(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

(01/17/2013) The Need to Purify Heaven

The work of GOD to purify heaven is topic, today, with more on the things accomplished by believers through the person of Jesus Christ.   The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using ID “shortiduwop” (Level 1 with 108 points, a member since June 18, 2010) posted the following:

Why would God need to purify heaven?
this comes from the note in 2nd Peter 3:13

THE BATTLE AXE:  Accomplished in Christ (01/16/2013)—For Abraham, circumcision was a mark in the flesh of a man that depicted humility before GOD, and trusting obedience.  In Jesus Christ, the nail prints in his hands, the imprint from thorns upon his forehead, and the place where he was wounded in his side are the marks in flesh depicting humility, obedience and unselfish love.  The holy blood of Jesus fulfills all offering and promise to GOD from mankind, and from mankind to GOD.  Christian belief is coveted, despised, envied, feared, hated and rejected by many around the world, because Christian belief goes beyond passive doctrines that describe mankind as covered by Christ.  The Gospel is also understood as declaring that, in Christ, mankind is endowed, sanctified, and exalted:  Therefore, there are many Christians who strive to employ divine authority, participate in sacred processes, and enjoy godly privilege.  Christians are known to preach and practice self command and discipline, exorcism, healing, identifying sin, judgment, prayer, rebuke of the devil, and warning against all ungodliness.  The principles of spirit life and unity through covenant make it that sacred experience, insight and wisdom for a single person among those in commitment to Jesus Christ is shared by all the members of the body.  (See 1st Corinthians 12:  1-31 regarding gifts to believers through operation of the Holy Spirit, and the prayer of Jesus prior to crucifixion at John 17:  13-24, KJV.)  Through Christ and the Holy Spirit, believers in GOD may claim to be absolutely invincible having a spiritual victory over appetite, death, ignorance, sin, suffering, time and space that can never be annulled, reversed or undone by the confusion, doubt, lack of faith, or unbelief of others.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,  Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.  Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:  Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;  For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world:  but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.  (Hebrews 9:  19-28, King James Version)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  More Than Salvation (11/27/2012); Son of Man (11/28/2012); Entered Into Heaven (02/07/2012); Poem:  “The Magician:  Franco Gaskin” (02/08/2012); The Place for Prayer (01/17/2012); Girdle 14:  Reasonable Service (11/29/2011); Jesus, King of Earth? (10/07/2012); Work in Heaven (11/22/2010); Rewarded? (11/23/2010)


The place of divine presence that we speak of as “heaven” is made defiled and unclean through the operations of sin.  Sin is no material or physical thing, has not been created or fashioned by GOD, and is no spirit substance from the person of GOD.  Even so, sin was first discovered among the holy angels, and later became a continuing aspect of human existence upon the earth.  While sin is no “thing”, and has no concrete form, sin is described as having direction, effect and presence.  The will of Almighty GOD is not subject to sin; however, the self-will of created beings and living creatures may be influenced and dominated by sin.  Because sin is no living entity, and cannot be said to “exist”, its elimination requires a broad range of divine operations and processes.

Divine cleansing from defilement, and removal of profanity are only through sacred devices that include water, blood, death/rebirth, fire, judgment and the second death.  As the primary conveyance that transfers life to all the parts within the living, blood flows and pushes against corruption and decay, flushing uncleanness from any object or person.  Fire decomposes the makeup of objects, unfixes their cohesion and integrity, and separates the elements of their composition often producing a residue of smoke and ashes.

The Tabernacle of Moses, and later the Temple at Jerusalem, depicted objects and practices that were being carried out in heaven.  Because the process whereby mankind was to have access to GOD was altered to include the offering of sacrifices for atonement of sin, the place of acknowledgment and worship (spoken of as a temple in heaven) became unclean.  More than this, the Sanctuary, and Most Holy Place of the heavenly temple (spoken of as the “mercy seat” and “seat of judgment”) has required a deep cleansing and purging (i.e., an inner washing) by application of holy blood.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, even when one speaks of “heaven” as being the atmosphere, our sky, and the envelope of the earth, there is severe air pollution, corruption of the ozone layer, and a need for refreshing that is no longer possible through the mechanisms of rain, snow and other natural precipitation.  Divine action is being taken to make the earth and heaven fit as the home of beings that are immortal and incorruptible.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(01/16/2013) Accomplished in Christ?

     Topics, today, include circumcision, and both natural and spiritual benefits to mankind through the ministry of Jesus.  Also, there is more on contradictions.  A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “Joshua” (Level 2 with 256  points, a member since October 25, 2012) posted the following:


Jesus has been circumcised, why do Christians not do the same ?

The circumcision is the tradition of patriarchs and prophets since Abraham (pbuh) that God commanded him to do it. Following this commandment, all Jews and Muslims are circumcised.

Jesus, the god of Christians, also has been circumcised under the approval of his mother Virgin Mary which is beyond any reproach.

So why do Christians not do the same ? Why do they not follow their god ?

THE BATTLE AXE:  No Contradictions? (01/15/2013)—Bits from a 5,000-pieced jigsaw puzzle may appear not to belong in a given grouping because of their color or the image they bear, nonetheless their place can be easily discovered as they are fitted together with the pieces whose shape indicate they belong on one of the edges.  The holy writings are a single source for knowledge and understanding among those seeking GOD in Christ.  Not only are the many details and unrecorded truths of Scripture impossible to comprehend without guidance and help from the imparted, indwelling Spirit of GOD, believers cannot correctly embrace the many continuing experiences of sacred truth that come by giving, practice of the sacraments, prayer, unselfish service, and heartfelt worship without the continuing ministry of Jesus as Risen Lord.  Saying this another way:  Just as sworn testimony from multiple eyewitnesses in judgment may not be exactly the same, or agree word for word, yet jurors may account the statements under oath as truth because of agreement and corroboration, believers must examine and assign value to the full dispensation of GOD by focus upon accord.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.  (John 8:  31-32, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Vows and Covenants? (12/17/2012); Fasting “After the Spirit” (09/19/2012); Binder 30:  The Mark of GOD (10/27/2011); (08/31/2011) Dispatch 21:  The Ally (Sometimes); Annual Feasts (12/29/2010); Conspiracy? (12/08/2010)


     Mature Christian believers typically accept that the divine demand for circumcision goes beyond a cutting of the flesh (see Deuteronomy 30:  6, Jeremiah 4:  4 and Romans 2:  28-29, KJV), and speaks to the content and makeup of ones spirit in relationship to GOD.  The many special truths that emerge by the ministry of Jesus upon the earth include:  Incarnation (the appearance of Almighty GOD in a human body); fulfillment of all divine promises for an heir to Adam that would restore the dominion of mankind over the earth (that had been transferred to the serpent); satisfaction of all demands for oblations and sacrificial blood (e.g., atonement, burnt offerings, thank offerings, trespass and sin offerings); and obedience to all divine law for the natural and spirit worlds that would generate and reinforce faith, miracles, repentance and sacred revelation.  (See Galatians 2:  20 and Romans 6:  4, KJV)

     Just as believers may account themselves as redeemed and saved because of things physically done by Jesus, Christians may also hold that they are now present in heaven before GOD through the resurrected person of Jesus (see Colossians 3:  1, KJV).  This notion (often called “living vicariously”) can be understood easily where we acknowledge that, as fans, we rejoice or are sorrowed as though we ourselves were spoken of when we hear reports about our favorite athletes and celebrities whom we follow (despite being strangers to them) as “family” and  loyal supporters.  It is sufficient that believers are circumcised in the person of Jesus.  Similarly, believers are “credited” as having accomplished 40 days of fasting and prayer in the wilderness, so many in the church do not fast, today; Jesus attended all mandatory covenant feasts required of the eldest, the firstborn and heads of families at both the Tabernacle and the Temple at Jerusalem, so this is discontinued; Jesus correctly participated in, and shared the Passover, so that now Christ is received through the Lord’s Supper (called Communion); and the judgment of our enemies is going forward and will be completed through Jesus Christ, so grudges and revenge are no longer reasonable motives.  (See Colossians 2:  8-13, KJV.)

     There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, covenant through Jesus Christ is to secure levels of spiritual reality for mankind, and therefore, goes beyond creating and maintaining a geopolitical nation or a society subject to death, sin and time.  Through Christ there is the end of mortality; and upon the close of divine judgment against sin, only immortal and incorruptible beings will continue in what is called “eternal life.” )  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC