Hello Forum Members,
I decided it would be beneficial, especially to newer members to review some of the Basic Teachings found at this Site. This Thread will hopefully enabled new members that haven't read or remembered the points supporting these Truths. For many this exercise will be elementary, but with the added insight and expressions from other members, this should prove to help at least some retain. So, feel free to make comments, Scriptures and illustrations to add to this exercise. Also, if one wants to add other Sub-headings to what they consider fundamental or basic, that would be appreciated.
I. MAN DOES NOT HAVE FREE WILL.
Every choice a person makes has some prior cause whether internal or external. If a person had free will, every choice they make would have no prior cause that influenced that choice. The choice could be influenced by prior experience, emotions(anger, love, jealosy, fear;etc). Someone might claim that they made a choice because God's Spirit is dwelling in me, well, even this choice has a cause: God's Spirit causing you to do something. Consider some Scriptures found below(Caps for emphasis).
Romans.8:20 " For the creation was subjected to futility, NOT WILLINGLY, but because of HIM who subjected it in hope."
Ephesians.1:4,5,11 " just as HE CHOSE US in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be Holy and without blame before Him in love. Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of HIS WILL. In Him we have obtained an inheritance being predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of HIS WILL."
John.8:28 " I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I speak these things." (paraphrased)
See: Romans.9:15-23( God hardened pharoahs heart, he wanted to let the Israelites go, but God kept hardening his heart, so he wouldn't let them go. He has mercy on who He wills and hardens who He wills.
Examples of those caused to make choices(no free will): Peter fled and abandoned Christ due to fear, but Jesus said he would deny him; Peter said: I will not. Paul was persecuting the followers of the way, having them arrested, put in prison and executed, approving the stoning of Stephen, but while on the road to Damascus he saw a light and heard a voice asking why Paul was persecuting Him, in verse 6 Paul asked Jesus what he wanted him to do.(Acts.9:1-6.)
II. EVERYONE EVENTUALLY SAVED.
(SCRIPTURES PARAPHRASED)
I Tim.4:10( Savior of all men, especially believers)
1Tim. 2:3-6(Wills all men to be saved, A ransom for all, desires all to come to repentance)
2Peter.3:9(Not willing any perish, desires all to attain to repentance)
1John4:14(The Father sent or comissioned Jesus to be the Savior of the World)
Phillipians.2:10,11( Every knee should bow of those in Heaven and under the earth confessing Jesus as Lord to the Glory of God the Father).
See Colossians.1:20; 1Corinthians.15:22-28; Acts.3:21; Ephesians. 2:8,9; 1John.2:2; John.
III. PUNISHMENT AND JUDGEMENT ARE REMEDIAL AND BENEFICIAL TO THE SINNER.
Isaiah. 26:9 " WHEN HIS Judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world WILL learn righteousness."
Acts. 17:31 " Because he has appointed a day, in which He will judge the world in righteousness."
Genesis. 18:25 " Is the judge of the earth not going to do what is right." OR " shall not the judge of the earth DO JUSTICE" Justice translated from Hebrew word Mishpat meaning, a quality of being just or fair, so justice is " just and fair." The Greek Word is Krisis denoting the process of investigation, a judging and is virtually equivalent to Krima, Greek word usually translated as Damnation or condemnation- the decision resulting from an investigation.
The word punishment found at Matthew.25:46 is taken from the Greek Word Kolasin which the root word kolos, kolazo literally means to prune and is correctly translated as Chastening with a view to the correction and improvement of the individual receiving it. Note: The greek word Kolasin(Chastisement) should be distinguished from the Greek word Timoria(punishment or penalty) emphasizing the vindictive side of punishment benefitting only the one applying the punishment to the receiver of it.(Acts.26:11).
The word destruction found at Matthew.7:13 is taken from the Greek word Apollumi literally means "Lost, Losing, Ruin." and is the same Greek word found at Matthew. 18:11 " For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost(Apollumi)." So, Jesus came to save those that are Spiritually Lost or destroyed or ruined.
The word Destruction found at 1Cor. 5:5(destruction of the flesh to SAVE THE SPIRIT in the day of the Lord) is taken from the Greek Word Oleuthros and is related to Apollumi and is also found at 2Thessalonians. 1:9(punished with Eonian destruction from the presence of the Lord). Remember, the purpose of this destruction is to save the Spirit by the destruction of the flesh(carnal mind).
IV. FIRST COME THE PHYSICAL AND THEN THE SPIRITUAL.
Remember, there is nothing physical that can make you Spiritual. Water Baptism, Circumcision, Sabbath Keeping, Partaking of the Bread & Wine, Physical Healing;etc. are merely symbols of their Spiritual reality.Water Baptism only a symbol of being Spiritually baptised unto His death and in his Name. Circumcision in flesh symbolizes being Spiritually circumcised in heart and spirit. Sabbath Keepers have not yet entered His into Spiritual Rest(Heb.4:3). Those who drink the wine and eat the wafer have not Spiritually eaten his Blood and Body. None of the Physical healings that Jesus and the Apostles performed made anyone Spiritually healed. All these physical things foreshadowed the Spiritual benefit.
John.6:60-66(paraphrase point) " IT IS THE SPIRIT THAT GIVES LIFE, THE FLESH PROFITS NOTHING, THE WORDS I SPEAK TO YOU ARE SPIRIT AND THEY ARE LIFE."
My Spirit is willing, but my flesh is weakening, so I call upon others:(Marques, Kat, George, Daywalker, Dave in Tennesee, Joe Hillsbororiver, Arcturus, Beloved and others to assist in this endeavor of review by adding to this thread with their comments, Scriptures, Sub-Headings and elaboration. Below, I will add a few more basic points gleaned from Ray's teachings, but I will not elaborate, I will save that for YOU(Forum Members).
1. MANY ARE CALLED(BELIEVERS FROM THE CHURCH SYSTEMS), BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN(GOD'S ELECT)
2. ALL OF THE PARABLES ARE ONE AND ARE SPIRITUAL(meaning the many called and few chosen)
3. THE FIRES OF GEHENNA & THE LAKE ARE SPIRITUAL FOR THE BENEFIT OF SPIRITUALLY BURNING OUT THE CARNAL FILTH AND DROSS OF HUMANS(God is a consuming and refiners fire)
4. JUDGEMENT BEGINS AT THE HOUSE OF GOD(God's chosen Elect are judged during this Age(their lifetime). Everyone else is judged in righteousness after the Resurrection.
5. THE ENGLISH WORDS EVERLASTING, ETERNAL AND FOREVER DO NOT BELONG IN THE BIBLE( They are mistranslations of the Greek Words Aionios(Eonian, age-abiding, literally meaning "pertaining to the Ages, denoting a beginning and an ending); Aions(Ages unto the Ages, not Forever commonly found in Revelation usually rendered Forever and Ever or Ever and Evermore). Note: How many Forevers can their be, that should bring up a red flag. Aion(An Age, sometimes mistranslated World(Greek-Kosmos- meaning, order of things; example: Matt.24:3(sign of your Coming and End of the Age(mistranslated World, scholars try to use Aion synonymously with Kosmos).
6. MAN IS MORTAL AND THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, NOT INHERENT IMMORTALITY(Greek-Athanasia means Deathlessness) AND IS GIVEN AFTER THE RESURRECTION, IN THE MEANTIME EVERYONE IS DEAD, DEATH IS SLEEP. EONIAN LIFE IS THE LIFE OF THE AGE NOT ETERNAL LIFE, obviously when one attains immortality, they will live endlessly, but not until they receive immortality.(Read 1Cor. chapter 15)
7. GOD'S JUDGEMENTS ARE NOT PHYSICALLY LITERAL, Theologicians and Bible Scholars like to pick and chose. Example: " If your eye offends you, cut it out or if your hand offends you, cut it off, for it's better to go into life maimed, then your whole body thrown into Gehenna." Matthew. 5:29,30. If that was physically literal, there would be alot of people walking around with plucked out eyes and cut off hands, probably everyone.
Yes, I've come to the conclusion of this thread, material was taken from memory, referencing Ray's articles, Strongs Bible Dictionary, the Scriptures. All of the material was type written, no copying and pasting, too much computer navigating for my level of of computer experience. A side note: For you newcomers, prior to Ray's illness, he used to spend at least 10 hours daily researching, referencing, studying, typing and meditating on these Spiritual Truths. I spent 5 hours and I'm cooked. The point is that Ray had to have God's Spirit to sustain him in doing all of this for many years, devoting all those hours.
Awaiting your responses, Samson.
P.S. I think that I will stick to Off topic Threads for now, no more serious Threads for awhile,