(12/23/2019) The Place to Start

Today, reply is on the sacred person of Jesus Christ as the proper primary focus for sinners who seek forgiveness and reconciliation to GOD. The law and the prophets together were to be the platform for continuing relationship for Israel as a nation, and for the continuing relationship with GOD. Where emphasis became placed on obedience to the covenant law, the benefits, demands, and gifts to mankind through spirit process and substance became obscured. Included are adoption, inheritance, promise, rebirth, resurrection from the dead, and new life. It is written: Romans 3: 20-27, King James Version (KJV): 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. A fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” public forum on Religion & Spirituality using the ID “Shai” (Level 1 with 225 points) posted the following:

Why don't Christians start with learning Torah, as Jesus was Jewish.?

THE GOLDEN ARROW: 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: 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.

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Vessels Filled With Righteousness (11/06/2019); That Not Of Yourselves (08/13/2019); Scripture Has No Ethnicity (05/27/2019); We Begin Within GOD (02/06/2018); A Beginning And End? (06/01/2017); The Best Starting Point? (09/13/2016); Ye Are Abraham’s Seed (07/10/2015)

“Shai”, rather than begin a life-long study of the Hebrew language to read Torah, sinners now may start a life-long process to continue in ongoing relationship with divinity through Jesus Christ. Even though Jesus remains invisible and unseen, believers are to learn of him, and to resemble, reflect, and reveal the character and likeness of Jesus in their own lifestyles and daily routines. Becoming a mature believer in Jesus is achieved through operations by the Spirit of GOD that reconfigure ones awareness and self-will (willpower). The life essence (breath; sacred endowment; spirit; word) within sinners is transformed through such devices as discovery, fellowship with like-minded believers, gradual growth, practice, study of the holy writings, unselfish service, and suffering. Those who become born again all must “grow-up again” and become mature/ripe for harvest by the Lord at his coming.

Many Christian believers acknowledge the Torah as the body of sacred law received over several generations by Moses, the tribes of Jacob, and the mixed multitude that left Egypt. As a written record of admonitions, divine commandments, outcomes from resolving conflicts and disputes, prohibitions, proclamations, and sanctions within the law, many regard the Torah as the platform for Israel to exist as a kingdom among the nations of the earth. Traditions developed that failed to continue the commitment that was to be maintained respecting both the law and the prophets (i.e., the authority of their nonverbal demonstrations and pronouncements as spokespersons from GOD; their rebukes; their appearance as vessels containing spirit substance imparted from the makeup of divinity; and the authenticity of the revelations and visions they received). Efforts to avoid mysticism, spiritual confusion, superstition, and pursuing the occult increasingly saw factions of Pharisees and Sadduccees arise among the Levitical priests that insisted there be strict focus on the offerings, sacrifices and ceremonial law from GOD, rather than on divine gifts, promises, prophesies, and testimonies. Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible, and a selection from the music ministry of the Barnes Family:

(1.) Matthew 11: 28-30, King James Version (KJV): 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

(2.) Romans 8: 1-5, KJV: 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 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.

(3.) Romans 8: 14-18, KJV: 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjmgOuPjtJ0.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

Image downloaded 8:45 PM, December 22, 2019 @ https://www.survival.org.au/images/Jesus.jpg

AN AFTERTHOUGHT: Where the emphasis on sacred law requires believers to focus on judgment, obedience, repentance and tradition, emphasis on the spirit of prophecy gives priority to such sacred elements as atonement, commitment, discernment, forgiveness, praise, unselfish service, suffering, and thanksgiving. The life-long study and work are not for mastery of finite academic and secular tools (e.g., languages, carnal reason, critical thinking, tongues), rather, believers are to operate as life companions to immortal, incorruptible, invisible divinity. Thus, the Apostle Paul writes: Philippians 3: 13-14, KJV: 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

THE BLACK PHOENIX

Washington, DC

(03/11/2019) Reasoning Together With GOD?

Today, reply is on reasoning together with GOD. Divinity has provided messages, pronouncements and words to the living that are to establish law, order and peace; to encourage Christ-likeness; to settle disputes and resolve conflicts; to nourish continued discovery, gradual growth, learning, and progression; to demonstrate forbearance, forgiveness, and reconciliation; and to make known eternal and unseen events. The character and process for communication, exchange and interaction by divinity with mankind is decisive, defining, forward-looking, instructive, judicial, and promissory. Divinity acknowledges confession, fasting, intercession, petitions, and supplication from mankind; even so, GOD may not be influenced, manipulated, and persuaded by the actions and speech of the living. A fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” public forum on Religion and Spirituality who uses the ID “missgreen” (Level 2 with 271 points a member since August 09, 2008) posted the following:

Isaiah 1:18 does God compromise with us? Or can we compromise with God?

THE GOLDEN ARROW: Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1: 16-25, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Not By Bread Only (02/22/2019); Sinners Must Become Convicted (11/27/2018); How Are We Justified? (03/05/2018); The Option of Atheism (02/11/2018); Through Love Not Persuasion (01/18/2018); Human Nature, Divine Spirit? (05/18/2017); Non-existent Debt? (03/06/2013); My Sheep Hear My Voice (03/08/2013)

“missgreen”, created beings and living creatures can not manipulate divinity using mind, intelligence, logic, utterance, and words. GOD has communicated with mankind using sacred dreams, trances and visions along with divine law, covenant relationships, prayer, proclamation, promise, and prophecy. Because the divine intent is immutable and unchanging, revelation from GOD is understood as fixed, permanent, and unalterable. Even so, the single revelation provided to all appears by the use of diversity, fresh endowments, re-statement, and the expression of added possibilities. As sinners who become developing Christians, most of us continue to approach our Creator, Judge, and Savior using the same devices and tools we rely on in our carnal, material, and social living. The operations and process of our awareness and self-will must be transformed to maintain an uninterrupted accord with the will of GOD. In addition to bargaining, negotiating, self-justification (I'm right when I'm wrong, because...) exaggerated pride, and self-promotion (I am holier than the Pope), immature, inexperienced and untried believers will express errors based on secular knowledge, rather than sacred knowledge; hopes that are void of eternal purpose and sacred substance; or overwhelming morbid concerns that include anxiety, damnation, death, depression, fear, perdition, punishment, sin, and the wrath of GOD, rather than his love. Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:

1. Genesis 28: 20-22, King James Version (KJV): 20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,  21 So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: 22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

2. Leviticus 26: 40-44, KJV: 40 If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; 41 And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: 42 Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. 43 The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes. 44 And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God.

3. Ezekiel 18: 29-32, KJV: 29 Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal? 30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

4. Matthew 11: 28-30, KJV: 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, 5. Numbers 23: 19, KJV: 19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX

Washington, DC

(12/10/2012) His Burden is Light?

The pressure and weight that must be faced by every follower of Christ, and more on the focus of divine judgment are considered, today. A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “Ethan M” (Level 5 with 8,577 points, a member since June 13, 2006) posted the following:


How can Christ say in Matt 11:30 that his burden is light?

He paid the price for all our sins, I would not consider this a light burden.


THE BATTLE AXE: The Focus of Judgment (12/09/2012)—Because behavior and conduct also display spirit content, the resources given to prepare believers for divine judgment go beyond punishments, threats, and warnings. There are examples from godly lives of earlier disciples, prophets and servants of GOD. There is guidance and instruction for decision-making and evaluating opportunities. The divine substance of actions, attitudes and behavior are examined; and rewards are determined in a second judgment that will be provided only to those who have received immortality and incorruption. All believers who accept Jesus Christ as Lord are embraced as the children of GOD, and those in intimate relationship as adopted sons and daughters to GOD; however, as with Jesus himself, they will be examined for obedience, reverence and righteousness.


THE GOLDEN ARROW: Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. (John 15: 20-24, King James Version)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Church Attendance? (11/12/2012); A Holy Kiss? (11/13/2012); Blessings, Curses and Woes (10/03/2012); After We Die? (10/04/2012); Justice Comes by Love? (10/01/2012); Divine Self-Sacrifice? (09/30/2012); The Work of Jesus (03/13/2012); Signs of a Prophet (03/14/2012); The Only Way? (02/14/2011)


Clarity for statements recorded in Scripture often comes only after new birth, prayer, reflection, and structured experience. Where Jesus says, “take my yoke upon you,” he is speaking of sharing the divinely provided process for completing such sacred works as Creation, judgment, and salvation. In the same way two or more animals may be bound together and attached to a single plow when preparing a field for planting, believers must be bound to Christ in order to accomplish their own full experience of divinity. The furrows of a field about to be planted must be cut straight and parallel to one another to maximize spacing for each plant, and for irrigation. The animals pulling the plow must go in the same direction, and at the same pace despite their individual nature as fractious, jittery, lazy, ornery, or stubborn.

For those of his day, commitment to the ministry of Jesus (who was, in fact, acknowledged as a rabbi) meant excommunication and social ostracism by the Jews (i.e., the Temple community comprised of politicians, priests, and workers), who dominated faith through custom and tradition. There was great controversy surrounding Jesus as Messiah or a prophet sent from GOD, because some 400 years had gone forward since Malachi, the last acknowledged prophet, and the appearance of John the Baptist, known among those of the Temple as an heir from the line of the high priests.

The attachment to Christ for redemption and salvation is not optional or a matter of personal preference; and it is written without equivocation: You must be born again. What sometimes appears understated is that, once born again, believers must “grow up” again, and develop into mature spiritual beings. Without exception, all believers in Christ experience “growing pains.” Included may be disciplinary actions of the church; false accusations, gossip and slander; imprisonment; loss of goods, livelihood and property; martyrdom; persecution; and rejection by disbelieving family and friends.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, all born-again believers inherit a duty to spread the gospel through their daily routines of life. All are not called to be clergymen, officers in a congregation or pulpit preachers. Yet, all are to have portion in the work of clarifying, demonstrating, and sharing with others the continuing work of GOD in Christ.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC