#Dust was not 18 when Cross was 16 for example

[a-whispering-echo]

no promises on when they might come out, im suffering big time rn, but, yeah

[perpetual-help]

@loki’s-right-nut

I saved some segments from your post but your response on tumblr is gone, so I will place this in its own post in hopes you will see it. Maybe tumblr is being weird, or maybe you deleted your response, I’m not really sure. Either way, you raised some points that are worth answering.

*Quotes and scripture references belonging to loki’s-right-nut will be noted in red and italicized to prevent any confusion.

I see you are Catholic as well? I also see you are quite learned in the scripture. So tell me, do you remember what Isa (that’s Jesus’s actual name and I’m sure he’d be very flattered if you used it) said about judging others? Luke 6:37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Let Isa and his father be the ones to bring back the wayward. Because since he is love, he is also understanding and compassion and patience. Those who “turn away” from him have their reasons and he understands this. Isa is all knowing, yes? So he knows. Let him take care of it instead of trying to start another crusade online.”

Luke 6:37 is true. God alone can judge the heart. This means that I cannot say whether a certain person went to hell, or will go to hell. I cannot read their hearts; this belongs to God alone. However, we can and are called to judge actions and to correct and instruct others.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

“All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

Now, in regards to Christian witches, Isa also said something and I really hope you remember. Because Isa actually spoke to someone very much like yourself. Mk 9:38-41

“At that time, John said to Jesus,
"Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,
and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”
Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him.
There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name
who can at the same time speak ill of me.
For whoever is not against us is for us.”

They have found another way to work for Him and he is pleased by that. They do his work in another way in which they can better let him into their life. They call it “magic” but he calls it “A mighty deed in his name.”

Those driving out demons did so in the name of Jesus, not in the name of some false deity or spirit or demon. In Acts, there is a passage that talks about a woman who is possessed by a spirit that allows her to tell fortunes.

Acts 16:16-18

“As we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl with an oracular spirit (spirit of divination), who used to bring a large profit to her owners through her fortune-telling. She began to follow Paul and us, shouting, “These people are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.” She did this for many days. Paul became annoyed, turned, and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” Then it came out at that moment.”

1 John further illustrates a need for discernment of the spirit, and expands on the fact that there are many false prophets in this world.

1 John 4:1-6

“Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can know the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh belongs to God, and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus does not belong to God. This is the spirit of the antichrist that, as you heard, is to come, but in fact is already in the world. You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them, for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They belong to the world; accordingly, their teaching belongs to the world, and the world listens to them. We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us, while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us. This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.”

Sorcery is condemned in the Bible. I included the passages for this in my original post, but I will also include them here for you to reference if needed.

Galatians 5:19-23

Revelation 21:5-8

“You are quite right about the Tyrant view. In fact, I began to see it at a young age. I remember being in Youth Group when I finally voiced it. I said "I can't bond with Him (god) because I fear being struck down. Like I am a mere slave bowing before a mighty king who will knock me down to the dust should I make one misstep."

God is Just and He is Merciful. For those who truly seek to love and serve Him, He aids them in all matters. This fear of being struck down over a misstep is understandable, but it isn’t entirely accurate. We are given the sacraments for a reason - one of those being confession. God doesn’t desire to condemn, He desires for us to repent.

“There is something very wrong with some of these teachings. On the surface level, yes, most of these can be good wisdom. "Love thy neighbor" and such. But a large majority of these messages hold a toxic amount of self denial and utter dependency on this deity. The more you look, the more you realize, he doesn't want you for you. He wants you to mold you into submission so he can easily control you. if you withstand the treatment and somehow leave, he'll see it as betrayal and send you to the fiery pits for eternity”

God is a loving Father and we are made in His image and likeness, with the purpose to love Him and all people as He loves us. He calls us to servitude and sacrifice, and He has given us the most perfect example of this in Our Lord Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Like the loving Father He is, He encourages all people to rise above the passions of the flesh and the pleasures of this world in order to recognize this need to subdue the flesh and grow in the spirit. Self denial promotes a deeper level of submission to the will of God - and, since God is Love and all things Good and Holy, this is the only way we can reflect such virtue. Humility is the opposite of pride. It is a state of being more than it is a singular action. Humility is truth because it is the honest recognition of what we, as humans, are. We are creatures chained by our passions, deluded by our own egos, self-serving, reveling in all kinds of sin. We do not see this sin for what it actually is, but God sees it. He saw all sin that ever was and ever would be committed while He hung on the cross. It was our sins that wounded Him and drove the nails into His hands and feet, and the spear into His side. Every single day our sins offend Him in the moments of His Passion. Without God, we cannot even begin to attempt to loosen our bonds of sin. We are entirely dependent upon Him - and that is where we recognize what we are. We are little and weak and prone to sin. Still, God is magnified in our weakness and in our recognition of this littleness, and He is forever eager to fill our hearts with His infinite Love so that we might reflect His goodness like polished mirrors. Thus, we can rightly say God alone is worthy of all glory and honor and praise. When we understand the role we, as each individual person, has played in the torments of Our Lord during His passion, this is where a desire to suffer for love of God begins to bloom. Those who love God seek to lessen His torments even by one iota - to sacrifice themselves in His place, should such a thing be possible. They seek to follow in His footsteps more closely, and to offer all sufferings for others, for the souls in purgatory, and all united with Jesus on the cross. God sees this love and great sacrifice and how the soul strives to reach closer to Him, and they in turn are blessed to taste the depths of pleasures in His infinite love.

