By Reverend Mark Hunnemann
This is a brief reply, as one could easily spend an entire blog answering this question.
“Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him…” (Hebrews 5:8-9)
Does that imply He was not perfectly obedient early on? No!! What DOES it mean, then?
Though fully God, Jesus is also fully human. He lived a sinless life (Heb. 4:15; 7:26) and was always obedient to the Father. Nevertheless, Jesus acquired knowledge as a normal human would, and He gained experience (in His human nature)by living 33 years as a human being (Luke 2:40, 52), and He came to know experientially what it cost to walk in obedience in the midst of suffering.
In a manner appropriate to each stage of development (physically and psychologically), Jesus was perfect, and He grew in wisdom in His human nature. He was a perfect two year old…perfect four year old…perfect teenager…perfect young adult…and perfect up to His death at approximately 33 years old. He was perfect in ways appropriate for each stage of development as a growing human being.
No doubt, as Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, successive temptations and trials became more difficult to deal with. It was as He obeyed His Father in the face of lifelong temptations that Jesus “learned obedience.”…His human moral ability was strengthened as He grew.
As a child, Jesus did not lack any godly traits, but He was lacking in the full experience of having lived a perfect human life, as man—obeying the Father in everything. It is in this sense, that in His human nature, Jesus “learned obedience.”
Hence, our Lord is experientially aware of the trials and temptations that we experience. Though fully God, Jesus still retains His human nature/body in heaven. So, He is tender and sympathetic to all the struggles you are facing. Look to Him for comfort, as he knows what it is like to suffer as a human. And look to Him as your Savior if you have not already, for there is no other road to heaven, but through Jesus.
Lastly, and remarkably, the lifelong perfect obedience of Jesus provides the basis for eternal salvation. Justification consists of a double transfer. Our sins were transferred to Jesus on the cross, and His 33 years of perfect obedience is transferred to our spiritual bank account. It is the robe of righteousness that surrounds us, and the Father sees Jesus’ perfect life, as He looks at us, due to our union with the life of Christ. How can you look with detachment at such a great salvation? Let us rejoice at such a great Savior and salvation!
Mark Hunnemann is the author of Seeing Ghosts Through God's Eyes: A Worldview Analysis of Earthbound Spirits. It's also available in eBook format.
Looking inside the spiritual & literary worlds
Showing posts with label Savior. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Savior. Show all posts
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Monday, April 18, 2016
Did the Angels and Women Mate? Part 2
Continued from Did the Angels and Women Mate? Part 1
Did the angels take and mate with women we now conclude our findings. We learned several points of data, with the greatest being the angels did NOT marry or take for themselves daughters of men.
So let’s look for more evidence now in Gen. 6, specifically then what do we have here in verse 4? As we now examine it and if you did not know Genesis is a book of genealogies—it is a book of the families. The sons of God is referring to the godly line who have come down from Adam through Seth, and the daughters of men belong to the line of Cain. So, what you have here now is an intermingling and intermarriage of these two lines, until finally the entire line is totally corrupted (well, not totally; there is one exception and this is Christ Jesus). That is the picture that is presented to us here in this recording of the intermingled lines of taking ungodly women for wives.
The godly men took for themselves wives of all; that is, of the ungodly as well as the godly families, without any discrimination. "Whom they chose," not for the godliness of their lives, but for the goodliness of their looks. The ungodly mothers will not train up children in the way they should go according to the Lord God Almighty; and husbands who have taken the wrong step of marrying ungodly wives cannot prove to be very exemplary or authoritative fathers.
Up to this time they may have been consistent as the sons of God in their outward conduct, but a laxity of choice proves a corresponding laxity of principle. The first inlet of sin prepares the way for the flood-gates of iniquity. It is easy to see that now the degeneracy of the whole race will go on at a rapid pace and why humans need a Savior to deliver us from being ungodly.
Let’s look at the verse “they took them wives”, could possibly be more than one for each of them, after the example of those wicked families into which they were matched; of all which they chose, i.e. loved and liked, as the word choosing is taken, Psalm 25:12, Psalm 119:173, Isaiah 1:29, Isaiah 42:1, compared with Matthew 12:28. This is noted as the first error, that they did promiscuously choose wives, without any regard to their sobriety and religion, minding only the pleasing of their own fancies and lusts, not the pleasing and serving of their Lord and Maker, nor the obtaining of a godly seed, which was God’s end in the institution of marriage, Malachi 2:15, and therefore should have been theirs too.
Folks I recognize, and I want to insist upon it, that many fine teachers/clergy take the opposite view that the 'sons of God; are actually angels from Heaven above who did this act. Therefore, if you accept that view, you will be in good company with those who also succumb to this falseness too. However, I am sure that most of you want to be right and will want to go along with the word of God, not man with what ‘they feel’ is proper.
Lastly, the idea that angels had sexual relations with earthly women is preposterous. As one can imagine, such speculation in the scriptures provides ample opportunity for the heathen world to exploit the scriptures.
Countless books, movies, documentaries, and false religions have exploited such misinterpretations of Genesis 6:1-6. One such exploit is the alleged lost Biblical BOOK OF ENOCH, which teaches that fallen angels had physical intimacy with earthly women that produced offspring 450-feet tall?
Without a doubt, the primary claim of the Book of Enoch is that fallen angels had sex with human women and produced 450-feet tall giants upon the earth. This teaching is ridiculous, unscriptural, and has no solid evidence to support it (Biblically or scientifically). This is another sound reason as to why the Book of Enoch should continue to be rejected as it is nonsense.
If, as some theologians believe angels did have sex with earthly women, then why has it not occurred since Genesis 6:1-6? The scriptures are not silent on this matter, as we have read in Mark 12:25, for "they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven." The demonic succubus (a female demon) and the incubus (a male demon) are believed by demonology experts to have sex with sleeping humans. Of course, this is not a scriptural teaching. Angels cannot marry, nor be given in marriage.
For it is not to angels only that the term "sons of Elohim," or "sons of Elim," is applied; but in Psalm 73:15, in an address to Elohim, the godly are called "the generation of Thy sons," i.e., sons of Elohim; in Deuteronomy 32:5 the Israelites are called His (God's) sons, and in Hosea 1:10, "sons of the living God;" and in Psalm 80:17, Israel is spoken of as the son, whom Elohim has made strong.
These passages show that the expression "sons of God" cannot be elucidated by philological means, but must be interpreted by theology alone. Moreover, even when it is applied to the angels, it is questionable whether it is to be understood in a physical or ethical sense. The notion that "it is employed in a physical sense as nomen naturae, instead of angels as nomen officii, and presupposes generation of a physical kind," we must reject as an unscriptural and gnostic error!
In addition, the entire suggestion that God allowed angels, which would have possessed FULL knowledge of divine realities, to tempt mankind is against the plainest teachings of the Scriptures. 1st Corinthians 10:13 states... "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." It would have been extremely UNCOMMON for women to be tempted by angels into marriage, not to mention the fact that the temptation would have been ABOVE THAT YE ARE ABLE.
We do know that there were giants in the Old Testament, as Goliath himself was 9' 6" tall (1st Samuel 17:4); however, as mentioned earlier, Genesis 6:1-6 fails to state directly that the "giants" of those days were the offspring monsters of bizarre extraterrestrial marriages.
Carefully notice Genesis 6:4 again... "There were giants in the earth in those days; and ALSO AFTER THAT, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown." "Also" means in addition to. "After that" means later. Clearly, even from reading the Bible at a childlike level, it is obvious that the "giants" were not the same people as the "mighty men which were of old, men of renown."
Remember people if it doesn’t line up with the word of God properly then we must reject it as falseness from the pit of Hell.
Rev. Brad Luoma, Exorcist & Deliverance Minister
Savior Christian Deliverance Ministries
Did the angels take and mate with women we now conclude our findings. We learned several points of data, with the greatest being the angels did NOT marry or take for themselves daughters of men.
So let’s look for more evidence now in Gen. 6, specifically then what do we have here in verse 4? As we now examine it and if you did not know Genesis is a book of genealogies—it is a book of the families. The sons of God is referring to the godly line who have come down from Adam through Seth, and the daughters of men belong to the line of Cain. So, what you have here now is an intermingling and intermarriage of these two lines, until finally the entire line is totally corrupted (well, not totally; there is one exception and this is Christ Jesus). That is the picture that is presented to us here in this recording of the intermingled lines of taking ungodly women for wives.
The godly men took for themselves wives of all; that is, of the ungodly as well as the godly families, without any discrimination. "Whom they chose," not for the godliness of their lives, but for the goodliness of their looks. The ungodly mothers will not train up children in the way they should go according to the Lord God Almighty; and husbands who have taken the wrong step of marrying ungodly wives cannot prove to be very exemplary or authoritative fathers.
Up to this time they may have been consistent as the sons of God in their outward conduct, but a laxity of choice proves a corresponding laxity of principle. The first inlet of sin prepares the way for the flood-gates of iniquity. It is easy to see that now the degeneracy of the whole race will go on at a rapid pace and why humans need a Savior to deliver us from being ungodly.
Let’s look at the verse “they took them wives”, could possibly be more than one for each of them, after the example of those wicked families into which they were matched; of all which they chose, i.e. loved and liked, as the word choosing is taken, Psalm 25:12, Psalm 119:173, Isaiah 1:29, Isaiah 42:1, compared with Matthew 12:28. This is noted as the first error, that they did promiscuously choose wives, without any regard to their sobriety and religion, minding only the pleasing of their own fancies and lusts, not the pleasing and serving of their Lord and Maker, nor the obtaining of a godly seed, which was God’s end in the institution of marriage, Malachi 2:15, and therefore should have been theirs too.
Folks I recognize, and I want to insist upon it, that many fine teachers/clergy take the opposite view that the 'sons of God; are actually angels from Heaven above who did this act. Therefore, if you accept that view, you will be in good company with those who also succumb to this falseness too. However, I am sure that most of you want to be right and will want to go along with the word of God, not man with what ‘they feel’ is proper.
Lastly, the idea that angels had sexual relations with earthly women is preposterous. As one can imagine, such speculation in the scriptures provides ample opportunity for the heathen world to exploit the scriptures.
Countless books, movies, documentaries, and false religions have exploited such misinterpretations of Genesis 6:1-6. One such exploit is the alleged lost Biblical BOOK OF ENOCH, which teaches that fallen angels had physical intimacy with earthly women that produced offspring 450-feet tall?
Without a doubt, the primary claim of the Book of Enoch is that fallen angels had sex with human women and produced 450-feet tall giants upon the earth. This teaching is ridiculous, unscriptural, and has no solid evidence to support it (Biblically or scientifically). This is another sound reason as to why the Book of Enoch should continue to be rejected as it is nonsense.
If, as some theologians believe angels did have sex with earthly women, then why has it not occurred since Genesis 6:1-6? The scriptures are not silent on this matter, as we have read in Mark 12:25, for "they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven." The demonic succubus (a female demon) and the incubus (a male demon) are believed by demonology experts to have sex with sleeping humans. Of course, this is not a scriptural teaching. Angels cannot marry, nor be given in marriage.
For it is not to angels only that the term "sons of Elohim," or "sons of Elim," is applied; but in Psalm 73:15, in an address to Elohim, the godly are called "the generation of Thy sons," i.e., sons of Elohim; in Deuteronomy 32:5 the Israelites are called His (God's) sons, and in Hosea 1:10, "sons of the living God;" and in Psalm 80:17, Israel is spoken of as the son, whom Elohim has made strong.
These passages show that the expression "sons of God" cannot be elucidated by philological means, but must be interpreted by theology alone. Moreover, even when it is applied to the angels, it is questionable whether it is to be understood in a physical or ethical sense. The notion that "it is employed in a physical sense as nomen naturae, instead of angels as nomen officii, and presupposes generation of a physical kind," we must reject as an unscriptural and gnostic error!
In addition, the entire suggestion that God allowed angels, which would have possessed FULL knowledge of divine realities, to tempt mankind is against the plainest teachings of the Scriptures. 1st Corinthians 10:13 states... "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." It would have been extremely UNCOMMON for women to be tempted by angels into marriage, not to mention the fact that the temptation would have been ABOVE THAT YE ARE ABLE.
We do know that there were giants in the Old Testament, as Goliath himself was 9' 6" tall (1st Samuel 17:4); however, as mentioned earlier, Genesis 6:1-6 fails to state directly that the "giants" of those days were the offspring monsters of bizarre extraterrestrial marriages.
Carefully notice Genesis 6:4 again... "There were giants in the earth in those days; and ALSO AFTER THAT, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown." "Also" means in addition to. "After that" means later. Clearly, even from reading the Bible at a childlike level, it is obvious that the "giants" were not the same people as the "mighty men which were of old, men of renown."
Remember people if it doesn’t line up with the word of God properly then we must reject it as falseness from the pit of Hell.
Rev. Brad Luoma, Exorcist & Deliverance Minister
Savior Christian Deliverance Ministries
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Do Angels Communicate Telepathically and Other 'Mind-reading' Musings
I have often heard the following-- :"Angels read each others minds now, and when we die our souls will do the same with each other.So, why can't demons read them...". Here are some thought re: demons reading our minds.
1. True mind reading is a divine prerogative--an extension of His omniscience..see #7
2. In the Mark gospel, and scripture in general, the miracles of Christ are given as a validation of His divinity (divine Messiah) In Mark 2: 1-12 is a wonderful story of where four friends of a paralytic lowered him from the roof so that Jesus might heal him--it was so crowded they could not get in otherwise.Jesus was delighted with their faith and told the paralyzed man that his sins were forgiven.In v 7 it says that the scribes were thinking to themselves that Jesus was blaspheming because only God can forgive sin. v.8 Immediately, we are told that Jesus knew what they were thinking (real mind reading) and He then asked them which was easier: to forgive a man's sins or to heal a paralytic. Since the process of sin forgiveness is invisible Jesus gives them empirical evidence of ability to forgive sins, and therefore is God...and he does this by healing the paralyzed man. The miracle proved his deity,but note that central to this whole divine validation is Jesus reading their minds.It is the first of three miracles designed to show He is God: he reads minds, he forgives sins, he heals a paralytic.So, to say that only God can read minds is actually an integral part of this text.
3. Nowhere in the bible is Satan or his demons said to read minds...BIG omission if true
4. What appears to be demonic mind reading is really demonic influence. They project thoughts into your mind, which sounds like your "mind-voice"...no raspy voices and hisses in the mind. Then they turn around and tell you what you were thinking about, trying to seem like they have the ability to read your mind.But all they have done is parrot back what they projected in there. So simple...so crafty...so persuasive to the undiscerning.
5. In my opinion, mind reading by another creature would be tantamount to mind-rape...an unnerving access or forced entry into our most secret, sacred, private place. God's goodness would not allow this unwarranted intrusion....especially with His adopted children in union with Christ.
6. As a corollary to #5, Satan tries to convince us he can read our minds because it instills fear
7. The Lord knows the thought of man (Ps. 94:11);You perceive my thoughts from afar (Ps. 139:2) there many verses in the bible which speak of God knowing what is in our minds or hearts.In Ps. 139:1-6 David is worshiping God for His omniscience--in that context His knowledge of our thoughts is stated. Though intelligent, filthy spirits are not all-knowing. We must not attribute divine traits of the Creator to any creatures.
Any attempts by experiment (e.g. The Rhine Inst.) to engage in telepathy will expose one to demonic oppression.
8. In a section that is dealing with this very issue of who is privy to our thoughts, we read ..."No one can know a person's thoughts except that person's own spirit, and no one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit." (1 Cor.2:11) The stress is on inability...Inaccessibility to our thoughts by anyone but God is similar to the fact that only God Himself knows what He is thinking.Nobody has the ability to know our thoughts, or God's thoughts.It is as if Paul said. "Only a person;s own consciousness is aware of his secret thoughts, just like nobody but God is privy to His own unrevealed thoughts." The Holy Spirit, as part of the Trinity, knows and reveals to us God's thoughts...or some of them. Do you see the force of this argument....Only God knows His own thoughts, and only we know our own thoughts.If you question the latter then, you must question God as well...and we are all in agreement that demons cannot (inability) read God's mind.To me, this text is conclusive...BUT
9. What of the point that angels read each others minds now, that we will read each others minds in heaven, and that must mean that demons can read our minds now.....Well, do angels really read each others minds? I don't think so. Let me explain, and I admit of using some conjecture. Unfettered mind reading is a mind-rape as we said.
We assume that angelic communication is telepathic, but I would urge caution here. What I mean by telepathy is direct communication from one mind to another mind. But what if there is another form of communication that we are unaware of? For example, what if there is a higher/different form of verbal communication that is spoken and heard? Perhaps a different frequency is used in angelic or demonic communication, but it is still basically verbal communication, and not telepathic as we conjecture. God, pure Spirit (except for Jesus' glorified body in heaven), SPOKE the entire universe into existence. Also, in the book of Acts we are told that God spoke Hebrew to Paul, while he was on the road to Damascus. I don't know, and may I humbly suggest that nobody really knows, how angels and demons communicate. I am simply suggesting that the finite categories of our minds cannot envision all the possible means by which pure spirits might communicate. I admit that telepathy sounds plausible, but again, are there other means of communication between angels that we haven't even thought of? Clearly the bible is not clear on this matter, and humility should guide us.
Let us assume that angelic communication is similar to what we call telepathy. What then? Let me offer a model that does not entail mind-reading. Given the arguments above, it behooves us to not attribute divine traits to creatures.
Angelic communication, as well as soul-to-soul communication in heaven, will be achieved via passive receiving and active transmitting.The angel or soul that is "talking" is the active transmitter of thought, and the one listening is the passive receiver of that information.Then the roles are reversed when the receiver wants to answer--he then actively transmits his thoughts to the others mind, while the others mind receives it.But, and this is crucial, at no point is the angel or soul having their mind "read".There is not involuntary or forced access to our minds, even in heaven. The problem arose when we wrongly assumed that, for mind-to-mind communication to happen, we must "get into another person's head or mind".That assumption is a non-sequitor...meaning, it dos not follow (wrong conclusion) The back and forth of mind-to-mind communication does not necessarily entail accessing the contents of the other's mind...just transmission and reception.
A body-less soul, even in heaven,is incomplete.. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. (2 Cor.5:3) It is a fascinating paragraph, which speaks of our desire to be clothed with our glorified bodies. These "spiritual" bodies will be physical in nature, but perfected and endowed with new powers...much like Jesus's post-resurrection body in which He was able to walk through walls or just appeared, but He ate fish as well (Luke 24:43) "And they gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He ate it as they watched." No vaporous apparition was He! He HAS a glorified human body now, and will for all eternity. But in this state, His communication was NOT telepathic...it was voice to eardrums during the 40 days before He ascended. The purpose of salvation is not to free us from the prison house of the soul--the physical body--which is what Plato and the Gnostic taught. Rather, the gloriously grand sweep of redemption is to restore to us the fullness of our perfected humanness. Only a gloriously excellent Savior could bring about such a glorious salvation!
Mark Hunnemann is the author of Seeing Ghosts Through God's Eyes: A Worldview Analysis of Earthbound Spirits. It's also available in eBook format.
1. True mind reading is a divine prerogative--an extension of His omniscience..see #7
2. In the Mark gospel, and scripture in general, the miracles of Christ are given as a validation of His divinity (divine Messiah) In Mark 2: 1-12 is a wonderful story of where four friends of a paralytic lowered him from the roof so that Jesus might heal him--it was so crowded they could not get in otherwise.Jesus was delighted with their faith and told the paralyzed man that his sins were forgiven.In v 7 it says that the scribes were thinking to themselves that Jesus was blaspheming because only God can forgive sin. v.8 Immediately, we are told that Jesus knew what they were thinking (real mind reading) and He then asked them which was easier: to forgive a man's sins or to heal a paralytic. Since the process of sin forgiveness is invisible Jesus gives them empirical evidence of ability to forgive sins, and therefore is God...and he does this by healing the paralyzed man. The miracle proved his deity,but note that central to this whole divine validation is Jesus reading their minds.It is the first of three miracles designed to show He is God: he reads minds, he forgives sins, he heals a paralytic.So, to say that only God can read minds is actually an integral part of this text.
3. Nowhere in the bible is Satan or his demons said to read minds...BIG omission if true
4. What appears to be demonic mind reading is really demonic influence. They project thoughts into your mind, which sounds like your "mind-voice"...no raspy voices and hisses in the mind. Then they turn around and tell you what you were thinking about, trying to seem like they have the ability to read your mind.But all they have done is parrot back what they projected in there. So simple...so crafty...so persuasive to the undiscerning.
5. In my opinion, mind reading by another creature would be tantamount to mind-rape...an unnerving access or forced entry into our most secret, sacred, private place. God's goodness would not allow this unwarranted intrusion....especially with His adopted children in union with Christ.
6. As a corollary to #5, Satan tries to convince us he can read our minds because it instills fear
7. The Lord knows the thought of man (Ps. 94:11);You perceive my thoughts from afar (Ps. 139:2) there many verses in the bible which speak of God knowing what is in our minds or hearts.In Ps. 139:1-6 David is worshiping God for His omniscience--in that context His knowledge of our thoughts is stated. Though intelligent, filthy spirits are not all-knowing. We must not attribute divine traits of the Creator to any creatures.
Any attempts by experiment (e.g. The Rhine Inst.) to engage in telepathy will expose one to demonic oppression.
8. In a section that is dealing with this very issue of who is privy to our thoughts, we read ..."No one can know a person's thoughts except that person's own spirit, and no one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit." (1 Cor.2:11) The stress is on inability...Inaccessibility to our thoughts by anyone but God is similar to the fact that only God Himself knows what He is thinking.Nobody has the ability to know our thoughts, or God's thoughts.It is as if Paul said. "Only a person;s own consciousness is aware of his secret thoughts, just like nobody but God is privy to His own unrevealed thoughts." The Holy Spirit, as part of the Trinity, knows and reveals to us God's thoughts...or some of them. Do you see the force of this argument....Only God knows His own thoughts, and only we know our own thoughts.If you question the latter then, you must question God as well...and we are all in agreement that demons cannot (inability) read God's mind.To me, this text is conclusive...BUT
9. What of the point that angels read each others minds now, that we will read each others minds in heaven, and that must mean that demons can read our minds now.....Well, do angels really read each others minds? I don't think so. Let me explain, and I admit of using some conjecture. Unfettered mind reading is a mind-rape as we said.
