God Made Man in His Own Image

Have we made God in our own image? Have we made God to be like us, when we are supposed to become like Him? What is His true image?

Are we 'all-merciful'? HE IS!

Jer 33:11 The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.

Are we spiritual? HE IS!

Ga 6:1 ¶ Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Are we Love? HE IS!

Pr 10:12 ¶ Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth ALL sins.

Are we perfect? Are we righteous in judgement? HE IS ALL THESE THINGS! AMEN?

I am none of these things.

If I was to IMAGE'n God to be like me, He surely could send multitudes to a state of permanent torment! I AM STUPID. I can't comprehend permanent torment, but God is wise, and He knows even our spirits could not endure that.

Isa 57:16 For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

Why do we make God in the image of one who will be cruel to countless millions who have rejected Him and those who are yet to reject Him? Could it be because at one point in History, men who gained control over the Scriptures, felt it was expedient for men to fear more than they needed too, and so they promoted their image of God, and the myth of God's "eternal damnation" for the good of mankind and for political expediency? If this is the case, the men who did this would be Constantine and Augustine primarily. Before Augustine, the predominant view of the the Church was that held and taught by Paul, and also by Origen.

That's right! Paul never teaches eternal damnation! Now, this is especially amazing, since Paul made this claim:

"Ac 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God."

CAN ANYONE READING THIS BLOG SHOW ME ONE VERSE WHERE PAUL WARNS OF ETERNAL DAMNATION? PLEASE COMMENT.

WHILE YOU'RE AT IT, CAN ANYONE SHOW ME ONE VERSE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT WHERE GOD WARNED US OF THE PENALTY OF ETERNAL TORMENT AS A CONSEQUENCE OF BREAKING HIS LAW???

I EXPECT TO SEE IN THE COMMENTS THE VERSES WARNING MANKIND OF THE ETERNAL DESTINY OF THOSE WHO DIE IN THEIR SINS. IF THEY ARE THERE YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH DOZENS OF THEM.

Why would God fail to sound the warning regarding this horrendous judgement upon millions upon millions of men, women and children who failed to keep the law? By the way, who has succeded in keeping the law? NO-ONE! NO NOT ONE!

Ps 14:3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Ro 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

And the wisest man in the world asked:

Ec 6:6 ... do not ALL go to one place?

Two observations:

1. If there is "Eternal Damnation", then nobody who lived before Jesus had a fair shot at escaping it, especially since they had no idea of the consequences of imperfection, since they clearly were taught that the biggest consequence they faced was death.
2. This one place that Solomon was referring to? Is it heaven or is it hell? Or is it neither. The place all go to is "the grave", also known as Sheol and Hades. Jesus conquered death and the grave! He will complete the ministry of reconciliation. He IS the Saviour of ALL men!

We are guilty of making God in our own image...yet another violation of the law. IF we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all iniquity.

Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

God bless all who read this with the knowlege of who He is, regardless of my ideas!

A God Sized Hope

Could it be possible for the Christian Faith to be infiltrated by man's limited thinking and biased motivation?  Could our doctrines begin to reflect man's need for control, superiority, power wielding?  These are remarkably harsh words for such a "loving" blog.  I suggest them because the power of traditional doctrine can be so strong, little thought can be given to an alternate view.  Scriptures pointing unalterably to God's desire to save all are ignored in the face of the popular "Christian" club for only the few. 

The power of the resurrection (See Jack D.'s wonderful entry today), the testimony of scripture, the character of God (amply extolled through the scriptures) point to a God sized hope!  "The Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning" (James 1:17) brought "good tidings of great joy which will be to all people." (Luke 2:10)

Good news.  God sized.

Resurrection Day!

Paul prayed, " That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;" Php 3:10

Do we know the power of His resurrection? "Lord, open my eyes to see the power of your resurrection."

Most christians believe that it is powerful enough to rescue them from their own sin, and from the fate of eternal damnation. That it is powerful enough to rescue everyone from sin! I have no doubt it is powerful enough to raise everyone from the dead.

1Jo 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Most christians also believe that God is omniscient.

Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Why would God make His resurrection so powerful, if in fact He knew it would only need to be powerful enough to raise perhaps 20% of all people? On the surface, that seems inneficient, doesn't it. Of course, God is God and He can certainly do whatever he wants... right? Of course, right!

Has God told us what He wants?

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2Pe 3:9

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: Eph 1:11

The power of the resurrection includes:

Conquering death and hell.

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Re 20:14

O death, where is thy sting? O grave (hades), where is thy victory? 1Co 15:55

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 1Co 15:26

The Power Of His Resurrection is Complete! It is ALL inclusive! It is the end of death! Death has been conquered and will cease to exist! Death is swallowed in Victory so that God may be All and "in All".

Happy Resurrection Day.

... and ye shall be the children of the Highest

Perhaps you believe that God has given up on his enemies and has relegated those who don't love Him, to the worst consequence imaginable. Eternal damnation and torment. I used to think that way, but I have found so many passages of Scripture that contradict that belief, and the passages that supported it were unable to stand up under the scrutiny of deeper research into the original languages. The following passages teach us how God would have us to treat our enemies if we would be like Him.


Ro 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil... 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: ... 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

God is Love and Love never fails. We love Him because He first loved us.

Ga 6:1 ¶ Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness...

As weak and helpless as we are He commands us to restore anyone overtaken in a fault if we are spiritual? How much more is He qualified to follow this directive?
Mt 5:43 ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:

Just a chip off the old block...That's my boy... He's just like His dad... You can tell whose son he is!

for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

Publicans reserve their love for those who return it... Not God! He loves us first and last, He is perfect!

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Lu 6:27 ¶ But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 37 ¶ Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

What God IS today, is what He always will be. HE NEVER CHANGES!