(04/08/2016) Love From The Cross?

The revelation of love by Jesus Christ upon the cross is in view, today.  Sin not only contends against the continued existence of divine law, sin also opposes all expression of divine love.  Through love, the focus of the cross must be seen as all heaven and earth, with issues that go beyond death, judgment, law, or punishment.  There is a defining demonstration of the principles for attitude and conduct to be displayed upon the earth made new.  Consider how this is stated in the language of the Bible, and within the presentation below.  Also, trust that, despite time and space, through operations of the Holy Spirit, blood and truth from the cross are flowing to here and now:

Romans 5:  6-11, King James Version (KJV):  6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die:  yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.  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.

Romans 5:  17-21, 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.  20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:  21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Colossians 3:  12-15,  KJV:  12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;  13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.  14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.  15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

One of the many fighters at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Anonymous” (required profile data not shared) posted the following:

Does true love exists?

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  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.  No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.  Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.  And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.  (1st John 4:  7-14, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Answered by The Cross? (03/14/2016); Love That Is Spirit? (01/28/2016); Divine Love Seen As Hate? (01/29/2015); Love at First Sight? (08/28/2014); Family and Beliefs of Children? (08/29/2014)

“Anonymous”, for mature Christian believers, Jesus Christ dying upon the cross reveals perfected love, and that aspect of divinity whereby unity is established and maintained.  The foundation for all healthy love relationships among carnal beings and living creatures is presented in the crucifixion including those for brotherly love that comes by affiliation and shared commitment, family love, marital love, and romantic love.  Hidden dimensions, overlooked, and improperly valued aspects of love were made visible such as authority, empathy, generosity, grace, impartiality, inclusiveness, obedience, perseverance, restraint, suffering, and vulnerability.  The operations of genuine love are always directed to eternal life, therefore, love engenders permanent change for continuity, growth, learning, stability, and transformation.  Going beyond displaying affection, passion or other temporal emotions that come and go, the intent and objective of love is to impart lasting value to another.  In his example to us from the cross, Jesus displayed no anger, bitterness, or fear.  There was accountability, dutifulness, gentleness, kindness, and respect.  Rather than complain, moan his own predicament, or rant against Caiaphas, Israel, Pontius Pilate, and Rome, the Savior continued his ministry of reconciliation.  He provided further assurances there would be the required atonement for mankind, and acted to fulfill promise and prophecy.  Consider the following points shared through the Bible:

(1.)  John 3:  16-19, King James Version (KJV):  16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  18 He that believeth on him is not condemned:  but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

(2.)  John 15:  12-13, KJV:  12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.  13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

(3.)  Luke 23:  39-43, KJV:  39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.  40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?  41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds:  but this man hath done nothing amiss.  42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.  43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise

There is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.)  John 19:  25-30, KJV:  25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.  26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!  27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.  28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.  29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar:  and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.  30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished:  and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
 Washington, DC

(04/04/2016) Forgiveness and The Cross

Divine forgiveness for and from the cross are in view, today.  Rightly understood, forgiveness is a spirit substance from the makeup of divinity that is inseparable from other spirit content such as faith, forbearance, holiness, longsuffering, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  Through judgment, forgiveness proclaims divine authority, glory, peace, righteousness, and sovereignty.  For this reason, divine forgiveness appears as continuous adherence to law, commitment, grace, consecrated love, and divine prerogative.  Created beings and living creatures only display divine forgiveness as vessels containing the imparted, indwelling Spirit, and those who willingly serve GOD and Christ.  A thief can be forced to return what he has stolen, however, under those circumstances he will have no recovery, or victory with GOD.  Human attitudes and behavior can be altered by using disgrace, fear, shame, threats and violence.  Even so, the necessary change in spirit content that must occur is only by operations of divinity that call forth dutifulness, faithfulness, love, remorse, genuine respect, and sorrow for sin.  Where forgiveness is correctly valued, change, positive closure, and repentance may still result in spite of the offender’s inability to restore what was taken, or make necessary restitution.  Readers are encouraged to consider how this is stated in the following Bible verses, and the presentation below:

Exodus 33:  18-20, King James Version (KJV):  18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.  19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

Luke 5:  18-26, KJV:  18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy:  and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.  19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.  20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.  21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?  22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?  23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?  24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.  25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.  26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

Ephesians 4:  31-32, KJV:  31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “yerpp” (Level 1 with 72 points, a member since September 15, 2012) posted the following:

 

What's the difference between forgive and let go?

 

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,  And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.  Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him:  for she is a sinner.  And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.  There was a certain creditor which had two debtors:  the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.  And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?  Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.  And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet:  but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.  Thou gavest me no kiss:  but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.  My head with oil thou didst not anoint:  but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.  Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much:  but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.  And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.  And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?  And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.  (Luke 7:  37-50, KJV)

 

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Iniquity Forgiven? (02/16/2016); When GOD Never Forgives? (12/28/2015); The Process of Forgiveness? (10/21/2015); Death, Forgiveness, Sin and Spirit? (05/28/2015); The Power to Forgive? (10/01/2014); No Divine Protection? (10/02/2014)

 

“yerpp”, while suffering and dying upon the cross, Jesus Christ called out to the Father in heaven asking that He forgive.  For mature Christian believers, forgiveness goes beyond suppressing your own feelings and memories of attacks, injuries, injustice and offenses that you have been forced to endure.  Forgiveness pertains to the process and outcome of divine judgment—resolution of conflicts and the settlement of disputes using sacred law; acknowledgment of spirit content within events, persons, or utterance (e.g., commands, counsels, instruction, prophecy) as well as the assignment of meaning, position, and value within ones personal relationship to GOD.  As a transaction between the Creator and the created, forgiveness continues relationship, demonstrates and expresses faith, and does not cancel judgment; rather, forgiveness completes and fulfills judgment.  Forgiveness from believers only appears as the fruit (visible product) from operations of the Holy Spirit.  Thus, forgiveness relates to acceptance by GOD, mercy that only appears during judgment, opportunities for correct and new relationship, repentance, and proper reverence when responding to divinity.  Forgetting and “letting go” are temporal responses (i.e., brief; lasting for a limited time) through finite self-will where ones emotions, intellect and recall are deliberately re-focused.  Consider the following points shared through the Bible:

(1.)  Luke 23:  33-35, King James Version (KJV):  33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.  34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.  35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

(2.)  Mark 11:  22-26, KJV:  22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.  23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.  24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any:  that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.  26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

(3.)  Luke 6:  35-38, KJV:  35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest:  for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.  36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.  37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged:  condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned:  forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:  38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

There is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.)  Luke 17:  3-4, KJV:  3 Take heed to yourselves:  If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.  4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC