DInsights

Above founds on very, very faulty premise and understanding. "Morning" figuratively introduces and welcomes every creature into Heaven. It is the first domain and comprises the first category of all created beings in Heaven. That is how come there are "sons of the morning" and "morning stars" in Heaven. Stars are angels; Lucifer, as a created angel, remains a morning star in Heaven until kicked out. Isaiah 14:12-9 prophesies about Lucifer cast down from Heaven. Our Christ Jesus, who is better than angels, is "Son of the Morning" because of His excellent name (Heb. 1:4). Like Christ Jesus who is Son of the Morning, all sons of God are new creatures called "sons of the morning". Christ Jesus, the Son of the Morning, can also be referred to as the "Morning Star" because in/of Him are the "morning stars"... angels of God. The Lord Jesus Christ calls Himself as both man (root of David) and Morning Star (Angel) in Rev. 22:16. Remember that Jesus Christ walks in the midst of stars (angels) and candlelights (churches of men). Saints who overcome Jezebel, and do not subscribe to her doctrine of fornication and idolatory, will be given the "morning star" (heavenly gift of an angel; Rev. 2:28; also read vs. 18-29). They will be as sons of God will angels in Heaven.

Gal. 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. The Christ > the gift of Grace > the Law. In the sequence above, whosoever stagnates with the Law and is justified by the Law is as if fallen from Grace and with no effect of the Christ (Anointing). That is the message of Gal. 5:4! Whosoever has the Christ (Anointing) is in liberty and in him/her is Grace made manifest and the Law established. Let us have the glorious anointing of the Christ, having fellowship with the Holy Ghost and with Son of God.

Traditions and doctrine of the Christ do not imitate traditions/doctrine of men (including Jews and Gentiles). If anything, it is the reverse.

The Lord Jesus Christ was teaching about the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom interphases both heaven and earth; by the Kingdom, heavenly things can be done on earth and vice versa. On the realm of the earth, all things are naturally and spiritually bound in/to whom it is bound. There is absolute liberty in Heaven. The Kingdom, straddling both realms, allow for things to be bound or loosed. In the Kingdom, saints can agree about any thing and faithfully ask the Lord for such a thing. It will definitely be done for them because the Lord is in them in the Kingdom. The Kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost! Let us ask and seek for the Holy Ghost that, by Him, we can bind and loose as are done on earth and in Heaven. By Him, we experience both realms.

For charity shall cover the multitude of sins Love is the ultimate commandment to bring about the righteousness of God. If sin is unrighteousness, it means that love is the opposite. Righteousness displaces unrighteousness: therefore, love displaces/replaces sin (unrighteousness). A greater (fervent) measure of love correspondingly displaces/displaces the multitude of sins. Luke 7:47-48 is a classic scripture that supports. It declares: Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. Stewards of the manifold grace of God By the Spirit, we receive various gifts from God. Faith, grace and glory, together with their derivatives, are freely given to believers. Any gift remains dormant until exercised with/by love. That is how come faith is dead (dormant) if not accompanied by work. The recommended work is love. Grace/salvation, also a gift from God, is exercised with/by love. Your supply of grace/salvation remains dormant if you do not love. God has ordained that His gift exercises and establishes the preordained work that we must do. Both the gift and the work are interdependent in order to establish perfection: preordained work exercises the gift even as the gift establishes the work. Think of it in this way: a gift of a car remains to be admired but does not take the recipient to a desired destination without being driven. Grace/salvation remains a gift most beautiful and good, but must be exercised (or put to perfect use) by love for desired results. We become good stewards of the gift of grace when we minister grace to the brethren. Fervent love, which encapsulates all preordained works of God, is the way by which grace can be ministered. Let us become good stewards of whatsoever gift has been supplied us.

The Fear of the LORD is more than just having reverence for God. The Fear of God is a spirit. It brings about a spiritual state of absolute liberty and safety in God. In that spiritual state, there are no desolation, anguish, destruction or stress. Psalms 91 describes this spiritual state.

Psalm 5:5 is very plain and easy to understand. It is consistent with the character of God testified about in various other scriptures. Yes, God hates workers of iniquities. 4 For thou [art] not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. 5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. 6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. 7 But as for me, I will come [into] thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: [and] in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. 8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. So, what does He do with those workers of iniquity that He hates? He warns that their reward is death. His goodness gives them enough time and spiritual material to repent. His grace prepares them unto the knowledge and salvation of God. Then the saved launches in His glorious Spirit unto eternal life. John 3:16 does not suggest or imply that God does not hate sinners (workers of iniquity). In deed, it supports #2-4 above, providing spiritual materials necessary for the sinner (worker of iniquity that God hates) to repent and thereby become loved. It is common to find many believers interpret John 3:16 in isolation of related scriptures, especially John 3:14, 15 and 17 that declare: 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. The way (manner) that God loved the world (full of sinners He hates) was by sending His begotten Son to the world. God

Grace and peace from God and from the Christ unto all! After his first round of affliction through Satan, Job had the following to say: Job 1:21 And said, naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. Again, while lamenting his birth and predicament, Job had the following to say: Job 3:25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. Do above statements by Job show weaknesses pertaining to the faith of God or were they righteous statements by a righteous man?

Grace and peace from God and from the Christ unto all! Paul is saying a woman (married female) shall receive eternal salvation in "bearing fruit" or "fruitfulness" (a child is a fruit) if they (husband and wife) continue in faith and love and holiness and temperance (mastery of the power of Christ or self-control in the mastery of the power of Christ). Faith, charity, holiness (godliness) and temperance are all keys of the kingdom of God or preliminary fruit that a person brings forth while the course of the seed develops unto the fullness of fruit. Eternal salvation is a gift during the growth of the seed, which is the living and powerful word of the kingdom of God.

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not Want It is very easy to concentrate on the "I shall not want" part and relating it to material gains while ignoring its precursor "The Lord is my shepherd." What shall the sheep not lack? Those things listed sequentially in the Psalms 23. Those to whom the Lord IS a shepherd do not lack anything in the economy of His kingdom because they eat at the Lord's table. And the economy of God is different from that of the world; the latter shall pass away but the former is everlasting. So, it is possible for one to have Him as a Shepherd and lack in this economy... for though such one is poor, yet very rich in Christ. Setting a Table in the Presence of Enemies In context, we can see what the good Shepherd does up to preparing a table: He takes the sheep to lie down (to eat and flourish) in green pastures - salvation He leads besides the still waters - drink of the Spirit In salvation and the Spirit, He restores the soul of sheep He also leads the saved sheep to walk the path of righteousness, just like the Shepherd In walking the path of righteousness the sheep fears no evil. Even if the path goes through the depth covered with death, the sheep cannot fear because the Shepherd, who has overcome Death and all evil, is leading the way in the Spirit. The Shepherds rod (righteousness) and His staff (supplies) comforts the sheep. The path of righteousness traversing through plains and valleys lead to the Kingdom of God. In the King's presence, the Shepherd prepares (spreads out) a table so that the sheep can eat and feast with the King... in the presence of enemies for them to see that the sheep eats at the King's table. It is not a small thing to eat at the King's table. After eating, He anoints (empowers) the sheep with oil (six kinds listed in scriptures which are of gladness, for strength, to make the face shine - glory, of joy, for light, and for healing). After the sheep has received salvation, partake of the Spirit, is restored, walks the path of righteousness, obtained righteousness and comforting supplies, eat at the King's table, become anointed - the sheep lacks nothing good at all because all goodness and all mercy follow the sheep around all the days of his/her life. All because of the GOOD SHEPHERD. Grace and peace from our God and from the Shepherd unto all. Amen!

Grace and peace from God and from the Lord to all! Mat. 3:11 and Luk 3:16, using the KJV, reads "...he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire." It is very important to note both agencies (so to speak) used for baptism by our Lord Jesus Christ. From above scripture, we see there are two distinct agencies: The Holy Ghost and Fire. Both can also be personified. Assuming we know who the Holy Ghost is and also who He ministers to (those who are saved), we can also learn from scripture (Heb. 1:7 & 14; also inferred in Acts 2:3) who is meant by fire. From the scriptures, we see clearly that angels are spirits that minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation (those who shall be saved and made subject to the everlasting Salvation of God; for as long as He remains the Salvation of God forever, we shall remain heirs of salvation forever) and they are made flames of fire.

Let us be careful not to add or subtract from what is already written about sin and divorce. The precursor to remission of all sins, including divorce, is repentance. It (repentance) is the "preparation" unto (leading to) the remission of sins. Later is by the Holy Ghost because He has power over all flesh; former is by the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ because faith is in the Blood. Repentance also implies turning away completely from what had been the sin and from its origin. It is best we see it in that light. Grace and peace from God and from our Lord Jesus Christ unto all!

No one goes into a strong man's territory to sack the strong man without first binding him. Here is the light of Christ: He was obedient to God through death that the power of God may raise Him unto the right hand of God. In being raised, He was given power over all: flesh, principalities, powers, angels, death, things in past, present and worlds to come ... that at His name EVERY knee MUST bow and EVERY tongue must confess that He is Lord. By your own admission, you want to be set free - and deliverance is the will of God for you. Also, the righteousness of Christ in above coupled with all power given to Him sacks any unclean spirit and binds them until the Day of the Lord. Even as you have willingly come forth for deliverance, so shall it be unto you by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and no other power, past, incantations, spirits must utter a word or lift a finger against you - as you have desired. In the name of Jesus Christ, such as troubles you go away. May the Blood of Jesus Christ sprinkle over you that you are purged clean of sins and iniquities - both in your heart and flesh! Grace and peace from our Lord Jesus Christ unto you and all who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

The subject of divorce and its correct interpretation from the light of the word of our Lord turns out to be very emotional or difficult for most folks. Where interpretations are a dime-a-dozen based on feelings, we must resort to what our Lord Jesus teaches. And He is very explicit about divorce; Moses is also understood to have commanded divorce because of disobedience of his subjects. It was not ordained from the begining. Marriage is the union of a man and woman in the flesh...a reconciliation of two carnal natures into one. It is anti-reconciliatory when broken, hence, hated by God....for Christ reconciles (read Ephesians 2 for basis) and does not put assunder. As hard as it may be for those who are divorced, the teaching of Jesus Christ cannot be controverted or spun to massage human feelings and sensitivities: Divorce is an act of unrighteousness, period. And it is not that such sin in the flesh cannot be forgiven and cleansed; it can be. Let whosoever is divorced know to keep his or her spirit undefiled. For as Paul taught, it better that the flesh is handed over to Satan for destruction and the spirit saved. But we have the Blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse us of all unrighteousness; we also believe in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom righteousness comes. And His righteousness is greater than the unrighteousness of divorce. Even more, rather than judge any one who is divorced unto condemnation, we have the very word of Jesus Christ, which is the life giving and powerful word of God to declare life unto the divorced: Mat. 5:32: But I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.Here is an irony and the gospel: The very of word that speaks against divorce can give life and power to the divorced. Let us believe every word He speaks about divorce to receive the life and power from our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace from God and from His Christ unto all!

There is a standard with which to "discern" a spiritual gift. It is found 1 Cor. 12: 1-6. All spiritual gifts must be given by the Spirit (vs. 4) All spiritual gifts must be administered by our Lord Jesus Christ (vs. 5) All spiritual gifts must be operated (worked out) by God our Father (vs. 6). Is "martrydom" given by the Spirit? Is "martyrdom" administered by our Lord Jesus Christ?? Is "martyrdom" worked out by God??? If it were the case(s), why then would God avenge the blood of martyrs? Rather, God commanded in Exd 20:13 "Thou shalt not kill." WE ARE MADE TO PARTAKE IN THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST There is marked difference between being MADE to be something and being given same thing; heirs of salvation are made to partake in the sufferings of Christ unto death...but not gifted to martyrdom. Our Lord Jesus Christ was made a little lower than angels for the "suffering of death"; He was made that way and not given a spiritual gift of suffering of death. Sufferings of Christ were unto a certain type of glory called salvation. That is why is written in Hbr 2:10 : For it became him, for whom [are] all things, and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. We are also made to conform to the sufferings of Christ, even suffering unto His death: Phl 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being MADE conformable unto his death;Again it is written in Rom 8:18: For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST" AND "MARTYRDOM" There should be no mistaking the "sufferings of Christ" unto glory for "martyrdom" that does not glorify. A man is justified by the righteousness of faith through the resurrection of Christ and not through martyrdom. For there is no work of man, even martyrdom, that counts toward salvation that is of the glory of God. As it is written in Romans 10:4: For Christ is the end of the law of righteousness to every one that believethTherefore, of what use is a spiritual gift of "martyrdom" when Christ is the end (all-in-all goal) of the law of righteousness? None whatsoever! For Christ resurrected after death on behalf of sins of the world that He might be justified (declared righteous) in that resurrection. But a martyr's death is not on behalf of (or for the sins of) the murderer but both against the martyr and the commandment of God against killing. Some, like Apostle Paul and others were/are empowered to intercede on behalf of the Church for the sufferings of Christ, see Col 1:24: Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: Yeah, it is the sufferings of Christ as an intercesion for the sins yet present in the Church...that saints may be raised up in Him unto righteousness and ultimately unto the salvation of God. Grace and peace from God and from our Lord Jesus Christ unto all!

OC: I agree with you - all three children were Hosea's. There is nothing to imply or infer otherwise despite Gomer's reported adulteries. Gomer conceived and bare Hosea a son, Jezreel (Hos. 1:30); conceived again to bear a daughter, Lo-Ruhamah (Hos. 1:6); conceived right after Ruhamah was weaned and bare another son called Lo-ammi (Hos. 1:8). Lets remember that Gomer (depictng Israel at that time) was at least a second generation whore even before God instructed Hosea to marry her. Within the marriage, she continued in that trade until saved by God unto righteousness. One key thing is that God named all 3 kids (fathers named their children in the culture) as, in context, Hosea "the husband" represented God, Gomer "the wife" represented Israel and the 3 kids represented "the children" of their "marriage". Another key thing is the sequence and importance of names given the 3 kids: Jezreel, as the firstfruit of that "marriage" was "the Seed" sown by God and pointed to the eventual overthrow of the kingdom of Israel (for the kingdom of God). Jezreel represents the Christ who will be killed and whose blood God will avenge (Hos. 1:4). Lo-Ruhamah "No Mercy" follows after any man (or heart) that has received the "seed" of His kingdom but continues in whoredom (idolatory and sins). But those who receive the "seed" (depicted by Judah) shall obtain mercy. Lo-Ammi "Not Mine" is the declaration that follows after any man (or heart) who has received the "seed" of the kingdom and has been hardened by God showing "no mercy" because such a man (or heart) continues in idolatory or sins. Another key thing to notice is the overall picture that brings in the gentiles...after the illustration using Hosea, Gomer and the 3 kids as God. Notice in Hos. 1:10: "Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God."Apostle Paul, in Rom 9:26, quotes same part (emboldened) of Hos. 1:10 to point to gentiles (also read Rom. 9:24). So, we receive a prophetic message from God through Prophet Hosea, using Hosea as a living illustration in Hosea Chapter 1, that: He will enter into a marriage covenant with a spouse steeped in whoredom (idolatory), which is Israel - GOMER; Will bear a Son (through Israel) as "the Seed" of His Kingdom - JEZREEL; Show no mercy to children who reject the Son as long as Israel continues in whoredom (idolatory) - LO-RUHAMAH; Will reject any such children to whom mercy is denied as long as Israel continues in whoredom (idolatory) - LO-AMMI; Bring in gentiles into the kingdom who receive the Seed of the kingdom and cause Judah (children of Israel who recieve the Lion of Judah and mercy of God) to unite with the bulk of Israel (who shall be saved in the last days) and bring in gentiles into the kingdom who receive the Seed of the kingdom. Grace from God and peace from our Lord Jesus Christ to all!

Their reasoning is that the four Gospels were direct testimony of Christ if Christ existed at all, and that the Epistles were the product of man, assuming the Gospels were of divine providence. Tim. I don't see how their reasoning makes any sense at all. In fact I am sure it doesn't. The gospels were not the direct testimony of Christ any more than Romans or Hebrews was. The gospels are the direct testimony of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. None of the gospels were written by Christ therefore they were not his direct testimony. The entire Bible was written under the inspiration of God but God wrote none of it. sw Gospels are synonymous with powers of God! As many as have particular powers (dynamic and authoritative) of God and distribute, transfer, minister, supply such particular powers as speech to others have their gospels. Another way of distributing, transfering, ministering or supplying such powers is by laying on of hands. And there are specific occassions for which either method of dispensation can be used. Paul had his gospel of Jesus Christ, see: Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.; 2Ti 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel; etc, etc. Any particular gospel, e.g. the gospel of Christ, ministered by different folks of same language will sound very similar because theirs is to simply speak (by allowing the flow) the same power that is in them. That is why the gospel of Jesus Christ by Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Simon Peter, Paul, Timothy, and all saints who speak the same language WILL sound alike, read alike and save alike... because their gospels are of the same power of God unto salvation! The power is supernaturally given. No man that has not received the power of Christ can speak the gospel of Christ. A man does not need to have read Matthews, Mark, Luke and John to speak the gospel of Christ if the power of God pertaining to the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is given him. Yet, when he speaks to minister that power, his gospel shall be same as that of Matthew, Mark, Luke, et al. But many there are who, having not received the power of God unto salvation, can take any of the scriptures about the death, burial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ and read to understand or preach after their understanding and wisdom. They may sound like John or Paul to their listeners, but their preaching is of no effect toward fruitfulness and without power because God has not filled them with His power. There are many such persons on pulpits today whose gospels, either of Jesus Christ or of the kingdom of God, has the semblance of wisdom and intellectualism but lack the power to save, heal, set the oppressed free, etc. It is not that what they say is wrong, but just that what they say is powerless. It is possible that God can speak through a man. When He does that, as He does through prophets, He testifies through such a man. In that reasoning, the gospel can be a testimony by the living power of God through the vocal cords of a man. Let us ask God for His powers and He is able to give as were given in the 1st century church and as is being given to some in the churches. Grace and peace unto all from God and His living power!

Excellently put and I humbly submit as follows, if you don't mind my using your base statement: "Humans are made in the "image of God" and, thus, our souls cannot cease to EXIST. All created souls will always exist. They shall eternally exist as either 1) alive (with the knowledge of God and Christ; Jhn 17:2-3) or 2) dead (without the knowledge of God and Christ)." That is the kind of "death" Adam was subjected to and same kind of "quickening or life" and "death" that Paul mentions in Ephesians 2:1. Iniquities may separate between a man and God (Isa. 59:2), but not all sins are unto death (1Jo 5:16), that is, (being without the knowledge of God). Therefore, iniquities separating (standing between) man and God does not necessarily equate a sinner's "spiritual death" that figuratively explains his living spirit being without the knowledge of God. Grace and peace to all!

If sin hadn't separated us from God, then there would've been no need for Christ. So yeah, if you want scriptural support, how about the entire book? As EricH stated, man was initially created good and perfect, but after The Fall...sin entered, man (and all of creation) suffered the consequences like a ripple effect. The entire purpose of redemption was for Christ to restore us back to fellowship with God. That was the whole point. But if you're looking for some isolated verses that might give you some confirmation, here's a few that state what our condition is prior to salvation: * We do not seek God (Romans 3:11) * We have a mind that is hostile towards God (Romans 8:7) * We cannot submit to God (Romans 8:7) * We are dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1) * We have a heart of stone towards God (Ezekiel 36:26) * We love darkness, we hate the light (John 3:10) * We desire to do the will of satan (John 8:44) * We follow satan (Ephesians 2:2) * We are enslaved by sin (John 8:34) * We are unable to please God (Romans 8:8) * We don't understand spiritual things (1 Corinthians 2:14) All of these verses above give us examples of what sin does to us and how it affects our relationship with God. I'm afraid my question is yet answered. Nevertheless, iniquities can separate between us and God and sins can make Him hide His face from us (Isa 59:2). But to equate separation with being "spiritually dead", unless figurative, is what I need an explanation of. Let us also be mindful that iniquities separating between a man and God does not mean or suggest such a man may have been forsaken by God. God is not a God of the dead (even a dead spirit) (Mat 22:32), but of the living. Nevertheless, Jesus Christ is Lord over both the dead and living (Rom 14:9). I know spirits of sinners whose names are not in the Book of Life at the end will be destroyed, together with death, in the Lake of fire. Until then, I believe all are living spirits even when out the body or even while in Hell. Grace and peace from God and from the Lord to all!

Both. Just substitute 'the Holy Spirit' for 'Christ', and remove the word 'mere'. Very correct, Pointer! And you even need not substitute 'the Holy Spirit' for 'Christ' because Paul spoke and lived by the Christ in him and not from himself. He had the mind of Christ. If he had the mind of Christ, he spoke from the abundance of his heart, of which his mind is a part. And his epistles are a collection of his letters to believers, saints and churches as the case may be. The letters were scripted renditions of those things he spoke about from his mind of Christ. Grace and peace to all from God and from our Jesus Christ our Lord.

It means exactly what it says, which is, that saints work out their salvation with fear and trembling. Not working for, but working out the gift of salvation received from God. Philipians was an epistle written to saints (and their bishops) in Philippi. Chapter 2:12 presupposes that they, saints, have already received the gift of salvation. Salvation, like any spiritual gift, must be exercised (worked out) to be fruitful. Let us bear in mind the parable of the talent in Matt 25:14-30... the kingdom of God to which saints belong also operates from their hearts; it demands that gifts (talents) must be worked out for profit (and seeds sown for fruit) unto God. Friends, there is much glorious life and work to do beyond salvation! It comes from partaking in the economy of God, which is in the kingdom of God. In that kingdom, saints are servants and stewards of treasures of the most High God. As stewards, we are required to be faithfull over what things are given to us as God will, at the end, demand to usury (interest) over what He entrusts with us. Let us not be unwise, thinking that the gift of salvation we have received is simply a ticket to Heaven; thinking that eternity is secured simply because we make ourselves believe we are saved. Jesus Christ our Lord is the gift of God both as the First Love of God to qualify us for salvation and as the Salvation of God to qualify us as beloved sons of God in the kingdom of God. In the former, His works of righteousness at the Cross is imputed unto our salvation; in the later there is no imputation of righteous works as all are abundantly empowered, shown ALL things, given ALL things and must to work out righteously ALL things unto the glory of God. What gift package it is that a man shall receive and does not open to know what is contained therein and not put to use such gifts? Will the gifts not be useless and wasted if not put to proper use? But it is the will of God that a saint account for ALL things and raise them up at the last day. Saints know the gift of salvation is from God to be put to use (worked out) for profit unto God. Let as many as have received the gift of salvation ask to see and enter the kingdom of God...for only therein can salvation be worked out to the glory of God. Grace and peace from God and the Kingdom of God to all!

Is it a myth or scripture based truth that a sinner is spiritually dead and separated from God? If the later, any scripture to support? Grace from God and peace from our Lord Jesus Christ to all!

A saint is one that is born of God (born again) and, having been purged from sins, has obtained salvation that is a gift from God. Purged means purged...it does not mean half-purged! So, if completely purged from sin and iniquities, how is one a sinner? If the agency of sin and iniquity is removed from a born again one, how can he sin? 1Jo 3:9 says: Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. The Blood of Jesus Christ is not like the blood of heifer that purges piecemeal according to the lifestyle of a believer who vacillates between sin (unrighteousness) and righteousness. Or Jesus Christ will be reduced to the level of a high priest ceaselessly making sacrifices for the sins of his people according to the Law of Moses. Any saint purged from sins is squeaky clean from sins and iniquities and his heart becomes the dwelling place of God and our Lord Jesus Christ - his mind and conscience established with grace from God and flowing with godly thoughts and works ordained by God respectively. How then can we say in one breathe that a saint is purged from sins and in another breathe declare such a saint to be a sinner? Is the Blood of Jesus Christ same as the blood of goats that was unable to completely purge sins in days of the Law? Nay, it is not! A believer is not necessarily a saint. A believer, while awaiting his redemption through the Blood of Jesus Christ, may so struggle with sin in his heart and members. The following things happen at salvation: redemption, forgiveness of sins, sanctification, justification and glorification. He is saved at: redemption that buys him over; forgiveness of sins having been purged completely; santification that sets him apart and makes him holy according to the righteousness of Christ; and glorification because salvation is a light of God. These happen once and for all when the Blood of our Lord is sprinkled in his heart by the Holy Ghost. As Jesus Christ cannot die twice for the sins of men, it is impossible for those who have once tasted salvation unto the kingdom of God, if they fall, to be restored, seeing that they put Christ again to shame. But God does not forget their labor of love in His kingdom and is able to keep them from falling. While waiting for that redemption that happens at salvation, a believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit. He is instructed to keep from grieving the Holy Spirit with which he is sealed. He may be vacillating between sin and righteousness, struggling with which nature should have control over his heart. But at redemption, the Spirit is unsealed and salvation lights up to the glory of God. We are saved because we are GOOD, having been purged and redeemed by the Blood once and for all. We are also saved because we are COUNTED as good by the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. How can a saint be the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God and yet the unrighteousness (sinner) at the same time? God is not like a man that He will say one thing and mean the opposite. In a beliver yet saint, attempting to put the old man (carnal nature) to death does not mean it dies and lives and dies and lives and dies and lives... If the old man is yet living, it means it never died but was hibernating. Such is not the portion of a saint. But whosoever is purged from sins by the Blood of Jesus Christ is dead to sins and alive to Christ and the Lord. That is the portion of a saint. The gospel of Christ is the spoken "power of God" unto salvation and has nothing to do with the Law. The Law simply acted as a school master pointing to the gospel. The Law never was the gospel because it could not save; never will be the gospel because it cannot save as it is weak over the flesh. But the gospel is not weak over the flesh. First consider the "power to save" as a gift of God put in the heart of a man. Then consider that power declared in words (or speech). It is called the gospel in speech form. Whosoever that does not have the "power of God to save" in himself cannot declare the gospel that saves. God puts the power to save supernaturally in the one whose feet bears the gospel of salvation; not scriptures, not from anything else. Searching to declare/teach the scripture is not the gospel that saves; declaring the tangible gift of the "power of God" that saves is the gospel that is able to save whoever hears and accepts. Even so, whosoever does not have the "power of the kingdom of God" cannot declare the gospel of the kingdom that heals, delivers, gives sight to the blind, sets at liberty those oppressed and declares the acceptable year of the Lord. That was why Jesus Christ first gave disciples "power" before they could declare the gospel of the kingdom. Going back to subject of thread To the saint, there is no fear (to be terrified) but love. Saints, after salvation, are called to the kingdom of God wherein is joy, peace, power, love, sound mind, righteousness, glory, beauty for ashes, etc. Where there is no mourning and hurt as it is in the kingdom of God, there is no reason to be terrified of anything that spins fear but to love all things. In 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul was writting to a saint...Timothy. Why? Because in the kingdom, sons of God are lifted up by angels lest they dash their feet against a stone. You can never find hurt in the Kingdom of God and as many as are operating in that economy will testify...for example, Saint Paul in Malta could not be hurt by a viper or by anything over which he has dominion unless allowed by God for a purpose, usually to minister the sufferings of Christ unto heirs of salvation. To the saint, there is the spirit of the fear (reverential, submissive, respectful, looking up in awe) of God. When a saint dies in the physical, it is not because of sins in his body. Rather, it is a good thing that he is liberated from the earthly tent to be with our Lord Jesus Christ in a glorified body.

You cannot soften the words "fear the Lord". We are to truly fear God and our failure to do what he requires of us. It is our fear of Him that continually drives us back to the Cross knowing that apart from Christ we stand condemned. There is really nothing to reconcile. Everything not in Christ on the day of judgement will experience the wrath of an angry God. sw 2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. The Cross symbolizes God's first love to the world, for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son... What drives us to the Cross is the love of God lest the Cross be empty of its power. I'd rather that I am drawn to the Cross by His love than by fear of His wrath that is provoked by sin. If the Cross has purged my sins, why should I be afraid (terrified) of wrath? No reason! It remains that "fear" in Psalm 34:9 is different in meaning from "fear" in 2Ti 1:7 or there is a major contradiction. But we know both scriptures do not contradict each other. For how can God not give us the spirit of fear yet David, by the Holy Spirit, implores that saints fear Him. Grace and peace to all from God and His Righteousness!

Fearing is not in the sense of being freightened or scared of the LORD as one would fear a bully or heavy-handed one. To fear the LORD is to have reverence of Him, to be in awe of Him and most importantly to submit completely to Him such that we want to do His commandments and never want to incur wrath. And when we submit completely to do His commandments, we love Him. Grace and peace to all from God and Jesus Christ our Lord!