Sunday, February 20, 2011

The Light of Men

       Everything that was created was created by God through Christ. John 1:3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
       Question: Did God create evil? No, God did not create evil. Evil was already present in the universe at it’s conception. At the conception of time itself, Light and dark (good and evil) were both present. At that instant; God who is Spirit, who is Light, in His infinite wisdom, prepared a plan to seperate Light and dark (good and evil). John 1:5 And the Light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it. 1John1:5 This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all. We (mankind) are part of that plan. Isiaha 43:7 Everyone who is called by My name, Whom  I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.
       The angels were created at the same instant as the universe. Lucifer was not of the Light. At the instant of creation, God seperated Himself into three parts; The Father, The Christ and The Holy Spirit. Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;...” The Spirit of Christ is a buffer (a shield), to keep the Father (the Godhead) from being defiled; to keep Him pure. That is why, everything that was created was created through Christ. Hebrews 9:24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself,... Above being a sacrifice for us, the purpose for Christ is to protect the Godhead. Once again, let me bring home the point, that; Everything that God created was created through Christ and; Everything that God created is Light. John 1:3,4 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:9,10 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
       At the instant of creation; God saw all things before they came to pass. God knew what Lucifer would do. God knew what Adam would do. God knows what we will do. He has seen it already.
       One third of the angels were cast down to the earth and it’s heaven. One third of what was in the universe was evil (darkness). There was an age before man; now we are in the age of man, and there will be an age after man.
       Our solar system and the earth is younger than the rest of the universe. When Lucifer and a third of the angels were cast out of heaven, they were cast down to the earth. The earth had been created in the sight of the angels. When satan was cast down, he wanted to destroy the earth. God said; “Let there be light”. Then, in the sight of evil, God created what would help to destroy evil; mankind. Satan, not having the infinite wisdom of God; Not being able to see all things, thought that he could destroy God’s new creation. John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.
       God cretaed man through Christ. Ephesians 3:9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beggining of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ. God is Light. Everything that God created has light. John 1:9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. It is the Light of Christ that gave Adam life. It is Light that is the power unto life. John 6:63 “ It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life.
       Question: Did God create man with or without a purpose? The answer, without doubt is; with purpose. Mankind has and is suffering. People are born with blindness, sicknesses, diseases, mental and physical defects. Is this suffering punishment because of Adam’s sin? Is this suffering because of our sin?Is this God’s plan and purpose for mankind? Of course not. John 9:1-3 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in Him”.  Our suffering is not punishment; It is consequence. God merely removed His protection because of Adam’s sin. God is merciful. Genesis 3:21 Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.  All of the suffering imposed upon us is from satan. God knew Adam would sin. God already had a plan for our redemption. Isiaha 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me, To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; God hears our cries. Psalm 34:15and17 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The righteous cry out and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. God feels our sorrows. God is longsuffering with us and for us. Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
       Christ did not only die for the payment of the sins of mankind. Christ’s sacrafice was also for the things in heaven. Hebrews 9:23-24 Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. The creation of mankind allowed for the Spirit of God, the Christ, to become flesh and a sacrifice for heaven. God is a God of mercy; He did not intend to use mankind solely for the birth of Christ with the intent to cast mankind into hell once we had served our purpose. John 5:24-25 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into the judgement, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the son of God; and those who hear will  live. God sent Christ to save heaven and mankind. Matthew 18:11and14 For the Son of Man has come to save that which is lost. Even so it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Luke 9:56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them. Luke 15:4 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he has found it? John 6:38-40 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 12:46-47 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. John 17:20-21 I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 1Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 1Timothy 2:3-4 For this is good and acceptable of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
       Christ not only came to sacrifice Himself; but He came as our Teacher. Christ is the Word of God. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh. John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,... Question: Is everything that Christ said meant to be taken literally? No, it is not. Christ spoke both in parables and figuratively. The parable of the sower is only one of many parables. John 16:25 These things I have spoken to you in figurative language;... In Matthew 16:23 and in Mark 8:33, Christ called Peter, satan. Did He mean that literally?In John 8:44 while teaching in the temple, the pharisees confronted Christ about many things; Christ said that they were of their father, the devil. Did  Christ mean that literally? In Matthew 23:15 Christ said that they were sons of hell. Did Christ mean that literally?
