(03/25/2018) "I Am The Resurrection"

Detail from the mural at the Biblical Museum (Dallas ,Texas) showing the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Today, Palm Sunday and heading toward Resurrection Sunday, reply is on death, resurrection (“standing up from the dead”), and the possibilities for eternal life from GOD.  Correctly understood resurrection is required for the completion of divine judgment:  Those who appear for tribunal in the presence of divinity must be alive.  Developing believers begin their eternal life through baptism, and their judgment is completed while they are still on the earth.  For the saved, after the Advent (some say, his appearing; the harvest; the Rapture; the Second Coming) mortality will no longer appear among the saints of the kingdom.  The second resurrection will be for judgment of the wicked and the unjust.  Those who do not qualify to continue duration as immortal, incorruptible companions of divinity will be destroyed in the second death.  One of the fighters in the “Yahoo! Answers” forum using the ID “Anonymous” (no profile data shown) posted the following:

When people drop dead they stay dead. Why are Christians and Muslims unable to understand this basic fact of reality?

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them:  and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.  This is the first resurrection.  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection:  on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.  (Revelation 20:  4-6, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  The Pattern To Follow? (01/19/2018); The Most Important Thing (12/28/2017); Christ Is The Firstborn (12/26/2017); “Logical Sense” Is Replaced? (12/05/2017); About Using “Sacred Logic” (11/19/2017); Having Consciousness of Death (11/03/2017); Sacred Baptism, Divine Resurrection? (09/14/2017); Resurrected With The Lord (04/16/2017); The Cross and Resurrection Sunday? (03/16/2016) 

“Anonymous”, Christian believers trust that Jesus Christ is the divine person who administers and has demonstrated “resurrection from the dead.”  While on jury duty I learned, it may be a matter of two different five-letter words in a criminal trial that a man and woman were seen quarreling on a public street.  The eyewitnesses may all agree that they did see the pair; however, one witness might report he saw a man arguing with his wife.  A second witness might say he saw a brother arguing with his sister.  A third witness might have assumed it was a pimp and a prostitute.  Both the prosecution and the defense will use the same “f-a-c-t-s” to establish different presentations of “t-r-u-t-h.”

Those relying on secular knowledge must use information and finite tools (e.g., animal instinct, intellect, logic, carnal reason, discursive thought) that do not respond to actualities, possibilities, and aspects of truth that pertain to invisible, yet, active spirit substance within the living.  Where existence and life are explained as having origin beyond a questionable chemical process (a big bang?), and personhood is attributed to a Creator and Maker, it becomes understandable that accountability, authority, awe (awesomeness; fear of the Lord), and multiple aspects of divine fullness also may be realized.  Thus, even developing believers acknowledge inseparable aspects within the makeup of Deity such as anointing, faith, holiness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, righteousness, sovereign will (willpower), wisdom, and wrath against sin.

Mature Christians trust that, to demonstrate inarguably the power of GOD to establish Creation, life and death, sacred law and judgment, the Word (breath, life essence, spirit, utterance) from GOD has appeared in the earth using human form.  Among other aspects of law, promise, and prophecy, the Incarnation of GODhead (the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit) was required because of men, women, and children becoming terrified at the sound of a divine voice.  GOD agreed to never again proclaim his word from heaven as was done for Moses and those who left Egypt in exodus.  Even so, in judgment, Christians rely on sacred knowledge.  The multiple streams of testimony, truth, and witness recorded as “the Bible” are affirmed and corroborated using thousands of events within thousands of lives over the course of thousands of years.  Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:

(1.)  Proverbs 8:  4-9, King James Version (KJV):  4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.  5 O ye simple, understand wisdom:  and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.  6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.  7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.  8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.  9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

(2.)  2nd Peter 1:  2-8, KJV:  2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,  3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:  4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:  that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.  5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;  6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;  7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(3.)  John 11:  21-27, KJV:  21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.  22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.  23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.  24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.  25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life:  he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?  27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord:  I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

There is far more to be said, brought into deliberation, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.)  1st Corinthians 15:  12-22, KJV:  12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?  13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:  14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.  15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ:  whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.  16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:  17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.  18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.  19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.  20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(11/06/2015) Alway Delivered To Death?

Today, life experience  for Christian believers is described as forward-looking due to its focus upon the word of GOD.  The primary work among disciples of Jesus is that of prophecy:  to comfort, edify, and exhort; the primary products include faith, gratitude, hope, joy, and longsuffering.  It is in contrast to the preeminence of eternal life that death or fear have place with the chief concerns of the church.   Acknowledging and burying the dead, hallowing (we say, consecrating or sanctifying) ground for the internment of believer remains, and pastoral counseling to survivors of the deceased may appear as expressions of divine love and respect, both in place of and in addition to preaching and solemn worship.  One of the many fighters using the ID “Anonymous” at “Yahoo! Answers” posted the following:


Is religion nothing more than a thing that helps people deal with the thought of and experience of death?

Have you seen dead people before? They cannot: see, touch, think, remember, talk, walk, etc. That's the reality of death.

Update:  Enlighten me if you have a better explanation.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:  for they shall be filled.  Blessed are the merciful:  for they shall obtain mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart:  for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers:  for they shall be called the children of God.  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake:  for their’s is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad:  for great is your reward in heaven:  for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.  (Matthew 5:  6-14, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Eternal Life Not Afterlife? (08/11/2015); The Return to Dust? (06/14/2015); Death, Forgiveness, Sin and Spirit? (05/28/2015); Death is a Divine Tool (09/15/2014); A Sleep and a Second Death (09/16/2014); Death Has Been Transformed (05/09/2013); Loving the Enemy? (05/10/2013)


“Anonymous”, for the followers of Jesus Christ, ones faith with other inseparable aspects of the divine nature (e.g., holiness, righteousness, truth, wisdom, wrath against sin) centers in divine operations whereby mankind undergoes permanent change, and is prepared for transformation to continue as an immortal, incorruptible companion to divinity.  Through baptism (death of ones inborn spirit; rebirth from divine DNA, so to speak), believers and disciples of Jesus spoken of as “born again,” must “grow up,” and mature again meeting the same life challenges as all others upon the earth.  Included are aging, bereavement, disease, disappointment, frustration, injustice, isolation, and persecution.  While themes of its teachings go all the way back to the Creation of heaven and earth, and every believer is to experience covenant and personal relationship with Deity, the spirit content of a Christian believer is “forward-looking” as a focus upon expectations for the fulfillment of things spoken from divinity as proclamations, promises, and prophecies.  Consider again the following verses from the Bible:

(1.)  2nd Peter 1:  2-4, King James Version (KJV):  2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,  3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:  4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:  that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

(2.)  Hebrews 12:  14, KJV:  14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

(3.)  2nd Corinthians 4:  11-14, KJV:  11 For we which live are  alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.  12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.  13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;  14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.)  1st Corinthians 15:  50-54, KJV:  50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:  for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(07/19/2013) GOD the X?

Topics today include ongoing revelation, the Trinity, and the possibility of added persons being discovered within the GODhead.  Also, there is more on children and divine justice.  The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using ID “Chris C” (Level 3 with 1,810 points, a member since June 13, 2006) posted the following:


We talk about God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Could there be God the X as well?

We talk about the Trinity of God – father, son and holy spirit; is there any reason why there is not a Quadernary of God i.e God the X as well, where X just hasn’t been revealed yet. If you think there could be God the X, what do you think that X might be?


