(02/27/2017) The Holy Spirit "Begotten"?

 

Today, the origin of the Holy Spirit as a “begotten” aspect of the GODhead is considered.  For many mature Christian believers, the verse from the Gospel of Matthew (28:  19, King James Version, KJV) is familiar as “the Great Commission,” however, this Scripture is not to be seen as commanding the use of specific holy names or a formula to invoke the divine presence during rituals of water baptism.  What should come into view, instead, is how the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are each to be knowable, known, and recognizable through the sacred actions, practices, and events they produce that may include separate aspects of baptism and rebirth.  A writer at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “DIGIMAN” (Level 6 with 22,625 points, a member since June 28, 2010) posted the following:

 

In Matthew 28:19, is the ***holy spirit*** begotten like Jesus ?

9 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
(or Spirit)

 

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him:  I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.  He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:  I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.  With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.  (Psalms 91:  14-16, King James Version, KJV)

 

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Knowing GOD and Sin? (02/03/2017); Exalted By The Father? (01/26/2017); Divine Presence and Spirit (01/18/2017); The Spirit and Prophecy (01/04/2017); Holy Writings and Spirit? (12/16/2016); The Relationships With GOD? (11/30/2016); Divine Meanings and Values? (03/31/2016)

 

“DIGIMAN”, the GODhead is marked by oneness without sameness.  Language in the Scripture that speaks to Jesus Christ as “begotten” acknowledges the appearance of divinity using human form (we say, the Incarnation) as a tool for the full revelation of GOD whose makeup and substance is spirit.  Inseparable aspects of the totality of sacred substance have been made manifest that include faith, forbearance, forgiveness, holiness, humility, joy, longsuffering, lovingkindness, active presence, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  For mature Christian believers, the major focus for the entire Scripture record (Genesis to Revelation) is Jesus Christ, not the Holy Spirit who appears as his agent, co-worker, and spokesperson.  Jesus is to be known as both the “son of Man” and “the son of GOD.”  This allows sinners to acknowledge the completeness and fullness of Deity, the continuing possibilities for correct relationship with divinity, and the eternal existence, participation, and provision of GOD for existence, life, meaning, and value.  It is correct to say that Christ was “begotten”, for the Son of the Highest did come to the earth by human birth, even though not by human sexual reproduction.  Before becoming known through flesh and spirit, the One Sent to begin the transformation of mankind through baptism and rebirth (death and burial of ones inborn spirit, rebirth having divine DNA, so to speak) existed in heaven as The Word.  Consider again the following from the holy writings:

(1.)  John 1:  1-5, King James Version (KJV):  1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2 The same was in the beginning with God.  3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

(2.)  Galatians 4:  4-7, KJV:  4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,  5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.  6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.  7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

(3.)  Colossians 1:  16-20, KJV:  16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers:  all things were created by him, and for him:  17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  18 And he is the head of the body, the church:  who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.  19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;  20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.)  Acts 17:  29-31, KJV:  29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.  30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:  31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.)   Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(07/16/2014) On Christians Being Inclusive?

Today, reply is made to a writer who desires Christianity be a peculiar global philosophy, or secular “open” belief system.  Also there is more on the inseparable things from GOD.  The “Yahoo! Answers” member using ID “Colin” (Level 1 with 159 points, a member since July 04, 2010) posted the following:


Is it possible for Christians to be inclusive? 

I find that more and more fellow Christians I meet are open-minded when it comes to those who follow non-Christian religions. But I wonder: when a conservative Christian insists that Jesus is the ONLY WAY, are they accurate? The Bible seems to support such exclusive views (especially the Book of John but certainly other areas of the New Testament as well).

1) Can you be Christian and be inclusive toward those whose faith/lifestyle is different than what is laid out in the Bible? In other words, can you fully love and respect your Jewish neighbor, even though he/she does not believe Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life"?

2) If not, then doesn't this support the atheists' arguments that Christianity, despite its messages of love and forgiveness, creates more division than unity in a world in desperate need of coming together?

3) If yes, then how can this be? How are you able to fully follow Christ while also feeling and exhibiting respect and love toward your Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and atheist neighbors?
Thanks in advance for all thoughtful, respectful answers.


THE BATTLE AXE:  Inseparables? (07/15/2014)—
When speaking about the process for baking a cake, sharing the recipe, teaching a class, or demonstrating how it's done, it is correct to describe each of the ingredients.  However, a finished cake is more than just a collection of its ingredients.  The content must be blended in specific amounts and measures having a peculiar balance and proportion.  Thus, the cake may not be all flour, all sugar, or all vanilla extract without its other items.  The cake must have eggs, butter,  milk, and even a dash of poison commonly found around the house (i.e., table salt).  Simply placing all the ingredients in a single container is not enough to make them edible; yet, only together may the ingredients be spoken of as “cake.”  The ingredients must first be combined, and then undergo together a process that will transform them, and permanently bind and fuse them to one another:  They must be fired, as it were, in an oven or furnace, and endure together over time.  In the same way, some seek to analyze and describe a person’s salvation in terms of parts, portions, phases, and stages.  However, the whole may not be reduced to a formula, a mere “table of contents,” or a recipe.  Salvation embraces baptism, fellowship within a covenant community, obedience to divine law, repentance, resistance to sin, transformation of ones form, nature, and spirit, and more.  Their amount, measure and proportion, are known only to GOD; and the process wherein they are fired and fused is of the Holy Spirit.  Salvation is far more than simply a matter of attitudes, behavior, conduct, devices, lives, mechanisms, methods, opinions, traditions, or a fixed pattern of peculiar steps.  More than this, salvation can not be separated from other divine operations such as atonement, commitment, confession, divine love, judgment, revival, and eternal life.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.  (2nd Corinthians 6:  14-18, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Putting GOD First? (06/02/2013); Need for A New Holy Spirit? (06/03/2013); The “Jesus Way”? (05/17/2013); An Earth to Fix A Heaven? (05/18/2013); Jesus Lives! (05/04/2013); Experience Is Not Evidence? (05/05/2013); Illusion? (04/25/2013); Not of Legal Age? (04/26/2013)


“Colin”, here are a few points to consider that have been  helpful to many Christian believers:

(1.)  While all Christians must be drawn to GOD through Jesus Christ and must be set apart by the sacred knowledge they receive, by sacred practices they maintain (we say, sacraments), and by their endowment of Spirit content from GOD (taken together we say, by their being sanctified), all Christians are self-selected, and established in correct relationship to divinity through self-will and volition (we say, by their own choice).  No one is forced to love.

(2.)  In baptism (the death of ones inborn spirit, rebirth containing spirit matter from the make-up of GOD) believers begin the transformations needed for mankind to serve as an eternal companion to the Almighty Father.  Born again, believers must “grow up” again continuing to meet the same life challenges as all others upon the earth.  Realizing that all mankind must enter into a pattern for survival that will establish lasting change, growth, healing, freedom (rather than enslavement), and eternal life (rather than death), most Christian believers endorse the many teachings that counsel that followers of Christ have a duty to assist, minister to, and nourish the salvation of others.  Challenged to serve others, believers are not authorized to condemn, dominate, manipulate, and subordinate others.  On the one hand, believers are told, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”  Yet, all are also commanded, “freely you have received, freely give.”  In either case it remains, commitment, integrity, self-esteem and respect to others, true reverence, and acceptable worship are only maintained through sound discipline, and one having internalized divine boundaries, sacred law, and godly limits.

There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (3.)  Until they are perfected (we say, mature), and contain more than an “earnest” of the imparted Spirit, Christian believers can not display flawless balance, completeness, consistency, fullness, and stability.  Thus, at first, love that appears among believers is an awkward mix that comes from flesh and intellect, and depends upon such earthly elements as desire, emotion, fantasy, feelings, imagination, and memory.  Divine love that appears among believers (to serve ones enemy, to encourage ones ex) is exclusively a product of divinity, and appears through such aspects of ones own divine makeup as faith, forbearance, forgiveness, holiness, humility, joy, longsuffering, truth, wisdom, and wrath against sin.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC