life also appear such as approval, balance, correction, forbearance, forgiveness, impartiality, mercy, and righteousness.

(2.)  Those who are “born again” become altered through baptism (death of ones inborn spirit, rebirth having substance from the content of divinity).  Through unseen operations by the Spirit of GOD, believers are provided with a fresh endowment of such sacred substances from the makeup of Deity as faith, holiness, truthfulness, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  Believers must “grow up” again facing life challenges upon the earth.  Thus, all must gradually acquire sacred knowledge through study of the Scriptures; become skilled as having discernment (using ones own spirit content to recognize and respond to the spirit matter in events, experiences, other persons, statements, etc.); enter into fellowship with other believers; maintain practices for spiritual growth (we say, sacraments); and be in communication with divinity through prayer.

(3.)  The covenant with GOD shared through Jesus Christ is also an agreement to accept, display, and foster divine love expressed through sacred admonitions, instruction, law, proclamations, and warnings.  With the “good news” of Jesus having triumphed over death in resurrection, we also have it that Christ is our advocate, High Priest, mediator, and spokesperson in all divine judgment.  Sin appears as “non-material”, “non-spirit” phenomena that can not be eliminated using finite tools of intellect, logic, mathematics, philosophy, and science.  Atonement for sin that can only be accomplished through applications of holy blood has been completed through the sacrifice of the cross.

There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.)  Believers share their knowledge of sacred law, and extend their own discipline and rule of truth to others as a divine gift.  Sacred judgment is always a blessing, for judgment is the resolution of conflict and the settlement of disputes through hallowed law.  Peace is never the outcome of war; war repeatedly promotes bitterness, distrust, fear, hate, loss, resentment, and more war.  Peace is the fruit of righteous judgment.  We say believers are the “salt of the earth” partly because, those having no direct part in the covenant of love with Christ may still receive benefit through the operations of judgment within his holy kingdom.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to the measure of your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC