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Wedding garment
Kicking against the Goads:
Thanks for the great answers! "Find as many as they could find" is the key verse for me there...and how easily I assumed it meant many. I have to remember to read everything with my new eyes, not the eyes I used in Babylon. Even though I know I have so much growing and relearning to do and that it will be alot of work...I can't wait!
Does anyone have any advice for where is a good place to begin for daily readings? I am doing my own study on salvation which has been great, but I have been so haphazard in my daily scripture reading. I just can't settle in anywhere.
mharrell08:
--- Quote from: Kicking against the Goads on March 01, 2009, 09:08:40 AM ---Thanks for the great answers! "Find as many as they could find" is the key verse for me there...and how easily I assumed it meant many. I have to remember to read everything with my new eyes, not the eyes I used in Babylon. Even though I know I have so much growing and relearning to do and that it will be alot of work...I can't wait!
Does anyone have any advice for where is a good place to begin for daily readings? I am doing my own study on salvation which has been great, but I have been so haphazard in my daily scripture reading. I just can't settle in anywhere.
--- End quote ---
Lake of Fire series (www.bible-truths.com). The Holy Scriptures speak of one truth: God creating mankind into His image. Everything else falls under that umbrella...it's the 'One Giant Parable' that Ray and other members here mention frequently. Once you gain a firm grasp of that and ALL that it entails, the scriptures will all seem to say the same thing no matter what Testament or Chapter you are in. That's the great thing about the LOF series...it specifically goes over this spiritual principle.
Hope this helps,
Marques
Patrick:
--- Quote from: Kicking against the Goads link ---
Does anyone have any advice for where is a good place to begin for daily readings? I am doing my own study on salvation which has been great, but I have been so haphazard in my daily scripture reading. I just can't settle in anywhere.
--- End quote ---
Being in a spot not to long ago where I was reading/studying Ray's writings, but was not reading/studying Scripture, I started reading again in the Book of Job and then went back to Genesis, the beginning.
I agree with Marques, once you understand the Old Testament "And creating is God humanity IN HIS IMAGE" (Gen. 1:27) and New Testament "For whom He [the Father] did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren" (Rom. 8:29), (many called, few chosen) it really does not matter where you start. It's ALL ONE.
Marky Mark:
--- Quote from: Patrick on March 01, 2009, 10:12:11 AM ---
--- Quote from: Kicking against the Goads link ---
Does anyone have any advice for where is a good place to begin for daily readings? I am doing my own study on salvation which has been great, but I have been so haphazard in my daily scripture reading. I just can't settle in anywhere.
--- End quote ---
Being in a spot not to long ago where I was reading/studying Ray's writings, but was not reading/studying Scripture, I started reading again in the Book of Job and then went back to Genesis, the beginning.
I agree with Marques, once you understand the Old Testament "And creating is God humanity IN HIS IMAGE" (Gen. 1:27) and New Testament "For whom He [the Father] did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren" (Rom. 8:29), (many called, few chosen) it really does not matter where you start. It's ALL ONE.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote ---"And creating is God humanity IN HIS IMAGE" (Gen. 1:27)
--- End quote ---
Patrick,here is an email that Ray answered,I thought it would be appropriate.
--- Quote ---I will give you some of the reason "why we are here."
A great and wise creator GOD PUT US HERE. He started the human family.
God is not stupid, He had a grand and eternal purpose in mind for making mankind.
God has many attributes, powers, knowledge, etc., that obviously mankind DOES NOT. But, God DOES WANT us to have those same attributes, especially LOVE!
Qualities of character such as Love are not instantaneously created, they must be developed. That development takes a creation, circumstances, and time. And so, God creates all these things necessary for their development.
Although God is GOOD, He nonetheless has a knowledge and understanding of both good AND EVIL. And so we TOO much come to an understanding of both good and evil. Why? Because ALL KNOWLEDGE hinges on their proper understanding.
People say things without ever realizing how stupid or impossible their thoughts or statements are. Most Christians suppose that if Adam and Eve had not sinned, then we all would STILL, right now, be enjoying the beautiful life of happiness and bliss in a fabulous garden of Eden. NOT SO!!! Adam and Eve did NOT appreciate what they had with God in the garden before they sinned. They had NO CONTRAST to compare it with.
Now here is a key piece of understanding and wisdom. God wants CHILDREN. God is building a FAMILY. Children are to grow up and have the attributes of their parents. But these things must be LEARNED BY EXPERIENCE! Not only didn't Adam and Eve appreciate what they had, they ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT have appreciated what they had, because they experienced ONLY GOOD.
Try to come up with even ONE VIRTUE, such as love, patience, honesty, goodness, faithfulness, loyalty, obedience, bravery, etc., etc., etc., ANYTHING of a virtuous nature, that does not involve the overcoming of SOME FORM OF EVIL! There is you answer! There IS NO VIRTUE, NO CHARACTER, NO STABILITY of any kind in any one, except he overcomes some form of EVIL.
Now can you see why we are here? Now can you see why there is not only good, but so much evil in the world? It is necessary! God did not put it here simply to make us miserable! God is NOT in a battle for supremacy with Satan. God CREATED Satan. God USES Satan. And Satan too, will be saved after he has done all of his dirty work. God will make him repent.
God is enlarging His family into BILLIONS of sons and daughters. This life is part of the training ground to be the very SONS OF GOD.
All evil including DEATH itself will be abolished when God has used them to bring His family to a level of love and righteousness that He desires. We will then inherit all that God has and all that God is. God is truly OUR FATHER.
I hope that helps your understanding a little better. Life will not always be miserable and painful as it may seem to you now. This too shall pass.
Sincerely,
Ray
--- End quote ---
Peace...Mark
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