Hi there,
So this is the litmus test, for any believer (in principle): if you understood you were forgiven, even to the point that you forgave what the anti-Christ did, would you forgive the Devil?
The problem is, if you would forgive the Devil, what would you forgive the Devil for? He doesn't repent! Even if you leave the Devil within reach of forgiveness, you must still watch!! This is the mystery of the faith, that even though we have overcome the Devil, yet we must not think to travel down the broad path that the Devil does, for even a moment.
This is contrasted with the False Church. The False Church thinks forgiving the anti-Christ of what he has done, means forgiving the Devil of what the Devil has done (in principle) - but this couldn't be further from the truth: the Devil was a liar from the beginning (gospel, from memory), even if you tame him, you will never completely subdue him. This is the certainty of burning as a believer and having salt added as a sacrifice, it will mean our lives! What we can do, is forgive the False Church, for mistaking the Word that was given to them.
What is the word that was given to the False Church? That we must change, even as Christ changed, we must change. If it means attending the False Church less, we must be prepared to do that; if it means donating to more faithful causes, we must be prepared to do that. There is now no condemnation in Christ Jesus (letters, from memory), even belonging to a False Church. The False Prophet can be understood, in the context of forgiveness, but never actually as forgiven.
Why then do I say that the anti-Christ must be forgiven, in principle? Because as men we can assume that forgiving the anti-Christ and what he does, are the same thing! As long as we don't confuse what it is the Devil can't be forgiven for. This puts pressure on us, spiritually, to be in keep with what God wants us to do: that is to extend forgiveness to as many as will come - will all be saved? No, but what sense is there in stopping for that? Will some that are saved be able to do most of the work? We should be ready only to imagine so, but will God not help through Christ Jesus if we are that ready?
In this is our transformation, that we come to be men ready for work, ready to be known for our faith, ready to come home to God, when the final call to the cross, goes out for us. Does that mean we stop forgiving the anti-Christ? It does - at least it means we will stop saying that that is what we endeavored to do. Why? Because we pass on to Glory! Will the False Church pass on to Glory? That is not for me to judge!
Thanks for your time.
So this is the litmus test, for any believer (in principle): if you understood you were forgiven, even to the point that you forgave what the anti-Christ did, would you forgive the Devil?
The problem is, if you would forgive the Devil, what would you forgive the Devil for? He doesn't repent! Even if you leave the Devil within reach of forgiveness, you must still watch!! This is the mystery of the faith, that even though we have overcome the Devil, yet we must not think to travel down the broad path that the Devil does, for even a moment.
This is contrasted with the False Church. The False Church thinks forgiving the anti-Christ of what he has done, means forgiving the Devil of what the Devil has done (in principle) - but this couldn't be further from the truth: the Devil was a liar from the beginning (gospel, from memory), even if you tame him, you will never completely subdue him. This is the certainty of burning as a believer and having salt added as a sacrifice, it will mean our lives! What we can do, is forgive the False Church, for mistaking the Word that was given to them.
What is the word that was given to the False Church? That we must change, even as Christ changed, we must change. If it means attending the False Church less, we must be prepared to do that; if it means donating to more faithful causes, we must be prepared to do that. There is now no condemnation in Christ Jesus (letters, from memory), even belonging to a False Church. The False Prophet can be understood, in the context of forgiveness, but never actually as forgiven.
Why then do I say that the anti-Christ must be forgiven, in principle? Because as men we can assume that forgiving the anti-Christ and what he does, are the same thing! As long as we don't confuse what it is the Devil can't be forgiven for. This puts pressure on us, spiritually, to be in keep with what God wants us to do: that is to extend forgiveness to as many as will come - will all be saved? No, but what sense is there in stopping for that? Will some that are saved be able to do most of the work? We should be ready only to imagine so, but will God not help through Christ Jesus if we are that ready?
In this is our transformation, that we come to be men ready for work, ready to be known for our faith, ready to come home to God, when the final call to the cross, goes out for us. Does that mean we stop forgiving the anti-Christ? It does - at least it means we will stop saying that that is what we endeavored to do. Why? Because we pass on to Glory! Will the False Church pass on to Glory? That is not for me to judge!
Thanks for your time.
