(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

(07/18/2013) Destroying Justice?

An account from Scripture regarding divine wrath against children is the topic, today, along with more on labeling others as “stupid”.  A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using ID “biggalloot2003“ (Level 5 with 9,162 points, a member since July 9, 2006) posted the following:


A question about justice…?

In 2 Kings 2:23-24 there is the story of the prophet Elisha who was angered because a group of children mocked him for being bald.

Elisha cursed them in the name of the lord and two she bears came out of the woods and slaughtered the 42 children.

Which do you think best describes this story;

A. This was another example of gods love. It was for their own good that god murdered them and sent them to hell.

B. This is another example of a just and merciful god. It was for their own good that god murdered them and sent them to hell.

C. God gave them free will, the children chose to die.

D. This was god’s day off and satan was filling in for him.

E. The little bastards had it coming! Hell is too good for them!


THE BATTLE AXE:  The Bible and Stupid People? (07/17/2013)—While the Bible uses the word “bastard” to describe those born out of wedlock, who therefore have no legitimate status as heirs, or lawful portion in Israel through the allotments from GOD established under Joshua, cheap talk, obscene language, profanity, slang and vulgarity do not appear in the holy writings.  Where the Scriptures uses such words to describe and label others as defiled, unclean, unwise or wicked, the usual intent is to alert and caution believers against accepting ungodly standards, copying poor examples, and becoming complacent with sin.  Racist slurs (e.g., dego for Puerto Ricans, kyke for Jews, Mick for Irish, nigger for African Americans, wop for Italians) and such common name-calling terms as “dork”, “dweeb”, “faggot”, “fatso”, “knucklehead”, “loser”, “punk”, “queer”, “retard”, “shorty”, “sissy” and “spaz” also do not appear in the holy writings.  Yet, Jesus is on record specifically teaching against the use of insulting, proud, and unkind language to belittle, mock, and scorn others.  Use of raca and “thou fool” are identified as expressing unacceptable and unreasoned anger against ones brother in covenant, and therefore makes one subject to public condemnation, and divine punishment (see Matthew 5:  21-22, KJV).  As children, many suppose that it is acceptable to use name-calling with good intentions to motivate change, improvement, and self-correction.  Children attack, challenge, joke with, and tease each other through the use of harsh labels.  Victims include their own siblings, playmates, friends and teammates.  Christian parents, coaches, teachers and those who work with children are cautioned to council their charges that such behavior usually misfires, is destructive of healthy relationship, and is hateful to the spirit of others.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone.  And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.  And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,  Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.  And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.  And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.  And he said, Behold, I make a covenant:  before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the LORD:  for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee.  Observe thou that which I command thee this day:  behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.  Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:  But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves:  For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:  (Exodus 34:  4-14, KJV)


DOUBLE DAGGER:  Theoretical Forgiveness? (07/03/2013); The Return in Glory? (07/04/2013); A GOD of Love? (05/07/2013); Commanding the Storm? (05/08/2013); Why So Much Murder? (01/12/2013); Confusion 2013 (01/13/2013); Justice Comes by Love? (10/01/2012); A Daily Revelation? (10/02/2012)


“biggalloot2003”, here are some points that strengthen faith for many Christian believers, and help them to avoid spiritual confusion:

(1)  The Bible includes many reports of divine wrath against sin, and thereby becomes a special tool to assist created beings and living creatures, who otherwise are unable to detect and resist sin as an obstacle to their own continued being.  Sin is not a carnal, material, physical or spirit substance from GOD; yet, sin may dominate self-will (we say, willingness and will power) in the living.

(2)  Sin is invisible, subtle, and difficult to identify as a foreign or outside influence.  Like many adults today (and some writing here on the Internet), the children described in the Scripture you cite blasphemed and challenged GOD by saying “go up thou bald head.”  They could not see the full consequence and effect of their behavior and conduct from the divine perspective, because they did not properly contain the spirit substance from GOD that allows fellowship with the Holy, obedience, and respectful submission to those sent from GOD.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  For example, in Scripture, children, covenant, dynasty, inheritance, kingdoms, and promise are examples of mechanisms whereby finite beings continue in presence and relationship with immortal, unchanging GOD.  However, sin opposes the existence of divine law, sacred person, eternal purpose, and all that has been created of GOD.  Divine justice, therefore, goes far beyond the peculiar considerations of one feelings and emotions toward children.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(07/17/2013) The Bible and Stupid People

Whether the Bible allows believers to use the label “stupid” to speak of other people seems to be the issue, today.  Also, there is more on circumcision.  A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using ID “Clarance” (Level 1 with 57 points, a member since July 3, 2013) posted the following:


The bible and stupid people question?

Does the bible say there is something like a stupid person?


THE BATTLE AXE:  Circumcision and Promise? (07/16/2013)—Blood is a material mechanism (we say, flesh) whereby divine spirit (we say, divinity, existence or life) is dispersed and spread within created beings and living creatures.  As with the blood of the cross, the blood of circumcision signifies atoning sacrifice, purging through fire and judgment, and expiatory suffering.  For Abraham and those of his household, removing the foreskin from the penis was to be an act of faith and an act of joining as well as an act to display high esteem and obedience.  By accepting circumcision, the social consensus already in place would be transformed.  The family members and servants of Abraham numbered in the thousands, and maintained lawful order as a community of nomads living together, and relocating regularly.  Abraham may be called a “second Adam,” and Moses may be called a “second Abraham.”  Through Abraham as patriarch, priest and prophet, a single household would become a covenant people and worship congregation proclaiming the presence of GOD in the earth, and spreading the divine law throughout the regions of their travels.  See Acts 7:  2-9, Romans 4:  1-18, Romans 2:  13-29, Romans 15:  7-9, Philippians 3:  3, Galatians 5:  5-6 and Galatians 6:  14-18, KJV.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:  And call upon me in the day of trouble:  I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.  But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?  Seeing thou hatest instruction, and casteth my words behind thee.  When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.  Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.  Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.  These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself:  but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.  Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.  Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me:  and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
(Psalms 50:  14-23, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  A Relationship not Just Knowledge (06/25/2013); Lost Without GOD (06/26/2013); Those Who Never Heard? (06/07/2013); If You Are Sent…? (06/08/2013); A Guide to Salvation? (04/10/2013); Faith, Language and “Mystery” (04/11/2013); Life Given By Knowledge? (04/03/2013); GOD Does Exist (03/20/2012)


“Clarance,” the Bible speaks of those who lack a full and correct relationship with GOD in many ways.  Among the different terms used are “deceived”, “fools”, “simple” (i.e., immature, naïve, plain, underdeveloped), “reprobate”, “unlearned” (we say, not knowing letters, uneducated or unschooled), “unregenerate”, and “vain” (empty; lacking divine substance; void of divinity).

Christian believers generally agree that every man begins having no academic or intellectual knowledge of GOD, and must acquire sacred knowledge by applying and using the spirit substance they contain as created beings and living creatures.  Through the ministry of Jesus Christ, believers receive a fresh endowment of spirit matter whereby GOD gradually becomes revealed and understandable.  The spirit of Christ bestowed upon believers at baptism is divine substance (we say, DNA), and includes faith, holiness, hope, humility, joy, longsuffering, love, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  Born again, the believer must “grow up again,” endure life challenges and disappointments (we say, growing pains) again, and come into spiritual maturity.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  For example, a person’s salvation does not depend on how often they read the Bible, their ability to quote scripture, or their knowledge of institutional religion.  Yet, the Bible should be received as spirit matter (we say, the word of GOD) that will further build up and nourish spirit being.  As new creatures through baptism, believers must acquire new ways of thinking and understanding everyday language—we go through “mama and dada” so to speak—and sacred learning from the Bible is very difficult using ones former habits and social understandings.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(07/16/2013) Circumcision and Promise?

Circumcision and human flesh as tools of divine revelation are the topic, today.  Also, there is more on fallen angels.  The question was originally posed at “Yahoo! Answers Canada.”  The writer using ID “alicia” (Level 1 with 132 points, a member since May 27, 2013) posted the following:


In genesis 17:10-14 why does god view circumcision as a way of insuring that Abraham will keep his promise?

Like why does he believe that circumcizing the men is a sign that he will keep his promise?


THE BATTLE AXE:  How Could Angels Fall? (07/15/2013)—  (5)  Where fallen angels attack mankind they do not all do so for the same reasons, or using the same methods.  Many act from ignorance and lack of knowledge, others respond to peer influence.  While what appears as malice toward mankind can be misdirected and misplaced anger against Christ, and against GOD, other offenses derive from their attempts to continue exercising once legitimate authority that now has been removed.  (6)  From the Scriptures, we know that angels may have joy and wrath; and by our knowledge of sin among mankind, we know there may be deceit, envy, hate and shame among the angels.  It is not clear that guilt and repentance are known.  As with mankind, the loss of fellowship with GOD for holy angels progressively establishes changes in their experience of awareness, being and substance.  Both angels and men come under blessings or curses depending upon their willful obedience.  As with all other angelic beings, fallen angels continue as neither mortal nor immortal, however, they are no longer able to function as heralds, messengers and spokespersons from GOD that correctly apprehend divine utterance, or accurately proclaim divine intent and sacred purpose.  The fallen angels are not despised and hated by GOD, however, their inward center (we say, self-will, willingness or will power) that processes such features as action, consciousness of GOD, and intent has become corrupted, diminished, and turned from GOD by sin.  Like men, fallen angels continue to operate displaying self-will, however, their own will no longer allows them to assemble with the Host claiming their proper place in the celestial presence, demonstrate repentance, or independently resist sin.  Many of the operations carried out through the ministry of Jesus Christ upon the earth have been intended for the benefit of the angels.  Included are the provision of atoning blood through the Cross to sanctify the Temple in Heaven; the preaching and proclamation of doctrines from GOD; and the revelation that mortality and incorruption will be replaced by perpetual presence, and eternal life.  See John 7:  14-18, 1st Peter 1:  3-16, Luke 15:  10 and Revelation 21:  1-27, KJV.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  And the LORD said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary.  And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations,  In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations.  And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things:  but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.  Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.  And the Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity.  (Ezekiel 44:  5-10, King James Version)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  The Divine Use of a Human Life? (04/23/2013); Quoting Scripture to GOD? (04/24/2013); Why Jesus Must Be A Jew (03/18/2013); The Benefit of Grace (03/19/2013); Accomplished in Christ (01/16/2013); The Need to Purify Heaven (01/17/2013); Vows and Covenants? (12/17/2012); Fasting “After the Spirit” (09/19/2012); Doom (09/20/2012)


“alicia”, here are a few of the very serious points concerning circumcision that are regularly considered by Christian believers; the following may be helpful as you continue to build your understanding:

(1)  For mankind, covenant relationship with GOD requires revelation from divinity whereby the presence, substance and will of the Almighty is made identifiable, knowable and visible.  Also, mankind must acquire a unique self-awareness that will sanctify (i.e., cleanse and set apart for sacred service) and mark humanity as being in covenant with GOD, and not merely another object in the fullness of Creation.

(2)  Many of the operations of GOD for Creation, revelation and salvation are to demonstrate, and further establish the union of flesh and spirit.  Circumcision of the penis is visible in ones flesh, yet is hidden, to be demonstrated through faith, obedience and promise.  The continuity of covenant and reverence toward GOD are further affirmed by the sharing of ones “secret” circumcision in marriage, sexual joining, and reproduction.

(3)  Mankind is to exist as an expression of divine will, and a tool for divine revelation.  The patterns for expression of being and existence that are granted to mankind can be described both as an animal and as a divine nature.  That mankind is carnal and mortal does not automatically determine human nature.  Human nature gravitates toward the animal where mankind relies upon the flesh (appetite such as hunger, thirst, cravings for sex; sense such as hearing, seeing, tasting, touching; or mental functioning such as desire, fantasy, forgetting, imagination), and the world (man-made devices for survival and association in groups such as language, money, weapons).

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  For example, (4)  GOD exists as spirit matter, and divine presence can only be detected by human senses as GOD operates through and upon objects in the material human environment.  Divinity would remain completely unknown to mankind without such sacred provisions as divine law, Incarnation, judgment, rebirth, resurrection and sanctification.  Because of mankind’s need for experiences of immediacy, inner power and divine nearness, birth, blindness, death, disease, pain and rest are also divine tools used within the flesh of mankind.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(07/15/2013) How Could Angels Fall?

