A Misunderstanding of God’s Love
The basis for our eager embrace is a misunderstanding of the love of God which passes knowledge. We equate unconditional love and acceptance with the fact that God’s love is vast, unfathomable, and unmerited. Then we follow that with the idea that if God loves and accepts people unconditionally, we should also love and accept themselves unconditionally. While this may sound like a logical progression, there are some serious problems with the basic assumptions. Therefore, we must address the question: Is God’s love unconditional? Are there any conditions that must be met to become a recipient of His love?
Paul prayed that the believers in Ephesus would be able to comprehend the breadth, length, depth and height of God’s love. He desired that they know the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge, so that they would be filled with the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:16-19). The wide expanse of God’s love has been the theme of the gospel throughout the ages, for to know His love is to know Him. Therefore, any consideration of His love is highly important and must be based upon His revelation of Himself rather than upon the imagination of men.
What is the spiritual heart?
The spiritual heart is a heart of a spirit born child of God who has come to be converted by having a humble and contrite mind. This conversion continues to take place by a believer, who has repented of breaking God's commandments, who has accepted Christ's sacrifice to cover and forgive his sins and who has made the desire of his heart through the helping power of God's Spirit to always obey God and His commandments and to always be led by God's Spirit. It is a heart that fears God and His judgment against sin. It is a heart that has a faithful and trusting attitude in God and His Word, along with an uncompromising and commandment guided strong conscience, and understands that this all produces in him a Christ-like behavior of the heart that will always bear the fruit of God's love.
This is the spiritual heart that has grown to be patterned after the heart of God the Father, and Jesus Christ, in every aspect of one's relationships with God and man, because it is inspired, motivated, and powered by the leading and directing of God's Holy Spirit that was made available in a powerful way on the Day of Pentecost. Is your heart being led and powered by God's Holy Spirit or are you denying the power of God's Holy Spirit and saying that no one can live his life without continuing to sin? A true born again saint has grown in the Spirit of God to come to have a spiritual heart? God says -- "O, that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them and their children---," Deut. 5:29.
Bitterness is the root of many problems. A bitter heart spawns all sorts of evil reactions. Wrath, anger, clamor, slander and malice are all means by which resentment expresses itself. Bitterness cannot stay in the heart by itself. It is true, bitterness can stay dormant for a long period until its storm arises, but it will come
The reason bitterness is so devastating is that it provides the justification for being mean, cold, short-tempered or unpleasant to others. Bitterness nurtures itself through its self-appointed privilege. Most people know that it is wrong to hate others. Our conscience tells us that it is wrong to do evil to others. This limits the expression of our hatred towards others. If people are going to persist in their meanness toward someone, they need some way to override the guilt function of their conscience. Otherwise the guilt would pile on so thick that they would have to stop being mean. They feel bad (guilty) about it. Bitterness provides the needed short circuit that allows them to bypass the work of their consciences not only to do evil to others but even to feel smug and self-righteous about it.
How does bitterness do this? Bitterness fools the person by tricking his conscience. The person only needs to dwell upon the way someone offended him, and he becomes free from the protection of his conscience. A biological parallel might be the effect of drugs or alcohol on a person’s body. The nerve connections become dulled so that he is able, in his drunken stupor, to do things that he would never otherwise do. Bitterness is a soul drug. It allows people to do evil things that they would not otherwise think themselves capable of doing.
Monday, October 19, 2009
The Benefits of Unconditional Love
The Benefits of Unconditional Love
The practice of giving unconditional love requires by its very nature that you don’t expect anything directly in return for giving it to others. By providing unconditional love to others, you are expressing your faith that good things will be drawn into your life through the law of attraction. Here are some benefits of giving unconditional love:
• The act of giving unconditional love to others eliminates the fear of anger and reprisal from other people for any behavior you do. It also facilitates open and honest relationships with other people.
• In a more spiritual sense, sharing your love unconditionally with the world sends out positive energy which will be returned to you in one form or another to create great abundance, wealth, and goodness that you deserve in your own life.
• When you provide unconditional love to others, you are not dependant on others for happiness, but rather you derive your happiness from within. Your energy radiates to those around you and the world gives back to you in abundance.
• When you give love unconditionally, then you can’t be ever angry at anyone. All human minds need congruency of thought and it’s simply impossible to hate another person if you have made the conscious decision that you are going to love them unconditionally.
• By giving unconditional love to others, you side-step any tricks, emotional ploys, and unfair negotiating tactics because you have consciously choses to take responsibility for giving them love from own heart despite the behaviors that they exhibit
What Unconditional Love Really Is And How To Give It.
It is important to understand the definition of unconditional love to be able to give it, it is the kind of love that expects nothing back, places no limits, and does not set any ideals or conditions on what it should be. When you love in this way you do it without expectation of reciprocity and with no preconceived notions of how or if they will express love back to you. This is the kind of love you see exhibited by parents and children, brothers and sisters, true friends, and the best of romantic relationships.
When you love someone unconditionally you do not set limits or boundaries on that love, not circumstances that would cause you to withdraw it, there is nothing that would cause you to not love the person. Even if the other person does something that you feel is intentional, it is overlooked if you are truly committed to unconditional love. You do not try to control the actions of the other person, nor do you tell them that you will not love them if they act a certain way or do a certain thing. When this kind of love is present both partners feel more secure and neither of them seeks to control the other.
Since there are no boundaries or conditions the people in a relationship of unconditional love do not have to worry about the other person leaving or not loving them over a particular situation or behavior. Siblings in most cases are a good example of this, even though they may have quarrels and disagreements throughout their lives the bond between them remains unbroken and their love continues through any and all conflicts.
If you love someone unconditionally you will want whatever is best for them and you will always give them the freedom to seek out the things that really give them happiness. You will let them learn things for themselves and explore situations and experiences that they feel will make them happy, even if you think that you know what is best for them. Although they may make bad choices and do things that are wrong you will always be there for them and never judge them if you truly love them unconditionally.
Can you see room for improvement in your relationship? Do you place restrictions and limitations on the one you love? When you truly love someone unconditionally, you place their needs and their happiness above everything else, including yourself. Remember, just because you love someone in this way it does not mean that they will return their love to you in the same way. Are you ready to love unconditionally?
The practice of giving unconditional love requires by its very nature that you don’t expect anything directly in return for giving it to others. By providing unconditional love to others, you are expressing your faith that good things will be drawn into your life through the law of attraction. Here are some benefits of giving unconditional love:
• The act of giving unconditional love to others eliminates the fear of anger and reprisal from other people for any behavior you do. It also facilitates open and honest relationships with other people.
• In a more spiritual sense, sharing your love unconditionally with the world sends out positive energy which will be returned to you in one form or another to create great abundance, wealth, and goodness that you deserve in your own life.
• When you provide unconditional love to others, you are not dependant on others for happiness, but rather you derive your happiness from within. Your energy radiates to those around you and the world gives back to you in abundance.
• When you give love unconditionally, then you can’t be ever angry at anyone. All human minds need congruency of thought and it’s simply impossible to hate another person if you have made the conscious decision that you are going to love them unconditionally.
• By giving unconditional love to others, you side-step any tricks, emotional ploys, and unfair negotiating tactics because you have consciously choses to take responsibility for giving them love from own heart despite the behaviors that they exhibit
What Unconditional Love Really Is And How To Give It.
It is important to understand the definition of unconditional love to be able to give it, it is the kind of love that expects nothing back, places no limits, and does not set any ideals or conditions on what it should be. When you love in this way you do it without expectation of reciprocity and with no preconceived notions of how or if they will express love back to you. This is the kind of love you see exhibited by parents and children, brothers and sisters, true friends, and the best of romantic relationships.
When you love someone unconditionally you do not set limits or boundaries on that love, not circumstances that would cause you to withdraw it, there is nothing that would cause you to not love the person. Even if the other person does something that you feel is intentional, it is overlooked if you are truly committed to unconditional love. You do not try to control the actions of the other person, nor do you tell them that you will not love them if they act a certain way or do a certain thing. When this kind of love is present both partners feel more secure and neither of them seeks to control the other.
Since there are no boundaries or conditions the people in a relationship of unconditional love do not have to worry about the other person leaving or not loving them over a particular situation or behavior. Siblings in most cases are a good example of this, even though they may have quarrels and disagreements throughout their lives the bond between them remains unbroken and their love continues through any and all conflicts.
If you love someone unconditionally you will want whatever is best for them and you will always give them the freedom to seek out the things that really give them happiness. You will let them learn things for themselves and explore situations and experiences that they feel will make them happy, even if you think that you know what is best for them. Although they may make bad choices and do things that are wrong you will always be there for them and never judge them if you truly love them unconditionally.
Can you see room for improvement in your relationship? Do you place restrictions and limitations on the one you love? When you truly love someone unconditionally, you place their needs and their happiness above everything else, including yourself. Remember, just because you love someone in this way it does not mean that they will return their love to you in the same way. Are you ready to love unconditionally?
Unlimited Love
unlimited love
There are many who strive, today, to love without limits, that is to say, unconditionally, who find it possible to do with those who do not burden them with distress, or cause them difficulties in any one of a number of ways, yet who, in the presence of someone else's rage, rejection, or indifference, find it impossible to respond with love.
This limitation of the human heart cannot be overcome through the use of will, except on a limited basis, for the will-to-love can be plentiful, but the emotions that get in the way of love can also be plentiful. What is needed is a fuller immersion in, and experience of, the 'vibration' of Love, so that it becomes a living reality that is first offered to the self, after which it can be offered to others.
The vibration of limitless or unconditional love is not one that is self-created. Rather, it partakes of the Divine and must be received in the way of an experience of God's love that softens the heart, melting the sharp edges that are often carried in relation to unhealed situations in life or in relation to people with whom one has had difficulty in the past. One can speak of 'unconditional love' and understand that it lives within each human heart at its Divine core, but to arrive at the place where it can be felt as a feeling and conveyed to others as well, it must be awakened first, and this awakening is an awakening of the Christ-self within.
To speak of the Christ-self within is not to identify such love with any particular religion, for it does not belong to any religion. It belongs to the universe of souls and to the Heart from which all human hearts derive. This greater Heart has included in the lesser, the capacity to reach toward the limitless in the way of love, compassion, mercy, and gratitude, and has provided an inner path to do so which is carved out by the many ways in which one can pray for, meditate on, and receive an experience of Divine love. In this way, the human heart becomes connected with the Heart of God, the Heart of Hearts, and can then love others with what it has experienced within itself.
Love Is a Form of Energy
Foremost, we are created to receive God’s love and to reflect that love back to him. I believe that love itself is a form of energy. There is a law of physics that states that energy is neither created nor destroyed. It may be transferred from one object to another and manifest itself in different ways. One type of energy may be expended and stored as potential energy of another type. For example, the heat and light energy of the sun drives the biochemical reactions that produce the tree that becomes the energy of heat and light when the wood of the tree is burned. In like manner, love emanates from God who is the source of love. He is the essence of pure unconditional love. His love reaches out to us, touches us, draws us unto himself with the expectation that his love will flow through us back to him while producing the desired results in us.
There are many who strive, today, to love without limits, that is to say, unconditionally, who find it possible to do with those who do not burden them with distress, or cause them difficulties in any one of a number of ways, yet who, in the presence of someone else's rage, rejection, or indifference, find it impossible to respond with love.
This limitation of the human heart cannot be overcome through the use of will, except on a limited basis, for the will-to-love can be plentiful, but the emotions that get in the way of love can also be plentiful. What is needed is a fuller immersion in, and experience of, the 'vibration' of Love, so that it becomes a living reality that is first offered to the self, after which it can be offered to others.
The vibration of limitless or unconditional love is not one that is self-created. Rather, it partakes of the Divine and must be received in the way of an experience of God's love that softens the heart, melting the sharp edges that are often carried in relation to unhealed situations in life or in relation to people with whom one has had difficulty in the past. One can speak of 'unconditional love' and understand that it lives within each human heart at its Divine core, but to arrive at the place where it can be felt as a feeling and conveyed to others as well, it must be awakened first, and this awakening is an awakening of the Christ-self within.
To speak of the Christ-self within is not to identify such love with any particular religion, for it does not belong to any religion. It belongs to the universe of souls and to the Heart from which all human hearts derive. This greater Heart has included in the lesser, the capacity to reach toward the limitless in the way of love, compassion, mercy, and gratitude, and has provided an inner path to do so which is carved out by the many ways in which one can pray for, meditate on, and receive an experience of Divine love. In this way, the human heart becomes connected with the Heart of God, the Heart of Hearts, and can then love others with what it has experienced within itself.
Love Is a Form of Energy
Foremost, we are created to receive God’s love and to reflect that love back to him. I believe that love itself is a form of energy. There is a law of physics that states that energy is neither created nor destroyed. It may be transferred from one object to another and manifest itself in different ways. One type of energy may be expended and stored as potential energy of another type. For example, the heat and light energy of the sun drives the biochemical reactions that produce the tree that becomes the energy of heat and light when the wood of the tree is burned. In like manner, love emanates from God who is the source of love. He is the essence of pure unconditional love. His love reaches out to us, touches us, draws us unto himself with the expectation that his love will flow through us back to him while producing the desired results in us.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Definition of Love
Love means having strong feelings for someone that can be close friends, family or even someone in a romantic relationship. Love is a strong feeling that represents affection toward someone dear to you heart.
The greatest love of all is unconditional love.( It is also perfect love because it allows you to act from love and not fear). All fear based actions is the result of attachment to outcome and not trusting the divine. Perfect love is fearless.( We do not have to love because love is already present. We just have to realize it and allow it to be expressed through us).( Unconditional love is only possible when you love God more than any other). You trust the universe completely. Loving God is loving yourself with the best love.
Love without friendship is like a shadow without the sun
Love is a given, hatred is acquired.
Unconditional love is love that is free). You are never really free to love when you have attachments that keep you from loving freely. You hold back from expressing love because of rejection, you hold back from expressing love because it is not reciprocated.( When you allow yourself to love unconditionally, you are not afraid of rejection). You love fearlessly and freely without needing anything back. (The most liberating kind of love is the carefree kind of love). It is giving of yourself freely and not holding back.
If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate." -
True love will never fade unless it was all a lie
"...Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend."
Loving unconditionally is loving with acceptance and not requiring change). Sure you might desire positive change but it does not change your love if it does not happen. Even when negative change happens, it still does not stop you from loving.( It is being willing to love even if never rewarded, because the love itself is its own happiness). When others love you unconditionally, they love you just as you are. (It is the most beautiful kind of love that you can experience because that is when you are truly loved.)
True Love comes from God, and love is demonstrated through character
"And where there's pure love, there is no room for anger of any kind."
True love never fails. Unconditional love is the whole secret of the law of attraction with detachment).( It is also the law of God action and acting from spirit). When you act with these three laws of the universe, you can never fail to create what you truly desire which is according to your highest good. (Unconditional love is simply God in action). (When you follow your heart and act according to your highest intentions, you are serving the divine within). We are all here to do God’s work, which is to express his love.
Love is a master key which opens the gate of happiness."
When you love unconditionally, you are simply following your heart while having detachment from results). Conditions are attachment to results. You may desire to have things go a certain way with someone or something. But when you unconditionally love and accept what is, even if it does not happen the way you intend it to happen, then you create the conditions by which the essence of (what you truly desire can happen because it is no longer a requirement for it to happen, but it is free to spring forth.)
Christian love is giving to others those things that you would want them to give you if you were in their situation -- and it's doing so even if they can't pay you back. In fact, it's doing so especially if they can't pay you back! Christian love is respect for others. It's mercy. It's charity.
How Do We Express Love?
We do not always express our love. Love is a feeling and the expression of that feeling is separate. It’is an action. There’is a practical reason we do not always express our love for another. It is an issue of TIME. We only have 24 hours in a day (if you make it up that way). If the expression of love was a core ingredient to love, we would have to be stingy with who we loved, because there simply would not be enough time to demonstrate our love for everyone! If you see the distinction between the feeling and the expression, you can then love endless numbers of people.
Love is not just an emotion, or a state of mind. Love is also an emotional necessity for human beings; we fail to thrive when there is too little love in our lives. And since we can only assimilate our minimum daily requirement of love when it is given in tangible, recognizable forms, our loved ones need to SEE that we love them -- not just assume it, or hear about it once in a while.
Unfortunately, many people take this important requirement for granted, and invest too little time and effort into demonstrating their love to the people they care for. We may not even realize that our relationships and our loved ones suffer as a result. But if we love somebody, they need us to show them. And moreover, if we really love somebody, we WANT to show them.
When you love unconditionally, you are simply following your heart while having detachment from results). Conditions are attachment to results. You may desire to have things go a certain way with someone or something. But when you unconditionally love and accept what is, even if it does not happen the way you intend it to happen, then you create the conditions by which the essence of (what you truly desire can happen because it is no longer a requirement for it to happen, but it is free to spring forth.)
Loving unconditionally is loving with acceptance and not requiring change). Sure you might desire positive change but it does not change your love if it does not happen. Even when negative change happens, it still does not stop you from loving.( It is being willing to love even if never rewarded, because the love itself is its own happiness). When others love you unconditionally, they love you just as you are. (It is the most beautiful kind of love that you can experience because that is when you are truly loved.)
The greatest love of all is unconditional love.( It is also perfect love because it allows you to act from love and not fear). All fear based actions is the result of attachment to outcome and not trusting the divine. Perfect love is fearless.( We do not have to love because love is already present. We just have to realize it and allow it to be expressed through us).( Unconditional love is only possible when you love God more than any other). You trust the universe completely. Loving God is loving yourself with the best love.
Love without friendship is like a shadow without the sun
Love is a given, hatred is acquired.
Unconditional love is love that is free). You are never really free to love when you have attachments that keep you from loving freely. You hold back from expressing love because of rejection, you hold back from expressing love because it is not reciprocated.( When you allow yourself to love unconditionally, you are not afraid of rejection). You love fearlessly and freely without needing anything back. (The most liberating kind of love is the carefree kind of love). It is giving of yourself freely and not holding back.
If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate." -
True love will never fade unless it was all a lie
"...Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend."
Loving unconditionally is loving with acceptance and not requiring change). Sure you might desire positive change but it does not change your love if it does not happen. Even when negative change happens, it still does not stop you from loving.( It is being willing to love even if never rewarded, because the love itself is its own happiness). When others love you unconditionally, they love you just as you are. (It is the most beautiful kind of love that you can experience because that is when you are truly loved.)
True Love comes from God, and love is demonstrated through character
"And where there's pure love, there is no room for anger of any kind."
True love never fails. Unconditional love is the whole secret of the law of attraction with detachment).( It is also the law of God action and acting from spirit). When you act with these three laws of the universe, you can never fail to create what you truly desire which is according to your highest good. (Unconditional love is simply God in action). (When you follow your heart and act according to your highest intentions, you are serving the divine within). We are all here to do God’s work, which is to express his love.
Love is a master key which opens the gate of happiness."
When you love unconditionally, you are simply following your heart while having detachment from results). Conditions are attachment to results. You may desire to have things go a certain way with someone or something. But when you unconditionally love and accept what is, even if it does not happen the way you intend it to happen, then you create the conditions by which the essence of (what you truly desire can happen because it is no longer a requirement for it to happen, but it is free to spring forth.)
Christian love is giving to others those things that you would want them to give you if you were in their situation -- and it's doing so even if they can't pay you back. In fact, it's doing so especially if they can't pay you back! Christian love is respect for others. It's mercy. It's charity.
How Do We Express Love?
We do not always express our love. Love is a feeling and the expression of that feeling is separate. It’is an action. There’is a practical reason we do not always express our love for another. It is an issue of TIME. We only have 24 hours in a day (if you make it up that way). If the expression of love was a core ingredient to love, we would have to be stingy with who we loved, because there simply would not be enough time to demonstrate our love for everyone! If you see the distinction between the feeling and the expression, you can then love endless numbers of people.
Love is not just an emotion, or a state of mind. Love is also an emotional necessity for human beings; we fail to thrive when there is too little love in our lives. And since we can only assimilate our minimum daily requirement of love when it is given in tangible, recognizable forms, our loved ones need to SEE that we love them -- not just assume it, or hear about it once in a while.
Unfortunately, many people take this important requirement for granted, and invest too little time and effort into demonstrating their love to the people they care for. We may not even realize that our relationships and our loved ones suffer as a result. But if we love somebody, they need us to show them. And moreover, if we really love somebody, we WANT to show them.
When you love unconditionally, you are simply following your heart while having detachment from results). Conditions are attachment to results. You may desire to have things go a certain way with someone or something. But when you unconditionally love and accept what is, even if it does not happen the way you intend it to happen, then you create the conditions by which the essence of (what you truly desire can happen because it is no longer a requirement for it to happen, but it is free to spring forth.)
Loving unconditionally is loving with acceptance and not requiring change). Sure you might desire positive change but it does not change your love if it does not happen. Even when negative change happens, it still does not stop you from loving.( It is being willing to love even if never rewarded, because the love itself is its own happiness). When others love you unconditionally, they love you just as you are. (It is the most beautiful kind of love that you can experience because that is when you are truly loved.)
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Foundation of Choice
Choices! We have so many choices in our life.
Not only do we have choices to love but we must choose how much we will love or how much we will hate.
God has allowed us to choose how much we will hate or how much we will love.
After the creation of God's son, that was the beginning of all creation, and
the establishing the foundation of the heaven and earth.
And it was all created with the emphasis of every living creature was to worship our creator through the basis of free choice.
After the creation of Christ, Heaven & Earth, now was time for a being ( or new creature )
to be created with a purpose to share all of God's creations
with a free will to serve with a loving obedience. ( MT. 22: 36- 39
By creating man with a free will, now the test.
After giving Adam free choice to name all the creatures and all the living.
He was to keep and to maintain this paradise.
He gave Adam only one option, Not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil, this was God's only commandment.
Eve's choice to eat of the tree, to gain the wisdom of God was through
free will and desire, ( 2 Cor. 11:3, Cor. 10: 5,6.
Due to the direct disobedience of God's will, mankind has been put into a
situation of choice, to obey and to serve God. MT 6: 24. with their own
free will.
God did not try to tempt Adam by giving Adam the power of choice. The only way we can love God is through the power of free will choice. With the option to choose between obedience or disobedience to God's will, man now has the capability to love God. God gave Adam the tremendous opportunity to offer love, from his heart, to God. Trust, obedience and faithfulness were Adam's tools for sharing love with God. Upon man receiving free will toward the command of God, now, not only does God love man, but man can fulfill his purpose in life and love God in return.
Throughout the Bible we find that God holds up choices to people - life or death, righteousness or sin, justice or deceit - but He continually encourages us to make the right choices. There are continual choices for all of us throughout life - indeed, every day of our lives, but then there is this major choice as to whether we will obey God. Again, I reiterate: the fact that God has given mankind a genuine choice but mankind has made the wrong one is clearly proven by the presence of evil in the world. Obviously sin and evil would not have been God's choice for men and women, so its presence means that people really were given a genuine choice by God but that they made the wrong one! If we deny that, then that means that God approved of and wanted sin and evil in this world and that turns God into a monster! No, the Bible is clear that the decisions by our first parents have led to the position which we now find ourselves in. Of course, within His grand overall plan, God may allow a situation to occur with an eventual intention to bring good out of it, but the Holy Bible is clear that human choice – which is revealed to be meaningful – brought the present situation about.
Allowing mankind the ability to choose does not rob God of His Sovereignty because man’s choices are not unlimited and God controls all circumstances. We all have free will within the parameters set by God. God is omnipotent. “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” Isaiah 46:9-10. “The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth” Psalms 135:6. He created man with the ability to choose, and He is perfectly capable of incorporating all the possible choices of mankind into his sovereign will and purpose because, before the world was created, He already knew what all those choices were going to be. He is the One who makes ‘known the end from the beginning.’
Love, by its very nature, must be freely given from one being to another. It is the choices of love for God, which we create under free will, that God is incapable of creating Himself. These human choices to share love with God are the gifts of love that God created the universe for and sacrificed His only Son to retrieve. The choices to do God's will under free will are the most precious gifts to God in all the created heaven and earth. Those who are fruitful and bear such gifts will be exalted and brought through Christ's blood into God's Kingdom. In the Kingdom, God will remain faithful to those who love Him for all eternity. God has set before baptized men life and death, therefore choose to love God and live.
° Adam & Eve eat of forbidden fruit Death, banned from Eden and pain
° Cain offering unacceptable sacrifice Reprimanded by God
° Cain killing his brother Became a marked wanderer
° Noah building the ark Considered righteous & saved mankind
°Abraham sacrificing his son Received promises
° Moses chose God Became the leader of great nation
° Mary desired to be used by God Birth of Jesus who became our sacrifice
° Judas betrayed Jesus for money Committed suicide
° Paul repented, obeyed and immersed Became the Apostle to the Gentiles
Since the beginning God has given us the Right, the power, and the freedom to choose, between light and darkness, good or evil, love or hate. With the Free Will to choose for ourselves our own way, to find our own destiny, and not have others, or the collective, or society, or the government, choose for us. What is best for the individual, may not be what others think is best for the collective, society or government. We need to be free to live our lives as we so choose, as individuals. We can and should decide for ourselves the course of our own lives and destiny, to be individual and free. Please do not think I am advocating choosing darkness, evil, hate or self-destructive behavior, what I am advocating, and what I know God has given us, is the inalienable right of choice.
We have to have the power to choose our own way, to be true to our own beliefs and ourselves, to be our own person, to be free sovereign autonomous individuals, to have the Right to self-determination. We must be ever vigilant, to stay forever free and be forever free, to be all that we can be, and the best we can be, free, in the freest nation on earth.
But what are the advantages and disadvantages of man's free will? We need to keep in mind that freedom of choice allows for both good and evil outcomes. The cost can be enormous. Our choices can lead to disastrous consequences.
Everything lies in the freedom of choice that we possess as human beings. Our liberation and our bondage. There is no other species that has the power to choose to evolve. In light of this discovery, you have to ask yourself: What am I doing with the gift of choice that is my birthright as a human being? How am I living? Am I fully and wholeheartedly participating in the life process for the sake of the evolution of consciousness itself?
Not only do we have choices to love but we must choose how much we will love or how much we will hate.
God has allowed us to choose how much we will hate or how much we will love.
After the creation of God's son, that was the beginning of all creation, and
the establishing the foundation of the heaven and earth.
And it was all created with the emphasis of every living creature was to worship our creator through the basis of free choice.
After the creation of Christ, Heaven & Earth, now was time for a being ( or new creature )
to be created with a purpose to share all of God's creations
with a free will to serve with a loving obedience. ( MT. 22: 36- 39
By creating man with a free will, now the test.
After giving Adam free choice to name all the creatures and all the living.
He was to keep and to maintain this paradise.
He gave Adam only one option, Not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil, this was God's only commandment.
Eve's choice to eat of the tree, to gain the wisdom of God was through
free will and desire, ( 2 Cor. 11:3, Cor. 10: 5,6.
Due to the direct disobedience of God's will, mankind has been put into a
situation of choice, to obey and to serve God. MT 6: 24. with their own
free will.
God did not try to tempt Adam by giving Adam the power of choice. The only way we can love God is through the power of free will choice. With the option to choose between obedience or disobedience to God's will, man now has the capability to love God. God gave Adam the tremendous opportunity to offer love, from his heart, to God. Trust, obedience and faithfulness were Adam's tools for sharing love with God. Upon man receiving free will toward the command of God, now, not only does God love man, but man can fulfill his purpose in life and love God in return.
Throughout the Bible we find that God holds up choices to people - life or death, righteousness or sin, justice or deceit - but He continually encourages us to make the right choices. There are continual choices for all of us throughout life - indeed, every day of our lives, but then there is this major choice as to whether we will obey God. Again, I reiterate: the fact that God has given mankind a genuine choice but mankind has made the wrong one is clearly proven by the presence of evil in the world. Obviously sin and evil would not have been God's choice for men and women, so its presence means that people really were given a genuine choice by God but that they made the wrong one! If we deny that, then that means that God approved of and wanted sin and evil in this world and that turns God into a monster! No, the Bible is clear that the decisions by our first parents have led to the position which we now find ourselves in. Of course, within His grand overall plan, God may allow a situation to occur with an eventual intention to bring good out of it, but the Holy Bible is clear that human choice – which is revealed to be meaningful – brought the present situation about.
Allowing mankind the ability to choose does not rob God of His Sovereignty because man’s choices are not unlimited and God controls all circumstances. We all have free will within the parameters set by God. God is omnipotent. “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” Isaiah 46:9-10. “The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth” Psalms 135:6. He created man with the ability to choose, and He is perfectly capable of incorporating all the possible choices of mankind into his sovereign will and purpose because, before the world was created, He already knew what all those choices were going to be. He is the One who makes ‘known the end from the beginning.’
Love, by its very nature, must be freely given from one being to another. It is the choices of love for God, which we create under free will, that God is incapable of creating Himself. These human choices to share love with God are the gifts of love that God created the universe for and sacrificed His only Son to retrieve. The choices to do God's will under free will are the most precious gifts to God in all the created heaven and earth. Those who are fruitful and bear such gifts will be exalted and brought through Christ's blood into God's Kingdom. In the Kingdom, God will remain faithful to those who love Him for all eternity. God has set before baptized men life and death, therefore choose to love God and live.
° Adam & Eve eat of forbidden fruit Death, banned from Eden and pain
° Cain offering unacceptable sacrifice Reprimanded by God
° Cain killing his brother Became a marked wanderer
° Noah building the ark Considered righteous & saved mankind
°Abraham sacrificing his son Received promises
° Moses chose God Became the leader of great nation
° Mary desired to be used by God Birth of Jesus who became our sacrifice
° Judas betrayed Jesus for money Committed suicide
° Paul repented, obeyed and immersed Became the Apostle to the Gentiles
Since the beginning God has given us the Right, the power, and the freedom to choose, between light and darkness, good or evil, love or hate. With the Free Will to choose for ourselves our own way, to find our own destiny, and not have others, or the collective, or society, or the government, choose for us. What is best for the individual, may not be what others think is best for the collective, society or government. We need to be free to live our lives as we so choose, as individuals. We can and should decide for ourselves the course of our own lives and destiny, to be individual and free. Please do not think I am advocating choosing darkness, evil, hate or self-destructive behavior, what I am advocating, and what I know God has given us, is the inalienable right of choice.
