Capital Crimes - Justice and Grace
Mathew Enoch Mount
Consider the following text, "Moses saw that the people were running
wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a
laughingstock to their enemies. So he stood at the entrance to the
camp and said, "Whoever is for the LORD, come to me." And all the
Levites rallied to him. Then he said to them, "This is what the LORD,
the God of Israel, says: 'Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back
and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his
brother and friend and neighbor.' " The Levites did as Moses
commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. Then
Moses said, "You have been set apart to the LORD today, for you were
against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day."
The next day Moses said to the people, "You have committed a great
sin. But now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement
for your sin." Exodus 32:25-30 (NIV) We thus see that the reason why
the Levites became the priests of God is because they administered
God’s justice by opposing and killing their brothers, fiends,
neighbors, and sons, and this happened as God commanded them to slay
their own people because of the worship of the golden calf (this
worship of the golden calf happened even prior to the proclamation of
the law).
My point is that even though Israel had no law yet people still became
punished because of their prior sins when the law came and when
justice emerged. The same will be true for our time because although
people are not under law but under grace a outpouring of justice will
still happen when Christ returns like in the case of the return of
Moses. Even though God’s people have gone wild in committing
incredible abominations that according to the law of Moses would be
capital offenses we should continue to take the hard narrow path or
justice in order that when Christ returns he does not find us to be
the ones that have gone wild and thus worthless for his service.
Consider then again the following, "So Moses went back to the LORD and
said, "Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have
made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin—but
if not, then blot me out of the book you have written." The LORD
replied to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my
book. Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel
will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish, I
will punish them for their sin." Exodus 32:31-34 (NIV) The point is
that God blots names out of his book without hesitation, and Moses was
unable to take on the punishment of the people in place of God
punishing the people.
Today as a result of civil secular law protecting capital offenders
that have committed capital crimes and promote others to do the same
thus we as Christians do not administer the law of Moses in the same
way that the ancient Israelites administered the law of Moses.
Instead of putting capital offenders to death that promote such sins
we instead put them out of communion, hand them over to Satan, and in
some cases perhaps hand them over to secular authority (such as in the
case of murder). Now we do know that we should not be like those that
search for a capital offender such as the woman caught in the act of
adultery to bring such people to Christ for a verdict, but people that
promote adultery and commit adultery God will punish very harshly
because grace does not cover such people (this is because they are
opposed to the spirit of grace as a result of sin). Overall, my point
is that we more than ever are in a time when we find the lord
returning (so to speak) and the message coming forth, "whoever is for
the lord come hear."
Thank you,
Mathew Enoch Mount
mmo...@essex1.com
ON EARTH Ministries
Mathew, Mathew, Mathew.
(sigh)
What are we going to do with you? Do you even read the New Testament anymore?
Don’t forget our mission statement:
18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." -Luke 4:18-19
And consider:
…Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
6Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." 7Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. 8The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." 9So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
10All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." 11Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." 12The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." 14He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
The Law and the Promise:
15Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ. 17What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
19What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. 20A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.
21Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
23Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.
Sons of God :
26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. – Galatians 3
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant:
21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.
29"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
30"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." – Matthew 18:21-35
Do we need to go through these Scriptural examples together?
Sha' alu shalom Yerushalayim;
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
- Ps. 122
Brother Larry Roy Woodsmall
ON EARTH MINISTRIES
mmo...@essex1.com
"Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone." Luke 11:42 (NIV) If Christ condemns the Pharisees because they neglect justice and do not promote the love of God, then how much more will he condemn a church that promotes capital crimes openly from the pulpit? Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees, then you will never enter the kingdom of God, so do not suppose that Jesus Christ turned the water into wine while attending a homosexual wedding because if this was the lord’s attitude then he would not have hid it in the closet as he never expressed himself as a closet kind of God.
------- Original Message -------From : ON EARTH Ministries[mailto:onearth.ministr...@gmail.com]
Sent : 1/14/2010 2:31:31 PM
To : jesus-th...@googlegroups.com
Cc :
Subject : RE: Re: Capital Crimes - Justice and Grace
ON EARTH Ministries
Peter VanGee
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Evan L. Hale §§§§§§§§§§§ Thankful for Whiskey
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Mathew Enoch Mount §§§§ Conservative
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mmo...@essex1.com
Hello John K and others,
Regarding looking at the scripture through the eyes of Jesus Christ we find the following, "When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised. Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you. " Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone." Luke 11:37-42 (NIV) Overall, what we learn from this scripture found within the context of the six woes to the Pharisees is that what Jesus was most concerned about with regard to the Pharisees is that they had been not as loving to God or as seeking of justice as he wanted them to be.
Jesus Christ points out that the Pharisees held within themselves something like a storehouse of grain, but they had been unjust because what they really should have been doing is making intercession with that grain instead of keeping it for themselves. This intercession would have cleaned the inside of the cup and thus the outside of the cup as well so that the entire cup would be clean. In the case of Moses after the golden calf the very first thing that Moses did was to approach God to make intercession on behalf of the people and thus to make atonement for the people, and this is exactly the opposite of what the Pharisees are doing. Instead of the Pharisees being about the love of God and justice in order to secure the sovereignty of God’s kingdom instead they had been looking to establish their own appearance of righteousness and security by storing inside the cup a barn of grain in order that they may tell themselves, "soul you are rich", and the entire time that the Pharisees stored up for themselves the things of God Satan ran free all around them as they become like the servant that placed his talent in the dirt to secure it without any real desire to build his master’s kingdom with it.
If God has given you the understanding of law, then you need to seek both the love of God and justice according to Jesus Christ as these according to him are the most important elements of the law. Today what is lacking from most churches that I have seen in my own hometown aria (I have been to many) is that they do not possess a genuine love of God and they do not center on justice, but then they often like to manufacture their own rules of living that sound like good advice to people that are concerned with investing the smallest amount of effort to obtain the maximum amount of eternal treasure. Overall, the institution of the church in many causes thus is lubricating the fast track to hell.
Let us consider another point that Jesus Christ makes, "You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews." John 4:22 (NIV) Unlike what most would think Jesus Christ is actually saying clearly that he is a Jew and that salvation is from the Jews in a plural way; moreover, this means that many Jews at his time had been in Christ as well as in the past. Also note that Jesus Christ even makes the case to the Samaritan woman that she would just not understand or know what she worships because she is not a Jew, but Jesus makes the case that he and the Jews know what they worship because salvation is from them collectively as opposed to him personally (so to speak). Overall, early on Jesus Christ makes the case for salvation occurring through the body of Christ, and he also demonstrates that salvation comes from the Jews.
We know that Christ is both perfect God and perfect man in one unified substance, and hopefully I do not need to persuade anyone of this point. The fact that Christ is God actually makes him more Jewish than all the other Jews, and thus the law, because it is fulfilled in him, actually becomes a prophecy of him. For example the fact that a prophecy existed that not one of his bones would be broken and that we find this in the law actually tells us directly that the law is a prophecy to Jesus Christ. Overall, the fact is that if the righteousness of the Jews had been true righteousness, then by their very actions as Jews they would be prophesying concerning Jesus Christ.
The fact that Jesus Christ was circumcised on the eighth day tells us that the entire law is bound by him in the flesh, and Jesus Christ is thus bound by the entire law. This binding of Jesus Christ to the law is not a problem of his will coming into contradiction with the expressed spirit of the law because the law is a prophecy concerning him. In other words the circumcision of Jesus Christ makes him a part of the covenants that he would fulfill, and once Christ fulfills the law then that does not mean that the law is done away with. Overall, even if the curse of the law is banished, and the letter of the law is broken that stands against us we still find the law to be binding on us.
If our freedom in the gospel means a total rejection of the law of Moses along with a embracing of lawlessness, then Christ would have gone against his own nature. If however we look at the law and realize that even Jesus himself had to judge between commandments and had to make intercession like Moses in a world of sin and depravity, then we can realize why for example he would heal on the Sabbath and not wash his hands before eating. Overall, Jesus Christ as Judge over the law needs not be judged by the law, and the fact that he was judged by all and suffered death means that the law held against him in judgment of him as it was nailed to the cross of Christ with Christ.
Now we know that when a change of priesthood exists than a change of law also must exist, and this change of law occurs as a result of Christ being of the order of Malchezadeck. The fact is that Levi when he was in the body of his ancestor gave tithing to Malchezadeck as the lessor gives the tithing to the greater. The point to be made is that the law of Levi was superseded by the law of Malchezadeck but not removed or banished.
The point to be made is that Christ is the judge over the law of Moses as he actually uses something else to read or interpret the law by, and that thing is called the law of Grace (so to speak). If Jesus speaking by the law of Grace tells us that we are to love God and promote justice as the most important elements of the law, then we should do just that. Overall, the law of Grace that supersedes and is used in judging between laws could either rain in our favor or not rain in our favor depending upon those things that threaten eternal security.
For example being forgiven of a debt by the king and then making someone else pay back a smaller sum counted against us could threaten eternal security. Receiving a talent and then putting it in the ground while the master goes away can threaten eternal security. Being put in charge of the master’s servants, and then beating them and not feeding them on time can threaten eternal security. Gaining wealth to glorify one’s own self and to care nothing for justice and the love of God while intercession is never made for others can really threaten eternal security.
Out of all the things that threaten eternal security what we find is the secret work of lawlessness at work. Lawlessness threatens both the law of Moses and the law of Grace. The results of lawlessness is that everyone becomes accountable to the lawless One instead of Christ, and the lawless one makes up his own law that comes forth from his own supposed, "divine nature." The lawless one does not have a divine nature, but he may believe himself to be God while making all of creation accountable to him as its king and savior.
Consider the following scripture, "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God." Isaiah 43:10-12 (NIV) Overall, from the text what we learn is that God the Father as lord describes himself as savior in such a way that no one else can be savior, and this becomes a challenge for Christian doctrine that teaches Christ as savior.
Consider the following text, "But I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt.
You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me." Hosea 13:4 (NIV), and also consider "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son." Hosea 11:1 (NIV) Overall, Hosea 11:1 gets quoted in reference to Christ being brought out of Egypt, and thus we conclude that Christ himself is all of Israel that has been saved by the Father through the resurrection of Christ.
The New Jerusalem thus has no temple (even though it is described) because the lamb of God is its temple, and the Father is the light for the city. The point to be made is that Christ is the Jew, and all true Jews are in him. Christ is Israel, and all real Israelites are in him. Christ is the Righteous One, and all those that are righteous are in him. Overall, being in Christ Jesus means having Christ born into our lives, being crucified with Christ, and arising from the death with Christ to heavenly places.
Everyone that is not in Christ is a child of the devil and is not part of the new creation and is not a new species. The genealogy of Christ is thus evident through family resemblance and through characteristics brought about by communion with the saints in joyful assembly. Overall, the point to be made is that many are not in Christ at all.
What if the only person that God the Father ever saved was Christ that he arose from the dead. This would mean that all the seeds of Christ contained within him that would produce the children of Zion would be risen from the dead with him. This is why Jesus could make the case that those that would believe in him would do even greater works than he has already done according to scripture. Overall, the point is thus mentioned in scripture as the following, "Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children." Isaiah 66:8 (NIV) and also see Revelation 12.
Now having shown that God the Father is the savior thus consider the following scripture, "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11 (NIV) Overall, some people get confused and think that Christ and the Father are the same person with the exact same personality, but this is very wrong despite how the first chapter of Hebrews is translated.
God the Father saved Christ through the resurrection of Christ (even though Christ said that he was just performing a command that the Father had given him in raising from the dead). The fact that Christ performed that command of the Father does not mean that Christ saved himself, but instead the Father saved Christ because it was the Father that issued the commandment. The way thus that Christ becomes the savior of the world is that he makes intercession as the High Priest for others to be in him and to raise from the dead with him and through him as the Father has saved him.
Consider the following verse, "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." Philippians 3:20-21 (NIV) We see in this passage that despite the fact that we are saved we even await a Savior in Christ, and the question regarding this is very simple.
Why would be await a savior as citizens of heaven if we have already been saved and are already citizens or heaven? We await a savior because the body of Christ on the earth has not yet been glorified in terms of its many members, and this suggests a lot regarding the heavens. Overall, the point to be made is that the body of Christ in terms of its many members is being made complete and only when it becomes fully complete will it be able to receive a Savior from heaven that raises it from the dead not just in spiritual form but also in bodily form.
Consider the following text, "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles." 1 Timothy 2:1-7 (NIV) Overall, the text introduces that we should make intercession for all people, that God the Father is our Savior, that he wants everyone to come to the knowledge of him, that Christ is mediator between God and man, and lastly that this message has compelled Paul the Apostle of Christ into service.
We thus should be a kingdom of priests that make intercession for all people as the priests all are required to serve the High Priest under law. This High Priest has been saved, and we have been saved through him. Overall, this message should compel people into service not of themselves but of God through acting as Paul the Apostle of Christ that offered himself as a living sacrifice for the benefit of the body of Christ.
Consider the following scripture, "This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things." 1 Timothy 4:9-11 (NIV) Overall, we have to wonder how God the Father becomes the Savior of all men.
The fact is that everyone is being saved, but not everyone will receive eternal salvation because some will receive eternal damnation. God the Father thus becomes the Savior especially for those that believe. Overall, the point to be made is that we should be careful to identify that God is working in the lives of every man, and this could be harnessed for eternal salvation through intercession for some that do not believe as this would invest the love of God in such a way as to bring about faith through God’s charity.
Consider the following text, "Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior, To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior." Titus 1:1-4 (NIV) Overall, we find in this case reference to the faith of God’s elect as this is a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life promised before the beginning of time that comes to light through God’s servants by the command of God the Father given to his servants through Christ.
The point is that before the beginning of time those that are the elect have been promised, and God does not lie, the promise of eternal life. This knowledge of the truth and faith that identifies this eternal life rests in the hope of eternal life that is promised. Overall, this faith comes to light through God’s servants watering the seed with the water of life and brining it to the light of truth in order that it might grow into a fruit baring plant that would make intercession by its fruit and its very nature as even the birds of heaven find shade in it.
Consider the following text, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you." Titus 2:11-15 (NIV) Overall, the point to be made is that the Church was very much in favor of the blessed hope known as the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, but in the mean time we are to make intercession by teaching these things to others and by encouraging and rebuking others with all authority because Christ Jesus has redeemed us through purchasing us with his blood from all wickedness as he has thus purified for himself a people that are eager to do what is good.
Consider the following text, "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone." Titus 3:3-8 (NIV) In other words God saved us from our own self interests in pursuing our own passions and pleasures, and he saved us through washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit poured out generously through Jesus Christ so that we may have the hope of eternal life, and thus we become transformed to be careful to devote ourselves in doing what is good instead of engaging in our old nature that was very uncaring about making intercession and was very concerned with self interests.
Consider the following text, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:3-11 (NIV) In other words eternal security was a issue that Peter was addressing as he made the case for making our calling and election sure through a chain of things that begin with faith and end in love, but note that Peter demonstrates that the divine power of Jesus Christ has given us everything that we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him as we participate in the divine nature despite our actions.
The point is that since we do participate in the divine nature thus like scripture says and I paraphrase, "shall I unite the members of Christ to the body of a prostitute, Never." We thus should take the faith that God has given us and produce from it goodness and from goodness knowledge and from knowledge self-control and from self control perseverance and from perseverance godliness and from godliness brotherly kindness and from brotherly kindness love. Overall, everything thus parishes and in the end produces love when fully matured for the scripture says, "…for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:6-9 (NIV)
The point to be made is that when Christ came to the earth the twelve did not feed him fish and with overjoyed hearts, but after Jesus arose from the dead the New Testament makes a special point to say that the apostles fed him for a change. In other words all the work of Christ resulted in the love expressed to Christ through praise, glory, and honor given to him when Christ was revealed in resurrected form. Overall, when Christ returns, then even the faith that we have will parish in the flames as we see Christ faces to face, but those that believe in him will be running to him to express their love for him.
Consider the following passage, "We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God." 1 John 4:13-15 (NIV) Overall, the Holy Ghost is the evidence that we have that we are in Christ, and this is not the same as some kind of balanced theology that someone manufactured using the principles of logicians that are long since dead and founded in its origins upon Aristotle that never knew of the ministry of Jesus Christ nor was a Jew.
The Relativism of today that teaches that we should mix the hot times of the ministry of Jesus with the cold times to mix both black and white together to produce gray and to produce something just warm is like rocking the baby in our arms like a pendulum that swings and making sure the baby’s milk is just the correct temperature before feeding it and putting it to sleep in the most careful way. The problem with this approach is that it makes reality something that it given from the mouth of the person in charge, and the only way to interact with this manufactured reality is by embracing it without challenging it. The fact that reality in this case it not shared by independent observes that have different testimony of the same events make the person in charge the creator of reality, and that is why I am against denominations because in the end they produce the formula for the baby and put it to sleep without any prospects for spiritual growth on the horizon (this demonstrates the need for the Holy Ghost).
Consider the following quote, "To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." Jude 1:24-25 (NIV) In other words God keeps people from falling.
Consider the following text, "Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed. But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he "has put everything under his feet." Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all. Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame. But someone may ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?" How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:1-58 (NIV)
The point that Paul the Apostle of Christ mentions is that he must remind us of the gospel, and this is the entire point of the entire chapter. This means that Christ has risen from the dead, and that he has appeared to many including Paul the Apostle of Christ. If Christ had never risen from the dead, then Paul the Apostle of Christ says that we should eat and drink for tomorrow we die. The point is that all of our suffering on this earth is a result of the resurrection of the dead, and if this was not the case then their would be absolutely no benefit in the suffering that Christians undergo to be Christians. Overall, true Christians thus demonstrate the gospel in their flesh as they become crucified with Christ as they demonstrate the hope of the resurrection of Christ.
Once Christ has destroyed all dominion and power, then the end will come after he has restored all things and the last power to be destroyed will be death. After this happens, the entire world will be handed over to the Father and what we will become has not yet been made known because the seed that has been planted does not become the same in appearance as what the seed produces. Overall, it is the grace of God that works in us that produces everything, and if this is not the case then we do not have the seed of faith that will be transformed in a twinkling of a eye as the members of the body of Christ, the second Adam, become changed into a new creation.
Consider the following text, "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father"? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"? And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." In speaking of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire." But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." Hebrews 1:1-9 (NIV)
Although the NIV uses the phrase ‘exact representation of his being’, what is true is that a more literal translation would rider that Christ is the expression of his image of the essence of God the Father. In other words whatever the essence of God the Father is, then Christ is the physical appearance of that essence. For example Revelation says that the Father is the light of the city in the New Jerusalem while the lamb of God is the lamb stand for the light of the city. The point is that Father, Son, and Holy Ghost function differently because their experience of reality is different, and this results in personality that expresses itself differently as intercession is made. Overall, Christ being anointed with the oil of joy and having loved righteousness and hated wickedness would set him in a position of High Priest to make intercession and to offer himself as a living sacrifice since he shuns what is evil and embraces what is good, and I say this because every High Priest if his intercession was wicked would be destroyed as the sacrifice of the High Priest would not be accepted by the Father (Christ was both destroyed because he became sin for us, and he arose from the dead because his sacrifice was accepted because his intercession was righteous).
Consider the following text, "He said to them, "When you pray, say: " 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.'" Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'" Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs. "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:2-13 (NIV) The point is that the man knocking on the door to ask for bread for his children is asking for the bread of life that comes from the mouth of the father to be given so that he may then give it to his children. This process of intercession occurs as the Fathers give the works of the Holy Ghost to their children in intercession even through they themselves are evil.
Consider the following text, "I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." Luke 12:49-53 (NIV) This flame of our anointing given through Pentecost and thus the laying on of hands is what should be fanned into flames in order that God’s kingdom may advance through only opposition of the weeds giving it boundaries and holding it back, and this opposition makes room for growth of the kingdom. Overall, if no justice ever defined the kingdom of God, then no opposition to that kingdom would occur because everyone for the most part would like a blessing even if they think it is a false truth that they are blessed with (lots of God haters would love to hear that they are blessed by God and that God loves them).
Consider the following text, "We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will." Hebrews 2:1-4 (NIV) Overall, in other words the gifts of the Holy Ghost confirm what we have heard in terms of the gospel, and we also see this with sings, wonders, and miracles distributed according to his will (this according to the passage brings about an even greater justice than what previously existed).
Consider the following text, "Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.' "Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' "But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!' "There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God." Luke 13:22-29 (NIV) Overall, the point is that Christ will even administer justice to those that he has eaten with and drank with to the extent that he will throw them out of the kingdom, and this justice means that even if you think that Jesus is your best friend you may find that he will just render justice on you (you must enter through the narrow gate by offering yourself as a living sacrifice and by being crucified with Christ for if you do not pick up your cross then you are not worthy of him).
Consider the following text, "He said to the crowd: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'It's going to rain,' and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, 'It's going to be hot,' and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time?" Luke 12:54-56 (NIV) Overall, the point is that their are seasons in God’s work, and this is a season of repentance, but soon enough their will be a change of seasons and when that change comes will you and your be ready for it?
Thank you,
Mathew Enoch Mount
mmo...@essex1.com
From : JohnK...@gmail.com[mailto:JohnK...@gmail.com]
Sent : 1/13/2010 10:16:20 AM
To : mmo...@essex1.com
Cc :
Subject : RE: Re: Capital Crimes - Justice and Grace
I've noticed that your understanding of God is primarily informed by the Old Testament law and stories. Your understanding of Jesus life and ministry, as well as your understanding of grace and justice, seems to be interpreted using the Old Testament as a filter.
I think, though, that it should be the opposite way around.
The letter to the Hebrews opens this way: "God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radience of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power..." (Hebrews 1:1-3 NASB) It goes on to say that Christ is better than the angels and better than Moses.
Jesus life and ministry is the clearest expression of the Father...in fact He is the EXACT REPRESENTATION of His nature. While the Old Testament doesn't give us an untruthful picture of the Father, we can very easily misunderstand the will of the Father if we use it as our filter rather than using Christ as the filter in our interpretation of the Old Testament.
Since there is no one who has not sinned against God, everyone of us would be blotted out of His book if we use Exodus 32:33 as the controlling factor in our understanding of salvation. I would be blotted out. You would be blotted out. There isn't a single Levite who wouldn't be blotted out. Yes, even Moses would be blotted out. We have to understand what God was telling us about Himself and about His holiness through what we now know as a result of the life of Christ.
Paul, using Christ as the filter to understand the Old Testament words about the Father said this, "For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, in order that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all." (Romans 11:30-32 NASB)
Very few theologians want to touch these verses. They over look them because they don't fit in with their theological preferences, but these verses are the ones Paul uses as his controlling truth. I don't think Paul is saying, here, that God simply overlooks sin and waves it off with a chuckle. He hates the sin in our lives because it hurts us as His children and, as our Father, He wants us to have free and joyful lives. His justice, which, I believe is controlled by His love, demands that He never give up on us, but will do what is necessary to rid us of that which is not of His nature.
My encouragement to you would be to reflect on the Old Testament through the eyes of Christ, rather than reflecting on Christ and the will of the Father through the eyes of Moses.
With you, in Christ,
John Kermott
ON EARTH Ministries
mmo...@essex1.com
Hello,
I did not remove anything that you wrote Larry, and I think that you will find your writing still on our Jesus on the Web sight. Also note that I was replying to John K in the 11 pages, but I wanted everyone to have the chance to read what I wrote and that is why I posted the 11 pages on Jesus on the Web. Overall, the only reason why I wanted to give the opportunity for everyone to read the 11 pages is because I did not want to repeat my efforts down the road. (Also note Larry that if you wrote something recently, then I may get back to it Monday or Tuesday of next week as I have a lot of stuff that I have to write and do that is unrelated to the news group).
To : jesus-th...@googlegroups.com
Cc :
Subject : RE: Re: Re: Capital Crimes - Justice and Grace
ON EARTH Ministries
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Larry Roy Woodsmall §§§§ Freed from Monasticism
Evan L. Hale §§§§§§§§§§§ Thankful for Whiskey
Adam Colbert §§§§§§§§§§ Jesus look alike
Mathew Enoch Mount §§§§ Conservative
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Adam Colbert
ON EARTH Ministries
Mathew Enoch Mount
I am glad that you like my writing Adam. Also Adam I was not able to
respond to your Facebook message because Facebook is not working for
me, so I sent you a e-mail to your email address the day after you
sent the Facebook message.
Thank you,
Mathew Enoch Mount
mmo...@essex1.com
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