Killing God - Part 16 The Chuch Cont.

God had made a promise to Adam; that in 5500 years, salvation would come to mankind when God was to appear on earth. At this ancient time, God knew His destiny: He had to die!

Adam knew of his “brother” to whom he is likened. Being half-brothers, Adam was made a living soul but Jesus a living Spirit. ²⁸⁶ The two were of different natures; Adam natural and Jesus supra-natural. Although the people knew of God’s Covenant, they still went sour. The Adamic Covenant was violated by mankind as mankind ignored God in favor of themselves.  Just as before, mankind became their own gods and did what was right in their own eyes. The “Church” mutinied against their Captain, and left to their own devices, except for one family to be saved by grace!

                Immediately after the baptism of the earth as sin was washed away, Satan influenced mankind again. For some reason Noah drank wine, perhaps in celebration of God’s blessing and the establishment of the Noahic Covenant.  Or perhaps, it was in celebration of the fruits of his own hand as he grew the first post deluvian grape crop, and enjoyed the fruits thereof.

                The Church was again established with a new Church Covenant, the old one which had fermented atop the Holy Mountain. How so? Because righteous eyes looked down on the plain and desired the things of the world. Without stretching the simile too generously, wine has great significance to the Church. This was the first time that wine was mentioned in scripture, and it was abused. Ever since, mankind’s sobriety has been clouded by the impurity of grape fermentation. Years later, Peter pointed out Noah’s sin: ²⁸⁷

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour…

What if? What if Noah had not partaken of fermented grape juice. Although this is the first mention of wine in Scripture, the commentary from sacred scriptures shows that sinners knew “adult beverages” long before: “Satan also taught Genun to bring strong drink out of corn.” Corn is an early English translation for grain. It’s likely that Cain’s people were most likely drinking beer, the easiest drink to make from grain. Noah soon did what his unrighteous cousins were doing. Since he was righteous, Noah should be given some credit. Possibly, and likely, his grapes turned to wine naturally, and he only drank innocently.

                Sin is just how Satan operates. Like physical diseases some come on with stealth, undetected until it has done damage, and others that are obvious. “Diseases” like alcoholism and drug addiction are intentional mostly through deception. Sin, likewise, is of three types: accidental, neglect, and intentional – the latter two are sins of omission and commission. Because, Noah was righteous, perhaps this sin was accidental, but even with that, sin is always from Satan. Righteous people never defend sin of any of the three types. Regardless of amount, drunkenness is sinful, and drinking is entering into temptation. However, Noah cursed Ham, his son, who had looked upon his nakedness. It is supposed that either Ham ridiculed him as people are bound to do with drunks, or either he had sexual feelings for him, All that is known for sure is that Ham sinned, and was cursed. ²⁸⁸ Similar to Adam who was not deceived, Noah was not. Like Eve who the serpent deceived, Ham was as well. Noah’s sin was accidental whereas Ham’s was intentional. He broke the Fifth Commandment before it was ever written! ²⁸⁹ That command included a promise: a long life upon God’s land. Ham didn’t get that. His line ended up in northern Africa as his seed was expelled from the “Garden” just as Adam had been long ago.

                With those two sins, one minor and one grievous, the Church had already become impure as Satan smiled. He was well on his way to killing God by re-introducing sin after the earth was baptized, with really deep water, by the way! The safety of mankind had been eroded immediately, and much more sin was to come. Thankfully, God circumcised the sky with His rainbow as a reminder of His cleansing of sin, and that it would be cleansed again but not by water. The rainbow is a symbol that God is not dead! ²⁹⁰ With God still alive is testimony that the Church is still alive. Hence, the health of the Church is still demonstrated by the pounding on the threshing floor. The Church will always have its grain and tares, and as long as God is alive, He will still separate the wheat from the chaff!

                As the generations went by, the Church continued on but was feeble. The world had a type of God, and many of them, but the One True God was nowhere to be found. God, not dead yet, breathed life into the Church. He chose Abram who still seemed to know God. Abraham was anointed to be the Papa to the Church. God appointed him; it was not self-assigned. God appeared in the flesh!

                After God returned Lot to Abram, there was a celebration. Melchizedek, the king of Salem (later Jerusalem), brought forth bread and wine and blessed Abram. The people tithed to Melchizedek then rejected the goods but asked for the people themselves! ²⁹¹ Many theologians believe that Melchizedek was the King of Peace – Salem – God in the flesh. Indeed, God when he finally appeared, was a Priest of the order of Melchizedek. ²⁹² It appears that God came Himself to start the Church afresh, just as He did in Jerusalem – the Kingdom of David.  ²⁹³ God never changes but only appears to mankind differently! It is not a far stretch for God to appear as a man, even a king, in those days because he did that again before he died!

                Thus, Abram with his new nature and renamed Abraham, started a new covenant. This covenant was for the resurrected Church. Again, this institution had neither a location nor home. God was nomadic as were His people. After Melchizedek went back to Peace the Church was Abraham and his seed. The Covenant is summarized by faithfulness to God in exchange for spiritual prosperity. Specifically, Jacob, soon to be renamed Israel, after wrestling with God, became the progenitor of the Messiah and the promise of the Land of Milk and Honey – a return to Paradise! ²⁹⁴ The Abrahamic Covenant was a repeat of the Adamic and the Noahic, using different words for the same promise – a Messiah was promised!

                The typical Hebrew didn’t understand the concept of Messiah. They failed to understand that God was with them. He was to be called Immanuel. ²⁹⁵ God, without name, when He appears in the world, assigns Himself a Name. In the beginning, it was the Word. Later on, He was called Melchizedek. After He became flesh, He was called the Christ and Jesus! ²⁹⁷  He Is “God With Us”.

                Adam, Noah, and now Abraham knew God in the flesh. Abraham demonstrated it by his willingness to sacrfice his only remaining son on Mount Moriah – later to be the place of the threshing floor, Solomon’s Temple, and the Dome of the Rock. That Rock is “the foundation of peace”, and is in the midst of the Garden at Jerusalem! That day on Mount Moriah, Abraham stood on the Holy Ground on which the Church was built. Of course, it wasn’t Moriah but God Himself who was the Rock. ²⁹⁸

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

                The Church was built on THE Rock… no one less. Let this be discussed for a moment. The church fathers say that Peter is the rock on which the Church was built. This comes from Jesus who said, “That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,” from Matthew 16:18. Is that true? Peter is English for the Greek name Petrus, meaning “rock” or “stone”. ²⁹⁹ Thus, it seems logical that Peter is to be the namesake of the Church, and it would seem that upon his person the Church would be built.

