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bartels.doug

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  • bartels.doug
    1) Is it even possible to live "lawlessly," even as a born again "Christian"? IF, perchance, in a moment of stumbling, we meet with our earthly demise, do we stand in jeopardy of being rejected by Christ for failure to have kept the law in that moment? 2) As regarding the hypothetical murderer mentioned, is forgiveness available to them or are transgressions against those of the decalog unforgivable? 3) If Christ is our righteousness before God--which Paul teaches--and sanctification results as the transformational component of our new life in Christ, isn't it really Christ, as the "Spirit of the Law" at work in our lives, working such sanctifying transformation; He the only one who fulfilled the Law completely, whereas, all else--past present and future--never have nor ever would be able to fulfill it? 4)To speak about an internal reality of the indwelling work of the Spirit is really to speak of a process not of our own ability to mimic, parrot, or otherwise "imitate" the "Christ-like standard" (See https://www.ucg.org/members/united-news/the-ten-commandments-series-a-new-commandment ), for we couldn't do it, without the real abiding presence of Christ, could we?
  • bartels.doug

    The Son of God depicts the utmost of this humility in the garden, as drops of blood pour forth from His flesh as He earnestly requests the cup be taken from Him, yet he says, "not my will be done, but thine." The epitome of humility overcoming anxiety; in the face of certain martyrdom, turning Himself to the complete care of His Heavenly Father's plan (yes, His very own murder), yields to the task set before him (for He laid down His life, see: Jhn.. 10:14-18), of which we are told was a joy, though He despised the cross, enduring its shame (see: Heb 12:2). Indeed, may it never be required of any of His faithful to suffer in such like manner (though such a one would be blessed with great reward, see: Matt 5:10-12), but if it be the will of our Heavenly father, the faith OF Christ in us shall bring the same joy in that moment of ultimate anxiety. Christ came to earth with full knowledge of the plan. Imagine the anxiety of setting out on such an endeavor, yet the wisdom of Solomon (of Christ really), "sow your seed...", this Christ did. Having sown, he also reaped and reaps still as will we, who labor in like manor, sowing seeds of truth, unlike the enemy who sows darnel.

  • bartels.doug
    Besides, it would only take a few decades to complete the deception, to garner the support of all the atheist to assist in the public and nefarious activity of teaching the wisdom of men apart from the knowledge of God, through the public school system to actually help establish, perpetuate and even foist the matrix, which is the construct for the deception, upon the masses through the use of technology, artificial intelligence, space exploration, etc., and to use such in an effort to “surround the camp of the saints.” Of course he’s going to lie to people who will believe the lie…they will be his minions who run with it, despising, more and more the saints of God, as Gog and Magog looms imminently.
  • bartels.doug
    So I guess the question then is this: Is Christ NOT reigning in the world today? If we conclude that He does reign, His church is apostate (which prophesy calls for—“the falling away” - 2Thes. 2:3) but this does not mean His rule over the earth does not continue, rather His rule is only unrecognized by the apostate church as they follow a false christ. Unrecognized reign does not negate the reality of the reign of the true Christ (Rev. 11:15-17; and 19:1-6). His elect—those not worshiping the dragon (as they are not deceived, though the deception is so great that if it were possible even the elect would be deceived)—yet yield the Lordship to the sovereign reign of the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Lord’s Christ (Rev.11:15) even if the rest of the apostate church does not, but rather worships the beast.
  • bartels.doug
    Let me try to clarify, assuming a correct time line of events as follows, based on Rev. 19:20 - 20:1ff; 1) [Armageddon, Beast/false prophet thrown into Lake of Fire, Satan bound 1000 years in abyss]; 2) 1000 year reign of Christ; 3) Satan Loosed; 4) Gog/Magog; 5) Great White Throne Judgement; 6)New Heaven/Earth. When Satan is loosed to deceive the nations, after the 1000 year reign of Christ, then how would anyone know that they would be living in that period, the time when Satan is given time to deceive the nations, prior to Gog and Magog? There will be a generation that goes through this period of time, correct? So then, since a generation will be born after the first resurrection, having already occurred after the 1000 year reign of Christ was concluded, they would live in a time of great deception, the time when Satan is loosed for a short time…how would that generation know and could it be us in this generation?
  • bartels.doug
    If I am hearing you correctly, you are equating tribulation with judgement, as synonyms? Let's look at these two verses: "these things I have spoken to you, that in me ye may have peace, in the world ye shall have tribulation, but take courage—I have overcome the world" (Joh 16:33) compared that to "because it is the time of the beginning of the judgment from the house of God, and if first from us, what the end of those disobedient to the good news of God" (1Pe 4:17). Tribulation - G2347 - thlipsis: From G2346; pressure (literally or figuratively): - afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble. Total KJV occurs: 45 and none used in any sense of judgement. Judgement - G2917 - krima: From G2919; a decision (the function or the effect, for or against [“crime”]): - avenge, condemned, condemnation, damnation, + go to law, judgment. Total KJV occurs: 28 and none of which relate to tribulation. In both cases the believer will experience tribulation and judgement in their age. Tribulation for all in this world, while judgment is now for the house of God (His elect), each in their age, then at the Great White Throne, judgement for all others. Peace...
  • bartels.doug
    I'm with you 100% on the difference between a rapture and a resurrection. However, the one question that seems to press upon my mind is the order of events as outlined in Rev. 19:20 - 20:1ff; Armageddon, Beast/false prophet thrown into Lake of Fire, Satan bound 1000 years in abyss, 1000 year reign of Christ, Satan Loosed, Gog/Magog, Great White Throne Judgement, New Heaven/Earth...how would we know if we were living in the period when Satan was loosed, after the first resurrection and the1000 year reign of Christ, to device the nations (if even possible, the elect) just prior to Gog/Magog? Some saints will live through this period, so how would we know if was us or a yet future generation, if not us in this age?