This verse tells us that our warfare is against demons, and they—angels who rose up against God—look upon us as invaders. As any invaded people would, they see themselves as rising to defend their home and territory despite the fact that they probably know that God has given this earth to us as an inheritance.
This is a spiritual parallel of Israel coming out of Egypt, going through the wilderness to their inheritance in Canaan, but Canaan was already inhabited. The Canaanites rose up to defend themselves against those they saw as invaders. Who knows if the Canaanites knew that God had promised their land to Abraham and his descendants? Rahab seemed to understand this in Jericho, so it is likely that the Canaanites also knew these things.
God does not do things in a corner; He witnesses to people when He acts. The demons are well aware that they are defending themselves from those who will take over their estate—and they are going to fight to hold it.
Ephesians 6:12-17
Ephesians 6:12-17 makes especially clear that we are involved in a war, a spiritual war, and thus our weaponry must also be spiritual.
The Christian must tend to his weapons, as every soldier in warfare must, for not only is his life on the line but also the lives of his buddies, as he is their keeper too. Without serviceable weapons, the battle is often lost even before it begins. It is a terrifying thought to imagine oneself on a battlefield with nothing in hand to fight the enemy.
The Bible makes it clear that God has willed that this warfare is an absolute necessity for the development and preparation of His children to live in His Family Kingdom. It cannot be avoided; we cannot remain neutral. In one sense, we really have no choice. We must either fight or be lost.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Christian Fight (Part Two)
Related Topics: Christian Fight | Christian Warfare | Military Metaphor | Military Metaphors | Preparation for Future Role | Preparation for Rulership | Soldier Metaphor | Spiritual Armor | Spiritual Warfare
Ephesians 6:10-13
In conclusion, be strong—not in yourselves but in the Lord, in the power of his boundless strength. Put on God's complete armor so that you can successfully resist all the devil's craftiness. For our fight is not against any physical enemy: it is against organizations and powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unseen power that controls this dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil. Therefore you must wear the whole armor of God that you may be able to resist evil in its day of power, and that even when you have fought to a standstill you may still stand your ground. (Phillips)
It is clear that we are fighting a spiritual war against enemies who are far greater in numbers, intelligence, subtlety, and power than Israel had to wage war against in terms of the Amalekites, the Moabites, and so forth. In addition, our enemy is invisible.
Paul tells us to "stand," a military term for holding on to a position. In effect, before one can launch an attack, he must first hold the position he is in. In the Phillips translation, the word "against" is used four times, probably to stress the determined hostility that our enemy has. The Christian soldier is confronting something that, as a soldier, he could not overcome except that he himself also has invisible help to draw upon as a resource.
In military strategy, perhaps one of the most basic of all rules is never to underestimate the enemy. Our struggle is not merely against human foes, yet we find, in other places, that it is a war to the death. In fact, here in Ephesians 6, this idea is hidden in the Greek. It is a war to the death against supernatural forces. The word "powers" denotes those who aspire to world control, and ancient writers used the term to designate the savior gods of pagan religions. That is who we are fighting against—demons!
Our warfare, then, has all the trappings of a literal war, but it is something that we cannot see yet happening nonetheless. The qualities that we need to fight this war are not things we have inherently. We have to be given them by God. Our relationship with God is of supreme importance as to whether we are going to have the proper resources to fight this battle. We have to go to Him to get them, and we also need to be on good terms before He gives them to us.
One of the most valuable of all of these resources is the mindset that we are involved in a war. There are times when we, as a soldier, are going to face privation and hardship. There are going to be times of pain—both physical and mental. There are going to be times of sorrow that may lead us to depression or even bitterness. There will be occasions when we will be in fear and feel a great sense of insecurity. There are times we will win our battles, but other times we will lose and thus feel guilty and maybe depressed. There are going to be times of obedience that give a feeling of exhilaration and of being in control, as well as times of disobedience when just the opposite will be the effect.
There will also be times when we will be aware that God is disciplining us—sometimes in terms of punishment for sin and at other times in training to prepare us to master what we are doing. There will be times of sacrifice and even times of death. Nevertheless, all of these are part and parcel of a soldier's life.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Endure as a Good Soldier
Related Topics: Armor Metaphor | Armor, Spiritual | Demonic principalities | Endurance | Enduring Hardship | Enduring Privation | Military Metaphor | Military Metaphors | Soldier Metaphor | Spiritual Armor | Spiritual Warfare | Standing Firm
Ephesians 6:10-14
Notice the number of times in these few verses that we are exhorted to stand. We must hold our ground as we fight against the pressures of Satan and this world. In verse 11, Paul tells us to "stand against" the Devil's tricks. In verse 13, he encourages us to prepare "to withstand in the evil day" and "having done all, to stand." In the next verse, he concludes, "Stand therefore" and put on the armor that God can supply.
There are two things to notice here. First, we are to stand firm. Paul does not instruct us to be agile or swift of foot. To the contrary, he advises us not to move; we are to stand on a firm foundation, as it were. We are to be securely grounded, rooted and unmoving. A person living a life of integrity is not shifty, but has solid convictions rather than preferences that vary with circumstances.
Second, Paul details the armor we need to "take up." He lists several pieces of "the whole armor of God," but "the breastplate of righteousness" deals mostly closely with integrity.
Most soldiers in Paul's day wore a breastplate, and even today, the most basic protection offered to police and soldiers is the armored or bulletproof vest. The Roman breastplate, primarily made of bronze and backed with leather, was worn around the chest, protecting the heart and other vital organs. In Paul's spiritual analogy, the breastplate guards the heart, the seat of our attitudes and emotions. In other words, if we are to stand firm in the truth, our heart must be protected!
Interestingly, the translation of the New Testament by J.B. Phillips renders "the breastplate of righteousness" as "integrity your breastplate." Paul instructs us to protect our heart, our love, and our emotions with a breastplate of integrity! As part of the equipment each Christian needs to stand firm in the spiritual war we have been recruited to fight, we must fasten integrity right across our chests to provide protection. What happens when a soldier takes off his breastplate? He opens his soft abdomen to attack; he is unprotected! Spiritually, the heart becomes vulnerable, apt to be turned away.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
How many were crucified with Christ?
Concerning the scene of crucifixion, what most of us bring in mind is Christ crucified on Calvary with two others one on each side. Though this is the tradition and the idea we have all grown with, I would like today to go to the Bible and see what it says concerning this tradition. I see this as a case that will show with clarity the pureness of God’s Word and also the distortions we may get when we read our ideas and traditions into it. What I’m going to present is not something that I’m the first to see. Actually it is mostly based on the analysis of Appendix 164 of the Companion Bible1 (Title: “The “Others” crucified with the Lord”).
The problem with the traditional view
What I see as a problem with the traditional view is that on the one hand we have the record of Matthew 27:44 and Mark 15:32 that say:
Matthew 27:44
“Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.”
And Mark 15:32
“Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him”
On the other hand, we have the record of Luke 23:39-43 that tells us:
“ Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us. But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? "And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing
1 The Companion Bible, Kregel Publications
wrong." Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
To the enemies of the Bible, the record of Matthew and Mark contradicts the record of Luke, and using the tradition that wants Jesus being crucified with only two others in total, they find an opportunity to attack the Bible and the accuracy of God’s Word. It is this reason that makes me to want to present this subject today. My purpose is not to degrade traditions or “say something new”. What is my purpose here is to show the accuracy of God’s Word. It is this amazing accuracy that I hope will encourage you to study His Word and believe it as it truly is: the inerrant Word of God. Before we move further though, another discrepancy that Bible’s enemies see is that Matthew defines the act of the crucifixion of the two thieves, after the dividing of the Lord’s clothes:
Matthew 27:35-38
“Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: "They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots." Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left.”
As it appears from Matthew first Jesus was crucified, then divided His garments casting lots and then they crucified the robbers. On the other hand, here is what Luke says:
Luke 23:32:34:
“There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them,
for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots. And the people stood looking on.”
The enemies of God’s Word, using the tradition of only two others crucified with our Lord, see again here one more alleged contradiction: Matthew places the crucifixion of the supposingly two others after the dividing of the Lord’s clothes but Luke places it before. However, as we will see the contradiction is only because we take tradition as truth and try to read it into God’s Word. We suggest therefore that we leave aside all traditions, paintings, art etc that want Jesus crucified with only two others on Calvary and take what God’s Word says, as truth about the subject. Leaving aside all the traditions, and taking things in a chronological order we have the following:
As Luke tell us, Jesus is arriving at Calvary. Two others are led with Him to be put to death as well. Now before we move forward look at how the Word of God calls these two others: it calls them CRIMINALS (Greek: κακούργοι (kakourgoi)). On the other hand those for which Matthew and Mark speak about they are called robbers (Greek: ληστές (listes)). In Luke one of the criminals reviled Him but the other didn’t. In Matthew and Mark both robbers reviled him. In Luke the criminals were crucified together with Jesus before the dividing of his garments. In Matthew they were crucified after the dividing of the garments. Putting therefore all the records together we have:
1. Jesus is arriving at Calvary. With him two criminals are led.
2. The three of them are crucified together.
3. The soldiers divide his garments
4. A description is set up in the cross
5. Then two robbers are crucified as well
6. The one of the criminals reviles Jesus. The other rebukes him and asks the Lord for His remembrance
7. Both of the robbers revile Jesus. None asks for His remembrance
There were two criminals of which one repented and we will see him together with Lord, and two robbers of whom none repented. There were two on the one side of Jesus and two on the other. This we can also see in John 19:32-33 where we read:
John 19:32-33
“Then came the soldiers and brake the legs of the first and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was dead already, they break not His legs”
The soldiers went to the first crucified and they broke his legs. Then they moved to the second crucified and did the same. Only then, they came to Jesus. So Jesus was third in the row and not second. First was the first crucified, then the other crucified with him and then Jesus. If we read the above record assuming only two others crucified with Him, then the soldiers would break the legs of the first, then they would pass by Jesus, break the legs of the other and then return to Jesus. This would be rather irrational and it is not supported by the text. The text rather presents the act as having to do with people in a row. “When they came to Jesus”, they had already broken the legs of the other two that were before him in the row. Since Jesus was in the middle (John 19:18), this means that there were two “on this side” of Jesus and therefore “two on the other” (please see in the appendix: the record of John 19:18), making the total number of those crucified with our Lord 4.
Appendix
Concerning the references of John to the crucifixion, in general John does not focus on when the things happened but on what happened. In John 19:18 we read:
“And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the centre.”
The word “one” is not in the Greek text. Here is the text from the Interlinear version:
οπου {WHERE} αυτον {HIM} εσταυρωσαν {THEY CRUCIFIED,} και {AND} μετ {WITH} αυτου {HIM} αλλους {OTHERS} δυο {TWO} εντευθεν {ON THIS SIDE} και {AND} εντευθεν {ON THAT SIDE } μεσον δε τον{AND IN THE MIDDLE} ιησουν {JESUS.}
Or removing the Greek:
“Where him they crucified and with him others two on this side and on that side and in the middle Jesus”
The phrase “on this side and on that side” is the Greek phrase “εντευθεν και εντευθεν” (enteuthen kai enteuthen) that is also used in Revelation 22:2 and it is translated there “on either side”. The text therefore tell us that they crucified Jesus with others two on either side. Does it mean “with others two, one on each side” or does it mean “with others, two on either side?” It all depends on where the comma is placed (the ancient text had no commas). My personal view, and since this fits with the record of the same gospel (John 19:32-33) speaking of four persons crucified, is the second i.e. “with others, two on this side and two on that side”.
Tassos Kioulachoglou
The problem with the traditional view
What I see as a problem with the traditional view is that on the one hand we have the record of Matthew 27:44 and Mark 15:32 that say:
Matthew 27:44
“Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.”
And Mark 15:32
“Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him”
On the other hand, we have the record of Luke 23:39-43 that tells us:
“ Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us. But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? "And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing
1 The Companion Bible, Kregel Publications
wrong." Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
To the enemies of the Bible, the record of Matthew and Mark contradicts the record of Luke, and using the tradition that wants Jesus being crucified with only two others in total, they find an opportunity to attack the Bible and the accuracy of God’s Word. It is this reason that makes me to want to present this subject today. My purpose is not to degrade traditions or “say something new”. What is my purpose here is to show the accuracy of God’s Word. It is this amazing accuracy that I hope will encourage you to study His Word and believe it as it truly is: the inerrant Word of God. Before we move further though, another discrepancy that Bible’s enemies see is that Matthew defines the act of the crucifixion of the two thieves, after the dividing of the Lord’s clothes:
Matthew 27:35-38
“Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: "They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots." Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left.”
As it appears from Matthew first Jesus was crucified, then divided His garments casting lots and then they crucified the robbers. On the other hand, here is what Luke says:
Luke 23:32:34:
“There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them,
for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots. And the people stood looking on.”
The enemies of God’s Word, using the tradition of only two others crucified with our Lord, see again here one more alleged contradiction: Matthew places the crucifixion of the supposingly two others after the dividing of the Lord’s clothes but Luke places it before. However, as we will see the contradiction is only because we take tradition as truth and try to read it into God’s Word. We suggest therefore that we leave aside all traditions, paintings, art etc that want Jesus crucified with only two others on Calvary and take what God’s Word says, as truth about the subject. Leaving aside all the traditions, and taking things in a chronological order we have the following:
As Luke tell us, Jesus is arriving at Calvary. Two others are led with Him to be put to death as well. Now before we move forward look at how the Word of God calls these two others: it calls them CRIMINALS (Greek: κακούργοι (kakourgoi)). On the other hand those for which Matthew and Mark speak about they are called robbers (Greek: ληστές (listes)). In Luke one of the criminals reviled Him but the other didn’t. In Matthew and Mark both robbers reviled him. In Luke the criminals were crucified together with Jesus before the dividing of his garments. In Matthew they were crucified after the dividing of the garments. Putting therefore all the records together we have:
1. Jesus is arriving at Calvary. With him two criminals are led.
2. The three of them are crucified together.
3. The soldiers divide his garments
4. A description is set up in the cross
5. Then two robbers are crucified as well
6. The one of the criminals reviles Jesus. The other rebukes him and asks the Lord for His remembrance
7. Both of the robbers revile Jesus. None asks for His remembrance
There were two criminals of which one repented and we will see him together with Lord, and two robbers of whom none repented. There were two on the one side of Jesus and two on the other. This we can also see in John 19:32-33 where we read:
John 19:32-33
“Then came the soldiers and brake the legs of the first and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was dead already, they break not His legs”
The soldiers went to the first crucified and they broke his legs. Then they moved to the second crucified and did the same. Only then, they came to Jesus. So Jesus was third in the row and not second. First was the first crucified, then the other crucified with him and then Jesus. If we read the above record assuming only two others crucified with Him, then the soldiers would break the legs of the first, then they would pass by Jesus, break the legs of the other and then return to Jesus. This would be rather irrational and it is not supported by the text. The text rather presents the act as having to do with people in a row. “When they came to Jesus”, they had already broken the legs of the other two that were before him in the row. Since Jesus was in the middle (John 19:18), this means that there were two “on this side” of Jesus and therefore “two on the other” (please see in the appendix: the record of John 19:18), making the total number of those crucified with our Lord 4.
Appendix
Concerning the references of John to the crucifixion, in general John does not focus on when the things happened but on what happened. In John 19:18 we read:
“And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the centre.”
The word “one” is not in the Greek text. Here is the text from the Interlinear version:
οπου {WHERE} αυτον {HIM} εσταυρωσαν {THEY CRUCIFIED,} και {AND} μετ {WITH} αυτου {HIM} αλλους {OTHERS} δυο {TWO} εντευθεν {ON THIS SIDE} και {AND} εντευθεν {ON THAT SIDE } μεσον δε τον{AND IN THE MIDDLE} ιησουν {JESUS.}
Or removing the Greek:
“Where him they crucified and with him others two on this side and on that side and in the middle Jesus”
The phrase “on this side and on that side” is the Greek phrase “εντευθεν και εντευθεν” (enteuthen kai enteuthen) that is also used in Revelation 22:2 and it is translated there “on either side”. The text therefore tell us that they crucified Jesus with others two on either side. Does it mean “with others two, one on each side” or does it mean “with others, two on either side?” It all depends on where the comma is placed (the ancient text had no commas). My personal view, and since this fits with the record of the same gospel (John 19:32-33) speaking of four persons crucified, is the second i.e. “with others, two on this side and two on that side”.
Tassos Kioulachoglou
Saturday, February 14, 2009
It's a Question of Attitude
Living the Christian life demands that we develop right attitudes and motivations. Here are some attitudes that we should definitely not develop.
Has anyone ever accused you of being in a "bad attitude"?
What, exactly, is a "bad attitude"?
It's easy, of course, to tell when others are not rightly motivated not thinking as true Christians should — isn't it? After all, you can hear their nasty remarks. You can see the wrong things they do and the selfishness they display. You may wonder. How can anyone be so bad?
Good question' But how about you'' Aren't you. at least and maybe more than occasionally, in a similar frame of mind? Do you abhor your own behavior as much as you do others? Do you always recognize when you are in a bad attitude? Are you deeply, honestly aware of it?
Perhaps you mislead someone — or maybe cloud the issue or exaggerate the facts. Or you are harsh toward a friend. Or you turn down an opportunity to help. Are you converted enough to repent of your mistake, to try to repair the damage and to do what you are supposed to do?
Some people are only in a good attitude when everything goes well with them - when their needs are fulfilled to their own satisfaction. But is there any merit in that? Can you still be in a good attitude when you are sick or when you lose a job or when people spread false rumors about you? Can you still fully live the Christian way when things get really tough''
Attitude spells success or failure depending on whether the attitude is good or bad. A good attitude can mean a happy home. a pleasant job situation, genuine friends — certainly a closer relationship with God. But a bad attitude can result in a broken home. unhappy surroundings, frustrations and loneliness!
For the true Christian, having the right attitude is all-important. God judges us according to our attitudes! Having the right attitude is our key to God's Kingdom.
After God's heart
Consider the criterion God used to choose David to be king over Israel.
When God told Samuel to go to the house of Jesse to find out which of Jesse's sons God would select to replace King Saul. Samuel first looked as we all do — at the sons' appearances.
"But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him for the lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" " (verse 7).
And God chose David. But why? What made David, and not his brothers, a man after God's own heart? The Bible clearly reveals the answer in one single verse: "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will" (Acts 13:22).
Notice it! David was a man after God's own heart because he was ready and willing to fulfill all God's will. Not his will, but God's. Despite his main sins and none of us is without sin - David's heart was right.
This mental frame of wanting to obey and serve God is the essence of a right altitude and its the opposite of a bad attitude. When you are wrong, are you willing to admit it? The hardest thing for any human being to do is admit that he is wrong. But a willingness to see and correct error is an important part of a right attitude.
Christ gave a striking example to illustrate the importance of correcting wrong: "A man had two sons." Christ said, in parable, "and he came to the first and said. "Son, go, work today in my vineyard." He answered and said. I will not, but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go" (Matt 21:28=30) Which one of the two sons resembles you? The decisions you make may not always be wise, but after thinking things over and examining the facts, arc you Christian enough to change your mind and do what you should have done in the first place?
If you are not willing to recognize your mistakes and change, then Christ will give you the same answer He gave those who heard this parable, saying, "Assuredly. I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you" (verse
31)
Let's briefly examine four major aspects of wrong attitudes. We all have wrong altitudes from time to time, and we need to overcome them. When we do. we will have made a giant step toward the Kingdom of God.
Constantly finding fault
Some people constantly look for faults in their neighbors. They criticize and condemn, making themselves judges. This always-
wanting - to - find - fault attitude makes them feel superior — fills them with self-righteousness.
Do you realize that you can never enter God's Kingdom until you get rid of this altitude?
Christ said: "Judge not. that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the same measure you use. it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye. but do not consider the plank in your own eye?" (Matt. 7:1-3).
Satan was the first to develop and exercise this fault-finding attitude. As the archangel Lucifer. before he became Satan, he-found fault with God's government and began to want to take-God's place Isa. 14:12-14. Ezek. 28:12-15). He influenced a third of all the angels to develop this same rebellious attitude toward God. convincing them to join him in an unsuccessful attempt to knock God off His throne (Rev.12:3-4).
Then, alter God created the first man and woman. Satan convinced Eve that God was wrong to forbid Adam and Eve to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The couple believed Satan and disobeyed God. Consequently, they were afraid when the) heard the sound of their Creator's voice in the garden of Eden. They hid themselves.
When God asked their why, Adam answered. "I was afraid because I was naked: and I hid myself" (Gen 3:10).
"Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat.'" asked God (verse 11).
Adam's answer is typical of one who wants to justify himself by accusing someone else. He didn't think that he should be blamed for his disobedience. According to Adam, it was the woman's fault! "The woman whom You gave to be with me. she gave me of the tree, and I ate," he told God (verse 12).
Did Eve, then, accept any Blame, No, Her answer was just as self-justifying and accusatory as Adam's: She, too, put the blame on someone else, saying. "The serpent deceived me. and I ate" (verse 1 3).
All things considered, Adam probably thought that the fault for the whole incident was God's, since God made the serpent who, in turn, deceived the woman who convinced Adam to eat the fruit.
This reasoning, strange but familial to us all, is called human logic: It enables us to blame-others for our own shortcomings or wrongdoings. Rather than admitting and correcting our mistakes. we declare ourselves innocent and expect others to repent of having been instrumental in our misbehavior.
Before it's too late, we need to get rid of this always-wanting-to-find-fault attitude.
Being unwilling to forgive
Do you easily forgive others' For instance, if there is a misunderstanding between you and another member of your family. are you willing to recognize your faults and to forgive his? Suppose one of your friends does something wrong and. afterward, tells you he really is sorry. Would you forgive him. or would you hold a grudge against him.?
Most of us don't have a forgiving attitude. We want to get even with people, vindicate ourselves. prove our own righteousness. But one thing is sure: If we don't forgive our neighbor. God will not forgive us our sins.
In the model prayer Christ gave. He taught us to ask God to "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (Malt. 6:12).
Christ added: "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (verses 14-15).
God is love, He is always willing to forgive us if we truly repent of our sins. He wants us to develop this same forgiving altitude. Remember Christ's answer when Peter asked Him how often he should forgive his brother? Was it seven times? "Jesus said to him, I do not say to you. up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven" " (Matt 18:22).
Afterward, Christ spoke of a servant who owed a considerable amount of money to his master. His master, filled with compassion and showing mercy, forgave him and canceled the debt.
Shortly thereafter, the same servant was unwilling to write off a small debt someone else owed him. He "went out . . and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me what you owe!" So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying. 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all' " (verses 21-29).
But he would not. He threw his fellow servant into prison. Upon hearing this his own master called him and said: "You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity On you?" (verses 32:13).
Of what value are these parables if we don't learn the lessons they contain for our growth?
What would your attitude be if you were arrested on false accusations and sentenced to die? Suppose your persecutors even mocked you and spat on you Would your attitude be one of forgiving those who falsely condemned you?
This actually happened to Stephen. He was arrested, persecuted and falsely accused His attackers cast him out of the city and stoned him. But he knelt and "cried out with a loud voice, 'Lord. do not Charge them with this sin." And when he had said
this, he fell asleep {died]" (Acts 7:60).
A true Christian should have this type of forgiving attitude at all times. This is the attitude Christ Himself had toward His own murderers! He said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34)
When you repent, God completely forgives and forgets your sins. You cannot enter God's Kingdom unless you learn to forgive your brother's sins.
Feeling sorry for yourself
Some people are perpetual mourners, they can't stop feeling sorry for themselves. Suffering from self pity, they consider themselves victims of circumstance. They seem to be burdened with questions like. "Why me'' and "Why did it have to happen to me?" Somehow everything always seems to go wrong, for them, and they convince themselves that they have no reason to
be happy.
Are you like this? Think of all the seriously handicapped people on earth who have succeeded despite adverse circumstances. These people have worked hard in order to, in many eases, achieve simple things that those of us who are more fortunate take for granted. But whatever their trials, they had one thing in common: They never pitied themselves — never let themselves he discouraged or overcome by their physical handicaps. They didn't waste time complaining about their misfortune.
Are you like this?
Think: If people in the world without God's Spirit - can succeed despite their handicaps, how much more reason do you and I we who have God's Spirit of power — have to succeed! God loves you even it you are Crippled or handicapped. Those
are only temporary physical hindrances, He will never forsake you. Therefore, be courageous and grateful for what you have.
Stop Complaining about what you don't have. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, Greatness was never attained through self-pity.
No one will enter God's Kingdom until he learns to appreciate life.
The apostle Paul suffered more than most people. He endured hardship, persecution and all kinds of false accusations He would have had good reasons, humanly, to pity himself After all, before his conversion, he was a well-respected, powerful individual, filled with zeal for a task he did (Phil. 3:4-6).
When he became a Christian, Paul just about lost everything he had, including his friends in the world. For a long lime even those in the Church doubted his conversion and turned away from him. Also, he continually suffered from a thorn in the flesh some physical handicap (II Cor. 12:7).
Wouldn't you think that Paul had enough reasons to complain and to pity himself? But he didn't. Instead, he wrote for our instruction: "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say rejoice!" (Phil 4:4).
When you rejoice in the Lord you cannot pity yourself. Rejoicing and pitying are opposites. How did Paul endure suffering and still remain in a good attitude? What formula did he use?
Under God's inspiration, he reveals it to us: "Whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, what ever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things" (Phil. 4:8). The greatest curse in life is when you are cut off from God — when you are left without His Spirit. But there is no reason for you to be cut off from God. You are not alone. If you are a true Christian, you have His Spirit Therefore, whatever your problems, you a begotten child of God must never feel sorry for yourself, never pity yourself (I John 3:22). You will always have the courage to go forward in life in the right altitude.
Feeling "holier than thou"
Some people suffer from an inferiority complex: others have a vain sense of superiority. How about you? If you pity yourself, it may be that you suffer from an inferiority complex. On the other hand, if you think of yourself as being better than others if you are boastful then you are manifesting a "holier-than-thou" attitude.
Examine yourself! Do you think of yourself as better than others little more right more generous — more Christian? When you are proven right and someone else is shown to be wrong about something, do you feel superior to them as a human being?
"Whoever desires to be first among you," said Christ, "let him be your slave" (Matt. 20.27).
The book of Proverbs gives us many admonitions regarding vanity, conceit and self-righteousness. For instance, we read in Proverbs 26:12: "Do you see a man wise in his own eyes'? There is more hope for a fool than for him." Or, "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes. But the Lord weighs the hearts" (Prov. 21:2).
In other words, you might think that you have more going for you than someone else. You might consider yourself a better person perhaps a more valuable helper! But whatever your achievements, however great they may be — if you have conceit in your heart you are in the wrong attitude. And unless you repent of that wrong attitude with all your heart, you will never enter the Kingdom of God.
"Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger. and not your own lips" (Prov. 27:2)
Read the parable Christ gave about the prayers of a publican and a Pharisee. The Pharisee, disdaining the publican next to him. had nothing but good to say about his own attitude, his praiseworthy deeds and his willingness to sacrifice. But the publican, realizing how insignificant he was before God, would not even raise his eyes while praying (Luke 18:9-14). God accepted the publican. but not the Pharisee!
Are you a Pharisee or a publican'? Where is your greatness? What do you have that you have not received from God? Every blessing comes from God. All the glory is His (II Cor. 10:17-18).
If you want to be a Christian after God's own heart, then you must get rid of conceit and boastfulness. You must serve in all humility, counting others better than yourself (Phil. 2:3). You must help without seeking glory.
God is not a respecter of persons. He loves us all and wants us all to be great. But remember The greatest among us is the humblest of all and the servant of all!
In this area, as well as in the case of every one of God's commandments, we need to strive mightily to have right attitudes pleasing to God.
Start the change now — don't put it off! Your attitude is the key to making you a Christian after God's own heart — and will unlock before you the door to the Kingdom of God!
By Dibar K. Apartian, Good News Magazine, January 1983
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brought to you as a Study Resource by the
Church of God Faithful Flock
Has anyone ever accused you of being in a "bad attitude"?
What, exactly, is a "bad attitude"?
It's easy, of course, to tell when others are not rightly motivated not thinking as true Christians should — isn't it? After all, you can hear their nasty remarks. You can see the wrong things they do and the selfishness they display. You may wonder. How can anyone be so bad?
Good question' But how about you'' Aren't you. at least and maybe more than occasionally, in a similar frame of mind? Do you abhor your own behavior as much as you do others? Do you always recognize when you are in a bad attitude? Are you deeply, honestly aware of it?
Perhaps you mislead someone — or maybe cloud the issue or exaggerate the facts. Or you are harsh toward a friend. Or you turn down an opportunity to help. Are you converted enough to repent of your mistake, to try to repair the damage and to do what you are supposed to do?
Some people are only in a good attitude when everything goes well with them - when their needs are fulfilled to their own satisfaction. But is there any merit in that? Can you still be in a good attitude when you are sick or when you lose a job or when people spread false rumors about you? Can you still fully live the Christian way when things get really tough''
Attitude spells success or failure depending on whether the attitude is good or bad. A good attitude can mean a happy home. a pleasant job situation, genuine friends — certainly a closer relationship with God. But a bad attitude can result in a broken home. unhappy surroundings, frustrations and loneliness!
For the true Christian, having the right attitude is all-important. God judges us according to our attitudes! Having the right attitude is our key to God's Kingdom.
After God's heart
Consider the criterion God used to choose David to be king over Israel.
When God told Samuel to go to the house of Jesse to find out which of Jesse's sons God would select to replace King Saul. Samuel first looked as we all do — at the sons' appearances.
"But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him for the lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" " (verse 7).
And God chose David. But why? What made David, and not his brothers, a man after God's own heart? The Bible clearly reveals the answer in one single verse: "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will" (Acts 13:22).
Notice it! David was a man after God's own heart because he was ready and willing to fulfill all God's will. Not his will, but God's. Despite his main sins and none of us is without sin - David's heart was right.
This mental frame of wanting to obey and serve God is the essence of a right altitude and its the opposite of a bad attitude. When you are wrong, are you willing to admit it? The hardest thing for any human being to do is admit that he is wrong. But a willingness to see and correct error is an important part of a right attitude.
Christ gave a striking example to illustrate the importance of correcting wrong: "A man had two sons." Christ said, in parable, "and he came to the first and said. "Son, go, work today in my vineyard." He answered and said. I will not, but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go" (Matt 21:28=30) Which one of the two sons resembles you? The decisions you make may not always be wise, but after thinking things over and examining the facts, arc you Christian enough to change your mind and do what you should have done in the first place?
If you are not willing to recognize your mistakes and change, then Christ will give you the same answer He gave those who heard this parable, saying, "Assuredly. I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you" (verse
31)
Let's briefly examine four major aspects of wrong attitudes. We all have wrong altitudes from time to time, and we need to overcome them. When we do. we will have made a giant step toward the Kingdom of God.
Constantly finding fault
Some people constantly look for faults in their neighbors. They criticize and condemn, making themselves judges. This always-
wanting - to - find - fault attitude makes them feel superior — fills them with self-righteousness.
Do you realize that you can never enter God's Kingdom until you get rid of this altitude?
Christ said: "Judge not. that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the same measure you use. it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye. but do not consider the plank in your own eye?" (Matt. 7:1-3).
Satan was the first to develop and exercise this fault-finding attitude. As the archangel Lucifer. before he became Satan, he-found fault with God's government and began to want to take-God's place Isa. 14:12-14. Ezek. 28:12-15). He influenced a third of all the angels to develop this same rebellious attitude toward God. convincing them to join him in an unsuccessful attempt to knock God off His throne (Rev.12:3-4).
Then, alter God created the first man and woman. Satan convinced Eve that God was wrong to forbid Adam and Eve to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The couple believed Satan and disobeyed God. Consequently, they were afraid when the) heard the sound of their Creator's voice in the garden of Eden. They hid themselves.
When God asked their why, Adam answered. "I was afraid because I was naked: and I hid myself" (Gen 3:10).
"Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat.'" asked God (verse 11).
Adam's answer is typical of one who wants to justify himself by accusing someone else. He didn't think that he should be blamed for his disobedience. According to Adam, it was the woman's fault! "The woman whom You gave to be with me. she gave me of the tree, and I ate," he told God (verse 12).
Did Eve, then, accept any Blame, No, Her answer was just as self-justifying and accusatory as Adam's: She, too, put the blame on someone else, saying. "The serpent deceived me. and I ate" (verse 1 3).
All things considered, Adam probably thought that the fault for the whole incident was God's, since God made the serpent who, in turn, deceived the woman who convinced Adam to eat the fruit.
This reasoning, strange but familial to us all, is called human logic: It enables us to blame-others for our own shortcomings or wrongdoings. Rather than admitting and correcting our mistakes. we declare ourselves innocent and expect others to repent of having been instrumental in our misbehavior.
Before it's too late, we need to get rid of this always-wanting-to-find-fault attitude.
Being unwilling to forgive
Do you easily forgive others' For instance, if there is a misunderstanding between you and another member of your family. are you willing to recognize your faults and to forgive his? Suppose one of your friends does something wrong and. afterward, tells you he really is sorry. Would you forgive him. or would you hold a grudge against him.?
Most of us don't have a forgiving attitude. We want to get even with people, vindicate ourselves. prove our own righteousness. But one thing is sure: If we don't forgive our neighbor. God will not forgive us our sins.
In the model prayer Christ gave. He taught us to ask God to "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (Malt. 6:12).
Christ added: "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (verses 14-15).
God is love, He is always willing to forgive us if we truly repent of our sins. He wants us to develop this same forgiving altitude. Remember Christ's answer when Peter asked Him how often he should forgive his brother? Was it seven times? "Jesus said to him, I do not say to you. up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven" " (Matt 18:22).
Afterward, Christ spoke of a servant who owed a considerable amount of money to his master. His master, filled with compassion and showing mercy, forgave him and canceled the debt.
Shortly thereafter, the same servant was unwilling to write off a small debt someone else owed him. He "went out . . and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me what you owe!" So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying. 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all' " (verses 21-29).
But he would not. He threw his fellow servant into prison. Upon hearing this his own master called him and said: "You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity On you?" (verses 32:13).
Of what value are these parables if we don't learn the lessons they contain for our growth?
What would your attitude be if you were arrested on false accusations and sentenced to die? Suppose your persecutors even mocked you and spat on you Would your attitude be one of forgiving those who falsely condemned you?
This actually happened to Stephen. He was arrested, persecuted and falsely accused His attackers cast him out of the city and stoned him. But he knelt and "cried out with a loud voice, 'Lord. do not Charge them with this sin." And when he had said
this, he fell asleep {died]" (Acts 7:60).
A true Christian should have this type of forgiving attitude at all times. This is the attitude Christ Himself had toward His own murderers! He said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34)
When you repent, God completely forgives and forgets your sins. You cannot enter God's Kingdom unless you learn to forgive your brother's sins.
Feeling sorry for yourself
Some people are perpetual mourners, they can't stop feeling sorry for themselves. Suffering from self pity, they consider themselves victims of circumstance. They seem to be burdened with questions like. "Why me'' and "Why did it have to happen to me?" Somehow everything always seems to go wrong, for them, and they convince themselves that they have no reason to
be happy.
Are you like this? Think of all the seriously handicapped people on earth who have succeeded despite adverse circumstances. These people have worked hard in order to, in many eases, achieve simple things that those of us who are more fortunate take for granted. But whatever their trials, they had one thing in common: They never pitied themselves — never let themselves he discouraged or overcome by their physical handicaps. They didn't waste time complaining about their misfortune.
Are you like this?
Think: If people in the world without God's Spirit - can succeed despite their handicaps, how much more reason do you and I we who have God's Spirit of power — have to succeed! God loves you even it you are Crippled or handicapped. Those
are only temporary physical hindrances, He will never forsake you. Therefore, be courageous and grateful for what you have.
Stop Complaining about what you don't have. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, Greatness was never attained through self-pity.
No one will enter God's Kingdom until he learns to appreciate life.
The apostle Paul suffered more than most people. He endured hardship, persecution and all kinds of false accusations He would have had good reasons, humanly, to pity himself After all, before his conversion, he was a well-respected, powerful individual, filled with zeal for a task he did (Phil. 3:4-6).
When he became a Christian, Paul just about lost everything he had, including his friends in the world. For a long lime even those in the Church doubted his conversion and turned away from him. Also, he continually suffered from a thorn in the flesh some physical handicap (II Cor. 12:7).
Wouldn't you think that Paul had enough reasons to complain and to pity himself? But he didn't. Instead, he wrote for our instruction: "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say rejoice!" (Phil 4:4).
When you rejoice in the Lord you cannot pity yourself. Rejoicing and pitying are opposites. How did Paul endure suffering and still remain in a good attitude? What formula did he use?
Under God's inspiration, he reveals it to us: "Whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, what ever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things" (Phil. 4:8). The greatest curse in life is when you are cut off from God — when you are left without His Spirit. But there is no reason for you to be cut off from God. You are not alone. If you are a true Christian, you have His Spirit Therefore, whatever your problems, you a begotten child of God must never feel sorry for yourself, never pity yourself (I John 3:22). You will always have the courage to go forward in life in the right altitude.
Feeling "holier than thou"
Some people suffer from an inferiority complex: others have a vain sense of superiority. How about you? If you pity yourself, it may be that you suffer from an inferiority complex. On the other hand, if you think of yourself as being better than others if you are boastful then you are manifesting a "holier-than-thou" attitude.
Examine yourself! Do you think of yourself as better than others little more right more generous — more Christian? When you are proven right and someone else is shown to be wrong about something, do you feel superior to them as a human being?
"Whoever desires to be first among you," said Christ, "let him be your slave" (Matt. 20.27).
The book of Proverbs gives us many admonitions regarding vanity, conceit and self-righteousness. For instance, we read in Proverbs 26:12: "Do you see a man wise in his own eyes'? There is more hope for a fool than for him." Or, "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes. But the Lord weighs the hearts" (Prov. 21:2).
In other words, you might think that you have more going for you than someone else. You might consider yourself a better person perhaps a more valuable helper! But whatever your achievements, however great they may be — if you have conceit in your heart you are in the wrong attitude. And unless you repent of that wrong attitude with all your heart, you will never enter the Kingdom of God.
"Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger. and not your own lips" (Prov. 27:2)
Read the parable Christ gave about the prayers of a publican and a Pharisee. The Pharisee, disdaining the publican next to him. had nothing but good to say about his own attitude, his praiseworthy deeds and his willingness to sacrifice. But the publican, realizing how insignificant he was before God, would not even raise his eyes while praying (Luke 18:9-14). God accepted the publican. but not the Pharisee!
Are you a Pharisee or a publican'? Where is your greatness? What do you have that you have not received from God? Every blessing comes from God. All the glory is His (II Cor. 10:17-18).
If you want to be a Christian after God's own heart, then you must get rid of conceit and boastfulness. You must serve in all humility, counting others better than yourself (Phil. 2:3). You must help without seeking glory.
God is not a respecter of persons. He loves us all and wants us all to be great. But remember The greatest among us is the humblest of all and the servant of all!
In this area, as well as in the case of every one of God's commandments, we need to strive mightily to have right attitudes pleasing to God.
Start the change now — don't put it off! Your attitude is the key to making you a Christian after God's own heart — and will unlock before you the door to the Kingdom of God!
By Dibar K. Apartian, Good News Magazine, January 1983
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brought to you as a Study Resource by the
Church of God Faithful Flock
Are You Expressing True Love?
Everyone thinks he knows what real out going love is- but few do. Even fewer realize the vital importance of expressing it
Every human being is just naturally interested in his or her own things.
He knows nothing else!
He is interested in his own pleasure. His own happiness. His own profit, His own importance. Charm, Effectiveness, Success, Friends, who mean a lot to him.
Often, He is concerned for others only when he is reminded that he should be, and then it is because doing, nice things makes him feel like a better person. A small sacrifice or a charitable act becomes a means of self exaltation, TO do something nice for others makes him feel good, and makes others admire him.
Yet, in his own mind he thinks he has "love." Truly, as God's Word tells us, man's heart is deceptive above all things and desperately wicked( Jeremiah 7:9).
A Loveless Generation
One of the saddest commentaries of our time is the lack of genuine love and concern for other members of the human race.
Almost everyone suffers from the loneliness of being shut out from the thoughts and actions of others.
Loneliness has come to be a major problem in our modern way of life, it has probably been the cause of more delinquency, destructive acts and desperate behavior than any other single factor.
As Norman Roston wrote in the article "The Ones - Who Wait" published several years ago in The Saturday Evening Post,"you can see them (the unloved) in the city or town, men or women, the young and the old, gathering in the late afternoon or evenings, strolling in the streets, or wandering through stores or in the parks, or sitting on park benches or heading for bars. They are in search of others, the unnamed, the yet to be found, the hour-long or night long companions. And the numberless unseen who merely wait alone in separate rooms, in small desperate rooms, their, hope behind, accepting defeat. These are the ones who have somehow missed the miracle. Passed by while others were chosen."
"Perhaps the saddest of these are the aged and ill, betrayed by the world, forgotten by kin. The living turn cruelly and irrevocably away from the dying. And love, the root of life, withers."
"'I don't know why they're keeping me alive,' said the man in the sun tilled ward in the hospital, his hands flat upon the sheet his head turned toward the window where the sun danced. I'm not going anywhere if I get better. I've got a sister living in California, but she hasn't written for years, and I never hear from my daughters. No one visit's me now except a nun sometimes, who is very nice, but I don't even know her name. It doesn't mean anything."
"It is not merely a matter of age. The loveless exist wherever life may be. They are the obviously scarred or the seemingly well, the wounded with the scar hidden, they are married or single, in and out of careers, in and out of marital beds or motel adventures, all touched by that, shadow of having been denied, forgotten, unblessed."
This is a pitiful, sad commentary on real life! Perhaps you feel that you are being left out of the affection and concern of others.
But what are you doing for others? How about you? Do you have any loved ones going hungry for a word of encouragement, a note or visit that says you care about them?
Truly, outgoing love is in desperately short supply in this generation. If you and I are not careful, we will fall right into the trap that so many people without any knowledge of God's truth are in. But if we will begin to exercise outgoing concern ourselves, our own loneliness will evaporate.
Even though this godless generation makes goodwill diilicult, it is still necessary for human happiness. Life without personal warmth and goodwill is not real living.
Love Absolutely Necessary
People need to see a smile and receive a cheery greeting that some how conveys interest in their welfare, with a willingness to stop and help when necessary. Such love is a vital part of any happy society.
And it will be a prominent, personal, daily quality in God's Kingdom. Those of us who are able to see that outgoing love is, a part of God's way of life, and who have chosen to come out of this world and to learn and practice God's way, may not excuse ourselves from having and practicing outgoing love and concern for others. It is an absolute requirement for any who expect to enter His Kingdom.
Those who have not demonstrated genuine outgoing concern for others in their daily lives will not enter at all (Matthew 25:31-4)!
To those who do not aid the stranger, the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the sick and the confined, Jesus Christ will say, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
True love is so important that Almighty God warns those without it that they are as worthless as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1).
A personality devoid of outgoing love is a sick personality! It is unpleasant, unwholesome and ineffective.
On the other hand, an outgoing personality adds immeasurably to health, happiness and prosperity. It is a delight to everyone, and it will certainly make the lives of those around much brighter and more worthwhile.
The apostle Paul, wrote: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing" (I Corinthians 13:1-2).
.
This knowledge comes only from, the Bible, and understanding Comes from God's Holy Spirit, which no one possesses naturally.
Without God's Holy Spirit, the only genuine interest we have is self-interest. Unconverted people are interested, in others only in relation to what others mean to them - what they get in return.
Since this world's advisers are without God's Spirit, their writings or examples unwittingly advocate "putting it on" in order to receive. But giving in order to receive is not goodwill. It is pursuing self-profit.
All of us have heard about love and goodwill from people who don't really understand it. We have seen others' examples of what it is supposed to be, but We have received wrong information. Right Knowledge was simply not available because of a lack of spiritual understanding.
Some Are Asleep
Yet even some who have been baptized, have God's Spirit, know God's plan and hope to enter God's Kingdom lack this outgoing love. They just don't think about others. Their fruitless lives make it obvious that they do not actively care for others. They intend to do right. They often think to do good works, yet seldom get around to actually doing them. They try to be nice they often say and do pleasant things They try to be fair.
Yet, no one is benefited. No one's life is being changed. No one's hope is lifted up. No happiness is radiated to others. No joy is spread,. Instead, they are forced to rationalize, defend themselves, argue or retreat. This kind of behavior falls far short of truly outgoing love.
In fact, it is, not love at all.it is merely living up to what we feel is required of us. It is a person's way of demanding credit for being nice. It is selfish.
Goodwill or true outgoing love must come from a Spirit-led heart, Even though the heart of man is not naturally inclined to love his fellows, through God's help we can change.
And there is a lot we must do ourselves.
What can we do?
The formula for receiving God's Holy Spirit is given by the Apostle Peter in Acts 2:38.
Peter said to those pricked in the heart and wanting to do something about their condition: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Repentance means turning 'from your human way of self-centeredness And pursuing God's way. It means repenting of breaking. God's law. and setting your will to obey from here on.
God will then give you His Holy Spirit, a spirit of a sound mind -- wisdom by which you can intelligently love and consider others. You cannot work up goodwill by yourself.
To act like you have is to be false. Any act, no matter how good; is eventually discovered to be just that - acting.
On the other hand; when we receive God's Holy Spirit we do. not just automatically and mysteriously become perfect. We work toward perfection with much effort on our part using the Spirit God gives us.
God's Spirit opens our minds to realize the importance of others in our lifes and our importance in theirs. The goodwill we give and receive is a vital commodity. We come to realize that fellowship of kindred spirits is most beautiful. God's Spirit also gives us the assurance that this harmonious love and goodwill is worth working for.
If you would like to know more about this vital key, to true outgoing love, write for our free reprint "How You Can Be Imbued with the Power of God" See the middle front cover for the address nearest you.
Your part
Outgoing love requires work along with willpower and determination. It is an uphill pull: because human nature is not natrally outgoing.
Human nature, as influenced by Satan the devil, the "Prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2) is selfish.. To be outgoing in love cuts against the grain of what we have been absorbing through Satan's influence all our lives.
Wisdom to try - wisdom to correctly guide your efforts - wisdom to keep trying in spite of all adversity, wisdom to discern God's will - is an absolute necessity in learning to exercise true love.
.
If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him But let him ask in faith, with no "doubting" (James1: 5-6).
In faith, you must stand unwaveringly on your trust and conviction.
In hope, you guide your action expecting to receive the desire you have set your heart on. This hope adds the spiritual motivation to go forward. In love, you must act with un-selfishness, with initiative and genuine concern for everyone.
These three important ingredients are added to your gilt of wisdom through effort on your part they are all important, but the most important, and the one that takes most effort, is love. (I Corinthians I3:13)
Love and Godly Character
This what life is all about. This is how you have your part in your own salvation.
This process of creating Godly Character in us is God's plan of creating children. It is His doing, but we also have our part. Besides our willpower and determination, it takes our resourcefulness, perseverance and drive.
It requires breaking old habits - habits of thinking and acting selfishly. It then requires building new habits - habits of thinking and acting in outgoing love. The old habits are deeply ingrained, just as the new habits must become deeply ingrained if they are to become part of us.
To build a habit .you must do a thing over and over until it becomes automatic behavior. It has been said that we are want we habitually are, and you become godlike when you become habitually and consistently godlike.
God is love and He acts habitually 'and consistently in outgoing love. That is what we are learning to do through HIS Holy Spirit. The basic laws of God are given for the 'purpose of developing godly love and goodwill. They are laws of love (I John 4:8).
The meaning
I Corinthians 13 makes it clear what true love is. The word translated charity in the Authorized Version does not mean "giving to the poor." Verse 3 clearly demonstrates that - read it yourself.
The Greek word translated "charity" is agape, not Phileo which is more commonly used, to denote emotional love. Agape and Phileo have similar meanings, but Phileo "Comes chiefly from the heart," explains Strong's Exhaustive Concordance while agape "comes from the head." It means to think and act toward others with genuine concern and tenderness. It means having goodwill -feeling it deeply but intelligently.
While either word can be translated "love," the Authorized Version translators used "charity"to distinguish this intelligent, heartfelt concern (outgoing love or goodwill) from the kind of emotion that the word love conveys to the average person.
What True Love is Like
Verse 4 shows that this agape, this intelligent outgoing love or goodwill, is always patient with others, suffering long with any grievance received from them.
It is kind - unfailingly kind - as you will see by comparing verse 4 with verse 8.
Love never compares itself with others (II Corinthians 10:12) so that it is never envious (jealous), never vaunts itself (boasts) to get self acclaim.
It is never puffed up (arrogant, self-important). Such puffed-up ego only shows, that you have compared yourself with others and found them beneath you. Goodwill - will never behave itself unseemly (unpleasantly, unbecomingly). Phillipians 4:8 also adds information on the pleasant things we should do instead: "Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, what ever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things."
True love seeks not its own - is not self-centered, not carnal (1 Corinthians I3:5).
It is not easily provoked (aroused to anger).
It thinks no evil - does not dwell on the ugly, wicked side of others behavior, nor is resentful OR bitter!
And it never rejoices in hearing or seeing iniquity. Instead, it rejoices in truth in wholesomeness (verse 6). If a person belittles or insults you, real love never causes you to rail back, but it bears all things (forbears in all provocations). It never inflicts harm for harm, evil for evil or insult for insult.
This agape believes, the best in all matters. It does not show unpleasantness and ill-will by doubting or causing dissent, but hopes for the best in all things - is not negative!
God's Love Endures all things. Trials unpleasant episodes, differences of opinion, misunderstandings do not send it off in a corner to mope or to turn away in bitterness. It does not lose friends over them. It does not give up. It never fails! When everything else has failed, true love - .genuine goodwill and outgoing concern for others will still be going strong.
Jesus Christ's example while On the cross ,is the one we should strive to follow. He said of all His scowling, bloodthirsty, hate filled tormentors, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34).
Can you still be a friend to those who hate you? Can you still have goodwill toward them? Can you still be concerned for their welfare?
You must, you know! And, you must come to have it habitually and consistently.
How to have True Love
If you want to live and act in love and goodwill, go to the author of all that is good. Ask Him prayerfully to give you this attitude and show you the way. Expect Him to answer and to keep on, giving it to you us long us you are trying to give up your old. self-centeredness and striving to " live God's way".
Then follow God's biblical instructions on how to behave toward others in love and goodwill.-Live by the Laws of love.
Your selfish human nature has always had its way in the past and will continue to crop up so you must continue to resist self-will while you step out in faith to do God's will. - "goodwill".
Like a baby's first steps, your first attempts may not be very skillful. You may stumble, you may even fall. But dust yourself off, ask forgiveness and try sgain and again, until you habitually come to have goodwill - God's will towards all people. .
Romans 13:8-9, says: "Owe no man anything, except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandment, "You shall not commit adultery.' 'You shall not murder' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'You shall not covet,' and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, 'You shall love your neighbor, as yourself."
It takes work to be, outgoing. You won't even think to do it without effort, and it won't be successful even then if you don't stay close to God. This also takes effort of will and energy.
Yet this love is absolutely required by God. It is a wonderful thing to have. No one will enter His Kingdom without it (Matthew 25:3l-46).
Now is. The time to "marshal your energy" to make certain you have God's great love. Develop it and radiate it all the rest of your life. The time is short. It is later than you think.
Reprinted from an article by Jack H. Elliott in the Jume 1984 Good News Magazine
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brought to you as a Study Resource by the
Church of God Faithful Flock
Every human being is just naturally interested in his or her own things.
He knows nothing else!
He is interested in his own pleasure. His own happiness. His own profit, His own importance. Charm, Effectiveness, Success, Friends, who mean a lot to him.
Often, He is concerned for others only when he is reminded that he should be, and then it is because doing, nice things makes him feel like a better person. A small sacrifice or a charitable act becomes a means of self exaltation, TO do something nice for others makes him feel good, and makes others admire him.
Yet, in his own mind he thinks he has "love." Truly, as God's Word tells us, man's heart is deceptive above all things and desperately wicked( Jeremiah 7:9).
A Loveless Generation
One of the saddest commentaries of our time is the lack of genuine love and concern for other members of the human race.
Almost everyone suffers from the loneliness of being shut out from the thoughts and actions of others.
Loneliness has come to be a major problem in our modern way of life, it has probably been the cause of more delinquency, destructive acts and desperate behavior than any other single factor.
As Norman Roston wrote in the article "The Ones - Who Wait" published several years ago in The Saturday Evening Post,"you can see them (the unloved) in the city or town, men or women, the young and the old, gathering in the late afternoon or evenings, strolling in the streets, or wandering through stores or in the parks, or sitting on park benches or heading for bars. They are in search of others, the unnamed, the yet to be found, the hour-long or night long companions. And the numberless unseen who merely wait alone in separate rooms, in small desperate rooms, their, hope behind, accepting defeat. These are the ones who have somehow missed the miracle. Passed by while others were chosen."
"Perhaps the saddest of these are the aged and ill, betrayed by the world, forgotten by kin. The living turn cruelly and irrevocably away from the dying. And love, the root of life, withers."
"'I don't know why they're keeping me alive,' said the man in the sun tilled ward in the hospital, his hands flat upon the sheet his head turned toward the window where the sun danced. I'm not going anywhere if I get better. I've got a sister living in California, but she hasn't written for years, and I never hear from my daughters. No one visit's me now except a nun sometimes, who is very nice, but I don't even know her name. It doesn't mean anything."
"It is not merely a matter of age. The loveless exist wherever life may be. They are the obviously scarred or the seemingly well, the wounded with the scar hidden, they are married or single, in and out of careers, in and out of marital beds or motel adventures, all touched by that, shadow of having been denied, forgotten, unblessed."
This is a pitiful, sad commentary on real life! Perhaps you feel that you are being left out of the affection and concern of others.
But what are you doing for others? How about you? Do you have any loved ones going hungry for a word of encouragement, a note or visit that says you care about them?
Truly, outgoing love is in desperately short supply in this generation. If you and I are not careful, we will fall right into the trap that so many people without any knowledge of God's truth are in. But if we will begin to exercise outgoing concern ourselves, our own loneliness will evaporate.
Even though this godless generation makes goodwill diilicult, it is still necessary for human happiness. Life without personal warmth and goodwill is not real living.
Love Absolutely Necessary
People need to see a smile and receive a cheery greeting that some how conveys interest in their welfare, with a willingness to stop and help when necessary. Such love is a vital part of any happy society.
And it will be a prominent, personal, daily quality in God's Kingdom. Those of us who are able to see that outgoing love is, a part of God's way of life, and who have chosen to come out of this world and to learn and practice God's way, may not excuse ourselves from having and practicing outgoing love and concern for others. It is an absolute requirement for any who expect to enter His Kingdom.
Those who have not demonstrated genuine outgoing concern for others in their daily lives will not enter at all (Matthew 25:31-4)!
To those who do not aid the stranger, the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the sick and the confined, Jesus Christ will say, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
True love is so important that Almighty God warns those without it that they are as worthless as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1).
A personality devoid of outgoing love is a sick personality! It is unpleasant, unwholesome and ineffective.
On the other hand, an outgoing personality adds immeasurably to health, happiness and prosperity. It is a delight to everyone, and it will certainly make the lives of those around much brighter and more worthwhile.
The apostle Paul, wrote: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing" (I Corinthians 13:1-2).
.
This knowledge comes only from, the Bible, and understanding Comes from God's Holy Spirit, which no one possesses naturally.
Without God's Holy Spirit, the only genuine interest we have is self-interest. Unconverted people are interested, in others only in relation to what others mean to them - what they get in return.
Since this world's advisers are without God's Spirit, their writings or examples unwittingly advocate "putting it on" in order to receive. But giving in order to receive is not goodwill. It is pursuing self-profit.
All of us have heard about love and goodwill from people who don't really understand it. We have seen others' examples of what it is supposed to be, but We have received wrong information. Right Knowledge was simply not available because of a lack of spiritual understanding.
Some Are Asleep
Yet even some who have been baptized, have God's Spirit, know God's plan and hope to enter God's Kingdom lack this outgoing love. They just don't think about others. Their fruitless lives make it obvious that they do not actively care for others. They intend to do right. They often think to do good works, yet seldom get around to actually doing them. They try to be nice they often say and do pleasant things They try to be fair.
Yet, no one is benefited. No one's life is being changed. No one's hope is lifted up. No happiness is radiated to others. No joy is spread,. Instead, they are forced to rationalize, defend themselves, argue or retreat. This kind of behavior falls far short of truly outgoing love.
In fact, it is, not love at all.it is merely living up to what we feel is required of us. It is a person's way of demanding credit for being nice. It is selfish.
Goodwill or true outgoing love must come from a Spirit-led heart, Even though the heart of man is not naturally inclined to love his fellows, through God's help we can change.
And there is a lot we must do ourselves.
What can we do?
The formula for receiving God's Holy Spirit is given by the Apostle Peter in Acts 2:38.
Peter said to those pricked in the heart and wanting to do something about their condition: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Repentance means turning 'from your human way of self-centeredness And pursuing God's way. It means repenting of breaking. God's law. and setting your will to obey from here on.
God will then give you His Holy Spirit, a spirit of a sound mind -- wisdom by which you can intelligently love and consider others. You cannot work up goodwill by yourself.
To act like you have is to be false. Any act, no matter how good; is eventually discovered to be just that - acting.
On the other hand; when we receive God's Holy Spirit we do. not just automatically and mysteriously become perfect. We work toward perfection with much effort on our part using the Spirit God gives us.
God's Spirit opens our minds to realize the importance of others in our lifes and our importance in theirs. The goodwill we give and receive is a vital commodity. We come to realize that fellowship of kindred spirits is most beautiful. God's Spirit also gives us the assurance that this harmonious love and goodwill is worth working for.
If you would like to know more about this vital key, to true outgoing love, write for our free reprint "How You Can Be Imbued with the Power of God" See the middle front cover for the address nearest you.
Your part
Outgoing love requires work along with willpower and determination. It is an uphill pull: because human nature is not natrally outgoing.
Human nature, as influenced by Satan the devil, the "Prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2) is selfish.. To be outgoing in love cuts against the grain of what we have been absorbing through Satan's influence all our lives.
Wisdom to try - wisdom to correctly guide your efforts - wisdom to keep trying in spite of all adversity, wisdom to discern God's will - is an absolute necessity in learning to exercise true love.
.
If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him But let him ask in faith, with no "doubting" (James1: 5-6).
In faith, you must stand unwaveringly on your trust and conviction.
In hope, you guide your action expecting to receive the desire you have set your heart on. This hope adds the spiritual motivation to go forward. In love, you must act with un-selfishness, with initiative and genuine concern for everyone.
These three important ingredients are added to your gilt of wisdom through effort on your part they are all important, but the most important, and the one that takes most effort, is love. (I Corinthians I3:13)
Love and Godly Character
This what life is all about. This is how you have your part in your own salvation.
This process of creating Godly Character in us is God's plan of creating children. It is His doing, but we also have our part. Besides our willpower and determination, it takes our resourcefulness, perseverance and drive.
It requires breaking old habits - habits of thinking and acting selfishly. It then requires building new habits - habits of thinking and acting in outgoing love. The old habits are deeply ingrained, just as the new habits must become deeply ingrained if they are to become part of us.
To build a habit .you must do a thing over and over until it becomes automatic behavior. It has been said that we are want we habitually are, and you become godlike when you become habitually and consistently godlike.
God is love and He acts habitually 'and consistently in outgoing love. That is what we are learning to do through HIS Holy Spirit. The basic laws of God are given for the 'purpose of developing godly love and goodwill. They are laws of love (I John 4:8).
The meaning
I Corinthians 13 makes it clear what true love is. The word translated charity in the Authorized Version does not mean "giving to the poor." Verse 3 clearly demonstrates that - read it yourself.
The Greek word translated "charity" is agape, not Phileo which is more commonly used, to denote emotional love. Agape and Phileo have similar meanings, but Phileo "Comes chiefly from the heart," explains Strong's Exhaustive Concordance while agape "comes from the head." It means to think and act toward others with genuine concern and tenderness. It means having goodwill -feeling it deeply but intelligently.
While either word can be translated "love," the Authorized Version translators used "charity"to distinguish this intelligent, heartfelt concern (outgoing love or goodwill) from the kind of emotion that the word love conveys to the average person.
What True Love is Like
Verse 4 shows that this agape, this intelligent outgoing love or goodwill, is always patient with others, suffering long with any grievance received from them.
It is kind - unfailingly kind - as you will see by comparing verse 4 with verse 8.
Love never compares itself with others (II Corinthians 10:12) so that it is never envious (jealous), never vaunts itself (boasts) to get self acclaim.
It is never puffed up (arrogant, self-important). Such puffed-up ego only shows, that you have compared yourself with others and found them beneath you. Goodwill - will never behave itself unseemly (unpleasantly, unbecomingly). Phillipians 4:8 also adds information on the pleasant things we should do instead: "Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, what ever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things."
True love seeks not its own - is not self-centered, not carnal (1 Corinthians I3:5).
It is not easily provoked (aroused to anger).
It thinks no evil - does not dwell on the ugly, wicked side of others behavior, nor is resentful OR bitter!
And it never rejoices in hearing or seeing iniquity. Instead, it rejoices in truth in wholesomeness (verse 6). If a person belittles or insults you, real love never causes you to rail back, but it bears all things (forbears in all provocations). It never inflicts harm for harm, evil for evil or insult for insult.
This agape believes, the best in all matters. It does not show unpleasantness and ill-will by doubting or causing dissent, but hopes for the best in all things - is not negative!
God's Love Endures all things. Trials unpleasant episodes, differences of opinion, misunderstandings do not send it off in a corner to mope or to turn away in bitterness. It does not lose friends over them. It does not give up. It never fails! When everything else has failed, true love - .genuine goodwill and outgoing concern for others will still be going strong.
Jesus Christ's example while On the cross ,is the one we should strive to follow. He said of all His scowling, bloodthirsty, hate filled tormentors, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34).
Can you still be a friend to those who hate you? Can you still have goodwill toward them? Can you still be concerned for their welfare?
You must, you know! And, you must come to have it habitually and consistently.
How to have True Love
If you want to live and act in love and goodwill, go to the author of all that is good. Ask Him prayerfully to give you this attitude and show you the way. Expect Him to answer and to keep on, giving it to you us long us you are trying to give up your old. self-centeredness and striving to " live God's way".
Then follow God's biblical instructions on how to behave toward others in love and goodwill.-Live by the Laws of love.
Your selfish human nature has always had its way in the past and will continue to crop up so you must continue to resist self-will while you step out in faith to do God's will. - "goodwill".
Like a baby's first steps, your first attempts may not be very skillful. You may stumble, you may even fall. But dust yourself off, ask forgiveness and try sgain and again, until you habitually come to have goodwill - God's will towards all people. .
Romans 13:8-9, says: "Owe no man anything, except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandment, "You shall not commit adultery.' 'You shall not murder' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'You shall not covet,' and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, 'You shall love your neighbor, as yourself."
It takes work to be, outgoing. You won't even think to do it without effort, and it won't be successful even then if you don't stay close to God. This also takes effort of will and energy.
Yet this love is absolutely required by God. It is a wonderful thing to have. No one will enter His Kingdom without it (Matthew 25:3l-46).
Now is. The time to "marshal your energy" to make certain you have God's great love. Develop it and radiate it all the rest of your life. The time is short. It is later than you think.
Reprinted from an article by Jack H. Elliott in the Jume 1984 Good News Magazine
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brought to you as a Study Resource by the
Church of God Faithful Flock
Friday, February 13, 2009
Are you a LIVING Sacrifice
Today we don't worship God by slaying a bull or a goat and offering it as a sacrifice. The sacrifice Christians are to offer is a living one. But what does that mean?
In Romans 12:1 the apostle Paul wrote that we should present our bodies "a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God."
A "Living Sacrifice?" What.was Paul talking about? Aren't sacrifices killed?
Well, they were in Old Testament times. Back then the slaying of an animal foreshadowed the time when the Lamb of God would be offered for the sins of the World. Since the death of Jesus we no longer need to offer animal sacrifices as part of our religious worship.
Even under the Old Covenant, though, animal sacrifices were only substitutes for what God really wanted. It wasn't that He needed animals offered to Him. He owns every thing. "For every beast of the forest is mine and the cattle upon a thousand hills," He declares (Ps. 50:10).
Samuel put his finger on what God really desires; "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offering and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?" He asked, "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams (I Sam. 15:22).
The prophet Micah inquired: ''Wherewith shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" (Mic. 6:6-7).
Would these actions satisfy God?
Here is the answer; "he hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do Justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (verse 8).
That's what God WANTS!
The sacrifice's that truly please Him involve genuine repentance, '"For thou desirest not [animal] sacrifices else would I give it," David stated. "Thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart O God, thou wilt not despise.'' (Ps. 51:16-17)
The problem was that without the Holy spirit, carnal human beings, could not fulfill the requirements for Conversion. So the physical Levitical System was set up, by witch sin was acknowledged (but not paid for) by various sacrifices. Physical substitutions and profound ceremonial symbols were used to foreshadow, the spiritual administration under the New Testament, when the Holy Spirit would be given to those God called.
Physical Types
Physical Israel had a physical priesthood serving in a physical tabernacle or temple. Today the church is spiritual Israel. And the Church is the Temple. The church in one sense is also a priesthood, as the apostle Peter pointed out in I Peter 2:5 "Ye also, as lively [living] stones, are built up a spiritual house [not a physical temple], an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices." Agajn in verse 9 he staled, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation."
Of course, for we are training to be kings and priests in the coming government of God (Rev. 1:6, 5:10."
"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection... they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years" (Rev. 20:6). What an awesome calling!
In view of that calling, one cannot help but notice many parallels between various aspects of the Old Testament priesthood and what our spiritual lives should be like.
Take, for example, the clothing the priests wore. It was to be made of fine linen garments "for glory and for beauty" (Ex. 28:40-43, 39:27-31).
Revelation 19:8 tells us that "fine linen is the righteousness of saints," Fine white linen represents God's righteousness - the keeping of commandments (Ps. 119:172). David exclaimed, "Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness" (Ps, 1329).
The priests' clothing was given to them. They had to put off their own. In the same way we must get rid of our own righteousness, which Is as filthy rags, (Isa. 64:6), and let God clothe us with His righteousness (Is. 61:10).
Jesus - The Eternal- is our righteousness (Jer. 23:6). That's why we are told to "put off" the deeds of the flesh and to "put on" the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 13:14, Gal. 3:27).
God's Spirit is Unique
Some mistakenly think I there are other churches similar to God's Church. Actually, there is no such thing AS being almost God's Church. Either it is God's Church with God's Spirit, or it is as far from it as death is from life. The Holy Spirit makes the difference. There is no substitute for God's Spirit.
This is made clear by the Holy anointing oil …symbol of the Holy Spirit with which the Levitical priests were anointed, it was a special bled of prize spices and oil, not to be duplicated for any other use (Ex. 30: 22-33).
If you have received the Holy Spirit and are letting it lead you, stop and think how very different it makes you from those who do not have it. The way you think and act and react, the fruits borne in your life; We are different. GOD'S Spirit sets us apart and makes us holy. We are "holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling," "partakers OF the. Holy Spirit" (Heb. 3:1, 6:4), for we have been anointed by the Holy One" (I John 2:20, Revised Standard Version).
Not just everybody could be a priest. No one else could "join" the priesthood; only those chosen by God, the descendants of Aaron in the tribe of Levi.
When God told Moses to anoint Aaron and his sons, He pointed out that "their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations" (Ex. 40:15). We too, have been anointed to serve God forever throughout all eternity. The priests in ancient Israel had to be totally familiar with God's laws, statutes and judgments so they could teach others, the right way (Deut. 17:9-12, Lev. 10:10-11).
In the government of the world tomorrow, the church and state will not be separate. One government will enforce both civil and religious laws, Because the principles overlap. That's why we will be kings and priests. Do you know God's spiritual and, physical laws well enough that you will be able to teach the world in that day?
God told Moses "Aaron and his sons, thou shall bring unto the door of the tabernacle… and shall wash them with water" (Ex. 29:4). They had to be clean to be consecrated to God, just us we must he cleansed by the waters of baptism. Not only that, they had to continually cleanse themselves when they appeared before God! Otherwise they would die (Ex.30:19-21).
"Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord" (Isaiah 52:11 admonishes. "Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (II Cor. 7:1).
Spiritual Sacrifices
What about the "spiritual sacrifices" we are offer. (1 Pet. 2:5)? Here, too, Old Testament types are instructive.
The offerings performed by the Levitical priests particularly foreshadowed facets of' Jesus Christ's life and death. Of special interest to us here is the burnt offering.
In this sacrifice the entire animal (except the skin of the larger animals) was burned upon the altar. It was not classified as an offering for sin; it had a different spiritual significance. It was a voluntary offering of a sweet savor to God (Lev. 1:3, 9), sweet because God loves voluntary serving. Not all sacrifices were voluntary. Not all were of a sweet savor (Lev. 4-6:7).
Jesus was the perfect fulfillment of the burnt offering. He was without blemish (Lev. 1:3). He gave Himself completely to God. He was completely consumed in dedication to God. We are to follow His example.
Notice, in Leviticus 1:8-9, how the different parts of a burnt offering are listed: the head (having the eyes, ears and mouth, as well as the mind and thoughts), the fat (the health and well-being), the innards (the feelings, emotions and affections) and the legs (the path or way of walking). The total being - this is what we must offer to God when we "present our bodies" to Him (Rom 12:l).
We are expected to give our lives; emotions, thoughts, desires, plans - all that make up us - as a voluntary offering to God, to be totally burned up in service to Him.
When the brethren at Philippi performed a good work bv sending help to the apostle Paul, he wrote back "I have received all, and abound: I am full having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God" (Phil. 4:18).
Of course, we are not ''without blemish'' as burnt offerings were supposed to be and as Christ was. But God has provided for that. Jesus our great High Priest, typified Aaron (Ex. 28), appears before God on our behalf. On him is the divine seal of approval that he is "Holiness to the Lord" (verses 36-37).
As far as we are concerned, even our best efforts are often imperfect. But God looks on the heart. And Jesus, is as Aaron was, before God to bear the iniquity [the imperfection] of the Holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts… that they may be accepted before the Lord" (verse 38).
That is how our spiritual, sacrifices are "acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (I Pet. 2:5).
The "GIVE" Way of Life
Voluntary sacrifices such as those even under the Old Covenant, typified the way of life called the way of giving, to take a choice, spotless animal from one's herd or flock and slay it was, an expensive proposition. It was indeed a sacrifice.
Voluntarily giving the best to God - that is the kind of offering God wants.
Obeying God has a price. There is a sacrifice: We must lay down our own lives. And - not just once - we must do it repeatedly;
God commanded that the fire on the sacrificial altar was never to go out. The priests had to keep it burning constantly (Lev. 6:12-13). There was to be a "continual burnt offering" - a sacrifice totally consumed twice a day, evening and morning, day in .and day out (Ex. 29:38-42).
Our prayers ascend before God's throne as ceremonial incense once did. David prayed, "let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and evening sacrifice" (Ps. 141:2). How sweet smelling and pleasing it is to, God when a human being sincerely offers himself totally to God, daily.
Or why not even twice a day, as the evening and morning sacrifices were offered?
An animal sacrifice died once and that was that. We are to be living sacrifices, offered anew every day. And if we are ever called on to give up even these physical lives for God, we, like the apostle Paul, must be "ready to be offered" (II Tim. 4:6) in that manner also.
Notice what Jesus is recorded as saying to God: "Sacrifice and offering [of animals] thou wouldest not [that's not what God is really after], but a body hast thou prepared me [a human body in which he could do the Work of God, giving himself daily in service, fulfilling God's will in everything and finally laying down His life for the sins of mankind]: In [animal] burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come [and here is what really matters]... to do thy will, O God (Heb. 10:5-7).
Our lives are made up of time. It takes time to visit the sick. It takes time to pray for others. It takes time to help those who need help. A Christian life is a life of outgoing giving - sacrificing selfish, personal desires.
Not that we should go around looking at everything we do for God, as a painful exercise in sacrificing, feeling sorry for ourselves us though life should be a bed of nails. Our sacrifices, should be "sacrifices of joy"(Ps. 27:6), "sacrifices of thanksgiving" (Ps, 107:22, 116:17) and "sacrifices of praise" (Heb. 13:15).
It is an honor and privilege to sacrifice anything for the One who gave more to us than we can ever give to Him. David asked, "what shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me'?'' (Ps 116:12).
God wants us to serve Him "with joyfulness and with gladness of heart" (Deut. 28:47) - not begrudgingly. A Christian should totally offer himself to God every day, seeking to obey Him and to live a life based an the principles of the way of give, ''for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul and with all the strength, and to love [one's] neighbor as himself, is more than all whole [ceremonial] burnt offerings and sacrifices" (Mark 12:32-33).
Yes, it is a living sacrifice!.
Janurary 1982 Good News Magazine Article reprint by Clayton Stoop
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brought to you as a Study Resource by the
Church of God Faithful Flock
In Romans 12:1 the apostle Paul wrote that we should present our bodies "a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God."
A "Living Sacrifice?" What.was Paul talking about? Aren't sacrifices killed?
Well, they were in Old Testament times. Back then the slaying of an animal foreshadowed the time when the Lamb of God would be offered for the sins of the World. Since the death of Jesus we no longer need to offer animal sacrifices as part of our religious worship.
Even under the Old Covenant, though, animal sacrifices were only substitutes for what God really wanted. It wasn't that He needed animals offered to Him. He owns every thing. "For every beast of the forest is mine and the cattle upon a thousand hills," He declares (Ps. 50:10).
Samuel put his finger on what God really desires; "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offering and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?" He asked, "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams (I Sam. 15:22).
