Greetings
Brethren,
"There was
once a man who visited a far off country along with an army of conquest. After
living among the people although on a high hill he sought to write about their
history, culture, and all things common among them. Although he had very little
love, care or concern for these people he still felt that since he was a
writer, scribe what he wrote was worthy."
"There was
also a man among many people that did not believe in God as the Supreme Being
and the Creator of all humankind. This man sought to write about things Godly.
Although he didn't believe in God he sought out God's Book to critique and
analyze."
"However
there was once a righteous man who carried God's Book and believed in God and
the Book. He sat under a tree. He said nothing but in his mind he thought how
amazing for someone not to understand a language but believe that they can
interpret it."
Peace and Love,
Carl Patton
writing for the FreedomJournal October 7, 2002 in the year of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
SLAVERY & THE BIBLE: MYTH OR REALITY
PART 9: WHAT IS THE DIVINE PLAN FOR THE RIGHTEOUS & THE
UNRIGHTEOUS?
(IS THERE REALLY A "US" & "THEM")
In the name of Jehovah God, Master of the universe,
Ruler of the earth
Peace be unto
our Brethren and to the land and country. We pray for peace in Jerusalem we
also pray for peace in the home of the Christians who follow Christ. Jerusalem
is the place where the second coming of Christ will occur. Christ will return
for Christians and not Jews, Muslims are idol worshipers. This is not a
revelation but a fact regarding the Laws of God. So we are grateful to our
Father the Creator of all that exists for bringing His son to save the world.
Thanks be to God for allowing Jesus Christ to send us the Holy Spirit.
In a mis-guided
world that sees the weak bowing to Satan there is much confusion. Man is mighty
confused about God and the Bible. Man is confused because he is often in
disbelief. Man also often wants the
Bible to be a personal Testament of a world lost in sin. Therefore we see many
among the lost and those that do not
know they are lost claiming the Bible said or teach things that are not so. For
the record the FreedomJournal has a primary mission to render clarity to the
Bible and refute the many False Teachings and False Doctrines. This is the same
mission we undertake as we bring secular historical, political, psychological,
sociological and economic questions up for review.
Therefore,
Brethren the Bible does not teach any form of discrimination. In places where
this is the case there is a need to understand what the scripture really means.
The primary example of alleged discrimination is noted in the Hebrew people as
the chosen. The people of God were known as the Hebrews during the time of the
Old Law. In the time we live now those that God has chosen are Christians and
those that accept Jesus Christ. However God still loves the lost but to receive
the free gift of salvation you must accept the Messiah. So as we look at several
scriptures we hope to explain this point.
Brother Sundaka
has noted scripture coming from Romans 9:10-24 to prove his point of
"us" and "them." However before we go to Romans 9 we will
look at Romans 3:9-18. However, we will preface our comments with the following
statement by Brother Sundaka
BROTHER SUNDAKA:
"In the Xristian scriptures, Paulos reveals the continuation of the
"us" (i.e. "vessels of mercy") and "them" (i.e.
"vessels of wrath") perspective in writing on the divine
predestination of the chosen and the condemned. This perspective is also
reflected in gospel accounts. "
We believe that
Brother Sundaka has some confusion over the past choice of the Hebrews to carry
out a mission for God and the will of God for the righteous to reap Peace and Paradise
and the unrighteous to burn in Hell. If
one notes the righteous as "us" and the unrighteous as
"them" so be it. This is not an unfair or discriminatory law of God.
If anyone does not believe in God then they do not believe in Hell. So God is
not trying to make anyone accept Truth. You are on your own however most of the
great thinkers from the dawn of world civilizations realized that there was/is
a Supreme Being. Also it is likely the major objection to the Bible is not that
some perceive it to be discriminatory, inaccurate, corrupt etc. Most likely the
major objection to things Godly is the wicked disbelief in God.
Romans
3:9-18. The 3rd chapter of Romans deals
with the Jews and the law and verses 9-18 specifically note that not one
(nation) is good in that all people are sinners.
Romans 3:9-10.
"What then are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before
proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;"
3:10. "As
it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:"
"We"
is in reference to Jews and "they" to the Gentiles. Here we see Paul
noting that Jews and Gentiles are alike under sin. Verses 10-12 describe the
character of both Jews and Gentiles as nations and not as individuals. The
Bible teaches that both Abel and Job were righteous individuals (See Hebrews
11:4 and Job 1:8) and they were Gentiles. Throughout the Bible we see
references to the righteousness of the Hebrew people. Nevertheless, these
verses mean that there was not one nation as a whole that was righteous. Thus
there was not a nation so righteous that God chose it instead of the others as
the Jews pretended here and as the Jews and many other people still claim.
We will now
return to Romans 9 and our primary verses. Again we point out that Brother
Sundaka thinks that these verses support "us" and "them."
What is evident is that these verses as do many other passages of scripture
note the distinctions between the righteous as Heaven Bound and the unrighteous
and the Hell Bound. However there is merit here and not discrimination etc.
Romans 9:10-12.
"And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by
our father Isaac;"
9:11. "For
the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the
purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that
calleth;"
9:12. "It
was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger."
In Romans 3
previously cited we saw where God did not choose any particular nation because
of its personal goodness. Because all, were corrupt as nations. God made the
choice of the Hebrew people because He is God and it was His will. Here we see in verse 11 Paul rendering the
same argument. In verse 12 Paul uses the
two brothers as an example of God making an official selection despite personal
merit. This choice was made before they were born and before they could have
done anything, good or evil.
Romans 9:13-16.
"As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated."
9:14. "What
shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid."
9:15. "For
he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have
compassion on whom I will have compassion."
9:16. "So
then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that
sheweth mercy."
In verse 13 we
note that the word hated here takes the meaning of loving less. It is not meant
here to mean a feeling of anger or of being detested. No personal injury was done to Esau by this
choice. Thus, there was no unrighteousness by God in making this official
selection. The phrase "mercy and compassion," in verse 15 does not
refer to the personal treatment of the individuals, but to selecting them for
national and official purposes. Finally
in verse 16 the selection is not left to the person to do his own choosing.
Because it was not for personal advantage, but to God whose will is supreme.
9:17. "For
the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee
up, that I might shew my power in thee,
and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth."
There were times
when the selection resulted in the personal welfare or fate of the one
selected. A good example is Pharaoh. God here selected one who was already
fitted by character for the place. Thus, the Lord brought Pharaoh to the throne
of Egypt at the right time to go through the humiliating experiences related in
Exodus. (See Exodus 1:8 Pharaoh was already wicked).
9:19-24.
"Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath
resisted his will?"
9:20. "Nay
but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say
to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?"
9:24. "Even
us, who he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?"
For one to criticize
God for using his divine right of choice would be like a vessel complaining
against the one who formed it. However those that do not believe in God are
lost here. A foolish argument concerning deliberately sinning is noted in
Romans 6:1, 15. The potter is the one
who decides what vessel he will make. Nor do we know the mind of the potter. In
verse 24 we see that the apparent unwise action of the potter in the preceding
paragraph refers to the Jews and Gentiles. Each of these nations thought the other
should have been discarded as an undesirable vessel.
Cont. Part 10: The So-Called Christian Messages
to Christian Slave Owners
carl@freedomjournalpress.comcastbiz.net