-
LGBT are really in the news of late because of all the flap about bakery
shops refusing to sell wedding cakes, and flower shops refusing to sell floral
arrangements for gay weddings. But the hope that this thread introduces is
neither political nor legal: rather; it pertains to the afterlife.
Back in 1968, when I was a young single guy living alone in a one-room
budget rental; it occurred to me that it would sure be a whole lot easier to
please God if I was like Him instead of like me. Well; imagine the
amazement that washed over me upon discovering that my thoughts were
on the right track.
†. 2Pet 1:4 . . He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises,
in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature.
While I was home from work sick one day several years ago, I watched a
morning show hosted by Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford. Somehow the
Bible passage below came up in conversation.
"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be
lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." (John
3:14-15)
Neither Regis nor Kathie had a clue what Christ's statement is saying; and
both are Christians-- Regis a Catholic and Kathie a Protestant.
I was thunderstruck that two very popular, high-profile Christian celebrities
blew a golden opportunity to explain the gospel to a nationwide audience
due, not to opposition by the devil, nor to opposition by non Christians; but
simply due to their own ignorance of Christ's teachings.
The incident to which he referred is located at Num 21:5-9. Long story
short: Yhvh's people became weary of eating manna all the time at every
meal. But instead of courteously, and diplomatically, petitioning their divine
benefactor for a different diet, they became hostile and confrontational;
angrily demanding tastier food.
In response to their insolence, and their ingratitude for His providence; Yhvh
sent a swarm of deadly poisonous vipers among them; which began striking
people; and every strike was 100% fatal, no exceptions. Then the people
came to their senses and asked Moses to intercede. In reply; Yhvh
instructed Moses to fashion an image of the vipers and hoist it up on a pole
in plain view so that everyone dying from venom could look to the image for
relief.
The key issue here is that the image was the only God-given remedy for the
people's bites— not sacrifices and offerings, not tithing, not church
attendance, not scapulars, not confession, not holy days of obligation, not
the Sabbath, not the golden rule, not charity, not Bible study and/or Sunday
school, not self denial, not vows of poverty, not the Ten Commandments,
not one's religion of choice, no; not even prayers. The image was it. In other
words then: Christ's crucifixion is the only God-given, fail-safe escape from
the wrath of God; and when people accept it and depend upon it; then
according to John 3:14-16, they qualify for eternal life.
So; how does any of this relate to the divine nature about which Peter spoke
at 2Pet 1:4?
Well; the eternal life that Christ spoke of in John 3:14-16 is simply another
way of saying divine life. I mean: who but God is eternal, and who but God
is divine? So: eternal life is associated with divine nature just as human life
is associated with human nature. They're joined at the hip.
Eternal life is often confused with immortality; but they are not the same.
Immortality has to do with a body that's impervious to death and
putrefaction. Eternal life has to do with the nature of God. (1John 1:1-2)
One of Webster's definitions of nature is: the inherent character or basic
constitution of a person or thing.
The basic constitution of human life is human nature. The basic constitution
of eternal life is divine nature. If somebody can understand what human
nature is; then they can understand what divine nature is. The one is
inherent within humans, the other inherent within God.
Bottom line: eternal life is the solution to a natural-born LGBT's dilemma.
With eternal life they will never be tempted to be LGBT again (Jas 1:13) and
actually, will never commit any kind of sin ever again (1John 3:9); thus their
entry into the holy city depicted in the 21st chapter of Revelation is assured,
and their name guaranteed to be registered in the Lamb's book of life.
"Nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall
ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's
book of life. (Rev 21:27)
===========================================
LGBT are really in the news of late because of all the flap about bakery
shops refusing to sell wedding cakes, and flower shops refusing to sell floral
arrangements for gay weddings. But the hope that this thread introduces is
neither political nor legal: rather; it pertains to the afterlife.
Back in 1968, when I was a young single guy living alone in a one-room
budget rental; it occurred to me that it would sure be a whole lot easier to
please God if I was like Him instead of like me. Well; imagine the
amazement that washed over me upon discovering that my thoughts were
on the right track.
†. 2Pet 1:4 . . He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises,
in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature.
While I was home from work sick one day several years ago, I watched a
morning show hosted by Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford. Somehow the
Bible passage below came up in conversation.
"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be
lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." (John
3:14-15)
Neither Regis nor Kathie had a clue what Christ's statement is saying; and
both are Christians-- Regis a Catholic and Kathie a Protestant.
I was thunderstruck that two very popular, high-profile Christian celebrities
blew a golden opportunity to explain the gospel to a nationwide audience
due, not to opposition by the devil, nor to opposition by non Christians; but
simply due to their own ignorance of Christ's teachings.
The incident to which he referred is located at Num 21:5-9. Long story
short: Yhvh's people became weary of eating manna all the time at every
meal. But instead of courteously, and diplomatically, petitioning their divine
benefactor for a different diet, they became hostile and confrontational;
angrily demanding tastier food.
In response to their insolence, and their ingratitude for His providence; Yhvh
sent a swarm of deadly poisonous vipers among them; which began striking
people; and every strike was 100% fatal, no exceptions. Then the people
came to their senses and asked Moses to intercede. In reply; Yhvh
instructed Moses to fashion an image of the vipers and hoist it up on a pole
in plain view so that everyone dying from venom could look to the image for
relief.
The key issue here is that the image was the only God-given remedy for the
people's bites— not sacrifices and offerings, not tithing, not church
attendance, not scapulars, not confession, not holy days of obligation, not
the Sabbath, not the golden rule, not charity, not Bible study and/or Sunday
school, not self denial, not vows of poverty, not the Ten Commandments,
not one's religion of choice, no; not even prayers. The image was it. In other
words then: Christ's crucifixion is the only God-given, fail-safe escape from
the wrath of God; and when people accept it and depend upon it; then
according to John 3:14-16, they qualify for eternal life.
So; how does any of this relate to the divine nature about which Peter spoke
at 2Pet 1:4?
Well; the eternal life that Christ spoke of in John 3:14-16 is simply another
way of saying divine life. I mean: who but God is eternal, and who but God
is divine? So: eternal life is associated with divine nature just as human life
is associated with human nature. They're joined at the hip.
Eternal life is often confused with immortality; but they are not the same.
Immortality has to do with a body that's impervious to death and
putrefaction. Eternal life has to do with the nature of God. (1John 1:1-2)
One of Webster's definitions of nature is: the inherent character or basic
constitution of a person or thing.
The basic constitution of human life is human nature. The basic constitution
of eternal life is divine nature. If somebody can understand what human
nature is; then they can understand what divine nature is. The one is
inherent within humans, the other inherent within God.
Bottom line: eternal life is the solution to a natural-born LGBT's dilemma.
With eternal life they will never be tempted to be LGBT again (Jas 1:13) and
actually, will never commit any kind of sin ever again (1John 3:9); thus their
entry into the holy city depicted in the 21st chapter of Revelation is assured,
and their name guaranteed to be registered in the Lamb's book of life.
"Nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall
ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's
book of life. (Rev 21:27)
===========================================
