(07/20/2017) Christian Beliefs About Sin

Today, the principle of oneness without sameness is used to describe sins instead of comparing them on a scale from bad to worse.  Sin is an influence that may dominate awareness and self-will in the living, and that becomes visible as the direction and effect of discrete events, and life experiences.  Correctly understood, only one consequence and effect eventually follows the operations of sin:  dishonor; spiritual confusion; fear of discovery and exposure; guilt; separation from divinity; and the second death.  While sin is not yet removed from the earth, divine gifts and ongoing sacred operations are in place that provide relief and renewal to the living.  Included are atonement, forgiveness, promise, prophecy, rebirth, and reconciliation.  Sinners can receive divine benefits such as oneness of Spirit with those who belong to GOD through Jesus Christ.  In place of sameness developing believers also may experience accord, agreement, balance, completion, diversity, interdependence, mutual support, and shared understanding.  One of the fighters at “Yahoo! Answers” who uses the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information shared) posted the following:


Why do Christians say all sin is the same?

When clearly there are sins worse than other.

Update:  others*


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.  (1st John 1:  5-10, King James Version, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Becoming Free From Sin (07/16/2017); Thoughts On The Commandments (06/27/2017); Determining What Is Sin (06/15/2017); On Law and Sin (06/07/2017); Corruption of Ones Spirit? (05/14/2017); The Fullness of GODhead? (01/09/2014); World Without End? (01/10/2014)


“Anonymous”, for the followers of Jesus Christ, guidance and instruction regarding sin are shared on multiple levels.  Divinity must be acknowledged as the origin of existence, of specific life processes and purposes as well as a living entity who displays authority and sovereign will.  As when speaking of the complete fullness of active presence that Christian believers acknowledge as a single “divine person” (we say, the GODhead, Father, Son and Holy Spirit), the principle of oneness without sameness also comes into use when speaking of sin.  Because GOD is a spirit, and being in a continuous relationship with divinity requires more than carnal, material, secular, and social understandings, mature Christian beliefs about sin center on being in covenant and sacred exchange through praise, prayer, divine proclamation (we also say, commandment, law), the fresh endowment of imparted spirit content from the makeup of GOD (we also say, breath, life essence, word), promise, and prophecy.

Sin is not to be dealt with always on the basis of attitudes, behavior, and conduct so much as in terms of its character, nature, and substance that may dominate awareness and self-will within created beings and living creatures.  The operations of sin oppose the continued existence of divine law (i.e., the expressed will of GOD), the Law Giver, and all divine order that appears throughout the universe.  Sin is no object or thing having measurable dimensions or spirit substance from GOD, yet, sin has direction, effect, and presence.  Sin is not rational and selective; and sin promotes nonexistence and the return to conditions in place before the foundation of heaven and earth. 

The will of GOD is not subject to sin.  Neither the ministry of Jesus Christ on the earth nor from the heaven as Risen Lord have yet eliminated sin.  Even so, the living may receive fresh endowments of spirit content from the makeup of GOD that permit increased commitment, discernment, and discovery of Deity as well as exposure of and renewed resistance against sin.  Inseparable aspects from the makeup of GOD are imparted including faith, holiness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:

(1.)  Leviticus 5:  15-19, King James Version (KJV):  15 If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering.  16 And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him.  17 And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.  18 And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest:  and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him.  19 It is a trespass offering:  he hath certainly trespassed against the LORD.

(2.)  1st John 3:  4-10, KJV:  4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law:  for sin is the transgression of the law.  5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.  6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not:  whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.  7 Little children, let no man deceive you:  he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.  8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.  9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him:  and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil:  whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

(3.)  Romans 14:  19-23, KJV:  19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.  20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.  21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.  22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.  23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith:  for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.)  1st John 5:  16-20, KJV:  16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death:  I do not say that he shall pray for it.  17 All unrighteousness is sin:  and there is a sin not unto death.  18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.  19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.  20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(05/21/2017) The Fullness of GOD?

 

Today, reply is made to the idea that GOD may be described as “nothingness”.  Rather than empty themselves to become free from covetousness, desire, carnal reason, and thought, sinners are to fill themselves with the life essence (i.e., breath, spirit, word) of GOD shared through Jesus Christ.  One of the fighters at “Yahoo! Answers (Canada)” who uses the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information shared) posted the following:


Is God Nothingness?

Nothingness, like God, is eternal and changless
- Nothingness, like God, is entirely beyond understanding and predication
- Everthing that is came from nothingness, and unto nothingness will return (like God). Nothingness is "the Father of All", and eventually everything is re-absorbed into the arms of Nothingness.
- Nothingness, like God, is paradoxically both absent and present, transcendent and immanent. It is outside of time and space, yet all around us.
- Nothingness is entirely invincible and impassible.
- Nothingness (the Void) holds all thing in 'Being', is everywhere and nowhere.
- Through nothingess, paradoxes like "The First will be Last, and the Last will be First" make sense, because eventually everything becomes nothing, poverty, riches, honour and humility are all levelled.
- God, like Nothingess, communicates with us most truly through Silence.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:  In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:  Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;  And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.  (Colossians 2:  8-15, King James Version, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  That GOD Is Immutable (05/04/2017); The Complete Divine Revelation? (03/10/2017); To Express the Fullness of GOD? (07/09/2015); Divinity Has Person? (05/19/2015); The Fullness of GODhead? (01/09/2014); World Without End? (01/10/2014); Prayer on Behalf of Others? (11/25/2013)


“Anonymous”, there are many belief systems that teach mankind must “empty” himself to escape from the flesh and from desire and to arrive at true balance or peace within the universe (enlightenment, nirvana, satori, etc.).  For mature Christian believers, GOD is the single aggregation of all spirit who is manifest as divinity (we say, the GODhead:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), and displays peculiar attributes that include character, direction, duration, existence, jealousy, majesty, nature, oneness without sameness, perfection, person, preeminence, presence, eternal purpose, and sovereign will.  Immortal, invisible GOD communicates with created beings and living creatures on the basis of imparted spirit substance and revelation.  To correctly discern, recognize, and respond to GOD, those who have been endowed with consciousness, sentience and self-will also must receive inseparable spirit matter from the makeup of Deity such as faith, gratitude, holiness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, meekness, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  GOD uses multiple sacred devices (e.g., forgiveness, divine law, miracles, judgment, prophecy, rebirth, signs) and operations within the carnal, material, and social world that make divinity knowable, known, and “visible”.  Consider again the following:

(1.)  Acts 17:  24-31, King James Version (KJV):  24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;  25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;  26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;  27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:  28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.  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.

(2.)  John 3:  5-7, KJV:  5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

(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.

(4.)  John 4:  23-24, KJV:  23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth:  for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  24 God is a Spirit:  and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (5.)  Romans 15:  13, KJV:  13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(09/01/2016) Must GOD Hate Sinners?

The present separation of Creator and Creation is in view, today.  While even death can not completely destroy the acceptance and divine love imparted to Creation, that there be no defilement of the Holy continues to require distance, perspective, restraint, and transformation.  Even more than condemnation, punishment, or sacrifice for sin, divine judgment centers upon correction, reconciliation, renewal, and the revelation of divine righteousness.  With the Creator, wrath against sin is not an emotion or feeling that comes and goes so much as it is a defining attribute like immortality and immutability that elevate Deity above all.  Thus, it is written:  Psalms 7:  10-13, King James Version (KJV):  10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.  11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.  12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.  13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.  A fighter at “Yahoo! Answers (Singapore)” using the ID “Sridhar” (Level 2 with 509 points, a member since July 24, 2006) posted the following:

Christians, would one of you clear my doubt below?

Someone just replied to me saying -
'God does not have a blanket of love covering everything. He covers those who repent.'
With the quotation -
“These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
??Proverbs? ?6:16-19? ?KJV??

Dislike or Disapproval of such acts is understandable. But must one - least of all GOD - HATE the violators?

Hey, we humans have many failings: vanity, lying, ignorance, greed and jealousy to name a few. Must you hate another instead of pitying and correcting him/her? Anybody for forgiving them their trespasses?

I thought Christ was an advocate of forgiveness. Or am I mistaken here?

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?  When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.  Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.  Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.  Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?  Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.  Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit:  for why will ye die, O house of Israel?  For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD:  wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.  (Ezekiel 18:  25-32, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Use Spirit From GOD? (08/15/2016); No Excuses For Judgment (07/26/2016); Divine Focus and Process (07/19/2016); Sin Must Be Personal (04/29/2016); The Strangeness of Divinity? (03/29/2016); GOD Lives Inside Us? (07/11/2014); Can the Word of GOD Be Altered? (07/12/2014)

“Sridhar”, emotions, feelings, and sentiment aside (such as anger, disgust, hate, loathing) divinity must be active against the operations of corruption (we say, decay, disintegration, rot), diffusion, evil (we say, arbitrary change, catastrophe, chaos, flux, upheaval), negation, and sin.  Many mature Christian believers agree that the fullness of divinity (we say, the GODhead) has been revealed as having active presence, coherence, directedness, integrity, person, and unity.  There is divine opposition to sin as an influence that may dominate awareness and self-will within created beings and living creatures.  Sin is no physical thing that exists or tangible object one may put in their pocket; yet, sin has direction, effect, and presence.  The fruit and product of sin is not only death, it is absolute nonexistence.  While sin is no substance or created thing put forth by GOD, the operations of sin oppose the continued existence of divine law (i.e., “the expressed will of GOD”), the Law Giver, our universe dependent upon order generated by sacred law, and the existence of all things.  To the living, sin appears to be natural, normal, and unavoidable.  Sin does not appear contrary, foreign, harmful, and strange.  Thus, provisions from GOD to expose the actual nature of sin include divine covenant, judgment, promise, repentance, the imparted Spirit (we say, the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Prophecy, the Spirit of Truth), and Jesus Christ as an incarnation of sin upon the cross.  Consider how some of this is stated using language from the Bible:

(1.)  Proverbs 28:  9, King James Version (KJV):  9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

(2.)  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?

(3.)  Romans 7:  9-14, KJV:  9 For I was alive without the law once:  but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.  10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.  11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.  12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.  13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.  14 For we know that the law is spiritual:  but I am carnal, sold under sin.

(4.)  2nd Corinthians 5:  17-21, KJV:  17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;  19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.  20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us:  we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.  21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

There is far more to be said, carefully examined, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (5.)  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

(06/02/2015) Meanings That Support Eternal Existence?

Points are shared, today, on why there must be various sacred meanings, operations, and values in place for understanding eternal existence.  Among Christians, there are many understandings for “hell” including (1) a depository for bodies and cadavers having no spirit of life (we say, the grave), (2) an eternal place for unclean spirits and souls that is controlled and ruled by the adversaries of GOD (we say, the kingdom of Satan), and (3) a place of eternal burning, judgment, punishment and torment (we say, a divine prison). However, correctly understood, hell is not a sphere of life where created beings and living creatures continue their natural existence following death, or that serves as a container, prison, and receptacle for matter from those once alive (i.e., angels or humans).  Also, while being, heaven, hell, and life have place through the existence of eternal Deity, sin does not.  Sin opposes the continuation of divine law, the Law Giver, and Creation that relies upon sacred law.  Sin blocks ordered change (we say, development, growth), is contrary to the divine nature, is not self-aware, yet is both self-destructive and self-perpetuating.  Sin contends against intellect, continues death, removes fertility, halts reproduction, and engenders nonexistence.  The “Yahoo! Answers” fighter using the ID “Rosalyna” (Level 1 with 9 points, a member since April 05, 2015) posted the following:


Christians, how come it's either Heaven or Hell after we die? Why not nonexistence?


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom:  the rich man also died, and was buried;  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.  But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things:  but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.  And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed:  so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.  Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:  For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.  Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.  And he said, Nay, father Abraham:  but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.  (Luke 16:  22-31, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Flammable? (05/25/2015); What Is Life? (02/06/2015); Divine Purpose? (01/08/2015); Aspects of Divinity? (06/15/2014); Son of Adam and of GOD? (06/16/2014); Focus of Believers? (06/17/2014); The Place of GOD? (06/01/2013); Putting GOD First? (06/02/2013); An Earth to Fix A Heaven? (05/18/2013)


“Rosalyna”, at first, many Christian believers confuse teachings about the spheres (we say, locations or places) for existence and life with those on the character, makeup, and substance of existence.  Here are some simple, yet profound ideas (i.e., plain while having broad application and multiple levels of consequence) that have helped many maintain a correct focus, and avoid spiritual confusion:

(1.)  For all created beings and living creatures, the meanings and understandings to be applied and continued as supporting eternal existence must center upon and emerge from immutable, unchanging aspects of divinity, and operations of spirit.  Included are faith, holiness, law, love, respect, truth, wisdom, and wrath against sin.

(2.) For believers in Jesus Christ, when such ideas as certainty, death, knowledge, innocence, life, possibility, probability, purity, rebirth, and value are used, they are part of a distinct system different from that for describing concrete and material objects (we say, measurement, science), the physical environment of the living (e.g., earth, heaven, the sea, the universe), or the recurring emotional, mental, psychological and social patterns that appear upon the earth.  There must be sacred knowledge that is provided as grace, revelation, and divine self-disclosure.

(3.)  In the same way there are a fixed and limited number of options for describing the conditions and state of being we call “a rainy day” (perhaps cloudy, dreary, overcast, wet, etc.) communication, exchange, and interaction for the created with the Creator proceeds having fixed boundaries, procedures and standards that must be applied to describe both what is actual and potential when relating to Deity.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually understood.  (For example, (4.)  Given the absolute fact that only Deity may continue to generate and maintain existence and divine order, the character and nature of divinity must be described using such concepts as authority, government, hierarchy, ownership, eternal purpose, and sovereignty.  Judgment must be acknowledged as an indispensable aspect of reality for the living, and must be accepted as the assignment of value using standards supplied by divinity as well as the resolution of conflict and the settlement of disputes by application of sacred law.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC