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According to the Bible, man’s existence is tied inextricably to this
planet. That’s true not only of our beginning, but also of our
destiny. In fact, you may be surprised to learn, contrary to
longstanding Christian teachings, our destiny has nothing whatsoever to
do with us shedding this “burdensome physical” in favor of some
“preferred spiritual” form (for instance as disembodied souls in heaven,
etc.). Rather, God’s purpose for us cannot be accurately (biblically)
understood, expressed, nor finally achieved outside the confines of the
material world. We were created from it and are a part of it. Our
growth as human beings is dependent upon our relationship with the earth
and all that dwells on it, especially our brothers and sisters with whom
we share a common Creator and Father.
And the over arching message this Creator has for his children is that
He believes each one of us has what it takes to be all that He created
us to be in His image, using the tools of this planet and this universe
to get there (compare Genesis 1:27-28 and 2:15). Our being human is
good enough for our Father. His acceptance of, and confidence in, us,
is not dependent upon our being perfect in our knowledge and application
of right and wrong (justification by works of law, as Satan suggested in
Genesis 3:4-5). Nor does He long for us to be of some kind of “better”
spiritual substance, as some who promote the dualism of the material
versus the spiritual. After all, God called his physical creation,
including humans, “very good” in Genesis 1:31. Rather, as human
children He wants for us a maturity which develops successfully from
within a father and son relationship based on our ability to trust His
acceptance and love for imperfect children, just because they are His
children. It’s nothing we can earn. Our rewards can be earned
based on our growth, which is in turn based on our faith and its
application. But our inherent value, worth, and lovability to God cannot
be challenged or justified on the basis of anything we do or don’t do.
All functional father/son relationships must start with that kind of
understanding and faith. And it is only with the foundation of that
kind of relationship that individuals can mature as God intended.
Otherwise we end up with the kind of world we presently have.
Simply put, our destiny as God’s human children is to inherit the
earth and the Kingdom of God, which is the righteous,
servant-based government of God administered by and through the family
of God. And although this physical earth and our bodies as we know them
will one day be transformed into another kind of substance currently not
known (1Jo. 3:2), it will not be a shedding of a “lesser”
physical for the sake of some “better” spiritual. Rather, it will be a
transformation of that which already is. There will be a new
creation; not as if to first eliminate one and create another, but a
restoration of all things to the way they were meant to be.
This is the story of the Bible, the revelation of God’s purpose for us,
and His plan to carry out that purpose. He has been consistent with His
message to humanity: As His children, human beings are to inherit
His kingdom on earth. This was his message to the first Adam, when
He simply told him and his wife to go be fruitful and multiply, and
subdue the earth. The promise was “seed” and “soil”. However, they
failed to believe in these promises and sent mankind headlong into
dysfunction (lawlessness). Then to Abraham this same God again promised
a blessing of seed and soil. Abraham and his descendants would inherit
the land, and through one of his descendants the entire earth would be
blessed (Gen. 13:14-15; Gen. 17:7-8; Gen. 22:17-18). Abraham believed
God and that belief was counted to him for righteousness. Subsequently
God made the same promise to Abraham’s son Isaac, and grandson, Jacob
(Gen. 26:3; Gen. 35:9-12). These three are known as the “fathers”.
That’s why God (Yahweh) is known as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob, referred to many times in the Bible as “the God of our fathers.”
Through the prophets that followed, God spoke of the realization of
these promises through the establishment of a real government which
would one day fill the entire earth. That government would be set up
and administered by a human being whom He would raise up from the
household of David, another descendant of Abraham (Isa. 9:6; Luke 1:32;
Phil. 3:21; Micah 5:2; Matt. 2:1-6; Dan. 9:13-14). In due time, Jesus
came to fulfill the promises made to the fathers (Rom. 15:8). After
preaching the good news of the kingdom, this Jesus was murdered by the
rulers of this present age. But God raised him from the dead and he
currently sits at God’s right hand in heaven awaiting the appointed time
when he will return in glory to establish that Kingdom on this earth.
The apostle Paul declared that if we belong to Jesus Christ then we are
Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promises made to him (Gal.
3:29). The promises of seed and soil come to all who acknowledge that
Jesus as the Christ (1 Jo. 2:22) has come in the flesh (i.e., is a human
being, 1 Jo. 4:2) and is the King of that soon coming kingdom which
shall reign over all current kingdoms.
Jesus came preaching this gospel (good news) of the Kingdom of God,
saying that we should repent and believe that gospel. If we do, and
upon being baptized, we will receive the spirit of God as a down payment
of that coming Kingdom in our minds and hearts right now, which will
help us to live by the principles of that Kingdom. That Kingdom has not
yet been established as a reality on earth for all humanity, but Jesus
currently sits at the right hand of God in that kingdom. He is
preparing it for those who believe in this specific promise of the
Father as he did, and who attempt to redirect their hearts, minds, and
lives, according to that belief. The good news is the single most
powerful hope of a life worth living for the person who has come to
realize that he or she has not lived the life he/she was meant to live.
Brothers and sisters of our one God and Father, the God and Father of
Jesus, please beware. This present world is based on the lie first
perpetrated by Satan; that being human isn't good enough to God our
Father. That lie sent humanity as a whole into deep dysfunction, trying
to justify core value based on legal definitions. Jesus did not do
this. He is the first successful human being, the second Adam as the
Apostle Paul called him. He was 100% human like you and me (although
miraculously conceived by the power of the holy spirit). As the second
Adam he displayed what it is like to be fully human. The human
potential was realized in and through him. He is the fullest expression
of the divine character possible in a human being. Yet even the world
religion called by his name won't allow him to be human. He is said to
be a pre-existent god-person in a trinity of god-persons, eternal God
just like the Father! This is the work of the enemy to thwart the truth
and simplicity of the gospel and to keep men and women bound in their
dysfunctional thinking and behavior!! It is a continuation of the
original lie (Gen. 3) now placed at the very foundation of our religion,
designed to keep us from realizing our incredible human potential.
Nevertheless, throughout the world today there is a scattering of those
who accept God’s standard of righteousness through faith, and have thus
retained the true gospel of the coming kingdom of God to this earth.
They still believe in the one God of Abraham and Jesus, which allows
them to embrace their humanity just as Jesus did his; trusting in the
one true God to accomplish his purposes in us. Some of these are the
brethren of the Church of God, Abrahamic Faith. “For if you are
Christ’s, you are Abraham’s seed according to the promise.” There are
others who are coming to these truths, as well, silently scattered
within various denominations.
If
you would like to know more about the one true God and his miraculously
begotten human son, Jesus the Messiah who was raised from the dead by
his Father and ours, contact me right away. We must join together to
preach the gospel of the kingdom of God as a witness unto all nations
prior to the end of this present age.
If you would like a brief introduction regarding what the “Abrahamic
Faith” is about,
click here.
You can also click on the tab for the Church of God, Abrahamic Faith
at the top of the page. For even more information about biblical
unitarianism, our Related Links section will guide you to many more
helpful sources (biblical unitarian is not to be confused with
the mostly non-christian unitarian universalist beliefs). |