Enlightened Reasoning

People face many hurdles when trying to see that universal reconciliation (UR) is the plan and purpose of God.
Some are caused by translation issues in modern English Bibles. 

One of these describes salvation as being dependent on one's faith IN Jesus rather than salvation having been provided, without any input from us, by the faithfulness OF Jesus (in playing his part in his Father's plan to save the creation).

The Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, was an intellectual and philosophical movement in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries, which brought profoundly beneficial changes in society - intellectual liberation, scientific advancement, political reform and economic development among them. 

However, it also elevated mankind's opinions of himself and his supremacy over his world, reviving the ancient doctrine of man's free will with the capability of even outsmarting God's will and sovereignty.
Notice the outworking of this in Galatians 2:16 from a modern translation (NIV, first published in 1973) with those of older (KJV, published 1611) and more literal (DBH) translations.

know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. [NIV]

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. [KJV]

and who know that a human being is vindicated not by observances of Law but by the faithfulness of the Anointed One Jesus - even we have placed our faith in the Anointed One Jesus, so that we might be vindicated from the faithfulness of the Anointed and not from observances of the Law. [DBH]

The result of the Enlightenment, and popular English translations produced in its wake, was the transferring of responsibility for man's salvation from God's sovereign choice to man's free will choice.
What a shame. Because God's choice is for us all to be reconciled to God, which sounds much better than leaving the choice to us rebellious souls.

Yet the Enlightenment, the Age of Reason, has not enabled many of us to steer clear of some very illogical reasoning regarding God's UR plan for his creation. Let's think about this example.

If God knows all things and therefore knew from the beginning that the final fate of people who make the wrong choice about Jesus, or of people who have never been exposed to the good news about Jesus, would be to suffer everlasting punishment, then God's choice to create those people would surely be an act of extreme cruelty.

The millions of church-goers who believe this end result for unbelievers will usually also declare God to be a God of love (and mercy and forgiveness) who sent his Son to die for the sins of the world.

I happen to believe that God is a God of love and that God gets his way (will reconcile all of his creation in the end).

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
[Ephesians 1 : 9, 10  NKJV]

Blessings, Barry

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Published BLOG at https://barrysgracespace.blogspot.com
Other published Writings at https://www.ibtechservices.com.au

Australian Parliament Operation

I love Australia, and have been truly blessed to have been born here more than 8 decades ago.

I fully appreciate our constitutional monarchical form of government, and the way our national parliament is elected, including the original purpose of giving each state, regardless of its population, the same number of senators.

However I have reservations about how ministers of the Crown are appointed and perform their duties.

Firstly, I have never understood how the Senate, as a House of Review, could possibly contain ministers, whose decisions and performance should continually be under review, by the same body that they belong to.
Maybe, Senate Estimates does this job, but possibly doesn't cover more aspects of a minister's or department's performance beyond financial ones.

Secondly, the fact that a minister who has the responsibility to represent and promote Australia's interests above all others, also has the responsibility to represent and promote the interests of his/her electorate. And because of the possible composition of a minister's electorate this may cause a conflict which the current system seems unable to avoid. (Jason Claire and Tony Burke seem to be perfect examples of this conflict at the present time.)

Are any readers aware of any discussion or websites or publications suggesting possible tweaks that could be applied to our current democratic system of government that could ease/remove these conflicts without losing the advantages our current system gives us.

Thanks. Blessings, Barry

Can Israel Survive?

The nation state of Israel is constantly in the news; no more so than since the terror organisation Hamas invaded her southern border on October 7th, 2023.
Israel is often portrayed as an occupying power, yet it has historical links to its land, and even a greater area than it currently covers, for over 3000 years.
Israel's official recognition in 1948 by the United Nations, and subsequent survival since then, seems miraculous given several nations began attacking the moment official recognition was given; and have continued to threaten ever since.

I am writing this at the beginning of October 2024 and wondering (aloud) what plans God is currently in the process of implementing for Israel since she is/has been under fresh attack on several fronts (south, north, east) simultaneously for the past year, and is now fully engaged in both defence and retaliation.
Brilliant intelligence and sophisticated electronic "weaponry" have shown Israel's military and technical strength, often in unbelievable ways, especially for such a small, young nation.
(Modern Israel is less than a third the size of Tasmania and only 76 years old.)

Is this brilliance and "ability to fight well above its weight" a sign of God's involvement?
Are we seeing a repeat of previous defences and victories in Israel's ancient history as recorded in the Bible?
For example, Joshua chapter 11 describes one such series of battles:

For it was the Lord himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally,
[Joshua 11 : 20  NIV]

This sounds a little like God's involvement in Israel's exodus from Egypt back into their own land and described in Exodus chapter 14 (about 1500 BC).

Then the Lord said to Moses, " ... And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord .... I  will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them .... During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion."
[Exodus 14 : 3, 17, 24  NIV]

Another example is recorded in Isaiah 10 verses 1 - 19. God is using the Assyrians to attack Israel as a disciplinary measure, even though the Assyrians felt they had made the decision to attack and destroy Israel. And the end result? 

When the Lord had finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, "I will punish the king of Assyria for the wilful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes."
[Isaiah 10 : 12  NIV]

The description of that punishment follows after verse 12.

I am not a prophet, so I'm not prepared to make any predictions about the present situation with Israel. But the Bible gives some strong hints about Israel's future and, when built upon its Biblical past and its more recent history of the 20th and 21st centuries, I am deeply interested in news bulletins coming from the Middle East each day.

These questions regularly invade my thinking as I watch and listen:

Is modern Israel a continuation (and the re-establishment) of God's ancient chosen people?

I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
[Isaiah 41 : 9  NIV]

Will modern Israel survive?

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
[Isaiah 41 : 10, 13  NIV]

Will modern Israel destroy her enemies?

All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish.
Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all.
[Isaiah 41 : 11, 12  NIV]

Will modern Israel be the nation to enjoy God's prefect blessing?

Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.
[Romans 11 : 25 -27  NIV]

Blessings, Barry
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Published BLOG at https://barrysgracespace.blogspot.com
Other published Writings at https://www.ibtechservices.com.au

Seated Where?

Some of Paul's statements really challenge me.
I guess I am not alone as some of my troublesome verses have been offered many different interpretations by scholarly theologians over the years.

Today's post centres on Ephesians 2 : 6.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

This verse raises many points of discussion, but I just want to focus on the location of believers.
How do we interpret "seated us with him in the heavenly realms'?

The Scriptures tell us in several places that our names are written in heaven or in the Book of Life.
For example:
The 72 disciples Jesus sent out -

However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
[Luke 10 : 20  NIV]

The Church of the Firstborn -

You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. [Hebrews 12 : 23  NIV]

Paul's co-workers -

Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. [Phil 4 : 3  NIV]

The New Jerusalem -

Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. [ Rev 21 : 27  NIV]

But this is very different to being seated (past tense) in the heavenly realms.
So what could that mean?
Here are some guesses ...
1. Since we are spiritually in Christ, and Christ is currently seated in heaven, then we are currently seated in heaven also - spiritually speaking.

2. We are spiritually in "union" or in "tune" with the heavenly realms.

3. We have a seat allocated for us in heaven, presumably within the New Jerusalem. That's our permanent place of residence, although we are currently on assignment here on the earth.

4. Because we envisage God to be seated in heaven and reigning from there, our being seated in the heavenly realm might mean we are currently ruling in the heavenly realm or in spiritual matters.
 
Anyone with other/better explanations?
Blessings, Barry

King's Birthday Holiday

We have just enjoyed a King's Birthday public holiday across most of the country.

Given the occasional campaigns for Australia to become a republic, and the frequent criticism regarding our British heritage, I wonder how many of us actually stop to think why we celebrate such a public holiday.
(I could probably ask the same question regarding other public holidays too - like Easter and Christmas and Australia Day.)

During the course of the holiday, while reflecting on how religiously and culturally divided we have become, my mind slipped back to those primary school days which began with a ceremony that included saying a pledge and saluting the Australian flag, usually with hand on heart.

The pledge went something like:
I love God and my Country,
I will honour the flag,
I will serve the King,
And cheerfully obey my teachers, parents and the laws.

A return to the past in schools, and maybe in councils and parliaments, or just on King's Birthday or Australia Day, might begin a healing process for our fractured country and rescue our lost sense of identity.
We do follow USA in many things. Why not in this act of patriotism as well?

This wild suggestion clearly labels me as a conservative (rather than a neoteric).

Blessings, Barry

Progress Report

What's Happening in the Work Space?
As you can see, there's not much happening on this BLOG at the moment.
My excuse? I have two to offer.

Firstly, I've spent hours researching on a wide number of fronts (Biblical, political, social) - I even began learning the Hebrew language to better understand some of the Old Testament history and prophecy I was studying.
As a result, I only have notes and opinions in their infancy - so not worth posting on this or the Grace BLOG at barrysgracespace.blogspot.com.

Secondly, after wandering around this wide landscape, for a few years actually, I have decided to use the next twelve months or so producing an updated, enlarged edition of "The Really Good News About God". (There's a bit more detail about this in the June 3rd post on the Grace BLOG.)

I have toyed with this "update the book" idea previously but couldn't get enthused about it until it really took hold last week.

So, although my focus will be on the book update, there could be an occasional post here as I publish some other thoughts I've had or opinions I've formed on other subjects. But most of the next 12 month's activity will be highlighted on the Grace BLOG as the book update takes shape.

Blessings, Barry