The Good Of The Father (The Man That I Am)

 You will be protesting to me, then, "Why, then is He still blaming?  For who has withstood His intention?"  O man!  Who are you, to be sure, who are answering again to God?  That which is molded will not protest to the molder, "Why do you make me thus?"  Or has not the potter the right over the clay?  Out of the same kneading to make one vessel, indeed, for honor, yet one for dishonor?  

Paul to the Romans 9: 19-21, Concordant New Testament 

So, yesterday I opined about the downfall of the masculine man in our society.  I've noticed this for quite some time and wondered to myself why God would allow His creation to be dishonored so.  In response, a good friend asked me THE question of the day.  Have you ever been angry with God in how He created you?  Wow!  Now, that struck at the heart of what it was I was writing about.  For indeed, there have been those in our world who live each day with the anger of how the Father created them.  Why has He created me as a woman?  Why has He created me as a man?  Why has He not created me successful?  We could go on and on over the different things which we might think of how God COULD HAVE created us.  But think about this for one moment, He has already given unto us the greatest identity we could have asked for.  It is God who has created us in His own likeness {Genesis 1:27}.  How much more important can we be in the big scheme of things?  We not only carry the Fathers likeness, but all which he is!  As God is, so is the man that I am.  I personally do not understand how someone could complain over how it is that God created them.  Anyone who has worked on projects such as pottery could certainly understand that that which is being molded cannot protest to the potter "Why do you make me thus" {Paul to the Romans 9:20}?  When I was growing up one of my hobbies was building model airplanes.  Sometimes, those models didn't really turn out how they appeared on the box.  Could the finished model therefore blame me for creating it that way?  Has not God created the materials for the project?  Has He not given me the ability to construct the model?  See my point?  The apostle Paul speaks a wonderful passage concerning this in Romans.  As Paul writes, does not the Father have the right to make on vessel for honor and one therefore for dishonor?  If we are not involved in our own creation process, what right do we have to protest to God how it is that we have been created?  I admit that there are things about my own life that I sometimes wish were different, but what right do I have to complain to God over this?  He has already created me in the greatest image of all.  His own.  

Who is the image of the invisible God, Firstborn of every creature, for in Him all is created, that in the heavens and that on the earth, the invisible and the visible, whether thrones, or lordships, or sovereignties, or authorities, all is created through Hom and for Him. 

Paul to the Colossians 1: 15-17, Concordant New Testament 

I understand why it is that there are those who would protest to God over how it is that they were created.  They DO NOT know Him.  They do not know nor understand the love through which the Father breathed life into them {Genesis 2:7}.  They have no idea of the glory which awaits us.  In their minds, they live separate from God.  If there were to be a hell on earth, this would be it!  To live each and every day knowing that you are separated from the Father who loves you.  I really don't blame people for thinking this way, because this is what they are being taught in our mainstream houses of worship.  In Christian theology, man toils here on earth while God watches over things from heaven.  So are we to look upon Him as an overseer and not a loving Father?  I will never believe in that bogus thinking.  Jesus Himself spoke to our union with He and the Father {Johns Account 14:20}.  How can we be separate from Him and yet still be in union with Him?  I trust in the words of scripture, not in the sermons of man.  I believe in my heart that I live each and every day in the Father.  When you get down to brass tacks, those who protest to God over how they were created live in His presence as well.  This truth has just not been revealed to them yet.  So it is that they continue to live in the false narrative that they live apart from God.  I know better.  I know the man that I am in Him.  

~Scott~  

The Good Of The Father (Oh Man!)

 

And Yahweh Elohim said: It is not good for the human to be alone by himself.  I shall make for him a helper as his compliment. 

Genesis 2: 18, Concordant Old Testament 

A good friend of mine shared an article the other day which bemoaned the decline of the "Man" in our nation.  Of course, I was not a bit surprised about this revelation.  In fact, I don't believe that anyone who has paid any attention to the cultural changes within our country over the past fifty years would have been surprised at all by the decline of the male figure in our nation.  This is what we wanted, and this is exactly what we've received.  Some years ago, the feminist movement in America sought to wipe out all semblance of the traditional male roles in this country.  Women were downtrodden and were tired of being seen as lower class.  Well, in some instances, that might have been true.  But I will never believe that the male figure in this nation is as evil and as wicked as the feminists have led us to believe.  Now, we live in a country where the traditional male is all too often looked down upon and scrutinized.  Words such as sexist and misogynist have entered our vocabulary.  Being a traditional man has now become a bad thing.  Again, this is what we ourselves have wrought.  But what is it that God Himself sees in this situation?  How is it that God sees the role of the man and woman in society.  Well, all we need to do is to look upon the scriptures to see the Fathers original intent for His creation.  God has proclaimed that "I shall make for him a helper as his compliment" {Genesis 2:18}.  And it has been written, that the woman will be a compliment to the man.  This has been the Fathers intent for us from the beginning.  God never said that the man was too power hungry, sexist or masculine.  In fact, it is that masculinity which is part of the original blueprint of the Lords creation.  Men are strong, men engage in that which is more physical than women.  On the other hand, men are all too often criticized for not being emotional or showing their inner feelings very well.  That is for good reason, this is the womans arena.  Just as God created men to be strong and physical, He also created the woman to be his compliment in life.  It is the woman who, knowing that he does not show his feelings well, helps him through this.  Only those who have been in a traditional marriage relationship may understand this dynamic between a man and a woman.  I have been blessed in my life to be witness to more than a few marriage relationships between Godly people.  In each of them, the man is not domineering and it is the woman who is the compliment to that relationship.  

Then Yahweh Elohim caused a stupor to fall on the human.  while he was sleeping, He took one of his angular organs and closed up the flesh over its place.  Yahweh Elohim built the angular organ that He had taken from the human into a woman and brought her to the human.  The human said: This time it is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.  This shall be called woman, for this was taken from her man. 

Genesis 2: 21-23, Concordant Old Testament 

Upon His creation, God granted to Adam (The human) the task of naming the creatures which the Lord had created {Genesis 2:19-20}.  It is interesting, then, that when the Father brings His creation unto Adam for the first time that he decides what to call her.  Adam proclaims "This shall be called woman, for this was taken from her man" {Genesis 2:23}.  Despite being in a deep sleep brought on by the Lord, Adam seems to be aware of the events which have brought this comparable helper unto him.  She is now woman, as she was taken from man.  Like it or not, this is the truth of the creation of the female.  Perhaps that is what pissed off those feminists, that God would create the woman to be a compliment to man.  They feel that the deck was stacked against them from the beginning.  However, I've learned to never question that which the Lord has brought forth.  The Lords intent in creating the woman was never to cause discord in His creation.  Yet this is what we have brought upon ourselves.  Keep in mind that this was never His intention.  We see the Fathers true desire through His creation.  Yes, He has allowed events to unfold which seem to undermine that which He has created, but His original intent for His creation remains clear.  His intention for the woman of His creation is to be a helper comparable to her mate.  The feminists might try to rewrite history, but they will never undue that which God has created.  

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (Taking Credence)

 

"And there is no salvation in any other one, for neither is there any other name, given under heaven among men, in which we must be saved"

Acts of the Apostles 4: 12, Concordant New Testament 

By definition, a creed is defined as a system of belief, principles or opinions.  But few Christians are aware that the very faith in which they believe has been structured from the earliest centuries.  Also known as the Creed of Constantinople, the Nicene creed is described as "Statement of belief" in Nicene Christianity.  The creed is part of a profession of faith required of those in important functions within the Orthodox, Catholic and Lutheran churches.  But I believe that its influences have permeated most if not all of modern Christianity as we know it.  Before the creation of the Nicene Creed, various theological differences arose in those who professed to follow the teachings of Christ Jesus.  This was, in my mind, to be expected.  Even today, new churches spring up constantly due to someone's disagreement with how their own church operates.  I have a friend who proudly proclaims that he was kicked out of his church some years ago for challenging what was being taught there.  I believe that this was how it was in the days before the creation of the Nicene Creed.  The emperor Constantine is known as the one who assembled the council of Nicaea in order to resolve the disputes in the Christian belief which he, as emperor, believed in.  It was also feared that if allowed to continue, that these disputes would somehow destabilize the empire of emperor Constantine.  And that simply couldn't happen.  So it is that Constantine intervened and set forth a common system of beliefs which all believers would attest to.  This included the reference to "One God, the Almighty" and as Christ Jesus as the "Son of God."  In effect, this Nicene Creed set forth a statement of beliefs which all churches would adhere to.  So it is that the statement of beliefs which we continue to see in churches today is an adaptation of that council of Nicaea long ago.  

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are of God, for many false prophets have come out into the world 

First Epistle of John 4: 1, Concordant New Testament 

I remember seeing "Statements of Faith" in a few of the churches which I have been involved in.  Basically, they were testaments of what was believed and taught within the walls of that church.  I have even known many Christians who have based their choice of churches to attend solely upon a churches statement of faith.  But here's my take on this, these statements have not changed in thousands of years!  In other words, if you've seen one you've seen them all.  The purpose of the Council of Nicaea was to CONFORM the beliefs of the Christian religion into one set system of beliefs...or creed.  I would say, mission accomplished in that regard!  Yet then I look upon the words of the apostle John, who proclaims that we should "Test the spirits to see if they are of God" {First Epistle of John 4:1}.  Is this to include the spirits of those who adhere to the Nicene creed?  In my experience, the teachings of the mainstream church have fallen far short of the truth we find in the Father.  The fact that the church continues to speak to the existence of sin when the apostle Paul clearly proclaims that Christ has already paid that penalty for us {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:21}.  Are we to proclaim Paul a liar?  And, speaking of the sin issue, Paul has also written that Jesus indeed died to sin "Once for all time" {Paul to the Romans 6:10}.  You speak of sin, yet it is Christ Jesus who has given Himself on the cross that sin be abolished once and for all!  Believe me, this contradiction between the scriptures and church teachings caused me more than my share of confusion.  There are indeed many contradictions in the creed of Nicaea, but the sin issue is one that many believers continue to lose their way on.  The Nicene creed does not mention it, but the reality is that we live in union with the Father {Johns Account 14:20}.  For me, I will trust in the word of the Father over a dead emperor any day.  

Religion has actually convinced people that there is a invisible man living in the sky watching everything you do, every minute of every day.  And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do.  And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever until the end of time!  But he loves you.  He loves you, and he needs money.  He always needs money.  He's all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, somehow he just can't handle money. 

George Carlin 

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (Chasing The Dead)

 

With Christ have I been crucified, yet I am living; no longer I, but living in me is Christ.  Now that which I am now living in the flesh, I am living in the faith that is of the Son of God, Who loves me, and gives Himself up for me.

Paul to the Galatians 2: 20, Concordant New Testament 

Most kids, when growing up, have a pretty good idea of what they want to be when they get older.  Be it a fireman or a pilot, many young people began thinking about future plans from an early age.  I was no different.  Yet for me, it was more about that which I DIDN'T want to be when I got older.  Growing up I had the belief that I would never be the man that my own father was.  I had seen that movie, and I wanted no part of it.  I had watched my own father disrespect my mother and act out according to what he wanted to be.  In the end, my mother ended up raising two kids on her own while my father tried his best to remove himself from his family.  No, I never wanted to be like Him.  As I got older and became more involved in the mainstream church (mom was pretty religious), I began to realize that the church itself had a habit of remembering that which was lost as well.  From a pretty early age, I began to hear sermons about how I used to be.  Now, even back then, I knew enough to know that my dad was indeed a sinner.  For adultery was one of the major crimes a person could commit in Gods eyes.  But each and every week I continued to hear of how bad I had been.  That I, too, was a sinner.  Was I indeed cursed to be like him after all?  This was my first experience of the church focusing more on who we WERE  than on who it is that we are in the Father.  The apostle Paul points out the fact that all indeed have sinned {Paul to the Romans 3:23}.  I have listened to many a pastor point out this passage as they continue to convince their congregations that our sins still lay before us.  Yet few of these so called church leaders stop and proclaim the truth which Paul speaks in the following verse.  That although we were ONCE sinners, it is by the grace of the Father through Christ Jesus that we no longer carry that sin with us {Paul to the Romans 3:24}.  Paul knew the truth about sin, obviously those in the mainstream church leadership missed that point altogether.  So it is that the church, despite knowing of the redemption we share in Christ Jesus, continue to preach the existence of sin in our lives.  They continue to chase the dead.  

For you died, and your life is hid together with Christ in God

Paul to the Colossians 3: 3, Concordant New Testament 

Being a late bloomer in knowing Christ, I will admit that I never knew that I had died before.  That I am now living my new creation in Him {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:17}.  I've never heard any pastor whisper these words from the pulpit.  We died?  What blasphemy is this?  Well, it's the same blasphemy which has been spoken by the apostle Paul, whom the mainstream church celebrates as one of the greatest defenders of Jesus of all time.  I recall a friend, a former pastor, who recalled that his knowledge of the words spoken by Paul in Galatians 2:20 were but Paul's own words concerning himself.  That Christ Jesus could never dwell within sinners.  Once again, the church chasing the dead.  Are we to ignore these words of Paul simply because they seem outlandish to us?  I'd say no.  For we know the truth, we celebrate the fact that Christ Jesus came and died for the sins of man {Johns Account 3:16-17}.  Did Jesus miss a few of those sins when He died on that cross?  Again, the words spoken by Paul tell us otherwise.  For Paul has proclaimed that Jesus died to sin "Once for all time" {Paul to the Romans 6:10}.  Paul knew in his heart that Christ gave Himself not only for his past sin, but for those of the present and future as well.  There is NO plan for Jesus to return again to give Himself over and over for sins which we continue to confess in error.  What's done is done, and Jesus has already paid the price for that.  What those in the mainstream church leadership continue to speak is based simply upon what they imagine the truth to be.  Even so, I've had a difficult time struggling with the possibility that those in our church leadership have been willfully engaging in the deception of Gods children for centuries.  But that is a topic for another day (But, google the Nicene creed if you're at all curious).  The truth which has been instilled in our hearts is that we are no longer sinners, but live a life in union with the Father {Johns Account 14:20}.  But I guess that goes against the church narrative.  

~Scott~ 

The Good Of the Father (All Things New)

 

So that, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: the primitive passed by.  Lo!  There has come new!  

Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5: 17, Concordant New Testament  

Some time ago, I made a point that once the new year came that I wouldn't dwell on those things of the past year.  What's done is done, so they say.  Indeed, far too many people stayed awake last night to celebrate the passing of the new year.  Even though I was invited to some alchohol infused bash, I decided to pass and spend the evening at home in solace.  After all, to engage in the liquor fueled festivities would be to revert to what once was, not to acknowledge the man I am now.  As the apostle Paul has proclaimed, all has become new {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:17}.  But Paul wasn't referring to new year's eve celebrations, but something far more important.  To put this in perspective, how many times have you sat through a Sunday sermon where being "Saved by grace" is celebrated?  As Christians, we all too often take great pride in the false narrative that we are indeed saved by the grace of the Lord.  I have no argument with that, but when we attach the word "Sinners" in front of that phrase I instantly start to cringe.  For the record, I have had many discussions with believers who proudly describe themselves as "Sinners saved by grace."  These believers are quick to point out that it was indeed Christ Jesus who saved them from their former condition, yet they continue in their belief that sin is a major part of their lives.  Usually my response to such silliness is to simply ask them, "Did Jesus die for your sins or did He not?"  The usual response is, yes...but.  But?  But what?  Either Jesus died on that cross for the forgiveness of all sin or he didn't.  It's that simple.  If the forgiveness of sin requires a sacrifice, how many times are you willing to put Jesus to death in order to satisfy your false belief that sin still exists in your life?  Paul proclaims in Romans that Christ Jesus "Died to sin once for all time" {Paul to the Romans 6:10}.  Paul also has proclaimed that Christ took the sin of mankind upon Himself on that cross {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:21}.  So tell me again, what sin did Jesus forget to cover?  

Knowing this, that our old humanity was crucified together with Him that the body of sin may be nullified, for us by no means to be still slaving for sin.  For one who dies has justified from sin.  Now if we died together with Christ, we believe that we shall be living together with Him also, having perceived that Christ, having been roused from among the dead, is no longer dying.  Death is lording it over Him non longer.  For in that He died, He died to sin once for all time, yet in that He is living, He is living to God.  Thus you also, be reckoning yourselves to be dead, indeed, to sin, yet living to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Paul to the Romans 6: 6-11, Concordant New Testament 

I find it interesting that far too many believers know more about who they once were than who they are in Christ today.  Indeed, our former nature which Jesus died on the cross to remove from us is even today still acknowledged as real.  Not only that, many believers combine this false belief with the truth of Jesus dying for the forgiveness of sin.  This isn't even the best of both worlds, but the error in our  thinking that Jesus died for nothing.  We continue to live in the past.  Thankfully, our heavenly Father has removed our former sin condition that He would once again restore His relationship He once shared with His children.  Through Christ Jesus, all things have become new.  We no longer need to focus on the past.  We can now look towards our future in the Father {Johns Account 14:20}.  That's right, not only has Jesus given Himself for the forgiveness of sin, but that we would live in union with He and the Father.  Even so, many believers continue to cling to the lie spoken by the deceiver in the garden {Genesis 3:1-6}.  Their own imaginations ignoring the truth of who they are in the Father.  They BELIEVE that they are but sinners saved by grace.  But the truth proclaims something different.  Through Christ, all has become new.  As a good friend once told me, when Satan reminds you of your past, remind him of his future!  We are new creations in Christ.  

~Scott~