       Christ taught us how we should treat our enemies; and how we should treat one another. We should treat one another with love, kindness and compassion; forgiving one another our trespasses. Mark 11:25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father may also forgive you your trespasses. Is Christ a hypocrite? Certainly not! Why would Christ teach us to forgive those who trespass against us; and forgive even our enemies; then He not do the same? Many people feel better when they think that “bad people” are going to hell. This should not be so. These thoughts are cruel and from the evil one. Stop, and think about the severity of hell. Where is the mercy of God in the heart of christians? I understand the teachings of modern day christianity; If you do not repent, be baptized and obey God then you can not be saved. What about the sinner, being executed for his crimes, hanging on the cross next to Christ? He did not get baptized. He did not have time to repent and prove himself worthy. Yet, Christ said to him in Luke 23:43 Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise. What about those not blessed enough to hear the gospel? What about those born before Christ? What about the mentally disabled and the demon possesed? 1Peter 3:18-19 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison. Isiaha 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me, To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to the bound; It is from my point of view, in my reading of the scriptures, in knowledge of God’s mercy;  that all of mankind will have the chance know and believe in God and His Son. John 6:40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise Him up at the last day.  Even at the last hour; Matthew 20:12 ...These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the heat of the day. Just before Christ reconciles all things unto Himself. 2Corinthians 5:18,19 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation,... Colossians 1:19-22 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross, And you who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless, and above reproach in His sight-...  Just before we pass from this age into everlasting life; when God will create new heavens and a new earth. Isiaha 65:17 For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.
      The only requirement to be saved from hell, is to believe. Matthew 18:10,11 Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. Matthew 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. John 3:15-17 ...that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 11:25 ...I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. Romans 3:21-24 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,...
       Christ speaks about “wailing and gnashing of teeth”. Christ also speaks about being “cast into outerdarkness”. Christ also speaks about being “cut in two”. It really makes me sad to hear people being so eager to want other human beings to suffer every second of every minute for the rest of eternity in hell. Wailing and gnashing of teeth for every waking second for all of eternity; that is a lot of pain.
       When Christ speaks of “everlasting fire” and “wailing and gnashing of teeth” it is usaully in conjuction with a parable or in figurative terms. Christ is trying to give us examples so that we can understand about the destruction of our soul. Christ speaks about being cast into the everlasting fire and about being cast into outerdarkness. In Matthew 25:41 Christ says that the everlasting fire has been prepared for the devil and his angels. God is a just judge. God is merciful. God is love. We will be rewarded by our deeds, whether good or bad.
       Will God cast the Light of Christ, the Light of life that was given to man, into an everlasting fire? The Spirit of man is from Christ; it is Light. Matthew 24:51 ...and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. The spirit of man and the soul of man are two seperate and distinct entities. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. By your actions, your choices and even by the thoughts of your heart you make your soul light or darkness, good or evil. The soul of a man is the essence of a man. Your soul is individually and uniqely yours.
       Are there demons in the world? Do they enter the soul of man? Matthew 12:43-45 When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, I will return to my own house from which I came. And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and finds seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; then the last state of that man is more wicked than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation. Matthew 17:17-18 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and pervese generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me. And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Mark 1:23-26 Now there was a man in the synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are- the Holy One of God!  But Jesus rebuked him, saying, Be quite, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Mark 5:2 and 8-9 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,... For He said to him, Come out of the man, unclean spirit! Then He asked him what is your name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion; for we are many.
       Matthew 13:36-42 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parables of the tares of the field”. He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered together and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of the fire. There will be wailind and gnashing of teeth. The wicked one does not have sons, literally. “The sons of the wicked one” are those whom the wicked one has decieved or literally taken possession of their soul. In this parable, it is the seperation of good and evil that is the key point; the seperation of light and dark. The enemy is evil/darkness, the devil and his angels. They are the ones to be cast into the everlasting fire. It has been prepared for them. Souls of sinners and those who were demon possessed will be purified and/or destroyed by the Spirit of Christ. Romans 6:5-6 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
       When Christ reconciles all things unto Himself, the spirits of light will pass through Christ into heaven. Colossians 1:19-20 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. When our spirit and soul are reconciled to God, through Christ; all evil that was in our soul will be destroyed, if it was of our own, if the evil in our soul is not our own it will be repelled; There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Evil spirits that were in possession of souls will be repelled. Satan and his angels will be repelled. Everything left behind,everything that does not pass through the Spirit of Christ, will be destroyed or turned into hell. God will not make the soul of man suffer such a great torment as hell for all of eternity; God is merciful. The soul that does not pass through the Spirit of Christ will be destroyed: in that moment, there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. A few souls will pass through with their souls mostly intact, others will not have anything left; there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. The Spirit of Christ is to evil as aluminium foil is to microwaves. Microwaves can not pass through metal; evil can not pass through the Spirit of Christ. Just like a furnace is to gold; all impurities will be burned off, when the spirit and soul are reconciled back through Christ and unto God; there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 3:11-12 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Matthew 9:49 For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.
       When Christ says “everyone”, what does that mean? It means just that, everyone! That means you too.That means the sinners,and that means the christians too; the christians who have repented, been baptized and try to live a righteous life. Everyone will be seasoned with fire; there will be wailing and gnasing of teeth. Everyone must pass through the Spirit of Christ when Christ reconciles all things to Himself. Every man born into the world has the light of Christ; Christ will reconcile all of that light unto Himself. There will be a few who will make it to the kingdom of heaven. That is what is meant in; Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.-And John 17:2 ...as you have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. The many and the few. Heaven and the kingdom; they are two different things. Many will enter heaven, but few will enter the kingdom. Luke 18:24-27 ...How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. And those who heard it said, “who then can be saved?”  But He said “The things that are impossible with men are possible with God”. Being saved from hell and entering the kingdom are not the same; just because someone is saved from hell and going to heaven, does not mean that they will enter the –kingdom- of heaven. Christ will keep all that God has given Him. Every man born into the world has the Light of Christ. That Light will be reconciled unto God. Everyone will be seasoned with fire, everyone will be baptized with fire, everyone will pass through the Spirit of Christ. The light of life is from the Light of Christ. It belongs to Him. He will reclaim it. Your soul is different and seperate from your spirit. How much of your soul will remain when your spirit is reconciled to God? There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
      Going to heaven is not a reward for bad behavior. Just because the spirit of man is saved from hell does not mean that the wicked person will have ecerlasting life with joy. If the soul is destroyed when the spirit passes through Christ, eternity will be one of sorrow. There is more than one heaven. Isaiah 65:17 For behold I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. No one will remember this life. Gifts will be according to how much of your soul is left after having all of the impurities burned off in the furnace of gold which is the Spirit of Christ. Some will not have any power, some will transverse from one heaven to another and a very few will be allowed into the kindom of heaven. To say the kingdom of heaven is to refer to the kingdom of Christ; because there will be more than one kingdom in the heavens. Very few will enter the kingdom of Christ. But for an even fewer few; there will be some who have a kingdom bestowed upon them. Luke 22:28-30 But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials, And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
       When Christ reconciles all things to Himself; at the end of this age, when the age of man has been fullfilled; the evil that is in the the soul of man will be destroyed, the earth and it’s heaven will be turned into hell with satan and his angels trapped in the everlasting fire. Our old life will be remembered no more. We will begin a new life; a life in which death no longer exist nor does sickness or disease. We will be like the angels in heaven. The Spirit of Light given to us by Christ will shine forth. Our gifts, our rewards, our power or our condemnation will be determined by how much of our soul is left after our soul and spirit pass through the Spirit of Christ. In that moment there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. The light of man is a gift from God. It is the Light of Christ. Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. John 1:3-4 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men, John 1:9 That was the true Light which gives Light to every man coming into the world.
Peace unto you,
Steve

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