(12/02/2012) A Need to Fear?

      What it means to fear GOD, and three mechanisms for the expressions of divine displeasure and wrath are considered. Also, from the King James Version of the Bible, there is a presentation summarizing the full gospel. A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “Peter” (Level 2 with 581 points, a member since April 11, 2011) posted the following:

Why do we have to fear god?

I always hear people say we need to fear god. Why? Is he mean?

THE BATTLE AXE: And This Was Good News (12/01/2012)—The many points of truth that comprise the full gospel carry equal weight, and are all crucial to a complete, correct experience of GOD revealed through the person of Jesus Christ. The good news goes far beyond that “he is risen.” Consider again: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this (Isaiah 9: 6-7). And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight (Acts 1: 9). If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. (Acts 4: 9). 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 (1st John 2: 1-2). For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit (1st Corinthians 12: 13). There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3: 28). 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 (1st John 3: 2). For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord (1st Thessalonians 4: 16-17). And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away (Revelation 21: 1-4). But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death (Revelation 21: 8).

THE GOLDEN ARROW: Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. (Proverbs 9: 9-11, King James Version)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Fear of GOD (10/30/2012); Saved in Childbearing? (10/31/2012); Binder 13: Where Is My Fear? (10/10/2012); Believing Everything? (11/23/2012); How To Have Conviction (11/24/2012); Why Courage? (10/14/2012); GOD Violent? (01/22/2011)

      Many mature Christian believers now understand that the word “fear” as it appears in the Bible does not always mean “to be afraid,” “to be frightened,” or “to be scared.” “Fear” is also used to describe the proper attitude of believers toward GOD as Creator and sovereign over all existence. Fear, then, is right respect, proper humility, and a correct awareness that GOD is awesome, endued with all power (i.e., omnipotent) and “terrible.”

      The spirit content of divinity does not include feelings of anger that (in humans) come and go, may flare up in a moment, and may fizzle out and quietly disappear. Cruelty, lack of self-control, malice, and violence that derive mostly from appetite, sensation and desire (called the flesh) are not aspects of the divine nature. Yet, wrath against sin is a constant and permanent aspect of divine person, and is inseparable from such sacred substance as holiness, humility, joy, longsuffering, love, righteousness, and wisdom. Even after all sin will have been eliminated through judgment and the second death, wrath against sin will continue as an aspect of divine being.

      The primary mechanisms for the expressions of divine displeasure and wrath include (1) the outworking of ones own actions and choices (we say consequences), (2) the admonitions and sanctions of divine law, (3) the tools of death and degeneration, and (4) the lake of fire. These features are activated and called into effect by created beings and living creatures, and do not emerge by divine prerogative. GOD does not cause or force men to confront these elements of reality, and in that sense, GOD remains balanced, impartial, neutral, objective, righteous, and unbiased.

      There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, obedient believers in Christ are provided with faith that appears as confidence, courage and trust when dealing with the things of GOD. The imparted, indwelling spirit from GOD (called the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost, the Comforter) also supplies meekness (willingness to learn the things revealed from GOD through Jesus) while blocking deceit, indifference, presumption, and pride.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(12/01/2012) And This Was Good News

      That the Gospel, being rejected by the Jews, should be preached among the Gentiles is the topic, today, along with more on salvation by reading the Scriptures. As has occurred on a number of occasions, before I could complete my response to the person who posed the question, the identifying information was deleted by “Yahoo! Answers.” Even so, I may share what was posted by the writer using ID “Johnny” (Level 1 with 199 points, a member since November ?, 2012) as having been the following:

What did Paul mean “From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”?

And what is with all this Jewish pride chosen people crap?

THE BATTLE AXE: The Golden Ticket? (11/30/2012)—There is no instant and automatic access, simple formula, or golden ticket a person may use to gain a place in heaven. For believers in GOD through Jesus Christ, achieving a celestial home is accomplished as a peculiar “work” of dependence upon divine grace, of faith, and of daily living that displays uninterrupted righteousness. Believers must cooperate with the finished work for salvation that has been performed through the birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension, and eternal reign of Christ. The recovery of believers from death and sin is not a single, one-time event. The saved must undertake a journey to GOD that requires many acts of obedience, careful choices, and experiences of self denial. Rather than discrete events such as only reading the Bible, there will be repeated demands that absolutely must be met for change in behavior, conduct and desires; demands for growth in relationship and understanding with other believers; continuous demands for repentance from sin; and unquenchable demands for prayer, service and worship to embrace the presence of GOD.

THE GOLDEN ARROW: Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. (Acts 13: 46-50, King James Version)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: According to the Eternal Purpose (11/20/2012); Still The “Chosen” (03/19/2012); GOD Does Exist (03/20/2012); The First Jews (02/20/2012); Upon This Rock (02/21/2012); Why Only Luke (02/22/2012); New Covenant? (01/08/2011); Annulled? (01/09/2011)

      The “good news” (the Gospel) proclaimed through the ministry of Jesus Christ has many aspects and levels. By declaring a mission to the Gentiles that would no longer be centered within and dependent upon the system of synagogues, or the practice of the Temple at Jerusalem, the Apostle Paul introduced the next phase in declaring the universal truth of salvation to mankind. Rejection by the Jews of the teachings that Jesus of Nazareth appeared in the earth as Messiah to fulfill holy promises from GOD that are recorded in Scripture would not be an obstacle to the completion of the divine work to anchor human understanding in a more complete and correct revelation of GOD. And this was good news.

      Like many others (for example, the prophets Daniel and John the Baptist, and the Apostle Peter), Paul did not immediately grasp the full understanding of GOD operating both in the flesh and through the spirit. Even modern day believers have difficulty with the many spiritual truths that must be accepted for mature service and worship. Historical truths that GOD had appeared and operated in the earth were in line with doctrines that identified GOD as using men in the earth through covenants. The priesthood that may be traced from Adam to Moses was seen as confirmed in the life and work of Jesus, rather than contradicted or denied. Because custom and tradition among the true followers of Moses had permitted the spread of human error, the duty to share spiritual benefit with the Gentiles had been deemphasized, ignored, and overlooked. After illumination from Christ, Paul was able to see that wholeness for the work of GOD could not be correctly accomplished without embracing the Greeks, Romans and all other peoples.

      There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, that mankind is granted an impartial, yet, empathetic and experienced judge is good news. Because of sin, there have long been those who think themselves wise by showing disrespect to others. The problems of disbelief, ignorance and racism may cloud and delay a believer’s understanding; however, the light of the Gospel cannot be extinguished for those who realize that the necessary changes within their being (that also must come by death, re-birth, learning and growth) are primarily through the operation of the spirit imparted from GOD. And this, too, is good news.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIXWashington, DC