Arky51's Blog

The smartest person who has ever lived was ignorant.

There really is no shame in ignorance. To say one is ignorant should not be considered to be an insult. It means, simply, that you don't know. Although ignorance cannot be fully cured, since no Human knows it all, even though they may act like it. But, with proper Education, the effects of ignorance can be largely alleviated. On the other side of that coin, though a person may be very intelligent, that one displays abject stupidity when they refuse to be educated.

A huge problem is found in the fact that most people believe “Faith in God through Jesus” is just (generic) religion and they do not understand the real meaning of the majority of the terms we refer to. A small part of that is because it is “lost in translation,” but, more importantly, it just is not taught! Then, in those few places where it is taught, there are always some who simply will not believe it.

There are two places in the Bible where the subject of insufficient teaching is directly addressed. The Prophet Isaiah put the onus is on the people in general. Each individual is responsible to the Creator. The Prophet Hosea called the Teachers and Ministers on the carpet, with no small threatenings.

Their banquets are accompanied by lyre and harp, by tambourine and flute, and by wine; but they do not pay attention to the deeds of the LORD, nor do they consider the work of His hands. Therefore My people go into exile for their lack of knowledge; and their honorable men are famished, and their multitude is parched with thirst. (Isaiah 5:12-13)

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. They feed on the sin of My people and direct their desire toward their iniquity. (Hosea 4:6-8)

Saved? Saved From What?

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

An American, giving witness of his Faith to a fellow he had met in London, asked, “Are you saved?” The cheeky Brit answered, “I was not aware I was drowning, chap.” Unfortunately, the American was ill prepared to answer, and stood there dumbfounded.

“. . . it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,” (Hebrews 9:27)

For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come. (1 Th 1:9-10)

If you, like the Sadducees of Jesus time, do not believe that the spirit riding in your body continues to live after the mortal coil of your flesh has given up, you are going to be truly amazed when you become aware of the other side. Don't become too excited, though; because, while you will sense your environment, you will not be able to communicate with it in any way. You will be “out of Body.” We are told that those who were obedient to the Faith will rest near the throne of God until Jesus returns to the World to give the final call. At that time, Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53)

"He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. (John 3:18-19)

So many misunderstand the meanings of Humility and Holiness.

There is no shame in humility. Humility is not defined as being open to humiliation. The true definition of humility is "being open to instruction." The coach says, "Do it this way," and you do your best to do it that way. The coach says, "There's no gain without pain," and you do your best to work up a burn.

If we would be as coachable with our God, as we are in training for a mere athletic endeavor, what kind of world would it be?

Holy, then, goes on to to prepare that one for presentation. Our God is clean and pure and righteous . . . in a word, perfect. Holy refers to "set aside for service to," "dedicated for the use of," "completely prepared for" . . . God. To stand before Him - even though our sin is covered by the Blood of the Lamb - we must be as clean and pure and righteous as we can attain to.

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; (Philippians 2:12)

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." (1 Peter 1:14-16)

ORL