Cinderella Savior

A Cinderella Savior
 They were like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:36)

 It happened several years ago at Disney World. A crowd had gathered inside Cinderella’s Castle to get a glimpse of the princess’s arrival. Children everywhere craned their necks to see when she would appear through the gates of the castle. Several bounced on their father’s shoulders in anticipation.

Suddenly she appeared. Cinderella. The girl who played her was perfect for the part—young and blonde and beautiful. Her smile lit up the crowd as she passed through the middle of them, waving and shaking hands.

 Far to one side a young boy stood beside his older brother with his head bowed. He only glanced at the beautiful princess, not daring to draw near. His face was disfigured, just like his shattered self-image.

 By accident Cinderella happened to catch a glimpse of the boy out of the corner of her eye. He looked away, but she didn’t. She immediately began making her way toward him, parting the crowd slowly as she walked. When she reached the young boy, she bent down until they were at eye level. Gently she kissed him on the cheek. She took his hand, whispered into his ear, smiled, and then returned to middle of the crowd.

 It was a simple but beautiful act. And a perfect illustration of how Jesus sees you and me. “Wherever he went, he healed people of every sort of disease and illness,” records Matthew. “He felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn’t know where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:35-36).

 Jesus doesn’t see us as we are—sinful and disfigured people. He sees us for what we need. We need a Savior. We need help. We need a kiss on the cheek and a gentle touch. We need a kind word of compassion. We need someone loving and forgiving to hold our hand and show us how much we are worth.

 We need Jesus. That’s why he came. And that’s why we love him so.  

Today’s Reading  Matthew 9:35-36  
Reflection  When have you felt ugly and disfigured because of your sin? Do you find comfort knowing that Jesus sees past your transgressions and into your heart?

Patience

Clothed in Patience 
 Clothe yourselves with … patience. (Colossians 3:12)

Most of us would like to have more patience, but who has the time to work at it? Our “Things to Do” box is overflowing (mostly with deadlines that were yesterday), and we don’t see much change soon on the horizon. Our calendars are so filled that we’re scribbling in the margins, and still we can’t seem to catch up. Hurry is the curse of a society measured in productivity.

Dr. James Dobson has some sobering words about our hurried pace of life:

It isn’t easy to implement a slower lifestyle. Prior commitments have to be met. Financial pressures must be confronted. The employer seldom asks if you want to accept a new assignment. Your business would fail without your supervision. Your patients have no other physician to whom they can turn …. There seems to be no place to stop …. Thus, we live our entire lives in the fast lane, hurtling down the road toward heart failure.

It’s no secret that a lot of us would like to slow down and live more relaxed lives. We all long for more peace and tranquility; we just don’t know how to go about getting it.

The problem with this modern-day dynamic is that it leaves little time to focus on God and his will for our life. We’re so busy producing that we never stop long enough to find out what God wants us to produce. A full calendar is the natural enemy of godly priorities. “A patient man has great understanding,” says Solomon (Proverbs 14:29, niv). Patience is the trait that God needs in order to relay his desires to our heart. God begins to speak when we stop and wait for him.

“Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act,” says King David (Psalm 37:7). If you want to hear God, stop rushing, he is telling us. Linger in his presence. Allow yourself the time to sit back and meditate on God. Listen for the Lord’s “gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12).

“Clothe yourselves with … patience,” says Paul (Colossians 3:12). It is through slowing down and waiting that we feel God’s power and presence.

Today’s Reading  Galatians 5:22-23; Colossians 3:12  

Reflection  Reflect on the fruit of the Spirit outlined in Galatians 5:22-23. Do these traits describe your character? What would the Lord have you pray about this?  

Quote  “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” (Desecration, 394)

Purpose vs. Contentment

Purpose vs. Contentment 
How terrible it will be for you who sprawl on ivory beds surrounded with luxury. (Amos 6:4)

Which is the bigger concern for you at the moment—to be comfortable and at ease or to share the greatest story ever told? Are you more interested in personal contentment or in making sure that God’s Word is spread to those in your city?

Many of us may say that God’s message of salvation is the primary focus of our life, yet our lifestyle often says otherwise. Through his prophet Amos, God warned Israel against this type of priority shift. “How terrible it will be for you who sprawl on ivory beds surrounded with luxury, eating the meat of tender lambs and choice calves. You sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and you fancy yourselves to be great musicians, as King David was. You drink wine by the bowlful, and you perfume yourselves with exotic fragrances, caring nothing at all that your nation is going to ruin” (Amos 6:4-6).

God never called us to be comfortable; he called us to be holy. To be set apart from the world. To think and act and speak differently from the rest of society. Our thoughts and priorities should transcend the physical world and be driven instead by the spiritual realities we’ve come to understand. Our goal should be singular and unwavering—to bring others before God’s throne. Our primary purpose and passion should be to save others from the pit of hell, just as God has saved us from it. So why do we still spend so much time seeking personal comfort? Why is the bulk of our money and time and energy spent on making our own life easier? Is it because we think we deserve it?

Too often we convince ourselves that God wants to manifest his blessings on his people in the form of ease and luxury. A friend of mine once said, “If there were no problems in the world, no one would ever talk to God.” Heaven would be a lonely and quiet place if God’s people didn’t have a little pain and discomfort in their lives. And pain is not always a bad thing. Being uncomfortable is not always a sign of God’s displeasure.

If you’re feeling uneasy and distressed at this point in your life, chances are good that you’re right where God wants you to be. You’re being pulled and shaped by him, prodded toward something greater and nobler than personal comfort. And that’s a good place to be.  

Today’s Reading  Amos 6:1-7
 Reflection  Why does God use discomfort to get our attention? How might he be trying to get your attention at the moment? 

Fully Alive

Fully Alive 
My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. (John 10:10) 

R. Buckminster Fuller was one of the most creative minds of the twentieth century. His list of inventions would take an entire book to discuss. In 1933 he developed the three-wheeled, rear-engine “Dymaxion Car,” which became the prototype for most of today’s streamlined automobiles. He created the first spherical, cartographic projection of the world ever to be granted a U.S. patent. And in 1947 he made scientific history by inventing the geodesic dome—his most famous, if not significant, contribution to society. When asked about his inventions, Fuller credited his creativity to a freak happening during his childhood years. As a very young boy, Fuller went to bed one night and woke up blind. Medical experts were baffled. 

There seemed to be no reason for his sudden lack of sight. It just happened. For several years he remained blind, until one morning, to everyone’s surprise, he awoke able to see. He had regained his sight just as suddenly and unexpectedly as he had lost it. To this day the event has baffled doctors and scientists alike. Fuller later explained that when his sight came back, the world suddenly proved new and exciting to him. He saw things more clearly than ever before. Every sunrise seemed a miracle. The sky, the trees, the ocean took on a heightened level of wonder. And because of his passion for the world around him, he was able to open up a world of creativity and discovery beyond anything he had ever imagined before. 

For the believer, Jesus brings that same kind of wonder and passion and discovery. Instead of seeing the world through eyes of darkness and confusion, we suddenly see everything with new eyes and new hope. Where once we saw limitation, we now see possibility. Everything is new. “I am the light of the world,” Jesus says (John 8:12), and through that light we are able to see beyond the here and now and into the hereafter.  When Jesus tells us, “My purpose is to give life in all its fullness” (John 10:10), he is telling us what we can expect if we allow him to open our eyes to the truth of God’s Word. Jesus doesn’t just show us a better way to die; he shows us a better way to live. Abundantly. Completely and fully alive. 

 Today’s Reading  John 8:12; 10:10  

Reflection  Are you still walking in darkness in your life? If so, what would Jesus have you do? How can you come to the light of Jesus?

my doctrinal stand

MY DOCTRINAL STAND

GOD

Personally, I think that the best description we could attribute to God is “God of our fathers.”[1] It is a simple title yet it presents a strong foundation of faith that will surely triumph against any arguments that will dare to disprove our Christian belief about God. “God of our fathers” is the term used by the Jews to call their national god, Yahweh.[2][3] However, it also serves as a concrete evidence of Yahweh’s divine intervention among human history. God is not just a being made by man’s fancies.[4] He is real; therefore, our fathers experienced his presence, they talked with him, saw him do signs and wonders, and so they worshipped and served him.

The title God refers to the Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). Unlike those of other faith, the term “god” would represent only a single deity. Though the word “Trinity” was never mentioned in the bible, we can see some biblical accounts that hold records showing the Trinity acting together in a united purpose[5] and authority.[6] One of the best examples is found in the Creation Story.[7] The book of Genesis put on its account the name Elohim (אֱלֹהִ֔ים) as the Creator of all. Elohim is in a plural form thus translated in English as “gods.”[8] It would be nice and handy also to apply that thought to our Christian faith that maintains the validity of the Doctrine of Trinity.

The great designs and intricacy of the universe tells us that someone of great power and intelligence must have been our beginning. Someone must have monkeyed the universe. That someone we call him as God. [9]The complex relationship of things and beings within our universe is the product of God’s word and creative power. The psalter sees the splendor of God’s creation in the universe and recognizes that it testifies to His existence.[10] As what Sir Isaac Newton also said,

“This most beautiful system of the sun, planets and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being.”

God The Father[11]

While God the Father should not be viewed as a separate god from God the Son and the Holy Spirit, the other Hypostases of the Christian Godhead,[12] in Trinitarian theology, God the Father is the "source" or "origin" of both the Son and the Holy Spirit, and is considered the eternal source of the Godhead.[13] [14]

In a very special sense, God the Father is the father of Jesus Christ[15] and those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ[16]. Furthermore, the “Father” is attributed to God to signify the vastness of His authority. And looking back to the patriarchal culture of the Jews during the genesis of this attribute, we can see that Jewish families regard the father as the head of the family.[17] We should still live our lives according to His righteousness and be obedient to His will and instructions if we want Him to recognize us as his children.[18]

The term “father” has a very special significance to us Filipino Christians, since it denotes as to someone who’s not only the source of our existence, but also our provider, guide, “haligi ng tahanan”, and protector. However, we should not abuse this special relationship to God the Father because he is still the God of justice.[19] Modernism reasons, “God is my Father and my Father will not harm me, so I will take my ease, eat, drink, and be merry and He will still be merciful to me to the end.” John 8: 44, Jesus is speaking to the Jews said,”Ye are of your father the devil, and the lust of your father ye will do.”[20]

God The Son, Jesus Christ [21]

Jesus Christ, among the God-head, has the most complex quality of godly nature. He is God in human flesh.  He is not half God and half man.  He is fully divine and fully man. That’s why Mary, the earthly mother of Jesus is referred to as Theotokos.[22]  In other words, Jesus has two distinct natures: divine and human. That’s why he is the best, if not the only one fitted to mediate between God and mankind.[23] Even though He has a body of flesh and bones and was tempted just as we are,[24] Jesus Christ lived literally a sinless life.[25]

His pre-incarnate state, as God, Jesus has always existed. He was before all things.[26] The divinity of Jesus Christ is further illustrated in John 8:58.  Jesus said, “Truly, Truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am”, which means that Jesus existed before His human life on earth. He is the Son of God.[27] He is descended from David.[28] He was born of a virgin.[29] He was crucified with thieves.[30]

He died, but the emphasis of the New Testament, however, is that Christ died a substitutionary death on behalf of sinners.[31] [32] He rose to life again.[33]

Aside from the prophecies before the incarnation of Jesus Christ,[34] He himself disclosed who he really is.[35] He is the embodiment of the Triune God’s love towards his children. John 3: 16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This passage signifies that belief in the deity of Jesus Christ is essential for Salvation.[36]

God The Holy Spirit[37]

The Holy Spirit is the godhead that is usually given less recognition by the common Christians, e.g. commonly we hear prayers starting with “our Father” and then ending with “in Jesus’ name.” The Holy Spirit is sometimes referred to as “it” or a “thing” or simply an influence. But the Holy Scriptures demonstrate that the Holy Spirit is not simply an influence but a Person, having the characteristics of personality. [38]

In the New Testament Jesus told his disciples that he will send “another Helper.” [39]The Holy Scripture is so rich with accounts that prove the personality of the Holy Spirit. The attributes of the Holy Spirit confirms his personality. The Holy Spirit has intellect,[40] knowledge,[41]mind,[42] emotion,[43] and will.[44] As part of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit has also unique roles and functions in unique ways. He testifies,[45]guides,[46] convicts,[47] regenerates,[48] intercedes,[49] and commands.[50] Furthermore, the Holy Spirit’s deity is proven in the Holy Scriptures through his divine attributes. [51]

CHURCH

The Bible does not recognize any one visible church on earth as “the Church.” Christ did not endeavor to establish denominationalism two thousand years ago. His purpose is bigger than that-bigger than our local churches, and obviously bigger than our concept of religion. The love of God is so big that no religion,   no race, no groups could ever hog it.  When we mention the term “Church,” we should not think of it as religion or group of religious people. [52] The church is the fellowship of people that belongs to the Lord.[53] We are very familiar with the quote that tries to describe the church as, “Those who were called in to be sent out.”  This is very similar to the concept of EKKLESIA which could mean in context “the ones who were called out.”[54] Originating from this concept, we can form various principles in relation to our fundamental ecclesiology, for example, Ecclesia ad intra (inward- Christian education, our mission towards ourselves, personal growth/maturity) and ecclesia ad extra (outward- social service, spreading of the Gospel, evangelism). [55] While the church cannot save our souls, the church has still an important role to our spiritual growth. Through the church’s ministries and programs, the church members could develop their potentials; they could fellowship with other believers; they could enhance their knowledge about God, and they could strengthen their relationship to God.  It is then a categorical imperative for the Church to herald the Gospel of Truth by implementing its ministries, e.g. the sevenfold ministry that we should be in our churches.[56]

The importance of the Church is further emphasized when Jesus himself said that he is going to build it. [57] This statement should not be viewed as a death wish of Jesus Christ. Before he ascended to heaven he promised to send the Helper, which is the Holy Spirit. Christ also actively participates to the growth of the Church.[58] It is amazing to know that Jesus Christ, the God the Son, will intervene in human pursuit to holiness. This shows that God truly have deep concerns for the Church.[59] When Jesus mentioned the “church” he is not just thinking of mere man-made religions.[60] He considers the Church as spiritually regenerated people[61] whom by their belief to Jesus Christ experienced salvation and became part of Christ’s body.[62]

SALVATION

The possibility that life after death exist falls far short of satisfying the interest of men in immortality. We don’t strive to transform our lives according to Christ’s teaching for the sake of winning such mere possibilities of either heaven or hell. We try our best for spiritual regeneration because it is real and the resurrection of Jesus Christ is our greatest proof that it is real.[63] William James said, “If this life be not a real fight, in which something is eternally gained for the universe by success, it is no better than a game of the private theatricals from which one may withdraw at will”, this reflects the common faith found in every Christian towards their belief on eternal life. 

Another term we could interchangeably use for salvation is “atonement.” Atonement means to be “at one” with God. We need to be reconciled with God because we have been separated with him because of sin. [64] The emphasis of reconciliation is that of making peace with God. Man who was estranged from God is brought into communion with God. Sin had created a barrier between man and God and rendered man hostile toward God.[65] Through Christ that enmity and the wrath of God was removed.[66] Reconciliation may thus be defined as “God removing the barrier of sin, producing peace and enabling man to be saved.”

Christ is the central tenet of the doctrine of Salvation.[67] Christ death on the cross is the greatest divine act depicting the love of God. The death of Christ was substitutionary—He died in the stead of sinners and in their place.[68] Christ also said in John 14:6, “"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” It is very different from the “many roads, one destination” notion about salvation. Anyone who will not received Christ in their lives will not surely going to get saved. While the bible is very firm on its stand, we can see that eternal damnation is not easily executed. God do all the means that he could for us to be saved. Aside from dying on the cross, Jesus Christ make it sure that salvation becomes accessible for us all the time.[69]

SIN

Sin is a transgression of the law of God.[70] God gave the Mosaic Law to heighten man’s understanding of His standard and the seriousness of transgressing that standard. [71] Thereafter, when God said, “You shall not bear false witness,” a lie was seen to be what it is: an overstepping or transgression of the law of God.[72] Sin is a failure to conform to the standard of God[73]. Hence, it means that all people have missed the mark of God’s standard and continue to fall short of that standard.[74] This involves both sins of commission as well as omission. Failure to do what is right is also sin.[75] Sin is a principle within man. Sin is not only an act but also a principle that dwells in man. Paul refers to the struggle with the sin principle within[76]; all people have this sinful nature.[77] Hebrews 3:13 refers to it “as the power that deceives men and leads them to destruction.” Jesus also refers to sin as a “condition or characteristic quality”.[78]  Sin is rebellion against God.[79]  It denotes lawless deeds[80] and is a sign of the last days, meaning “without law or restraint”.[81] Sin is wrongful acts toward God and man. Romans 1:18 refers to “ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.” Ungodliness refers to man’s failure to obey God and keep the commandments related to Him[82]; unrighteousness is seen in man’s failure to live righteously toward his fellow man.[83]

Original sin may be defined as “the sinful state and condition in which men are born.” It is so designated because: (1) “it is derived from the original root of the human race (Adam), (2) it is present in the life of every individual from the time of his birth, and (3) it is the inward root of all the actual sins that defile the life of man.” Simply stated it refers to “the corruption of our whole nature.” Results… First, man is totally depraved. “Total depravity does not mean that everyone is as thoroughly depraved in his actions as he could possibly be, nor that everyone will indulge in every form of sin, nor that a person cannot appreciate and even do acts of goodness; but it does mean that the corruption of sin extends to all men and to all parts of all men so that there is nothing within the natural man that can give him merit in God’s sight.” Second, man has an innate sin nature. “The sin nature is the capacity to do all those things (good or bad) that can in no way commend us to God.” Every part of man is affected: intellect;[84] conscience;[85] will;[86] heart;[87] and the total being.[88]

BIBLE[89]

The Bible is the bestseller of all history and has been translated into more languages than any other book. However, it should not be read just as we read other books. It is the written word of God and even Jesus Christ himself quoted the Holy Scriptures several times[90] showing the significance of it. God gave us the Bible as one of his ways of revealing himself to us.

To reach all generations a written record was needed- one that would touch all people everywhere. To put the Testament into a written form, God used man to write it. [91] He inspired the authors who wrote the bible thus we can say that the Bible is divinely inspired.[92] The Bible originated in the mind of God.  It was given to man by inspiration. Biblical inspiration means: “God so superintended the writers of Scripture that they wrote what He wanted them to write, disclosing the exact truth He wanted conveyed.”

Some parts of the Bible are to be taken literally and some figuratively.[93] The reader should read each writings in the light of their context before applying it to the reader’s need. In our period there are good bible commentaries available for our own use to aid for our study, but the Bible is still its own best commentary. So we must read everything in the context of the Bible as a whole. [94]

Scripture becomes meaningful to individuals only when their hearts are open and illuminated by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is our spiritual food.[95] As Christians, we do not (and should) study the Holy Scriptures for purely academic reasons.  It is intended to connect us with God. We depend on the word of God to survive and thrive spiritually.[96]

MAN

Man is God's highest creation, made in God's own image.[97]This truth is found especially in Gen. 1:26-31 and 2:7-25. These passages teach that God did not use any previously existing living creature in bringing man into being.[98] The first Man is Adam[99] then Eve.
While Anthropological Dichotomy is also biblically plausible, I on the other hand maintain the doctrine that man is composed of body, soul and spirit.[100] Whether one believes in anthropological dichotomy or trichotomy, it does not really matter. The Bible teaches us what to do with our bodies- offer your body as a living sacrifice,[101] thank God for saving your soul,[102] and worship God in spirit and truth.[103]
Man is sinful in nature.[104] So he needs to be born again. Man needs to be saved from the bondage of sin. God has acted to restore man to his original state of innocence and fellowship with God. He has done this by sending His Son to die for man so man might be reconciled to God and be renewed or "born again".[105] The aim of this is to restore man to a dynamic, vital relationship with God.[106]

JUDGEMENT

From the beginning Christians have recognized that this age will terminate with judgment at the return of Christ. Because God is holy, He must judge all that is unholy or He would no longer be holy. Judgment is a necessary expression of God’s own character. However, God’s judgment will be fair and according to truth.[107]

Some think that the only judgment there will be is the present judgment. It is true that God has judged in this present age. At some point in the past God judged Lucifer and the fallen angels.[108] God judged the people with the Flood in the days of Noah;[109] He judged the people at the tower of Babel;[110] He judged the northern kingdom of Israel by sending her into captivity in Assyria;[111] He judged the southern kingdom of Judah through the captivity in Babylon;[112] He judged the church in the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira.[113] Paul stressed the judgment takes place in the present age when he declared, “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness”.[114] However, this is not the final judgment. The Scriptures indicate there will be a future judgment connected with the return of Christ. As the Son of God, Jesus has the authority to render judgment.[115] Jesus announced a future judgment connected with His return when He said people would be judged according to their deeds.[116] He also declared that the knowledge (or lack of it) that people had would affect the judgment. Those who had greater knowledge would receive greater judgment.[117] All people, without exception, will die and come under the judgment of God.[118]

John the apostle described a final day when, before the great white throne, the books will be opened and unbelievers will be judged.[119] The records of the unbelievers will render them guilty before God and unworthy of eternal life. All the unbelieving dead will be judged in the presence of God in that day. The destiny of unbelievers will be the lake of fire.[120]

Believers will also be judged because Paul declares, “We shall all stand before the judgment seat of God”.[121] There believers will be recompensed for their deeds, whether good or worthless. The lives of believers will be reflected in this judgment.[122] Some will have no rewards; their works will be burned up because their motives were wrong.[123] Others will have lived qualitative lives and will be rewarded accordingly.[124] The parables of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30) and the parable of money (Luke 19:11-27) both teach the importance of faithful stewardship in connection with the final judgment. The eternal fire of hell has been prepared for the devil and his angels.[125] At the end of the age God will also judge Satan and his demons when, together with the beast and the false prophet, the devil is cast into the lake of fire.[126]

ESCHATOLOGY

One of the most fascinating features of the Bible is that it tells what is ahead for our world.  The Doctrine of Eschatology is highlighted in the second coming of Jesus Christ. The first coming pictures the Messiah as the Suffering Servant.  The second coming of Christ He will come as the Reigning King. The glorious and incontestable fact that Jesus is coming the second time is the Christians firm hope.[127] His coming is an incentive for holy living.[128]

The dead will be resurrected on the Last days and they will be judged also according on how they lived when they are alive.[129] The dead will be raised is clearly taught in Scripture. I believe that this resurrection will be bodily,[130] and universal.[131] The saved will be raised “unto the resurrection of life,” and the unsaved, “unto the resurrection of damnation”.[132] Jesus who calls Himself “the resurrection and the life” will be the agent of this resurrection.

I believe that the resurrection of the church will take place at the rapture when “the dead in Christ will rise first.” This resurrection is simultaneous to the translation of the saints who are alive at that time.[133] Old Testament and Tribulation saints will be resurrected after the Tribulation.[134] After the Millennium “those who remain” (in the grave) will also be resurrected.[135]

Believers will be resurrected at the coming of Christ. There will be a time lapse between the resurrection of the believers to glory and the resurrection of unbelievers to judgment. We do not know the exact length between the two but it will be at least 1,000 years.[136]

The location of the dead ones before the resurrection is a very difficult discussion. I would refer to keep silent regarding on this topic and just wait for the right time that God himself will reveal this truth to us. There is no evidence for purgatory (a belief in a place where you burn off your sins before entering heaven) but there are some accounts that the unbelievers and the believers are somewhat brought to separated “rooms.” Dead believers are in a state of rest.  Unbelievers, however, await the resurrection in a state of suffering. Wherever they are, it is like a waiting room for heaven or hell. After death there is no passing over from one condition to the other.[137]

The final destiny of the wicked is Hell. It is a place of everlasting fire.  Descriptive terms: outer darkness, eternal torment, punishment, etc. If figurative language is involved, it is obviously symbolic of something so awful no one in his right mind could be indifferent to avoiding it. Those in hell are there because they refused or ignored God’s love; they are solely responsible for their condition.

The final destiny of the righteous is Heaven.[138] Heaven is most simply defined as where God is. It is a place of rest, glory, purity, worship, fellowship with others, and being with God. Believers may receive one or more crowns (crown of: life, glory, or righteousness). The center of Heaven will be God Himself, the Lord of Heaven. This is our hope – to see with our resurrection eyes the Lord Jesus, a sight that outstrips our comprehension.  Heaven will be the most dynamic, expanding, exhilarating experience conceivable.

---

[1] Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. (Acts 22:14-16)NKJV

[2] Van der Toorn (1996), p.275

[3] "Then God spoke all these words. He said, ‘I am Yahweh your God who brought you out of Egypt, where you lived as slaves. You shall have no other gods to rival me.’ (Exodus 20:1–3)New Jerusalem Bible

[4] (Feuerbach 1957, xxxvi), "God is man, man is God."

[5] The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. (2 Cor. 13:14)

[6] There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one. (1 John 5:7) KJV

[7] In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. (Gen. 1: 1)KJV

[8] K. van der Toorn, Bob Becking, Pieter Willem van der Horst (eds), Dictionary of deities and demons in the Bible (revised 2nd edition, Brill, 1999) ISBN 90-04-11119-0, p. 274, 352-3

[9]  Gen. 1:1

[10] When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained” (Ps. 8: 3)

[11] See 1Cor 8:6, Mt 11:25, Is 40:28, Eph 4:6,  Mt 6:8,  Jn 17:11, 1Jn 4:7-8,  Jn 6:37,  Jn 1:18

[12] In Christian usage, the Greek word hypostasis (ὑπόστᾰσις) means beneath-standing or underpinning and, by extension, the existence of something.

[13] The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Theology by Alan Richardson and John Bowden (Jan 1, 1983) ISBN 0664227481 p. 36

[14] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_the_Father

[15] Several concepts are revealed in this relationship. Especially the deity of Christ is evidenced. Jn. 5: 18

[16] See Jn. 1: 12

[17] Strozier, Robert M. (2002) Foucault, Subjectivity, and Identity: : Historical Constructions of Subject and Self p.46

[18] See 2 Cor. 6: 17- 18

[19] Isaiah 5:16 But the LORD Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will show himself holy by his righteousness.

[20] Douglas, Alban (1968, reprinted: 2008) One Hundred Bible Lessons: Names, Fatherhood and Silence of God; The Fatherhood of God. ISBN 9789715114288 p.22

[21] See Act 10:36, Jn 1:1,3:16, 1Cor 8:6, Col 1:15,16, 1Tim 3:16, Mt11:27, Tit 3:10,1Jn 4:14, Phil 2:6-8, 2Pet 1:1, 3:18, Is 7:14, 1Pet 2:22,3:18,Eph 2:14-16, Heb 2:14, Mt 24:29-31

[22] “Theotokos is a compound of two Greek words, Θεός God and τόκος parturition, childbirth. Literally, this translates as God-bearer or the one who gives birth to God” . Carl E. Braaten and Robert W. Jenson (2004). Mary, Mother of God ISBN 0802822665 page 84.

[23] For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, himself man, Christ Jesus, (1 Timothy 2:5) ASV.

[24] See Luke 24:39

[25] See 1 Pet. 2:22; Heb. 4:15

[26] See Ps. 110:1, Acts 2: 34

[27]see Matt. 3:17

[28] See Luke 3:23-31

[29] see Matt.1:18f; Lk.1:26f

[30] See Isaiah 53:12, Matt.27:38 Lk.23.33

[31] His death is also called vicarious, meaning, “one in place of another.” The pronouns in Isaiah 53 stress the substitutionary nature of Christ’s death: “But He was pierced through for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.”

[32] The tenor of 1 Peter 2:24 is similar: “and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.”

[33] See Ps. 16:10; 30:3 , Is.53:10-11, Matt.28,  Mk.16, Lk.24,Jn.20; Acts 2:24

[34]See  Isa. 9:6

[35] 1.  Bread (John 6:35), 2.  Light (John 8:12), 3.  Gate (John 10:9), 4.  Good (John 10:11), 5.  Resurrection and Life (John 11:25), 6.  Way, Truth, Life (John 14:6), 7.  True vine John 15:1  

[36]  Rom. 10: 9

[37] See  Is 63:10-11,14; Act 5:3-4;  2Cor 3:17-18; Jer. 23:23-24;  Job 33:4; 2Tim3:16; Jn16:9; Tit 3:5; 1Cor 3:16-17; 1Cor 6:11;  Jn14:16-17

[38] Charles C. Ryrie, The Holy Spirit (Chicago: Moody, 1965), p. 11.

[39] See John 14:16-18. Allos, translated “another,” stresses the idea of “another of the same kind” in contrast to  heteros which means “another of a different kind.”

[40] See 1 Cor. 2:10. The word “search” means to examine or investigate a matter. The Holy Spirit examines the depths of God and reveals them to believers.

[41] See 1 Cor. 2:11. No human being has an awareness or knowledge of the thoughts of God, but the Holy Spirit understands the mind of God

[42] (Rom. 8:27). The word mind (Gk. phronema) means “way of thinking, mind-(set); aim, aspiration, striving”

[43]  See Ephesians 4:30

[44] See Acts 16:6. the Holy Spirit exercised His will in forbidding Paul to preach in Asia and redirecting Paul to ministry in Europe.

[45] See John 15:26

[46]Ibid. 16:13

[47] Ibid. 16:8

[48] Ibid. 5:21

[49] See Rom. 8:26

[50] See Acts 13:2

[51] Life (Rom. 8:2), Omniscience (1 Cor. 2:10-12), Omnipotence (Job 33:4), Eternity (Heb. 9:14), Omnipresence (Ps. 139:7-10), Holiness (Matt. 12:32), and Truth (John 14:17)

[52] Bruno Forte,(1990). “The Church: Icon of the Trinity” ISBN 971 504 111 6, p. 18. The “church” is meant to spread the “Gospel of Truth” while “religion” tries to control it.

[53] The English word church is related to the Scottish word kirk and the German designation kirche, and all of these terms are derived from the Greek word kuriakon, the neuter adjective of kurios (“Lord”), meaning “belonging to the Lord.”

[54] The English word church also translates the Greek word ekklesia, which is derived from ek, meaning “out of,” and kaleo, which means “to call,” hence, the church is “a called out group.”

[55] Ibid. 25.

[56] martyria, koinonia, leitourgia, kerygma, didache, diakonia, and propheteia

[57] See Matthew 16:18

[58] See 1 Timothy 2:5

[59] See Ephesians 5:22-33

[60] This argument is based on the use of ekklesia in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament. However, as has already been shown, ekklesia may be used in a nontechnical sense or to denote any particular gathering of people. Thus it may be used to identify Israel in the Old Testament. That is not adequate evidence, however, to equate the New Testament church with Israel. In its New Testament usage the church is distinct from Israel. The Moody Handbook of Theology. Ecclesiology: Doctrine of the Church.

[61] See Luke 18:18-23

[62] See 1 Corinthians 12:27

[63] ”Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.” (Romans 6:9)

[64]See Rom.6: 23

[65] See Isa. 59:1-2; Col. 1:21, 22; Ja. 4:4

[66] See Rom. 5:10

[67] See John 3: 16

[68] This is also described as vicarious from the Latin word vicarius meaning “one in place of another.” The death of Christ “is vicarious in the sense that Christ is the Substitute who bears the punishment rightly due sinners, their guilt being imputed to Him in such a way that He representatively bore their punishment.”

[69] See Rev. 3: 20

[70] Greek word parabasis means “overstepping, transgression.”

[71] See Rom. 4:15

[72] See (cf. Rom. 2:23; 5:14; Gal. 3:19)

[73] The Greek word hamartia means “miss the mark,” “every departure from the way of righteousness.”

[74] See (Rom. 3:23)

[75]  Ibid. 14:23

[76] See (Rom. 7:14, 17-25)

[77] See (Gal. 3:22)

[78] See (John 9:41; 15:24; 19:11)

[79] Another Greek word for sin is anomia, which means “lawlessness” (1 John 3:4) and can be described as a “frame of mind.”

[80] See (Titus 2:14)

[81] See (Matt. 24:12)

[82] See (Exod. 20:1-11)

[83] Ibid. vv. 12-17

[84] See (2 Cor. 4:4)

[85] See (1 Tim. 4:2)

[86] See (Rom. 1:28)

[87] See (Eph. 4:18)

[88] See (Rom. 1:18–3:20)

[89] The English word bible is derived from the Greek word biblion, which means “book” or “roll.” The name comes from byblos, which denoted the papyrus plant that grew in marshes or river banks, primarily along the Nile. Writing material was made from the papyrus plant by cutting the pith of the plant in one foot strips and setting it in the sun to dry.

[90] E.g. Matt. 4:4

[91] ORAL TRADITION: Long before the outset of the Bible’s written tradition, the Bible is only shared through the spoken words of the head of the family, priests, and the prophets. The common tendency then would be either omission or addition of some details to Testament when the original narrator or story-teller dies.

[92] See 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16

[93] The common principles of biblical interpretations are: Literal, Grammatical Relationships, Historical Context, and Literary Context

[94] Little, Paul e., Know What You Believe. Chariot Victor Publishing. (1999) p. 196

[95] See Matt. 4: 4

[96] See 2 Tim. 3: 16

[97] See Gen. 1:27

[98] In the second account, God is described as using "dust of the earth" (Gen 2:7) to form man. Some have understood this to represent some high form of life that was still sub-human. This view, sometimes called "theistic evolution," maintains that man's physical nature developed from other forms of life through evolution, but that God modified or adapted this previously existing creature by giving it a soul. This approach interprets the passage somewhat more symbolically. Others, however, have taken this passage literally and understand the reference to dust as meaning that God actually created man from dust.

[99] Attempts to relate Adam to any of the ancient specimens of man discovered by anthropologists will depend upon how we define humanity, because we know little about Adam's appearance, size, brain capacity, and so forth. Various Christian anthropologists assign dates for man's origin anywhere from 1,000,000 to 50,000 years ago.

[100] While there are Bible verses which use the terms soul and spirit interchangeably (Matthew 10:28; Luke 1:46-47; Acts 2:31; 1 Corinthians 5:3; 6:20; 7:34; 2 Peter 2:11), other biblical passages do not present the soul and the spirit as precisely the same thing. There are also passages which hint at the separation between the soul and spirit (Romans 8:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 4:12).

[101] See Romans 12:1

[102] See 1 Peter 1:9

[103] See John 4:23-24

[104] See Gen. 6:5

[105] See John 3:3,7

[106] See Rom 6:4; 2 Cor. 5:20

[107] See Rom. 2:2

[108] See (2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6)

[109] See (Gen. 6-7)

[110] Ibid.  11:1-9

[111] See (2 Kings 17:1-6)

[112] Ibid. 25:1-12

[113] See (Acts 5:1-11)

[114] See (Rom. 1:18)

[115] See (John 5:27-29)

[116] See (Matt. 16:27)

[117] Ibid. 11:24

[118] See (Heb. 9:27)

[119] See (Rev. 20:11-15)

[120] Ibid. 20:15

[121] See (Rom. 14:10; cf. 2 Cor. 5:10)

[122] See (1 Cor. 3:12-15)

[123] Ibid. 3:14-15; 4:5

[124] See (1 Cor. 3:12-13)

[125] See (Matt. 25:41)

[126] See (Rev. 20:10)

[127] See John 14: 3; Acts 1: 10-11

[128] See 1 John 2:28

[129] "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned” (John 5:28-29).

[130] See Isaiah 26:19

[131] See John 5:28

[132] Ibid. 5:29

[133] See 1 Thessalonians 4:16

[134] See Daniel 12:1, 2; Revelation 20:4

[135] See Revelation 20:5

[136] “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4-6)

[137] Story of the rich man and Lazarus: "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire'” (Luke 16:22-24).

[138] “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Rev. 21:1-2).