₦airaland Forum

jiggaz:
morning

...

morning...

jiggaz:
morning

...

morning

My three-year old son is a regular Michelangelo.
The other day he drew a purple-crayon masterpiece on the walls of his bedroom. Needless to say, I was furious. I told him he was a vandal and a crook and I belted him within an inch of his life. Then I said if he did it again I’d kick him out of the family.
Of course I did no such thing!

And yet this sort of ridiculous over-the-top reaction is exactly how some Christians imagine their loving Father responds when they sin. They say things like, “God convicted me, then he chastised me with scourging (see Hebrews). He’s so loving to do that. I know he’s just making sure I don’t get removed from the Lamb’s book of life.”
This kind of talk makes me nauseous. But I understand where it comes from. I understand that many folk imagine God to be more like Elijah than Jesus.

What you look through determines what you see. Read the Bible through the fractured lens of the human wisdom and you will think the secret to life is doing right and avoiding wrong. You’ll go to God with an attitude of, “Just tell me what to do and I’ll do it.” But you are eating from the wrong tree. You are trusting in your own understanding when God would rather you trust in him.

Eat from the life-giving tree

Life is not about doing right and avoiding wrong. Nor is it about sinning versus non-sinning. That’s carnal Christianity and it’s a language your Father doesn’t speak. The issue isn’t good vs evil but life vs death. And this issue is most clearly seen when we’re dealing with sin.

How does God respond when you sin?

In my last post I said the Holy Spirit never convicts us of our sins. Instead, the Holy Spirit brings about a life-saving correction.

“But Paul, isn’t that just two ways of saying the same thing? What’s the difference?”

The difference is this. If you think the Holy Spirit convicts you
because of your sin or corrects you because of your sin , you’ve missed everything. You’re looking backwards instead of forwards and down instead of up.

The Holy Spirit isn’t your personal sin manager but your Helper, your Comforter, your Counselor. And in that role he will guide you (Joh 16:13), correct you (2 Tim 3:16), and, if necessary, rebuke or admonish you (Heb 12:5). He does none of this in reaction to your sin, per se. He does it because he loves you, he cares for you, and he doesn’t want you to wreck your life on some harebrained death-dealing decision.

A simple test

Here’s a simple test to see how well you understand this: What comes to mind when you hear the word correction ?
Do you think of a mistake that needs to be punished? Do you think of the “rod of correction” and naughty boys in need of a good whipping? If you do, God bless you but your thinking is influenced by the old covenant (Pro 22:15).
In the Old Testament the word for “correct” can mean “to chastise with blows.” It means to apply the proverbial rod to the seat of learning. In grown-up terms it means plagues and punishment sent in response to sin. At least that’s how David understood it:

Remove your plague from me; I am consumed by the blow of your hand. When with rebukes you correct man for iniquity, you make his beauty melt away like a moth. Surely every man is vapor. (Ps 39:10-11, NKJV)

Under the old covenant the chastisement of the Lord was sometimes fatal. If you got it wrong, you were toast. Thank God for the cross! Thank God that “the chastisement for our peace was upon him ” (Is 53:5). Jesus died for our sins so that we don’t have to. This means we need a completely new definition of correction.

When I hear the word correction I think of a sailboat heading in a dangerous direction. A course correction needs to be made. The sailboat isn’t necessarily sinning or wrong. In fact, it may be completely innocent but misguided. The sailboat’s sin is not the point. You can curse the map and apply the rod of correction to the sat-nav but what will that accomplish? Far better to just get back on course.

All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness… (2 Tim 3:16)

In the new covenant the word for correction means “a straightening up again.” Isn’t that wonderful? It’s not “straightening up for the first time” but “straightening up
again .” This implies all is not lost. You are not toast.

You may be heading towards the shoals or you may have already hit the shoals and sunk your boat, but a Holy Spirit who raises the dead can still lead you back to the way of life.
Your life is not over.

Case study #1: The Galatians

Need an example from the Bible? Then think of Paul correcting the Galatians:

You were doing so well until someone made you turn from the truth. (Gal 5:7, CEV)

The Galatians had started well but veered off course. They needed to be straightened up again and the Holy Spirit worked through Paul to bring about that course correction.
In the Bible correction (gentle warnings) and rebuking (big warnings) often go together, as we see from 2 Timothy 3:16 above. This is how a loving Father trains his sons – not through sickness or other so-called character-building tribulations and certainly not through blows! The word “discipline” means training and God does that primarily by giving us a revelation of his righteousness through the word.

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season. Reprove (admonish), rebuke (announce those life-saving course corrections), exhort (invite, implore, beseech)… (2 Tim 4:2, NKJV)

Read the Bible through the lens of the cross and you will find that your loving Father is not really interested in fault-finding and sin-hunting. However, he loves you too much to stay silent as you sail towards the hidden shoals of life. If you are making poor choices, your Father will most definitely seek to bring a course correction and lead you in the life-giving way of righteousness.

Case study #2: Marriage

If I say or do something to hurt Camilla, here’s what the Holy Spirit doesn’t do:
– he doesn’t chastise me with the blows of sickness to teach me a lesson
– he doesn’t accuse me of wrong-doing (there is another who does that)
– he doesn’t dump a bucket of guilt all over me (I’m capable of making my own guilt)
– he doesn’t condemn me as a sinner and a wicked man (I am my Father’s beloved son!)

Instead, the Holy Spirit gently lets me know that I am sowing death into my marriage. Like a lighthouse-keeper he illuminates the dangerous shoals in front of me. When realization dawns it is natural for me to feel like a complete jerk. “I am a terrible husband and chief of sinners.” When that happens the Holy Spirit is right there to convince me that despite my poor behavior, I am still the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (John 16:10).

Our problem is we often confuse behavior with identity. When we screw-up we tend to think “I’m a screw-up.” When we sin, we tend to think “I’m a sinner.”

“Not true!” declares the Holy Spirit. “Just as your righteous acts never made you righteous in the first place, your unrighteous acts don’t make you unrighteous. Even though you did something dumb and sowed death-seeds into your life, you are still righteous. Now let’s go and reveal the life of Jesus into that situation.”

When you act out of the false identity of who you used to be (independent and faithless), the Holy Spirit will always seek to remind you of your true identity in Christ. “You are holy and righteous, so act like it.”

Love greater than our messes

Look at how Jesus related to the disciples and you will find him doing all the things the Holy Spirit continues to do: guiding, correcting, and rebuking. Not once do you find Jesus saying, “Peter, you’re an idjit. Have some cancer. It’ll help you wise up.” And just look at how Jesus related to Judas. Did he call him sinner and traitor? No – he called him friend (Mt 26:50)!

I am so thankful for the gentle correction and occasional admonishment of the Holy Spirit. When I have gone astray he has consistently brought me back to the way of life. In my next post, I will give you some everyday examples of how he has does this. (After that I plan to return to my series on
eternal security.)

But hand on heart I can tell you now that without the Holy Spirit’s help, I would’ve married the wrong woman, chosen the wrong career, and I’d still be preaching the wrong message . Walking by sight I would’ve sown death left and right. By the grace of God I am who I am because my Father love me, he is good, and he cares about the details of our lives.

And the good news is that if you do make a purple-crayon mess of your life, he still loves you, he still cares for you, and he will never kick you out of his family!

https://escapetoreality.org/2013/03/11/biblical-correction-old-vs-new/

afternoon.....

afternoon..

afternoon..

afternoon

afternoon..

afternoon

ok

morning

“For it is time for judgment to begin with the house of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Pet 4:17)

Here’s a passage that seems to come up whenever something bad happens to Christians. If a pastor stumbles in sin and his church splits, it’s God judging His house. If an earthquake wipes out a city and some of those who die happen to be Christians, it’s God judging His house. Some people seem to take perverse delight in threatening others with the sword of God’s judgment. They seem to forget Jesus’ warning in
Matthew 26:52 .

All of our sins were dealt with at the cross. We have been fully redeemed and sanctified by the blood of the Lamb. There is a day coming when Jesus will separate the sheep from the goats, but this is only bad news if you’re a goat! If you are a sheep it is a day to look forward to with eager anticipation and confidence. Where does this confidence come from? It comes from a revelation of the Father’s love as expressed in the Son’s perfect work on the cross.

So what is Peter talking about when he says it’s time for judgment to begin with the house of God? I’m going to give you two interpretations. The first interpretation emphasizes things we must do while the second emphasizes things Christ has already done. However, I will first give you the scripture in context:

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.
But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.
However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but
praise God that you bear that name .
For it is time for judgment to begin with the house of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. (1 Pet 4:12-19)

Interpretation #1: Work harder

There are only two kinds of religion in the world – religion based on our works or religion based on His blood. Someone whose faith rests in human works will interpret the judgment of 1 Peter 4:17 as punishment for Christians. Of course they won’t come right out and say it. They will use words like
purification and discipline but what they really mean is
condemnation and wrath . They will refer to patterns of judgment in the Old Testament but make no mention of the cross. They may talk about Ananias and Sapphira but ignore Jesus. Strip away the jargon and their message will be this: “Bad things are going to happen to you. God is behind these bad things, but don’t worry because far worse things are going to happen to sinners.” They may try and pass this off as “good news” by saying it’s better to suffer a little wrath now than hellfire later. What should we do in response to such a message? More works of course! We should try harder to be better Christians. We should repent more, confess more, and generally straighten up and fly right.

There’s no way around it. If you interpret 1 Peter 4:17 through the lens of works you will end up with a condemning message. “God loves you and because He loves you He’s going to give you a whipping. It’s for your own good.” How is it, then, that in the five verses immediately preceding, Peter uses words and phrases like “rejoice,” “be overjoyed,” “you are blessed” and “praise God that you bear His name”? How in the name of all that is sensible are we supposed to get joyful over a divine whipping? Either Peter has lost touch with reality, or he has something completely different in mind.

Interpretation #2: Trust God

The key to understanding 1 Peter 4:17 is the word “judgment.” In the original Greek this word is krima which means “ decision ” or “decree.” It’s the decision of a judge or authority. A judgment can be good or bad, in your favor or against you, but in the New Testament krima is usually bad.
When Peter says it’s judgment time for the church, he is probably referring to the condemning judgment of Nero against the Christians. Look at how Peter describes this judgment:

v.12: “the fiery suffering among you that is coming to try you”

v.13: “you participate in the sufferings of Christ”

v.14: “you are insulted because of the name of Christ”

v.16. “if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed”

v.19: “(you) who suffer according to God’s will”, meaning for the gospel

Peter was writing during a time of great persecution. In the beginning, the church only had to worry about persecution from religious folk like Saul. But things have since escalated. Now the state itself is out to get them.

Because of Nero – not God – Christians were being tortured and killed for their faith in Christ. Paul was probably dead and Peter himself would soon be crucified. If you were a follower of Christ back then, martyrdom was a very real prospect.

In light of this awful persecution, Peter seeks to bring a little perspective. He does this by comparing what happens to the righteous (persecution in this life) with what happens to the ungodly (eternal condemnation). Peter says four things
:
(1) Don’t be surprised that you are suffering for the gospel (4:12). If they persecuted Jesus they will persecute you.

(2) Even though persecution is painful, rejoice on account of the coming glory (4:13). It hurts now, but justice is coming.

(3) Don’t let these trials cause you to be ashamed – it’s actually a blessing to be insulted on account of Christ’s name (4:14,16).

(4) In view of this, don’t run and hide (like I once did) but commit yourselves to your faithful Creator and keep doing good (4:19).

Is Peter saying Christians can lose their salvation?

No he is not. There are two issues here. One is security and the other is fruitfulness. In verse 19 he encourages the believers to commit themselves “to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” Who is faithful? God is! You may be worried about persecution but you do not need to worry about God letting you go. In the words of Spurgeon, “if he has loved you once he will love you forever.”

The concern is not that Christians could lose their salvation, but that they might be driven underground in fear (3:6,14). This is why Peter urges them to continue doing good (4:17), even in the face of persecution. Peter knew from personal experience what it was like to run from Jesus in fear and he didn’t want his readers doing that. The good news of God’s grace will not be heard unless those who preach it are bold
.

A final word on judgment

Jesus said two things about judgment that are relevant here:

“For God sent not the Son into the world to judge (krino ) the world…” (Jn 3:17a, ASV)

“For judgment (krima) I have come into this world…” (Jn 9:39)

Jesus did not come to judge the world, yet the world will be judged on account of Jesus. Remember that another word for judgment is decision. Now if Jesus said He is not the one doing the deciding (krino ), but that decisions (krima) will be made on account of Him, then who is making these decisions? We are! Every single one of us will either decide to put our faith in Jesus or we won’t. Those who put their faith in Christ are made into a new creation and given His Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come (2 Cor 5:5,17).

When Jesus returns in glory He will not judge anyone. He will simply separate those who have found their rest in him from those who have chosen to bet on themselves. The Grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, but not all men will put their faith in Him.
Let me finish with three questions for those who still think God is judging/punishing the church or Christchurch or the West.

1. Those who are in Christ are complete (Col 2:10) and perfect forever (He 10:14). If Jesus said He would not judge even the lost (Jn 12:47), why would He judge those He has redeemed and are now reckoned perfect?

2. Peter said “Christ died for sins once for all” (1 Pet 3:18). If my sins have been removed and God is now “done with sin” (1 Pet 4:1), then what is left to punish?

3. Finally, if the punishment that brought us peace was placed on Christ (Is 53:5), how can God now punish us? Would He not be unjust if He punished twice for the same offence?

Just something to think about.

https://escapetoreality.org/2011/02/24/1-peter-417-–-it’s-judgment-time/

blessedvisky:
Lol. The bible clearly talks about believers, I mean Christians sleeping. They don't go to heaven straight. If they did, then why would the dead in Christ rise first if they are already in heaven? Can u answer??


John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:


Obviously the dead in Christ will be raised @ d rapture. Can you tell me why they will be resurrected if they are already in heaven??. ?

Okay, why the Bible talks about the Believer sleeping in the grave instead of saying the Believer died is that DEATH IS NO LONGER DEATH FOR THE BELIEVER IN CHRIST, MEANING THAT SINCE CHRIST DIED AND ROSE UP FROM THE DEAD, HE CONQUERED DEATH. AND WE BELIEVERS DIED WITH HIM. SO A BELIEVER IN CHRIST DOESN'T NEED TO FEAR DEATH COS LIFE DOESN'T END THERE, IT NOW MEANS A GATEWAY FROM THIS LIFE INTO A MORE GLORIOUS LIFE IN HEAVEN...

For your 2nd question on why believers need to be resurrected if they are already in heaven, it is because Christ will give all believers their Glorified Body on that day. The believers in heaven right now don't have their Glorified Bodies yet, they are just spirits in heaven with human form living a glorious life far better than what we have here on earth. I told you before the importance of having a glorified body. Its our last inheritance of what Christ purchased for us on the Cross.

The importance of a Glorified body

a) We will become immortal, we wont die again.

b) We will travel at the speed of light... if u want to go somewhere, all u need to do is think about it and fiaaaam!!... you are already there...

c) In the new glorified body, we wont get tired, or sick or ever feel pain... it is joy and happiness always...

d) In the new glorified body, we can never sin because we wont have that ability anymore... The will of God and our own will, will become ONE!!

e) In the new glorified body, we will be like Christ. Looking very handsome & beautiful, instagram ultra-filtered pictures will not even match us believers in beauty!! lool..... And we will be forever young!!!

These and so much more!! are all God prepared for those who love Him!!! This is just the tip i gave u....

Stevebamdex:
Great analysis bro..God will enlarge your knowledge..!

Amen bro... thank u....

blessedvisky:
Lol. This is funny. According to the Bible, JESUS went to the grave ( hades/ hell/sheol) on the day of the crucifixion and was there for 3 days and 3 nights. Now if JESUS said the their will be where he is, then the their went to hell also. Let me show you scriptures

Ephesians 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Acts 2:25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 2:26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 2:28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. 2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.



Matthew 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.


1 Peter 4:6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.


OP take your time and read all that I have posted.

Obviously as at when JESUS died, he went to hell/hades/sheol and preached to the spirits of the people there. 1st Peter tells us specifically that JESUS preached to those from Noah's and time and those who are dead. Also from Matthew, we see that the Saints resurrected or appeared after Jesus's death. This shows they were not in Heaven prior to that. It was after this that they could ascend to heaven. Remember Paul said Christ is the first person to ascend into heaven( the presence of God).
So obviously the their that JESUS promised DID NOT go to heaven straight, since Christ also didn't go to heaven straight upon his death.

Do you understand? ? Let me know Pls.

OK lemme answer your question. Before Christ died on the cross, believers do not go to Heaven directly when they die. They go to Paradise also called Abraham's Bosom, which is located in Sheol. But after Christ died and satisfied God's wrath for sin, Believers now go to heaven directly after death. Why old testament believers couldn't go to heaven directly was that Christ have not died to atone for the sin of mankind since the fall of Adam in the garden of Eden.

Now concerning your other question on why believers need to be resurrected on the last day? When a believer in Christ die, his spirit will go directly to heaven to be with the Lord. Meanwhile his physical body is still in the grave here on earth. But at the Rapture of the church, Christ will descend from heaven with a great shout!! and the dead in Christ will rise first, followed by we believers that are alive at that time and we all will receive our glorified body immediately and meet our Lord Jesus in the air.

Why we need a glorified body is that in our glorified body, we will be exactly like Christ, that's the last part of our redemption in Christ that He purchased for us at the cross .... we can never die again and we can travel at the speed of light. Dead believers in heaven right now don't have their glorified body yet, they are just spirits in human form over there in heaven. But at the rapture, wherever their body is, whether those that drowned in the sea or rotten in grave, the power of God will bring their atoms together wherever it is.... That power in Christ that He used during the creation of the universe will manifest cos it is written "In Him everything was held together".... i hope i have answered your question though?.

evening....

jiggaz:
evening

..

evening

jiggaz:
afternoon....

...

evening..

jiggaz:
morning

..

afternoon.....

afternoon....

afternoon.