But even true believers as we see in Thessalonians suffer such, and in truth the difference is likely only that one group possesses at least a willingness to change when confronted with the truth.
King James Version: 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them,
as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love;
and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
I can't help but think here of verse 7, that on some level, if not greatly, the HOPE OF SALVATION in context with those putting on battle gear, armour, but doing such in LOVE, that the hope here is for SALVATION not of ourselves, but to the wicked, to obtain that Grace we witness
hoped already with ourselves, to avert such darkness that will one day surely come.
While wearing this battle gear, we are then told not only to wear it in love, but that we are not appointed as instruments of wrath. Knowing that we are coming with him to a scene of Battle, we know the greater will of God was that all should have come to repentance, that time was given, the truth exalted. Then we are carried to Calvary, To see the act of Christ in obedience to his father affording us salvation with his dying wish, to be told that we WAKE or SLEEP, it is all about LIFE with him, even should we sleep in the grave. Therefore we are to comfort yet again in the LIFE of Christ, the life afforded to us, then we are told to take this comfort and edify one another, lift one another up.
But I am a rotten apple. I am the first one to tear people down sometimes...looks Like I got something in common with the early Christians, those followers of PAUL, and TIMOTHY and Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, PETE and so...I mean read about how rotten these
Corinthians must have been to have to be told these things in writing by an Apostle, and I find I understand them so well, because I am no better, I lust, and bicker, just last night (Feb 18th, 2009) I said some words at that drive thru window you wouldn't want to say around you mother.
I mean sure I am working on it, but I been working on it for a long time. You reckon it could be this perfection expected within us, this salvation we hope to obtain is APPOINTED TO US? GIVEN TO US BY APPOINTMENT, and not necessarily by any hope of works...that to obtain this
SALVATION, is to do so, knowing such obtainment was A GIMMEE? Something we didn't truly deserve, and said more of the giver than us, the receivers??? I think so. As we hope to OBTAIN SALVATION...wow, that phrase could shake alot of foundations, especially if promoted
out of context. You see the truth is LAW AND GRACE HAVE EXISTED SINCE THE GARDEN OF EDEN.
I Thess 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
I Thess 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
I Thess 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
I Thess 5:13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
I Thess 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
I Thess 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
I Thess 5:16 Rejoice evermore.
I Thess 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
I Thess 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
I Thess 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.
I Thess 5:20 Despise not prophesyings.
I Thess 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
I Thess 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
I Thess 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and
soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I Thess 5:24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
I Thess 5:25 Brethren, pray for us.
I Thess 5:26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
I Thess 5:27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
I Thess 5:28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
The Last Matter to discuss is that of salvation. NOW as it's essence of grace being extended to man in the matter of Christ Yeheshua recognizing that man was in a state of ignorance, the grace was afforded to those in measure based on thier own willingness to forgive. That was a probationary timeframe However, even then, as in Eden, law did not cease to exist but co-existed side by side with Grace.
Now, 2000 years ago the Hebrews had taken the law so far of context, that GRACE, had to be emphasized in greater measure to bring balance, and reminder to the origins of Man in which in the prescence of JUDGEMENT, revelation through mercy revealed that GRACE via the Lamb of God Slain SINCE BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, GRACE WAS PRESENT ALL ALONG, co-existing even in EDEN with the LAW, the one LAW, the LAW OF GOD. In 1985, Man was so far out of whack on GRACE, THE LAW was emphasized to David Koresh in a Vision.
And 1993 the Gentiles demonstrated thier true lack of understanding of GRACE, as having so much afforded to them, THEY FAILED to recognized the time of thier visitation, and committed attrocity revealing them to be worse than the JEWS 2000 years ago, as they had had thier EXAMPLE to go by and failed to learn. Showing as wicked as they are, as wicked as they were, God's Chosen People still possessed a greater degree of righteousness than gentiles. Still Christ pointed in Matthew a judgement had been passed, the promised KINGDOM to the HEBREWS, would be
taken and given to another people who held in regard the true Law of God and honored him in the manner which the Hebrews should have done. So now, are the gentiles to see the same...what is the requirement of SALVATION now in our timeframe...it is that same as it has always been PAUL did not dismiss the LAW, he noted it to be our School MASTER, but upon bringing us to CHRIST, the lessons of the School Master do not fade away, they carry forward into that new light.
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