Knowledge and the appearance of sin in Creation are topics today, along with more on Jesus and the Pharisees.  The following question was originally asked on “Yahoo! Answers United Kingdom.”  The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using ID “Edward” (Level 4 with 3,494 points, a member since February 13, 2013) posted the following:


How could angels fall (Satan) if there was no tree of knowledge of good and evil in heaven?

Additional Details

@David G.. “Satan is the tree of knowledge of good and evil”

Most Christians hold that Satan is the serpent.

@Gerri.. “When Satan enticed Eve to disobey God and slandered God by calling him a liar.”

Wouldn’t the serpent (Satan to Christians) had to have eaten fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil first though, otherwise how would he know good from evil?


THE BATTLE AXE:  Jesus and the Pharisees (07/14/2013)—(6)  Where the Pharisees insisted upon the covenants of Abraham and Moses with law and promise, John the Baptist and Jesus advanced the earlier prophets, particularly Isaiah, Joel and David, declaring inheritance and outpourings of divinity to mankind.  See, Jeremiah 31:  32-37, Isaiah 11:  1-16, Isaiah 35:  1-10 and Joel 2:  23-32, KJV.  (7) The “leaven” of the Pharisees was lack of faith, and unseen sin that was blended in with sacred practice and traditional doctrine.  Despite their strict discipline and insistence upon purity, the examples from the lifestyles of the Pharisees and leadership of Jerusalem included such hidden ingredients as ambition, doubt, fear of divine wrath, lust for authority, and pride.  Together, these amplified Israel’s resistance to Jesus, multiplied the questions, puffed up their challenges, and finally resulted in a blood-thirsty determination that Jesus must be killed.  See Matthew 16:  1-12, Luke 12:  1-12 and Luke 22:  1-7, KJV.  (8)  What we speak of as “sins of the heart” are also called “cherished sins.”  This class of behavior against the Gospel includes addiction, attitudes and ways of posturing, dependency, habits (e.g., alcohol consumption, gambling, smoking) regarded as giving a person their inner character and personality, prejudices, racism, offenses continued in secret, unhealthy sexual relationships, and long-practiced violations of sacred law exalted as “religious” custom or tradition.  See Mark 7:  1-13, Colossians 2:  6-23 and 1st Peter 1:  13-23, King James Version.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.  His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight:  as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.  He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved:  for I shall never be in adversity.  His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud:  under his tongue is mischief and vanity.  He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent:  his eyes are privily set against the poor.  He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den:  he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.  He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.  He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten:  he hideth his face; he will never see it.  Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand:  forget not the humble.  Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.  (Psalms 10:  4-13, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Unseen Sin? (06/18/2013); Teachings on Judgment (06/06/2013); An Earth to Fix A Heaven? (05/18/2013); Not of Legal Age? (04/26/2013); Repentance Must Come Before Resurrection (04/27/2013); The Common Danger (01/02/2013); Sin Unknown? (10/10/2012); When Prayer Works (10/11/2012); Sin Without Wrongdoing? (08/28/2012); The Price of Humanity? (12/13/2012)


Edward, many of the things now known among men regarding the universe we exist in were established within the eternal person of GOD, and before the creation of mankind.  What we are to know about the holy angels has been revealed through the ministry of Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit for the admonition, comfort, edification, and warning of those upon the earth who participate in the divine priesthood that continues in the heavens.  Here are some points many believers are careful to consider:

(1)  In Scripture, the language of “falling” also speaks to rapid and sudden action by GOD among created beings and living creatures after a long period of silence; prompt and swift movement from heaven above to the earth by messengers, watchers and others dispatched; the collapse and complete failure of ones commitment, conviction, faith and acceptance of unseen things as well as ones steadfastness (we say, apostasy and falling away).  To “fall from grace” is not so much to displease GOD, and thereby lose favor, as to forget GOD, and thereby deny the importance and power of his grace.

(2)  Sin has not been created by GOD, angels or mankind.  Sin did not “pop into being” simply because someone’s appetite or self-will were challenged and tempted.  We say sin is “no thing” (that sin contains no carnal, material or spirit substance), yet, sin has direction, effect and presence.  The finite endowment of knowledge bestowed upon the living at Creation did not include full awareness of divinity, nor were all given consciousness of sin, forgiveness and repentance.  Through the Word and by operations of the Holy Spirit sin was revealed (i.e., discovered, detected) as an influence that dominates the finite will of created beings and living creatures.  The will of GOD is not subject to sin

(3)  Sin opposes the very existence of divine law, the expressed will of GOD, the eternal person of GOD, and of all that GOD has created.  Sin is not a logical, rational, thinking entity or life form; and, often appears as a force or impetus to restore the chaos, flux and non-being that were in place before the spheres of Creation supporting mankind were divinely established.  “Evil” is sudden and widespread change, often described as calamity, catastrophe, destruction, devastation and upheaval.  In Scripture, GOD identifies himself as a source of evil, however, not of sin or wickedness.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  For example, (4)  Sin cannot be eliminated through operations of finite will.  However, using the sacred tools provided by GOD, created beings and living creatures may recognize the presence and action of sin, resist its influence, and continue pursuit of sacred operations and eternal purpose.  Included are covenant, divine law, family, judgment, nation, the Cross, the holy writings, and the falling of the Holy Ghost.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(07/14/2013) Jesus and the Pharisees

Jesus, the law, the Pharisees, and prophecy are topics, today.  A new disclaimer is presented.  Also, there is more on knowing GOD as doers and not hearers only.  The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using ID “Idontgoon” (Level 1 with 1 point, a member since April 26, 2013) posted the following:

Why did Jesus Christ condemn the Pharisees if they followed the law perfectly?

How important are sins of the heart, even though they are not expressed? What about thoughts?

THE BATTLE AXE:  A Tree Falls To The South (07/13/2013)—(5)  In the same way there are natural events and processes that are known by their regular occurrence, there are spirit events and processes whereby GOD may be known. Among men, godliness is the continuous display of divine substance through the actions and activity of created beings and living creatures.  Like dutifulness and faithfulness, godliness is known from actions, and not merely by words.  Intellectual argument, conjecture, debate, logic, philosophy, reason, and speculation can not establish spirit matter, sacred truth, and divine power.  Needed are such operations by the Spirit of GOD as acknowledgment, confession, obedience, praise, rebirth, repentance, and sanctification.  Those who immerse themselves in discussion and reflection without also carrying out, obeying and performing the things of GOD in accordance with the Spirit, do not sow and may not reap a harvest:  It is not enough to have love, and not show it; it is not enough to have faith, and not show it; it is not enough to have knowledge of GOD, and not apply it.  See Luke 6:  46-49, Colossians 2:  6-9, 1st Corinthians 13:  1-10 and James 1:  19-27, King James Version.

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.  But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men:  for ye neither go inyourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer:  therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.  (Matthew 23:  12-15, King James Version)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Money-changers in The Temple? (06/23/2013); Believers and the Cross (06/24/2013); Blessings, Curses and Woes (10/03/2013); After We Die? (10/04/2013); Both Born Holy? (04/29/2013); Scripture at Funerals? (04/30/2013); Law Violated? (01/21/2011); GOD Violent? (01/22/2011)

“Idontgoon”, here are a few points many have found helpful for a correct understanding of the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees.  Many of the same issues continue for believers, today:

(1)  The doctrines and teachings of the Pharisees emphasized outward display and public demonstrations of commitment to ceremony, law, ritual, and tradition.  Covenant with GOD was pursued as a carnal, material, political and social reality without proper discernment and realization that aspects of divine spirit must reside within every believer. 

(2)  The Pharisees held many ideas concerning recorded prophecy that were inappropriate and incorrect.  For more than 400 years, since the time of Malachi, there were no anointed prophets of GOD after the model of Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, etc.  John the Baptist, son of a Levitical priest, was a controversial figure among the Pharisees.

(3)  Jesus could not be recognized as an appearance of GOD using flesh despite his divine performance of exorcism, healing and miracles.  Given the agitation and influence of the Pharisees, he could not be embraced as a model to mankind put forth under the law, displaying the indwelling Spirit of GOD, and bringing to pass things proclaimed by the ancient prophets.

(4)  Through the ministry of Jesus, sin is revealed to be no spirit substance from GOD; and the will of GOD is shown to not be subject to sin.  Sin may dominate self-will in created beings and living creatures.  By water baptism, those who die to sin and are “born again” (from divine DNA, so to speak), receive the same spirit content that resided in Jesus, and that makes believers no longer subject to sin.  Included are faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, love, righteousness, wisdom and wrath against sin.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  For example, (5)  What many call “sins of the heart” are regular human experiences of the flesh.  Included are appetite (e.g., hunger, thirst, craving for sexual activity); sense (e.g., hearing, seeing, tasting, touching) as well as psychological and mental functions (e.g., desire, fantasy, forgetting, imagination, recall).  The flesh is with us all (believers too) from cradle to grave; and the combination of self-discipline with divine content provide the peculiar strength for godly living.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(07/13/2013) A Tree Falls To The South

Proper reading of a Scripture verse often identified as being from sacred “wisdom literature” is in focus, today.  Also, there is more on why prayer may not be enough.   The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using ID “Jack Xi Jin” (Level 1 with 18 points, a member since may 14, 2013) posted the following:


What is the meaning of Ecclesiastes 11:3?

deeper meaning?


THE BATTLE AXE:  Prayer not Enough? (07/12/2013)— (4)  In the same way the absence or presence of faith is not to depend upon a person regularly hearing or seeing miracles, ones belief and trust in GOD is not to depend upon the evidence of answered or unanswered prayer.  Faith permits certainty and knowing based upon a person’s inner content being influenced by and interacting with divine spirit matter.  (5)  Until believers mature to higher levels of faith and submission to GOD, they will continue to engage ambitions, desires and hopes generated from material, physical and social objects.  While GOD has authority and power to grant all that we might ask in prayer, all things we may ask are not expedient for our service as covenant partners, examples, leaders, priests and the righteous offspring of GOD.  Nor do all things further our complete transformation into those glorified, justified, immortal, incorruptible, redeemed, and sanctified.  (6)  In addition to confession of sin, confession of need and declarations of forgiveness are aspects of effectual prayer.  Given that prayer is to be a further demonstration of humility, love and unselfishness the better content is what we give and release to GOD.  Included are acknowledgment, glory, gratitude, honor, praise, and worship.  It remains that the prayers of believers are most correct, and in greatest harmony with GOD—not when pursuing a private agenda or personal affairs—when asking for divine judgment; fulfillment of sacred proclamations, promises, and prophecies; outpourings of divine spirit; repentance; salvation; and the fulfillment of eternal purpose.  See Psalm 80:  3-7, Philippians 4:  5-7, 1st Corinthians 10:  22-24 and Romans 8:  26-30, KJV.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God:  for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth:  so is every one that is born of the Spirit.  Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?  Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.  If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?  (John 3:  1-12, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  A Guide to Salvation (04/10/2013); Faith, Language and “Mystery” (04/11/2013); A Spirit Church? (04/04/2013); Spirit Matter (10/21/2012); Caesarea Philippi (10/22/2012); GOD Does Exist (03/20/2012); The “Original” Bible (03/21/2012); (09/04/2011) Dispatch 25:  Comparing Spiritual Things


“Jack Xi Jin”, many serious believers in Christ would first caution you not to separate passages and verses that form a paragraph of the Scriptures.  The message immediately becomes distorted and warped when taken out of context.  The full context includes New Testament writings (see John 3, KJV).  Even so, here are some points to consider that should help you to avoid spiritual confusion:

(1)  The verse states that there are finite conditions, natural limitations (we say, laws), and peculiar sequences of events within the material sphere that holds created beings and living creatures.

(2)  With verses 1-5, the following verse (# 4) goes on to assert that a person’s focus upon aspects of the material sphere does not  produce knowledge of divinity and right relationship to the Creator any more than research and study (we say, meteorology, and science) of the wind produces authority over and control of the weather.

(3)  Mankind is encouraged to apply information, make measured choices, and pursue meaningful goals despite lacking total knowledge of the human environment, and despite not having a perfect knowledge of GOD.  Thus, unstated elements come into view that include confidence, faith, holy boldness, risk-taking, and trust.

As with all Scripture, there is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example,  (4)  Just as obtaining right knowledge of material reality often requires a person to take action, have contact, immerse themselves, participate in events and then wait, acquiring right relationship to GOD as Creator, Judge, redeemer, and Savior demands peculiar operations and responses through the ministry of Jesus Christ that appear to go forward or come into view only after extended periods of waiting.  Much of what believers receive (baptism, church attendance, study of the Bible, etc.) is to enable and enrich ones wait.)   Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC