(01/26/2017) Exalted By The Father?

Today, the acknowledgement and exalting of Jesus Christ by GOD the Father is in view.  For mature Christian believers there are no issues or questions concerning differences of hierarchy, rank, and subordination within the fullness of divinity (we say, the GODhead).  While the three sacred persons are correctly spoken of using language for recognizable human relationships (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), only their closeness, intimacy, and shared spirit content are signaled.  The meanings and values of terms applied to the divine persons must express direction, existence, and intent among those who appear primarily through shared eternal purpose, operations of Spirit, and accomplishment of sovereign will.  Differences do not introduce conflict, contradiction, or imbalance as seen among created beings and living creatures whose carnal, material and social exchange also may be characterized as having equality, likeness, or uniformity.  The GODhead is to be described and understood as having oneness, yet, without sameness.  Jesus Christ has appeared as “the image of GOD,” and is “exalted” by both the Father and the Holy Spirit in the sense that he is shown to be the specific aspect of divine fullness for the redemption, salvation, and perfection of Creation.  The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “TheReal” (Level 3 with 1,608 points, a member since December 12, 2013) posted the following:

How Could God exalt Jesus to a superior position as recorded atPhilippians 2:9 if they were equal?

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  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;  Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;  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;  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:  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.  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.  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:  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.  (Acts 17:  24-31, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  The Firstborn of GOD (01/02/2017); Different Form, Same Relationship? (11/20/2016); Called, The 2nd Adam? (01/10/2016); The Preeminence of the Word (08/23/2015); The GOD Part of Jesus? (05/06/2015); The Idea of Perfection? (01/20/2015); The Image of GOD? (10/10/2013); Embodied Afterlife? (10/11/2013)

“TheReal”, sinners are to see unseen sacred operations through the life of Jesus Christ.  The most complete revelation of divinity to created beings and living creatures would be one that makes incarnate and visible the many inseparable aspects of spirit substance that are the makeup of Deity (i.e., the heart, mind, and soul of GOD).  Included would be faith, forgiveness, holiness, joy, longsuffering, lovingkindness, righteousness, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  The holy writings therefore speak of a Son being acknowledged by the Father as a device to make knowable, known, and “visible” the otherwise invisible Creator who is called the Word, the Everlasting Father, and Son of the Highest.  Jesus Christ was an appearance of divinity using flesh and blood.  In addition to being present in a form that would allow communication, exchange, and interaction (we say, ongoing relationship), the person of GOD among the living served as a remedy for sin that opposes the continued existence of divine law, provided correction and instruction to sinners, and established sacred mechanisms to complete the permanent transformation of mankind to exist as an immortal companion to the Holy.  While in the form of man, the Savior had to use the finite carnal, material, and social tools relied on by those in the earth (e.g., emotion, intellect, philosophy, science), and was often limited, not so much by GOD, by the limits from those he sought to serve.  Jesus existed having divine substance (just as his followers can do), and was required by the conditions for mortality to endure death with an expectation of resurrection that he shared with the Father through the divine Spirit.  Consider the following from the Bible:

(1.)  Colossians 2:  8-10, King James Version (KJV):  8 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.  9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.  10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

(2.)  Matthew 13:  54-58, KJV:  54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?  55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?  56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?  57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.  58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

(3.)  Colossians 1:  12-18, KJV:  12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:  13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:  14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:  15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:  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.

(4.)  John 10:  14-18, KJV:  14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.  15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father:  and I lay down my life for the sheep.  16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold:  them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.  17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.  18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, 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

(08/18/2016) Abstractions, Atheism and I.Q.

Today, focus is upon atheism as an approach through formal studies to acquire and exchange secular knowledge in contrast to being in relationship through Jesus Christ to receive sacred knowledge by multiple operations of divinity.  The finite human tools of analysis, intellect, logic, and mental discipline alone have not been enough to release even the most brilliant thinkers among us from sin.  The achievement and fulfillment Christian believers speak of can not be obtained through arrogance, competition, ignorance, self-promotion, or superstition.  Spirit matter and divine process must come into consideration for they are the true sine qua non of wisdom.  The writer at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Ette” (Level 1 with 2 points, a member since May 11, 2014) posted the following:

Does atheism elevate the IQ?

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:  When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.  Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.  So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;  While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.  For some, when they had heard, did provoke:  howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.  But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?  (Hebrews 3:  8-17, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  The Rise in Atheism? (07/07/2016); The Cross and Critical Thinking? (04/13/2016); More About the Trinity? (03/30/2015); Foolish For Not Believing? (03/22/2013); Science and the Laws of Nature? (03/23/2013); How To Love GOD? (03/24/2013); The Price of Humanity? (12/13/2012); Remembering the Holocaust? (12/14/2012)

“Ette”, standard scores for a person’s intelligence reported as their IQ might well be increased through atheism, for atheism is a disciplined approach or framework for philosophical exchange that relies heavily upon carnal, mental, and social process.  Narrowing one’s focus to the material and natural order, atheism denies the metaphysical and suppresses focus upon divinity.  Even so, you can not separate the wet from the water.  Atheism must be regarded as useless as a tool to increase a person’s spiritual awareness; their ability to apply one’s own spirit to discern and respond to divine spirit within events, oneself, other persons, prophecy, etc.; their self-will (we say, will power); or their divine spirit content that should include inseparable elements such as faith, holiness, humility, joy, longsuffering, love, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  Finite tools such as academic discourse, debate, investigation, mathematics, science and technology require focusing upon abstract, immaterial and invisible features, yet, do not permit operational definition of sin, its, elimination, and its removal.  (Thus, we have sinners who also have Ph. D. degrees.)  To develop an ongoing personal relationship with GOD who is a spirit requires a higher level of consciousness that must be imparted as life essence (we say, breath, spirit, word) from the makeup of the Creator.  The indwelling Spirit then generates the necessary system of meanings, standards (we say, divine law), and values.  Consider how some of this is stated using language from the Bible:

(1.)  Jeremiah 9:  23-24, King James Version (KJV):  23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:  24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth:  for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

(2.)  2nd Corinthians 10:  17-18, KJV:  17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.  18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

(3.)  Romans 1:  18-22, KJV:  18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;  19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  20 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:  21 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.  22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

There is far more to be said, carefully examined, and spiritually understood.  (For example, (4.)  Titus 1:  15-16, KJV:  15 Unto the pure all things are pure:  but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.  16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(05/22/2016) The Problem of Faith?

Today, points are shared on divinely given faith, intellect, and hope that is false (we say, vain).  In the holy writings, vanity is the absence of spirit content from GOD, thus, the worship of graven images and idols is called “following” or “walking with vanity.”  Many upon the earth have been vain in their response to sacred law, and have failed to realize their own need for more than mechanical obedience to law.  Correctly understood, faith establishes placement within and relationship with the GODhead.  In the beginning, mankind was endowed with a measure of faith that was to sustain their existence upon the earth.  Through the operations of sin, faith and spirit (we also say, breath, life essence, word) in man became corrupt, diluted, and made impotent.  The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Greg” (Level 1 with 27 points, a member since September 06, 2015) posted the following:

What exactly is the problem with Faith?

Faith is the submission of the intellect to the doctrines revealed to mankind by God. It's essentially believing in something as true without seeing it for yourself.

So, what exactly is the problem with Faith?

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  For by it the elders obtained a good report.  Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.  (Hebrews 11:  1-3, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Faith and The Cross? (03/30/2016); Belief, Content And Works? (02/12/2016); Not Through Human Will? (01/29/2016);  That GOD Is Faithful? (08/31/2015); All Is Vanity? (07/28/2015); The Gift of Life Despised? (10/13/2014); The Life That Endures (10/14/2014)

“Greg”, it is written:  2nd Thessalonians 3:  1-3, King James Version (KJV):  1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:  2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men:  for all men have not faith.  3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.  In the light of Jesus Christ dying upon the cross as an embodiment of all sin (that of angels and men), faith imparted from GOD is to be understood as more than a carnal, material, social and temporal reality.  Faith must be acknowledged as a spirit substance from the full makeup of divinity.  The issue is not one of faith versus unbelief that is generated from lack of sacred knowledge and practice; the problem is one of no godliness that comes by embodiment of consecrated being.

Divinely given faith is inseparable from the other aspects of divine being.  Included are forbearance, forgiveness, joy, longsuffering, meekness, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  Faith is made up entirely of faith, just as holiness is made up only of holiness.  Faith is essential for discernment (ability to apply ones own spirit content to correctly identify spirit matter appearing in events, oneself, other persons, prophecy, statements, etc.).  Finite tools among created beings and living creatures such as intellect, logic, philosophy, and science are not enough to eliminate sin that opposes the continued existence of divine law.

In the same way the greatest problem for many Christian believers is not that of condemning, dismissing and repenting of sins, and it is that we must give up cherished, long held, and vain hopes (i.e., desires lacking sacred focus and substance).  Many think of faith as private conviction, passion, and the personal expression of themselves, rather than of Jesus Christ.  Consider how some of this appears stated in the language of the Bible:

(1.)  Matthew 8:  23-27, King James Version (KJV):  23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.  24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves:  but he was asleep.  25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us:  we perish.  26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.  27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

(2.)  Matthew 14:  26-33, KJV:  26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.  27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.  28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.  29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.  30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.  31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?  32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.  33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

There is far more that could be said, must be carefully examined, and spiritually understood.  (For example, (3.)  Galatians 2:  19-21, KJV:  19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.  20 I am crucified with Christ:  nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:  and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.  21 I do not frustrate the grace of God:  for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(11/05/2015) Sacred Events Were Dismissed?

The absence of information in secular accounts and records for sacred events and miracles are considered, today.  One of the fighters at “Yahoo! Answers” who use the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information shared) posted the following:

Do you find it odd that the dead were risen from their graves after Jesus's resurrection walked into Jerusalem?

were supposedly seen by many people and yet only one guy wrote about the occurrence?
You think the Romans would have noticed that.

Matthew 27: 51-53 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.



THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God:  and they that hear shall live.  For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;  And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.  Marvel not at this:  for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.  (John 5:  24-29, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Those Having the True Secrets? (04/14/2015); On Saying the Truth? (12/18/2014); What Is Truth? (12/19/2014); The Judges Who Condemned Jesus? (01/17/2014); About the Second Coming? (01/18/2014); Jesus Scourged (04/05/2014); Brothers, Not Equals  (04/06/2014)


“Anonymous”, when they were first written, the New Testament accounts of miracles and sacred events we now receive through writings in the public domain (or available with copyright restrictions) were originally circulated and shared as personal memoirs, private correspondence, and the peculiar inheritance and tools maintained only by apostles, priests and prophets.  Such material was not intended for those outside the circle of believers.

Christian reports and writings did not come under the severe academic, intellectual, and pedestrian scrutiny we see today.  Keep in mind that the anecdotes, gospels, epistles, testimonies, and declarations of faith valued among the followers of Jesus were of little importance within the framework for systematic military conquest and the rule of nations as pursued by Rome.  Jesus stood accused before the governor, Pontius Pilate, as an unknown figure put on trial by the Jews for their capital crime of blasphemy.  Pilate knew nothing of the crowds that had assembled to hear Jesus speak, that had been healed, and that had been convinced Jesus is the Messiah.  Knowing that such reports would be met with condemnation, indifference, and skepticism, even the Jews who accused Jesus, gave Pilate no description of Christ’s ministry.

Correctly understood, the holy writings (i.e., both Old and New Testament) convey sacred knowledge, and spirit matter from the makeup of divinity (e.g., faith, holiness, longsuffering, wisdom, wrath against sin).  The Scriptures are fitted together to exist as a closed system of divine law, history, and prophesy.  No man receives such truth except through operations of GOD.  Consider again the teachings:

(1.)  1st Corinthians 12:  3, King James Version (KJV):  3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed:  and that, no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

(2.)  John 3:  12, KJV:  3 If I have told you of earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (3.)  2nd Corinthians 1:  18, KJV:  18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(12/31/2014) Help Thou Mine Unbelief

Doubt, exorcism, faith, and prayer are topics, today.  A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using an ID that my not be shown here (a member since November 09, 2013 on Level 3 with 1,686 points) posted the following:


Christians, can a person pray to God to remove doubt in His existence from their heart?


THE GOLDEN ARROW:   Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.  By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts:  and by it he being dead yet speaketh.  By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him:  for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.  But without faith it is impossible to please him:  for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.  (Hebrews 11:  3-7, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  The Scriptures and Perfection? (10/27/2014); Faith Comes By Hearing? (09/03/2014); Perfection and Prayer? (08/27/2014); The “Talking Cross”? (02/13/2014); On Being Merciful (09/01/2013); A Divine Trickster? (09/02/2013); Acknowledging Divinity? (03/30/2013)


Here are a few points that all Christian believers must embrace to avoid error and spiritual confusion:

(1.)  Many questions that are posed by those who seek sacred knowledge must be answered by fitting together what seem to be contradicting, separate and unrelated lessons that all are contained within the holy writings.  Subtleties (barely visible differences; unseen shifts in focus and meaning) often may be present.  For example, when the Apostle Peter saw Jesus walking on the water, and wanted to have that same experience, he declared that, if Jesus would command it, he would be able to approach Jesus by walking on the water.  Jesus called Peter, who then left the boat, stood upon the water, and began to take steps.  When the waves began to swell, and Peter could no longer see Jesus, he was overwhelmed by fear, he began to sink, and cried out, Lord save me!  Immediately Jesus was beside him, grabbed his hand, and assisted Peter back into the boat.  He verbally chastised Peter and the others for their lack of faith saying, O ye of little faith.  For the prayerful reader, the basis for relationship with divinity comes into view as faith rather than obedience to commandment and law.

(2.)  Because all followers of Jesus Christ must be born again and mature through gradual growth and spiritual transformations carried out by divinity through their life experiences upon the earth (we say, rebirth, perfection, sanctification), at some time, most believers also will be challenged by feelings of incompleteness, lack of power, and uncertainty.  There are multiple ongoing sacred operations that continue “in the background” and unseen (so to speak) as Christ continually cleanses, refines, and sharpens his chosen ones.  Thus, the Bible reports, on one occasion, Jesus was away from the crowd that usually followed him seeking healing.  His apostles, who all had done so before, were asked by a boy’s father to cast out a devil (we say, perform an exorcism), and the apostles could not.  When Jesus returned, the father pleaded for his help.  When asked by the Savior whether he believed Jesus could successfully do the exorcism, the father replied, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.  He may have come a long distance in hope of help for his child.  Seeing others blessed, he may well have become discouraged when his child could not be improved.  Even so, he did not leave and go home after the repeated failures of the apostles.  Again, the focus must be seen as faith and the content of the father’s spirit, rather than such finite human tools as intellect, logic, medicine, philosophy, or science.  Ones understanding that GOD is and that GOD is able must be as much a part of oneself as their own hand, their foot, or their offspring.

There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (3.)  On several occasions the apostles observed Jesus maintaining the sacred discipline of prayer.  Wanting to be more like Jesus, they asked that he give them more faith.  The Savior responded saying, in effect, the problem is not the amount or size of a person’s faith.  Where you have faith as small as a grain of mustard seed it is enough.  This is true because faith is an aspect of divinity, and is inseparable from other features within the divine makeup such as forgiveness, holiness, joy, love, righteousness, truth, wisdom and wrath against sin.)  I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.



THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(06/14/2013) Salvation for Atheists?

Whether atheists may go to heaven or not is considered, today, along with more on the errors of King Solomon.  A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using ID “Jose” (Level 2 with 283 points, a member since July 12, 2012) posted the following:


Do you agree with the pope on saying that athiest can go to heaven?

Do you think that as long as that person is good, or at least generally good (I can not see no one breaking a couple of sins and especially the very unusual sins in the bible that we brake), despite them not believing in god can go to heaven?


THE BATTLE AXE:  Errors of King Solomon? (06/13/2013)—(6)  For many, Solomon’s marriage to Pharaoh’s daughter is no different than Joseph’s marriage to an Egyptian, the priestess of On.  While the most important purpose of the holy writings is to manifest a revelation of divine nature, the process of the Scriptures is to detail human nature and the responses of created beings to divine events.  David and Solomon are not examples to Christian believers because of their excellent service as kings, their accomplishments, deeds of the flesh, or fulfillment of the law.  The two are significant because GOD is using their faith and humanity to make sacred truth visible  that would otherwise be hidden (see John 2:  23-25, Romans 4:  1-3, Romans 3:  19-28 and 2nd Corinthians 4:  6-11, KJV).  (7)  In spite of the fact that Solomon received the throne as heir to David, he and “the house of David” were heirs to the curses and troubles that came upon David.  See 2nd Samuel 12:  1-15, 1st Kings 14:  7-11 and 2nd Kings 17:  6-24, KJV.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;  Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious:  but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.  And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.  Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.  (1st Timothy 1:  12-17, King James Version)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Those Who Never Heard? (06/07/2013); If You Are Sent…? (06/08/2013); The “Jesus Way”? (05/17/2013); An Earth to Fix A Heaven? (05/18/2013); On Titles and Respect (03/15/2013); On Producing Atheists (03/16/2013); The Children, not the Dogs (03/17/2013); By Grace (09/04/2012); Why No Answer? (08/25/2012); To Be or Not To Be? (08/26/2012); (12/18/2011) Girdle 33:  The Nearness of GOD; (12/19/2011) Girdle 34:  The Life Was The Light


Jose, here are some points that encourage Christian believers to make a cautious response:

(1)  Created beings and living creatures experience various sacred events that occur because of the existence of divinity.  In the same way they had no active role or input regarding Creation, these have no active role and input regarding other divine operations, sacred processes, and eternal purposes.  Included are apocalypse, death, judgment, rebirth, repentance, resurrection, revelation, salvation, and sanctification.

(2)  While it is planned that believers will participate in a broad range of “good works” pre-determined by GOD, one cannot work their way into heaven, or earn a place by behavior, conduct, and speech.  Included here are acts of kindness, donating money, church attendance, fundraising, and practice of sacraments.  See Matthew 5:  16, Ephesians 2:  10 and 1st Corinthians 13:  1-3, King James Version.

(3)  Fellowship with GOD is not achieved through academic, intellectual and mental operations that occur within finite frameworks of human awareness.  To the extent believing is a internal act composed of feeling, thought and self-will (we also say,  choice, decision-making, and volition), believing qualifies as no more than a “good work”.   More necessary than human ambition, desire and hope, being accepted by GOD turns on grace, divine prerogative, and sovereign authority.  See Ephesians 2:  1-9, KJV.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4)  Atheism, idolatry, many other human philosophies, and sin are empty (we also say, vain), and contain no spirit substance that they may influence Almighty GOD.  Of themselves they have no power to please or displease; and they are not amusing, clever or useful.  As crutches and supports maintained by emotion, imagination and pride, they may dominate awareness and self-will in the created.  Believers are encouraged to see how the possibilities for release and recovery of others whom they condemn as non-believers is no different than that provided for themselves; and is therefore a further revelation of exalted love and righteousness.)   Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC