Saturday, May 2, 2020
Sunday, April 28, 2019
Friday, March 29, 2019
then ,beginng
HEB GEN :2. BEFORE A PLANT OF THE FIELD WAS IN THE EARTH,BEFORE A GRAIN OF THE FIELD SPROUTED-----YAHWEH HAD NOT SPILLED RAIN ON THE EARTH, NOR WAS THERE MAN TO WORK THE LAND.---YET FROM THE DAY YAHWEH MADE EARTH AND SKY, A MIST FROM WITHIN WOULD RISE TO MOISTEN THE SURFACE. YAHWEH SHAPED AN EARTHLING FROM CLAY OF THIS EARTH, BLEW INTO HIS NOSTRILS THE WIND OF LIFE. NOW LOOK: MAN BECOMES A CREATURE OF FLESH.
NOW YAHWEH PLANTED A GARDEN IN EDEN, EASTWARD, SETTLED THERE THE MAN HE FORMED. FROM THE LAND. YAHWEH GREW ALL TREES LOVELY TO LOOK UPON, GOOD TO EAT FROOM; THE TREE OF LIFE WAS THERE IN THE GARDEN, AND THE TREE OF KNOWING GOD AND BAD. OUT OF EDEN FLOWS A RIVER. IT WATERS THE GARDEN, THEN OUTSIDE, BRANCHES INTO FOUR: ONE PISHON,, WINDS THROUGH THROUGH THE WHOLE OF HAVILA, LAND WITH GOLD---- EXCELLENT GOLD, WHERE BDELLIUM IS, THE LAPIS LAZULI. THE SECOND, NAMED GIHON, MOVES THROUGH THE LENGTH OF CUSH, TIGRIS, THE THIRD, TRAVEL EAST OF ASSHUR; AND EUPHRATES IS THE FOURTH. YAHWEH LIFTS THE MAN, BRINGS HIM TO REST IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, TO TEND IT AND WATCH. " FROM ALL THE TREES IN THE GARDEN YOU ARE FREE TO EAT"--- SO YAHWEH DESIRES MAN KNOW---"BUT THE TREE OF KNOWING GOOD AND BAD YOU WILL NOT TOUCH. EAT FROM IT," SAID YAHWEH, " AND ON THAT DAY DEATH TOUCHES YOU." " IT IS GOOD THE MAN BE ALONE," SAID YAHWEH. "I WILL MAKE A PARTNER TO STAND BESIDE HIM." SO YAHWEH SHAPED OUT F THE SOIL ALL THE CREATURES OF THE FIELD AND BIRDS OF THE AIR, BRINGING THEM TO MAN TO SEE HOW HE WOULD CALL THEM. WHATEVER THE MAN CALLED BECAME THE LIVING CREATURE'S NAME. SOON ALL WILD ANIMALS HAD NAMES THE THE MAN GAVE THEM, ALL BIRDS OF THE AIR AND CREATURES, OF THE FIELD, BUT THE MAN DID NOT FIND HIS PARTNER AMONG THEM. NOW YAHWEH PUT THE MAN INTO A DEEP SLEEP; WHEN HE FELL ASLEEP, TOOK A RIB, CLOSED THE FLESH OF HIS SIDE AGAIN. STARTING WITH THE PART TAKEN OUT OF THE MAN, YAHWEH SHAPED THE RIB INTO WOMAN, RETURNED HER TO THE SIDE OF THE MAN.
" THIS ONE IS BONE OF MY BONE, FLESH, OF MY FLESH," SAID THE MAN."WOMAN,
I CALL HER, OUT OF MAN SHE WAS PARTED." SO A MAN PARTS FROM HIS MOTHER AND FATHER, CLINGS TO HIS WIFE: THEY WERE ONE FLESH. AND LOOK: HEY ARE NAKED, MAN AND WOMEN, UNTOUCHED BY SHAME, NOT KNOWING IT. NOW THE SNAKE WAS SMOOTHER-TONGUED THAN ANY WILD CREATURE THAT YAHWEH MADE."DID THE GOD REALLY MEAN," HE SAID TO THE WOMAN, "YOU CAN'T EAT FROM ANY TREE OF THE GARDEN?" "BUT THE FRUIT OF THE TREES WE MAY," SAID THE WOMAN TO THE SNAKE. " JUST THE TREE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GARDEN, THE GOD SAID. YOU CAN'T EAT FROM IT, YOU CAN'T TOUCH---WITHOUT DEATH TOUCHING YOU," " DEATH WILL NOT TOUCH YOU," SAID THE SNAKE TO THE WOMAN " THE GOD KNOWS ON THE DAY YOU EAT FROM IT YOUR EYES WILL FALL OPEN LIKE gods, KNOWING GOOD AND BAD." NOW THE WOMAN SEES HOW GOOD THE TREE LOOKS, TO EAT, FROM, HOW LOVELY TO THE EYES, LIVELY TO THE MIND.
TO ITS FRUIT SHE REACHED; ATE, GAVE TO HER MAN, THERE WITH HER, AND HE ATE. AND THE EYES OF BOTH FELL OPEN, GRASP KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR NAKED SKIN. THEY WOUND TOGETHER FIG LEAVES, MADE COVERINGS FOR THEMSELVES. NOW THEY HEAR YAHWEH'S VOICE AMONG EVENING BREEZES, WALKING IN THE GARDEN; THEY HIDE FROM THE FACE OF YAHWEH " THE MAN AND HIS WOMAN AMONG THE TREES OF THE GARDEN. YAHWEH CALLED TO THE MAN.":WHERE ARE YOU?" I HEARD YOUR VOICE IN THE GARDEN," HE ANSWERED."I TREMBLED. WHO TOLD YOU NAKED IS WHAT YOU ARE? DID YOU TOUCH THE TREE I DESIRED YOU NOT EAT?" "THE WOMEN YOU GAVE ME----SHE GAVE ME
FRUIT OF THE TREE I ATE," WHAT IS THIS YOU HAVE DONE,?" SAID YAHWEH TO THE -WOMEN. "SINCE THE SMOOTH---TONGUED SNAKE GAVE ME, I ATE. " ...........SINCE YOU
DONE THIS," SAID YAHWEH TO THE SNAKE "YOU ARE BOUND APART FROM THE FLOCKS, FROM ANY CREATURE OF THE FIELD, BOUND TO THE GROUND, CRAWLING BY YOUR SMOOTH BELLY: DIRT YOU SHALL TASTE FROM FIRST DAY TILL THE LAST. I WILL MAKE YOU ENEMY TO WOMAN, ENMITY BOUND BETWEEN YOUR SEED AND AND HERS. AS YOU STRIKE HIS HEEL, HE SHALL STRIKE YOUR HEAD." TO THE WOMAN HE SAID: "PAIN INCREASING, GROANS SPREADING HAVING CHILDREN WILL BE A LABOR. TO YOUR MAN'S BODY YOUR BELLY SHALL RISE FOR HE WILL BE EAGER ABOVE YOU. THORNS AND THISTLES WILL BLOOM BEFORE YOU; YOU WILL GRASP THE BITTER HERBS THE FIELD GIVES YOU. " AS YOU SOW THE SWEAT OF YOUR FACE SO YOU WILL REAP YOUR BREAD,TILL YOU RETURN TO EARTH--- FROM IT YOU WERE TAKEN. DUST YOU ARE, TO DUST YOU RETURN.
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NOW YAHWEH PLANTED A GARDEN IN EDEN, EASTWARD, SETTLED THERE THE MAN HE FORMED. FROM THE LAND. YAHWEH GREW ALL TREES LOVELY TO LOOK UPON, GOOD TO EAT FROOM; THE TREE OF LIFE WAS THERE IN THE GARDEN, AND THE TREE OF KNOWING GOD AND BAD. OUT OF EDEN FLOWS A RIVER. IT WATERS THE GARDEN, THEN OUTSIDE, BRANCHES INTO FOUR: ONE PISHON,, WINDS THROUGH THROUGH THE WHOLE OF HAVILA, LAND WITH GOLD---- EXCELLENT GOLD, WHERE BDELLIUM IS, THE LAPIS LAZULI. THE SECOND, NAMED GIHON, MOVES THROUGH THE LENGTH OF CUSH, TIGRIS, THE THIRD, TRAVEL EAST OF ASSHUR; AND EUPHRATES IS THE FOURTH. YAHWEH LIFTS THE MAN, BRINGS HIM TO REST IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, TO TEND IT AND WATCH. " FROM ALL THE TREES IN THE GARDEN YOU ARE FREE TO EAT"--- SO YAHWEH DESIRES MAN KNOW---"BUT THE TREE OF KNOWING GOOD AND BAD YOU WILL NOT TOUCH. EAT FROM IT," SAID YAHWEH, " AND ON THAT DAY DEATH TOUCHES YOU." " IT IS GOOD THE MAN BE ALONE," SAID YAHWEH. "I WILL MAKE A PARTNER TO STAND BESIDE HIM." SO YAHWEH SHAPED OUT F THE SOIL ALL THE CREATURES OF THE FIELD AND BIRDS OF THE AIR, BRINGING THEM TO MAN TO SEE HOW HE WOULD CALL THEM. WHATEVER THE MAN CALLED BECAME THE LIVING CREATURE'S NAME. SOON ALL WILD ANIMALS HAD NAMES THE THE MAN GAVE THEM, ALL BIRDS OF THE AIR AND CREATURES, OF THE FIELD, BUT THE MAN DID NOT FIND HIS PARTNER AMONG THEM. NOW YAHWEH PUT THE MAN INTO A DEEP SLEEP; WHEN HE FELL ASLEEP, TOOK A RIB, CLOSED THE FLESH OF HIS SIDE AGAIN. STARTING WITH THE PART TAKEN OUT OF THE MAN, YAHWEH SHAPED THE RIB INTO WOMAN, RETURNED HER TO THE SIDE OF THE MAN.
" THIS ONE IS BONE OF MY BONE, FLESH, OF MY FLESH," SAID THE MAN."WOMAN,
I CALL HER, OUT OF MAN SHE WAS PARTED." SO A MAN PARTS FROM HIS MOTHER AND FATHER, CLINGS TO HIS WIFE: THEY WERE ONE FLESH. AND LOOK: HEY ARE NAKED, MAN AND WOMEN, UNTOUCHED BY SHAME, NOT KNOWING IT. NOW THE SNAKE WAS SMOOTHER-TONGUED THAN ANY WILD CREATURE THAT YAHWEH MADE."DID THE GOD REALLY MEAN," HE SAID TO THE WOMAN, "YOU CAN'T EAT FROM ANY TREE OF THE GARDEN?" "BUT THE FRUIT OF THE TREES WE MAY," SAID THE WOMAN TO THE SNAKE. " JUST THE TREE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GARDEN, THE GOD SAID. YOU CAN'T EAT FROM IT, YOU CAN'T TOUCH---WITHOUT DEATH TOUCHING YOU," " DEATH WILL NOT TOUCH YOU," SAID THE SNAKE TO THE WOMAN " THE GOD KNOWS ON THE DAY YOU EAT FROM IT YOUR EYES WILL FALL OPEN LIKE gods, KNOWING GOOD AND BAD." NOW THE WOMAN SEES HOW GOOD THE TREE LOOKS, TO EAT, FROM, HOW LOVELY TO THE EYES, LIVELY TO THE MIND.
TO ITS FRUIT SHE REACHED; ATE, GAVE TO HER MAN, THERE WITH HER, AND HE ATE. AND THE EYES OF BOTH FELL OPEN, GRASP KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR NAKED SKIN. THEY WOUND TOGETHER FIG LEAVES, MADE COVERINGS FOR THEMSELVES. NOW THEY HEAR YAHWEH'S VOICE AMONG EVENING BREEZES, WALKING IN THE GARDEN; THEY HIDE FROM THE FACE OF YAHWEH " THE MAN AND HIS WOMAN AMONG THE TREES OF THE GARDEN. YAHWEH CALLED TO THE MAN.":WHERE ARE YOU?" I HEARD YOUR VOICE IN THE GARDEN," HE ANSWERED."I TREMBLED. WHO TOLD YOU NAKED IS WHAT YOU ARE? DID YOU TOUCH THE TREE I DESIRED YOU NOT EAT?" "THE WOMEN YOU GAVE ME----SHE GAVE ME
FRUIT OF THE TREE I ATE," WHAT IS THIS YOU HAVE DONE,?" SAID YAHWEH TO THE -WOMEN. "SINCE THE SMOOTH---TONGUED SNAKE GAVE ME, I ATE. " ...........SINCE YOU
DONE THIS," SAID YAHWEH TO THE SNAKE "YOU ARE BOUND APART FROM THE FLOCKS, FROM ANY CREATURE OF THE FIELD, BOUND TO THE GROUND, CRAWLING BY YOUR SMOOTH BELLY: DIRT YOU SHALL TASTE FROM FIRST DAY TILL THE LAST. I WILL MAKE YOU ENEMY TO WOMAN, ENMITY BOUND BETWEEN YOUR SEED AND AND HERS. AS YOU STRIKE HIS HEEL, HE SHALL STRIKE YOUR HEAD." TO THE WOMAN HE SAID: "PAIN INCREASING, GROANS SPREADING HAVING CHILDREN WILL BE A LABOR. TO YOUR MAN'S BODY YOUR BELLY SHALL RISE FOR HE WILL BE EAGER ABOVE YOU. THORNS AND THISTLES WILL BLOOM BEFORE YOU; YOU WILL GRASP THE BITTER HERBS THE FIELD GIVES YOU. " AS YOU SOW THE SWEAT OF YOUR FACE SO YOU WILL REAP YOUR BREAD,TILL YOU RETURN TO EARTH--- FROM IT YOU WERE TAKEN. DUST YOU ARE, TO DUST YOU RETURN.
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Friday, March 22, 2019
ONE MAN ONE WOMAN?
" WHAT IS MAN?" ABOUT HIMSELF HE HAS EXPRESSED AND CONTINUES TO EXPRESS MANY DIVERGENT AND EVEN CONTRADICTORY OPINIONS. IN THESE HE OFTEN EXALTS HIMSELF TO THE POINT OF DESPAIR. THE RESULT IS DOUBT AND ANXIETY.
SACRED SCRIPTURE TEACHES THAT MAN WAS CREATED TO THE IMAGE GOD," IS CAPABLE OF KNOWING AND LOVING HIS CREATOR, AND WAS APPOINTED BY HIM MASTER OF ALL EARTHLY CREATURES, THAT HE MIGHT SUBDUE THEM AND USE THEM TO GOD'S GLORY, EACH OF US IS COMPOSED OF SOUL, SPIRIT, AND MATERIALLY. WITH THE HELP OF GOD'S FURTHER REVELATION WE CAN SEE THIS IN THE STORY OF MAN MADE IN THE "IMAGE OF GOD." AND OF "THE DUST OF THE EARTH." THESE ARE TWO "ASPECTS" OF MAN, TWO "POWERS," TWO WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN ACT. OUR SOUL, OR SPIRITUAL POWER, IS JUST AS REAL AS OUR MATERIALITY WHICH WE CAN SEE AND FEEL. IT IS THE CORE OF OUR BEING, OUR CONSCIOUS, OUR INNERMOST "ME". IT INFUSES EVERY PART OF US THAT IS ALIVE.
IT ENABLES US TO THINK AND MAKE FREE CHOICES. WHEN WE THINK, WE CALL THIS POWER OUR INTELLECT OR MIND; WHEN, WE CALL IT OUR FREE WILL. WE MAKE FREE CHOICES, UNTIL "DEATH" KNOCKS ON THE DOOR. THEN WE FIND OUT
THAT MAN MEETS HIS MAKER, AND JESUS SAYS: MAN IS LIKE A PUFF OF DUST, AND HIS DAYS WERE LIKE A PASSING' SHADOW THE BIBLE FACES THE FACT THAT DEATH COMES TO EVERYONE. ON THE OTHER HAND, DEATH IS SEEN AS SOMETHING EVIL THAT STRIKES A NOTE OF TERROR IN ALL OUR MINDS. THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE THERE IS A CLOSE LINK BETWEEN DEATH AND SIN. DEATH IS PART OF THE JUDGMENT THAT COMES TO ADAM. AFTER HIS DISOBEDIENCE. PAUL REGARDS DEATH AS INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCE OF THE PRESENCE OF SIN IN THE WORLD. FOR GOD IS 'HOLY' AND CANNOT TOLERATE EVIL. IF WE DIE WITH SIN UNFORGIVEN, OUR DEATH IS NOT ONLY PHYSICAL, BUT SPIRITUAL. SINCE THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE THE WHOLE CREATION HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY THEIR REBELLION AGAINST GOD. SIN CAME INTO THE WORLD THROUGH ONE MAN, AND HIS SIN BROUGHT DEATH WITH IT. AS A RESULT DEATH HAS SPREAD TO THE WHOLE HUMAN RACE BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS SINNED. EVERY PART OF THE UNIVERSE IS AFFECTED BY SIN BOTH PEOPLE AND THE NATURAL WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE. ALTHOUGH WE STILL HAVE MUCH OF THE ORIGINAL NATURE GOD GAVE US, AND WE STILL KNOW AND SEARCH FOR GOD, YET WE HAVE AN INBUILT BIAS TOWARDS SIN. NEW TESTAMENT OFTEN SPEAKS OF NON-CHRISTIANS AS BEING PHYSICALLY ALIVE, BUT 'SPIRITUALLY' DEAD BECAUSE OF DISOBEDIENCE AND SINS. WHEN JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS HE TOOK THE ULTIMATE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN ON HIS SELF. HIS RESURRECTION SHOWED THAT HE HAD DEFEATED DEATH SO ALTHOUGH OUR HUMAN FATE IS TO DIE, BY FAITH IN CHRIST WE CAN HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. THE CHRISTIAN IS ALREADY LIFTED OUT OF OF SPIRITUAL DEATH TO NEW LIFE AND LOOKS FORWARD TO THE END OF THE AGE WHEN PHYSICAL DEATH, ' THE LAST ENEMY, WILL ALSO BE OVERCOME. YOU DID NOT CHOOSE ME; I CHOSE YOU; SAID JESUS. THESE WORDS SUM UP THE BIBLE'S TEACHING ON ELECTION. (CHOICE). BECAUSE GOD IS THE ALL POWERFUL CREATOR HE IS THE ONE WHO MAKES THE ULTIMATE DECISIONS-NOT MAN. YOU DID NOT CHOSE ME; I CHOSE YOU. SAID JESUS. THESES WORDS SUM UP THE BIBLE TEACHING ON ELECTION. (CHOICE.) BECAUSE GOD IS THE ALL POWERFUL CREATOR HE IS THE ONE WHO MAKES THE ULTIMATE DECISIONS.-- NOT MAN. THE OLD TESTAMENT RECORDS HOW GOD CHOSE PEOPLE. HE CHOSE ABEL NOT CAIN , ISAAC AND NOT ISHMAEL; JACOB NOT ESAU; JOSEPH NOT HIS BROTHERS. THEY WERE NOT CHOSEN FOR THEIR OWN GOODNESS OR GREATNESS.
MOSES TELLS THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL: THE LORD DID NOT LOVE YOU AND CHOOSE YOU BECAUSE YOU OUTNUMBERED OTHER PEOPLES... BUT THE LORD LOVED YOU. DO NOT SAY TO YOURSELVES THAT HE BROUGHT IN TO POSSESS THIS LAND BECAUSE YOU DESERVED IT. THE REASON FOR GOD'S CHOICE IS HIDDEN WITHIN HIS OWN MIND AND NO HUMAN MIND OR HUMAN BEING CAN UNDERSTAND IT. IT IS CLEAR, HOWEVER, THAT THOSE WHO ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE OF GOD'S CHOICE ARE EXPECTED TO OBEY HIM AND GIVE THEIR LIVES IN HIS SERVICE. THIS WAS SO FOR ABRAHAM AND THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. IT IS NOW TRUE OF CHRISTIANS. YOU ARE THE CHOSEN RACE., THE KING'S PRIESTS. THE HOLY NATION, GOD'S OWN PEOPLE, CHOSEN TO PROCLAIM THE WONDERFUL ACTS OF GOD., WHO CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS OWN MARVELOUS LIGHT. FAITH. PAUL CAREFULLY EXPLAINS IN HIS LETTERS TO THE CHRISTIANS IN BOTH ROME AND GALATIA THAT A PERSON CAN FIND A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, NOT THROUGH YOUR OWN GOOD DEEDS ( AS PEOPLE OFTEN THINK) BUT ONLY THROUGH FAITH OR BELIEVING.
FAITH MEANS HAVING CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN GOD.. IT IS NOT A 'LEAP' IN THE DARK. WHICH A MAN MUST TAKE. WITHOUT THINKING. IT IS A TRUST IN GOD WHOM WE BELIEVE TO BE TRUSTWORTHY. CONFIDENT IN THIS KNOWLEDGE A PERSON CAN BELIEVE AND ENTRUST HIS LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST. AS SINFUL PEOPLE WE CAN DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO SAVE OURSELVES. WE HAVE TO DEPEND TOTALLY ON WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY DONE FOR US THROUGH JESUS. THIS IS THE START OF A LIFE OF FAITH. NO ONE CAN BE CERTAIN OF LIVING ARIGHT BY HIS OWN EFFORTS. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO TRUST WHOLLY IN JESUS AND THE SPIRIT HE GIVES US THAT HELPS US LIVE IN A WAY THAT PLEASES GOD. THIS LIFE OF DEPENDANCE ON GOD GOES RIGHT BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF GOD'S DEALINGS WITH MAN, AS PAUL SHOWS WHEN HE TRACES IT BACK TO ABRAHAM. THE NEW TESTAMENT
ALSO REFERS TO THE "FAITH" MEANING THE BASIC TEACHING ABOUT JESUS ON WHICH OUR TRUST IF ROUNDED.
SACRED SCRIPTURE TEACHES THAT MAN WAS CREATED TO THE IMAGE GOD," IS CAPABLE OF KNOWING AND LOVING HIS CREATOR, AND WAS APPOINTED BY HIM MASTER OF ALL EARTHLY CREATURES, THAT HE MIGHT SUBDUE THEM AND USE THEM TO GOD'S GLORY, EACH OF US IS COMPOSED OF SOUL, SPIRIT, AND MATERIALLY. WITH THE HELP OF GOD'S FURTHER REVELATION WE CAN SEE THIS IN THE STORY OF MAN MADE IN THE "IMAGE OF GOD." AND OF "THE DUST OF THE EARTH." THESE ARE TWO "ASPECTS" OF MAN, TWO "POWERS," TWO WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN ACT. OUR SOUL, OR SPIRITUAL POWER, IS JUST AS REAL AS OUR MATERIALITY WHICH WE CAN SEE AND FEEL. IT IS THE CORE OF OUR BEING, OUR CONSCIOUS, OUR INNERMOST "ME". IT INFUSES EVERY PART OF US THAT IS ALIVE.
IT ENABLES US TO THINK AND MAKE FREE CHOICES. WHEN WE THINK, WE CALL THIS POWER OUR INTELLECT OR MIND; WHEN, WE CALL IT OUR FREE WILL. WE MAKE FREE CHOICES, UNTIL "DEATH" KNOCKS ON THE DOOR. THEN WE FIND OUT
THAT MAN MEETS HIS MAKER, AND JESUS SAYS: MAN IS LIKE A PUFF OF DUST, AND HIS DAYS WERE LIKE A PASSING' SHADOW THE BIBLE FACES THE FACT THAT DEATH COMES TO EVERYONE. ON THE OTHER HAND, DEATH IS SEEN AS SOMETHING EVIL THAT STRIKES A NOTE OF TERROR IN ALL OUR MINDS. THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE THERE IS A CLOSE LINK BETWEEN DEATH AND SIN. DEATH IS PART OF THE JUDGMENT THAT COMES TO ADAM. AFTER HIS DISOBEDIENCE. PAUL REGARDS DEATH AS INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCE OF THE PRESENCE OF SIN IN THE WORLD. FOR GOD IS 'HOLY' AND CANNOT TOLERATE EVIL. IF WE DIE WITH SIN UNFORGIVEN, OUR DEATH IS NOT ONLY PHYSICAL, BUT SPIRITUAL. SINCE THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE THE WHOLE CREATION HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY THEIR REBELLION AGAINST GOD. SIN CAME INTO THE WORLD THROUGH ONE MAN, AND HIS SIN BROUGHT DEATH WITH IT. AS A RESULT DEATH HAS SPREAD TO THE WHOLE HUMAN RACE BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS SINNED. EVERY PART OF THE UNIVERSE IS AFFECTED BY SIN BOTH PEOPLE AND THE NATURAL WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE. ALTHOUGH WE STILL HAVE MUCH OF THE ORIGINAL NATURE GOD GAVE US, AND WE STILL KNOW AND SEARCH FOR GOD, YET WE HAVE AN INBUILT BIAS TOWARDS SIN. NEW TESTAMENT OFTEN SPEAKS OF NON-CHRISTIANS AS BEING PHYSICALLY ALIVE, BUT 'SPIRITUALLY' DEAD BECAUSE OF DISOBEDIENCE AND SINS. WHEN JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS HE TOOK THE ULTIMATE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN ON HIS SELF. HIS RESURRECTION SHOWED THAT HE HAD DEFEATED DEATH SO ALTHOUGH OUR HUMAN FATE IS TO DIE, BY FAITH IN CHRIST WE CAN HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. THE CHRISTIAN IS ALREADY LIFTED OUT OF OF SPIRITUAL DEATH TO NEW LIFE AND LOOKS FORWARD TO THE END OF THE AGE WHEN PHYSICAL DEATH, ' THE LAST ENEMY, WILL ALSO BE OVERCOME. YOU DID NOT CHOOSE ME; I CHOSE YOU; SAID JESUS. THESE WORDS SUM UP THE BIBLE'S TEACHING ON ELECTION. (CHOICE). BECAUSE GOD IS THE ALL POWERFUL CREATOR HE IS THE ONE WHO MAKES THE ULTIMATE DECISIONS-NOT MAN. YOU DID NOT CHOSE ME; I CHOSE YOU. SAID JESUS. THESES WORDS SUM UP THE BIBLE TEACHING ON ELECTION. (CHOICE.) BECAUSE GOD IS THE ALL POWERFUL CREATOR HE IS THE ONE WHO MAKES THE ULTIMATE DECISIONS.-- NOT MAN. THE OLD TESTAMENT RECORDS HOW GOD CHOSE PEOPLE. HE CHOSE ABEL NOT CAIN , ISAAC AND NOT ISHMAEL; JACOB NOT ESAU; JOSEPH NOT HIS BROTHERS. THEY WERE NOT CHOSEN FOR THEIR OWN GOODNESS OR GREATNESS.
MOSES TELLS THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL: THE LORD DID NOT LOVE YOU AND CHOOSE YOU BECAUSE YOU OUTNUMBERED OTHER PEOPLES... BUT THE LORD LOVED YOU. DO NOT SAY TO YOURSELVES THAT HE BROUGHT IN TO POSSESS THIS LAND BECAUSE YOU DESERVED IT. THE REASON FOR GOD'S CHOICE IS HIDDEN WITHIN HIS OWN MIND AND NO HUMAN MIND OR HUMAN BEING CAN UNDERSTAND IT. IT IS CLEAR, HOWEVER, THAT THOSE WHO ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE OF GOD'S CHOICE ARE EXPECTED TO OBEY HIM AND GIVE THEIR LIVES IN HIS SERVICE. THIS WAS SO FOR ABRAHAM AND THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. IT IS NOW TRUE OF CHRISTIANS. YOU ARE THE CHOSEN RACE., THE KING'S PRIESTS. THE HOLY NATION, GOD'S OWN PEOPLE, CHOSEN TO PROCLAIM THE WONDERFUL ACTS OF GOD., WHO CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS OWN MARVELOUS LIGHT. FAITH. PAUL CAREFULLY EXPLAINS IN HIS LETTERS TO THE CHRISTIANS IN BOTH ROME AND GALATIA THAT A PERSON CAN FIND A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, NOT THROUGH YOUR OWN GOOD DEEDS ( AS PEOPLE OFTEN THINK) BUT ONLY THROUGH FAITH OR BELIEVING.
FAITH MEANS HAVING CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN GOD.. IT IS NOT A 'LEAP' IN THE DARK. WHICH A MAN MUST TAKE. WITHOUT THINKING. IT IS A TRUST IN GOD WHOM WE BELIEVE TO BE TRUSTWORTHY. CONFIDENT IN THIS KNOWLEDGE A PERSON CAN BELIEVE AND ENTRUST HIS LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST. AS SINFUL PEOPLE WE CAN DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO SAVE OURSELVES. WE HAVE TO DEPEND TOTALLY ON WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY DONE FOR US THROUGH JESUS. THIS IS THE START OF A LIFE OF FAITH. NO ONE CAN BE CERTAIN OF LIVING ARIGHT BY HIS OWN EFFORTS. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO TRUST WHOLLY IN JESUS AND THE SPIRIT HE GIVES US THAT HELPS US LIVE IN A WAY THAT PLEASES GOD. THIS LIFE OF DEPENDANCE ON GOD GOES RIGHT BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF GOD'S DEALINGS WITH MAN, AS PAUL SHOWS WHEN HE TRACES IT BACK TO ABRAHAM. THE NEW TESTAMENT
ALSO REFERS TO THE "FAITH" MEANING THE BASIC TEACHING ABOUT JESUS ON WHICH OUR TRUST IF ROUNDED.
Saturday, March 16, 2019
AUTHORITY OF JESUS.
FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE UNTO AN HOUSEHOLDER, WHICH WENT OUT EARLY IN THE MORNING TO HIRE LABOURERS INTO HIS VINEYARD.AND WHEN HE AGREED WITH THE LABOURSERS FOR PENNY A DAY, (32) DOLLARS HE SENT THEM INTO THE VINEYARD. AND ABOUT THE THIRD HOUR HE WENT OUT, AND SAW OTHERS STANDING IDLE IN THE MARKETPLACE, AND SAID UNTO THEM; GO YE ALSO INTO THE VINEYARD, AND WHATSOEVER IS RIGHT I WILL GIVE YOU. AND THEY WENT THEIR WAY. AGAIN HE WENT OUT ABOUT THE SIXTH HOUR (NOON) AND NINTH HOUR (3PM) AND DID LIKEWISE AND ABOUT THE ELEVENTH HOUR (5 PM) HE WENT OUT, AND FOUND OTHERS STANDING AROUND IDLE? THEY SAY UNTO HIM, BECAUSE NO MAN HIRED US. HE SAITH UNTO THEM H GO YE ALSO INTO THE VINEYARD AND WHATSOEVER IS RIGHT, THAT SHALL YOU RECEIVE. SO WHEN EVENING WAS COME, THE LORD OF THE VINEYARD SAITH UNTO HIS STEWARD, CALL THE LABOURERS, AND GIVE THEM THEIR HIRE, BEGINNING FROM THE LAST UNTO THE FIRST. AND WHEN THEY CAME THAT WERE HIRED ABOUT THE ELEVENTH HOUR, THE RECEIVED EVERY MAN A PENNY ($32). BUT WHEN THE FIRST, THEY SUPPOSE THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED MORE; AND THEY LIKEWISE EVERY MAN RECEIVED A PENNY. ($32). BUT WHEN THE FIRST CAME, THEY SUPPOSED THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED MORE; AND THEY LIKEWISE RECEIVED EVERY MAN A PENNY. AND WHEN THEY HAVE RECEIVED IT THEY MURMURED AGAINST THE GOODMAN OF THE HOUSE, (LANDOWNER) SAYING ,, THESE LAST HAVE WROUGHT BUT ONE HOUR, AND THOU HAVE MADE THEM EQUAL UNTO US, WHICH HAVE BORN THE BURDEN AND THE HEAT OF THE DAY DAY. BUT HE ANSWERED ONE OF THEM, AND SAID, FRIEND, I DO YOU NO WRONG: DID NOT THOU AGREE WITH ME FOR A PENNY ($32) TAKE THAT THINE IS AND GO THY WAY: I WILL GIVE UNTO THIS LAST, EVEN UNTO THEE. ONE DAY. WHEN HE WAS TEACHING THE PEOPLE IN THE TEMPLE AND PROCLAIMING THE GOOD NEWS, THE HIGH PRIESTS AND PHARISEES ACCOMPANIED BY THE ELDERS, APPROACHED HIM WITH THE QUESTION, 'TELL US, BY WHAT AUTHORITY DO YOU DO THESE THINGS? IN OTHER WORDS, WHO HAS AUTHORIZED YOU?" HE REPLIED, " LET ME PUT A QUESTION FOR YOU TO ANSWER: DID THE BAPTISM OF JOHN COME FROM GOD OR FROM MEN?" THEY HELD A BRIEF CONFERENCE DURING WHICH SOMEONE SAID, " IF WE ANSWER, " FROM GOD,' HE WILL SAY, ' THEN WHY DO YOU NOT BELIEVE IT?'; WHERE AS IF WE SAY, 'FROM MEN,' TE PEOPLE WILL STONE US, SO CONVINCED ARE THEY THAT JOHN WAS A PROPHET" THEY ENDED BY REPLYING THEY DID NOT KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM, " IN THAT CASE, NEITHER WILL I TELL YOU BY WHOSE AUTHORITY I ACT. HE THEN BEGAN TO TELL THE PARABLE OF THE TENETS IN THE FOLLOWING PARABLE: "A MAN PLANTED A VINEYARD, LEASED IT T TENANT FARMERS, AND WENT AWAY FOR A LONG TIME. AT VINTAGE TIME HE SENT A SERVANT TO THE TENANT FARMERS TO RECEIVE HIS SHARE OF THE CROP FROM THEM; ; BUT THEY BEAT HIM AND SENT HIM AWAY EMPTY-HANDED, AFTER TREATING HIM SHAMEFULLY. HE SENT STILL A THIRD, WHOM THEY LIKEWISE MALTREATED BEFORE DRIVING HIM AWAY. THE OWNER OF THE VINEYARD ASKED HIMSELF,'WHAT AM I TO DO NOW.? PERHAPS IF I SEND THE SON I LOVE, THEY WILL RESPECT HIM.' ' BUT WHEN THE TENANT FARMERS SAW THE SON, THEY REFLECTED, ' THIS IS THE HEIR. LET US KILL HIM SO THAT THE INHERITANCE WILL BE OURS'. WITH THAT THEY DRAGGED HIM OUTSIDE THE VINEYARD AND KILLED HIM. WHAT FATE DO YOU SUPPOSE THE OWNER OF THE VINEYARD HAS IN STORE FOR THEM. I WILL TELL YOU HE WILL MAKE A END TO THOSE TENANT FARMERS. WHEN THEY H/;'
JESUS SAID, "GOD FORBID!" HE LOOKED DIRECTLY AT THEM AND SAID, " WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES MEAN WHEN THEY SAY,, " THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE KEYSTONE OF THE STRUCTURE"? THE MAN WHO FALLS ON THAT STONE WILL BE SMASHED TO PIECES. IT WILL MAKE DUST OF ANYONE ON WHOM IT FALLS. AT THESE WORDS THE SCRIBES AND HIGH PRIESTS TRIED TO GET THEIR HANDS ON HIM., BUT THEY WERE AFRAID OF THE PEOPLE THEY WERE WELL AWARE THAT HE HAD TOLD THE PARABLE WITH THEM I MIND. WHAT FATE DO YOU SUPPOSE THE OWNER OF THE VINEYARD HAS IN STORE FOR THEM.?.. HE WILL MAKE AN END TO THOSE TENANT FARMERS AND GIVE THE VINEYARD TO OTHERS" (LK. 20:15-16.) LUKE GIVES ONLY THE ESSENTIALS OF THE PARABLE OF TE HOMICIDAL VINEYARD DRESSERS. MATTHEW AND MARK HAVE ALREADY BROUGHT OUT THE OWNER'S SOLICITUDE FOR HIS VINEYARD, WHICH HE ENTRUSTED TO THE CRIMINALS TENANTS (MAT 21 AN MARK CHAP 12). IN A STORY OF THIS SORT, THE ALLEGORY IS CARRIED THROUGH FROM THE BEGINNING TO END. . THE IDENTIFICATION OF CHRIST WITH THE IMMOLATED SON IS OBVIOUS. THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE SUPPLANTING OF THE VINEDRESSERS OF THE TEMPORAL ISRAEL BY THOSE OF THE NEW ISRAEL IS ALSO CLEAR (LK 20:16). SOME SADDUCEES CAME FORWARD ( THE ONES WHO CLAIM THERE IS NO RESURRECTION) TO POSE THIS PROBLEM TO HIM. " MASTER, MOSES PRESCRIBED THAT IF A MAN'S BROTHER DIES LEAVING A WIFE AND NO CHILD THE BROTHER SHOULD MARRY THE WIDOW AND RAISE POSTERITY TO HIS BROTHER. NOW THERE WERE SEVEN BROTHERS. THE FIRST ONE MARRIED AND DIED CHILDLESS, NEXT THE SECOND BROTHER MARRIED THE WIDOW, THEN THE THIRD, AND SO ON. ALL SEVEN DIED WITHOUT LEAVING HER ANY CHILDREN. FINALLY THE WIDOW HERSELF DIED. AT THE RESURRECTION, WHOSE WIFE WILL SHE BE? REMEMBER, SEVEN MARRIED HER". JESUS SAID TO THEM: " THE CHILDREN OF THIS AGE MARRY AND OUR GIVEN IN MARRIAGE. BUT THOSE JUDGE WORTHY OF A PLACE IN THE AGE TO COME AND OF RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD DO NOT. THEY BECOME LIKE ANGELS AND ARE NO LONGER LIABLE FOR DEATH. SONS OF RESURRECTION, THEY ARE SONS OF GOD. MOSES IN THE PASSAGE ABOUT THE BUSH SHOWED THAT THE DEAD RISE AGAIN WHEN HE CALLED THE LORD THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND THE GOD OF ISAAC AND THE GOD OF JACOB. GOD IS NOT HE GOD OF THE DEAD, BUT OF THE LIVING ALL ARE ALIVE FOR HIM. THEY DID NOT ASK ANY MORE QUESTIONS.
JESUS SAID, "GOD FORBID!" HE LOOKED DIRECTLY AT THEM AND SAID, " WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES MEAN WHEN THEY SAY,, " THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE KEYSTONE OF THE STRUCTURE"? THE MAN WHO FALLS ON THAT STONE WILL BE SMASHED TO PIECES. IT WILL MAKE DUST OF ANYONE ON WHOM IT FALLS. AT THESE WORDS THE SCRIBES AND HIGH PRIESTS TRIED TO GET THEIR HANDS ON HIM., BUT THEY WERE AFRAID OF THE PEOPLE THEY WERE WELL AWARE THAT HE HAD TOLD THE PARABLE WITH THEM I MIND. WHAT FATE DO YOU SUPPOSE THE OWNER OF THE VINEYARD HAS IN STORE FOR THEM.?.. HE WILL MAKE AN END TO THOSE TENANT FARMERS AND GIVE THE VINEYARD TO OTHERS" (LK. 20:15-16.) LUKE GIVES ONLY THE ESSENTIALS OF THE PARABLE OF TE HOMICIDAL VINEYARD DRESSERS. MATTHEW AND MARK HAVE ALREADY BROUGHT OUT THE OWNER'S SOLICITUDE FOR HIS VINEYARD, WHICH HE ENTRUSTED TO THE CRIMINALS TENANTS (MAT 21 AN MARK CHAP 12). IN A STORY OF THIS SORT, THE ALLEGORY IS CARRIED THROUGH FROM THE BEGINNING TO END. . THE IDENTIFICATION OF CHRIST WITH THE IMMOLATED SON IS OBVIOUS. THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE SUPPLANTING OF THE VINEDRESSERS OF THE TEMPORAL ISRAEL BY THOSE OF THE NEW ISRAEL IS ALSO CLEAR (LK 20:16). SOME SADDUCEES CAME FORWARD ( THE ONES WHO CLAIM THERE IS NO RESURRECTION) TO POSE THIS PROBLEM TO HIM. " MASTER, MOSES PRESCRIBED THAT IF A MAN'S BROTHER DIES LEAVING A WIFE AND NO CHILD THE BROTHER SHOULD MARRY THE WIDOW AND RAISE POSTERITY TO HIS BROTHER. NOW THERE WERE SEVEN BROTHERS. THE FIRST ONE MARRIED AND DIED CHILDLESS, NEXT THE SECOND BROTHER MARRIED THE WIDOW, THEN THE THIRD, AND SO ON. ALL SEVEN DIED WITHOUT LEAVING HER ANY CHILDREN. FINALLY THE WIDOW HERSELF DIED. AT THE RESURRECTION, WHOSE WIFE WILL SHE BE? REMEMBER, SEVEN MARRIED HER". JESUS SAID TO THEM: " THE CHILDREN OF THIS AGE MARRY AND OUR GIVEN IN MARRIAGE. BUT THOSE JUDGE WORTHY OF A PLACE IN THE AGE TO COME AND OF RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD DO NOT. THEY BECOME LIKE ANGELS AND ARE NO LONGER LIABLE FOR DEATH. SONS OF RESURRECTION, THEY ARE SONS OF GOD. MOSES IN THE PASSAGE ABOUT THE BUSH SHOWED THAT THE DEAD RISE AGAIN WHEN HE CALLED THE LORD THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND THE GOD OF ISAAC AND THE GOD OF JACOB. GOD IS NOT HE GOD OF THE DEAD, BUT OF THE LIVING ALL ARE ALIVE FOR HIM. THEY DID NOT ASK ANY MORE QUESTIONS.
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
JESUS OLD TESTAMENT PROMISE. [WAS FULFILLED]
EVEN IF MATTHEW'S GENEALOGY IS UNDERSTANDABLY OMITTED FROM THE READINGS AT OUR CHRISTMAS SERVICE., THE LIST WILL UNDOUBTEDLY INCLUDE OTHER PORTIONS FROM THE REST OF MATTHEW 1 AND 2, FOR THEY ARE AMONG THE MOST FAMILIAR STORIES. OF THE INFANCY STORIES. MATTHEW WEAVES TOGETHER FIVE SCENES FROM THE CONCEPTION, BIRTH AND EARLY CHILDHOOD OF JESUS. AND THEN PERHAPS FOR THEIR BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO MISSED THE POINT OF HIS GENEALOGY(OR MORE LIKELY SKIPPED IT ALTOGETHER), HE TIES UP EACH OF THOSE FIVE SCENES TO A QUOTATION FROM THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES WHICH, HE CLAIMS, HAS BEEN FULFILLED BY THE EVENT DESCRIBED. THROUGH THE FIVE SCENES FROM JESUS CHILDHOOD, TO WHICH TIES UP THROUGH HEBREW SCRIPTURES WHICH HE CLAIMS, HAS BEEN "FULFILLED" BY THE EVENT DESCRIBED.
1). THE ASSURANCE TO JOSEPH CONCERNING THE CHILD CONCEIVED IN MARY.[1:18-25'] TO FULFILL' ISAIAH 7:14 WHICH WAS THE IMMANUEL SIGN, GIVEN BY ISAIAH TO KING AHAZ.
2). THE FACT THAT JESUS WAS BORN IN BETHLEHEM: 2:1-12 'TO FULFILL' MICAH 5:2 IN WHICH IT IS PROPHESIED THAT A RULER OF ISRAEL WILL COME FROM BETHLEHEM.
3). THE ESCAPE TO EGYPT, AND THEN THE RETURN FROM THERE: 2: 13-15 'TO FULFILL HOSEA 11:1, WHICH IS A REFERENCE TO GOD HAVING BROUGHT ISRAEL, HIS SON, OUT OF EGYPT, AT THE EXODUS.
4). THE MURDER OF THE BOYS IN BETHLEHEM: :2 :6-18 'TO FULFILL JEREMIAH 31:15, WHICH IS A LAMENT FOR THE ISRAELITES WHO WERE GOING INTO EXILE.
5) THE SETTLEMENT OF JESUS FAMILY IN NAZARETH. THE FIVE SCENES THE COVER THE EARLY LIFE OF JESUS. FOUR HUNDRED YEARS AGO, IN THE FALL OF 1521, DR. MARTIN LUTHER, IN THE SECLUSION OF WARTBURG CASTLE, CONCEIVED THE STUPENDOUS TASK. TO THIS VERY HOUR THE LUTHERAN CHURCH, FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ITS GREAT TEACHER, CHERISHES THE LESSON WHICH LUTHER EXPOUNDED TO THE WORLD. HER MOTTO IS TO THIS DAY: "SOLA SCRIPTURA" BIBLE ALONE. BY THE GRACE OF GOD THE LUTHERAN CHURCH HAS REMAINED THE BIBLE CHURCH. THERE IS NO GREATER TASK OF SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES WHICH SHE PERFORMS.
1). THE ASSURANCE TO JOSEPH CONCERNING THE CHILD CONCEIVED IN MARY.[1:18-25'] TO FULFILL' ISAIAH 7:14 WHICH WAS THE IMMANUEL SIGN, GIVEN BY ISAIAH TO KING AHAZ.
2). THE FACT THAT JESUS WAS BORN IN BETHLEHEM: 2:1-12 'TO FULFILL' MICAH 5:2 IN WHICH IT IS PROPHESIED THAT A RULER OF ISRAEL WILL COME FROM BETHLEHEM.
3). THE ESCAPE TO EGYPT, AND THEN THE RETURN FROM THERE: 2: 13-15 'TO FULFILL HOSEA 11:1, WHICH IS A REFERENCE TO GOD HAVING BROUGHT ISRAEL, HIS SON, OUT OF EGYPT, AT THE EXODUS.
4). THE MURDER OF THE BOYS IN BETHLEHEM: :2 :6-18 'TO FULFILL JEREMIAH 31:15, WHICH IS A LAMENT FOR THE ISRAELITES WHO WERE GOING INTO EXILE.
5) THE SETTLEMENT OF JESUS FAMILY IN NAZARETH. THE FIVE SCENES THE COVER THE EARLY LIFE OF JESUS. FOUR HUNDRED YEARS AGO, IN THE FALL OF 1521, DR. MARTIN LUTHER, IN THE SECLUSION OF WARTBURG CASTLE, CONCEIVED THE STUPENDOUS TASK. TO THIS VERY HOUR THE LUTHERAN CHURCH, FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ITS GREAT TEACHER, CHERISHES THE LESSON WHICH LUTHER EXPOUNDED TO THE WORLD. HER MOTTO IS TO THIS DAY: "SOLA SCRIPTURA" BIBLE ALONE. BY THE GRACE OF GOD THE LUTHERAN CHURCH HAS REMAINED THE BIBLE CHURCH. THERE IS NO GREATER TASK OF SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES WHICH SHE PERFORMS.
DYNAMICS IN THE. NEW TESTAMENT}
IF ONE STOPS READING THE BIBLE WITH THE OLD TESTAMENT, THERE IS NO SENSE OF INCOMPLETENESS. JEWS FIND IT A COMPLETE AND SATISFYING WORK. AS THE BOOKS ARE ORDERED IN THE HEBREW BIBLE, THE OLD TESTAMENT DOES NOT END. ON A NOTE OF EXPECTATION OR WAITING; THE FINAL BOOK IS CHRONICLES IN WHICH, AS WE HAVE SEEN, SPATIAL IMAGERY WITH GOD'S PEOPLE. CENTERED AT THE TEMPLE DOMINATES OVER TEMPORAL METAPHORS. FROM THAT BOOK'S POINT OF VIEW, THE EXILE IS OVER. AND THE CHOSEN PEOPLE ARE ONCE AGAIN AT-CENTER IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD. IF HOWEVER, ONE CONTINUES READING INTO, THE OLD TESTAMENT-- THE NEW TESTAMENT---- WITHOUT ITS TEXT CHANGING--- IS TRANSFORMED INTO A BOOK OF PROMISES AND SCENES OF WAITING EXPECTATION WHICH ARE FULFILLED IN THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY. THE OLD TESTAMENT LOSES IT'S AUTONOMY AND BECOMES SUBORDINATED TO THE NEW TESTAMENT, WITHIN THE HISTORY OF RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS THE PROCESS OF SCRIPTURAL USURPATION DOES NOT END WITH CHRISTIANITY. ISLAM SUPERSEDES CHRISTIANITY, AND BAHAI SUPERSEDES ISLAM. THE BIBLE WHICH WE ARE CONCERNED, HOWEVER, IS THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE. THAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH FULL RECOGNITION THAT EVEN THE TERMS "OLD TESTAMENT" AND " NEW TESTAMENT." ARISE IN A CHRISTIAN CONTEXT. THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CONTINUES THE LINE OF THE COVENANTAL PEOPLE LIVING IN DIALOGUE WITH GOD. ISRAELITE RELIGION WAS NEVER MONOLITHIC. PROPHETS, PRIESTS, KINGS, AND WISE MEN WERE ALL CHANNELS OF THE DIVINE WORD, AND THEY DID NOT ALWAYS AGREE WITH EACH OTHER. IN THE PERIOD FROM 4OO B.C. TO 2OO A.D.., HOWEVER, THE CENTERS OF CONFLICT WITHIN THE RELIGION SHIFTED. CONFLICT BEGAN TO REVOLVE AROUND THE INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE. CHRISTIANITY AROSE AMONG PEOPLE INFLUENCED BY APOCALYPTIC EXPECTATION. THERE WERE OTHER JEWISH SECTS OTHER THAN CHRISTIANITY, WHICH HAD A STRONG APOCALYPTIC BIAS; THE ESSENE COMMUNITY AT WADI QUMRAN IS A NOTABLE EXAMPLE. RABBAN YOHANAN ben ZAKKAI (FIRST CENTURY A.D.) REFLECTS THE PHARISAIC STRAND OF JUDAISM IN HIS ATTITUDE TOWARD MESSIANISM. IT IS CAPSULATED IN THE FOLLOWING FAMOUS SAYING:" IF YOU HAVE A SAPLING IN YOUR HAND, AND IT SAID TO YOU, BEHOLD, THERE IS THE MESSIAH, GO ON WITH YOUR PLANTING, AND AFTERWARD GO OUT AND RECEIVE HIM. VARIOUS KINDS OF ELITISM EMERGED AMONG DIFFERENT SECTS. SADDUCEES WILLINGLY ACCOMMODATED TO FOREIGN RULE AND SHARED THE RESPONSIBILITIES O F GOVERNING THE JEWS. AT THE OTHER EXTREME WERE THE SICARII, A RADICAL GROUP OF ZEALOTS, WHO SLIPPED AROUND IN CROWDED AREAS, KNIFING THEIR ENEMIES IN THE BACK. BY THE TIME CHRISTIANITY A ROSE, JUDAISM HAD AN ESTABLISHED BODY OF WRITTEN SCRIPTURE AVAILABLE IN BOTH HEBREW AND GREEK. THE SEPTUAGINT VARIED FROM HEBREW SCRIPTURES IN THE TOTAL, BUT IN EACH THE LAW (PENTATEUCH) AND PROPHETS. WERE THE SAME. INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE THEN BECOMES A SURROGATE FOR CHANGING THE TEXT. WITH JESUS CHRIST AS THE SOLE DISCLOSURE OF GOD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT A NEW SYMBOLISM OF THE CENTER EMERGES THE CENTER BECOMES WHERE JESUS IS. THROUGH PROPER RELATION TO HIM, MAN FINDS BLESSING PEACE, AND SALVATION.
THE ONE "AWAY" FROM HIM EXPERIENCES DISTRESS, ALIENATION, AND DAMNATION. AMONG THE MANY STORIES WHICH CREATE THE FIGURE OF JESUS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION NARRATIVES ARE DETERMINATIVE. THEREFORE, THE NEW CENTER BECOMES, MORE PRECISELY, WHERE JESUS THE CRUCIFIED AND RESURRECTED ONE IS JESUS DIES IN JERUSALEM BECAUSE THAT IS THE CENTER, THE PLACE OF SALVATION. ENTERS THE END OF THE PASSION NARRATIVES IN THE GOSPELS. JERUSALEM IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THEIR THE CHRIST DIED. CENTER SYMBOLISM THUS SHIFTS TO IMAGES OF THE LAND, JERUSALEM TEMPLE) TO THOSE OF PERSON. THE CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS ARE ALSO CENTRAL TO THE BIBLE. AMONG THE STORIES IN THE GOSPELS THE CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION WITNESS AN UNPRECEDENTED MOMENT OF DIVINE DISCLOSURE AND HUMAN UNDERSTANDING. THAT TWO FOLD EVENT ALSO FULFILLS SCRIPTURE. IT IS THE NEW EXODUS; (LK. 9:31). IT REENACTS DELIVERANCE IN THE WILDERNESS (JN:3:14); IT IS THE PERFECT SACRIFICE OFFERED BY A PRIEST OF THE LINEAGE OF MELCHIZEDEK ( SEE HEBREWS ) IT IS THE OFFERING OF THE PASCHAL LAMB (1 COR. 5;7).; IT IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE SUFFERING SERVANT IN DEUTERO-ISAIAH ( ACTS 8:32). THE CENTRAL POSITION OF JESUS DEATH AND RESURRECTION CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT.
THE ONE "AWAY" FROM HIM EXPERIENCES DISTRESS, ALIENATION, AND DAMNATION. AMONG THE MANY STORIES WHICH CREATE THE FIGURE OF JESUS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION NARRATIVES ARE DETERMINATIVE. THEREFORE, THE NEW CENTER BECOMES, MORE PRECISELY, WHERE JESUS THE CRUCIFIED AND RESURRECTED ONE IS JESUS DIES IN JERUSALEM BECAUSE THAT IS THE CENTER, THE PLACE OF SALVATION. ENTERS THE END OF THE PASSION NARRATIVES IN THE GOSPELS. JERUSALEM IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THEIR THE CHRIST DIED. CENTER SYMBOLISM THUS SHIFTS TO IMAGES OF THE LAND, JERUSALEM TEMPLE) TO THOSE OF PERSON. THE CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS ARE ALSO CENTRAL TO THE BIBLE. AMONG THE STORIES IN THE GOSPELS THE CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION WITNESS AN UNPRECEDENTED MOMENT OF DIVINE DISCLOSURE AND HUMAN UNDERSTANDING. THAT TWO FOLD EVENT ALSO FULFILLS SCRIPTURE. IT IS THE NEW EXODUS; (LK. 9:31). IT REENACTS DELIVERANCE IN THE WILDERNESS (JN:3:14); IT IS THE PERFECT SACRIFICE OFFERED BY A PRIEST OF THE LINEAGE OF MELCHIZEDEK ( SEE HEBREWS ) IT IS THE OFFERING OF THE PASCHAL LAMB (1 COR. 5;7).; IT IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE SUFFERING SERVANT IN DEUTERO-ISAIAH ( ACTS 8:32). THE CENTRAL POSITION OF JESUS DEATH AND RESURRECTION CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT.
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