                One should ask, does “this rock” mean Jesus who was speaking in the first person, or does is he referring to Peter. Possibly both!  God Himself is the foundation of the Church, Him being the tried stone on which it was built. ³⁰⁰ At the same time God referred to the cornerstone. What is the importance of that? When masons begin the foundation, it must be square and level. The cornerstone is the datum from which the whole building is built true. It must be laid perfect, and square to the world such that the finished building is beautiful, perfect, and to the designer’s intent. That “Cornerstone” served the same purpose for constructing the spiritual building.  Jesus the Messiah himself is the Cornerstone of the Church as Paul himself explained: ³⁰¹

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone…

The Church, indeed, was built upon God from Isaiah, the prophets, and the apostles. That threshing floor way back when was the Church. When the prophets foretold Jesus, that was the Church. When Abraham paid tribute to Melchizedek that was the Church. They were the foundation! Then came the apostles.  They too were the foundation, laying the spiritual concrete which still exists today. Andrew, Bartholomew, John, and all the others were the rock on which the Church was built. Likewise, what Jesus said to Peter is true. On him, the Church was built. Ironically, the Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome is where Peter is said to be buried. That is considered the “greatest church in Christendom”. ³⁰²

Generally speaking, the catholic church is Rome was indeed the foundation of the Church. Of course, the foundation was laid all over Asia Minor, Africa, Britain and the entire Roman Empire. Saint Peter is identified as being the head of the catholic church in Rome as bishop. After Emperor Constantine turned to Christianity, the bishop of Rome had increased importance due to proximity to the emperor. ³⁰⁴ Under Theodosius I, Christianity became the state religion of Rome. (Not Catholicism but Christianity.)  Figure #2 shows he dioceses of the Roman church at that time – 395 A.D. As the power of the Roman church increased, and its universality noted, the Roman Catholic Church evolved but after it’s split into the western (Catholic), and Eastern (Orthodox) faiths.

Whether one likes it or not, most Christians are products of the Roman church, and Peter was its first recognized bishop. “The greatest church (building) in Christendom” was indeed built on Peter, but the Church universal – catholic – was built on God with His flesh as its cornerstone! It is important, though, that a rudimentary Church always existed, but without a Cornerstone. God laid the foundation but the stones weren’t laid until much later. For it to be true and perfect, the Builder awaited the Datum. He was promised, and the prophets knew all about him!

Figure 2: The Romans Empire - 395 AD ³⁰³

²⁸⁶ Holy Bible 1 Cor 15:45

²⁸⁷ ibid; 1 Pet 5:8

²⁸⁸ ibid; Gen 9

²⁸⁹ ibid; Exod 20:12

²⁹⁰ ibid; Rev 4:3; 10:1

²⁹¹ ibid; Gen 14

²⁹² ibid; Psalm 110.4

²⁹³ ibid; Acts 2:3

²⁹⁴ ibid: Gen 32:24-30

²⁹⁶ ibid; Isa 7:14

²⁹⁷ ibid; Mat 2:16

²⁹⁸ ibid; 1 Cor 10:1-4

²⁹⁹ https://www.etymonline.com/word/peter

³⁰⁰ Holy Bible; Isa 28:16

³⁰¹ ibid; Ephes 2:20

³⁰² Wikipedia; “Saint Peter’s Basilica”

³⁰³ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Atlas_of_the_Middle_Ages#/media/File:Roman_empire_395.jpg

³⁰⁴ Wikipedia; “History of the Catholic Church”

Killing God - Part 15 The Church Cont.

God is Almighty since He is Creator. On the other hand, Satan is limited by God. Whereas God is everywhere at any time – omnipresent – Satan is limited to one place at a time. Most of Satan’s time is spent traveling to create chaos with the most righteous and faithful. Satan is allowed to tempt but can never lay a hand on anyone. ²⁶² Hence, sickness and death are not of Satan but the punishment on mankind for original sin. If mankind had not sinned, he could have stayed in the Garden which, just as heaven, is without disease, pain, or death. ²⁶³ Undue credit must not be given to Satan or by ignorance power is bestowed upon him which he really doesn’t have.

The devil doesn’t make a person do anything!  When people sin, one sin at a time, it is a poor choice at a time. People don’t have to sin; they choose to. Sin is disgusting to God, not because of the sin itself but that His children choose the law of sin and Satan over His Law and Himself.  God calls and chooses all people, not being a respecter of persons. ^{264 265 266} The grace is all from God but people must be willing to come. God never forces righteousness on anyone because truth frees from sin. ²⁶⁷ Satan’s test, then, is to break the will of the Christian. It makes sense that Satan neglects those not born again because His time is precious because destroying the Church is paramount. Therefore, any power which Satan has is limited by God. People should never elevate Satan to godhood because he is not God!

The Church belongs to God, and its walls are an invisible barrier which God puts around each righteous person. That barrier is impermeable to Satan and his legends. ²⁶⁸ John 3 is one of the most important chapters in the Bible outside of those sharing Jesus’ death and resurrection. The entire Book of Job follows explaining the safety which those born-again have after they trust God for their life. When people are transformed by rebirth, their allegiance to Satan is dismissed, and they willingly obey God! It’s not by works by which they will be saved, but by works which love is shown. ²⁶⁹ That difference is an important distinction because obedience to whom is how one knows his master. ²⁷⁰ Transformed people have different natures, going from sinful to righteous natures. Their will is exchanged for God’s will! That desire is professed by the Lord’s Prayer which is also the Christian’s Prayer. ²⁷¹ The war in which Satan seeks to kill God are battles of the will – trillions of tiny battles with Satan gaining territory one sin at a time. Sinners by choice, aid and abet Satan in his attempt to kill God!

The story of Job and his battle for God against Satan is the epitome of any righteous person’s own battle. Righteous people desire that God should win so much that they become a living sacrfice. ²⁷² What is the reasonable service of one truly born-again? To exchange their will for God’s. To be a useful servant of God the duty of a righteous person is to serve God and be subject to His authority. In order to be subservient to God, righteous people love Him. The love is not superficial but with all the soldier’s heart, mind, soul, and strength! ²⁷³

Good soldiers of God defend God, and the Law of God. They never are to defend sin! Satan destroys the authority of God by getting his soldiers to defend the law of sin. God’s soldiers are seditious by minimizing sinful behaviors and thoughts. Those who are not adopted sons of God are children of the devil and do the desires of their father. ²⁷⁴ To be God’s faithful soldiers, His adopted children must do the desires of their Divine Father. As Job’s allegiance is tested, so is each and every individual Christian’s.

Christian soldiers are not left on their own, God is with them just as with Job; guiding and protecting them and keeping them from harm in the safety of God’s hedge! When the end comes, God’s people are no longer safe but saved. ²⁷⁵ When a soldier of God is confronted at the threshing floor in heaven – the judgment seat, God will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” and will be rewarded for fighting Satan. ²⁷⁶ All God’s soldiers are the Church, and with the Church’s allegiance, victory is God’s. Ironically, He can win without the army of God but his win is with joy if His army is intact.

One good and significant example of the Church is in sacred literature. However, it is presented only to demonstrate the tactics of Satan to undermine God by destroying the faith of the faithful. Let the threshing floor of Noah’s time be expounded upon: ²⁷⁷

Then God revealed to him (Jared) again the promise He had made to Adam; He explained to him the 5500 years (from Adam’s sin until salvation comes), and revealed unto him the mystery of His coming upon the earth (the mystery of God of which Paul wrote). And God said to Jared, "As to that fire which thou hast taken from the altar to light the lamp withal, let it abide with you to give light to the bodies; and let it not come out of the cave, until the body of Adam comes out of it (In the end of days).

But, O Jared, take care of the fire, that it burn bright in the lamp; neither go thou again out of the cave, until thou receivest an order through a vision, and not in an apparition, when seen by thee. "Then command again thy people not to hold intercourse with the children of Cain, and not to learn their ways; for I am God who loves not hatred and works of iniquity." (Cain’s line  produced “the daughters of men”.) God gave also many other commandments to Jared, and blessed him. And then withdrew His Word (pre-incarnate Jesus) from him.

Then Jared drew near with his children, took some fire, and came down to the cave, and lighted the lamp before the body of Adam; and he gave his people commandments as God had told him to do. This sign happened to Jared at the end of his four hundred and fiftieth year; as did also many other wonders, we do not record. But we record only this one for shortness sake, and in order not to lengthen our narrative.

And Jared continued to teach his children eighty years; but after that they began to transgress the commandments he had given them, and to do many things without his counsel (honoring not their father). They began to go down from the Holy Mountain one after another, and to mix with the children of Cain, in foul fellowships. Now the reason for which the children of Jared went down the Holy Mountain, is this, that we will now reveal unto you. (Until then Seth’s line had been so righteous, being separate – sanctified, on the Holy Mountain that God had considered them angels, and were referred to as “Sons of God”).

After Cain had gone down to the land of dark soil (off the Holy Mountain, and the soil was dark physically and spiritually), and his children had multiplied therein, there was one of them, whose name was Genun, son of Lamech the blind who slew Cain. But as to this Genun, Satan came into him in his childhood; and he made sundry trumpets and horns, and string instruments, cymbals and psalteries, and lyres and harps, and flutes; and he played on them at all times and at every hour (instruments had been unknown until then, except maybe the shofar).

And when he played on them, Satan came into them, so that from among them were heard beautiful and sweet sounds, that ravished the heart. (Satan made seductive music to be played on the instruments). Then he gathered companies upon companies (various bands) to play on them; and when they played, it pleased well the children of Cain, who inflamed themselves with sin among themselves, and burnt as with fire (sexual passion); while Satan inflamed their hearts, one with another, and increased lust among them.

Satan also taught Genun to bring strong drink out of corn; (alcoholic spirits) and this Genun used to bring together companies upon companies in drink-houses (the bars of antiquity); and brought into their hands all manner of fruits and flowers; and they drank (partied) together. Thus did this Genun multiply sin exceedingly; he also acted with pride, and taught the children of Cain to commit all manner of the grossest wickedness, which they knew not; and put them up to manifold doings which they knew not before (Lead them to temptation by removing inhibitions).

Then Satan, when he saw that they yielded to Genun and hearkened to him in everything he told them, rejoiced greatly, increased Genun's understanding, until he took iron and with it made weapons of war. (The first mention of war, and it was instigated by Satan).

Then when they were drunk, hatred and murder increased among them; one man used violence against another to teach him evil taking his children and defiling them before him (pedophilia). And when men saw they were overcome, and saw others that were not overpowered, those who were beaten came to Genun, took refuge with him, and he made them his confederates (serve another master).

Then sin increased among them greatly; until a man married his own sister, or daughter, or mother, and others; or the daughter of his father's sister, so that there was no more distinction of relationship (incestuous relationships… and “others” were surely “other”men), and they no longer knew what is iniquity (sin became the norm); but did wickedly, and the earth was defiled with sin, and they angered God the Judge, who had created them.

But Genun gathered together companies upon companies (band after band), that played on horns and on all the other instruments we have already mentioned, at the foot of the Holy Mountain; and they did so in order that the children of Seth (those who were righteous) who were on the Holy Mountain should hear it (tempt them with pleasure).

But when the children of Seth heard the noise, they wondered, and came by companies, and stood on the top of the mountain to look at those below; and they did thus a whole year. (The first “Woodstock-type rock concert ” it seems). When, at the end of that year, Genun saw that they were being won over to him little by little (sin is gradual), Satan entered into him, and taught him to make dyeing-stuffs for garments of divers patterns, and made him understand how to dye crimson and purple and what not.

And the sons of Cain who wrought all this, and shone in beauty and gorgeous apparel, gathered together at the foot of the mountain in splendour, with horns and gorgeous dresses, and horse races, committing all manner of abominations. Meanwhile the children of Seth, who were on the Holy Mountain, prayed and praised God, in the place of the hosts of angels who had fallen; wherefore God had called them "angels," because He rejoiced over them greatly.

But after this, they no longer kept His commandment, nor held by the promise He had made to their fathers; but they relaxed from their fasting and praying, and from the counsel of Jared their father. (Pleasure relaxes them from spirituality) And they kept on gathering together on the top of the mountain, to look upon the children of Cain, from morning until evening (Like Woodstock), and upon what they did, upon their beautiful dresses and ornaments (even the righteous gave way to sin).

Then the children of Cain looked up from below, and saw the children of Seth, standing in troops on the top of the mountain; and they called to them to come down to them. (what you are seeing and hearing won't hurt!) But the children of Seth said to them from above, "We don't know the way." (Certainly not God’s Way!)  Then Genun, the son of Lamech, heard them say they did not know the way, and he bethought himself how he might bring them down (Genun showed them another way).

Then Satan appeared to him by night, saying, "There is no way for them to come down from the mountain on which they dwell; but when they come to-morrow, say to them, 'Come ye to the western side of the mountain; there you will find the way of a stream of water, that comes down to the foot of the mountain, between two hills; come down that way to us.'" (The “way” was perilous and likely broad, according the New Testament).

Then when it was day, Genun blew the horns and beat the drums below the mountain, as he was wont. The children of Seth heard it, and came as they used to do (entered into temptation). Then Genun said to them from down below, "Go to the western side of the mountain, there you will find the way (the wrong path) to come down."

But when the children of Seth heard these words from him, they went back into the cave to Jared, to tell him all they had heard. Then when Jared heard it, he was grieved; for he knew that they would transgress his counsel.

After this a hundred men of the children of Seth gathered together (peer pressure), and said among themselves, "Come, let us go down to the children of Cain, and see what they do, and enjoy ourselves with them." (Join the concert!)

But when Jared heard this of the hundred men, his very soul was moved, and his heart was grieved. He then arose with great fervour, and stood in the midst of them, and adjured them by the blood of Abel the just, "Let not one of you go down from this holy and pure mountain, in which our fathers have ordered us to dwell." But when Jared saw that they did not receive his words, he said unto them, "O my good and innocent and holy children, know that when once you go down from this holy mountain, God will not allow you to return again to it." (To deny God after knowing him would be as crucifying him again).

He again adjured them, saying, "I adjure by the death of our father Adam, and by the blood of Abel, of Seth, of Enos, of Cainan, and of Mahalaleel, to hearken to me, and not to go down from this holy mountain (apostasy); for the moment you leave it, you will be reft of life and of mercy; and you shall no longer be called 'children of God,' but 'children of the devil.'" (They became the sons of perdition). But they would not hearken to his words.

Enoch at that time was already grown up, and in his zeal for God, be arose and said, "Hear me, O ye sons of Seth, small and great--when ye transgress the commandment of our fathers, and go down from this holy mountain--ye shall not come up hither again for ever." (Enoch, because he was true to God never suffered death but was taken up to heaven. He never suffered the flood). But they rose up against Enoch, and would not hearken to his words, but went down from the Holy Mountain.

And when they looked at the daughters of Cain, at their beautiful figures, and at their hands and feet dyed with colour, and tattooed in ornaments on their faces, the fire of sin was kindled in them. Then Satan made them look most beautiful before the sons of Seth, as he also made the sons of Seth appear of the fairest in the eyes of the daughters of Cain, so that the daughters of Cain lusted after the sons of Seth like ravenous beasts, and the sons of Seth after the daughters of Cain, until they committed abomination with them. (fornication).

But after they had thus fallen into this defilement, they returned by the way they had come, and tried to ascend the Holy Mountain. But they could not, because the stones of that holy mountain were of fire flashing before them, by reason of which they could not go up again. (Apparently, the cherubim also guarded the gate to the Holy Mountain just as they did to the Garden so that they could not re-enter).

And God was angry with them, and repented of them because they had come down from glory, and had thereby lost or forsaken their own purity or innocence, and were fallen into the defilement of sin. Then God sent His Word (pre-incarnate Jesus) to Jared, saying, "These thy children, whom thou didst call 'My children,'--behold they have transgressed My commandment, and have gone down to the abode of perdition, and of sin (doing the things of the world). Send a messenger to those that are left, that they may not go down, and be lost."

Then Jared wept before the Lord, and asked of Him mercy and forgiveness. But he wished that his soul might depart from his body, rather than hear these words from God about the going down of his children from the Holy Mountain. But he followed God's order, and preached unto them not to go down from that holy mountain, and not to hold intercourse with the children of Cain (the true Way). But they heeded not his message, and would not obey his counsel.

The “Church” was those of the line of Seth who did righteous in the eyes of the Lord. The “world” were of the seed of Cain who did the things of the flesh. On the Holy Mountain, the righteous were safe, the entryway to the Mountain being guarded. The Holy Mountain is a simile of the Tree of Life, and the plain, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, which truly the tree of beauty, pleasure, and reason. Just as God’s Holy Ones in the Garden were seduced by the serpent, ²⁷⁸ Cain and Cain’s seed represent the serpent. Just as Satan spoke through the subtle snake in the Garden, he spoke through Cain and his offspring. Indeed, today the world is more the seed of Cain than of Seth! The lesson is to beware of what is spoken and seen!

Gradually, all the righteous people who looked down at the pleasures of sin, drifted away from God, and soon found themselves living in sin. Their apostasy was blasphemy: elevating their own desires above God’s will. It’s not necessary to deny God but only to have other gods besides him. ²⁷⁹ Literally, that is “in His face”.  It’s likely that Seth’s line kept a semblance of believe but they gradually began to serve another master. Very few righteous people were left in Church, so to speak – the Holy Mountain. The Church died that day, leaving only eight people to resurrect it! As God cannot be killed, neither can the church. Scripture says that the gates of Hell cannot prevail against it. ²⁸⁰ Just like God, the Church which was in the beginning with Adam and Eve, is immortal. It will stand even when the earth is destroyed.

In the days of Noah, the Church succumbed to the world, but a remnant was saved. It was the Ark of God which saved eight people. God’s Law is the straight Gate through the doors of Noah’s Ark, and it’s hull is the hedge which saved a few.

The first time, the world was destroyed by water; never to happen again, but the next time it will be by fire!  ²⁸¹  

… the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

                The earth will be destroyed again, and of course, the righteous will be saved just as before. But when will it be? Whenever the times are as in the days of Noah, the Lord shall come to judge. ²⁸² There again, will the threshing floor be pounded, and the chaff separated from the wheat! In the days of Noah God was “long-suffering”.  ²⁸³ It seems that God was patient but suffered greatly. God was not killed but He was terribly wounded for his desire was then, as now, that none should perish!

                When God is under heavy fire, with ease, but distress, he defeats the enemy. God could have laid down his life and died right then, but if He did that, even more would perish. Because God so loved the world, in Noah’s Day the Church lived on by resurrection. The Holy Mountain – Mount Herman – was moved for a time; to Mount Arayat ²⁸⁴ where Noah built and altar to the Lord and had Church! For a time, God’s Church had walls as Noah’s Ark became God’s Temple. God didn’t need that Ark and now it lies decayed on the shoulders of Arayat - one time the Church of God. From there, as in the early 1800s, the Church became “the traveling Church”, going wherever people sought God.

                Observe that in the days of Noah, Satan could not and did not destroy the Church. It is imperishable. Note that neither did he destroy the righteous. They seemingly continued to live – for a sort time – but it was by their own devices. Satan encouraged them, and God allowed them to perish, but it was of their own accord. The righteous, along with the evil ones, all sacrificed themselves for pleasure. Satan smiled, and God wept!  Neither did God leave nor forsake them, but they did God. ²⁸⁵ However, God was wounded but not mortally! He lived on alongside the Church.

²⁶² Holy Bible; Job 1

²⁶³ ibid; Rev 21:4

²⁶⁴ ibid; Rom 8:28

²⁶⁵ ibid; John 15:16

²⁶⁶ ibid; 1 Pet 1:17

²⁶⁷ ibid; John 8:32

²⁶⁸ ibid; Job 1:10

²⁶⁹ ibid; John 14:15

²⁷⁰ ibid; Mat 6:24

²⁷¹ ibid; Mat 6:9-13

²⁷² ibid; Rom 12:1

²⁷³ ibid; Mark 12:30

²⁷⁴ ibid; John 8:44

²⁷⁵ ibid; Rom 13:11

²⁷⁶ ibid; Mat 25:23

²⁷⁷ 2 Adam and Eve 18-19; parentheses the authors

²⁷⁸ Holy Bible; Gen 3:1

²⁷⁹ ibid; Exod 20:3

²⁸⁰ ibid; Mat 16:18

²⁸¹ ibid; 2 Pet 3:6-7

²⁸² ibid: Mat 32:37

²⁸³ ibid; 1 Pet 3:20

²⁸⁴ ibid; Gen 8:20

²⁸⁵ ibid; Heb 13:5

Killing God - Part 14 The Church

The Church

                Most think of the Church as those who attend service in a particular building or belong to a particular denomination. Others have more latitude. They admit that there are other churches but cling to their church as the best. According to convention the universal Church is capitalized whereas references to individual churches are not unless preceded by a particular church whether denominational are not.

                Christians who think alike and have similar doctrines seek to worship together. That is for convenience for various reasons; among them are to be in accord with one another. Thus, buildings are the brick and mortar of specific doctrine. Therein should be harmony but there is often still not. To honor their version of God, buildings are erected to admonish their versions of truth. Others reject doctrine in order to return to the truth – without a version. That is called the “restoration movement” and is indeed, a noble endeavor. With poetic justice, though, even those who seek truth arrive at new versions of the truth. Versions of different and contrasting accounts of the same idea.

                Truth is profound and absolute. Everything either is or is not, what is termed black and white. “Is represents reality and “is not” the lack of reality. Black represents darkness, and white light. Truth is congruence to reality, and using circular reasoning, truth is what is!  For instance, denying God does not make Him less real, and believing in evolution does not make that so! It is either one or the other – black or white. The case for Creation has already been presented for there to Exist a god. Creation implies an unseen and unknown power. Theists accept the fact that what is, is intelligent design. Atheists deny it is intelligent but complex by probability and mutation which they call “evolution”. However, in compliance to the second law of thermodynamics, mutations do not move toward order but disorder. The metric, or measurement for disorder is called “entropy”. The energy it takes for thermodynamic change is lost forever, being non-reversible. Changing from one state to another means losses which are irrecoverable.

                Think of DNA. With time DNA mutates because of interference to the biological system. Genetic diseases come from mutated DNA. Think of a well-known genetic deficiency, perhaps Down’s Syndrome. (I pick that only because it is well-known.) From an appearance standpoint, differences are obvious – those who have it are different than the norm. Actually, although they are quiet, loveable and happy, those who seek human perfection seek to destroy these happy people because they often are a little inconvenient, requiring special needs.

                Now for the point: most but not all Down’s Syndrome people are infertile or have a low fertility rate. Many can pro-create though but if allowed to the chances are is that their seed would have Down’s Syndrome as well. ²³⁶ Thus, the “mutation” of the gene would create what society obviously considers “lesser” people. (God does not. They too were created in His image! Abortion should never be used to destroy what God has made.) This condition is used to demonstrate the non-isentropic processes in biology. That they are “lesser” is inferred from society’s propagation that the loving thing to do is destroy them in the womb. (Note: Charles Darwin may be dead but his “survival of the fittest” is still alive, and used by Marxists of all stripes.)

                The first law of dynamics is that energy can neither be created nor destroyed but can be transformed from one form to another. ²³⁷ Indeed, the “Big Bang” did create matter from energy but used intensely compacted matter to expand. That theory does not explain the origin of the matter nor the energy to “create” the universe. The thermodynamic impossibility to do that is called a “discontinuity”.  Truth indicates that that was an impossibility.

                To “correct” that theory Higg’s Boson was discovered. ²³⁸ That theory provides the fluid of life which imbues the cosmos. As such, that boson is called the “God Particle” because it mimics the something from nothing concept of God.  Some theists accept that theory because of its similarity to Genesis 1:1. All though that may be, the God Particle would take trillions of years to do what God did on the first day! ²³⁹ Translators have interpreted the Hebrew yowm to be from sun-up to sun-down. ²⁴⁰ That description of the first day precludes the sun which was created on the second day. Time was created on the first day using God’s “clock”, and our clock – the sun – was created on the second day. However, God used our word, and our timepiece to describe what happened on day-one. Thus, those who take God’s word as truth, accept the six-day Creation as truthful.

                The Word said to Pontius Pilate, “I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice,” to which Pilate asked, “What is truth?” ²⁴¹ Pilate had his answer before he even asked! The Voice, aka the Word is truth. The Church is for those who desire God’s truth. Truth is what moves one from bondage to freedom! ²⁴² Those who know the truth – that “Yahweh Delivers” make up the Church. Hence, truth is the mortar which binds the stones together for longevity, even eternity! The Word’s message is all about love. The inside of the Church is the place of love. Because love is the nature of God, the foundation of the Church is peace. ²⁴³ The first Church consisted of God, Adam, and Eve where in the Garden of Eden, they communed! ²⁴⁴ There were no building, nor a steeple; the Church was on Holy Ground; always was, and always will be! Wherever believers speak with God is Holy Ground, and that place is “Church”. ²⁴⁵

                The Jewish people accept the Garden of Eden as “the foundation of peace” which is what Jerusalem means. ²⁴⁶ That is the exact same place God’s original “house” was built, and not by accident, but according to His Plan. ²⁴⁷ Solomon’s Temple was built on Ornan’s threshing floor, ²⁴⁸ but before that there was nothing more than holy ground, righteous people, a just God, and an altar. ²⁴⁹ That was “Church”! God had no building before the Temple and didn’t need one. ²⁵⁰

                Why the threshing floor for a Church?  Sheaves of grain were laid upon the floor and pounded, oftentimes by the feet to separate the grain from the chaff.  Then the sheaves and remaining grain would be separated further by the wind or a winnowing fan. The chaff would then be burned. Of course, the grain was used primarily for making bread. The spiritual threshing floor represents judgment. ²⁵¹ God, with His winnowing fan will clean the threshing floor, gather His wheat into the barn, and burn the chaff with unquenchable fire. ²⁵² It seems the purpose of the Church, represented by the threshing floor is for God to save the good grain – the righteous – from the chaff which are the unrighteous, and let the chaff be burned forever.

                As with any good farmer, it is desired to save all the grain possible, and not to have any consumed with fire. The purpose of the Church is to save as many as possible while allowing the disobedient to suffer the consequences of rejection. With that system, God did not need a house because the people needed to be exposed to the pounding of sin, and the winnowing fan because it is God’s fan which holds the fan. The fan is representative of the work of the Holy Spirit who does the separation. The metaphor of the threshing floor is the purpose of the Church. Think, if you will, of picking the good grain one kernel at a time. That represents personal salvation, and the individual dealing with God one on one. The Church is for corporate salvation – where the most can be saved!

                With the desired grain, if the field was weedy, tares are introduced to the threshing floor. God sows the good seed and while he rests, and adversary steps in and sews tares within the good seed. ²⁵³ Thus the threshing floor has good seed and bad. The nature of each is inherent. If the tares are not cast out with the good sheaves before the threshing, the bread would be contaminated. Hence, the threshing floor is only for the good sheaves. Fire is for the tares! That also represents the Church which is of the righteous only! The world is for the tares where the Prince of the Air uses them to grow more tares.

                The Church, therefore has no building and no need for one! It is the threshing floor there on the mountaintop where the winds are brisk and God is close by. For what purpose, then, was the temple? It was for mankind so God could be treated as a King. Solomon’s Temple was built to honor God, and alleviate the guilt of King David, who planned it. Ironically, the first church building was built by a self-absorbed king – Solomon – whose faith was full of doubt. The Temple was for everyone but the Holy of Holies was only for God, and the High Priest, if he indeed was pure enough to enter therein! Within the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant on which God presented Himself on the mercy seat for atonement for the Hebrews. ²⁵⁴ Thus, the church building is the Holy Ground where God is present as He grants mercy on those who seek it! Thus, the Abrahamic Covenant was not one of the Law but grace just as it always was.

                The Church is for covenanters who accept God’s deal. God explains it well to those who can understand – God will provide safety to those who elevate and look up to Him for their eternal lives. ²⁵⁵ The Church is for the righteous who trust in God, and it has no walls. Just as Moses had “Church” in the wilderness among the poisonous vipers, anyone can have Church anywhere! The buildings are for praise and for even sinners to come out of the world for a spell to be convicted of their sins. “Sanctuary” from Satan is a fitting description for the building. It’s holy ground, and the walls around it are God’s hedge against Satan. ²⁵⁶ Sanctuaries are places where killing is not allowed. However, in practice sanctuaries are attacked hardest, as the entire Book of Job reveals!

                Was the threshing floor on Mount Moriah the first Church? No it wasn’t! What is it now? In the viewpoint of the Christian, the threshing floor of Ornan is now the antichurch, being where the Islamic Dome of the Rock Mosque presently sits. ²⁵⁷ Therein, the chaff and tares worship he who Jews consider the Adversary. What was there before? Satan destroyed the Temple and replaced it with a false God. (No offence nor hatred is intended for the Muslims but there is a difference in religions.)

                Based on the premise that Jerusalem – the Old City called the City of David - was the Garden of Eden, then trees were on Mount Moriah. The entire City of David was trees, and two stood within its midst – the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. ²⁵⁸ That’s where Adam and Eve had “Church” so to speak. The trees were similes of doctrines. The Tree of Life represented the Holy Trinity: the visible Tree itself the Messiah, the root the Father, and the underground water, the Holy Spirit. God wanted his “Church” to gather under His Tree. His entire “Church” went elsewhere as they preferred philosophy, those loves being Stoicism and Epicureanism, and their god themselves.

                God looked on their rejection – blasphemy – because they rejected God, and elevated themselves to godhood, and was sorry. He surely wept because God does cry Divine tears. ²⁵⁹ Meanwhile, Satan smiled as the serpent convinced them that His “tree” – doctrine -  was best. The good seed became bad. The two had “church” and tried to suppress their own guilt by covering their own shame.  ²⁶⁰ God then covered them with the flesh of an animal and by grace saved them from their shame! ²⁶¹ Thus, in the Garden was their “threshing floor” where God threshed out the bad seed and made it “good”. Afterward, the two – Adam and Eve – became the first “Church” as God had mercy on them. In the Book of the Conflict of Adam and Eve with Satan, it is full of Satan’s attempts to destroy the Church by the destruction of its “congregation”. Abel, being righteous, was the first person in the Church to be destroyed by Satan whose “tool” was Cain. Satan, if nothing else, is patient. He attempts to destroy the Church one stone at a time by destroying its people one at a time.

²³⁶ http://www.jaypeejournals.com/eJournals/ShowText.aspx?AID=16&ID=764&IID=70&IN=_eJournals%2FInternational+Journal+of+Infertility+and+Fetal+Medicine.jpg&TYP=TOP&Type=FREE&Year=2010&isPDF=YES

²³⁷ Wikipedia; “First Law of Thermodynamics"

²³⁸ Wikipedia; “Higg’s Boson”

²³⁹ Holy Bible; Gen 1:5

²⁴⁰ Strong’s Dictionary; “yowm”

²⁴¹ Holy Bible; John 18:37-39

²⁴² ibid; John 8:32 

²⁴³ ibid; Luke 2:14

²⁴⁴ ibid; Gen 3:10

²⁴⁵ ibid; Exod 3:5, Acts 7:33

²⁴⁶ Wikipedia; “Jerusalem”

²⁴⁷ https://answersingenesis.org/education/spurgeon-sermons/1808-threshing-floor-of-ornan/

²⁴⁸ Holy Bible; 1 Chron 21:18

²⁴⁹ ibid; 2 Chron 3:1

²⁵⁰ ibid; 2 Sam 7:4-7

²⁵¹ ibid; Psalm 1:4, Isa 5:24

²⁵² ibid; Luke 3:16-18

²⁵³ ibid; Mat 13:24-26

²⁵⁴ ibid; Exod 37:6

²⁵⁵ ibid; John 3:14-15

²⁵⁶ ibid; Job 110

²⁵⁷ Wikipedia; “Dome of the Rock”

²⁵⁸ Holy Bible; Gen 2:9

²⁵⁹ ibid; Luke 19:41

²⁶⁰ ibid; Gen 3:6

²⁶¹ ibid; Gen 3:21

The Sponsor of Gun Cotrol Protests

Today's commentary is somewhat political because there is no wall between church and state. God is either Supreme to the State or Satan is. There is no civil legal system; it is either the Law of God or the law of sin. The U.S. Constitution is a mixture of the two as civil affairs are instituted using the wisdom of God. Democracy is not God's institution. It has its pluses and minuses but more possibility for abuse. Likewise, our Republic merely protects democratic rights. The ultimate government is much like the judges of the Book of the same name.

Therein, God was Supreme. He still is but mankind just fails to recognize His Supremacy. In democratic governments the will of the people is supreme. Since societies' will is self-aggrandizing, it needed tempering. Rather than tempered by God, representatives are elected to provide more fairness. America's temperament is a democratic-republic with recognition of a Supreme God. God's presence has made our republic stable. Instability ensues when God is removed from His Throne. Various administrations have sought the abdication, even by force, of the Living God in America's affairs.

Democracy, by nature, is the elevation of it's citizens to godhood in the face of the Supreme God. Unfettered democracy is libertarianism - everyone doing what is right in their own eyes. Unfortunately, the eyes of the people are blind to truth. The younger the citizen the more blind the person. Vision comes from experiencing truth and is called wisdom. Turning to youth for wisdom is akin to turning to the fox to advise on protecting the hens. Guaranteed, there will be holes all through the poultries' fence!

Those who are marching for gun control in the major cities are confused. They use the libertarian method of expression to advance authoritarian control. Protest is a democratic method being used to advance socialistic initiatives. Gun control is always for the autocrats. When the populace has no  means to defend themselves, dictators have theirs. It's true, when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns, but even more so, when the government confiscates guns, they then will confiscate rights. Peaceful protest is freedom of speech but ironically this form of protest leads to abridgement of that freedom. Those free to protest may eventually be freed from contest when they suffer the effects of their own cause!

The media has stated many times: this day of protest was organized by students from Parkland School.  Does anyone really believe that? Those young people could not even organize their own escape from the shooter. They flew away in chaos with most having a blessed escape. Organized students would have planned and overpowered this young shooter. Would have adults run out screaming in fear? Not mature ones; they would have had a plan. Our youth need adult supervision and protection. They need for us to plan for their safety, not them plan for ours!

Wisdom is a product of knowledge and experience, both gained by time. They have neither advanced knowledge nor wisdom. Time has acclimated them to comfort, and they want to feel comfortable. When people attempt to destroy them, as babes, they can only strike back with emotion. Emotionally, in that crisis, the brightest object to seize is the tangible. Young people are not adept at controlling behaviors and ideas, and are barely able to control their own lives or even make their own beds. Youth are easily used because they are gullible. Even drug  pushers are wise enough to know that the best time to addict people are when they are young. That's something they alone can tackle. They should leave the hard issues to the adults!

Having a nationwide protest may be the idea of a few naïve students but they have neither the experience nor the savvy to organize a nationwide protest. Maybe the media succumbed to their will because ironically it was the media who determined their will. There are many behind the scenes who sponsor the media. An investigation should commence to determine who was steering these naïve young people in the direction of the progressive - Marxist - ideology. Perhaps the NEA did it over time, or maybe it was the foolish entertainment industry. Be certain - someone other than the students organized the protests.

My own psychology professor said, "The job of the teacher is not just to teach but to remold." That smacks of brainwashing! With the turnout yesterday, teachers, if that is true, should be given an "A+" for mixing the right Kool-Aid! The herd did the will of the progressives as if programmed. Maybe they were!

Guns are not a spiritual issue. The misuse of guns is a  moral and spiritual issue! The protests could be effective if the students actually considered the root-cause of killing. Guns were invented to kill because human beings all want their way. This is exactly what the protestors want: their own way. Some of them seem so belligerent in their ideas that even they may be provoked into violence as often happens at "peaceful protests". More powerful guns were invented to kill more people easier. This is a result of self-interested violent or misguided people. Without masses with an agenda, guns for war would not be needed. The mob propagates the need for guns.

Do the protestors really believe that sane people will fix their fantasy by sweetly handing over their guns? They are fools if they think that will happen! The herd mentality instigates hatred. Although "they know not what they do" as Jesus said to those who crucified Him, that is the salvation of those really naïve students. Guns didn't kill Jesus; evil people did. Banning crosses, hammers, and nails would never have saved Jesus. He would still have been tied to a tree and killed by those with evil motives!

The point is, that if students were wise, they would see what is wrong. The poor guns are no more than were the idols of wood and stone. It's the users who play gods.

Killing God - Part 13 Faith and Doubt Cont

               Faith is a variable. It’s not even linear. Everyone has peaks and valleys with their faith. Doubt is the valleys and trust are the mountains. Christians are constantly attacked with doubt – one of the most potent “fiery darts” of Satan. ²¹⁹ Those darts from the evil blow-gun are usually pleasures, prestige, or wealth – what seems to be the primary fruits of the forbidden tree. Those are the things with which Satan vicariously kills God by the substitution of mankind.

                God was crucified on a tree. Satan deceived mankind on his tree. All of mankind was under Satan’s tree and there Satan was resurrected to prince-hood. Not even most of his apostles stood under God’s Tree and He died. That kills God. He wept as He saw Himself die by rejection. As always, since the beginning, mankind stood under the wrong tree and ate of the wrong fruit. God was angry the first time he was abandoned and punished mankind severely. When his followers went not to Calvary, God was more gracious. He rewarded mankind. In the former mankind was died with Satan who had been cast out, and in the latter, mankind was rewarded although the Tree was for them!

                Doubt sinks people low as faith varies. Each time temptation is fired from the Satanic blow-gun, people make decisions. It is their will or God’s will; which shall it be? “Will” is the outcome of the decision process. God has already decided all matters. That is God’s will. The Lord’s Prayer follows: ²²⁰

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.[

                Since mankind was made in the image of God, he has his own will. Doing what is right – God’s will – or “doing what is right in our own eyes”. ²²¹ Natural man usually considers that latter. Therefore, everyone must pray to God, “Your will be done”. How is that to come about? To do things on “earth as in Heaven.” That prayer is essentially for God to keep man safe against the evil one! Those who do God’s will know that their own will is that God should die!

                How many teenagers have had the thought, and maybe actually said it, “I wish Dad and Mom were dead so I could do what I want?” Many teenagers hate their parents and rebel because they want their freedom to do their own will. Well, the same is true in man’s relationship with God. People may not actually want to kill God but to merely remove His influence from their lives. The death of God is removal of His influence wherein mankind rejects His authority. Rejection of God’s authority is irreverence. It is having “other gods besides Him”. ²²² Like Satan, mankind desires to be his own god! In order for that to be, God must be dethroned and His Kingdom destroyed so as to construct a heavenly kingdom in the image of the earth, whereon God’s will is not done. The Law of God is to be replaced in Heaven with the law of sin. That’s what Nietzke meant with Gott ist tot. When God’s death is when His authority is denied by most just as at the deluge. God refuses to and cannot die!

                In the Lord’s Prayer “debtors” is mild. It should be transliterated “sinners” because that is what it means: forgive my sins as I forgive other sinners! Lack of forgiveness does not a product of God’s will, but forgiveness is. Satan’s will is that that prayer be ignored. God wants people to pray for divine assistance in forgiveness – what should be a demonstration of love! Christians and others often say, even with animosity, I’ll forgive but I’ll never forget! That is not God’s will nor what He would do. Not only does God “forget” ²²³ but he still loves and remains a true friend! What if God forgot but still dismissed friendship? That would be merely feigned forgiveness. Failing to love after so-called forgiveness is hatred. Pride demands that you be on the throne, judging others harshly! ²²⁴

                The inability to forgive is a fiery dart, ironically which you, the Christian, fires at yourself. Because mankind sees themselves as gods, they perceive themselves as invulnerable. People think they can do anything and still not die. Sin is self-destructive, and it is Satan’s will that Christians die. Satan believes all Christians should have died on their trees along with God. Christians, for Satan, are little more than collateral damage in his war with God. At most, mankind are pawns in the spiritual chess game. Ironically, many sacrfice themselves, not for God, but for Satan.

                Sin is a process. Satan tempts, and each time people choose. That is exercising their own wills. Foolish decisions result in sin, and wise ones in righteousness. Thus, temptation is the cause, and sin is the effect. Usually, sin is also an affect because it’s a feel-good situation. That feeling is what Scripture calls the flesh. Although people may not quote it, but “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” ²²⁵ is so true. Those not born-again are not spiritually willing. They do their own will with impunity. Because they are unwilling to do God’s will, or even apathetic to it, there may no longer be a struggle. Those persons are spiritually dead, and one stone which should be in the Church is missing. Those who either have no guilt, or who repress it continually, are in danger of spiritual death – reprobation – where damnation is assured. Reprobation is God giving one over to their debased mind. ²²⁶

                In psychology, the debased are psychopathic. Psychopaths are the mentally imbalanced who are “characterized by persistent antisocial behavior, impaired empathy, impaired remorse, bold, disinhibited, and egotistical traits.” ²²⁷ Psychopaths are impervious to guilt. Indeed, they do wrong without remorse! Those who are reprobate are spiritual psychopaths. Examine the traits of the psychopaths and compare to reprobates: haters, failure to feel God’s or others distress, inability to feel guilty, bullies, able to do anything for pleasure, and self-aggrandizing – as gods. Reprobation is where Satan wants them – with no reverence for God and blind or rebellious to His will. That’s where Satan wants everyone, and when that happens, in his eyes, God will be dead.

                The spiritually dead person is the one without faith. If all the angels rejoice when a person is born-again, ²²⁸ then it seems certain that angels mourn for those who have no faith by their denial of God. Remembering that denying God is killing Him, or at least attempting to murder Him, then those who deny that God did the creating, deny God. That sounds intolerant to say that, but even “Christians” who deny God, deny the One who died to save them!  Never can God be separated from the concept of Savior.

                Chaos is when things are out of control. The particular “thing” Satan in which Satan creates chaos is faith. He places the valleys, it seems, soon after God does the mountains. Surely, the more one desires righteousness, the more that person is attacked.

                This book is not about me for that would be prideful. However, this type of chaos happens to all Christians. Some believe that particular people are elected for salvation. They are rewarded for just existing. That election is point is the “U” in “TULIP”, the acronym for the five points of Calvinism. ²²⁹ Others believe that one must make a decision using their own free will – Arminianism.  A minority such as United Baptists practice begging for salvation. Indeed, people are to be that meek, but in the case of Larry Herrin, God called me but Satan kept dragging me back. It took two-weeks and several trips to the altar to submit to God by rejecting the law of sin, and its author. Oftentimes before that, Satan had successfully killed God within me. God’s Spirit was trying to create a new Larry but Satan was hanging tight to the old Larry. If even one person dies to God, then one stone from the living Church is missing.

                Believing but not changing is Satan winning. When the Light shines forth a new creature with bright eyes and a bright nature should be created by God. Satan, before that new creature is finished, steps in and mutates him. Something is missing, and that is the will to do God’s will! Sin is still the law which the mutated creature still lives by. Not to judge too harshly, but maybe those who fail to finish the struggle, are not still lost but misled. God is patient and kind. He believes in forgiving seventy-times-seven! ²³⁰ Forgiveness is the mortar which holds the Church together. Satan is the substance which disintegrates the mortar. Without forgiveness from God, there is no mortar. Without forgiving hearts the mortal crumbles, and the stones fall. When nothing but the foundation remains, what God built is destroyed but the Cornerstone is still alive and well right there as the foundation.

Enduring faith is what protects. Faith can be lost. Each time anyone sins, there are two reasons: (1) God will not punish for the sin, or (2) the sin is worth the punishment. Either of the two is exercising your will, and disregarding God’s will. Even worse, it is denying God’s authority. When sinning occurs on  a regular basis, it is compounded as Christians get acclimated to sinning. Acclimation becomes standardized sinning which is called iniquity which is living without God. ²³¹ One cannot be a Christian and live the law of sin. Living in iniquity is because faith has faded like a rose in the summer heat, gradually one day at a time without the living water.

                Since iniquity is living in sin, ²³² it is neglecting God. A neglected God is one who is dead to one in iniquity. There are many definitions of sin but strictly speaking not having the desire to accept God’s authority is sin. It’s not the sin which is damning but the unwillingness to please God by obedience to His Law. Obedience is legalism but willingness is a demonstration of love. It’s the attitude of the law-keeper that is the deal-breaker.

                God made a deal with Abraham. It was simply stated: Walk my Way and be without iniquity and you will prosper. ²³³ Prosperity was more than the Promised Land; it was the Promised Savior through Abraham’s seed. The Abrahamic Covenant was therefore forever. When mankind breaks the deal, then they are not covenanted with God. Of course, circumcision of the flesh sealed the deal but that was symbolic of circumcision of the heart. ²³⁴ The foreskin can never be revived but the foreskin of the heart can become corrupted as Satan shoots his many darts. There is a method to prevent that and will be discussed in a later chapter.

                God will never leave nor forsake the Christian, ²³⁵ but unfortunately mankind can leave and forsake God. God can never break His covenant, but the seed of Abraham can. Keeping the faith is the covenant. Faith can be traded for pleasure. That is fatal to the one in apostasy, and disappointing to God. One of the lively stones in His Church is missing, and when two many are missing the Church can fall.

²¹⁹ Holy Bible; Ephes 6:16

²²⁰ ibid; Mat 6:9-13

²²¹ ibid; Deut 12:8

²²² ibid; Exod 20:3

²²³ ibid; Acts 3:19

²²⁴ ibid; Luke 6:37

²²⁵ ibid; Mark 14:38

²²⁶ ibid; Rom 1:28

²²⁷ Wikipedia; “Psychopathy”

²²⁸ Holy Bible; Luke 15:10

²²⁹ http://www.prca.org/pamphlets/pamphlet_41.html

²³⁰ Holy Bible; Mat 1822

²¹⁹ Holy Bible; Ephes 6:16

²²⁰ ibid; Mat 6:9-13

²²¹ ibid; Deut 12:8

²²² ibid; Exod 20:3

²²³ ibid; Acts 3:19

²²⁴ ibid; Luke 6:37

²²⁵ ibid; Mark 14:38

²²⁶ ibid; Rom 1:28

²²⁷ Wikipedia; “Psychopathy”

²²⁸ Holy Bible; Luke 15:10

²²⁹ http://www.prca.org/pamphlets/pamphlet_41.html

²³⁰ Holy Bible; Mat 18:22

²³¹ ibid; 2 Tim 2:19

²³² ibid; Psalm 51:5

²³³ ibid; Gen 17:1-2

²³⁴ ibid; Rom 2:29

²³⁵ ibid; Heb 13:5