We have to have the power to choose our own way, to be true to our own beliefs and ourselves, to be our own person, to be free sovereign autonomous individuals, to have the Right to self-determination. We must be ever vigilant, to stay forever free and be forever free, to be all that we can be, and the best we can be, free, in the freest nation on earth.
But what are the advantages and disadvantages of man's free will? We need to keep in mind that freedom of choice allows for both good and evil outcomes. The cost can be enormous. Our choices can lead to disastrous consequences.
Everything lies in the freedom of choice that we possess as human beings. Our liberation and our bondage. There is no other species that has the power to choose to evolve. In light of this discovery, you have to ask yourself: What am I doing with the gift of choice that is my birthright as a human being? How am I living? Am I fully and wholeheartedly participating in the life process for the sake of the evolution of consciousness itself?
Choices of Life
Choices! We have so many choices in our life.
Not only do we have choices to love but we must choose how much we will love or how much we will hate.
God has allowed us to choose how much we will hate or how much we will love.
After the creation of God's son, that was the beginning of all creation, and
the organization and foundation of the heaven and earth.
And it was all created with the emphasis of every living creature was to worship our creator through the basis of free choice.
After the creation of Christ, Heaven & Earth, now was time for a being ( or new creature )
to be created with a purpose to share all of God's creations
with a free will to serve with a loving obedience. ( MT. 22: 36- 39
By creating man with a free will, now the test.
After giving Adam free choice to name all the creatures and all the living.
He was to keep and to maintain this paradise.
He gave Adam only one option, Not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil, this was God's only commandment.
Eve's choice to eat of the tree, to gain the wisdom of God was through
free will and desire, ( 2 Cor. 11:3, Cor. 10: 5,6.
Due to the direct disobedience of God's will, mankind has been put into a
situation of choice, to obey and to serve God. MT 6: 24. with their own
free will.
God did not try to tempt Adam by giving Adam the power of choice. The only way we can love God is through the power of free will choice. With the option to choose between obedience or disobedience to God's will, man now has the capability to love God. God gave Adam the tremendous opportunity to offer love, from his heart, to God. Trust, obedience and faithfulness were Adam's tools for sharing love with God. Upon man receiving free will toward the command of God, now, not only does God love man, but man can fulfill his purpose in life and love God in return.
Throughout the Bible we find that God holds up choices to people - life or death, righteousness or sin, justice or deceit - but He continually encourages us to make the right choices. There are continual choices for all of us throughout life - indeed, every day of our lives, but then there is this major choice as to whether we will obey God. Again, I reiterate: the fact that God has given mankind a genuine choice but mankind has made the wrong one is clearly proven by the presence of evil in the world. Obviously sin and evil would not have been God's choice for men and women, so its presence means that people really were given a genuine choice by God but that they made the wrong one! If we deny that, then that means that God approved of and wanted sin and evil in this world and that turns God into a monster! No, the Bible is clear that the decisions by our first parents have led to the position which we now find ourselves in. Of course, within His grand overall plan, God may allow a situation to occur with an eventual intention to bring good out of it, but the Holy Bible is clear that human choice – which is revealed to be meaningful – brought the present situation about.
Allowing mankind the ability to choose does not rob God of His Sovereignty because man’s choices are not unlimited and God controls all circumstances. We all have free will within the parameters set by God. God is omnipotent. “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” Isaiah 46:9-10. “The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth” Psalms 135:6. He created man with the ability to choose, and He is perfectly capable of incorporating all the possible choices of mankind into his sovereign will and purpose because, before the world was created, He already knew what all those choices were going to be. He is the One who makes ‘known the end from the beginning.’
Love, by its very nature, must be freely given from one being to another. It is the choices of love for God, which we create under free will, that God is incapable of creating Himself. These human choices to share love with God are the gifts of love that God created the universe for and sacrificed His only Son to retrieve. The choices to do God's will under free will are the most precious gifts to God in all the created heaven and earth. Those who are fruitful and bear such gifts will be exalted and brought through Christ's blood into God's Kingdom. In the Kingdom, God will remain faithful to those who love Him for all eternity. God has set before baptized men life and death, therefore choose to love God and live.
° Adam & Eve eat of forbidden fruit Death, banned from Eden and pain
° Cain offering unacceptable sacrifice Reprimanded by God
° Cain killing his brother Became a marked wanderer
° Noah building the ark Considered righteous & saved mankind
°Abraham sacrificing his son Received promises
° Moses chose God Became the leader of great nation
° Mary desired to be used by God Birth of Jesus who became our sacrifice
° Judas betrayed Jesus for money Committed suicide
° Paul repented, obeyed and immersed Became the Apostle to the Gentiles
Since the begining God has given us the Right, the power, and the freedom to choose, between light and darkness, good or evil, love or hate. With the Free Will to choose for ourselves our own way, to find our own destiny, and not have others, or the collective, or society, or the government, choose for us. What is best for the individual, may not be what others think is best for the collective, society or government. We need to be free to live our lives as we so choose, as individuals. We can and should decide for ourselves the course of our own lives and destiny, to be individual and free. Please do not think I am advocating choosing darkness, evil, hate or self-destructive behavior, what I am advocating, and what I know God has given us, is the inalienable right of choice.
We have to have the power to choose our own way, to be true to our own beliefs and ourselves, to be our own person, to be free sovereign autonomous individuals, to have the Right to self-determination. We must be ever vigilant, to stay forever free and be forever free, to be all that we can be, and the best we can be, free, in the freest nation on earth.
But what are the advantages and disadvantages of man's free will? We need to keep in mind that freedom of choice allows for both good and evil outcomes. The cost can be enormous. Our choices can lead to disastrous consequences.
Everything lies in the freedom of choice that we possess as human beings. Our liberation and our bondage. There is no other species that has the power to choose to evolve. In light of this discovery, you have to ask yourself: What am I doing with the gift of choice that is my birthright as a human being? How am I living? Am I fully and wholeheartedly participating in the life process for the sake of the evolution of consciousness itself?
Not only do we have choices to love but we must choose how much we will love or how much we will hate.
God has allowed us to choose how much we will hate or how much we will love.
After the creation of God's son, that was the beginning of all creation, and
the organization and foundation of the heaven and earth.
And it was all created with the emphasis of every living creature was to worship our creator through the basis of free choice.
After the creation of Christ, Heaven & Earth, now was time for a being ( or new creature )
to be created with a purpose to share all of God's creations
with a free will to serve with a loving obedience. ( MT. 22: 36- 39
By creating man with a free will, now the test.
After giving Adam free choice to name all the creatures and all the living.
He was to keep and to maintain this paradise.
He gave Adam only one option, Not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil, this was God's only commandment.
Eve's choice to eat of the tree, to gain the wisdom of God was through
free will and desire, ( 2 Cor. 11:3, Cor. 10: 5,6.
Due to the direct disobedience of God's will, mankind has been put into a
situation of choice, to obey and to serve God. MT 6: 24. with their own
free will.
God did not try to tempt Adam by giving Adam the power of choice. The only way we can love God is through the power of free will choice. With the option to choose between obedience or disobedience to God's will, man now has the capability to love God. God gave Adam the tremendous opportunity to offer love, from his heart, to God. Trust, obedience and faithfulness were Adam's tools for sharing love with God. Upon man receiving free will toward the command of God, now, not only does God love man, but man can fulfill his purpose in life and love God in return.
Throughout the Bible we find that God holds up choices to people - life or death, righteousness or sin, justice or deceit - but He continually encourages us to make the right choices. There are continual choices for all of us throughout life - indeed, every day of our lives, but then there is this major choice as to whether we will obey God. Again, I reiterate: the fact that God has given mankind a genuine choice but mankind has made the wrong one is clearly proven by the presence of evil in the world. Obviously sin and evil would not have been God's choice for men and women, so its presence means that people really were given a genuine choice by God but that they made the wrong one! If we deny that, then that means that God approved of and wanted sin and evil in this world and that turns God into a monster! No, the Bible is clear that the decisions by our first parents have led to the position which we now find ourselves in. Of course, within His grand overall plan, God may allow a situation to occur with an eventual intention to bring good out of it, but the Holy Bible is clear that human choice – which is revealed to be meaningful – brought the present situation about.
Allowing mankind the ability to choose does not rob God of His Sovereignty because man’s choices are not unlimited and God controls all circumstances. We all have free will within the parameters set by God. God is omnipotent. “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” Isaiah 46:9-10. “The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth” Psalms 135:6. He created man with the ability to choose, and He is perfectly capable of incorporating all the possible choices of mankind into his sovereign will and purpose because, before the world was created, He already knew what all those choices were going to be. He is the One who makes ‘known the end from the beginning.’
Love, by its very nature, must be freely given from one being to another. It is the choices of love for God, which we create under free will, that God is incapable of creating Himself. These human choices to share love with God are the gifts of love that God created the universe for and sacrificed His only Son to retrieve. The choices to do God's will under free will are the most precious gifts to God in all the created heaven and earth. Those who are fruitful and bear such gifts will be exalted and brought through Christ's blood into God's Kingdom. In the Kingdom, God will remain faithful to those who love Him for all eternity. God has set before baptized men life and death, therefore choose to love God and live.
° Adam & Eve eat of forbidden fruit Death, banned from Eden and pain
° Cain offering unacceptable sacrifice Reprimanded by God
° Cain killing his brother Became a marked wanderer
° Noah building the ark Considered righteous & saved mankind
°Abraham sacrificing his son Received promises
° Moses chose God Became the leader of great nation
° Mary desired to be used by God Birth of Jesus who became our sacrifice
° Judas betrayed Jesus for money Committed suicide
° Paul repented, obeyed and immersed Became the Apostle to the Gentiles
Since the begining God has given us the Right, the power, and the freedom to choose, between light and darkness, good or evil, love or hate. With the Free Will to choose for ourselves our own way, to find our own destiny, and not have others, or the collective, or society, or the government, choose for us. What is best for the individual, may not be what others think is best for the collective, society or government. We need to be free to live our lives as we so choose, as individuals. We can and should decide for ourselves the course of our own lives and destiny, to be individual and free. Please do not think I am advocating choosing darkness, evil, hate or self-destructive behavior, what I am advocating, and what I know God has given us, is the inalienable right of choice.
We have to have the power to choose our own way, to be true to our own beliefs and ourselves, to be our own person, to be free sovereign autonomous individuals, to have the Right to self-determination. We must be ever vigilant, to stay forever free and be forever free, to be all that we can be, and the best we can be, free, in the freest nation on earth.
But what are the advantages and disadvantages of man's free will? We need to keep in mind that freedom of choice allows for both good and evil outcomes. The cost can be enormous. Our choices can lead to disastrous consequences.
Everything lies in the freedom of choice that we possess as human beings. Our liberation and our bondage. There is no other species that has the power to choose to evolve. In light of this discovery, you have to ask yourself: What am I doing with the gift of choice that is my birthright as a human being? How am I living? Am I fully and wholeheartedly participating in the life process for the sake of the evolution of consciousness itself?
Monday, September 28, 2009
Choosing To Love
What defines an intimate relationship? Sometimes it's revealed by unique friendship, shared with no other. Sometimes it's experienced by what is not said, just felt.
Sometimes it's welded together by obstacles shared and endured. And sometimes it's observed in the lives of their children, when a husband and wife's cup fills
up and spills over into those hearts and minds. All of these wonderful things transpire because of making the right choices.
The beginning of the world was created by choice of God, " choosing love thru free choice "
It was a decision by God to create a species that the common goal was & is to serve and to live on the basis of free love. MT. 22: 37- 39
Love cannot be expressed through force, but through genuine sincere concern, in affection towards others.
Sincere love must be formulated with compassion.
And how the direction of our lives come down to " the choices we choose in our daily lives.
Life is a choice, as in how you handle the pitfalls along it's rough roads
Choice making however, can be difficult when our life has pressured us into a corner, especially when our fears are amplified and overshadowing our intuition. Choices made from a calm, peaceful place bring us to the right places and people, while choices made from fear or under pressure, lead to disaster.
Spiritual growth is a choice and is necessary to deepen our relationship with God, and Lord Jesus Christ, . It is letting Jesus into of our lives, submitting to the guiding power and blessings of the Holy Spirit. Growing in our spirituality is the desire to become righteous and more Christ-like in our everyday lives
.Spiritual growth is not the same thing as being religious. Religion comes from regimens of rigid traditions, ceremonies, and mandated deeds. Originating in man-made rules or religious laws, obedience is often guilt-motivated. Godly spirituality does not come from what man has dictated, but from true and earnest desires from the heart
We, too, must decide, we must make an exclusive choice, and it is urgent. But one more point becomes clear in this text. This is a personal choice. "Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve." Your husband can't choose for you; your wife can't choose for you; your parents can't make the decision for you. You, personally, will decide about Jesus. You, personally, will stand before God to give account of your decision. Choose. Choose today. Choose today for yourself. Choose today for yourself whom you will serve! As we sing, let your choice to surrender to Jesus be known as you make your way forward.
When a person "chooses" to accept Christ as his Savior, he actually does not make the choice himself. The desire to make this decision is implanted by God. Before God implants this desire, the person literally has no ability to decide spiritual things himself. Listed below are some of the comments by Selective Salvationists that say we have no choice:
And what about Ruth? What would her future be? She must have wondered about that every second of the day. She needn't have been frightened, though. Because Ruth was a very special person. Ruth had been chosen by God! God had chosen this poor, humble woman from Moab to have an exciting and successful future. She couldn't possibly imagine it yet, but she was to become a member of the royal line of Judah. She would be married to one of the wealthiest men of the one of best families of Bethlehem. Her grandson would be King David. One of her ancestors would be Jesus, the very Son of God - the promised Messiah! God had chosen humble Ruth to be His own.
For Ruth there was only one choice. She chose to follow the Lord, and that meant following Naomi on a weary journey of 75 miles back to Naomi's hometown of Bethlehem. Ruth decided that this strange country would become her country, because it was the Lord's country. A strange people would become her people, because they were the Lord's people. She would serve Jehovah, the God of love, with her whole life, no matter what the consequences. It was courageous choice to make.
( The Original Plan )
" Choosing love through free Choice "
MT. 22: 37-39
The beginning of the world was created by Choice. It was a decision by God to
create a species in his own image ( Gen. 1: 27 ) that the common goal is to serve
& live on the basis of love
Love cannot be expressed through force or influence, but in genuine concern &
affection towards ones.
Sincere love must be formulated with compassion, being expressed through
submission of feelings of concern in re guards to others.
Choice making however, can be difficult when our life has pressured us into a corner, especially when our fears are amplified and overshadowing our intuition. Choices made from a calm, peaceful place bring us to the right places and people, while choices made from fear or under pressure, lead to disaster.
Spiritual growth is a choice and is necessary to deepen our relationship with God, and Lord Jesus Christ, . It is letting Jesus into of our lives, submitting to the guiding power and blessings of the Holy Spirit. Growing in our spirituality is the desire to become righteous and more Christ-like in our everyday lives
.Spiritual growth is not the same thing as being religious. Religion comes from regimens of rigid traditions, ceremonies, and mandated deeds. Originating in man-made rules or religious laws, obedience is often guilt-motivated. Godly spirituality does not come from what man has dictated, but from true and earnest desires from the heart
Spiritual Growth - How do we grow?
Spiritual growth begins first and foremost with believing and following Jesus Christ. We do this through faith. Our spirituality grows and matures through:
Prayer (regularly conversing with God).
Becoming students of His word and teachings (being disciples).
Sharing the blessings of our spirituality with others (evangelizing).
Giving God glory and praise through speech, behavior, and songs (worship).
Faith may begin like a tiny seed. When we exercise our faith, it grows. Let us compare it to planting a seedling. We tend to it, fertilize (nourish) it, and it grows. We need to keep the weeds away from it. Our spirituality is much the same. The Holy Spirit of God prepares our hearts as the seed of faith is planted. That tiny seed of faith is nourished through prayer, studying the Bible, and surrounding ourselves with like-minded Christians. As it grows, we begin to share with others what God has done for us. When we do not give into the temptation to sin, we will spiritually grow and draw closer to the Lord. This will yield the fruit in our lives that He has designed for us. God brings us a joy and peace in life that defies all circumstances.
Our love increases for Him and all He has done. This creates a deeper, personal relationship with Him and causes us to yearn for all that He has for us. It is a realm that our human minds often cannot understand; it requires trust and faith in God. The Lord God gives us a mental, emotional, and spiritual peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7) He has many more blessings for us that are brought through the Holy Spirit
"And in life, it is all about choices we make.
And how the direction of our lives comes down to the choices we choose."
Life is a choice - as is how you handle the pitfalls along its bumpy road."
But Adam's spiritual freedom was not the highest kind of freedom. For though he was able not to sin, he nevertheless did sin. He could loose his moral, ethical freedom. God had warned him of that when He told him, But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eat est thereof thou shalt surely die. (Gen. 2:17). Adam could will to eat of the tree. If he did, he would die spiritually. He would loose the image of God and his spiritual freedom to choose good. In the providence of God that is just what did happen. Even though all of the inclinations of his being, including his spiritually free will, pointed him to obedience to God; he did eat. He lost the image of God and died spiritually. His holiness, righteousness, and knowledge of God were changed into darkness and unrighteousness. His will became the slave of his wicked nature. He could no longer choose what is good and righteous.
There are many who believe that freedom in Christ gives the believer the liberty to sin. They reason that since Christ has died for the sins of His people and thereby freed them from the guilt of sin, the believer can live in sin. Since salvation is all of grace, the believer does not have to be concerned about fleeing sin and seeking after righteousness. The apostle Paul refers to this kind of thinking when he says, What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? (ROM. 6:1). Jude also refers to this distortion of the truth when he says, For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness... ( Jude 4).
Such thinking is not the teaching of Holy Scripture. It is true that as long as the believer is in this world, he will always be a sinner. The child of God is not freed from the presence of sin until he is taken to glory. In fact, he may even fall into very great sin as did King David and the apostle Peter. A child of God is not immune to sin-not even the worst kinds of sin. Moreover, there is no such thing as sinless perfection in this life. Thus the apostle says, For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. (ROM. 7:14-15). The believer desires to do good, but because he still possesses the old sin nature along with the new nature, all his deeds, including his best good works, are defiled by sin.
But this does not mean that the believer is freed from sin in order that he might continue in sin. Freedom in Christ is not freedom to sin. The Biblical doctrine of spiritual freedom does not mean that we are free to do whatever we want, whether it is good or evil. Spiritual freedom is always freedom from sin. We read in ROM. 6:6-7, Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Since the old man with all of its sin has been judicially killed with Christ on the cross, the believer has been freed from the legal guilt of sin. He, therefore, should not serve sin. Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (ROM. 6:1-2). The apostle says, Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin... (ROM. 6:12-13). The believer, who has been freed from the guilt of sin must, by God's grace, not allow sin to reign in him. The members of his body must not be instruments of unrighteousness.
We, too, must decide, we must make an exclusive choice, and it is urgent. But one more point becomes clear in this text. This is a personal choice. "Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve." Your husband can't choose for you; your wife can't choose for you; your parents can't make the decision for you. You, personally, will decide about Jesus. You, personally, will stand before God to give account of your decision. Choose. Choose today. Choose today for yourself. Choose today for yourself whom you will serve! As we sing, let your choice to surrender to Jesus be known as you make your way forward.
When a person "chooses" to accept Christ as his Savior, he actually does not make the choice himself. The desire to make this decision is implanted by God. Before God implants this desire, the person literally has no ability to decide spiritual things himself. Listed below are some of the comments by Selective Salvationists that say we have no choice:
And what about Ruth? What would her future be? She must have wondered about that every second of the day. She needn't have been frightened, though. Because Ruth was a very special person. Ruth had been chosen by God! God had chosen this poor, humble woman from Moab to have an exciting and successful future. She couldn't possibly imagine it yet, but she was to become a member of the royal line of Judah. She would be married to one of the wealthiest men of the one of best families of Bethlehem. Her grandson would be King David. One of her ancestors would be Jesus, the very Son of God - the promised Messiah! God had chosen humble Ruth to be His own.
For Ruth there was only one choice. She chose to follow the Lord, and that meant following Naomi on a weary journey of 75 miles back to Naomi's hometown of Bethlehem. Ruth decided that this strange country would become her country, because it was the Lord's country. A strange people would become her people, because they were the Lord's people. She would serve Jehovah, the God of love, with her whole life, no matter what the consequences. It was courageous choice to make.
Sometimes it's welded together by obstacles shared and endured. And sometimes it's observed in the lives of their children, when a husband and wife's cup fills
up and spills over into those hearts and minds. All of these wonderful things transpire because of making the right choices.
The beginning of the world was created by choice of God, " choosing love thru free choice "
It was a decision by God to create a species that the common goal was & is to serve and to live on the basis of free love. MT. 22: 37- 39
Love cannot be expressed through force, but through genuine sincere concern, in affection towards others.
Sincere love must be formulated with compassion.
And how the direction of our lives come down to " the choices we choose in our daily lives.
Life is a choice, as in how you handle the pitfalls along it's rough roads
Choice making however, can be difficult when our life has pressured us into a corner, especially when our fears are amplified and overshadowing our intuition. Choices made from a calm, peaceful place bring us to the right places and people, while choices made from fear or under pressure, lead to disaster.
Spiritual growth is a choice and is necessary to deepen our relationship with God, and Lord Jesus Christ, . It is letting Jesus into of our lives, submitting to the guiding power and blessings of the Holy Spirit. Growing in our spirituality is the desire to become righteous and more Christ-like in our everyday lives
.Spiritual growth is not the same thing as being religious. Religion comes from regimens of rigid traditions, ceremonies, and mandated deeds. Originating in man-made rules or religious laws, obedience is often guilt-motivated. Godly spirituality does not come from what man has dictated, but from true and earnest desires from the heart
We, too, must decide, we must make an exclusive choice, and it is urgent. But one more point becomes clear in this text. This is a personal choice. "Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve." Your husband can't choose for you; your wife can't choose for you; your parents can't make the decision for you. You, personally, will decide about Jesus. You, personally, will stand before God to give account of your decision. Choose. Choose today. Choose today for yourself. Choose today for yourself whom you will serve! As we sing, let your choice to surrender to Jesus be known as you make your way forward.
When a person "chooses" to accept Christ as his Savior, he actually does not make the choice himself. The desire to make this decision is implanted by God. Before God implants this desire, the person literally has no ability to decide spiritual things himself. Listed below are some of the comments by Selective Salvationists that say we have no choice:
And what about Ruth? What would her future be? She must have wondered about that every second of the day. She needn't have been frightened, though. Because Ruth was a very special person. Ruth had been chosen by God! God had chosen this poor, humble woman from Moab to have an exciting and successful future. She couldn't possibly imagine it yet, but she was to become a member of the royal line of Judah. She would be married to one of the wealthiest men of the one of best families of Bethlehem. Her grandson would be King David. One of her ancestors would be Jesus, the very Son of God - the promised Messiah! God had chosen humble Ruth to be His own.
For Ruth there was only one choice. She chose to follow the Lord, and that meant following Naomi on a weary journey of 75 miles back to Naomi's hometown of Bethlehem. Ruth decided that this strange country would become her country, because it was the Lord's country. A strange people would become her people, because they were the Lord's people. She would serve Jehovah, the God of love, with her whole life, no matter what the consequences. It was courageous choice to make.
( The Original Plan )
" Choosing love through free Choice "
MT. 22: 37-39
The beginning of the world was created by Choice. It was a decision by God to
create a species in his own image ( Gen. 1: 27 ) that the common goal is to serve
& live on the basis of love
Love cannot be expressed through force or influence, but in genuine concern &
affection towards ones.
Sincere love must be formulated with compassion, being expressed through
submission of feelings of concern in re guards to others.
Choice making however, can be difficult when our life has pressured us into a corner, especially when our fears are amplified and overshadowing our intuition. Choices made from a calm, peaceful place bring us to the right places and people, while choices made from fear or under pressure, lead to disaster.
Spiritual growth is a choice and is necessary to deepen our relationship with God, and Lord Jesus Christ, . It is letting Jesus into of our lives, submitting to the guiding power and blessings of the Holy Spirit. Growing in our spirituality is the desire to become righteous and more Christ-like in our everyday lives
.Spiritual growth is not the same thing as being religious. Religion comes from regimens of rigid traditions, ceremonies, and mandated deeds. Originating in man-made rules or religious laws, obedience is often guilt-motivated. Godly spirituality does not come from what man has dictated, but from true and earnest desires from the heart
Spiritual Growth - How do we grow?
Spiritual growth begins first and foremost with believing and following Jesus Christ. We do this through faith. Our spirituality grows and matures through:
Prayer (regularly conversing with God).
Becoming students of His word and teachings (being disciples).
Sharing the blessings of our spirituality with others (evangelizing).
Giving God glory and praise through speech, behavior, and songs (worship).
Faith may begin like a tiny seed. When we exercise our faith, it grows. Let us compare it to planting a seedling. We tend to it, fertilize (nourish) it, and it grows. We need to keep the weeds away from it. Our spirituality is much the same. The Holy Spirit of God prepares our hearts as the seed of faith is planted. That tiny seed of faith is nourished through prayer, studying the Bible, and surrounding ourselves with like-minded Christians. As it grows, we begin to share with others what God has done for us. When we do not give into the temptation to sin, we will spiritually grow and draw closer to the Lord. This will yield the fruit in our lives that He has designed for us. God brings us a joy and peace in life that defies all circumstances.
Our love increases for Him and all He has done. This creates a deeper, personal relationship with Him and causes us to yearn for all that He has for us. It is a realm that our human minds often cannot understand; it requires trust and faith in God. The Lord God gives us a mental, emotional, and spiritual peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7) He has many more blessings for us that are brought through the Holy Spirit
"And in life, it is all about choices we make.
And how the direction of our lives comes down to the choices we choose."
Life is a choice - as is how you handle the pitfalls along its bumpy road."
But Adam's spiritual freedom was not the highest kind of freedom. For though he was able not to sin, he nevertheless did sin. He could loose his moral, ethical freedom. God had warned him of that when He told him, But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eat est thereof thou shalt surely die. (Gen. 2:17). Adam could will to eat of the tree. If he did, he would die spiritually. He would loose the image of God and his spiritual freedom to choose good. In the providence of God that is just what did happen. Even though all of the inclinations of his being, including his spiritually free will, pointed him to obedience to God; he did eat. He lost the image of God and died spiritually. His holiness, righteousness, and knowledge of God were changed into darkness and unrighteousness. His will became the slave of his wicked nature. He could no longer choose what is good and righteous.
There are many who believe that freedom in Christ gives the believer the liberty to sin. They reason that since Christ has died for the sins of His people and thereby freed them from the guilt of sin, the believer can live in sin. Since salvation is all of grace, the believer does not have to be concerned about fleeing sin and seeking after righteousness. The apostle Paul refers to this kind of thinking when he says, What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? (ROM. 6:1). Jude also refers to this distortion of the truth when he says, For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness... ( Jude 4).
Such thinking is not the teaching of Holy Scripture. It is true that as long as the believer is in this world, he will always be a sinner. The child of God is not freed from the presence of sin until he is taken to glory. In fact, he may even fall into very great sin as did King David and the apostle Peter. A child of God is not immune to sin-not even the worst kinds of sin. Moreover, there is no such thing as sinless perfection in this life. Thus the apostle says, For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. (ROM. 7:14-15). The believer desires to do good, but because he still possesses the old sin nature along with the new nature, all his deeds, including his best good works, are defiled by sin.
But this does not mean that the believer is freed from sin in order that he might continue in sin. Freedom in Christ is not freedom to sin. The Biblical doctrine of spiritual freedom does not mean that we are free to do whatever we want, whether it is good or evil. Spiritual freedom is always freedom from sin. We read in ROM. 6:6-7, Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Since the old man with all of its sin has been judicially killed with Christ on the cross, the believer has been freed from the legal guilt of sin. He, therefore, should not serve sin. Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (ROM. 6:1-2). The apostle says, Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin... (ROM. 6:12-13). The believer, who has been freed from the guilt of sin must, by God's grace, not allow sin to reign in him. The members of his body must not be instruments of unrighteousness.
We, too, must decide, we must make an exclusive choice, and it is urgent. But one more point becomes clear in this text. This is a personal choice. "Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve." Your husband can't choose for you; your wife can't choose for you; your parents can't make the decision for you. You, personally, will decide about Jesus. You, personally, will stand before God to give account of your decision. Choose. Choose today. Choose today for yourself. Choose today for yourself whom you will serve! As we sing, let your choice to surrender to Jesus be known as you make your way forward.
When a person "chooses" to accept Christ as his Savior, he actually does not make the choice himself. The desire to make this decision is implanted by God. Before God implants this desire, the person literally has no ability to decide spiritual things himself. Listed below are some of the comments by Selective Salvationists that say we have no choice:
And what about Ruth? What would her future be? She must have wondered about that every second of the day. She needn't have been frightened, though. Because Ruth was a very special person. Ruth had been chosen by God! God had chosen this poor, humble woman from Moab to have an exciting and successful future. She couldn't possibly imagine it yet, but she was to become a member of the royal line of Judah. She would be married to one of the wealthiest men of the one of best families of Bethlehem. Her grandson would be King David. One of her ancestors would be Jesus, the very Son of God - the promised Messiah! God had chosen humble Ruth to be His own.
For Ruth there was only one choice. She chose to follow the Lord, and that meant following Naomi on a weary journey of 75 miles back to Naomi's hometown of Bethlehem. Ruth decided that this strange country would become her country, because it was the Lord's country. A strange people would become her people, because they were the Lord's people. She would serve Jehovah, the God of love, with her whole life, no matter what the consequences. It was courageous choice to make.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)