The prophet Micah inquired: ''Wherewith shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" (Mic. 6:6-7).
Would these actions satisfy God?
Here is the answer; "he hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do Justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (verse 8).
That's what God WANTS!
The sacrifice's that truly please Him involve genuine repentance, '"For thou desirest not [animal] sacrifices else would I give it," David stated. "Thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart O God, thou wilt not despise.'' (Ps. 51:16-17)
The problem was that without the Holy spirit, carnal human beings, could not fulfill the requirements for Conversion. So the physical Levitical System was set up, by witch sin was acknowledged (but not paid for) by various sacrifices. Physical substitutions and profound ceremonial symbols were used to foreshadow, the spiritual administration under the New Testament, when the Holy Spirit would be given to those God called.
Physical Types
Physical Israel had a physical priesthood serving in a physical tabernacle or temple. Today the church is spiritual Israel. And the Church is the Temple. The church in one sense is also a priesthood, as the apostle Peter pointed out in I Peter 2:5 "Ye also, as lively [living] stones, are built up a spiritual house [not a physical temple], an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices." Agajn in verse 9 he staled, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation."
Of course, for we are training to be kings and priests in the coming government of God (Rev. 1:6, 5:10."
"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection... they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years" (Rev. 20:6). What an awesome calling!
In view of that calling, one cannot help but notice many parallels between various aspects of the Old Testament priesthood and what our spiritual lives should be like.
Take, for example, the clothing the priests wore. It was to be made of fine linen garments "for glory and for beauty" (Ex. 28:40-43, 39:27-31).
Revelation 19:8 tells us that "fine linen is the righteousness of saints," Fine white linen represents God's righteousness - the keeping of commandments (Ps. 119:172). David exclaimed, "Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness" (Ps, 1329).
The priests' clothing was given to them. They had to put off their own. In the same way we must get rid of our own righteousness, which Is as filthy rags, (Isa. 64:6), and let God clothe us with His righteousness (Is. 61:10).
Jesus - The Eternal- is our righteousness (Jer. 23:6). That's why we are told to "put off" the deeds of the flesh and to "put on" the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 13:14, Gal. 3:27).
God's Spirit is Unique
Some mistakenly think I there are other churches similar to God's Church. Actually, there is no such thing AS being almost God's Church. Either it is God's Church with God's Spirit, or it is as far from it as death is from life. The Holy Spirit makes the difference. There is no substitute for God's Spirit.
This is made clear by the Holy anointing oil …symbol of the Holy Spirit with which the Levitical priests were anointed, it was a special bled of prize spices and oil, not to be duplicated for any other use (Ex. 30: 22-33).
If you have received the Holy Spirit and are letting it lead you, stop and think how very different it makes you from those who do not have it. The way you think and act and react, the fruits borne in your life; We are different. GOD'S Spirit sets us apart and makes us holy. We are "holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling," "partakers OF the. Holy Spirit" (Heb. 3:1, 6:4), for we have been anointed by the Holy One" (I John 2:20, Revised Standard Version).
Not just everybody could be a priest. No one else could "join" the priesthood; only those chosen by God, the descendants of Aaron in the tribe of Levi.
When God told Moses to anoint Aaron and his sons, He pointed out that "their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations" (Ex. 40:15). We too, have been anointed to serve God forever throughout all eternity. The priests in ancient Israel had to be totally familiar with God's laws, statutes and judgments so they could teach others, the right way (Deut. 17:9-12, Lev. 10:10-11).
In the government of the world tomorrow, the church and state will not be separate. One government will enforce both civil and religious laws, Because the principles overlap. That's why we will be kings and priests. Do you know God's spiritual and, physical laws well enough that you will be able to teach the world in that day?
God told Moses "Aaron and his sons, thou shall bring unto the door of the tabernacle… and shall wash them with water" (Ex. 29:4). They had to be clean to be consecrated to God, just us we must he cleansed by the waters of baptism. Not only that, they had to continually cleanse themselves when they appeared before God! Otherwise they would die (Ex.30:19-21).
"Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord" (Isaiah 52:11 admonishes. "Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (II Cor. 7:1).
Spiritual Sacrifices
What about the "spiritual sacrifices" we are offer. (1 Pet. 2:5)? Here, too, Old Testament types are instructive.
The offerings performed by the Levitical priests particularly foreshadowed facets of' Jesus Christ's life and death. Of special interest to us here is the burnt offering.
In this sacrifice the entire animal (except the skin of the larger animals) was burned upon the altar. It was not classified as an offering for sin; it had a different spiritual significance. It was a voluntary offering of a sweet savor to God (Lev. 1:3, 9), sweet because God loves voluntary serving. Not all sacrifices were voluntary. Not all were of a sweet savor (Lev. 4-6:7).
Jesus was the perfect fulfillment of the burnt offering. He was without blemish (Lev. 1:3). He gave Himself completely to God. He was completely consumed in dedication to God. We are to follow His example.
Notice, in Leviticus 1:8-9, how the different parts of a burnt offering are listed: the head (having the eyes, ears and mouth, as well as the mind and thoughts), the fat (the health and well-being), the innards (the feelings, emotions and affections) and the legs (the path or way of walking). The total being - this is what we must offer to God when we "present our bodies" to Him (Rom 12:l).
We are expected to give our lives; emotions, thoughts, desires, plans - all that make up us - as a voluntary offering to God, to be totally burned up in service to Him.
When the brethren at Philippi performed a good work bv sending help to the apostle Paul, he wrote back "I have received all, and abound: I am full having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God" (Phil. 4:18).
Of course, we are not ''without blemish'' as burnt offerings were supposed to be and as Christ was. But God has provided for that. Jesus our great High Priest, typified Aaron (Ex. 28), appears before God on our behalf. On him is the divine seal of approval that he is "Holiness to the Lord" (verses 36-37).
As far as we are concerned, even our best efforts are often imperfect. But God looks on the heart. And Jesus, is as Aaron was, before God to bear the iniquity [the imperfection] of the Holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts… that they may be accepted before the Lord" (verse 38).
That is how our spiritual, sacrifices are "acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (I Pet. 2:5).
The "GIVE" Way of Life
Voluntary sacrifices such as those even under the Old Covenant, typified the way of life called the way of giving, to take a choice, spotless animal from one's herd or flock and slay it was, an expensive proposition. It was indeed a sacrifice.
Voluntarily giving the best to God - that is the kind of offering God wants.
Obeying God has a price. There is a sacrifice: We must lay down our own lives. And - not just once - we must do it repeatedly;
God commanded that the fire on the sacrificial altar was never to go out. The priests had to keep it burning constantly (Lev. 6:12-13). There was to be a "continual burnt offering" - a sacrifice totally consumed twice a day, evening and morning, day in .and day out (Ex. 29:38-42).
Our prayers ascend before God's throne as ceremonial incense once did. David prayed, "let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and evening sacrifice" (Ps. 141:2). How sweet smelling and pleasing it is to, God when a human being sincerely offers himself totally to God, daily.
Or why not even twice a day, as the evening and morning sacrifices were offered?
An animal sacrifice died once and that was that. We are to be living sacrifices, offered anew every day. And if we are ever called on to give up even these physical lives for God, we, like the apostle Paul, must be "ready to be offered" (II Tim. 4:6) in that manner also.
Notice what Jesus is recorded as saying to God: "Sacrifice and offering [of animals] thou wouldest not [that's not what God is really after], but a body hast thou prepared me [a human body in which he could do the Work of God, giving himself daily in service, fulfilling God's will in everything and finally laying down His life for the sins of mankind]: In [animal] burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come [and here is what really matters]... to do thy will, O God (Heb. 10:5-7).
Our lives are made up of time. It takes time to visit the sick. It takes time to pray for others. It takes time to help those who need help. A Christian life is a life of outgoing giving - sacrificing selfish, personal desires.
Not that we should go around looking at everything we do for God, as a painful exercise in sacrificing, feeling sorry for ourselves us though life should be a bed of nails. Our sacrifices, should be "sacrifices of joy"(Ps. 27:6), "sacrifices of thanksgiving" (Ps, 107:22, 116:17) and "sacrifices of praise" (Heb. 13:15).
It is an honor and privilege to sacrifice anything for the One who gave more to us than we can ever give to Him. David asked, "what shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me'?'' (Ps 116:12).
God wants us to serve Him "with joyfulness and with gladness of heart" (Deut. 28:47) - not begrudgingly. A Christian should totally offer himself to God every day, seeking to obey Him and to live a life based an the principles of the way of give, ''for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul and with all the strength, and to love [one's] neighbor as himself, is more than all whole [ceremonial] burnt offerings and sacrifices" (Mark 12:32-33).
Yes, it is a living sacrifice!.
Janurary 1982 Good News Magazine Article reprint by Clayton Stoop
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brought to you as a Study Resource by the
Church of God Faithful Flock
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Elohim thoughts
The Word, in the beginning--before ANYTHING had been created--was with God, and he, also, was God. Now how could that be?
There might be a man named John. And John might be with the man named Smith, and John might also be Smith because John is the son of Smith, and Smith is the family name. Yet they are two separate persons.
The only point of difference in that analogy is that the Word, at the time of John 1:1, was not, yet, the Son of God. But he was with God, and he also was God.
They were not yet Father and Son--but they were the GOD KINGDOM! From Mr. Armstrong
From Randall Ricker
As he wrote, he substituted names. Substitute the word “John” for “the Word” and substitute the last name “Smith” for “God.” So what we have is: In the beginning was John and John was with Smith and John was Smith. This can be true because John is the son of Smith. Smith is the family name, but they are two separate persons. You can call them persons or personages. One is called the Word which comes from the Greek word “Logos”, which means “spokesman”.
Mr. Herbert Armstrong referred to it as a uniplural noun like family, group or church containing two or more members. Uniplural is an unusual term. Most people have not heard that term, but there is a term in English grammar called a collective noun. That is exactly what this is, like group, family and church. Elohim, this term for God, is a collective noun. Think of it that way if you like. It is the same thing. It allows for a God family with two members, as we have talked about in John 1:1 the Word and God.
collective noun - 3 dictionary results
Sponsored Links Learn English
Learn or improve your english in 3 months, guaranteed!
www.Englishtown.com
collective noun
–noun Grammar. a noun, as herd, jury, or clergy, that appears singular in formal shape but denotes a group of persons or objects.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Origin:
1510–20
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Cite This Source
collective noun
n. A noun that denotes a collection of persons or things regarded as a unit.
Usage Note: In American usage, a collective noun takes a singular verb when it refers to the collection considered as a whole, as in The family was united on this question. The enemy is suing for peace. It takes a plural verb when it refers to the members of the group considered as individuals, as in My family are always fighting among themselves. The enemy were showing up in groups of three or four to turn in their weapons. In British usage, however, collective nouns are more often treated as plurals: The government have not announced a new policy. The team are playing in the test matches next week. A collective noun should not be treated as both singular and plural in the same construction; thus The family is determined to press its (not their) claim. Among the common collective nouns are committee, clergy, company, enemy, group, family, flock, public, and team. See Usage Notes at government, group.
Fundamental of Belief #1
Part A; God Is One
Edited Sermon Transcript
Jon W. Brisby; 11-27-99
Well, what is Elohiym? Elohiym is a uniplural noun, very similar to words like church and family and kingdom. It is a single word and yet the word itself denotes more than one within the composition. When we talk about a church it is singular and yet it is a uniplural noun that implies there are multiple individuals that make up the body that forms the church. The same way that the word family implies that it is made up of several members. So it is in a kingdom, it is one kingdom, a unified kingdom, and yet within that kingdom are several parts. That's what we are talking about with this term God. Within the very uniplural noun that's talking about one God is contained a description that tells us there is more than one part. So therefore an explanation that says there is only one being that is considered God is refuted by the very Hebrew words that were inspired to describe that God.
Genesis 1:1: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
That's Elohiym, a God defined in a plural form. What's further proof of that? Skip down to verse twenty-six and what do we read? What was it that God did and accomplished?
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion of the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
If "God" refers only to a single individual, why is Elohiym a uniplural noun and why then is it translated "us" and "our" in Genesis 1? This tells us very specifically that there is more than one being in that Godhead that had a part in the design and the execution of everything that was involved in that creation. God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." Otherwise, maybe we think we are serving a God that is schizophrenic. We would be considered crazy, wouldn't we, if we talked about ourselves individually as if we were two people or if you talked about yourself as "us," "we," or "our"? I think people would wonder about our sanity. Wonder if that's what we do when we look at the scripture and see that whoever was involved in this creation talked about "us" and "our." So we know by the use of Elohiym in the Old Testament that we are dealing with God, singular God, and yet it is a divinity, a family that is composed of more than one being. Who are those beings? Well, let us look next at that word YHVH.
Jimmy Swaggart
ELOHIM
The names of God prove plurality of persons. The Hebrew word Elohim, translated "God" in Genesis 1:1 and also in more than 2,700 other places in the Old Testament, is a uniplural noun which means "more than one." Had the sacred writer been led to use the singular El, then there would have been no indication of a divine plurality. But in this initial reference to God, he was led of the Holy Ghost to pen the Word Elohim (Genesis 1:1). Also when one considers that the word Elohim is used about ten to one over the word El, we would have to conclude that this preference for the plural over the singular indicates a definite sign of plurality in the Godhead.
nccg.org
Man Created in God's Image
The first chapter of the Bible says: "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness..." (Genesis 1:26, NIV). The word for "God" in the Hebrew is Elohim and is what is called a "uniplural noun". Literally translated, the word Elohim means "gods" and is frequently used in the Old Testament to describe human judges too. Here, though, Elohim is a name for God that not only depicts the plurality of His majesty but also the plurality of the Godhead.
It is plain from the text that more than one divine Person is involved in the creation, as is evidenced by the use of the plural forms "us" and "our". The New Testament teaches that Jesus pre-existed the creation and was Himself God, or part of the Godhead (John 1:1). It also teaches that Jesus Christ created the world at the command of His Heavenly Father (John 1:10). It is reasonable to suppose, therefore, that the Elohim of Genesis 1:26 refers to both God the Father and the pre-existent Jesus Christ since elsewhere we are told that God created the universe through His Son.
Mankind is therefore made in the express image of God the Father and God the Son. This same wording is used to describe the relationship between Adam and his son Seth: "When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth" (Genesis 5:3, NIV). Thus the testimony of Paul, in which he says that "we are (God's) offspring" (Acts 7:28-29), suggests that the relationship between God, Christ, and man is closer than most ordinary Christians might care to admit.
Missing Dimension in Sex
WHO—WHAT IS God?
I have quoted that passage in the English language. But when God inspired Moses to write it, originally, it was written in the Hebrew language. What I quoted is a translation from the Hebrew. And in the Hebrew, the word—or the name—translated into the English name, “God,” was Elohim. That is a uniplural [collective] noun. It is uniplural, like such words as group, church, crowd, family or organization.
Take, for example, the word church. You will read, in I Corinthians 12:20, that the Church is only one Church—the “one body” yet composed of “many members.” Even though it takes many persons to constitute the Church, it is not many churches—it is only the one Church!
A family is made up of more than one person, yet only the one family.
And so, incredible as it may seem to those who do not rightly and fully understand the Bible—and only an infinitesimal minority does—God is not merely one Person, nor even limited to a “Trinity,” but God is a Family.
The doctrine of the Trinity is false. It was foisted upon the world at the Council of Nicaea. It is the pagan Babylonish trinity of father, mother and child—substituting the Holy Spirit for the mother, Semiramis, and calling it a “person.”
God is a Kingdom—the supreme divine Family which rules the universe! The whole Gospel Jesus brought to mankind is, merely, the Good News of the Kingdom of God—and that Kingdom is God. It is a family—a ruling divine Family into which humans may be born!
It is vitally necessary that we understand this truth—if we are to understand the meaning and purposes of sex!
There is only the ONE GOD! Because of false teaching—including that of a “Trinity”—nearly all of us have been reared from childhood to assume that God is one individual Person. It is true that one Person—the Father—is head of the family, but each Person in the God Family is an individual divine Person.
Elohim is the divine Family—only one family, but more than one divine Person. Jesus Christ spoke of His divine Father as God. Jesus said He was the Son of God (as well as the Son of man). Jesus is called God in Hebrews 1:8 and elsewhere. All the holy angels are commanded to worship Jesus (Heb. 1:6, Ps. 97:7)—and none but God may be worshiped!
In Genesis 1:26, Elohim said, “Let us [not me] make man in our image.”
So the Eternal Father is a Person, and is God. Jesus Christ is a different Person—and is God. They are two separate and individual Persons (Rev. 4:2, 5:1, 6-7). The Father is Supreme Head of the God Family—the Lawgiver. Christ is the Word—the divine Spokesman.
There might be a man named John. And John might be with the man named Smith, and John might also be Smith because John is the son of Smith, and Smith is the family name. Yet they are two separate persons.
The only point of difference in that analogy is that the Word, at the time of John 1:1, was not, yet, the Son of God. But he was with God, and he also was God.
They were not yet Father and Son--but they were the GOD KINGDOM! From Mr. Armstrong
From Randall Ricker
As he wrote, he substituted names. Substitute the word “John” for “the Word” and substitute the last name “Smith” for “God.” So what we have is: In the beginning was John and John was with Smith and John was Smith. This can be true because John is the son of Smith. Smith is the family name, but they are two separate persons. You can call them persons or personages. One is called the Word which comes from the Greek word “Logos”, which means “spokesman”.
Mr. Herbert Armstrong referred to it as a uniplural noun like family, group or church containing two or more members. Uniplural is an unusual term. Most people have not heard that term, but there is a term in English grammar called a collective noun. That is exactly what this is, like group, family and church. Elohim, this term for God, is a collective noun. Think of it that way if you like. It is the same thing. It allows for a God family with two members, as we have talked about in John 1:1 the Word and God.
collective noun - 3 dictionary results
Sponsored Links Learn English
Learn or improve your english in 3 months, guaranteed!
www.Englishtown.com
collective noun
–noun Grammar. a noun, as herd, jury, or clergy, that appears singular in formal shape but denotes a group of persons or objects.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Origin:
1510–20
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Cite This Source
collective noun
n. A noun that denotes a collection of persons or things regarded as a unit.
Usage Note: In American usage, a collective noun takes a singular verb when it refers to the collection considered as a whole, as in The family was united on this question. The enemy is suing for peace. It takes a plural verb when it refers to the members of the group considered as individuals, as in My family are always fighting among themselves. The enemy were showing up in groups of three or four to turn in their weapons. In British usage, however, collective nouns are more often treated as plurals: The government have not announced a new policy. The team are playing in the test matches next week. A collective noun should not be treated as both singular and plural in the same construction; thus The family is determined to press its (not their) claim. Among the common collective nouns are committee, clergy, company, enemy, group, family, flock, public, and team. See Usage Notes at government, group.
Fundamental of Belief #1
Part A; God Is One
Edited Sermon Transcript
Jon W. Brisby; 11-27-99
Well, what is Elohiym? Elohiym is a uniplural noun, very similar to words like church and family and kingdom. It is a single word and yet the word itself denotes more than one within the composition. When we talk about a church it is singular and yet it is a uniplural noun that implies there are multiple individuals that make up the body that forms the church. The same way that the word family implies that it is made up of several members. So it is in a kingdom, it is one kingdom, a unified kingdom, and yet within that kingdom are several parts. That's what we are talking about with this term God. Within the very uniplural noun that's talking about one God is contained a description that tells us there is more than one part. So therefore an explanation that says there is only one being that is considered God is refuted by the very Hebrew words that were inspired to describe that God.
Genesis 1:1: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
That's Elohiym, a God defined in a plural form. What's further proof of that? Skip down to verse twenty-six and what do we read? What was it that God did and accomplished?
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion of the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
If "God" refers only to a single individual, why is Elohiym a uniplural noun and why then is it translated "us" and "our" in Genesis 1? This tells us very specifically that there is more than one being in that Godhead that had a part in the design and the execution of everything that was involved in that creation. God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." Otherwise, maybe we think we are serving a God that is schizophrenic. We would be considered crazy, wouldn't we, if we talked about ourselves individually as if we were two people or if you talked about yourself as "us," "we," or "our"? I think people would wonder about our sanity. Wonder if that's what we do when we look at the scripture and see that whoever was involved in this creation talked about "us" and "our." So we know by the use of Elohiym in the Old Testament that we are dealing with God, singular God, and yet it is a divinity, a family that is composed of more than one being. Who are those beings? Well, let us look next at that word YHVH.
Jimmy Swaggart
ELOHIM
The names of God prove plurality of persons. The Hebrew word Elohim, translated "God" in Genesis 1:1 and also in more than 2,700 other places in the Old Testament, is a uniplural noun which means "more than one." Had the sacred writer been led to use the singular El, then there would have been no indication of a divine plurality. But in this initial reference to God, he was led of the Holy Ghost to pen the Word Elohim (Genesis 1:1). Also when one considers that the word Elohim is used about ten to one over the word El, we would have to conclude that this preference for the plural over the singular indicates a definite sign of plurality in the Godhead.
nccg.org
Man Created in God's Image
The first chapter of the Bible says: "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness..." (Genesis 1:26, NIV). The word for "God" in the Hebrew is Elohim and is what is called a "uniplural noun". Literally translated, the word Elohim means "gods" and is frequently used in the Old Testament to describe human judges too. Here, though, Elohim is a name for God that not only depicts the plurality of His majesty but also the plurality of the Godhead.
It is plain from the text that more than one divine Person is involved in the creation, as is evidenced by the use of the plural forms "us" and "our". The New Testament teaches that Jesus pre-existed the creation and was Himself God, or part of the Godhead (John 1:1). It also teaches that Jesus Christ created the world at the command of His Heavenly Father (John 1:10). It is reasonable to suppose, therefore, that the Elohim of Genesis 1:26 refers to both God the Father and the pre-existent Jesus Christ since elsewhere we are told that God created the universe through His Son.
Mankind is therefore made in the express image of God the Father and God the Son. This same wording is used to describe the relationship between Adam and his son Seth: "When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth" (Genesis 5:3, NIV). Thus the testimony of Paul, in which he says that "we are (God's) offspring" (Acts 7:28-29), suggests that the relationship between God, Christ, and man is closer than most ordinary Christians might care to admit.
Missing Dimension in Sex
WHO—WHAT IS God?
I have quoted that passage in the English language. But when God inspired Moses to write it, originally, it was written in the Hebrew language. What I quoted is a translation from the Hebrew. And in the Hebrew, the word—or the name—translated into the English name, “God,” was Elohim. That is a uniplural [collective] noun. It is uniplural, like such words as group, church, crowd, family or organization.
Take, for example, the word church. You will read, in I Corinthians 12:20, that the Church is only one Church—the “one body” yet composed of “many members.” Even though it takes many persons to constitute the Church, it is not many churches—it is only the one Church!
A family is made up of more than one person, yet only the one family.
And so, incredible as it may seem to those who do not rightly and fully understand the Bible—and only an infinitesimal minority does—God is not merely one Person, nor even limited to a “Trinity,” but God is a Family.
The doctrine of the Trinity is false. It was foisted upon the world at the Council of Nicaea. It is the pagan Babylonish trinity of father, mother and child—substituting the Holy Spirit for the mother, Semiramis, and calling it a “person.”
God is a Kingdom—the supreme divine Family which rules the universe! The whole Gospel Jesus brought to mankind is, merely, the Good News of the Kingdom of God—and that Kingdom is God. It is a family—a ruling divine Family into which humans may be born!
It is vitally necessary that we understand this truth—if we are to understand the meaning and purposes of sex!
There is only the ONE GOD! Because of false teaching—including that of a “Trinity”—nearly all of us have been reared from childhood to assume that God is one individual Person. It is true that one Person—the Father—is head of the family, but each Person in the God Family is an individual divine Person.
Elohim is the divine Family—only one family, but more than one divine Person. Jesus Christ spoke of His divine Father as God. Jesus said He was the Son of God (as well as the Son of man). Jesus is called God in Hebrews 1:8 and elsewhere. All the holy angels are commanded to worship Jesus (Heb. 1:6, Ps. 97:7)—and none but God may be worshiped!
In Genesis 1:26, Elohim said, “Let us [not me] make man in our image.”
So the Eternal Father is a Person, and is God. Jesus Christ is a different Person—and is God. They are two separate and individual Persons (Rev. 4:2, 5:1, 6-7). The Father is Supreme Head of the God Family—the Lawgiver. Christ is the Word—the divine Spokesman.
Elohim
El is the singular form of the word God, when -im is added e.g. Elohim, it is made plural. When used to refer to God Almighty, Elohim is similar to a uniplural noun. A uniplural noun can be used to indicate an object in the singular or plural sense. Example: The word sheep can be used to describe one sheep or many sheep. Example: Deer. One deer was at the lake. Many deer are in the woods.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)