Shirt Pocket Homilies

[Olde Tymer]

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Hello;

Heavyweight evangelists like Billy Graham and Luis Palau usually preached lengthy
sermons during their crusades; which wasn't a bad method considering their
venues. But here on an internet forum, I think we can better serve a world-wide
public with an economy of words.

Buen Camino (Pleasant Journey)
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[Olde Tymer]

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Moses & The Fiery Serpent

● John 3:14-17 . . As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must
the Son of Man be lifted up; that whoever believes may in him have eternal life. For
God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes
in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

That's Jesus making use of an incident that took place in Numbers 21:5-9

Long story short: Moses' 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 indignant and confrontational; angrily
demanding better accommodations.

In response to their insolence, and their ingratitude for His providence; God sent a
swarm of deadly poisonous snakes amongst them; which began striking people;
and every strike was 100% fatal, no exceptions.

After a number of people died, the rest came to their senses and begged Moses to
intercede. In reply; The Lord instructed Moses to fashion a replica of the snakes
and hoist it up on a pole in plain view so that everyone dying from venom could
look to it for relief.

The key issue here is that the replica 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
rosaries, not weeping, not the golden rule, not charity, not Bible study, yeshiva,
catechism, and/or Sunday school, not self denial, not vows of poverty, not the Ten
Commandments, nor even one's ideology of choice, i.e. it wouldn't have mattered
whether somebody was Muslim, Hindu, Jew, Buddhist, Catholic, Protestant, Baha'i,
Atheist, Agnostic, Pagan, or whatever-- the replica was it; nothing else would
suffice to save their lives.

As an allegory, the replica speaks of Christ's crucifixion for the sins of the world as
the only God-given rescue from retribution and perdition; and when people accept
it, then according to John 3:14-17 and John 5:24, they qualify for a transfer from
death into life. Those who reject his crucifixion as the only God-given rescue from
the sum of all fears, are on the docket to face it.

● John 3:18 . .Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not
believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of
God's one and only son.

FAQ: How might one go about looking to Jesus like those folks back then looked to
that replica?

REPLY:I recommend RSVP.

Find a quiet place; anywhere will do. Cover you face with your hands for a sense of
connection, and tell God-- under your breath or out loud if you like --that you have
never yet measured up to His standards and you're pretty sure you never will. Tell
Him you would like to take advantage of His son's death to protect yourself from
retribution.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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The Sermon On The Mount

Jesus' instructions aren't something to be admired; no, they're something to be
feared.

● Matt 7:26-27 . . Everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on
them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house; and it collapsed and was completely
ruined.

As for those who know the Sermon, it will be used against them.

● John 12:48 . . He who rejects me, and does not receive my sayings, has one who
judges him: the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day; because I did
not speak on my own initiative, but the Father himself who sent me has given me
commandment, what to say, and what to speak.

In other words; the Sermon channels the voice of God.

● Heb 1:1-2 . . In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at
many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His
son

God offers humanity His own son's life and safety to atone for their failure to fully
comply with Jesus' sermon; and would appreciate an RSVP to let Him know they
want in on the benefit. Of course if folks consider themselves pious enough to skip
the cross, well more power to them, but I highly recommend they take God up on
His offer just in case their estimation proves faulty; especially seeing as the Bible
says no one yet has measured up to His own personal standards of sinless
perfection.

● Rom 3:23 . . All . . . fall short of the glory of God.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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The Good Shepherd

Jesus has been tasked with managing a number of very special sheep.

● John 10:29 . . My sheep . . my Father gave them to me

Jesus' Father expects His son to be conscientious about the sheep's safety.

● John 6:39 . .This is the will of the One who sent me: that I should not lose
anything of what He gave me.

Jesus never fails to give the One what He wants.

● John 4:34 . . My food is to do the will of the One who sent me.

● John 8:29 . . I always do what is pleasing to Him.

Now the thing is: were Jesus to lose even one of the sheep that his Father
entrusted to his care-- just one --then Jesus would not be able to say that he
"always" pleases the One who sent him. He could say that he pleases the One most
of the time, but certainly not always without fail.

