Are we all slaves of God or a creation?

Peter Johnson

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I do not like eternal hell so I have right to say to God to erase me if I do not make it.

Your question and ideas are dangerously presumptuous, even with the potential to be contemptuous of God and idolatrous.
If you think you can instruct God to do anything then either you think you are greater than God or the God you think about is not the God of the Scriptures.

There is NOT ONE PERSON, nor any creature or element of creation that is permitted or able to instruct God on any matter whatsoever.
The LORD, YHWH, is sovereign over all creation, over all time and over all that is timeless.
He is also immutable. He cannot change and will not change.


Even so he is generous and will not ignore a humble and contrite heart.
What HE tells us to do is to LISTEN to him and OBEY him. That means believing in Jesus and He who sent him.
 
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yeshuaslavejeff

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What HE tells us to do is to LISTEN to him and OBEY him. That means believing in Jesus and He who sent him.
Well, like little children, it also means to do what He tells us to do. All the time.
 
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Daniel9v9

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Gud välsigne dig ChristianSwede :)

I'm merely repeating what's been said, but I just wanted to expand a bit on "rights":

Christians don't have "rights" in the same way as secularism. The world will often claim that you're worthy and entitled to many things - whether it be love, basic needs, money or any other thing. However, understanding the nature of the gospel rightly, contrary to popular belief we know that we're really only "worthy" of punishment and damnation! The only thing that belongs to us is our sin, which is the fruit of our own works. This can be a hard pill for many to swallow, but if you consider the weight of sin and just how much we're in debt - you'll find that we have no rights when we're slaves to sin and death (though in spiritual blindness most of the world consider themselves free)

However, praise be to God the Father who sent His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to redeem us! It is by grace through faith that we live. This is a free gift of God. God bought us, set us free and even adopted us. The conclusion then is that we're no longer slaves to sin or death, but we're set free in that we belong to God as His children - not because we earned it or loved Him, but because He first loved us. Thanks to God - by God, in God and through God, we may love.

John 8:36
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
 
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Wordkeeper

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I was muslim before and there I believed I had no rights because everyone was slave. Do Christianity teach that the creation has rights?

Are we slaves or children?

A family sent their children on a jungle holiday. These children took friends with them. The plane they were travelling in force landed and all were captured by a jungle tribe. The family sent in someone to find and rescue the group. He found them and led them through the jungle with the tribe in hot pursuit.

At one point the tribe almost recaptured the party. The rescuer left one person behind to slow the pursuers down until he made contact with the family who were waiting with enough resources to end the crisis.

Who do you think volunteered to stay behind:

1. a family member?
2. one of the friends?

Why do you think the one you thought volunteered choose to do so?
 
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Inkfingers

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. Do Christianity teach that the creation has rights?

No.

God owes us nothing. We are the creation of God, for Him to use as he chooses. The belief that we have to consent to God is a vanity spawned of ignorance.
 
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Wordkeeper

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Acts 17:24The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to allpeople life and breath and all things;26and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined theirappointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ 29“Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man.
 
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Uber Genius

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In the Gospel of Mark I read it says eternal fire for the not saved. I have read at other places in the Bible that God will put some to sleep eternally. Thank you for your post and God bless you

So you probably need to search for that reference and post the verse(s). I am unfamiliar with this concept being taught anywhere in scripture, certainly it is not the NT view.
 
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John Hyperspace

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In the Gospel of Mark I read it says eternal fire for the not saved. I have read at other places in the Bible that God will put some to sleep eternally. Thank you for your post and God bless you

Look here: John 6:63

Try to understand that the things Christ taught, His words, are to be understood spiritually, and not literally. Mainstream Christianity has yet to fully immerse their understanding in the Spirit, and so some things are taken literally when they ought not to be. This can lead to fear about things like, burning in literal fire forever. But believe me, God has no intention of ever doing this to anyone.

The eternal fire is the very Word of God itself: Jeremiah 23:29. Christ came to set the world on fire: Luke 12:49. To purge the world of sin through false teaching by spiritual fire of the everlasting gospel. Look here: 1 Corinthians 3:13-15

Jeremiah 5:14 You see, Jeremiah didn't actually spew literal fireballs at people. He spoke the truth that the sinful didn't want to hear, and it consumed them in their grief. Remember this that the Lord said: Isaiah 55:9 You see, the Word of God is heavenly, it is spiritual; not to be understood literally, and carnally. The thoughts of God are far above carnality, and the base carnal understanding of men.

Everything that God does is for your good, even when it seems like things are troubling or bad, God has designed them and purposed them for your ultimate good. Because you are his creation, and you are loved beyond your ability to even begin to comprehend. So, have courage, you have the right to life, love, and fellowship with God who is your Father and loves you as His own son or daughter, as the case may be.
 
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~Anastasia~

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Look here: John 6:63

Try to understand that the things Christ taught, His words, are to be understood spiritually, and not literally. Mainstream Christianity has yet to fully immerse their understanding in the Spirit, and so some things are taken literally when they ought not to be. This can lead to fear about things like, burning in literal fire forever. But believe me, God has no intention of ever doing this to anyone.

The eternal fire is the very Word of God itself: Jeremiah 23:29. Christ came to set the world on fire: Luke 12:49. To purge the world of sin through false teaching by spiritual fire of the everlasting gospel. Look here: 1 Corinthians 3:13-15

Jeremiah 5:14 You see, Jeremiah didn't actually spew literal fireballs at people. He spoke the truth that the sinful didn't want to hear, and it consumed them in their grief. Remember this that the Lord said: Isaiah 55:9 You see, the Word of God is heavenly, it is spiritual; not to be understood literally, and carnally. The thoughts of God are far above carnality, and the base carnal understanding of men.

Everything that God does is for your good, even when it seems like things are troubling or bad, God has designed them and purposed them for your ultimate good. Because you are his creation, and you are loved beyond your ability to even begin to comprehend. So, have courage, you have the right to life, love, and fellowship with God who is your Father and loves you as His own son or daughter, as the case may be.

Hello John Hypersoace, and welcome to Christian Forums and to Traditional Theology. :) We are glad that you've joined us.

You might actually be surprised to hear that most of your post could come from an Orthodox Christian, which might not be what you have in mind in terms of "mainstream Christianity" but it is certainly ancient, and such beliefs are not new. :)

We also believe in a good and loving God, who purposes everything in our lives for our ultimate good (which is salvation, not focused on carnal desires). While we do not dogmatize things that Christ did not clearly hand down to us, there are many who tend to the view that the "fire" is actually the love of God (rather than the Word, but still similar) which along with His inescapable Presence is tortuous to those who would prefer to embrace darkness.

If people suffer torment, it will be of their own making, rather than the retribution of an offended God demanding His "pound of flesh" through human torture.

For these reasons, your post was interesting to me. :)

Again, welcome! And if you have any questions, or need help finding your way around, please feel free to ask. Each forum area has a posted Statement of Purpose sticked near the top, which outlines the rules and guidelines for each particular forum. But anytime you have questions, we are glad to help. I hope you are blessed by being here. :)
 
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Uber Genius

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Try to understand that the things Christ taught, His words, are to be understood spiritually, and not literally.

When Jesus tells his disciples that he is going to be killed in Mark 9:30ff,

"He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise." But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it," was he being literal?

Did Jesus literally heal people, cast out demons, raise the dead or are we to interpret them "spiritually" as you suggest?

You see, the Word of God is heavenly, it is spiritual; not to be understood literally, and carnally. The thoughts of God are far above carnality, and the base carnal understanding of men.

Here you equivocate "literal" with "carnal" and opposed to "spiritual" which seems to abuse the meaning of the texts because surely the authors intended some things to be understood literally and your method imitates that possibility in its presuppositions.

lit·er·al
ˈlidərəl,ˈlitrəl/
adjective
  1. taking words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or allegory.
    "dreadful in its literal sense, full of dread"
  2. (of a translation) representing the exact words of the original text.
    synonyms: word-for-word, verbatim, letter-for-letter; More
Although we have numerous figures of speech (which I have posted examples of elsewhere in a post entitled "Against Wooden Literalism," you seem to be making the opposite assumptions).

Some of the Early church fathers had the same proclivity to destroy literal meaning namely Augustine. But why despise what the original author intended to communicate?

Were they not inspired?

Were they not chosen by God to write freely the thing they had seen or heard or experienced?

If we trample under foot the authors' inspired meaning don't we also trample God's meaning?

Finally, the method destroys all possibility of God communicating a message as Chistian one says, "The spirit revealed to me that A is true spiritual meaning of a verse, not B or C." To which Christian two says, "Well, I can see you are a carnal Christian because the Spirit has shown me that that passage means B not A or C." At this point Christian three tears his garments and proclaims, "forgive these carnal Christians Lord as they are men of unclean lips from a people of unclean hearts, and your truth is not in them, the HS has shown me, your humble servant, the true spiritual meaning is C!"

The authors dies horrible deaths to get this testimony in your hands. Men have continued to risk life and livelihood to maintain the texts, and make translations so we can read these ancient documents. Finally, after all the work and effort God mad men have exerted we destroy that meaning through an improper "spiritualized" method.

Does that seems right morally? Let alone intellectually or spiritually?
 
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John Hyperspace

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Hello John Hypersoace, and welcome to Christian Forums and to Traditional Theology. :) We are glad that you've joined us.

You might actually be surprised to hear that most of your post could come from an Orthodox Christian, which might not be what you have in mind in terms of "mainstream Christianity" but it is certainly ancient, and such beliefs are not new. :)

We also believe in a good and loving God, who purposes everything in our lives for our ultimate good (which is salvation, not focused on carnal desires). While we do not dogmatize things that Christ did not clearly hand down to us, there are many who tend to the view that the "fire" is actually the love of God (rather than the Word, but still similar) which along with His inescapable Presence is tortuous to those who would prefer to embrace darkness.

If people suffer torment, it will be of their own making, rather than the retribution of an offended God demanding His "pound of flesh" through human torture.

For these reasons, your post was interesting to me. :)

Again, welcome! And if you have any questions, or need help finding your way around, please feel free to ask. Each forum area has a posted Statement of Purpose sticked near the top, which outlines the rules and guidelines for each particular forum. But anytime you have questions, we are glad to help. I hope you are blessed by being here. :)

Thank you for your kind words, sister; they are greatly appreciated. I wouldn't hesitate to agree with the understanding of the fire as the love of God. In fact, I would say it is even closer to the ultimate truth. When we come to it in the purest understanding, the Word of God is an expression of Divine love in the cloak of language. I would recall verses such as John 1:1 in relation to 1 John 4:8 and Hebrews 12:29. 1 John 2:5 speaks to this relationship between the two ideas. Even when we speak of 'unquenchable fire' there comes to mind the Song of Songs i.e. Song 8:7. And as you probably agree the central word of the everlasting gospel is the Cross of Christ, which is the utmost expression of both the Word of God, and the Divine love, as Jesus Christ has said, There is no greater love than this: John 15:13.

As well I am in agreement that all torment is caused by the misunderstanding, or, misperceiving, minds of men in relation to their understanding of the Divine love. I, myself, am of the mind that the Word of God is ultimately an expression of singular Divine love, which we can, in turn, admire the myriad facets which all-in-all comprise that one jewel. So when we step back and admire the unity of all facets, we see only the One, which is Love. Yet, love corrects, and to them that misperceive, this can indeed cause torment to their mind, not knowing the root of correction is in love.

But again, thank you for your kindness. I hope we can learn from, and support one another in the time to come.
 
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Thank you for your kind words, sister; they are greatly appreciated. I wouldn't hesitate to agree with the understanding of the fire as the love of God. In fact, I would say it is even closer to the ultimate truth. When we come to it in the purest understanding, the Word of God is an expression of Divine love in the cloak of language. I would recall verses such as John 1:1 in relation to 1 John 4:8 and Hebrews 12:29. 1 John 2:5 speaks to this relationship between the two ideas. Even when we speak of 'unquenchable fire' there comes to mind the Song of Songs i.e. Song 8:7. And as you probably agree the central word of the everlasting gospel is the Cross of Christ, which is the utmost expression of both the Word of God, and the Divine love, as Jesus Christ has said, There is no greater love than this: John 15:13.

As well I am in agreement that all torment is caused by the misunderstanding, or, misperceiving, minds of men in relation to their understanding of the Divine love. I, myself, am of the mind that the Word of God is ultimately an expression of singular Divine love, which we can, in turn, admire the myriad facets which all-in-all comprise that one jewel. So when we step back and admire the unity of all facets, we see only the One, which is Love. Yet, love corrects, and to them that misperceive, this can indeed cause torment to their mind, not knowing the root of correction is in love.

But again, thank you for your kindness. I hope we can learn from, and support one another in the time to come.

You are welcome.

And it seems we are really not far apart in this at all. :) This is not meant as quibbling, but I think we would say that not necessarily just the Cross is central, but everything from the Incarnation through the Resurrection (including of course the Cross). But we tend to focus slightly more on the Resurrection. I am not sure in your case, but it seems that that difference in emphasis is sometimes brought about by a simple East vs. West expression (though sometimes there are deep theological reasons in the West for focusing on the Cross exclusively).

Glad to have you here, and God be with you. :)
 
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John Hyperspace

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When Jesus tells his disciples that he is going to be killed in Mark 9:30ff,

"He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise." But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it," was he being literal?

Did Jesus literally heal people, cast out demons, raise the dead or are we to interpret them "spiritually" as you suggest?

I presume you would be in agreement that Jesus spiritually accomplished these things. Meaning, Jesus spiritually healed people through His teachings, that He spiritually opened the eyes of the spiritually blind, that He spiritually cast out spiritual demons, spiritually raised the spiritually dead, etc.

You ask me if Jesus literally did these things, and I would reply that the scripture indicates that this is the case, that Jesus literally did these things. But that the scripture further indicates that these literal works were pointing at the much greater spiritual work which corresponds by way of allegory to these literal works; as 'signs' or 'tokens' which point us to the real understanding being given. So it is not for us to dwell on the literal aspects, but to regard these as 'signs' which we momentarily see, but then turn our gaze from these signs, to the real purpose of the signs - the heavenly image, as it were.

It is the spiritual side of the teaching that is the aim, and not the literal, or, earthly, or, carnal, but the allegoric, or, heavenly, or, spiritual. A carnal sign such as literally giving sight to the literally blind, is the seal, as it were, of the manifest approval of God in the teaching. That is to say, since the teachings of Christ were spiritually giving sight to the spiritual blind, God showed these corresponding literal signs in order to manifest the approval of the words of Jesus, which give spiritual sight to the spiritual blind.

Again, the teachings of Jesus are able to spiritually raise the spiritually dead in a spiritual resurrection; so Jesus would literally raise the literal dead in order to signify this. But also note that these signs were given because they were demanded of carnal men who did not know the Spirit: Matthew 12:38, Matthew 16:1, John 2:18, 1 Corinthians 1:22

But though these signs are given them, and they did not believe John 6:30, Jesus said of them that saw no sign and yet believed John 20:29. So that those that hear Him need no sign, because they are of the Spirit of God, and they know the voice of the Shepherd, and need no sign because they have already known Him.

The point here is that the literal is not being said to not be accomplished literally, but that the literal is but a sign, a metaphor, of the greater, real, truth that is being taught. For instance (and I will cease this line with this), the literal exodus from literal bondage, is to be understood spiritually, as a metaphor of the spiritual exodus from spiritual bondage through the Spirit of Christ. The literal exodus is but a sign of the greater, spiritual, truth which comes through Christ.

Here you equivocate "literal" with "carnal" and opposed to "spiritual" which seems to abuse the meaning of the texts because surely the authors intended some things to be understood literally and your method imitates that possibility in its presuppositions.

Some of the Early church fathers had the same proclivity to destroy literal meaning namely Augustine. But why despise what the original author intended to communicate?

To the contrary, it is not to 'destroy' but to 'fulfill'. The literal is merely a sign pointing to the spiritual. Once the sign is seen, we turn our attention fully to that toward which it directs our gaze. There is no further need of the sign once that toward which the sign points is in view. Allow me to cite the apostle: Galatians 4:22-24

Now you see, the mount Sinai is intended as a literal allegory, a literal sign, to teach us the spiritual truth concerning the offspring of Abraham. All of these earthly works and events are important in that they teach us greater heavenly truths by way of allegory. The things of the earth are only there to set our gaze on the things of the heaven.

Were they not inspired?

Were they not chosen by God to write freely the thing they had seen or heard or experienced?

If we trample under foot the authors' inspired meaning don't we also trample God's meaning?

Again, this is not trampling, this is understanding the purpose of the words. The literal events recorded in Exodus are not 'trampled' by understanding their spiritual allegory found in the spiritual exodus through Christ, they are exhalted, and magnified, and given life in personal truth in relation to you and I, and everyone who reads the scripture.

Finally, the method destroys all possibility of God communicating a message as Chistian one says, "The spirit revealed to me that A is true spiritual meaning of a verse, not B or C." To which Christian two says, "Well, I can see you are a carnal Christian because the Spirit has shown me that that passage means B not A or C." At this point Christian three tears his garments and proclaims, "forgive these carnal Christians Lord as they are men of unclean lips from a people of unclean hearts, and your truth is not in them, the HS has shown me, your humble servant, the true spiritual meaning is C!"

The spiritual understanding is taught in the scripture with words, just as the literal is recorded. It can be understood plainly to those who are seeking it. Even moreso than the literal interpretation; the spiritual is more sure. For instance, the spiritual understanding of "Let there be light" at Genesis 1:3 is the doctrine of Christ, who is the light. So at Genesis 1:3 (among other things) we are being shown an allegory of the gospel being perceived at the first by one who is in the darkness of life without God, without truth or understanding. So we see the later teachers build on this with such as: John 1:5 and as Matthew 4:16.

Which is greater, a literal understanding of the earthly, or a spiritual understanding of the heavenly? Is it greater to open the eyes of the literal blind, and leave them in spiritual darkness; or open the eyes of the spiritually blind, and leave them in literal darkness?

The authors dies horrible deaths to get this testimony in your hands. Men have continued to risk life and livelihood to maintain the texts, and make translations so we can read these ancient documents. Finally, after all the work and effort God mad men have exerted we destroy that meaning through an improper "spiritualized" method.

Does that seems right morally? Let alone intellectually or spiritually?

Again, it is not destruction, it is exhaltation. Moses literally raised a literal brazen serpent; is it destruction of the literal words to teach and understand the literal event as finding its ultimate life-giving understanding in the Cross of Christ? It is the glorification of the earthly understanding in the heavenly understanding: John 3:14-16.
 
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John Hyperspace

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You are welcome.

And it seems we are really not far apart in this at all. :) This is not meant as quibbling, but I think we would say that not necessarily just the Cross is central, but everything from the Incarnation through the Resurrection (including of course the Cross). But we tend to focus slightly more on the Resurrection. I am not sure in your case, but it seems that that difference in emphasis is sometimes brought about by a simple East vs. West expression (though sometimes there are deep theological reasons in the West for focusing on the Cross exclusively).

Glad to have you here, and God be with you. :)

No doubt every proverbial jot and tittle of the ministry of Christ are equally invaluable. Even here it seems a matter of perception. I would without hesitation emphasize the resurrection as equally as the cross as to my mind they are two aspects of the same coupling. The proverbial woman and her sister. Cause and effect; first and last; beginning and ending. But I would draw attention to the cross as the singular sign of His earthly ministry (which showed the heavenly truths cloaked in the earthly veil of the flesh; as Jesus said: Matthew 12:39, Matthew 16:4, Luke 2:34, Luke 11:29-30

That is, in this sign of the cross (we might say, the sign of the totality of the earthly ministry, or, the sign of completion in which all the words of God are summed), is taught the willing putting to death of the carnal that the spiritual son is begotten in the resurrection of which it is said: Acts 13:33. That is to say, the carnal son of man is put to death with all his carnality in thought toward the Word of God, and this is the new birth in the Spirit of God. That is to say, the cross is that one way to being born again, not of the flesh and blood, but of the Spirit.

Meaning that, the carnal mind and its carnal understanding must be put to death in all relation to the Word of God, and that this, in turn, will allow one to be raised anew in the full understanding of the Spirit in relation to the Word of God. It is the carnal mind and its understanding of the Word that causes our division; but in the understanding of the Spirit, that is where our unity and true fellowship can (and will) be fulfilled: 1 Corinthians 3:1-4, Romans 7:14, 1 Corinthians 2:13, Colossians 1:9, John 3:6

But like a little leaven, the carnal mind still has not been entirely crucified with Christ, and causes stumblings and divisions over carnal understandings. But when the church has entirely removed all of the leaven of carnal thought from the house of God, then all things will find their unity in the Spirit. John 6:63

This is why I place emphasis on the cross, and that aspect of the earthly ministry as the ultimate expression of the ministry in which all things find their completion. Now, this of course, the putting to death of the mind of the flesh is the final act which then leads us to the spiritual resurrection into the mind of the Spirit, and the new birth into the sonship - so we might say that the resurrection is indeed the ultimate goal and place heavy emphasis (perhaps even more glory, as it were) on this aspect since all things being accomplished prior are the proverbial road leading to this destination. Again, I suppose it is a matter of perspective; each perspective being correct in its own point of view toward a given center.
 
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No doubt every proverbial jot and tittle of the ministry of Christ are equally invaluable. Even here it seems a matter of perception. I would without hesitation emphasize the resurrection as equally as the cross as to my mind they are two aspects of the same coupling. The proverbial woman and her sister. Cause and effect; first and last; beginning and ending. But I would draw attention to the cross as the singular sign of His earthly ministry (which showed the heavenly truths cloaked in the earthly veil of the flesh; as Jesus said: Matthew 12:39, Matthew 16:4, Luke 2:34, Luke 11:29-30

That is, in this sign of the cross (we might say, the sign of the totality of the earthly ministry, or, the sign of completion in which all the words of God are summed), is taught the willing putting to death of the carnal that the spiritual son is begotten in the resurrection of which it is said: Acts 13:33. That is to say, the carnal son of man is put to death with all his carnality in thought toward the Word of God, and this is the new birth in the Spirit of God. That is to say, the cross is that one way to being born again, not of the flesh and blood, but of the Spirit.

Meaning that, the carnal mind and its carnal understanding must be put to death in all relation to the Word of God, and that this, in turn, will allow one to be raised anew in the full understanding of the Spirit in relation to the Word of God. It is the carnal mind and its understanding of the Word that causes our division; but in the understanding of the Spirit, that is where our unity and true fellowship can (and will) be fulfilled: 1 Corinthians 3:1-4, Romans 7:14, 1 Corinthians 2:13, Colossians 1:9, John 3:6

But like a little leaven, the carnal mind still has not been entirely crucified with Christ, and causes stumblings and divisions over carnal understandings. But when the church has entirely removed all of the leaven of carnal thought from the house of God, then all things will find their unity in the Spirit. John 6:63

This is why I place emphasis on the cross, and that aspect of the earthly ministry as the ultimate expression of the ministry in which all things find their completion. Now, this of course, the putting to death of the mind of the flesh is the final act which then leads us to the spiritual resurrection into the mind of the Spirit, and the new birth into the sonship - so we might say that the resurrection is indeed the ultimate goal and place heavy emphasis (perhaps even more glory, as it were) on this aspect since all things being accomplished prior are the proverbial road leading to this destination. Again, I suppose it is a matter of perspective; each perspective being correct in its own point of view toward a given center.

Put that way, I can certainly agree. It is the sign of the Cross we use to bless, and we certainly honor all having to do with it. Our spiritual teachings on how to live life focus extensively on dying to self and the world, and this is the reason monastics usually wear only black.

Looking to ourselves, I think I would have to agree that in fact our Tradition DOES emphasize the Cross. Good point you make there. :)

Looking to Christ, it is slightly more the Resurrection on which we focus.

But yes, for ourselves, the Cross. I hadn't really thought of that before, but it's right in front of me and very much a part of our Tradition. I just never consciously considered the difference in emphasis for ourselves vs. the emphasis when we consider Christ.

:)
 
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yeshuaslavejeff

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I was muslim before and there I believed I had no rights because everyone was slave. Do Christianity teach that the creation has rights?

We have rights, a right to choose who we serve Him or the devil...

Not always easy to choose. The cost is too high for some.
As in James 4:
Don’t you know that loving the world is hating God? Whoever chooses to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy!
 
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Anguspure

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I was muslim before and there I believed I had no rights because everyone was slave. Do Christianity teach that the creation has rights?
The Apostle says it all really:
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6)
 
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Anguspure

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In the Gospel of Mark I read it says eternal fire for the not saved. I have read at other places in the Bible that God will put some to sleep eternally. Thank you for your post and God bless you
The fire is eternal, as is the smoke that rises up from it forever, and so is the destruction (eternal destruction), but is the life? Nowhere is it written that the lives of those destroyed are eternal. The penalty for sin is death.
 
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KawaiiChristianGal

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Not always easy to choose. The cost is too high for some.
As in James 4:
Don’t you know that loving the world is hating God? Whoever chooses to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy!

I made a choice long ago to follow Jesus no matter the cost.
 
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