KNOWING GOD

Posted by triumphantloveinchrist.blogspot.com Saturday, August 10, 2013


KNOWING GOD

We have a common phrase in society to describe a beloved figure that goes as follows; “To know him is to love him”. When we really get to know a person through our constant interaction with them, varied nuances of their character is revealed to us. “Love at first sight” is an impossibility. One may be attracted to another at first, but it requires much more time together to cause that attraction to grow into love. Often, that initial feeling of fondness, is completely reversed after a more intimate relationship reveals serious character flaws in that person that cause the initial infatuation to be changed into revulsion.

The goal of any relationship is to become more and more of one mind. In order for this to be possible, self interest must be set aside in the more noble quest to enter into the beloved’s realm of interest. It is only when we pour our energies and interest into the life of another that a new appreciation for that person takes form, and love is deepened to a greater degree.

Our Creator desires to have a fulfilling love relationship with each and every one of His created sons and daughters. The astounding thing is that God would love any one of us. We are all hopelessly flawed, with no capacity within, to perfect ourselves. Yet, the scriptures declare that, having complete knowledge of us, God loves us anyhow, and proved it by giving the best He could offer, His Son.

“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” {Rom. 5:6-8}

The reason that the bulk of humanity does not love God, is that they do not KNOW Him. Notice, I did not say “know about Him”, for few indeed are those that do not have at least a rudimentary knowledge of God’s existence and power. But, this is a far cry from having a personal relationship with The Lover of our souls. Even believers do not “know” Him in the way that they will in future glory. This was Apostle Paul’s desire when he exclaimed:

 “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of THE KNOWLEDGE of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may KNOW Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” {Phillip. 3:7-11}

 Paul wanted to experience Christ’s resurrection power in his everyday life. Paul’s desire should be our desire as well. We should have an insatiable thirst for an ever increasing intimate knowledge of our God, so that we proclaim with King David of old:

As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?” {Psa. 42:1,2}

To many, the mere thought of being in God’s presence evokes fear and dread. But, for the one who has tasted the presence of His Spirit as the wellspring of life, it becomes his heart’s yearning goal, the final blessed apex of a feeble and imperfect love of the creature for The Creator, to embrace Him in heartfelt love and gratitude.

Another popular saying is: “Knowledge is power”. While this may carry truth in the world of business, it becomes eminently more so in matters of the heart. A more mature understanding of our God and who He is, Love personified, unleashes the unlimited power of His love in us, and a burning desire to be with Him in prayer and meditation of His Word. It is the result of this awakening of the heart, that we are able to love even our adversaries, and emboldened to proclaim His love and grace to all, reaping love’s harvest, overwhelming joy!

Jesus, our Lord, stated His purpose for entering humanity’s realm:

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the LOST.” {Luke 19:10}

It is this same Greek word “Lost” (‘Apollymi’), that is translated “Destroyed” in {Luke 17:29}:

 “People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and DESTROYED them all.”

 The wicked inhabitants of Sodom were “destroyed” due to their lack of knowledge. The prophet Hosea mourned over the nation Israel, saying: “My people are DESTROYED from lack of KNOWLEDGE.” {Hosea 4:6}

 But the same prophet declares confidently:

“Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will REVIVE us; on the third day he will RESTORE us, that we may live in his presence. Let us ACKNOWLEDGE the Lord; let us press on to ACKNOWLEDGE Him.” {6:1-3}

This is Love’s goal, to save the lost or destroyed, mostly through much pain and hardship. This is how God draws His creatures to Himself. We all must come to the end of our own futile efforts to deliver ourselves. Whoever lacks the love of God’s Spirit is lost. All mankind was lost, until The Lover of mankind appeared to save ALL. Love conquers all obstacles, including mankind’s hatred for God. Pure Love overcomes EVERYTHING, and will save ALL men.

 The argument presented by many goes thus: “But God will not FORCE anyone to be saved.” True!, but remember, the reason any person does not love God, and come to Him in humble faith, is due to the fact that he does not KNOW God. But there is coming a time when ALL will know Him, and therefore ALL will love and adore Him!

Listen to the prophet Jeremiah:

 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘KNOW THE LORD,’ because THEY WILL ALL KNOW ME, from the least of them to the greatest,”  declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”   {Jer. 31:33,34}

Israel was chosen by God to be put on display, for all mankind to see the miserable failure of even a privileged group of humanity. They were a microcosm of all humanity, a test case to display the wickedness of the human heart. Although they were lovingly given special blessings from The Almighty, their foolish hearts led them to spurn God’s goodness, and in their revolt against His love, commit unspeakable evil, including idol worship, leading to prostitution, murder, and even child – sacrifice!

 The fact that most people die never knowing Christ, does not mean that God is through with them. Christendom’s doctrine of “eternal damnation” only proves how little they know of Love, and of Love’s power. This evil tenet of religion supposes that the lost of humanity will remain FOREVER obstinate, proud and unrepentant, even as God subjects them to the fires of hell for eternity!

But the scriptures declare that “Love never fails”! Once brought into the presence of pure Love, every heart will melt before Him, and although they must pass through the fire of God’s correction, Love will rescue every last one. This was the purpose of the Cross of Calvary! Did Christ succeed or fail in His mission to “seek and save the lost”? Will we believe the scripture that plainly declares?

 “And being found in appearance as a man,
he (Jesus) humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
 that at the name of Jesus EVERY knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
 and EVERY tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.” {Phillip. 2:8-11}

 I believe God's promise of universal reconciliation to Himself through Jesus Christ, the perfect Son of His love...... how about you?

 

 

Introduction: Triumphant Love Has Saved All !

Posted by triumphantloveinchrist.blogspot.com Saturday, November 3, 2012


The all encompassing love of the omnipotent God , sent His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to rescue mankind from the ravages of sin. This powerful love has been perverted by religion's dogmas, to become no more than an inept attempt on God's part to save Adam's race.

According to Christendom, God must settle for the rescue of a handful of the vast billions of His creation from Satan's clutches. The rest, according to this creed, will be tortured perpetually by God in eternal fire, without hope of rescue. We are assured by the clergy, that God, Who is Love, will never forgive any of these condemned, because His holiness will not allow it.

Scripture plainly teaches us that God's motivation to save mankind was Self giving love. This is the overriding message of God's Book to man. However that magnificent love has been greatly reduced by the doctrine of eternal torture in "hell" to any that do not accept that love from God in their short days on earth.

 The following articles refute religion's perverted view of The Almighty's love, desire, ability, and triumph in His goal to save all of His rebellious creatures. I invite you to take a look at these articles on this blog that go into further detail about these topics.

Most of what is believed about the destiny of the lost of humanity comes from the mistranslation of key Hebrew and Greek words, particularly: 'Olam', 'Aion', 'Gehenna', and 'Hades'. These blunders by the translators, (especially the KJV), have led Christendom down a long, dark road of error and a false perception of our Creator.

However there are several passages, mainly from the pen of the apostle Paul, that clearly teach universal salvation. This rescue of God's creation was secured through the blood of The Son of God. Many of these passages have long been ignored or explained away by denominational churches. I firmly believe that most believers in Jesus Christ have been conditioned from false teaching on the topic of eternal punishment, to have a grossly inaccurate view of the God of their salvation.

Feel free to comment on these articles, and I will try my best to follow-up in a timely manner.  I realize I do not have all the answers, but I will rely on the Scriptures to present my views on these all-important issues. It is God's Spirit alone that can reveal His Truth to the sincere truth seeker. I believe that the biblical principle found in Proverbs 2:1-5 expresses it best: 

"My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God."

 



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