God Is Not Angry With Man: Believe It Or Not!

Surely that cannot be true! God must be angry —angry with the wickedness of humanity—angry because mankind breaks His commands—angry because they fail to give Him the honour and worship that is His due.  Most of all, God must be angry because He is righteous and cannot tolerate sin.If we are to uphold the righteousness and majesty of God, then, reason tells us, God must be angry. Having reasoned thus far, it would astonish the average person to learn that God is not angry. They would immediately ask, where in the Bible does it say that God is not angry ? Let us quote that Scripture at once. It is found in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, chapter 5, verse 19. It reads:– “God was in Christ, conciliating the world unto Himself, not reckoning their offences to them, and placing in us the word of the conciliation.” We suggest that you pause a moment, and read these words again. Read them a third and fourth time. They will remain in your mind when you consider that they are indeed the inspired word of God. God loves and has always loved the world: (John 3:16) But His Nature is so pure that it devastates the dark as if it hated it: Before Calvary people were so enmeshed in darkness they could die if they came in contact with God or Angels: Then Jesus came from the bosom of the father and revealed the Father's heart to man: "And the veil in the Temple was torn in two"    When you go into a dark room and turn on the light That light by it's very nature destroys the darkness! It's not that it hates or can't stand the darkness: It's just that it's nature is 100%  non-dark and the effect is that it annihilates the dark: Now if you asked the dark and it had a voice it would scream "I hate that light: That Light hates me. I feel the wrath of that light always" God opposes sin in man the same way Light opposes darkness! The two can't live together! ============================================================                                               Bible Study No 2:  Is God Angry?                        (Enjoy a Christmas Bible Feast  around this vital topic) The following are 5 questions to stir up discussion: I include some comments of my own in Addendum. { 5 X 10 minutes = 50 minutes}     What does "God was in Christ! mean?             Colossians 2:9 Romans 5:20  Revelation 13:8              Was God shocked by what happened in Eden? Is Calvary plan B? Discuss the word pleased in Isaiah 53:10. How could it please Him? Who commissioned Jesus (John 3:16) Romans 11:33-36 is not an angry God Read Matt 23:37 out loud and discuss: Does it look like Jesus is angry?          Conciliating and not Reconciliating?         (Most translations don't get this but God emphasises this in the Greek) What is conciliation?     "When only one party is holding offence"              2 Cor v 19/20 (Katalloson)  Check it out here What is reconciliation?   When 2 parties are conciliated.        See Col 1 v 20 and v 21 using Apokatalloson: Look at the Greek            More on Conciliation and Reconciliation              "not reckoning their offenses" Discuss: Col 2: 14 in detail: Discuss Tetelestai (Paid in full) Also Psalm 103: 12:  Psalm 32:2 hey  Luke 23:34:  Rom 3:21-22  Jeremiah 31:33-34 . God's future plans   In 1904 in Wales when God made His presence very real and Revival came .. this is how they described it: Grace & Love like mighty rivers flowed incessant from above Heaven's peace and perfect justice kissed a guilty world in love This in not anger or wrath:  What an awesome God we have and what a relationship to call Him Abba! Father.         What Gospel are we to proclaim today?   Are we Jews or gentiles? This must be settled once and for all. Who is the Apostle of the Gentiles? {Gal 2:9: Eph 3: 1-2 and 8: 1 Tim 2:7} What Gospel does Paul say to preach? 2 Cor 5: 17-22: Eph 6:15 What are we to encourage seekers to do?  2 Cor 5:20 Who will tell them about ungodliness, worldly lusts etc ? Titus 2:11-12 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Addendum: My Notes GOD WAS IN CHRIST The only unerring source of truth is the inspired Word of God. These words are not our words, nor are they the plausible deductions of learned men, or even religious men. They are part of His revelation to us —God was in Christ! Here is truth indeed, stated in the words of inspiration. Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” We further learn in Colossians 2:9 that “In Him the entire complement of the Deity is dwelling bodily.” Truly, God was in Christ. The truth that God was in Christ has been constantly attacked by all manner of men. They will accept Jesus as the Perfect Example, or the Great Reformer, or a Teacher come from God, or as a good Man who died for His beliefs. There is some truth in all of these statements, but none of them approach the lofty declaration we are considering: God was in Christ—that He might reconcile us to Himself ! CONCILIATING THE WORLD TO HIMSELF Conciliation is a form of the better known word ‘reconciliation.’ It means being favourably disposed towards a person, even though they have not a favourable disposition towards us –friendship –but a one sided friendship. As an example we might consider two friends who have ‘fallen out,’ – have become estranged. Both feel hurt by the words or actions of the other. They have gone separate ways, and no longer spend time together. Both feel a sense of great loss. Then one friend resolves to do all possible to restore matters to the previous harmony, and realises that someone will have to make the first move. In his heart he puts aside the hurt he feels, and speaks to the other in conciliatory words, for in his heart he is now conciliated to his friend. But his friend is not conciliated, and will not listen, so the estrangement continues. Then after a few days he also puts aside the hurt suffered, and is conciliated to the other. When both are conciliated, then there is reconciliation –a mutual matter. The enmity, hurt, and estrangement is put aside by both, and they are reconciled to each other. One alone cannot be reconciled, only conciliated. It takes two to effect reconciliation. The Scriptures speak of both conciliation and reconciliation, but the subject before us now is conciliation, later we will take note of reconciliation. Note that God is conciliating to the world to Himself. It is not just the church He is conciliated to, nor a specially good person here and there. God is conciliated to the world, to every human, no matter how bad or undeserving. This defies human logic, for it is God Who is offended by sin. It is He Who has been rejected by His creatures. It is God’s Son who was crucified. It would be understandable if God were estranged, aloof and remote. Indeed, this is the way religion thinks, and men are ever trying to interpose themselves between God and man, seeking by some ritual or ceremony to appease the wrath of an offended God. But such things are foreign to God’s gospel of grace, for we read in Romans 5:20 that “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Grace is unmerited favour to the undeserving . NOT RECKONING THEIR OFFENCES TO THEM When something dreadful happens, our first thought is often “Why has this happened to me ?” We look around for the cause, we search our conscience and memory to find a reason for our misfortune. The greater the tragedy, the more certain are we that we must have done something to cause it. Because we are so hurt, the cause must be our own doing, for surely God would not afflict us for no cause. Human reason rebels against the thought that something can happen without a cause, and when humans fail to find any probable cause for their misfortune, they are indignant. But such reasonings are not part of God’s gospel of grace. Look at our Scripture again —“God was in Christ, conciliating the world to Himself not reckoning their offences against them." —Not reckoning their offences them! God is not pressing the matter of men’s sins, for He is bent on reconciliation —and that takes place when the sinner becomes conciliated to God. God is not reckoning your offences against you, for they have already been dealt with in the death of His Son. Religion would tell us that we need to do something to placate God, for He is offended by our sinful character, but God’s evangel tells us that God is not reckoning our offences against us. It is not us who make the move, it is God. Just think of it, God is not reckoning our offences against us! He has removed every obstacle between Himself and us, and is entreating us “be conciliated.” Let us also understand that this peace is established on a righteous basis. The question of sin is not swept under the carpet, but is dealt with by God in the death of His Son. “He (God) has made Him (Jesus) Who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” So it is not us, but God Who is pleading —“Be conciliated.” When Christ died, Sin itself was crucified. Nothing now stands between us and our loving Father! PLACING IN US THE WORD OF CONCILIATION. Paul tells us in another Scripture that he is not ashamed of the gospel. The word of the conciliation is indeed the gospel of which we are not ashamed. It is the gospel of the grace of God, Who is not reckoning offences against the sinner, but is beseeching them —“be conciliated.” It is the word of conciliation which turns men’s hearts to God —the realisation that God is already conciliated to you, through the death of His Son, so you need do nothing to make yourself right with Him. He has already done everything necessary to fulfil the demands of His righteousness, and has removed every barrier between God and mankind. Let us now look at how Paul summarises the gospel in the next verses. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21. 20. “For Christ, then, are we ambassadors, as of God entreating through us. We are beseeching for Christ’s sake ‘Be conciliated to God!” 21. For the One not knowing sin, He makes to be sin for our sakes that we may be becoming the righteousness of God in Him.” There is a common belief that mankind must do something to show God that we are sorry for our sins. But that is not God’s gospel for today. It once was, when God was dealing with His ancient people, Israel. (And it will be once more, during the future time known as the millennium, when all His promises to Abraham and David will be fulfilled.) In the verse just quoted, we notice the words “entreat” and “beseech.” Have you noticed Who it is entreating, and who it is beseeching ? It is not sinful humanity, but God Who is entreating “Be conciliated!” It is as God’s ambassadors that we are beseeching “Be conciliated.” Those who preach God’s gospel of grace are God’s ambassadors. The apostle Paul was God’s ambassador as he declared the gospel to the nations —how that “God was in Christ, conciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offences to them.” Then a remarkable thing happens. God has His ambassador shut up in prison in Rome. This is very significant, for God in this is demonstrating that He is not reckoning men’s offences against them. There can scarcely be a greater insult to a country than to imprison its ambassador, yet God’s ambassador is put in prison. And while Paul is in chains, God reveals to him the wonderful truths contained in Paul’s letters known as Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians! God continues to pour blessings on His church to demon-strate that he is conciliated to the world.

The Unity Of The Spirit

A        WHAT is "The Unity of the Spirit"?

        1.  It is a Unity generated by God's Holy Spirit within the hearts of believers:

             It is spiritual in origin, spiritual in nature and has very little to do with doctrine:

          (a) John 17:21                               (b)  Psalm 133 (Anointing ointment)

     

          (c) 1 Cor 6:17                                (d) Origin 2 Tim 1:9 and  Cor 2:7 

          (e) Luke 1:44: Discuss                  (f) David & Jonathan

          2.   Unity is the opposite of discord, or the absence of strife, a place where

                love reigns and truth is valued.  Man can desire it but never create it:
                

                (a) 1Cor 1:10          (b) Phil 1:27              (c)  Phil 2:2

                (d) Acts 4:32           (e) 1 Peter 3:8           (f) Romans 14:19 /15:5

           New Testament: Greek.                               Old Testament Hebrew

 B   Is  U.O.T.S (Unity of the spirit)  .the same as  "U.O.T.F? (unity of the faith)

 No!  Chalk and cheese:  {U.O.T.S comes before U.O.T.F.}

In Ephesians 4:3 & 4:13 Paul makes reference to two different kinds of unity.

• Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (verse 3)
• Till we all come in the unity of the faith. (verse 13)

It is not coincidental that Paul refers to the unity of the spirit first. Without Unity of the Spirit we will never realize the unity of the faith.

U.O.T.S is gifted to us and we are instructed to "maintain it"

We cannot create it: Arrange it: Set it up:  We can only recognise it:

U.O.T.F. is something we will eventually arrive at by revelation rather than imposition..

To understand Unity Of The Faith look at the 7 Pillars of Eph. chapter 4: 

(a) One Body. What is it? Believers? Jews? All creation?

(b) One  Spirit.  Holy Spirit of God who acts as He did in bible.(Holy)

    

(c) One  Hope: What is that one Hope? Cars & riches down here or ...?

          

(d) One Lord  i.e. The Lord Jesus Christ who died and arose from the dead

(e) One  Faith   Are we all on same page here yet? Don't think so!

        

(f) One  Baptism: Water Baptism?  Holy Spirit ? Other?

              

(g) One God and Father: How many can read and believe 1 cor 8:6 yet? 

N.B.  I'm not there yet. But longing to reach that goal:

                    New Testament: Greek.                               Old Testament Hebrew

{However we can fellowship together on basis of 1 Co 15 v 1-3 Historically we have seen many attempts at the unity of the faith, which have all resulted in greater disunity. The above 7 Pillars of (a) to (g) are not a prerequisite for fellowship together: Those doctrines will only be arrived at by personal revelation and not by imposition, as history has shown} 

C       Is U.O.T.S. the same as Having Fellowship?

I should be able to fellowship with any believer on the basis of  (a) & (b) below:
I use Fellowship here in the root meaning of being able to meet, chat, pray, and enjoy each others company with an emphasis on spiritual things: In the last 100 years Fellowship has been used in a different sense of denomination or grouping and the particular set of beliefs they adhere to: That is a million miles from what I mean by fellowship in this study:

Look how utterly simple these qualifications are:

(a) Believe the Gospel as in 1 Cor 15: 1-3, 2 Cor 5 :16--21

(b) All who follow the Lord Jesus Christ out of a clean heart

Personally I want and long for fellowship  with all believers on the above basis, be it on the streets, cafés,  house meetings, any place and any time of any day or night. If I refuse to have fellowship with a believer based on any other criteria than (a) and (b) above then I'm falling short of the goal. Remember  God chooses to fellowship with us despite the fact He must often  disagree with our theology: Be like God in this . Don't set the bar even a jot higher than (a) and (b) above: That's pride: A false sense of superiority!

