(08/21/2016) Wages, Points and Rewards?

Today, focus is upon the believer’s work to spread the gospel for the salvation of others.  For the born-again believer, their regular way of living as one saved includes such features as comforting others, overcoming hardship, learning and spiritual growth, preaching the cross, prophesying, rejoicing in the Lord, sacrifice, sharing the hope from GOD in Christ, suffering, and preparing to greet the Lord at his coming.  The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Red” (Level 3 with 1,085 points, a member since April 09, 2016) posted the following:

Do Christians get some kind of points when they convert someone?

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul:  the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.  The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart:  the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever:  the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.  More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold:  sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.  Moreover by them is thy servant warned:  and in keeping of them there is great reward.  Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.  Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me:  then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.  (Psalms 19:  7-14, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Gender, Sex and Christian Beliefs? (05/18/2016); Gifts As A Reward? (02/14/2016); To Walk As He Walked? (11/16/2014); Martyrdom and Tribulation? (09/30/2015); To Continue In His Footsteps (11/17/2014); A Culture of Judgment? (03/20/2014); Beyond Punishment (03/21/2014)

“Red”, many become confused because there are two judgments spoken of in Scripture:  one for saved/not saved, one for rewards following service.  Many mature Christian believers regard sinners being “born again” through Jesus Christ as a matter of their being permanently changed to serve divinity by offering worship and “works” that please GOD.  On the one hand, redemption and salvation are to be received as divine blessing (we say, free gifts from GOD), and the appearance of grace (an expression of divine will inseparable from other aspects of hallowed will such as diversity, divine law, sacred operations (e.g., atonement, Incarnation, judgment, reconciliation, repentance, sanctification), and eternal purpose).  On the other hand, redemption and salvation are mechanical (like breathing):  It is not something you can do to become alive; it is what you must do to stay alive.  For believers, service is the full-time occupation, profession and vocation of the believer.  Sinners are called and recruited to make visible the ongoing reign of Jesus Christ as High Priest and King.  As his agents upon the earth, believers are to display the character, nature and substance of Christ wherever the routines of their daily life may take them.  More than simply ceremony and ritual, believers are to put forth a consecrated lifestyle and saving truth.  Consider how some of this is stated using language from the Bible:

(1.)   James 5:  19-20, King James Version (KJV):  19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;  20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

(2.)  Romans 6:  19-23, KJV:  19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh:  for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.  20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.  21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.  22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.  23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(3.)  Psalms 51:  9-14, KJV:  9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.  10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.  12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.  13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.  14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation:  and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

There is far more to be said, carefully examined, and spiritually understood.  (For example, (4.)  1st Corinthians 3: 11-15, KJV:  11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;  13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest:  for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.  14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss:  but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(08/16/2016) In Relationship With Divinity?

Today, Scripture points are shared on different relationships provided by divinity that embrace created beings and living creatures.  In addition to being carnal and material objects for divine activity and focus, the living also may experience direct exchange, interaction, and continuing personal relationships with the Creator.  An example of this is seen with the Patriarch Abraham, who is known in Scripture as “the Friend of God.”  A writer at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Molly” (Level 1 with 95 points, a member since August 15, 2016) posted the following:

Did abraham have already a relationship with god?

THE GOLDEN ARROW:   Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory:  where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?  Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not:  thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.  (Isaiah 63:  15-16, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  GOD Within Christian Believers (07/31/2016); Access Through The Son (07/21/2016); Divine Inheritance and Resurrection? (07/06/2016); Many Sons of GOD? (06/28/2016); An Eternal Inheritance? (06/26/2016); Pie In The Sky? (06/23/2016); The Life Of GOD? (06/01/2016)

“Molly”, most mature Christian believers trust that all created beings and living creatures (including sinners) are in a relationship with divinity who has put forth duration (we say, eternity), existence, and form as well as spheres for life, and the frameworks of oneness, sameness, space, and time.  While GOD is the owner and sovereign authority over all that is, GOD has gone beyond divine law, formal and mechanical process, and impersonal separation to establish mankind as having genuine independence and integrity of being.  Such features as accountability, conscience, duty, performance under pressure (we say, trials to complete one’s formation, and establish their permanence), and privilege appear.  Also, the Creator has used personal relationships such as adoption, covenant, family, friendship, incarnation, and indwelling through Spirit to make Deity knowable and known among the living.  Multiple ongoing sacred operations were in place before the birth of Abraham that continue to this hour.  Included are admonition, affliction, calling, election, forgiveness, divine judgment, obedience, priesthood, repentance, and sanctification.  Consider how some of this is stated using language from the Bible:

(1.)  Romans 14:  8, King James Version (KJV):  8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord:  whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

(2.)  John 8:  53-59, KJV:  53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead:  whom makest thou thyself?  54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing:  it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:  55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him:  and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you:  but I know him, and keep his saying.  56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day:  and he saw it, and was glad.  57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?  58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.  59 Then took they up stones to cast at him:  but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

(3.)  John 8:  39-45, KJV:  39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.  40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God:  this did not Abraham.  41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.  42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.  43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.  44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own:  for he is a liar, and the father of it.  45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

There is far more to be said, carefully examined, and spiritually understood.  (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