In religion things are often fragmented and lose. Only the Holy Spirit can centralize all things and make them one.
We see that more in Christianity rather than Judaism, because Jews have returned to the study of their core calling, which is the study of the TORAH, but in Christianity sacraments and observances have replaced the study of God's word. Sermons often deal with isolated pieces of Scripture producing a maze of ideas, like a puzzle that does not fit; at least not yet. Only those that have the Holy Spirit, or rather have yielded to the Holy Spirit produce oneness.
Jesus said, [John 16:13] But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
When Christianity was being formulated (under Roman Emperor Constantine) as the official organized religion the unified and centralized beliefs, with official confessions and liturgy, became the prime tenets of faith. But that was more for political reasons rather than for spiritually educational reasons. Later, out of many available books the church chose those books they had believed were inspired by God; mostly Paul's letters and later also came the gospels, which constitute the New Testament.
Now. Why do I say that? Like a tree which starts with a seed, then comes the root, then the stem, the branches and leaves so it is with God's word. We must always go back to the origin, the root, and the central core of God's message for us.
Regarding salvation
1. [John 6:44] No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
2. [65] For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.
These two verse constitute the core (also logically speaking) message from which the tree grows.
You know about the seed, field and the tares, of which only God the Father knows, we can only recognize them by their fruits (Matthew 7:20-22).
Gospel of John 3:15-21. We must read the entire context.
[15] As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.
[16] For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
(* He bought the field in which He found the treasure [Matthew 13:38; 44] Jesus explained that [38] 'the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the evil sons.' Based on the above explanation Jesus speaks now about the treasure [44] 'The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field' (the world). Why? Not because of the field itself, but rather because of the hidden treasure in that field. The treasure are His sons. *)
[17] For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
(* not the ENTIRE world, but generally speaking the whole world is paid for and everyone has an equal chance. *)
(* Watch the word "JUDGE" or "CONDEMN" [Original Greek κρίνω krinō kree'-no: to properly to distinguish, that is to decide (mentally or judicially); by implication to try, condemn, punish:—avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think…] By having so many meanings and applications it is not easy to decide in which context Jesus said it. That's the reason the context helps us understand it. *)
[18] He who believes in Him is not judged; (* that is then settled for one has received the grace to believe*)
he who does not believe has been judged already (* that is then settled also but in the other direction of being the field or the tare *),
because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (* Point 1 above from the root verse John 6:44 one was not drawn to the Father's Son *).
Now the reasons why the entire world does not believe:
[19] This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
(* People were too much in darkness and loved it more than the light so they have condemned themselves to an eternal separation from God and the eternal life with Him. They will be nonexistent, not tormented by fire, they will be no more, for they have served their purpose already. God knows their purpose, e.g., filed houses the tares and the seed so that they may grow. Once they bring forth fruit they are harvested; one bore the bad fruits and the other the good fruits. That's God's love. *)
[20] For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. [21] But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.
(* Obviously those carry even the tiniest grain/element of God's covenant with Abraham, so those that are of the light, of the truth, and display some affection for their Creator; come to the Son, repent and get saved. Some go further and get born of water and Spirit and some still go further being born of the Spirit and sin no more. *)
The greek word κρίνω (krinō) speaks of sorting out as to who is who and it is decided as to the kind or quality one is and that determines how will one end up; seeing God or never seeing God, be or be no more. Relate this to 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?"
(* Although Apostle Paul did not know the Gospels he confirmed Jesus's words because of the same Spirit in John 3:15-21 *).
"Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, [10] nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. [11] Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God."
(* Sinners came to Christ, repent and are saved, but those who do not their own fruits condemn them or rather doom them. Their own deeds like fornicating, practicing idolatry, committing adultery… etc, and never repenting for it shows their true love and their kind and true quality - good or bad. Hence, Paul calls people as fornicators or adulterers, and not that they just commit these things, but rather because they practice them, and what they practice they become and that seals them or stamps them for destruction or life eternal. Good or bad… by their fruits they are known. However, some people WERE like that before, but they have changed and are no more swindlers, thieves or adulterers. That's the power of the Gospel. *)
And finally
Judgment or condemnation speaks only of a decision after the quality (good or bad) is found.
Read these verses: Matthew 12:33, Matthew 13:48. The fruit decides as to who is who, not religiousness or going to church or talking nice words, etc…
JESUS RETURNS TO TAKE THE FRUITFUL GRAIN, HIS MULTIPLIED WHEAT TO THE PLACE WHERE HE IS RIGHT NOW. WE, AS GOD'S PEACEMAKERS AND SONS EVENTUALLY BECOME OVERCOMERS AND BRING MUCH FRUIT.
[John 15:8] My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. - Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment