We live in a world of imperfection. We are imperfect. Everything, and every one, around us, is imperfect. (Of course we have the promise/word of God that we, and all, will be "perfected" ( :banana: ) But until then, when is imperfection perfect? Right now! And always! Because it is working out - accomplishing - His will.
Now for too long, it's been believed or assumed that all this imperfection is somehow the result of God erring in some way.. some how things went awry.. He was taken by surprise! ( :doh: really? :laughing7: ) But, as we know.. even in all its imperfection.. All is perfect. Because it is working out - accomplishing - His perfect will.
I'm thinking possibly, next logical question might be, what is His (perfect) will?
:dsunny: (hooray it's sunny here today, in midwest usa, hagd!)
I.M.O to be able to grasp what perfection is one needs to have something to compare with; so one can only see what perfection is when shown the error which is causing the imperfection.
Christ came to start the ball rolling, Paul gave it a push, now as we are shown the imperfections we see why Christ came in the first place and appreciate the whole procedure as the necessary training ground for growth and development to the fullness of our glorious family in the coming ages. Then we are perfect in every way.
1 John 4;18,19 " There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment.
So the one who fears has not been perfected in love.
We love because He first loved us."
Christ demonstrated that perfect love releasing us from the imperfections which were shown to us through the need for the law to govern our behaviour. True love pointed out in many places, especially 1 Cor 13, seems to be the perfection by which we need to live, which is only completely possible to the max through and in Christ when in the spiritual state of being. Now we are learning courtesy of His mercy which is teaching us so much about the real love, perfect, as against our attempts to love which can be a bit hit and miss with the illusion of perfection until something goes wrong.
Fortunately, amazingly this all works to a wondrous plan with immaculate precision for a glorious future with our awesome family of God in a completely new state of being in that coming age where we reign with Christ.
Quote from: marie glen on February 01, 2017, 06:26:16 PM
We live in a world of imperfection. We are imperfect. Everything, and every one, around us, is imperfect. (Of course we have the promise/word of God that we, and all, will be "perfected" ( :banana: ) But until then, when is imperfection perfect? Right now! And always! Because it is working out - accomplishing - His will.
Now for too long, it's been believed or assumed that all this imperfection is somehow the result of God erring in some way.. some how things went awry.. He was taken by surprise! ( :doh: really? :laughing7: ) But, as we know.. even in all its imperfection.. All is perfect. Because it is working out - accomplishing - His perfect will.
I'm thinking possibly, next logical question might be, what is His (perfect) will?
:dsunny: (hooray it's sunny here today, in midwest usa, hagd!)
will = determination
What is the perfect determination of God? That everything will be accomplished exactly as He planned (designed) it would, PERIOD- no if's, and's, or but's, not even one error
:2c: actually...these imperfect bodies of death..that we dwell in...are perfect as fitted for their purpose....as the corruption we are sown in.......exhibiting
His long-suffering...in order to make His mercy known[that we shall all be raised up in the incorruptible] I use to feel guilty for even being alive in this
weak/corruptible body undergoing this death..until one night I heard.....'you must not feel guilty for being alive" So yes,this treasure is given in lowly
bodies of our humiliation.........and He lifts the lowly out of the ash heap...and causes them to sit with the Princes of My people.
For us to be perfect one day, we must learn and grow and especially, be transformed.
It is a process. He is the potter and we are the clay. It is in the process, that we learn who we are; we learn who God is; we learn who is our neighbor. In the meantime, we are learning to relate to all of these, and through our trials and errors, salted with God's tremendous grace, we will become more like Him......eventually.
As Christian Universalists, we know it is only a matter of time. The path is different for each of us, but the destination will be the same.
God's perfect will is that we each hear His Word; come to know what path He designed for us, step by step; follow the path, with its twists and turns, and that all will come to know, love, and serve our Almighty God, in joy and gratitude. The glorious story of Salvation is God's Will for us. That by Jesus' life and death, we will all come to know the one, true God.
D.
marie glen :goodpost:
Ross :goodpost:
jugghead :goodpost:
sheila :goodpost:
Dandelion :goodpost:
Amen! great posts!!
We have (Christendom) been so steeped in the "punishment/destruction after death" scenario, but I think we are (were) all ruined/destroyed by sin/imperfection, before coming to the Lord.. In one way or another at some time in life we "hit bottom" as the old saying goes.. Things went awry.. we felt ruined..
The Greek word is "apollumi" which in its uses includes "to be lost, ruined, destroyed" and can be used literally or figuratively..
Mark 12:9 `What therefore shall the Lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard to others. That priesthood was destroyed in 70 a.d. but as we know, the people making it up will be resurrected (which truth could lead us to the logical question, if they are not to be saved/reconciled to Him, why bother with resurrecting them?)
from Revelation 11:18 ...to bring to ruin, to those ruining the earth"/the culture?
Thankfully, I think the Lord is giving a new mindset.. that most fiery judgment occurs upon Earth - like was the view in the Old Testament (and to each one, within/in ones heart and mind).
And if those who will be devoted to "destruction" (apollumi) (judged) on Judgment 'Day' is to be read as "utterly destroyed" - we would have to ignore all the u.r. verses. Which, I guess, is what is done!
Stripping away the assumption of a torturous after life makes room for a different mindset.. (and a healthier mind! :laughing7: )