Secrets – Paradise to Come
Secrets – Paradise to Come
One Day, they will
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:5)
*Meek = Humble, Gentle, Non-resisting, Non-violent (metaphorically, “His sheep”)
How?
He Will make them ‘Alive’ as ‘He wishes’ (“Unconditionally”):
“For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.” – Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:25, NASB)
Indeed,
“according as I said to you: My sheep My voice do hear, and I know them, and they follow Me,
And life age-during I give to them, and they shall not perish — to the age, and no one shall pluck them out of My hand;” – Lord Jesus Christ (John 10:27 – 28, YLT)
The true meaning of “life, life abundantly” in John 10:10 is referring to the “life in the coming age for His Sheep” as mentioned in this ‘same’ chapter (e.g. John 10:28, even in John 10:9, the word “saved” indicating entering into His “Pasture” of His Kingdom) and NOT the one in the ‘current evil age’ (Galatians 1:4), which is NEVER referred to in John 10 though so commonly erred in preaching.
P/S:
Life in the coming age, life age-during is the life, life abundantly which Christ is referring to in John 10. His sheep will inherit the earth for that age where the age is highlighted because the wicked will perish & be destroyed in their OWN sins during that age too in parallel (comparison, of ‘to the age’)
Here’s a brief ‘sheep test’:
Are we His sheep?
1) Do we ‘hear’ & ‘follow’ His Words?
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;” (John 10:27, NASB)
2) Do we ‘believe’ Him?
“But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.” (John 10:26, NASB)
3) True Justice
Do we ‘resist’ evil by fighting it back (e.g. in our words from ‘accusing the government to be wrong’ to ‘rallying up protests in the streets’ instead of using the ‘proper channel in the government, e.g. through elections, political parties & other agencies) or should we show ‘Mercy’ to ‘evildoers’ by ‘allowing them to hurt us’? Which is ‘true Justice’?
“But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:39, NASB)
The verse below agrees that this is ‘TRUE Justice (Judgment)’:
“Thus has the LORD of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother;” (Zechariah 7:9 ,NASB)
Yes,
“‘These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates.” (Zechariah 8:16, NASB)
But if we do that, won’t evil win?
So be it as it is better to try to ‘overcome evil with good ONLY’ (Romans 12:21) than to ‘overcome evil with evil’.
4) But doesn’t God’s Judgment Prove otherwise?
No! We are NOT called to emulate God’s Judgment in this New Covenant age on earth (where is this non-existent verse for those claiming otherwise)?
Instead, we are ONLY called to emulate ‘overcoming evil with Good’ in this age (Romans 12:21).
Also, please note the phrase ‘But I tell you…’ —–> in Matthew 5:44 —> “love your enemies” —-> which NULLIFIES “all” the Old Testament verses which speak of ‘men executing Judgment on earth’ as part of ‘hate your enemy’ (a ‘time to hate’). Thus to quote the ‘Justice’ verses in that Context is obviously WRONG and a FALSE teaching!
God’s Judgment toward evil which has ‘won’ in this ‘evil age’ is to ‘return that evil back to them in Hell’, ‘destroying them to the age’ (Galatians 6:7, Psalm 94:23, 2 Thessalonians 1:8 – 9, Matthew 25:46).
His Judgments are in the ‘afterlife’ for ‘individuals’.
But that’s NOT the end because ‘punishment’ is up to the ‘age’ only (for men).
He Will reconcile and Save all men eventually (1 Timothy 2:4, 1 Timothy 4:10, Colossians 1:20) AFTER their ‘afterlife Judgment FIRST’ (1 Peter 4:5 – 6, Matthew 5:26) when ‘His Mercy triumphs over it’ (James 2:13) by ‘His Faith alone’ (Romans 3:22, Romans 3:3 – 4, 2 Timothy 2:13).
5) Fighting for Justice – The Biblical Way
So, are we to stand and watch the injustice happening around us and do nothing?
As mentioned, one may strive for justice through proper channels (Romans 13).
Also, we are to ‘judge Christians only’ (1 Corinthians 5:12).
Regarding non-Christians, God will Judge them (1 Corinthians 5:13).
We may ‘speak’ GENTLY only toward those in OPPOSITION to try correct their errors (NO harsh speech against our enemies, the ‘proper way’):
“with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,” (2 Timothy 2:25, NASB)
We could correct “harshly” with ‘words ONLY’ toward Christians who do NOT obey if ‘He gives us the authority to do so’, (e.g. as a pastor):
“What do you desire? Shall I come to you (Christians) with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?” (1 Corinthians 4:21, NASB)
But, we must try correcting that Christian person with ‘gentleness’, ‘first’:
“Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1, NASB)
6) Offended
Do we get offended by ‘certain verses’ (e.g. 1 Timothy 2:12, 1 Corinthians 14:34, 1 Corinthians 11:14, 1 Corinthians 11:5 – 7, 1 Peter 3:1, 2 Thessalonians 3:10, 1 Timothy 5:8)? or do we Love His Words & Obey them?
Are we also easily offended by anything which speaks against ‘our race, culture, language etc.’ even ‘after’ being Christians and realize that these things are NOT authored by God but are part of the ‘pride of life’ which comes from this World?
Do we ‘love’ these (racism, money, language, culture etc.) which gives us the ‘pride of life’?
As Christians, do we waste our time trying to ‘defend, fight for & preserve’ all these things which God did NOT author as God has NO partiality meaning also that He doesn’t respect any man-made culture etc.?
These things are NOT from the Father and only increases ‘hate’ between people who have ‘different cultures or races’ simply because the sole objective is to ‘say that they are the best race’ or ‘the smartest race’ or ‘the richest race’ or some other type of similar ‘hidden evil motive in their hearts’.
Would Christ defend and preach all these? Where is the verse showing that He or apostle Paul did this?
I only see apostle Paul preaching the ‘traditions’ found in Holy Scripture as a ‘way to follow Christ’ (1 Corinthians 11:1 -2, 2 Timothy 2:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:15).
Indeed:
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is NOT from the Father, but is from the world.” – apostle John (1 John 2:16)
So, are we part of the ‘offended’ ones?
“And then shall MANY be OFFENDED, and shall BETRAY one another, and shall HATE one another.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:10, KJV)
7) Correction
Are we supposed to point it out to the ‘brethren’ (Christians)?
“In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.” (1 Timothy 4:6, NASB)
*EMPHASIS mine throughout
Conclusion
Here’s the Bible way to ‘keep the Faith’ all as ‘it is written’ in the New Testament exegesis of Holy Scripture through apostle Paul’s writings, primarily:
“The pattern hold thou of sound words, which from me thou didst hear, in faith and love that is in Christ Jesus;” (2 Timothy 1:13, YLT)
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