(12/21/2016) A Rebellious Fig Tree?

Today, points are shared on the account in Scripture of Jesus cursing a barren fig tree.  In addition to the operations of divine authority, faith, and sovereign will, the account speaks to false appearances and deception, the readiness of Israel to receive the Messiah at his Advent, the completeness and finality of coming judgment, sin as failure to respond to divine will, and the character of obedience as a demand upon all that exists, not merely all the living.  The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers (Canada)” using the ID “Violation Nation!!” (Level 5 with 8,513 points, a member since November 08, 2014) posted the following:

Why did the Fig Tree choose to disobey Jesus' orders? Didn't the Tree know that Jesus is the son of God?

Trees are not like us; they have no free will to disobey. This tree had no right and deserved the LORD's punishment.

I believe in this you guys?

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.  Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?  Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;  When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?  Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?  When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,  And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,  And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further:  and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?  Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;  That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?  (Job 38:  4-13, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Divine not Demonic Process? (11/02/2014); The Barren Tree? (12/06/2013); Fruits From a Barren Tree? (12/07/2013); On Testing GOD (06/20/2013); GOD Grants License? (06/21/2013); Commanding the Storm? (05/08/2013); Death Has Been Transformed (05/09/2013); Destroyed in Noah’s Flood? (04/28/2013); Both Born Holy? (04/29/2013)

“Violation Nation!!”, there are many points of instruction through the account of the barren fig tree.  Christian believers often acknowledge the account of Jesus cursing the fig tree as being a spiritual object lesson and parable that focuses on Israel’s rejection of Jesus as the one sent to reign as Christ and Messiah.  At the time of the Savior’s birth, multiple prophets and kings already had been sent to prepare the nation as GOD’s covenant partner and instrument to establish a divine ruler on the earth at his coming.  In the incident, Jesus was on his way to the temple, was hungry, and approached the fig tree seeing it from a distance as healthy and sound.  The fig tree appeared abundant and full, yet was barren.  Even so, his expectation of being fed was not grounded in “natural law” and the flesh so much as in his authority as the Son of GOD, the maker and owner of the fig tree, who was requiring there be a response to his sovereign will.  Also, Jesus is the Son of Man correcting the response of the pair in Eden, who were deceived and misled regarding a tree and its fruit.  The recognition of Christ was to be on the basis of containing aspects of the Savior’s inborn Spirit.  Thus, Satan appeared, yet, did not recognize Christ upon the earth as the Son who commanded in heaven, and even offered Jesus an earthly kingdom as a reward for worship.  While the operations of sin see the domination of awareness and self-will in created beings and living creatures, sin is a condition and an effect that goes beyond iniquity and willful disobedience.  Sin opposes the continued existence of divine law (i.e., the will of GOD expressed), GOD as the Law Giver, and all Creation that relies on sacred law for divine order.  The fig tree may have had no self-awareness and personal power as an angel or a man, yet, was no less to respond to preeminent divinity.  Sin corrupts (i.e., introduces decay, rot, uncleanness), makes unfit to serve GOD, and removes spiritual purity.  Thus, judgment and the flood of Noah came against the entire earth, not just the people on it; and a final judgment will be followed by the establishment of a new heaven and earth.

There is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually apprehended.  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(12/20/2016) Divine Appearances Using Form?

 

Today the divine indwelling and use of flesh, carnal form, and material existence are topics.  Divinity willingly appears as active and present among created beings and living creatures by using multiple devices and vessels that include angels, praise, Patriarchs, prophets, the holy writings, and the continuing hopes of men.  One of the fighters at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information shared) posted the following:

 

What is incarnation in terms of Christianity and Jesus?

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:  Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.  (Hebrews 1:  1-4, King James Version, KJV)

 

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Material Things in Heaven? (11/10/2016); The Need for Incarnation? (09/29/2016); The Bible and Salvation (09/14/2016); Eternal Mysteries and Revelation (08/31/2016); GOD Within Christian Believers (07/31/2016); The Flesh An Obstacle? (07/29/2016);  Many Sons of GOD? (06/28/2016)

 

“Anonymous”, the appearance of divinity in human form as a Son of Adam, Jesus Christ, and a presentation of all that is divine is necessary to establish the existence of GOD beyond the abstract elements of authority, mystery, oneness without sameness, power, presence, eternal purpose, etc.  Because there are multiple layers of existence that separate divinity—who is made up of inseparable spirit matter such as faith, holiness, wisdom, wrath against sin—from created beings and living creatures—who are characterized by material, physical, and social features—Deity makes the living presence of GOD knowable, known, personal, and visible using the created in continuous communication, exchange, and interaction (we say, divine law, praise, prayer, proclamation, prophecy, promise, ongoing relationships, revelation).  Having human form (we say, flesh), GOD goes on to demonstrate divine intent regarding life experience, obedience, sacred operations, respect, reverence, submission, and worship.  Finite tools relied upon by the living are all used to apprehend spirit.  Included are intellect, logic, sensation (e.g., hearing, seeing, tasting), and emotion/mind (e.g., anger, fear, imagination, recall).  So to speak, through the sacred device of incarnation, the invisible presence of divine spirit residing within life events such as birth, death, commitment, covenant, family, government, inheritance, judgment, miracles, priesthood, sacrifice, and suffering are clarified, crystallized, and made “visible”.  Even sin—a nonmaterial, non-spirit influence that may dominate awareness and self-will in the living; opposes the continued existence of law from the Creator; and directs Creation to non-existence, self-destruction, and return to preexistence—can be made “concrete” and its elimination can be sealed using the cross as an altar along with atonement, forgiveness, rebirth, and resurrection.

There is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually apprehended.  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(12/19/2016) Reflections on Existence

Today, ideas about death, divinity, and existence are in view.  The human condition is that of having finite definition and limit within the frameworks of time and space generated by the GODhead manifest as a Creator who appears through features of existence that may be diffuse, immeasurable, immutable, and invisible.  A writer using the ID “Anonymous” at “Yahoo! Answers (India)” posted the following:

At death man doesn't exist anymore, therefore will atheists be happy to be in nonexistence Forever?!?

Psalms 146:3,4;Eccl 9:5,6,10. They may say that YHWH doesn't exist but in the end they won't be in existence!!!!

THE GOLDEN ARROW:   Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;  While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:  In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,  And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;  Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail:  because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:  Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.  Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was:  and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.  (Ecclesiastes 12:  1-7, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Eternal Life From GOD (10/24/2016); Eternal Mysteries and Revelation (08/31/2016); Sin Also Made Incarnate? (04/25/2016); Life Is In Blood (12/08/2015);  Meanings That Support Eternal Existence? (06/02/2015); That Mortal Children Die? (12/15/2013); Going It Alone? (12/16/2013)

“Anonymous”, here are some points on existence that many mature Christian believers continue to reflect on:

(1)  Existence is put forth by divinity and is different from having such attributes in Creation as awareness (we say, consciousness, intellect or mental abilities, mind), having measurable and visible carnal or material form, having life, having sensibility (e.g., hearing, seeing, tasting, touching), and having mortality (a predetermined end to “duration”).

(2)  The existence of GOD is correctly known through the active presence of divine substance within created beings and living creatures as well as within the diverse and multiple objects that make up their spheres of existence.  Thus, GOD is described as the origin for all form, order, process, enduring quality, and value.

(3)  The existence of mankind as a “living soul” is through the joining of material form (soil from the earth that was put forth by the Holy Spirit) and sacred content from the makeup of GOD (we also say, breath, life essence, word).  The endowment of spirit content from Deity included such inseparable aspects for human existence as faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, lovingkindness, trust, wisdom, and wrath against sin.

(4.)  When a person completes their mortal existence (i.e., at a person’s death), there is a separation of the carnal and physical elements from those that are divine.  The divine material continues to exist, yet, may not be “collected”, “coherent” or “connected” as before.  The dead continue to exist pertaining to multiple divine purposes, including the fulfillment of sacred proclamations, promises, and prophecy.  The total annihilation and removal of existence is called the second death, and involves the absolute and permanent separation from divinity and from all that will be permitted to exist.

There is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually apprehended.  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(12/18/2016) Saying "GOD is Love"

Today, what Christian believers mean when saying “GOD is love” is in view.  The multiple facets of love are revealed in relationships, and go beyond mere affection and emotion.  Included are acceptance, access, accountability, acknowledgment, affirmation, approval, and nurture.  A writer at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information appears) posted the following:

IS GOD LOVE?

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer:  and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us:  and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.  (1st John 3:  13-18, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Believers Are To Love (12/07/2016); The Relationships With GOD? (11/30/2016); Herein Is True Love (10/21/2016);  The GOD Who Loves? (10/02/2016); Divine and Unconditional Love (09/18/2016); Love That Is Spirit? (01/28/2016); Punishment To Show Love? (11/29/2015)

“Anonymous”, in the same way you could say, “football is a game,” be correct, yet, still not have said what makes it different and special from the many other games (e.g., baseball, cricket, ice hockey, soccer), many say, “GOD is love” without also indicating in what way GOD is different from affection and emotion within relationships that are platonic, romantic, professional, or sexual.  Divine love is not best described by using ideas and language for carnal, material, and social relationships, for GOD is a spirit.  Love to GOD is shown by such things as kindness to others, obedience, practice of sacraments, praise, prayer, respect, trust, and speaking truth.  Divinity appears as an array of inseparable spirit substances such as faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, immortality, immutability, incorruption, eternal purpose, purity, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  Multiple sacred operations are carried out and performed by divinity including atonement, cleansing, covenant, forbearance, forgiveness, judgment, rebirth, reconciliation, redemption, revelation, salvation, and sanctification.  The perfection and righteousness of GOD makes it that divine love is even expressed through such diverse and challenging elements for finite beings as birth, death, mercy, punishment, sacred law, and suffering.  Consider the following:

(1.)  Deuteronomy 6:  4-5, King James Version (KJV):  4 Hear, O Israel:  The LORD our God is one LORD:  5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

(2.)  1st John 4:  7-9, KJV:  7 Beloved, let us love one another:  for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.  9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.     

(3.)  Hebrews 12:  4-8, KJV:  4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.  5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:  6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.  7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.)  1st John 3:  1-3, KJV:  1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:  therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:  but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(12/16/2016) Holy Writings and Spirit?

Today, whether there is a need for other authentic holy writings with the Bible is considered.  One of the most important ways the Holy Spirit is imparted and received is by prayerful study of the Scriptures, and the anointing from GOD is not only by breathing from the Savior, by falling as at Pentecost, or laying on of hands.  The Scriptures have not been provided for amusement and entertainment, argument and debate, or intellectual competition and philosophizing.  They supply frameworks for spiritual awareness and increase that include covenants, family, godly government, judgments, divine law, parables, proverbs, salvation, and eternal life.  The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Dan” (Level 4 with 3,089 points, a member since March 20, 2015) posted the following:

If all scripture is god-breathed, why doesn't the bible contain all scripture, and why don't you search for extra-biblical scripture?

I mean if ALL scripture is god breathed, I don't understand how anyone could be satisfied with just the bible when it does not contain everything ever said or dictated by god. What about the book of Enoch? what about the gospel of mary? what about lilith? What about the dead sea scrolls? If ALL scripture is from god and is good for "teaching" like 2nd Tim 3:16 says, shouldn't the bible contain ALL scripture? I mean if you don't care about the non-biblical gospels, then your faith is but in the ancient self-righteous priests who decided (based on their own values, not god's will) what went into the bible and what didn't. Your faith is not in your god if the ideas of ancient people are more important to you than the words of god himself.

