Life and building

[thehonorableryu]

In a recent OP about the differences between the East and West, mintogrubb asked that we speak about our respective heritages. Well, I don't consider myself Orthodox, Catholic or Protestant, but this week I am enjoying a matter that I hope all of the Lord's disciples would see is their heritage and inheritance

Comments

[nobleprolet]

Oops, that was supposed to be an entry in my own journal.

[thehonorableryu]

'Tis okay, Daniel. Hope you're doing well. :)

[thehonorableryu]

Yup, definitely. :)

There are many supports, but here are the ones I feel are most significant.

Two positive supports:

1.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
-Rev. 21:1-2 (NASB)

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.
And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
having the glory of God Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.
-Rev. 21:9-11 (NASB)
God's word not only says that the "new Jerusalem...[is]...made ready as a bride adorned for her husband." The angel to John said he would show him "the bride, the wife of the Lamb," and then carried him away

[thehonorableryu]

If you're still in contact with those brothers and/or sisters, you can tell them that Christ's future reign on earth (with restored with a Jewish nation at its center) is not inconsistent with the New Jerusalem being--first and foremost--God's chosen, redeemed and glorified people. :)

Revelation 20 describes a "thousand year" reign of Christ on earth (during which Satan is bound in prison) as occurring after the first resurrection of the faithful saints yet before the loosing of Satan from prison, the resurrection of the unrighteous, the final act of satanic rebellion against the "beloved city," the final judgment of Satan and the descending of the New Jerusalem out of heaven from God.

So even if they interpret the future reign of Christ as a literal reign on earth with the earthly Jerusalem at its center, it is simultaneously true that the New Jerusalem is the God abiding in His transformed elect as His bride (which incidentally includes the Old Testament saints and the remnant among Israel). :)

[mintogrubb]

thank you for sharing these thoughts.

As someone who is part of the URC, I hope to see *all* Christians united one day - but I can accept it may not happen tommorrow!

One of the things that Rick Warren said in his book 'The Purpose Driven Life' was that "we were made, not just to believe, but to belong".

He encourages everyone to find a church where they can meet and serve others and also to find Christ's love expressed to them by others. There may be differences of opinion between believers, but the love for each individual should not be overshadowed by academic considerations.

[thehonorableryu]

There may be differences of opinion between believers, but the love for each individual should not be overshadowed by academic considerations.
Definitely true. :)

You have been asking a lot of good questions at this community recently! :) Here's a matter for your own consideration: Do you have the sense, assurance and conviction deep within that the Lord Jesus lives inside of you? What does that mean to you?

[mintogrubb]

Do you have the sense, assurance and conviction deep within that the Lord Jesus lives inside of you? What does that mean to you?

I have always been someone who thought and felt deeply about things. However, it is only recently that I have begun to sense that it was Jesus working in my life and leading me to this point. I also sense that this is just a beginning, and not the end.

To me , it means that God cares deeply about us all, for I am not a great intellectual , nor someone who is likely to become famous for any reason - I am just an another average Christian in a small church in a small country. And yet I do sense that God has touched my small life, as unlikely as that sounds and as insignificant as I am - God is there.

[pastorlenny]

I always love how you portray the Kingdom message not just as one of ethics and behavior, or of creed and belief-system, or of religious practice -- but rather as an explanation of the actual transcendent mechanics of human existence. I get the sense from you that your faith isn't just something you hold to because you want to be "morally good" or "theologically right" -- but because things simply are the way they are. And the way they are is the Christ.

[pastorlenny]

I don't think I'm in a position to "have a problem" one way or the other. People can discuss whatever they like. But I'll probably comment if I get a sense that someone is discussing ethics or practice completely outside the context of the King and His Kingdom. It's a very common error and leads many people into fruitless religion or outright unbelief. If we take scriptures such as the end of Matthew 25 (ethics) or Romans 10:9 (creed) out of the larger context of discipleship -- i.e. "abiding" in Him or having our life "hidden" in Him -- it's easy to wind up with any one of several possible negative outcomes (a false gospel, a moot debate, etc.) pretty fast.

[thehonorableryu]

But now you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God
-John 8:40

For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I would testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.
-John 18:37

The Lord is the only man who was absolute for the truth, the reality, the kingdom, "the way things are." :)

Our natural tendency is to suppress the truth or mix it with our own desires because we want something for our self (be it a sense of superior politics, morality, or theological learnedness, or whatever). But the more we abide in the one who is true, the more He becomes our human genuineness, sincerity and truthfulness (cf. John 4:24).

[staymysee]

I am always refreshed to read your posts