(01/08/2019) Ungodly Pride Is Sin

Today, reply is on pride and self-government that violate sacred law. The ingredients and makeup of ungodly pride include covetousness, envy, immaturity, perverted judgment, presumption, self-promotion, being shameless, selfishness, and love of vainglory. Even so, in the same way ungodly pride is seen in those who exalt themselves above others, ungodly pride is to be recognized in those who deny their own value, who repeatedly voice self-condemnation, and who express lack of faith refusing to acknowledge the gift of divine salvation—that GOD so loved the world—also applies to themselves. One of the fighters in the “Yahoo! Answers” Religion and Spirituality public forum using the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information shared) posted the following:

How can pride be classed as sin?

THE GOLDEN ARROW: As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters. Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good. (Ezekiel 16: 48-50, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Ego, Pride and Self-awareness (12/31/2018); Holy Boldness and Humility (10/04/2018); “Only GOD Can Judge”? (02/28/2017); The Gift of Humility (02/19/2017); Presumption, Pride and Sin? (11/24/2015); Humility Needed for Salvation? (08/15/2014); False Angels of Light? (08/16/2014); The Sin of Pride? (08/13/2014); Judged For Acts and Thoughts? (08/14/2014)

“Anonymous”, developing Christian believers experience spiritual confusion and the operations of sin whenever they mistakenly acknowledge arrogance, haughtiness, narcissism, and self-centeredness as though they are the same as true self-esteem, self-regard, self-respect, and sovereign authority. Godliness and integrity of ones personhood are essential for the continuing communication, exchange, and interaction that are vital to having a personal relationship with divinity (we say, the Godhead; the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit). Christian believers are to present the image of GOD (we also say, Christ-likeness), and to display the inseparable aspects of divine fullness. Included are faith, forbearance, holiness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, oneness without sameness, righteousness, wisdom, and wrath against sin.

All sin opposes the continued existence of sacred law, of the Lawgiver, and of divine order throughout Creation. Sin has not been created by divinity, and contains no life essence (i.e., breath; spirit; word) or substance imparted from the makeup of GOD. Yet, sin may dominate awareness and self-will within created beings and living creatures. Sin promotes self-destruction, nonexistence, and the restoration of conditions in place before the founding of heaven and earth (i.e., preexistence; continual movement and streaming with the absence of direction and purpose). It is in this sense that pride transgresses divine law: The workings of desire, lust, and passion can generate a false sense of power and possibilities as though the divine prerogative, eternal purpose, and sovereign will of GOD could be annulled, canceled, or dismissed by those who have been put forth from divinity.

Those who practice exaggerated pride exalt themselves within their own feelings and thoughts, and judge themselves as above others. They overthrow divine judgment, and usurp the office of the one appointed as judge. Such sinners deny the abilities, contributions, worth, and value of others. Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible responding to questions that include exercising proper authority over oneself and the eating of things offered to idols:

1. Proverbs 21: 30, King James Version (KJV): 30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.

2. Proverbs 24: 8-9, KJV: 8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person. 9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

3. Proverbs 28: 8-10, KJV: 8 He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor. 9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. 10 Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, 4. Romans 8: 3-9, KJV: 3 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: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 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

(04/29/2016) Sin Must Be Personal

Today, points are shared on the cross making sin visible as congenital, organic, and personal.  So long as sin is dealt with only using terms that are academic, analytical, distant, and impersonal, sinners will comprehend no need for atonement, propitiation, and the blessings from the cross.  Salvation will continue to them as nonsense, remote, and superfluous until they resist and restrict their own sin through change, confession, rebirth, growth, repentance, sacred practice, and sanctification.  Where the sinner can not grasp the desperate need of a murderer for pardon from GOD, the horror in a thief’s need for mercy continuing to go unanswered, and the inescapable predicament that will be faced by family, friends, and others, the sinner will continue as blind to the surpassing goodness, grace, lovingkindness, and righteousness of GOD.  One of the many fighters at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Anonymous” (required  profile information not shared) posted the following:

Just one thing I have trouble understanding?

Is how are all sins = when the U.S will give a murderer a higher penalty than a theif?

Also I'd rather have something stolen from me, than to be murdered. I don't think its fair that a murderer has just as a = chance in heaven than a theif.

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.  For in that he died, he died unto sin once:  but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin:  but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.  For sin shall not have dominion over you:  for ye are not under the law, but under grace.  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  (Romans 6:  8-16, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  GOD’s Answer to Injustice? (04/28/2016); It Takes The Cross (04/22/2016); Sin As Our Inheritance? (06/08/2015); Finite Will, Self-will and Sin? (06/01/2015); Living not Dying for Our Sins? (11/27/2014); Eternal Life By Means of Carnal Death? (11/28/2014)

“Anonymous”, in the same way the blood of Jesus Christ must flow from the cross in spite the barriers of time and space to immerse us within divine atonement and propitiation, disciples and followers of the Lord must be touched by the cross to realize that sin is “personal”.  Until  one acknowledges their own accountability for sin, experiences their own disgrace, guilt, and shame, or correctly responds to the threat of their own eternal separation from divinity, their hearts and minds will only be committed to argument and debate where sin as an abstraction, a weakness found only within others, and no cause for alarm or change on their own part.  Christian believers are to experience rebirth, wherein one receives a fresh endowment of spirit content from the makeup of Deity.  Inseparable aspects of the full GODhead are imparted such as faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, love, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  It is the Spirit of GOD that permits us to realize the enormity of sin as a contradiction of all existence.  Because you are still operating using finite scales where sins are being measured as “bad”, “worse”, and “worst of all,” your comprehension and spiritual growth are being “stunted”.   Sin opposes the continued existence of all divine law, the Law Giver, and all Creation that depends upon law for divine order.  It is written:

(1.)  Philippians 2:  5-11, King James Version (KJV):  5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

(2.)  2nd Peter 3:  5-10, KJV:  5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:  6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:  7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.  8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

There is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (3.)  1st John 1:  5-10, KJV:  5 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.  6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:  7 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.  8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(07/12/2013) Prayer not Enough?

Changing circumstances, feelings, and the sufficiency of prayer are topics, today, along with more on turning to Christ as a “guilt trip.”  A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “Sheiola” (Level 2 with 262 points, a member since May 28, 2013) posted the following:


Have you ever been in such situation that you felt that praying to God is not enough?

Have you ever been in such situation that you felt that praying to God is not enough to protect you from all evil and you started wondering why some music industries pray to Satan?


THE BATTLE AXE:  A Guilt Trip? (07/11/2013)—In the same way many indulge alcohol, cursing, swearing, fighting, gambling, or sex as their addiction, others embrace fear, guilt and shame as compulsion, dependency, and a continuing unhealthy habit.  Through the ministry of Jesus Christ, ones behavior and conduct increasingly are centered in sacred operations such as giving, forbearance, forgiveness, praise, preaching, sharing, and worship.  The Spirit matter received in new birth introduces continual change.  For the believer duty, growth, learning, heartfelt love and correct spiritual understanding (we say, newness of life) replace operating on the basis of appetite, cravings, emotions, and feelings.   A person chooses Christ only after their own divine potential is released and firmly established through hearing of the truth.  In this sense, only the free come to Jesus.  None are beat down, bullied, coerced, driven and forced.  See Isaiah 55:  1-13, Romans 6:  16-23, Romans 8:  1-9, James 3:  13-18 and Revelation 22:  17, King James Version.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:  for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:  but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.  (Romans 8: 26-27, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Feeling Loved By GOD? (06/16/2013); Quoting Scripture to GOD? (04/24/2013); Illusion? (04/25/2013); Outgrowing Childhood Prayers? (04/07/2013); Confessing Only to GOD? (04/08/2013); When Prayer Works (10/11/2012); Double Standard? (10/12/2012); When You Pray (09/12/2012); Unanswered Prayers? (09/11/2012)


“Sheiola”, here are some points important to Christian believers that may help you to continue your spiritual growth:

(1)  Believers must learn to “walk by faith, not by sight.”  Saying this another way, Believers must continually look beyond the changing circumstances and scenarios of our material, mental, physical, and social world.  Rather than being guided by emotions, feelings and thoughts that repeatedly shift, believers become grounded and rooted in faith through practice and study that supply necessary spiritual focus.

(2)  Often a believer’s need is for a different aspect of prayer than the one they are pursuing.  Thus, importuning, praise or surrender may be more needed than petitioning.  The need may be for group prayer rather than private prayer alone.  Often, change and new courses of action must be joined to prayer.  Even so, for many the most important need is that the believer change nothing, and simply continue reverent behavior and conduct (some say, staying the course, or faithfulness).  Their sense of certainty and trust must be changed, rather than peculiar conditions.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (3) because they are “reborn” from divine DNA through baptism, believers encourage one another to make choices that agree with their purpose of showing reverence to GOD.  Many aspects of their lifestyle are re-examined including amusements and entertainments, diet and foods, dress and fashion, familiar friends and associates.  Believers continue to live in the same world, and meet many of the same challenges and difficulties, nevertheless, through Christ they may account themselves as changed persons.)   Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(07/11/2013) A Guilt Trip?

The place of guilt and shame in Christian experience are topics, today, from a question originally posted on “Yahoo! Answers Australia.”  A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using ID “Est. 2088” (Level 1 with 1 point, a member since April 19, 2011) posted the following:


Why does it seem like Jesus Christ dying on the cross “for our sins” is the biggest guilt trip ever?

According to the Christian religion, I was born with sin because of Adam and Eve, a choice I did not have. So here comes Jesus to “sacrifice” himself for me being born a sinner. That sounds like the best way to guilt trip someone into following that religion.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,  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:  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.  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  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.  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure:  for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  (2nd Peter 1:  2-11, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  A Relationship, not Just Knowledge (06/25/2013); Lost Without GOD? (06/26/2013); When Does Judgment Begin? (06/27/2013); If You Are Sent…? (06/08/2013); How Do I Repent? (05/16/2013); Emotional Appeal? (04/02/2013); Life Given By Knowledge? (04/03/2013); The Ascension of Christ? (12/19/2012); Sin Without Wrongdoing? (08/28/2012)


While many Christian believers have endured experiences of guilt and shame, the revelation of GOD through Jesus Christ does not center in emotions and psychological states.  Through growth that comes by the imparted, indwelling Spirit, a person’s awareness is transformed to embrace knowledge of divinity, eternal life, sacred operations, divine processes, spiritual purposes, and unchanging truth.

Because the process of Christian growth is gradual, must go forward within a material and social world as the fulfillment of promise and prophecy, requires many barely visible changes and shifts, and includes examining knowledge from before Creation, a person may be a “beginner” in Christ for decades (and from cradle to grave) without achieving perfection (i.e., maturity).  As those born again from divine DNA through baptism, believers must learn to apply, focus and be mastered by their own inner spirit content.  Included are faith, holiness, humility, joy, longsuffering, love, righteousness, wisdom, and wrath against sin.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, guilt and shame do not eliminate sin.  Like divine law, they serve to caution and make one aware that sin is present and operating upon their self-will.  The endowment of spirit through the ministry of Jesus Christ is not subject to sin, and enables believers to detect, identify and resist sin that is otherwise able to dominate created beings and living creatures.)   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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