I have been prompted to
think about the law again, its purpose and benefit; and there is more on
redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ. A reply was posted at
thoughts.com commenting on (12/27/2012) Hellfire and Brimstone Preaching? The
writer, “SeasonedBeginner” stated the law was flawed, and only those blind to
the freedom and hope brought by Christ in the New Covenant continue to be
judgmental. “Justice” has been mercifully replaced with forgiveness. My
initial response appears below:
Honor to GOD! The law was not so
much flawed as our understanding and acceptance of the law. Thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery
should still be in effect—and you need not go to Newtown to ask how sound such
thinking would be for a righteous God and his people. The law, itself, is a
manifestation of divinity, and is not easily embraced using only tools of the
flesh such as seeing, hearing, smelling and tasting. The death and resurrection
of Christ was not to eliminate divine judgment and wrath against sin; rather, to
certify Jesus as a righteous judge. Thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts.
Enjoy the rest of the holidays.
THE BATTLE AXE: Purchased
With Blood? (12/29/2012)—The ministry of Jesus to mankind is comprehensive, and
still is being carried out both upon the earth, and from heaven. While for
many, being covered by the blood of Jesus signifies atonement, or remission and
propitiation for sins, rather than redemption, the blood of Jesus overspreads
all the levels of divine process and sacred purpose. Included are birth, death,
judgment, promise, prophecy, and sanctification. Although believers speak of
experiencing GOD through divine history, infrequent episodes, and discrete
events, the operations of GOD are all eternal, inseparable, open-ended, and
progressive. Thus, redemption cannot be separated from salvation, and the two
equally entail cleansing, forgiveness, rebirth, repentance, and
sacrifice.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: I have not
departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. My tongue shall speak of
thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness. Let thine hand
help me; for I have chosen thy precepts. I have longed for thy salvation, O
LORD; and thy law is my delight. Let my soul live, and it shall praise
thee; and let thy judgments help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek
thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments. (Psalms 119: 172-176,
KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Vows and
Covenants? (12/17/2012); Christians Who Ignore GOD’s Laws (10/25/2012); The Crux
of the Matter (10/26/2012); Violence In The Bible (02/26/2012); Why Confess
Before Priest (02/27/2012); Trouble For The Good (01/15/2012); Chain Of Command
(01/16/2012); Free From Law? (11/03/2010); Love a Choice?
(11/04/2010)
The law of GOD has never been a weapon against
goodness, love, obedience, respect, or truth; yet, many complain against the law
as an attack upon “freedom”; an unnecessary burden of obligation; an unholy
instrument that generates despair, fear, shame and terror; and an obstacle to
the full integrity and legitimacy of created beings and living
creatures.
The divine purposes of law include creating
and maintaining order among a broad and diverse assembly of sentient beings that
possess self-will. Just as the law is to reveal and make known the will of
Almighty GOD, the law is to make known and visible an immaterial and unseen
presence that is sin. For most, knowledge of the law is by faith, rather than
by detailed and exacting study of every ordinance or statute. The benefits and
blessing of law are a foundation for the security of the universe, for the law
fosters and imparts balance, comfort, continuity, joy, hope, peace, stability,
strength, wisdom, and eternal life.
In the kingdom of GOD, punishment and death
are not the outcomes of obeying law, performing sacred duty, sharing love, or
speaking holy truth; and the covenant law provided to establish a righteous
nation in the earth was not given with an intent to increase human misery. The
damage and threat that results from sin was first identified among the holy
angels. When divine law was extended to mankind upon the earth, this was in the
nature of admonition, restoration, and salvation. All law is not spoken in a
language of prohibition (thou shalt not); and, rightly understood, it is law
that commands the existence of all benefit. Law is a form of Light, and there
is no flaw in light or in the Light-Giver. Only those who seek to abide in
darkness fear and hate the light.
There is far more to be said, correctly
applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, sin does not exist as a
being or thing created by GOD. Anguish, death, and pain absolutely must appear
as alarms against sin, and there must be knowledge that works to limit the
damage that comes by sin. The overwhelming threat posed by sin cannot be
realized without spiritual power, divine instruction, and immediate consequences
in living experience. Sin opposes the existence of divine law, of divine
person, and of divine Creation.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.
Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Showing posts with label purchase. Show all posts
Showing posts with label purchase. Show all posts
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Saturday, December 29, 2012
(12/29/2012) Purchased With Blood?
Redemption and the Holy Spirit are topics, today. The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “Alex” (Level 2 with 460 points, a member since October 19, 2012) posted the following:
Christians, why does the Bible say God 'bought' the church with his own 'blood'?
Acts 20:28 tells us, “Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.”
Who bought the church—the church of God—with His own blood?
THE BATTLE AXE: The Dove (12/28/2012)—The standard of the dove signifying peace is lifted up for the kingdom of heaven in contrast to the ensign of the Roman eagle, a bird of prey, that signals conquest, destruction and war. Like John the Baptist, mature Christian believers proclaim the kingdom, and are endowed with the Holy Spirit (also called the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, and the Spirit of Prophecy). As one continually nourished by holy offerings, sacrifices and tithes, and who continued upon holy ground until carried to serve as a herald and witness in the wilderness, the Prophet John acknowledged the consecration of Jesus as High Priest, his anointing as king (Messiah), public recognition of his claim as heir to Adam, Abraham, and David (the Son of man) as well as divine confirmation that Jesus is the Son of GOD. The appearance of the dove as the voice sounded from heaven was in the nature of jubilation, proclamation, revelation, and testimony in judgment. All the spirit-persons of the GODhead are present in the scene; and each affirms the authority and fullness of the others. These things were exposed to the Prophet allowing him to identify Jesus as “the Lamb of GOD” to those who had been prepared to become the first followers of Christ. (See John 5: 33-38, John 1: 29-37 and 1st John 5: 6-12, KJV.)
THE GOLDEN ARROW: And it shall be, when Jehovah shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee, that thou shalt set apart unto Jehovah all that openeth the womb, and every firstling which thou hast that cometh of a beast; the males shall be Jehovah’s. And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck: and all the first-born of man among thy sons shalt thou redeem. And it shall be, when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand Jehovah brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage: and it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that Jehovah slew all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man, and the first-born of beast: therefore I sacrifice to Jehovah all that openeth the womb, being males; but all the first-born of my sons I redeem. (Exodus 13: 11-15, American Standard Version)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Price of Humanity? (12/13/2012); Remembering the Holocaust (12/14/2012); More Than Salvation (11/27/2012); The Slave to Law and Sin Made Free (11/16/2012); Lawful Divorce (11/17/2012); Divine Self-Sacrifice? (09/30/2012); Jesus Our “Advocate” (08/16/2012); Girdle 14: Reasonable Service (11/29/2011); Why Sacrifice? (10/13/2010); Appetite (10/14/2010)
More than merely saving believers in judgment from their sentence of damnation, the birth, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ establishes eternal life through redemption. Redemption is the provision of divine covenant that allows things dedicated, offered in prayer, and promised to GOD (e.g., oneself, ones firstborn, donkeys, goats, sheep, oxen) to be recovered from the altar of GOD. All living things delivered to the altar (a holy table that serves as a point where heaven and earth are joined) must be sanctified, sacrificed, and salted (i.e., washed, set apart, slain, and transferred to GOD through holy fire that accomplishes cleansing, judgment and lifting). The redeemed are recovered from the altar to continue in service as living sacrifices. Those that cannot be used in sacred service and worship, that would defile and profane the altar when offered, and where no redemption price has been paid (say a mule), the neck is broken, and it is destroyed.
That Jesus Christ may bestow eternal life to those that are his by their “saving purchase” is a fulfillment of divine law, promise, and prophecy, and constitutes lawful redemption. The provision of redemption again displays the law as righteous, and in agreement with the mercy found in judgment.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, less mature Christian believers tend to oversimplify the truths of redemption and salvation, ignore them altogether, or lump them together as though one is no greater than another. It remains, the devotion, gratitude, obedience, thoroughness and zeal of believers will vary according to their right knowledge and understanding.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Christians, why does the Bible say God 'bought' the church with his own 'blood'?
Acts 20:28 tells us, “Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.”
Who bought the church—the church of God—with His own blood?
THE BATTLE AXE: The Dove (12/28/2012)—The standard of the dove signifying peace is lifted up for the kingdom of heaven in contrast to the ensign of the Roman eagle, a bird of prey, that signals conquest, destruction and war. Like John the Baptist, mature Christian believers proclaim the kingdom, and are endowed with the Holy Spirit (also called the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, and the Spirit of Prophecy). As one continually nourished by holy offerings, sacrifices and tithes, and who continued upon holy ground until carried to serve as a herald and witness in the wilderness, the Prophet John acknowledged the consecration of Jesus as High Priest, his anointing as king (Messiah), public recognition of his claim as heir to Adam, Abraham, and David (the Son of man) as well as divine confirmation that Jesus is the Son of GOD. The appearance of the dove as the voice sounded from heaven was in the nature of jubilation, proclamation, revelation, and testimony in judgment. All the spirit-persons of the GODhead are present in the scene; and each affirms the authority and fullness of the others. These things were exposed to the Prophet allowing him to identify Jesus as “the Lamb of GOD” to those who had been prepared to become the first followers of Christ. (See John 5: 33-38, John 1: 29-37 and 1st John 5: 6-12, KJV.)
THE GOLDEN ARROW: And it shall be, when Jehovah shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee, that thou shalt set apart unto Jehovah all that openeth the womb, and every firstling which thou hast that cometh of a beast; the males shall be Jehovah’s. And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck: and all the first-born of man among thy sons shalt thou redeem. And it shall be, when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand Jehovah brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage: and it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that Jehovah slew all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man, and the first-born of beast: therefore I sacrifice to Jehovah all that openeth the womb, being males; but all the first-born of my sons I redeem. (Exodus 13: 11-15, American Standard Version)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Price of Humanity? (12/13/2012); Remembering the Holocaust (12/14/2012); More Than Salvation (11/27/2012); The Slave to Law and Sin Made Free (11/16/2012); Lawful Divorce (11/17/2012); Divine Self-Sacrifice? (09/30/2012); Jesus Our “Advocate” (08/16/2012); Girdle 14: Reasonable Service (11/29/2011); Why Sacrifice? (10/13/2010); Appetite (10/14/2010)
More than merely saving believers in judgment from their sentence of damnation, the birth, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ establishes eternal life through redemption. Redemption is the provision of divine covenant that allows things dedicated, offered in prayer, and promised to GOD (e.g., oneself, ones firstborn, donkeys, goats, sheep, oxen) to be recovered from the altar of GOD. All living things delivered to the altar (a holy table that serves as a point where heaven and earth are joined) must be sanctified, sacrificed, and salted (i.e., washed, set apart, slain, and transferred to GOD through holy fire that accomplishes cleansing, judgment and lifting). The redeemed are recovered from the altar to continue in service as living sacrifices. Those that cannot be used in sacred service and worship, that would defile and profane the altar when offered, and where no redemption price has been paid (say a mule), the neck is broken, and it is destroyed.
That Jesus Christ may bestow eternal life to those that are his by their “saving purchase” is a fulfillment of divine law, promise, and prophecy, and constitutes lawful redemption. The provision of redemption again displays the law as righteous, and in agreement with the mercy found in judgment.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, less mature Christian believers tend to oversimplify the truths of redemption and salvation, ignore them altogether, or lump them together as though one is no greater than another. It remains, the devotion, gratitude, obedience, thoroughness and zeal of believers will vary according to their right knowledge and understanding.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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