THE BATTLE AXE:  Destroying Justice? (07/18/2013)—The revelation of divinity through divine judgment may appear cruel, harsh and unkind for there are necessary displays of awe, terror, sovereign majesty, and wrath against sin.  The demand that law and judgment be impartial makes it that divine justice for children is not different than for adults.  There can be no lenience on the basis of age, and zero tolerance may be practiced.  At many points during the course of their development children are only consumers, and are correctly seen as prostitutes and whores who do not love, they manipulate.  Even so, righteousness demands that peculiar provisions be made for children in judgment, because generally they lack experience, farsightedness, income, perspective, and practical knowledge.  Only in the perfect judgment of GOD are all the extenuating circumstances, dilemmas, lapses, unfulfilled needs, quirks, and the broad range of subtle considerations describing the behavior of a child taken into full account.  Although children are taught to “face reality” in multiple aspects (e.g., carnal, emotional, mental, physical, psychological, social), during much of their childhood they do not rely upon common sense, logic and reason.  Impulse, animal instinct, and intuition often dominate.  Because of sin in the world, and their limitations as offspring of Adam, children cannot face the reality of right relationship with GOD through Jesus Christ unassisted by adult believers.  The endowment of divine spirit substance children contain from their birth begins to diminish and weaken as they grow.  Thus, children too experience rebirth from divine DNA in water baptism to acquire the endowments of sacred spirit that include faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, love, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  Correctly understood, the heart (i.e., ones inner center where feeling and thought are associated as recognizable patterns; also, ones imagination) of a child is not spiritually perfect; and may be governed by deceptions, fantasies and foolishness (see Proverbs 20:  11, Proverbs 22:  15, Jeremiah 17:  9 and Hosea 5:  4, KJV).  Until disciplined (we say, trained), focused and polished, children may only express raw affection, and remain unable to communicate and respond to the demands of mutual love.  Through defiance of authority, ignorance, and willfulness, both children and adults become agents of destruction and ruin among mankind.  In the holy writings, sin is shown to establish challenges against order, and put conditions in place that persist for up to four generations (we say, 160 years).  As with practical jokes and pranks, sin is rarely harmless, innocent, or justified exclusively on the basis of ones intent to amuse, entertain, and share laughter.  Sin is not eliminated or removed from children simply by their aging; thus, the seriousness of sin in children is that it becomes sin in adults, who continue and nourish sin in their own offspring, and in coming generations.  There are many, even among Christian believers, who hold fantasies that children can do no wrong, and that childhood is a time of purity.  Some seek place as “children of GOD” thinking they will not have to assume adult duties and responsibilities, participate in the work of a holy priesthood, or suffer as innocents.  Instead of pursuing the goals of maturity, eternal life and righteousness, theirs is a lust for abandon (i.e., freedom from care, worry), fun, and unending youth.  Like the character in popular literature, Peter Pan, many feel they will never have to grow up, because they are under the blood of Christ.  However, “born again” believers must “grow up again;” a person’s rebellion against divine law and the Gospel can not be hidden by behavior that is either childlike, or childish.  Their complaining, denials, dismissal of spiritual consequences, immaturity, lack of humility, refusal of cautions and warnings, and rejections of sacred instruction are a clear declaration that Christ is not their good shepherd.  See Exodus 20:  4-6, 1st Corinthians 13:  11, Ezekiel 33:  30-33 and Luke 6:  46-49, KJV.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:  as it is written, The just shall live by faith.  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.  (Romans 1:  16-25, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  The Return in Glory? (07/04/2013); Desire for Love? (07/05/2013); Can GOD Die? (05/14/2013); Acknowledging Divinity? (03/30/2013); Before Abraham Was… (03/14/2013); How Was GOD Known Before Jesus? (10/06/2012); Why “Mysterious” (11/11/2012); Attending Church? (11/12/2012)


“Chris C”, here are some points shared among mature Christian believers that are usually helpful for avoiding spiritual confusion:

(1)  The ongoing revelation of divinity to finite created beings and living creatures occurs within frameworks of time, space, relationships, and personal capacity.  Various divine operations are employed that appear as goal directed, gradual, measured, and progressive.  Examples include birth, death, forgiveness, judgment, redemption, resurrection, salvation, and sanctification.  The material shared for knowledge of GOD also must be finite, fixed, ordered and unchanging, otherwise, believers could be repeatedly overwhelmed by unanticipated change, disorder, reversals, and uncertainty (we say, evil). 

(2)  The approved holy writings are set (we say, the canon is closed); and believers expect no new doctrines, proclamations of divine will, or portrayals of divine person that do not conform to the existing standard. 

(3)  It is our faith as Christian believers that GOD is a spirit, who must be known through ones own spirit content, and by spiritual discernment (i.e., comparing spiritual things to other spiritual things).  There is no such feature as blind faith, for the faith we speak of is tested truth that for many millennia has been carefully examined, demonstrated through selected actions and practices, detailed, documented, affirmed by sacred witnesses, and may be experienced also by believers, today.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  For example, (4)  While it is the intent and purpose of GOD that corruption and mortal being will cease to exist following judgment of the wicked from the earth, transformation for humans to immortality and incorruption (we say, everlasting life) will not also impart or lessen the authority, knowledge, duty, glory, majesty and sovereignty of Almighty GOD.  Discrete and separate being will continue; and the ancient rule will still apply (see Deuteronomy 29:  29, KJV).)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(04/25/2013) Illusion?

      The World as a unique belief system is the topic today; also there is more on preachers quoting Scripture during their prayers. With regard to the Internet as a public forum, I’ve been specially pressed to share some of my thoughts in today’s presentation as a response to several comments upon recent postings. Writers “wirelessguru1” and “beelzebob” (that I first took to be Beelzebub—the fallen prince of devils defeated and sealed at the Cross by Jesus Christ—and resisted calling “beelzeboob”) in effect, offered to save me from my salvation in Christ, and release me from a state of gross delusion like that described in the Matrix series of Academy Award winning films (that introduced the “bullet” cinema filming techniques.) They have not heard me moaning and groaning, or complaining against the new life; and it must be their own sad experience of something other than Jesus that is fuelling their discontent. The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “Mr S The Goon” (Level 1 with 44 points, a member since April 22, 2013) posted the following:


Is life as we see it an illusion?

Are we just existing in a reality that society has created for us?


THE BATTLE AXE: Quoting Scripture to GOD? (04/24/2013)—(6.) The holy writings are understood to provide a vocabulary of sacred events, a shared language and shared truth that have been specially fit together and patterned by GOD to permit believers access to the Holy as shared awareness. As a common focus for GOD and mankind, the Scriptures are a necessary bridge over the fixed gulf of carnal and finite being. See 2nd Timothy 2: 15-16, 2nd Timothy 4: 1-5, 2nd Peter 1: 2-9 and 2nd Peter 1: 16-21, King James Version.


THE GOLDEN ARROW: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1st John 2: 15-17, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Science and the Laws of Nature? (03/23/2013); How To Love GOD? (03/24/2013); What is Reality (a.k.a. Truth)? (09/29/2012); Divine Self-Sacrifice? (09/30/2012); The Right Religion (03/25/2012); Mixing Islam and Christianity? (03/26/2012); Mankind’s World (11/20/2010); For Our Sins? (11/21/2010); Two Wisdoms? (10/12/2010); Why Sacrifice? (10/13/2010)

    
     Mr S The Goon, here are some ideas from a mature Christian believer that many have found useful for overcoming spiritual confusion. Often the problem is not with life or truth, it’s with our failure to accept and correctly understand it:

(1.) A belief system is a closed set of definitions, explanations and values that describe reality, and fosters a sense of control and wholeness for those operating within the limits that are put into place by the unique terms of the system. A believer may not go outside of the system for answers, correction, guidance, or inspiration; must not rely upon altered versions, fragments, mutations or partial presentations of the full system; must not introduce material from alternative and opposing systems that would contaminate, defile and profane their beliefs; and must trust that the system they commit themselves to is all-inclusive, authoritative, complete and finished. 
 
(2.) The World System is real, and is a valid source of direction and meaning for human life. Called humanism, secularism, and society, the World provides necessary structure for human exchange, interaction and survival. Included are customs, institutions, language, professions, and traditions that generate rules for our experience of education, family, marriage, politics, science, work life, etc., etc., etc., etc. Mature Christians believe the earth (our physical sphere) is created by GOD, and acknowledge that the World is the creation of mankind.

(3.) In addition to the World, other real systems also foster human understanding of reality. The Flesh system is described by such aspects of experience as appetite (e.g., hunger, thirst, sexual craving), sensation (e.g., hearing, seeing, tasting, touching), and mental function (e.g., desire, fantasy, forgetting, imagination, thought). Both the Flesh and the World may determine and dictate what one understands as bad/good, deadly/life-giving, real/unreal, right/wrong, and useful/useless.

(4.) The Christian belief system also supplies ideas to describe and maintain human reality. However, in addition to viewing humanity as carnal, emotional, intellectual, physical, psychological and social, Christianity also acknowledges mankind as spiritual. GOD, the Maker of all created beings and living creatures, is a spirit; and has imparted aspects of himself to all Creation.

(5.) Achieving a clear, correct view upon life is very difficult, and requires discipline, focus, and maturity. Truth does not change, however our readiness to accept the truth does. Human living absolutely must go forward as change: we typically grow, increase, and learn. As the process of our living, most humans rely upon discovery, trial-and-error, risk-taking, and vicarious experience (every device available, even clutching at straws), and so there are multiple opportunities and sources for error, and misunderstanding of the truth.

      There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (6.) In the Christian belief system, sin may dominate the awareness of created beings and living creatures, yet, has no influence upon GOD. Sin distorts and skewers human consciousness, and alters the application of self-will. Sin opposes the existence of divine law, divine person, and the entire universe of GOD. Hence, sinners go about to destroy society, and themselves.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(03/10/2013) Not Even Sorry?

My older brother Howard’s birthday is today, my older sister Barbara’s birthday, tomorrow, while my younger sister Cheryl celebrated another year toward the first part of March.  Forgiveness and grace are in view, today, along with more on accepting limits set by GOD.  A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “K” (Level 4 with 4,422 points, a member since June 12, 2010) posted the following:

How can you forgive someone who is not even sorry?
And not only that, but blames you for what they did?
I feel it is best just to separate myself from such people.
What is your view on this?

Additional Details
No actually, it's very right. The Bible talks a lot on forgiveness.

THE BATTLE AXE:  Wanting to Have Our Way (03/09/2013)—As children we often enjoy stories of heroes that have “super powers” allowing them to do fantastic deeds.  We wish that we ourselves could see through walls, run as fast as the speed of light, or fly without the aide of machinery.  Even so, most children accept that having such skills are not truly part of human reality; and we are not discouraged from doing the best we can to fulfill our own human potential for becoming a respected adult.  Similarly, Christian believers must acknowledge limitations of both divine and human reality whereby created beings and living creatures have a continuing place in the presence of Eternal GOD.  All human beings are not in the same peculiar relationship to the Creator as sons and daughters, and children of GOD.  Standing and status as those adopted, reborn, redeemed or saved is granted only to those containing and embracing Jesus Christ within their own awareness and spirit person.

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.  Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty:  behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:  Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.  And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen:  for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:  That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.  (Isaiah 65:  11-16, King James Version)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Unless You Repent (03/05/2013); The Childhood of Jesus? (03/06/2013); Does Everyone Go To Heaven? (10/28/2012); Magick and Prayer? (10/29/2012); Father Forgive (09/06/2012); By Grace (09/04/2012); Apostasy Forgiven? (08/15/2012); Scriptures To Reassure (03/05/2012); To Save Jesus? (03/12/2011); Having Life? (03/13/2011); Forgiveness? (12/07/2010); Conspiracy? (12/08/2010)

Mature Christians understand that bestowing and expressing forgiveness are operations from the Spirit of GOD, and are not motivated by (1) feelings of affection, compassion, fear and guilt; (2) close relationship with or detailed knowledge of another person’s motives, their past, or their future; (3) determinations and outcomes of truth-finding (i.e., judgment).  Forgiveness proceeds as an operation of grace through faith and may appear because one is in obedience, sympathy, or spiritual understanding.  Those who seek forgiveness must also practice forgiveness.  (See Ephesians 2:  8-9, Mark 11:  26, KJV.)

As a spirit substance that resides within Almighty GOD, forgiveness is inseparable from such aspects of Divine Person as faith, holiness, humility, joy, longsuffering, love, wisdom and wrath against sin.  Forgiveness does not itself eliminate sin; however, forgiveness can be regarded as a peculiar sacred seed that, once planted, encourages spiritual awareness, change, growth and learning in accordance with divinity and righteousness.  Forgiveness has power by operating along with such supports as rebirth, repentance, and sanctification that result from the presence of the Holy Spirit. 

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, upon the cross—before anyone made apology, petitioned, or prayed for forgiveness—Jesus asked that forgiveness be shown to those who had opposed him calling for his death.  Following this example, Stephen (one of the first seven deacons of the early church) became the first Christian martyr, and further sealed this practice along with confession as an aspect of the last rites for believers, and the way Christians go to their deaths (see Luke 23:  34 and Acts 7:  60, KJV).  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(09/30/2012) Divine Self-Sacrifice?

     The Incarnation and divine processes to remove sin are topics, today. Also, there is more on reality and truth. A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “Giovanni” (Level 1 with 133 points, a member since September 16, 2012) posted the following:

Why would Abraham's God kill himself to save mankind?
Yeshua prayed to himself saying : if you wish Remove this cup from me ?
Huh?
How can Satan tempt The Son if The Son created him? What? Hold on Huh?
Who believes this?
Somebody explain

THE BATTLE AXE: What Is Reality (a.k.a. Truth)? (09/29/2012)—The human predicament is not the absence of reality and truth. Rather, it is the surpassing difficulty encountered before accepting, consistently benefiting by, having proper distance (i.e., near to/far from) for, and maintaining uncluttered awareness, useful insights and recall of reality and truth. Reality and truth are conditions in place as aspects of existence. Human experiences of reality and truth often embrace their own contradictions and opposites. Moreover, the full dimensions of reality and truth extend beyond the ordinary scope of human understanding and vision, and thus may be actual and present, yet remain invisible and unseen. In the same way elements from past experience have status as real and true in the present, there are levels of truth and reality for the content of dreams, goals, expectations, miracles, possibilities and events in sequence that have not yet occurred. The reality and truth of mankind includes becoming mature through continuous growth and learning. Human nature also contains aspects of divinity that may develop, and transform experiences of material reality and truth. All reality and truth may not be characterized as colorful, graphic, memorable and vivid; reality and truth also may be boring, dull, oppressive, and rightly understood, inescapable.

THE GOLDEN ARROW: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 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. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 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. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (Romans 8: 1-10, King James Version)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Aliens? (09/24/2012); A Man in Heaven? (09/23/2012); Chances for Change (09/15/2012); What He Died For (09/14/2012); Signs of a Prophet (03/14/2012); The Work of Jesus (03/13/2012); Binder 7: The GODhead (10/04/2011); Melchizedek? (12/22/2010); Meek Abram (10/17/2010)

      Walk with me: GOD is a spirit, not a material being. The awareness of created beings and living creatures is dominated by the flesh--appetite such as hunger, thirst, sexual craving; the world--such social realities as culture, family, peers; and the mind--such aspects as emotion, desire, imagination, lust. GOD makes divine person known to the living using features and mechanisms that respond to the peculiar makeup of their physical and spiritual person. The full spectrum of what we are includes that we are finite (have various limitations), are mortal (are subject to death), and our self-will is vulnerable to influences that do not come from GOD and are not human.
      
     The Incarnation of GOD as a device to permit human beings to be in closer relationship with the unseen and with one another uses how we connect and identify by seeing ourselves in others. In the flesh as Jesus, Almighty GOD further displays our Maker as accessible, compassionate, merciful, righteous, truthful and sovereign. More than this, mankind is shown to be capable of overcoming sin, sinners and unclean spirits; capable of comprehending sacred truth; capable of receiving divine content (e.g., faith, holiness, humility, joy, wisdom, wrath, against sin); capable of surviving as POWs in a spiritual war; and capable of serving as an instrument to fulfill divine proclamation, promise, and prophecy.
      
     There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, sin is an influence that can dominate the will of created beings and living creatures, and was first “discovered” among the angels. Sin is not a creation of GOD; is no material or physical thing; has no content of divine substance; and has no power to influence the will of GOD. Sin opposes the existence of GOD, of divine law, and divine Creation. The processes of GOD to remove sin goes beyond understanding of the created while they are separated from GOD, and must be supplied through truth imparted by the Holy Spirit (such as you are receiving, here). Included among the many sacred processes to extend an imparted, indwelling spirit to mankind are covenant, death, forgiveness, Incarnation, judgment, law, marriage, repentance, rebirth, regeneration, resurrection, and sanctification.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(09/29/2012) What Is Reality (a.k.a. Truth)?

      Some ideas of reality and truth are shared, today (below). Also, there is further consideration, suppose I am wrong?


THE BATTLE AXE: Suppose I Am Wrong? (09/28/2012)—Often in human experience, a person finds more than one satisfying explanation, or framework of belief that accounts for discrete facts within their inner awareness. It is then that they begin to analyze, compare and contrast complex systems, and intricate patterns that describe a collective or common consciousness. Where culture, history and tradition are the primary focus, material and social realities are stressed, and authentic spiritual elements may never come into view. Such stumbling blocks as competitiveness, cultural arrogance, gaps in knowledge, predisposition, skepticism and superstition may warp the conclusions and findings from a person’s reflection and study. Particularly where assumptions are made that inward truth may not be known as definite and unchanging, or that spiritual truth is always determined according to external conditions, thinkers proscribe using “objective” yet undefined criteria for such features as accuracy, clarity, completeness, and simplicity. Even points for elegance and style may be awarded. It remains, the highest standard given for spiritual truth is generally referred to as ones own faith, where faith for the mature Christian believer is a sacred substance imparted from the Divine Person whereby GOD has immediate presence, and resides within created beings and living creatures.


THE GOLDEN ARROW: Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1st Corinthians 2: 12-14, King James Version)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Doom (09/20/2012); Ghosts (09/02/2012); How Life Exists (08/20/2012); GOD Does Exist (03/20/2012); Why Ask (02/23/2011); Normal? (02/22/2011); Proving Truth? (12/24/2010)

    
     The Roman Governor and Judge, Pontius Pilate, is recorded in the Holy Scriptures having interrogated Jesus before releasing him to those that would perform his crucifixion; and when Jesus would not appeal for mercy, make excuse, or attempt to defend himself against the charges made by the Jews, Pilate asked the question “What is real” using slightly different words, What is truth? (John 18: 38, KJV). In human experience many things are real, and are truth, that no one can explain easily, and that no person may control. Even so, the events, or things, seen, heard and felt are “real”. Even so, the emotional, mental, physical, psychological, and spiritual things that happen are truth. Given that mankind does not have authority and power to create the truth, make truth absolute, and maintain truth as unchanging, many feel that reality and truth are fictions of perfection: There can be no permanent reality, there can be no genuine truth.
    
     The fact that change occurs does not eliminate, or suspend reality and truth. Usually the case is that added realities and new truths are unveiled that formerly were hidden, misunderstood, and unseen. While sudden, unintended, unexpected, unwanted changes are labeled as causing agony, destruction, distress and loss, reality and truth should not be condemned and cursed, because prior to change, a person, in fact, has had many opportunities to become grounded, flexible, prepared, and shielded.
    
     The appearance of Christ in the earth was provided to establish sweeping change for reality and truth within the spiritual awareness of all created beings and living creatures. The operation and process of material reality would remain essentially the same despite some miraculous events, and some radical departures from what we call the “natural order.” “Real” and “truth” defined in Christ, speak to the nature and substance of divinity; to the operation of GOD within, through, and on behalf of mankind; as well as to process that identifies counterfeits of the divine handiwork, and makes visible and permanent the genuine Creation of GOD.
    
     There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, things acknowledged as real and true within the consciousness of a person’s spirit, may not be confirmed through awareness that come by the flesh, or by the mind as influenced by society and the world. There are specific guidelines, laws and limits for the existence and ministration of spirit; and these are usually very different from those for behavior and conduct in social groups, because spirit is not restricted by frameworks of time and space. Those of us who have carefully examined such things generally agree that the operations of drugs are through the mechanisms of flesh. Thus, no drug supplies an experience caused by, or containing spirit substance from the person of GOD. Similarly, no drug has power to block, repel, or stop a genuine appearance of the Spirit of GOD within a person–including those who may claim to not believe.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC