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| Thank God for Death |
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Thank God for Death
How many of you would agree that death can be a blessing? Think about it. Life isn't easy. Life can be very painful. Life, on this earth, is not God's greatest.
How many of you grew up believing that when Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, God instantly became angry at them and banned them from the Garden? I did. I still hear that being taught and preached, even today.
Let's go back into the Garden for just a moment and take another look:
Genesis 3:22-24 (New Living Translation)
Then the Lord God said, “Look, the human beings have become like us,
knowing both good and evil.
What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it?
Then they will live forever!”
So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden,
and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made.
After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
I see this as a complete act of grace, mercy, and kindness.
He did not banish them because they disobeyed him. He banished them because God did not want man to have to live for eternity in a fallen state. At this time, there was no way for them to be born again. Had they been left to partake of the Tree of Life, all men would have lived forever. Can you imagine having to live forever?
Think about those that are born deformed, or with mental illnesses. Think about cruel, rotten people. Think about the Hitler's. Think about the fact that there would never be a way to escape from evil. You would just have to live with it, forever, and ever.
But God was not about to let that happen. He was, and is concerned for mankind. He took immediate action steps to prevent us from having to live for eternity.
It was an act of Grace!
Not only did he get them away from the tree, but he also made certain that it would be guarded, insuring that this tragic event would never happen. He knew that there was a better way coming. He knew that one day his Son would be sent and sacrificed as an atonement for our sin.
Did you also know that God continued to walk and talk with Adam and Eve after this. If you read further along in chapter 4 you see examples of this. God did not remove himself from mankind as an act of punishment for our sin. He didn't do it then, and he certainly doesn't do it today.
Our sins are not being imputed against us. Adam and Eve's sin was prior the the law being given. And hopefully you know that today, we are lo longer bound to the law. God is not counting our sins against us.
Romans 5:13
For until the law sin was in the world:
but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
I have to disagree with people that blame world's tragedies on God. It's just not God's nature to pour out his wrath on us. He poured out all of his wrath on Jesus.
GOD IS NOT ANGRY!
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Deb |
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November 28, 2007 at 11:34am |
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| Amen to that! We cannot blame it all on God. But so many people do... |
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JessIAm |
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November 28, 2007 at 11:40am |
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| I totally agree. If this life was all I had to look forward to in eternity, I'd want my money back! |
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Deb:
I don't blame any of it on God. He gave us authority and dominion over this realm. We are the ones who gave that the authority to the enemy. God is doing everything he can do bring us back!
Jess:
Well said Jess.
When one of my moms good friends was lying on his death bed, taking his last few breaths, after being in pain and suffering for a very long time, suddenly a huge, warm smile came across his face and his very last words were: Yes, Jesus, I am coming!
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Sharon |
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November 28, 2007 at 3:07pm |
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| So true,So true.Yhe adam and eve story reminds me of when you tell a little child not to touch the hot stove.I gaurentee nine out of ten times the child is going to touch the stove anyway. lol |
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That's right Sharon, Law gives sin power!
Thanks for commenting! |
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| Michael, I have to say, this is fascinating. And kudos for the beautiful presentation, this is one pretty blog to look at!! (But I am most taken by the content!) Star!! |
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Wow Mike. Kudos, a Star, and a beautiful presentation? Outstanding! |
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I agree, it was an act of grace if one also believes that eventually all shall be saved. Otherwise, we still have most of mankind going to eternal torment because of the sin nature brought upon us by the mistake of Adam and Eve, at least this is how it is taught. (this also implies eternal life by eternal condemnation, but without eating from any Tree of Life)
I do personally believe that all shall accept their salvation, each in their own order, so it is easy to see grace abounding. It is amazing how much truth one can find once they realize that God is not angry. |
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Artic:
While I do believe that God isn't angry, I don't buy into the camp that all will be saved. The theology of inclusion just doesn't sit well with me.
The way I see it is that God did banish them from the Garden as an act of Grace. But there were consequences, nonetheless. He could have just wiped them out right there and started over. But he didn't.
When we disobey God, we subject ourselves to consequences:
Romans 16:1
Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.
But after the fall sin began running rampant. It began to spread like a cancer. Then came the flood. There was so much evil in the world that is had to be stopped. If it weren't, there would not have been a virgin left for Jesus to be born unto. I also see the flood as an act of Grace.
Think about someone who has gangrene or some other fatal disease. Sometimes it is better to remove a limb in an effort to save the entire body. That's the way I see the flood. While many were destroyed, the body as a whole survived.
Sin is still in the world. But this time we have a savior who has atoned for that sin. Jesus makes it very clear that the highway to hell is broad, and the road to life is narrow, few ever find it. He also makes it very clear that the only way back to the Father, is through him.
I know that you know all this already. I wish I had more time. Sometimes I have a hard time articulating exactly what it is that I am trying so say.
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I do understand, we all have the same problem finding words for our beliefs. We should remember that those in the flood were not destroyed, as we think of destroyed, but put into prison, awaiting salvation thru Jesus Christ, though that was a couple of thousand of years in prison and truly a lengthy punishment by our standards.
1 Peter 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
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.
So then, we do see those who were evil on earth in the flesh receive a place in which to receive the salvation offered by God through his Son, Jesus Christ. Who knows, perhaps they literally had to be born into the flesh again to be saved, God knows. Perhaps we are them re-born, already have been "baptized by water" that is the flood. As I do believe we are currently in the Lake of Fire, enduring the judgement of God, this would explain "the second death", that is the first death in Noah's time, and then rebirth to be saved by fire, and then the second death. So we have Noah and his family, that is eight souls saved by water and everyone who was evil saved by fire. Again who knows these mysteries. God knows. |  |
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God is angry at sin, however...let's make no bones about that. Man fell, and falls every day. This displeases God. That's why, if you die without accepting Christ, you DO suffer with the consequences. You go to hell. Away from God, FOREVER. |
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Growing:
Yes, I believe that sin is wrong and it displeases God. But he's not angry. He poured out his anger on Jesus. Whether you choose to accept the payment, is your choice. Our sins are no longer being imputed against us. Many scriptures make that point very clear, including this one:
2 Corinthians 5:19-21
For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
If God as angry at anything he is angry at those that do not beieve in Jesus. That's what the world's sin is:
John 16:5-10
But now I am going away to the One who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more.
In the Words of Jesus himself: Convict the world of it's sin, singular. What is that one sin? In His words "that it refuses to believe in me" |
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GrowingInFaith - no one can accept the Son unless the Father leads them to him.
Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
So then, our belief and faith is also a spiritual Gift from the Father, so we ought to remain humble and not congratulate ourself on our "good choice", but rather thank and praise God for this blessing, lest he humble us by fire, I hear alot of talking these days about our free-will to choose, but the Word does speak a message of the Father wills being paramount in each man accepting his salvation thru his Son. Now there is another thing, we do not know why the Father has shown some and not most, there may be something to it or maybe not, in the same way God chose Issac over Esau, before one or the other had done evil or good. We do know that God chooses whom he chooses, according to his will. As far as the part about if you die without accepting Christ, it is clear that the Gospel was preached to spirits in prison and even those in heaven overcame through the blood of the lamb, it is an everlasting gospel and is not only a "flesh and earth" gospel. For the heavens and earth will pass away, but the Gospel is everlasting.
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Arctic - God did give us free will. IT was our free will that caused original sin, and it's the same reason that we all sin today...we can choose what's behind "door #1" as opposed to God's will anytime we want - and He loves us enough to allow it during this time on earth. If His will was forced onto us, or made evident that any other choice was death, then it would be worship of Him by force, something God does not want. Which is why our CHOOSING to Believe that Jesus died for our sin is so important, and what marks us as a Christian. You've said two things that I find VERY contradictory to what I (and most people on here) believe: Universal salvation An "elect" pre-ordained and chosen by God to be saved. If God has already chosen who is and isn't saved, then I should quit praying, believing, reading my bible, doing any of it - one way or another it'll work out for me in the end - I'm either 'in or out'. No one who mentions CHOOSING to believe is patting themselves on the back, but it is a choice - you're making it sound as if everyone gets saved, even if they blasphemed God their entire life, once they realize they weren't invited to the party, and that just doesn't sit well with me. |
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Eliza |
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December 17, 2007 at 11:45am |
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| I thank God for death even though it is hard on the ones who stay behind....I prayed that the Lord would take my sister home...She was in so much pain and agony the last couple of days here on Earth....We felt a little bit of relief when she went home to be with the Lord..I sure miss her though....But I know I will see her one day again... |
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| This was a great post and I will post a link to it along with my response, thank you for this. 25-stars and various AMENS, HALLELUHAU, PRAISE THE LORD, AND THANK YOU FATHER, on this blog! |
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Cheryl |
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April 24, 2008 at 9:00am |
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| Thank you Michael. |
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We are not like the devil, who didn't have a tempter and cannot repent for this reason. But the accuser since then has tried to condemn us for sin, when Our Father sees us spotless through the blood of Jesus. We have innocence by His righteousness. Satan may tempt us many times a day, but our Father speaks to us much more (and like you say; this continues with Adam's family when He continued talking with Cain the whole way). Only raising His gentle voice in warning, like we would with our children. But I can't help but think of the next verse that follows; 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. Thank God, not only for the 'passing away' but also for the ability, power and authority over death, demonstrated by Michael the arch angel in Jude, Elijah, Elisha and more in the new testament over this defeated enemy... |
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Rob |
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May 06, 2008 at 8:54pm |
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Michael,
Life is what you make of it. It can be painful suffering or it can be rewarding. It depends on what you focus on, I suppose.
In the "next life" will there be less opportunity to not trust God? Remember, we will actually be in bodily form, the bride of Christ. We will be the embodiment of the feminine side of the Godhead. Might all that power tend to go to a girl's head? Or after this life will there be an end to temptation? In the heavenly realm, will it be easier to trust God for all of our needs and wants? Have any angels ever rebelled against God? In heaven, is there a cessation of temptation? Perhaps. We shouldn't worry about tomorrow. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Sin brought death into the world. God didn't do it, sin did. Jesus freed us from our fear of death. So maybe your view of death is only the result of your faith that Jesus overcame death. To people of the world, however, death is most definitely a curse.
Rob |
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In the 'next life' we will trust God more because we know Him more. And will know, even as we are known and we will be like him, conformed to His image by the washing of the water of the Word. This takes time, and we will have it.
In eternal heaven there is no tempation, the former things are passed away and don't come to mind.
Yes, death is a curse and we are redeemed from the curse of the law. |
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