People are actually casting a nay vote in regard to Jesus' competence when they
insist it's possible for him to lose some of the sheep that his Father gave him. Were
Christ an ordinary guy I would be inclined to agree with the skeptics; but his
miracles demonstrate that the good shepherd has all the powers and abilities of the
supreme being at his disposal to insure he succeeds at keeping the sheep right
where his Father wants them kept.

● John 10:9 . . I am the door; whoever enters through me shall be saved.

Were Christ an ordinary guy; then he wouldn't dare say "shall be saved" no, he'd
have to tone it down a bit and say shall be safer instead of shall be saved. That
would leave him some room for error. But when Christ says shall be saved, he's
claiming a 0.0% failure rate. That's how confident Christ is that he will lose nothing
of those that the One gave him.

FAQ: Why can't the sheep change their minds about following Christ and leave him
to follow someone else?

REPLY: Animal husbandry isn't democratic, on the contrary: it's quite despotic.

The thing is: a rancher's free will trumps his herd's free will; and the rancher's
brand burned into the animals' skins indelibly identify them with their owner. So be
advised: once someone makes the decision to unify with Christ, they relinquish
whatever sovereignty they had as a beast at large, viz: they become Christ's
property, and there's no going back because he and his Father play for keeps. In
other words: in order for the sheep to free themselves from Christ, they would need
to overpower not only him but his Father also; which isn't likely.

● John 10:28-29 . . No one can take them out of my hand-- my Father, who has
given them to me, is greater than all; and no one can take them out of the Father's
hand. I and my Father are unified.

● 1Cor 6:19-20 . .You are not your own; you were bought at a price.

● Eph 1:13 . . In him you also-- who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of
your salvation, and have believed in him --were sealed with the promised Holy
Spirit.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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Living Water

● John 3:5 . . I say unto you: except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God.

The salient characteristic of the water in that verse is its purpose as a beverage
rather than washing.

● John 4:10-14 . . If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a
drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.
Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him
will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

● John 7:37-38 . . If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever
believes in me, as the scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from
within him.

● Rev 22:17 . . Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the
water of life freely.

FAQ: The water of life is supernatural then?

REPLY: Yes. (Rev 22:1)

FAQ: And it's a free-bee?

REPLY: Yes.

FAQ: How might an interested inquirer obtain it?

REPLY: By means of a clear and concise RSVP.

I recommend finding some privacy; cover your face with your hands for a sense of
connection, and then simply tell Christ-- in your own words under your breath or
out loud --that you'd like to take advantage of his offer.

* Be brave. If Jesus was favorably inclined to give the living water to that naughty
girl of Samaria, then I think it safe to be confident he'll give it to just about
anybody. At any rate; it's a requirement so don't neglect it.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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Piety For The Naturally Impious

I was baptized very young into Roman Catholicism. When older, my mom enrolled
me in catechism where I eventually completed First Holy Communion and
Confirmation.

I was very satisfied as a Catholic until I came of age and began to realize the
extent of the challenge I was facing. The thing is: even were I to succeed at being
pious enough in this life to obtain Heaven, I was pretty certain I could not keep up
the good work for eternity. It would only be a matter of time before I did something
really stupid and got kicked out.

● Ps 15:1-2 . . Lord: who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy
hill? "He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous"

Long story short: it occurred to me that it would be the cat's meow if I were as
naturally pleasing to God as His son Jesus always is, because then it would be very
easy to not only obtain Heaven, but also very easy to stay in Heaven without fear
of being kicked out:

"He that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone; for I do always
those things that please Him." (John 8:29)

I was very surprised, and excited, upon discovering that something very similar to
the very thing I wished for is contained in a promise that God made to Moses'
people.

● Ezek 36:24-27 . . I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home
again to your land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean.
Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give
you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will
take out your stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart. And I will put
My spirit in you so you will obey My laws and do whatever I command.

That benefit was originally intended for the Jews but anon became available to
Gentiles too.

● Isa 49:5-6 . . And now The Lord says-- he who formed me in the womb to be his
servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in
the eyes of The Lord and my God has been my strength --He says: "It is too small
a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those
of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may
bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

And sure enough, the benefit is reiterated in the New Testament per 2Pet 1:3-4
which says:

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through
our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these
He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you
may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption that's in the world."

I should think it goes without saying that the divine nature would be a whole lots
more successful at producing an acceptable level of piety than the human nature
could ever wish for because even at its best the human nature is corrupt; which is
translated from a Greek word basically pertaining to damaged goods, i.e. broken.

● Jer 13:23 . . Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither
can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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Not everyone will be spared the wrath of God via Jesus' crucifixion because the
benefit is limited to believers.

● John 3:16 . . For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

● John 5:24 . . I assure you, those who listen to my message and believe in God
who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but
they have already passed from death into life.

● Eph 1:13 . . In Him you too trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel
of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy
Spirit of promise.

● 1Tim 4:10 . . Our hope is in the living God, who is the savior of all people, and
particularly of those who believe.

So; how many disbelievers might we reckon are affected by that requirement. Well,
as of mid 2020 there were approximately:

50,000 . . . . . . . . Scientologists
16,500,000 . . . . .Mormons
8,200,000 . . . . . .Practicing Jehovah's Witnesses
8,531,000 . . . . . .Baha'i
545,584,000 . . . .Buddhists
468,411,000 . . . .Chinese Folk Religionists
8,606,000 . . . . . .Confucianists
269,498,000 . . . .Ethnic Religionists
1,062,595,000 . . .Hindus
6,135,000 . . . . . .Jains
14,779,000 . . . . .Jews
1,893,345,000 . . Muslims
64,549,000 . . . . .New Religionists
2,788,000 . . . . . .Shintoists
28,000,000 . . . . .Sikhs
14,851,000 . . . . .Spiritists
9,078,000 . . . . . .Taoists
1,757,433,000 . . .Non Religious/Atheists/Agnostics

The grand total of just those categories is 5,710,522,000

If those figures are in the ball park, and if conventional Christianity is the reality;
then at least 72.4% of the earth's 2020 population of 7,887,001,292 people were
on a road to Hell; and no doubt some of them were folks we cared about: our BFF,
our loved ones, and our favorite celebrities.

NOTE: Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons are Christians in accord with Webster's
definition; but not in accord with the conventional form of Christianity.
_

 

[civic]

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Not everyone will be spared the wrath of God via Jesus' crucifixion because the
benefit is limited to believers.

● John 3:16 . . For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

● John 5:24 . . I assure you, those who listen to my message and believe in God
who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but
they have already passed from death into life.

● Eph 1:13 . . In Him you too trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel
of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy
Spirit of promise.

● 1Tim 4:10 . . Our hope is in the living God, who is the savior of all people, and
particularly of those who believe.

So; how many disbelievers might we reckon are affected by that requirement. Well,
as of mid 2020 there were approximately:

50,000 . . . . . . . . Scientologists
16,500,000 . . . . .Mormons
8,200,000 . . . . . .Practicing Jehovah's Witnesses
8,531,000 . . . . . .Baha'i
545,584,000 . . . .Buddhists
468,411,000 . . . .Chinese Folk Religionists
8,606,000 . . . . . .Confucianists
269,498,000 . . . .Ethnic Religionists
1,062,595,000 . . .Hindus
6,135,000 . . . . . .Jains
14,779,000 . . . . .Jews
1,893,345,000 . . Muslims
64,549,000 . . . . .New Religionists
2,788,000 . . . . . .Shintoists
28,000,000 . . . . .Sikhs
14,851,000 . . . . .Spiritists
9,078,000 . . . . . .Taoists
1,757,433,000 . . .Non Religious/Atheists/Agnostics

The grand total of just those categories is 5,710,522,000

If those figures are in the ball park, and if conventional Christianity is the reality;
then at least 72.4% of the earth's 2020 population of 7,887,001,292 people were
on a road to Hell; and no doubt some of them were folks we cared about: our BFF,
our loved ones, and our favorite celebrities.

NOTE: Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons are Christians in accord with Webster's
definition; but not in accord with the conventional form of Christianity.
_

The stats don't lie and tell the story.

 

[civic]

Nice thread thank you !

 

[Olde Tymer]

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● Rev 20:12 . . And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the
books were opened . . . and the dead were judged out of those things which were
written in the books, according to their works.

Many of us have a lot to answer for, but God has made a way to get it all wiped.

● Rom 4:25 . . He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for
our justification.

The Greek word translated "justification" in that passage means acquittal; roughly
defined as an adjudication of innocence due to lack of sufficient evidence to convict,
viz: exoneration. In other words: by means of Christ's crucifixion and his
resurrection, God closes the believer's case and it's never reopened-- not because
it's a cold case, but because all charges against them-- those of the past, those
now, and those pending --were transferred to Christ.

● Isa 53:6 . .We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own
way; and The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

● 2Cor 5:19 . . God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not counting
their trespasses against them

● Rom 8:33-34 . .Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?
It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns; Christ Jesus, who died?

If perchance there's someone out there who believes God had you in mind when
Jesus went to the cross, and are confident his crucified dead body was restored to
life; then RSVP God and let Him know you want in on this remarkable benefit to
protect yourself from retribution because we definitely do not want our sins
showing up in the books.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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Humanity was created in the image and likeness of God. So then, I think we can
safely assume that humanity came packaged with a sense of responsibility, viz: a
conscience.

But I remember what I told you;
That in time you're gonna pay.
Funny How Time Slips Away
Willie Nelson, Billy Walker, 1961

That song is correct about the ex girlfriend, but the singer neglects to take into
account his own responsibility.

There are folks out in the world who've never once heard and/or been taught a
single thing about the laws of God, but that doesn't let them off the hook because
no matter how faulty nor how reliable their sense of responsibility might be, they
will be held accountable for how much, and/or how little, they let their conscience
be their guide.

● Rom 2:14-16 . . Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature
things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not
have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their
hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing,
now even defending them.) This will take place on the day when God will judge
men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

Now although retribution for uninformed folks will be lighter than those who know
better, they will still have to undergo some penalties.

● Luke 12:47-48 . .That servant who knows his master's will and does not get
ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But
the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten
with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded;
and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Anyway, point being: we needn't fret that uninformed folks throughout the world
won't get a fair shake.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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POSIT: I'm special; God understands me. Although He probably may not let others
off; I'm sure God will make an exception for me because I'm not like other people;
I'm different.

REPLY: Unfortunately, the Bible's God can't do that. If He were to make exceptions,
God would be neither equitable, nor honest-- and worse, it would go against His
grain, compromise His integrity, sin against His conscience; and cause Him to lose
the world's respect.

No, God doesn't grade on a curve: everyone is treated equally in God's courtroom.
In a system of divine absolutes; there is neither a curve nor an exception: nobody
gets any favors, nobody is special, and nobody is a protected species.

● Deut 10:17 . . Jehovah shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.

● Acts 10:34 . .Then Peter began to speak: I now realize how true it is that God is
impartial.

● Rom 2:5-11 . . For there is coming a day of judgment when God, the just judge
of all the world, will judge all people according to what they have done. He will give
eternal life to those who persist in doing what is good, seeking after the glory and
honor and immortality that God offers.

. . But He will pour out His anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who
refuse to obey the truth; and practice evil deeds. There will be anguish and
calamity for everyone who practices evil-- for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.
But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all practice good --for the
Jew first and also for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.

FAQ: The Jews don't have an edge? Aren't they supposed to be God's chosen people?

REPLY: You've heard what's said about moths that circle too close to the flame?

"Hear this word which Yahweh has spoken against you, sons of Israel, against the
entire family which He brought up from the land of Egypt. You only have I chosen
among all the families of the earth; Therefore, I will punish you for all your
iniquities." (Amos 3:1-2)

The Jews have the least excuse for non compliance with God's ways because they
were, and are, so well-informed.

"He has revealed His word to Jacob, His laws and decrees to Israel. He has done
this for no other nation." (Ps 147:19-20)

"They were entrusted with the oracles of God." (Rom 3:2, cf. Deut 4:5-8)
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

.
Serial killer Ed Kemper committed a number of unspeakable crimes against women,
but nevertheless guys in his situation are not beyond redemption.

● John 3:16-17 . . For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not
send His son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through
him.

The Greek word in that passage translated "loved" rarely has anything to do with
fondness and/or affection. It mostly pertains to benevolence, e.g. kindness,
courtesy, lenience, tolerance, generosity, charity, sympathy, compassion, etc. In
point of fact the supreme being is no doubt disgusted with many of us because we
bear little, if any, resemblance to the kind of folks with whom He prefers to
associate.

Nevertheless, God was thinking of everybody, including Ed Kemper, when Jesus
went to the cross.

● Isa 53:6 . .We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own
way; and The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

So if he had a mind to, Ed could take advantage of Jesus' crucifixion to protect
himself from retribution. However; he'd still be the same old Ed Kemper, and in
that state, Ed has some very serious issues with women that are humanly
impossible to cure.

Well; I've no doubt that Ed would be the first to tell you that women in Heaven
would be in very grave danger with him there if not for a way to relieve Ed of his
issues with women. Well, as a matter of fact, God is in the wings for guys in Ed's
condition and He's well able to peel Ed's negative issues off him like a dead skin so
he can depart this life a different man.

● Col 2:11-12 . . In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful
nature-- not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the
circumcision done by Christ.

Judaism has a physical circumcision, but Christianity's supernatural version is
much better because it has the power to liberate people from human nature's
rather disagreeable inclinations, viz: whereas Judaism's circumcision is merely a
ritual, Christianity's is the hand of God.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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FAQ: What might Hell's culture be like?

REPLY: Seeing as how nobody down there has any more reason to be civil, then I
think new arrivals can expect to be ill treated in that world.

Also, folks down there are deprived of the regeneration spoken of per John 3:3-8 so
they are there as they were here. Well; human nature tends to deteriorate, sort of
like the decay experienced by road kill and spoiled fruits and vegetables. I'd expect
that the lost get badder and badder and badder as time goes on so that even a
saint like Mother Teresa would eventually become so evil that her conduct in Hell
would be disturbing to behold.

And then according to Matt 7:21-23, not everyone talking the talk will make the
cut.

Well; I would not want to be one of them because they will surely be mocked
without mercy by some of the netherworld's unruly crowd. I can just imagine the
cruel giggling and taunts that "pious" folks are enduring down there; for example:

Hey Christian! How's about sharing the gospel with us ay? Tell us about the love of
God and how that's working for ya. Awwwww-Haw-Haw-Haw-Hawwwwwwwww!

I'd rather end up in Hell as a Bernie Madoff than a failed Christian because ol' ponzi
schemer Bernie is sure to be given more respect down there than a bible thumper.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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When people neglect to think about the hereafter; they become like a frog boiled
alive by starting it out in cold water.

● Mark 4:3-19 . . Hearken! Behold, there went out a sower to sow: and some fell
among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. These
are they such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness
of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh
unfruitful.

Well, hello there.
My, it's been a long, long time.
How am I doing?
Oh, I guess that I'm doing fine.

It's been so long now,
But it seems now that it was only yesterday.
Gee, ain't it funny
How time slips away?
(Billy Walker, 1961)
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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● Ps 115:17-18 . .The dead do not praise The Lord, nor do any who go down into
silence.

The first "dead" in that verse are not yet deceased but might just as well be seeing
as how their attitude towards God lacks reverence.

"any who go down into silence" are the dead who've passed on. Well; they're no
different down below than when up here on the surface, i.e. they're still irreverent.

The Bible says to call upon God while He is near. Well, there comes a time for the
dead when God is too distant, i.e. when His phone is permanently off the hook, so
to speak. That's a kind of silence that no one should take lightly.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

.
I think most folks would agree that monsters like Kim Jong-Un, Xi Jinping, Robert
Mugabe, Muammar Gaddafi, Saddam Hussein, human traffickers, and drug cartel
kingpins belong in Hell; but why are decent folk down there?

Well; obviously humanity's moral compass points to a different north than their
maker's, viz: sometimes what's tolerable in human reasoning is unacceptable to
God. Why is that?

In the beginning; humanity was created with a conscience patterned after its
maker's.

"And God said: Let us make man in our image, after our likeness . . So God created
man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female
created He them." (Gen 1:26-27)

Then came the forbidden fruit incident, wherein humanity's conscience lost its
divine qualities.

"Then the Lord God said: Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good
and evil." (Gen 3:22)

In other words; man became a tin God, i.e. his own guiding light.

* There's a humorous scene in Dante's Inferno where these two guys who knew
each other in life are quarreling over who deserves Hell more than the other; which
is pretty silly when it's considered that both were condemned to the same level
down there. For example: a number of elitist Christians are far more tolerable of
dishonesty than they are of LGBTQ yet both the liar and the deviant are on track for
the very same fate. (Rev 21:8)

I suspect that quite a few folks sincerely believe God has made a big mistake
sending them down there. In their judicious estimation; others deserve it for sure,
but not themselves.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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It's believed by a pretty large percentage of conventional Christians that the fallen
nature is inherited from one's paternal father. Oh? From whence did Eve get it?

She was already alive and fully constructed with material taken from Adam's body
prior to the forbidden fruit incident. Since himself tasted the fruit after his wife was
already in existence; then it was impossible for Adam to pass the fallen nature to
her via heredity.

In the past, I was sure that the chemistry of the forbidden fruit had something to
do with the first couple's altered moral perception; but now I seriously doubt it
because Eve was the first to eat the fruit, and when she did, nothing happened. She
remained just as shameless in the buff as before. It wasn't till Adam tasted the fruit
that she began to feel exposed; so I'm pretty sure that the underlying cause is far
more serious than the chemistry of that fruit.

FAQ: If Eve's fallen condition wasn't due to the fruit, nor due to heredity, then
what?

REPLY: Well; obviously the Serpent did it to them, a.k.a. the Devil (Rev 20:2)

The ruler of the kingdom of the air-- i.e. the spirit world --has the power of death
(Heb 2:14) and the ability to tamper with the human body and the human mind in
ways not easily detected. (e.g. Luke 13:16, Mark 5:1-5, plus Eph 2:2-3)

The Serpent was apparently all set and ready to wield his power the moment that
Adam crossed the line and ate that fruit. It amazes me how quickly it takes effect.
Not long after Adam tasted the fruit, he and his wife both immediately set to work
cobbling together some rudimentary aprons to cover up their pelvic areas.

This power of death allowed the Devil is apparently binding and could only be
overturned by Christ's crucifixion.

● Heb 2:14 . . Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their
humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death;
that is: the Devil.

That is at least one good reason why folks need to RSVP God about His son's
crucifixion to avoid leaving this life under the Devil's supervision. They've got to get
that arrangement dissolved now, while an opportunity for liberty is on the table.

FAQ: Why didn't the Devil tamper with Eve when she first tasted the fruit?

REPLY: It was apparently God's decision that if sin and death were to come into the
world, they would come by means of a solo man's actions, just as life and
righteousness would be offered to the world by means of a solo man's actions.
(Rom 5:12-21, 1Cor 15:21)
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

.
Consider a Jewish man; he's undergone circumcision the eighth day as required,
and successfully completed Bar Mitzvah. From that point on he is obligated to
comply with the covenant that Moses' people agreed upon with God on oath per
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Now supposing that same Jewish man begins to have second thoughts about the
covenant and thinks maybe he would like to try something else. Well; he is not at
liberty to just up and walk away from the covenant; no, not when he is very likely
indebted to it via one or more of the curses listed at Lev 26:14 39, Deut 27:15-26,
and Deut 28:15-68. Those curses have to be satisfied first before he can even
surmise himself free to transfer his affections to another religion. However; if that
man would like; Christ can do it all for him.

● Isa 53:6 . .We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own
way; and The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

● Gal 3:13 . . . Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse
for us, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

.
Misogyny was given quite a bit of negative press during US President Elect Donald
Trump's former administration; while misandry was condoned as if acceptable. But
malice is unacceptable with God on any level; and I think we have to accept the
possibility that there are just as many, if not more, man haters on the wrong side
of the netherworld as there are woman haters.

● Rom 2:9-11. .There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does
evil: For God does not show favoritism.

Women are not a protected species with God; nor is their gender a mitigating
factor. They will be judged solely on the basis of their lives just the same as men.

● Rev 20:12-15 . . I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and
books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead
were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea
gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were
in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. . . And
whosoever's name was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of
fire.

I would really hate to be a woman infected with militant misandry because in the
end, it will be a man that casts angry women into the lake of fire and permanently
ruin any chances they might have had for happiness in the future.

● John 5:21-23 . . Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all
judgment to the Son

● Acts 17:31 . . He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the
man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the
dead.
_