I can fellowship then with a large with a broad group and anticipate Unity Of The |Spirit with all of them. Where I find any hint of it I am to maintain it as scripture exhorts. In reality though most of us only find real Unity Of The Spirit with a small few. With those people it's like God knits you in spirit with one another and an inseparable bond deep in the spirit is formed , like between david & Jonathan. When Elizabeth met Mary that type of Unity was manifested also and Elizabeth cried out: "The minute I heard the sound of your voice the babe in my womb leapt for joy"

Try as you might you won't be able to explain this unity: It's of God: It's precious: It's that Leap Of Joy within: You just love and long to be in that persons presence: It is inner circle stuff: It is Jesus focussed: It is clean and simple: They may utterly differ from you on issues like Sunday worship, head dress, tongues, church structures etc but the bond is of the Spirit and remains:  You must maintain it by being lowly and humble and walking in the spirit: Sin will damage it but  always seek to have it restored. If sin comes between you and that unity with another then examine your own life first before seeking to correct the other: Spend many hours in prayer: Hold onto a spirit of meekness and humility: What is at stake is too precious to throw away:

D   What Does U.O.T.S. look like?

     It looks like Psalm 133! Discuss anointing, dew, command a blessing

            "How good and how pleasant it is when brethren dwell together in unity."

      Discuss emphasis on togetherness & brethren in this psalm

It looks like Mary meeting Elizabeth:  Discuss Mary's response.

                    

What Happens When a person dies?

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                Bible Study Number 1:  {October 23 2017}

I.   WHAT IS DEATH?

        1.   Death is a return (Gen.3:17-19).

"Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."

                    Psa. 146:2-4;        Eccl.3:19,20
                    Job 34:14,15;       Eccl.12:1-7
                Death is a return of the person, of the body, and of the spirit.

         2.   Death is the opposite of life, or the absence of life, not life in some other
               form or place.

                    2 Ki.20:1    "thou that die and not live"
                    Rev.20:4-6  "the dead live not until"
                    Num.4:19    "that they may live, and not die"

         3.    Death is like a sleep.

                     Psa.13:3    "lest I sleep the sleep of death"
                    1 Th.4:13-18    "them that are asleep"
                    Dan.12:2    "them that sleep in the dust"
                         Both the righteous and the unrighteous are said to be asleep
                         when they are dead.
        4.    Death is an enemy.

                     1 Cor.15:26    "the last enemy abolished is death"

      New Testament                   Old Testament

II.  WHERE ARE THE DEAD?

        1.   They are all in one place (Eccl.3:19,20).
                    Psa.22:15;        Job 7:21
                    Gen 3:19   compare  Gen.2:7
        2.   Their place is one of silence and repose.

                    Job 3:11-22      Psa.115:17
                    Psa.88:10-12    Eccl.9:10

        3.   They are not with Christ in heaven.
                    John 3:13;        Acts 2:34

     The statement that David ascended not into the heavens is made after 

the resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.
    The only way believers get to be with the Lord is by His coming for them. 

See 1 Thes.4:16-17, "so shall we ever be with the Lord." Also John 14:3, 

"I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there ye may

 be also." Death is never said to take one to be with the Lord.



      New Testament                   Old Testament

        4.    THE DEAD ARE IN THEIR GRAVES.

                    John 5:28-29    "all who are in their graves"
                     Dan.12:2          "them that sleep in the dust"
                    Isa.26:19           "ye that dwell in the dust"

In the Word of God the dead are always said to be where their bodies are.

III.   WHAT IS THE STATE OF THE DEAD?

        1.   They sleep and rest.
                    1 Thess.4:13-18    1 Cor.15:51-57
                    Acts 7:60  compare  Acts 8:2
                    John 11:11  compare  John 11:14
                    1 Cor.15:3-20        Dan.12:2

    The Scriptures never speak of the sleep of the soul, nor of the sleep of the body. 

They always speak of the sleep of the person with reference to death. The sleep of

 death obliterates the interval between this life and the next, in so far as consciousness is concerned.

        2.   They praise not the Lord nor exercise mental powers.
                 Psa.6:5         Psa.115:17     Psa.8:10-12
                 Eccl.9:4-6     Psa.146:4     Isa.38:18,19


      New Testament                   Old Testament                                

        3.   They do not live until the resurrection.

                 Rev.20:4-6     1 Cor.15:12-21

IV.   WHAT COMFORTING ASSURANCE DOES GOD GIVE
.         CONCERNING THE DEAD?

        1.   That they will all be resurrected.
                 John 5:28-29     Rev.20:11-15

        2.   That they will all ultimately receive fulness of life through the saving work
              of Jesus Christ.

                 1 Cor.15:22-28     1 Tim.2:3-6
                 Rom 5:18,19         1 Tim.4:9-11

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      New Testament                   Old Testament