We assume that angelic communication is telepathic, but I would urge caution here. What I mean by telepathy is direct communication from one mind to another mind. But what if there is another form of communication that we are unaware of? For example, what if there is a higher/different form of verbal communication that is spoken and heard? Perhaps a different frequency is used in angelic or demonic communication, but it is still basically verbal communication, and not telepathic as we conjecture. God, pure Spirit (except for Jesus' glorified body in heaven), SPOKE the entire universe into existence. Also, in the book of Acts we are told that God spoke Hebrew to Paul, while he was on the road to Damascus. I don't know, and may I humbly suggest that nobody really knows, how angels and demons communicate. I am simply suggesting that the finite categories of our minds cannot envision all the possible means by which pure spirits might communicate. I admit that telepathy sounds plausible, but again, are there other means of communication between angels that we haven't even thought of? Clearly the bible is not clear on this matter, and humility should guide us.
Let us assume that angelic communication is similar to what we call telepathy. What then? Let me offer a model that does not entail mind-reading. Given the arguments above, it behooves us to not attribute divine traits to creatures.
Angelic communication, as well as soul-to-soul communication in heaven, will be achieved via passive receiving and active transmitting.The angel or soul that is "talking" is the active transmitter of thought, and the one listening is the passive receiver of that information.Then the roles are reversed when the receiver wants to answer--he then actively transmits his thoughts to the others mind, while the others mind receives it.But, and this is crucial, at no point is the angel or soul having their mind "read".There is not involuntary or forced access to our minds, even in heaven. The problem arose when we wrongly assumed that, for mind-to-mind communication to happen, we must "get into another person's head or mind".That assumption is a non-sequitor...meaning, it dos not follow (wrong conclusion) The back and forth of mind-to-mind communication does not necessarily entail accessing the contents of the other's mind...just transmission and reception.
A body-less soul, even in heaven,is incomplete.. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. (2 Cor.5:3) It is a fascinating paragraph, which speaks of our desire to be clothed with our glorified bodies. These "spiritual" bodies will be physical in nature, but perfected and endowed with new powers...much like Jesus's post-resurrection body in which He was able to walk through walls or just appeared, but He ate fish as well (Luke 24:43) "And they gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He ate it as they watched." No vaporous apparition was He! He HAS a glorified human body now, and will for all eternity. But in this state, His communication was NOT telepathic...it was voice to eardrums during the 40 days before He ascended. The purpose of salvation is not to free us from the prison house of the soul--the physical body--which is what Plato and the Gnostic taught. Rather, the gloriously grand sweep of redemption is to restore to us the fullness of our perfected humanness. Only a gloriously excellent Savior could bring about such a glorious salvation!
Mark Hunnemann is the author of Seeing Ghosts Through God's Eyes: A Worldview Analysis of Earthbound Spirits. It's also available in eBook format.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Lavishly Loving the Lord
By Reverend Mark Hunnemann
A Sinful Woman Forgiven
36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”
41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred adenarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven-for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
(the account in Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8 is different from this text. The Lukan version involves a different woman, a different place, a different reaction from Jesus, and a different time in Jesus' ministry).
There is an old Puritan saying...."Til sin tastes bitter, grace will not be sweet."
What is the driving force of your life...your dominant life value? We know what the Great Commandment is (loving God with all of our being), but pride (the Great Sin) often derails us throughout the day. The above text stuns and arrests my attention whenever I read it, as I did this morning during my devotional. This is a picture of a woman loving the Lord lavishly.To me, it is one of the most moving narratives in the bible.
The Pharisee did a good and proper thing by inviting Jesus to lunch at his condo. I would like to think that there was at least a kernel of sincerity in this mans invitation, at the very least he was curious. Which is fine.
Enter a woman with a bad reputation, apparently well deserved. The kind of woman that any self-respecting Pharisee would shun. The kind of woman (or man) that most of the religious leaders of Jesus day were too "holy" to allow themselves to be defiled by being touched by her. It is interesting that somehow, I suppose, the host did allow her inside...unless she crashed the party!
Here is the utterly holy and pure God/Man who looked with such tenderness upon this notorious sinner as she began to let her tears roll down her cheeks and onto his feet, dried them with her long locks, kissed his feet, and then poured expensive ointment upon them. I have no words to adequately describe the beauty of this moment....lavishly lovingly the Lord perhaps.The host was scandalized and immediately questioned the integrity/identity of Jesus because He did not kick her away. What a contrast...
Reading his mind and/or grumblings, Jesus asked his host a penetrating question. It had to do with, on a deeper level, that a depth awareness of the ugliness of one's sinfulness will lead to a depth view of the beauty of divine grace."Til sin tastes bitter, grace will not be sweet." This dear woman had her nose rubbed in her sin 24/7, while the Pharisee stood proud by his self-righteousness.If the love of money is a root of many evils, pride is THE root of all sin.It can rear it's ugly head at any time, and take on many different forms.At the base of all sin is pride--which the antithesis of humility.
The Pharisee did not express gratitude to his Guest. Perhaps he thought he had done his good deed for the day merely by inviting Jesus to a meal at his house.
With no concern for proper decorum, she unselfconsciously pours out her love and gratitude profusely in a way that scandalizes everyone but our Lord. In light of this woman's actions, I feel a visceral yearning to do the same. But to do so, I must keep my eyes on the holiness of God, which reminds me of my current sinfulness, and as a consequence, clinging white knuckled to the cross moment by moment. We don't need the gospel only on the day we are saved. We need the gospel today, tomorrow, and throughout eternity.
I yearn....I deeply long to love Jesus as this woman did, but I fall so far short.
How do we lavishly love a holy God? Be forgiven by Him. Daily and deeply. We daily bring our sins before Him and, with tears in our hearts, pour out our loving gratitude for such an unspeakably beautiful Savior and salvation. And we are quick to ask for forgiveness from each other, starting with our children and/or spouses.
"Seeing Ghosts through God's Eyes" (also in a Kindle edition)...please consider purchasing my book which uses science, logic, and the bible to analyze the true source of power behind paranormal activity.
A Sinful Woman Forgiven
36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”
41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred adenarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven-for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
(the account in Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8 is different from this text. The Lukan version involves a different woman, a different place, a different reaction from Jesus, and a different time in Jesus' ministry).
There is an old Puritan saying...."Til sin tastes bitter, grace will not be sweet."
What is the driving force of your life...your dominant life value? We know what the Great Commandment is (loving God with all of our being), but pride (the Great Sin) often derails us throughout the day. The above text stuns and arrests my attention whenever I read it, as I did this morning during my devotional. This is a picture of a woman loving the Lord lavishly.To me, it is one of the most moving narratives in the bible.
The Pharisee did a good and proper thing by inviting Jesus to lunch at his condo. I would like to think that there was at least a kernel of sincerity in this mans invitation, at the very least he was curious. Which is fine.
Enter a woman with a bad reputation, apparently well deserved. The kind of woman that any self-respecting Pharisee would shun. The kind of woman (or man) that most of the religious leaders of Jesus day were too "holy" to allow themselves to be defiled by being touched by her. It is interesting that somehow, I suppose, the host did allow her inside...unless she crashed the party!
Here is the utterly holy and pure God/Man who looked with such tenderness upon this notorious sinner as she began to let her tears roll down her cheeks and onto his feet, dried them with her long locks, kissed his feet, and then poured expensive ointment upon them. I have no words to adequately describe the beauty of this moment....lavishly lovingly the Lord perhaps.The host was scandalized and immediately questioned the integrity/identity of Jesus because He did not kick her away. What a contrast...
Reading his mind and/or grumblings, Jesus asked his host a penetrating question. It had to do with, on a deeper level, that a depth awareness of the ugliness of one's sinfulness will lead to a depth view of the beauty of divine grace."Til sin tastes bitter, grace will not be sweet." This dear woman had her nose rubbed in her sin 24/7, while the Pharisee stood proud by his self-righteousness.If the love of money is a root of many evils, pride is THE root of all sin.It can rear it's ugly head at any time, and take on many different forms.At the base of all sin is pride--which the antithesis of humility.
The Pharisee did not express gratitude to his Guest. Perhaps he thought he had done his good deed for the day merely by inviting Jesus to a meal at his house.
With no concern for proper decorum, she unselfconsciously pours out her love and gratitude profusely in a way that scandalizes everyone but our Lord. In light of this woman's actions, I feel a visceral yearning to do the same. But to do so, I must keep my eyes on the holiness of God, which reminds me of my current sinfulness, and as a consequence, clinging white knuckled to the cross moment by moment. We don't need the gospel only on the day we are saved. We need the gospel today, tomorrow, and throughout eternity.
I yearn....I deeply long to love Jesus as this woman did, but I fall so far short.
How do we lavishly love a holy God? Be forgiven by Him. Daily and deeply. We daily bring our sins before Him and, with tears in our hearts, pour out our loving gratitude for such an unspeakably beautiful Savior and salvation. And we are quick to ask for forgiveness from each other, starting with our children and/or spouses.
"Seeing Ghosts through God's Eyes" (also in a Kindle edition)...please consider purchasing my book which uses science, logic, and the bible to analyze the true source of power behind paranormal activity.
Friday, July 11, 2014
Pledge
Pastor Stephen Piersall, God's Preservation Ministry Soul Care
gpmsc.org/
facebook.com/GodsPreservationMinistry
www.networkedblogs.com/blog/soul-care
By Evangelist Lynn McKenzie, who is on our staff here at God's Preservation Ministry Soul Care
Pledge...
Once again, here on Life with Lynnie (LwL). The music I am honoring our Lord with today, is by Ray Boltzand is entitled, "I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb". Here is a link so you can listen and/or sing along
With this past week being a special time of pledging allegiance to my country Canada, and to my secondary country USA, I found this song to be rather fitting.
After all, not only do we need to pledge allegiance to the country we live in, but we must do so to our Lord, Jesus Christ. For we must honor Him.
Just like our sister-in-the-Lord, Meriam Ibrahim has done, plus others too, anyone who has salvation by trusting in/believing upon our Lord Jesus Christ, who is truly saved, would never deny Him.
Why? Because anyone who chooses to deny Christ, will be denied by our Father in Heaven.
Just as we read in Matthew 10:33, "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."
There is no way I would ever deny my Savior, Jesus Christ. Nope. He loved me enough to give up His life for me. And, for you, if you are believing upon Him. Jesus did this, so that we could have everlasting life.
My friend, I pray that one day I'll meet with you. Either here on earth, or in Heaven.
Until next time...
If you would like to comment, please e-mail: lifewithlynnie@gmail.com
gpmsc.org/
facebook.com/GodsPreservationMinistry
www.networkedblogs.com/blog/soul-care
By Evangelist Lynn McKenzie, who is on our staff here at God's Preservation Ministry Soul Care
Pledge...
Once again, here on Life with Lynnie (LwL). The music I am honoring our Lord with today, is by Ray Boltzand is entitled, "I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb". Here is a link so you can listen and/or sing along
Pledge...
The lyrics are below:
I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb
I have heard how Christians long ago
Were brought before a tyrants throne
They were told that he would spare their lives
If they would renounce the name of Christ
But one by one, they chose to die
The Son of God, they would not deny
Like a great angelic choir sings
I can almost hear their voices ring
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength, with all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
Now, the years have come and the years have gone
And the 'cause of Jesus still goes on
Now, our time has come to count the cost
To reject this world, to embrace the Cross
And one by one let us live our lives
For the One who died to give us life
Till the trumpet sounds on the final day
Let us proudly stand and boldly say
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength, with all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
To the Lamb of God who bore my pain
Who took my place, who wore my shame
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With this past week being a special time of pledging allegiance to my country Canada, and to my secondary country USA, I found this song to be rather fitting.
After all, not only do we need to pledge allegiance to the country we live in, but we must do so to our Lord, Jesus Christ. For we must honor Him.
Just like our sister-in-the-Lord, Meriam Ibrahim has done, plus others too, anyone who has salvation by trusting in/believing upon our Lord Jesus Christ, who is truly saved, would never deny Him.
Why? Because anyone who chooses to deny Christ, will be denied by our Father in Heaven.
Just as we read in Matthew 10:33, "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."
There is no way I would ever deny my Savior, Jesus Christ. Nope. He loved me enough to give up His life for me. And, for you, if you are believing upon Him. Jesus did this, so that we could have everlasting life.
My friend, I pray that one day I'll meet with you. Either here on earth, or in Heaven.
Until next time...
If you would like to comment, please e-mail: lifewithlynnie@gmail.com
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Media, Movies, Creating, and the Supernatural
By Lisa Grace
Good becomes evil, and evil
appears as good. The term "politically correct." The devil uses media
to push truths as lies. The Bible says we are created in God's image. God is a
creator. Ergo man likes to create too. From C. S. Lewis to Tolkien come worlds
that are populated by creations drawn from early mythology.
Man creates worlds too,
especially through various forms of storytelling (including books and movies),
we must be careful to discern where the ideas are coming from. And for what
purpose are we creating? Are we creating to magnify the glory of God or to
pervert it?
Jesus himself told stories,
the parables. Why? Because he understood we learn from what we can imagine,
hear or see. Stories and storytelling are a means to communicating a truth or
make a lie seem like a truth.
Through storytelling, we can
create different worlds, times, places, to allow us to understand something
about the life we are living.
How does this tie in with the supernatural?
Satan also uses storytelling
to convey the lies he would like us to see as truths. Some literature and
movies while harmless on the conscious level are extremely dangerous in their
underlying themes.
Some of the universal lies
that are popular in mainstream media are:
1) All roads lead to God
2) Do what thou wilt (The
devil's creed)
3) Death is just the stepping
stone to something better no matter what your belief system is
4) You will live another
earthly life; and have many chances to get it right
5) You don't need a Savior,
because you're really not bad
6) You are your own savior
and deep down you know it
I have read many books and
watched many movies that have at least one of these underlying themes. This is
one of the most devious paths the devil uses to influence are belief systems.
In many ways, horror movies come the closest to showing why we need a Savior,
and the real motive behind the supernatural creatures that choose to interact
with humans. Many people won't watch horror films, because they are scary. But
what the devil knows is: don't scare people, that drives them a way,
instead, entice them with what they want.
Nothing to me is more scary than appealing uplifting films that give a false
message saying you don't need a Savior. The road to death and hell is
unfortunately paved with really fun movies and books.
Lisa Grace is the author of
the teen Angel Series, Angel in the Shadows, Book 1 is free through most
major ebook retailers including Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052AI5W8
or all formats here: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/236544 or iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/book/id563691002?mt=11
or all formats here: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/236544 or iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/book/id563691002?mt=11
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Where in the Other-World is Sylvia Browne?
By Lisa Grace
On November 20, 2013 fairly
famous self proclaimed psychic Sylvia Browne died. I'm sorry for her family's
loss. It's devastating to lose a loved one.
Now that she is gone from
this earthly realm, the question arises, why isn't she contacting someone on
this side? She can't because she is dead. Time has stopped for her. The next
aware moment for her will be the judgment, as it is for all of us who will die.
The rest, will be changed in a twinkling of an eye. At that time, every knee
will bow and recognize the one true King.
Taking a step back though,
you can see when we look at Sylvia's life time of predictions, she made 115
claims that could be proved or disproved over time. Take a stab at how many she
*saw* (using her psychic powers) correctly. 80% 90% is what she claimed she had
correct. Wrong. Okay, 50%? Nope, but look for a number that has a zero in it.
ZERO. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/21/sylvia-browne_n_4317470.html
If a person is receiving or
perceiving something supernatural, and that supernatural force is not
confirming what has already been revealed by Scripture, you can bet it's evil,
and it's messing with you. If Sylvia herself was not an outright fraud, (and
maybe a lie detector test could have proved that while she was alive(matter of
fact, why don't all empaths submit themselves to one?) all the incorrect
information she was given, was to mess with her, and those who believed
she was *in tune*to some*special knowledge.* We are told by Scripture, we can
have a relationship with God, directly. With no intermediaries. Through Yeshua,
(Jesus our Saviour, Messiah, God) we can receive peace that passes understanding.
We need look no further than the source.
Why use a soup can and a
string to get messages when you can just pick up a phone and talk to someone
directly?
Using a medium or empath is
the equivalent of using a soup can connected to a string as a replacement for a
phone. How reliably is your question going to be answered over a soup can
phone? This is why it is forbidden in the Bible, because it is dangerous as any
information is bound to be false, or meant to lead you away from God, not
closer to Him.
Sylvia herself admitted in an interview when she was confronted about several
cases where she told people that their loved ones were dead, (when they
weren't) that GOD is the only one who gets things correct 100% of the time.
She totally missed the irony of what was coming out of her mouth.
If she knew God was
going to give 100% correct answers, then why wasn't she recommending people
consult Him in the first and only place???
If she knew her advice was
going to be wrong, why give it???
She should have admitted she
was being toyed with, and not taken peoples' money.
Sylvia Browne is gone now,
eleven years sooner than she had predicted for her own death. I don't know why
she did what she did, she hurt many people, caused much anguish, and lead many
astray from Biblical truths. Unfortunately, there will be others willing to
fill her shoes, going against the very word of God.
Please, do not consult evil
spirits or those who talk to them (psychics), but turn to the source that can
give you peace to all your questions, the one that even Sylvia Browne admitted
was right all the time: God.
Lisa Grace is the author of
the teen angel series, which has been optioned for a movie. You can pick up
Angel in the Shadows, Book 1 free here in any format: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/236544
or from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052AI5W8
You can reach the author
through her email: lisagracebooks@yahoo.com or on Twitter @lisagracebooks
Thursday, October 10, 2013
The Nature of God and the Greatest Question of All
By Reverend Mark Hunnemann
"For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Cor. 5:21)
I have been accenting the paramount importance of the doctrine of God in our worldviews...how it effects everything. How we view Ultimate Reality has a domino effect on the other six worldview issues. There are several worldviews in our culture, but the one gaining ascendancy is New Age or Neo-gnostic/occult, which we will look at perhaps next time. Obviously, the concept of Ultimate Reality in this pagan goddess spirituality differs significantly from biblical Christianity.
Let me briefly show how the primacy of what God is like effects the other issues, and then I want too camp on what is the most important issue of all--how can I be saved?
1. Ultimate Reality in the bible is the infinite personal God who is really there, and who has spoken to us Person to person in the bible. God is good--meaning He is holy and loving.
2. Since God is both infinite and Personal He took great delight in creating the heavens and the earth, the visible and invisible. (Gen. 1:1; Col. 1:16)
3. Since God is personal, He loves us and desires to be our primary love...He does not leave it to guesswork as to what our purpose in life is--it is stated in His communication to us.
4. The text above speaks of Jesus' sinlessness. Since God is really THERE, and spoken truth to us, we have an adequate basis for ethics. "Be holy because I am holy". (1 Peter 1:16)
5. God is infinite and personal and He made us finite and personal--that is, IN HIS IMAGE. Again, no guesswork as to what humans ARE, because of who God IS! (Gen.1:26ff)
6. We spoke of the three Lordship attributes of God last time (control, authority, and presence) This assures us that the flow of history (and our own personal history) is moving in a meaningful, linear fashion to it's culmination in the Second Coming/restoration. History is the stage upon which God is driving the drama of redemption.
7. The afterlife is, yet again, not a matter of speculation because God/heaven is really THERE. "For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ...", "...it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgement." The moment we die we appear before the Lord's throne, and are sent to heaven or hell for all eternity. (2 Cor. 5:!0; Heb. 9:27) The greatest argument against the notion of trapped spirits is the nature of God (and His perfect atonement). His nature will also reveal in technicolor how we MUST be saved and enter His perfectly holy heaven.
Do you see how the existence and nature of God effects EVERYTHING? If we had the time, I would like to show how Ultimate Reality as energy/matter would "answer" these worldview questions. We would see that it, and all non-biblical worldviews, are utterly bankrupt to provide adequate answers to our deepest questions.
But what of the greatest question of all: how can I know I am going to heaven after death? Though it is not listed as a worldview component, it underlies and is implied in all of seven components--especially the nature of God. Once again, when we ponder our eternal destiny, the nature of what Ultimate Reality is will guide our thinking. For example, in the history of humanity there are three basic answers to that question. Though details may vary in a multitude of ways, we can accurately summarize three basic views of salvation--which (not surprisingly!) flow from one's view of Ultimate Reality. Let's look at these now.
1. Auto-soterism or self-salvation...otherwise known as Pelagianism (named after the heresiarch, Pelagius). Whether New Age, humanism, atheism, deism or theological liberalism (and scores of others), we either save ourselves by being good or we essentially "save ourselves" by denying that we even need salvation. The details vary from one belief to the next in auto-soterism (e.g. annihilation vs continued conscious existence), but the defining feature is that we don't need a Savior....we will earn or merit our way to our next incarnation or heaven. Perhaps the most common view of salvation is, "Justification by death alone." All we have to do is die, and we fly off to paradise.
The only way one can subscribe to Pelagianism is by having a seriously defective or deficient view of God's nature. Theological liberalism often states that the essence of Christianity is" living the Sermon on the Mount". Hmmm.....I wonder if they have ever carefully read this lofty sermon by Jesus? There is a spiritual logic to the beatitudes, which are the heart of the Sermon on the Mount, and the first is, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:3) That is, blessed (well being in one's relationship with God) are those who recognize they are desperately in need of divine grace and mercy, for they are spiritually bankrupt in themselves. A deficient view of God's holiness will lead to a deficient view of our true spiritual condition. In other words, self-salvation is the noxious fruit of having a distorted view of Ultimate Reality in our worldviews.
2. Semi-pelagianism or Arminianism (named after Jacob Arminius) is a half-way house between self-salvation and salvation by grace alone. Stated another way--we are saved by faith in Christ plus.... (fill in the blank). My intent is not to offend anyone, but to state things accurately and urge us to think (Berean style). I was raised in a devout Christian home, but the gospel was, "We are saved by faith in Jesus, plus doing certain things...but if you do other certain sins, that will kill the grace of God in your soul. You will lose your state of salvation until you do x, y, and z." I am intentionally being vague. However, regarding the view itself--we are saved by faith in Christ AND good work/s-I will NOT be vague. As Paul said to the "Arminians" of his day, "As we have said before, so now I say again:If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Gal. 1:9-10) The heresy Paul was eternally condemning to hell was the notion that we are saved by faith in Christ plus being circumcised. That was the Galatian heresy which so agitated Paul and the Lord.
There always has been, and always will be, differences amongst Christians this side of heaven. However, the essence of the gospel must be protected, regardless of what people say. The folks in Galatia were not pelagianists, or believers in self-salvation. However, they did add to the finished work of Christ on the cross by saying,"In order to be saved, you must believe in Christ and be circumcised." Today, that same sort of belief is alive and well in America, and globally. Only the Lord knows the true state of a person's soul and many folks raised in these traditions are truly born again, but it must be due to some happy inconsistency. Only the Lord knows when the line is crossed in practice--all I can do is state the biblical principle, for which I do not care what man thinks. What I plead for you to consider is that many professing Christians--either because they hold to a "easy-believism" or a version of faith plus works heresy--are not really saved and will spend eternit y in hell. That grieves me...and it certainly grieves the Lord.
The issue again is the nature of God. If we have depth view of God's holiness, then we will have a depth view of our sinfullness. With a deep awareness of our radical corruption comes a vision of the glorious beauty of grace. A deep appreciation of God's utter, burning holiness will reveal the utter futility and madness of adding anything to the finished work of Christ on the cross. A person on this faith and works treadmill can never enjoy (if they are consistent) an abiding joyful assurance of salvation. There will always be the insecurity of, "Did I do enough, or did I do TOO much sin today..did I get kicked out of God's family?" Listen, I lived this way growing up and it was horrible, even as a child.
The third way of salvation is the biblical way...the true way of salvation. GRACE. We are saved by faith alone in the finished work of Christ on the cross. (Romans 3 & 4;Eph. 2:8-10...Gen--Rev) "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it s the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." I included v. 10 because it is often left out when these verses are quoted and it addresses a significant issue--what is the role of works, if we are saved by grace alone? Concern regarding "cheap grace" or easy believism is valid, but is no reason to throw the "grace baby" out with the dirty water. Luther re-discovered the pure gospel in 1517 after it had languished under severe legalism for 1, 000 years or more. He put it this way, "We are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone." The book of James is about the evidence of true faith. Good works have no meritorious value but they have immense evidential value. As the text in Ephesians states, we were saved in order to be pleasing to the Lord.
This is not a systematic theology, so I need to wrap up. We come finally, again, to Ultimate Reality--the nature of the biblical God--which reveals the sovereign grace of God Almighty. All this talk of worldviews is foolish and empty if we ourselves are not reconciled with our Creator. 2 Cor 5:21 is one of the most important verses in all of Scripture for understanding the meaning of the atonement and justification. The sinless Son of God became a substitute for us...substitutionary atonement. We are justified by faith alone. To say that are saved by faith or grace alone is to say we are saved by Christ alone (and His finished work on the cross) Justification involves a double transfer. Christ became sin "for us"--and was punished "for us"--but His 33 years of righteous living (the righteousness of God) is imputed or counted to us as well. It pleased the Father to transfer our sins to Jesus, and to transfer Jesus' perfect life to us. We are declared eternally "Not Guilt y!" and the Father sees us "IN HIM".
The only way we can stand before the holy Father is due the robe of righteousness wrapped around us. Though it may not make sense to the world, we must be saved by grace alone because of how absolutely just, holy and righteous God is. Every sin is an act of cosmic treason against a thrice holy God and deserves eternal punishment. However, since we are in union with Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and ascension..God not only accepts us, He absolutely delights in us! (Isaiah 62:3-5) He delights and rejoices over us...may we relish this, and dance for joy because salvation is of the Lord....from beginning to end. For all eternity we will sing the praises of the King of Grace! Amen.
"For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Cor. 5:21)
I have been accenting the paramount importance of the doctrine of God in our worldviews...how it effects everything. How we view Ultimate Reality has a domino effect on the other six worldview issues. There are several worldviews in our culture, but the one gaining ascendancy is New Age or Neo-gnostic/occult, which we will look at perhaps next time. Obviously, the concept of Ultimate Reality in this pagan goddess spirituality differs significantly from biblical Christianity.
Let me briefly show how the primacy of what God is like effects the other issues, and then I want too camp on what is the most important issue of all--how can I be saved?
1. Ultimate Reality in the bible is the infinite personal God who is really there, and who has spoken to us Person to person in the bible. God is good--meaning He is holy and loving.
2. Since God is both infinite and Personal He took great delight in creating the heavens and the earth, the visible and invisible. (Gen. 1:1; Col. 1:16)
3. Since God is personal, He loves us and desires to be our primary love...He does not leave it to guesswork as to what our purpose in life is--it is stated in His communication to us.
4. The text above speaks of Jesus' sinlessness. Since God is really THERE, and spoken truth to us, we have an adequate basis for ethics. "Be holy because I am holy". (1 Peter 1:16)
5. God is infinite and personal and He made us finite and personal--that is, IN HIS IMAGE. Again, no guesswork as to what humans ARE, because of who God IS! (Gen.1:26ff)
6. We spoke of the three Lordship attributes of God last time (control, authority, and presence) This assures us that the flow of history (and our own personal history) is moving in a meaningful, linear fashion to it's culmination in the Second Coming/restoration. History is the stage upon which God is driving the drama of redemption.
7. The afterlife is, yet again, not a matter of speculation because God/heaven is really THERE. "For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ...", "...it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgement." The moment we die we appear before the Lord's throne, and are sent to heaven or hell for all eternity. (2 Cor. 5:!0; Heb. 9:27) The greatest argument against the notion of trapped spirits is the nature of God (and His perfect atonement). His nature will also reveal in technicolor how we MUST be saved and enter His perfectly holy heaven.
Do you see how the existence and nature of God effects EVERYTHING? If we had the time, I would like to show how Ultimate Reality as energy/matter would "answer" these worldview questions. We would see that it, and all non-biblical worldviews, are utterly bankrupt to provide adequate answers to our deepest questions.
But what of the greatest question of all: how can I know I am going to heaven after death? Though it is not listed as a worldview component, it underlies and is implied in all of seven components--especially the nature of God. Once again, when we ponder our eternal destiny, the nature of what Ultimate Reality is will guide our thinking. For example, in the history of humanity there are three basic answers to that question. Though details may vary in a multitude of ways, we can accurately summarize three basic views of salvation--which (not surprisingly!) flow from one's view of Ultimate Reality. Let's look at these now.
1. Auto-soterism or self-salvation...otherwise known as Pelagianism (named after the heresiarch, Pelagius). Whether New Age, humanism, atheism, deism or theological liberalism (and scores of others), we either save ourselves by being good or we essentially "save ourselves" by denying that we even need salvation. The details vary from one belief to the next in auto-soterism (e.g. annihilation vs continued conscious existence), but the defining feature is that we don't need a Savior....we will earn or merit our way to our next incarnation or heaven. Perhaps the most common view of salvation is, "Justification by death alone." All we have to do is die, and we fly off to paradise.
The only way one can subscribe to Pelagianism is by having a seriously defective or deficient view of God's nature. Theological liberalism often states that the essence of Christianity is" living the Sermon on the Mount". Hmmm.....I wonder if they have ever carefully read this lofty sermon by Jesus? There is a spiritual logic to the beatitudes, which are the heart of the Sermon on the Mount, and the first is, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:3) That is, blessed (well being in one's relationship with God) are those who recognize they are desperately in need of divine grace and mercy, for they are spiritually bankrupt in themselves. A deficient view of God's holiness will lead to a deficient view of our true spiritual condition. In other words, self-salvation is the noxious fruit of having a distorted view of Ultimate Reality in our worldviews.
2. Semi-pelagianism or Arminianism (named after Jacob Arminius) is a half-way house between self-salvation and salvation by grace alone. Stated another way--we are saved by faith in Christ plus.... (fill in the blank). My intent is not to offend anyone, but to state things accurately and urge us to think (Berean style). I was raised in a devout Christian home, but the gospel was, "We are saved by faith in Jesus, plus doing certain things...but if you do other certain sins, that will kill the grace of God in your soul. You will lose your state of salvation until you do x, y, and z." I am intentionally being vague. However, regarding the view itself--we are saved by faith in Christ AND good work/s-I will NOT be vague. As Paul said to the "Arminians" of his day, "As we have said before, so now I say again:If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Gal. 1:9-10) The heresy Paul was eternally condemning to hell was the notion that we are saved by faith in Christ plus being circumcised. That was the Galatian heresy which so agitated Paul and the Lord.
There always has been, and always will be, differences amongst Christians this side of heaven. However, the essence of the gospel must be protected, regardless of what people say. The folks in Galatia were not pelagianists, or believers in self-salvation. However, they did add to the finished work of Christ on the cross by saying,"In order to be saved, you must believe in Christ and be circumcised." Today, that same sort of belief is alive and well in America, and globally. Only the Lord knows the true state of a person's soul and many folks raised in these traditions are truly born again, but it must be due to some happy inconsistency. Only the Lord knows when the line is crossed in practice--all I can do is state the biblical principle, for which I do not care what man thinks. What I plead for you to consider is that many professing Christians--either because they hold to a "easy-believism" or a version of faith plus works heresy--are not really saved and will spend eternit y in hell. That grieves me...and it certainly grieves the Lord.
The issue again is the nature of God. If we have depth view of God's holiness, then we will have a depth view of our sinfullness. With a deep awareness of our radical corruption comes a vision of the glorious beauty of grace. A deep appreciation of God's utter, burning holiness will reveal the utter futility and madness of adding anything to the finished work of Christ on the cross. A person on this faith and works treadmill can never enjoy (if they are consistent) an abiding joyful assurance of salvation. There will always be the insecurity of, "Did I do enough, or did I do TOO much sin today..did I get kicked out of God's family?" Listen, I lived this way growing up and it was horrible, even as a child.
The third way of salvation is the biblical way...the true way of salvation. GRACE. We are saved by faith alone in the finished work of Christ on the cross. (Romans 3 & 4;Eph. 2:8-10...Gen--Rev) "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it s the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." I included v. 10 because it is often left out when these verses are quoted and it addresses a significant issue--what is the role of works, if we are saved by grace alone? Concern regarding "cheap grace" or easy believism is valid, but is no reason to throw the "grace baby" out with the dirty water. Luther re-discovered the pure gospel in 1517 after it had languished under severe legalism for 1, 000 years or more. He put it this way, "We are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone." The book of James is about the evidence of true faith. Good works have no meritorious value but they have immense evidential value. As the text in Ephesians states, we were saved in order to be pleasing to the Lord.
This is not a systematic theology, so I need to wrap up. We come finally, again, to Ultimate Reality--the nature of the biblical God--which reveals the sovereign grace of God Almighty. All this talk of worldviews is foolish and empty if we ourselves are not reconciled with our Creator. 2 Cor 5:21 is one of the most important verses in all of Scripture for understanding the meaning of the atonement and justification. The sinless Son of God became a substitute for us...substitutionary atonement. We are justified by faith alone. To say that are saved by faith or grace alone is to say we are saved by Christ alone (and His finished work on the cross) Justification involves a double transfer. Christ became sin "for us"--and was punished "for us"--but His 33 years of righteous living (the righteousness of God) is imputed or counted to us as well. It pleased the Father to transfer our sins to Jesus, and to transfer Jesus' perfect life to us. We are declared eternally "Not Guilt y!" and the Father sees us "IN HIM".
The only way we can stand before the holy Father is due the robe of righteousness wrapped around us. Though it may not make sense to the world, we must be saved by grace alone because of how absolutely just, holy and righteous God is. Every sin is an act of cosmic treason against a thrice holy God and deserves eternal punishment. However, since we are in union with Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and ascension..God not only accepts us, He absolutely delights in us! (Isaiah 62:3-5) He delights and rejoices over us...may we relish this, and dance for joy because salvation is of the Lord....from beginning to end. For all eternity we will sing the praises of the King of Grace! Amen.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Different Types Of Angels And Demons
By Lisa Grace
All of my suppositions and experiences with the supernatural I view through the lens of the Holy Scriptures as being the correct view. So using the Scriptures for my beliefs on the supernatural, I have come to certain conclusions.
There are over four hundred mentions of angels and other creatures that populate heaven mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. Whole books have been written on the subject. What I’m doing here is mentioning the most obvious examples so you can see there is proof that a variety of angels, and thus demons, are working on Earth. These creatures work and appear in different ways in our lives.
1) There are a variety of supernatural creatures with distinct functions and personalities. The scriptures talk about the arch angel Michael, (1 Thess 4:16 and Jude 9, Rev 12:7, Dan 10:13,21); Seraphim which are warriors (Isaiah 6:2); messengers like Gabriel (found in Daniel 8:16, 9:21, Luke 1:19, 1:26); Cherubim, two types at least, four faced and two faced like the guards in front of the garden of Eden([NIV] Gen 3:24, Ex 25:18-22; transporters (wheels) like the ones that took Elijah and Enoch (Ez 1:16-21, 2 Kings 2:11); principalities, dominions, and powers, which may be a type that can possess rulers Col 1:16, Romans 8:38) We also know there are choirs of heavenly hosts (Luke 2:13-15) and armies.(Rev19:14, 19) The Bible also mentions the holy of holies, the beasts before the throne, (Rev 4:6) and the women.
The Nephilim and/or the giants (Gen 6:4, Numbers 13:33 mentioned in the first few books of the Holy Scripture appear to have been killed off.)
2) We know there are different ranks and a hierarchy of angels with various duties and responsibilities.
3) We know in the hierarchy, before Lucifer fell, that he was very high in the hierarchy. He was the first angel to sin through pride, and became the leader of the rebellion. (Isaiah 14:12)
4) In Jude 1:6 it seems to imply that the angel’s sin or part of it was coming to Earth. (the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation).
5) We know that 1/3 of the angels fell. It doesn’t tell us how many or what types.
6) I believe all supernatural happenings on Earth are tied to one of the types of angels or other supernatural creatures present in heaven. When the angels came, fell, fought, and rebelled, it wasn’t just one type of angel. That’s why on Earth they present themselves in different ways. Different paranormal experiences happen because they are caused by different types of fallen angels/creatures.
7) I believe hauntings (what people call ghosts) are really a type of supernatural creature that were originally created to do a repetitive action in Heaven. In Heaven we see the creatures that were created to worship and repeat the same phrases and actions.
8) I think poltergeists are more malevolent and tend to congregate with other supernatural beings.
9) There are demons capable of possession and destruction who roam around looking for victims. (Mark 5:12-13)
10) There are angels who encourage and tempt for specific sins. Maybe these are the very ones that brought them to earth in the first place.
11) The Bible is clear that there are several types of supernatural creatures that have power and dominion and are even addressed by those titles.
12) While we are still discovering how they work and finding means of detecting them, we are clearly told how to drive them out.
13) Not everyone is capable of driving them out. I recommend you call in those who have experience, are called, have a strong faith, and understanding of what they are dealing with. (Matthew 17:21, Mark 9:29)
14) It takes not just the power of our Savior’s name to drive some of them out, but faith, praying, and fasting too.
15) Just because you want to—doesn’t mean you can. Yes, you might be able to quiet them, but they’ll come back even worse than before or, you could be hurt. There are instances where would be exorcists, other believers came to the disciples, chastened by the very creatures they attempted to drive out. “The spirits will not know you if you were not called.” (Acts 19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? Acts 19:16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.)
16) I’ve been given the gift of discernment to write my books.
17) Theologians can speculate about the heavenly creatures, and some say we shouldn’t concern ourselves with them, but I have to politely disagree, because you are not off-limits to them. They do want to spiritually destroy those that aren’t under the saving grace of Yeshua, (Jesus). And for believers, they will work on tempting you away. If they tried to tempt Yeshua, they will work on tempting you. (Mat 4:10, 1Cr 5:5) If they know the Holy Scriptures better than you do, you don’t stand a chance, because you don’t have the tools (faith, knowledge, and protection) to deal with them.
18) To learn how angels work in our life today you can read my fictional series which is soon to be a movie by http://www.Motionpicturepro.com
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