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.  (Revelation 22:  16-20, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  The Bible and Salvation (09/14/2016); The Best Starting Point? (09/13/2016); Learning From A Spirit? (08/25/2016); Order Your Conversation Aright (07/12/2016); To Him That Hath... (07/08/2016); On Transmitting Sacred Truth (05/06/2016); To Study the Book of Judges (09/09/2015); Anointed? (04/28/2014); No More “Mr. Nice Guy”? (04/29/2014)

“Dan”, salvation turns on how much faith more than on how much knowledge and scripture, for where there is faith prophecy, signs, and tokens from GOD are more than enough.  Mature Christian believers generally agree that the holy writings are a special appearance of spirit substance (we say, breath, life essence, word) from the makeup of GOD.  Divinity is revealed (i.e., made knowable, known, and “visible”) through use of a form or incarnation recognizable to created beings and living creatures.  The living must engage divinity by using their own inborn deposits of spirit, rather than by relying upon finite and limited tools such as emotion, intellect, logic, philosophy, carnal reason, and science.  Thus, inseparable aspects of divinity must be in place that include faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, meekness, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  The permanence and unchanging nature of sacred knowledge, sacred events (we say, miracles), sacred practice (we say, sacraments), experiences of godly presence, and diverse sacred operations are rarely “one-time” events because, in fact, they are continuous, eternal, immutable, and unchanging.  The sufficiency of divine grace establishes their duration and their standing as having authority and power from the imparted, indwelling Spirit.  Those sinners who require their own experience of what was granted to those who traveled with Moses (manna, truth, and water from the rock) are answered through the Holy Ghost.  Through their consciousness and the correct operations of their self-will, every believer will be an “eye-witness” to the star over Bethlehem, the train of animals that entered the ark, and the conclusion of the shepherd boy’s battle against Goliath.  Consider again the following:

(1.)  John 3:  11-12, King James Version (KJV):  11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.  12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

(2.)  Matthew 13:  10-16, KJV:  10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?  11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.  12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance:  but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.  13 Therefore speak I to them in parables:  because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.  14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:  15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.  16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see:  and your ears, for they hear.

(3.)  Matthew 17:  14-21, KJV:  14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,  15 Lord, have mercy on my son:  for he is lunatick, and sore vexed:  for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.  16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.  17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.  18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him:  and the child was cured from that very hour.  19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?  20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief:  for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.  21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.)  Romans 8:  5-10, 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.  10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(12/15/2016) Righteousness Through Jesus Christ?

CARTOON, LAW AND GRACE BY DR. E. J. PACE

Today, divine law, human works, and salvation through the righteousness of Jesus Christ are topics.  A writer at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “William” (Level 1 with 9 points, a member since November 08, 2016) posted the following:

What is the difference of works and faith ? and why do christians say you only need faith and jews and islam say you need both?

THE GOLDEN ARROW:   My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:  And he is the propitiation for our sins:  and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected:  hereby know we that we are in him.  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.  (1st John 2:  1-6, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  The Work of Forgiving (11/23/2016); Law Requires Genuine Righteousness (07/28/2016); Can A Church Not Be "Religious"? (07/27/2016); Why Are Works Required? (07/18/2016); Sin Also Made Incarnate? (04/25/2016); On Doing Good Deeds (02/02/2016); Saved by Faith and Works? (09/15/2015)

“William”, in the holy writings there are two major ideas spoken of as “works” among Christian believers.  “Good works” are understood to be acts of good will, charitable giving, kindness, and volunteering ones time.   The “works of the law” are the things commanded in the covenants, ordinances, statutes, and legal decisions called “testimonies”.  The law was provided to help men recognize that sin was contrary to their own continued existence, and did not name every specific act that should be regarded as forbidden.  For Christian believers today, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Scriptures spoken of as “the law and the prophets,” and the entire Bible are accounted as having authority, and serves as a standard and “law”.  Because many confused and mistakenly applied these ideas in the early church as being the same, the apostles provided plain instruction to clarify the benefits and greater freedom from the new covenant and testament in the blood of Christ.  Even today, those who despise divine authority, discipline, duty, obligation, and restrictions, insist that “the law” from GOD was “nailed to the cross,” and that Christian believers are free to do whatever they please without fear of judgment or reprimand.   More correctly, acceptance with divinity is through the fulfillment of the law by Jesus, and the believer continuing in the righteousness of acting in faith, rather than by their strict adherence to previous judgments, civil and sacred legislation, or human traditions.  Consider the following:

(1.)  Romans 3:  20-23, King James Version (KJV):  19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law:  that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.  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;

(2.)  James 1:  21-25, KJV:  21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.  22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  23 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:  24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.  25 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.

(3.)  2nd Peter 2:  9-11, KJV:  9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:  10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.  11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

(4.)  Romans 8:  3-5, KJV:  3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

(5.)  James 2:  15-20, KJV:  15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,  16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?  17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works:  shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.  19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well:  the devils also believe, and tremble.  20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (6.) Philippians 3:  8-10, KJV:  8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:  for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,  9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(12/14/2016) No Repentance Without Rebirth?

 

Today, focus is on the fact there first must be rebirth before a sinner may accomplish repentance.  The lasting change a living person must experience to become a new creation before GOD can not be accomplished through applications of their own finite intellect, skills, talents, and self-will.  Multiple divine operations are required that must be understood as all-inclusive, fundamental, and profound.  Those who become “born again” also must “grow up again” and complete the transformation to exist as life companions with immortal, incorruptible divinity.  The writer at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Paul Martin” (Level 1 with 209 points, a member since June 14, 2015) posted the following:

 

Is repentance important to change oneself to become a better person?

 

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.  But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  (Titus 3:  3-7, King James Version, KJV)

 

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Accepting the Divine Will? (12/06/2016); A Different Spirit Content? (11/29/2016); Become Like Jesus Christ? (10/27/2016); Spirit Content From GOD? (09/26/2016); Spirit Process not Feelings? (09/21/2016); Learning From A Spirit? (08/25/2016); Conversion is by GOD? (08/23/2016); To Him That Hath... (07/08/2016)

 

“Paul Martin”, genuine repentance is more than simply behavior modification, breaking bad habits, and self-improvement.  To repent is to turn from sin—that opposes the continued existence of divine law, the Law Giver, and divine order anchored by sacred law—by turning to divinity.  The transformation of a sinner to become a child of GOD requires operations of the divine will, rather than the finite intellect, self-discipline, or will power (we say, self-will) of mankind.  Permanent changes must be put into place that are totally ordered and structured in accordance with the character and nature of divine spirit substance, not the frameworks of time, space, carnal reason, or material, secular, and social practice.  Saying it a familiar way, “You must be born again.”  There must be a reconfiguration and re-patterning for all the aspects of origin and a person’s inner sources for such elements as assigning value, awareness, desire, exchange, focus, intent, purpose, and criteria for satisfaction.  Born again believers submit themselves to baptism as an operation of GOD wherein they are carried through the death of their inborn spirit, and rebirth from divine DNA, so to speak.  Having spirit content from the makeup of GOD (e.g., faith, holiness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, wisdom, wrath against sin), they are to “grow up again”, acquire sacred knowledge, fellowship with likeminded believers, serve GOD through their lifestyle and daily living, and gradually become mature as the children of GOD upon the earth.  Consider the following:

(1.)   John 3:  1-10, King James Version (KJV):  1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:  2 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.  3 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.  4 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?  5 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.  6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  8 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.  9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?  10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

(2.)  John 4:  23-24, KJV:  23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth:  for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  24 God is a Spirit:  and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (3.)  1st Peter 1:  18-25, KJV:  18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:  20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,  21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.  22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:  23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:  25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX Washington, DC