ASHORTWORK
Biblical Understanding based on the Record of Scripture
The consistency of the teachings of the Bible should guide our understanding. YHVH does not change and Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Also, the New Testament does not interpret the Old Testament, rather the Old Testament is the foundation of the New Testament. We must not pick some verses to interpret other verses or choose certain verses and ignore the rest. The consistency of the record of scripture will always be the answer. YHVH did not leave His children in darkness, it is the children who have chosen to walk away from the light.
Sin is not part of YHVH's creation, but free will is. Death is also not part of His creation in the way we sometimes consider. The angels don't age and die, but they can choose to sin, and the wages of sin is death. All the morning stars rejoiced when the foundations of the earth were laid but Satan and some of the angels eventually turned against their Creator. When the creation is restored to the way it was in the beginning, when the new heavens and the new earth are in place, the angels who sinned will have been destroyed and the angels who did not sin will continue to live as long as that choice is maintained.
YHVH has an everlasting plan but the term "plan of salvation" is not how it is described in scripture. What is addressed is the everlasting rule of the Father and His Christ and the choice set before man of everlasting life or destruction in the lake of fire.
Jeremiah 29:10 describes Daniel praying about Israel's 70 year Babylonian captivity when God sent the angel Gabriel to tell him of an even greater period of tribulation during the end times.
A temple, as a building, is a designed edifice of beauty and functionality. It is intended to be a blessing for the worshipper, as well as a communal meeting place where God meets His people and shares His spiritual culture and divine laws. It's a consistent location where the people are confident of God's presence and know He is available. The physical edifice reflects God as omnipresent, seeking to dwell among His people.
In the song "Day by Day," there are three actions included as a prayer to our Heavenly Father: to see Him for clearly, love Him more dearly, and follow Him more nearly ??? day by day. Similarly, in Micah 6:08, Yehovah requires three actions of His people: to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Him. To do justly means to do what is right. To love mercy means to love giving mercy, compassion, and forgiveness to others. To walk humbly with God the Father means to revere Him with humility and contriteness without arrogance, haughtiness, and pride. We should always compare ourselves to God the Father and Jesus Christ. We should never compare ourselves with others. Let us strive to deepen our resolve to implement the actions of Micah 6:08 more completely in our lives: to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before our God. Let us pray that we see our Heavenly Father more clearly, that we love our Heavenly Father more dearly, and that we follow our Heavenly Father more nearly, day by day.
Most of us who plan to contribute to this venue are near the end of our service as members of the Ekklesia simply because of age and strength. As a result, considering the present distress in society and the ongoing deception and distress in the churches of God, we don't consider this is the time or place to stand aside. True unity is not with each other, it is with YHVH and Jesus Christ. If numbers were a consideration then most of us could have just stayed in the organization we were in when we were called.
This sermon, given in Spokane Washington on April 26, 2019, describes how Israel refused to honor God according to His word and was eventually sent off into captivity. Tragically, spiritual Israel in our time has done the same thing. Most of the churches of God have become corporations run by modern Pharisees teaching their own Talmud; they are teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.
Total Study Papers: 7
John 17:3 NKJV
And this is eternal life that they may know you, the only true God (Father) and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.