Have We Lost Some of the Good News?: September 2017

HAS THE GOSPEL MESSAGE LOST SOME OF ITS GLORY SINCE FIRST DELIVERED?

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.. And all was very good" [Gen 1:1, 27 and 31]. ("And won't He give the Spirit to them that ask Him?" Luke 11:13) ...God's rescue from the outcome of "missing the mark" sin "was finished from the foundation/creation of the world" [Heb 4:3]. "My word that goes out from my mouth will accomplish all I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it" [Is 55:11]. Perfect, makes no mistakes. Can lose nothing. Ultimately all will repent.. there may even "be weeping and gnashing of teeth" in "outer darkness" but - "In Christ all will be made alive! Each in his own order - those who are Christ’s at His coming, then the end when Christ hands the kingdom over to God the Father.. that He may be all in all" [1 Cor 15:22-28].

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

The Apostle Peter and Christian Universalism

(Top o' the mornin'!)

I was thinking, after reading it this morning, that 2 Peter 1:1 - in the interlinear - is highly Christian Universalist.

Otherwise, it reads (NKJ for example):

- "Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.."

In the interlinear, it reads:

- "Simon Peter a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ to those who equally precious with ours having obtained a faith through [the] righteousness of the God of us and Savior Jesus Christ" - http://biblehub.com/interlinear/2_peter/1-1.htm

The words, "[the] righteousness" is from #G1343 - "dikaiosuné: righteousness, justice" and "(usually if not always in a Jewish atmosphere), justice, justness, righteousness, righteousness of which God is the source or author, but practically: a divine righteousness."

and "having obtained" is #G2975 - "lagchanó: to obtain by lot" (by a heavenly shake of the dice!)

- "Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness/justice of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.."

Now if "ones salvation is/was obtained by lot", and all others perish horribly forever and ever (as the mistranslation goes) how is that reflecting the justice and (utter) right-ness of God our heavenly Father?

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Truth Sets Free

We are rational creatures. That we are "made in the image of God" is most usually thought to mean that very thing.

Sooner or later, with thinking ability, comes the ability to make choices. Can you see how this is a virtual Pandora's box of much trouble? Yet, what is the other option?

It surely seems like He has engineered things in such a way that all are taking this strange journey through the land of learning good from evil, all at once. An unavoidable journey and lesson. Surely? If there's to be thinking ability.

Why all at once? Perhaps to get it over with, lest one choose something in thought, word or deed that differs from what He chooses - stepping upon that roadway of imperfection which is long and wide - one now, another later, and each one later and later, taking almost forever!

A world (or person, nation, etc.) on the road of imperfection can only crash and burn. For surely He, Great God Almighty is also Life. Life itself, the very force, breath, and spark of life -- without which, there is no life.

"Surely in the day (age) that you eat from the forbidden tree, shalt thou be dying".

Truth! Like an all encompassing flashing light. Flashing neon throughout man's ages. Huge letters saying "Forever! Go not that way!"

Written, etched, engraved deeply upon the heart (psyche/soul) of every rational creature.

He, being Life, lives through, experiences and suffers all sufferings which ever occur in this twilight zone of imperfection.

When Jesus returns, eventually He brings 100% - so to speak - Heaven with Him, for the very Throne and Presence of God will come to dwell (Tabernacle) with mankind upon Earth! Earth made new, in a universe made new. (Revelation 21 and 22.)

"The lion will eat straw like the ox, the bear will graze with the cow" Isaiah 11:7.

Yet, it's not we who make the choice for Him, or that is when the choice is made available - "each one in their own order/time, first 1-Christ the firstfruits, then 2-those that are His at His coming, then 3-comes the end when He delivers up the Kingdom to God the Father.. that God may be all in all" 1 Corinthians 15:23,24,28.

He chooses when for each one of us, and not because of merit "lest any should boast". If we are saved, it's a lucky shake of the cosmic dice?

"God is the savior of all" 1 Timothy 4:10.

"All the ends of the Earth will turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nation's will worship and rejoice before Him" Psalm 22:27.

This sets us free. We are free to plant seeds of truth where and when His Spirit leads. It's not something one must do upon the arm of the flesh and self 'strength', because people are in dire risk of forever perishing.

No, Jesus is "savior of the world". And God has done all things perfectly and the outcome can be nothing but - perfect. "Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" Matthew 5:48.

"Wait.." for the mounting up on wings like an eagle.. [Not that we are anything.. HE is all. It's ALL about HIM.]