[disasterfangirl]

The Best Scroll Saws for the Workshop

On the off chance that your undertakings require complicated cuts, for example, those required when you create gingerbread trim or design expound adornments boxes, wood signs, or perch rooms, your go-to carpentry device might be out of its group. For a more prepared choice, consider the parchment saw. These strength saws are viewed as basic instruments for carpentry, especially irreplaceable for specialists and craftsman carpenters hoping to include better subtleties. (On the off chance that you've ever observed complex wooden riddles, you've most likely observed crafted by scroll saws.) Not just is this kind of observed prepared for detail, however it likewise leaves about smooth edges, so insignificant sanding is important to accomplish smooth completions.

Before putting resources into a claim to fame apparatus, you should feel sure that it suits your necessities and expertise level and will serve you dependably. Ahead, this guide covers key tips for picking the best parchment saw for your requirements, and furthermore remembers subtleties for our preferred alternatives for everybody from amateurs to pros.Key Shopping Considerations

Parchment saw costs start at around $125 yet may cost more than $1,000, contingent upon quality and highlights. Most home carpenters can buy fair parchment saws for under $500. The more costly models are more qualified to proficient fabricators. Consider the accompanying apparatus highlights when shopping.

Throat Capacity

On a parchment saw, the throat limit is the good ways from the saw sharp edge to the back edge of the saw. The more profound the throat limit, the more extensive the material you can cut. A few saws accompany throat limits as shallow as 12 inches, while bigger business saws may have throat limit as profound as 30 inches. For most carpentry errands, a throat limit of around 16 to 18 inches is adequate. On the off chance that you intend to cut bigger plans, select a saw with a more profound throat limit.

Remember that you can turn the material you're cutting, so the greatest width of the material you can cut is about double the saw's throat limit. For instance, if the saw's throat limit is 16 inches, you can cut the focal point of a 32-inch wide board.

Pressure Setting

A parchment saw accompanies a control that permits you to increment or lessening strain on the edge while you work. With an excess of pressure, the meager cutting edge could snap. Then again, if the strain is excessively free, the edge may curve while you're cutting and make a rough edge on your material.

On certain saws, you move a switch to set the edge strain. Different saws highlight strain control handles. Normally, a strain control that is situated on the facade of the saw is ideal. In the event that your saw has one on the back, you should move to the rear of the saw each time you need to change the pressure on a cutting edge.

Cutting edges and Blade Changing

Parchment saws will acknowledge one of two regular kinds of flimsy edges: "plain-end cutting edges," or "pin-end blades."Plain-end sharp edges are held set up between jaws that clasp firmly at the top and the base of the edge (beneath the table of the saw). This is the most well-known sort of edge acknowledgment, and a wide assortment of plain-end sharp edges are promptly accessible for cutting various kinds of material (wood, plastic, metal). Generally, scroll saws that acknowledge plain-end edges require the utilization of an apparatus (included with the saw) to fix and release the cinches.

Pin-end sharp edges highlight little cross pins at each end that fit in snares. Pin-end edges are the less complex of the two kinds of sharp edges to change on the grounds that no extra instrument is important. In any case, less assortments are accessible, which may affect the size of your cut. For instance, on the off chance that you have to make a tight cut, the cross pin toward the finish of the sharp edge might be too wide to even think about fitting through the cut in the material.

Speed Options

A parchment saw is appraised by the greatest number of here and there sharp edge strokes the device can finish in a solitary moment. That can go from a low of 400 strokes for every moment (spm) to as high as 1,800 spm. Delicate woods. for example, cedar. can be handily cut at 400 spm, while hardwoods, for example, pecan, are simpler to cut at higher velocities. Parchment saws with variable speed alterations offer the best of the two universes.

Slant Cutting

Many parchment saws offer inclining tables that permit you to cut material at an edge. This is helpful for those occasions when you need to make an angled edge. Most observed tables tilt up to 45 degrees, generally to one side, yet some tilt in the two ways. Inclining the two different ways is a convenient element, yet not basic—you can generally turn the material you're slicing over to cut an angle on the opposite side. Furthermore, a more up to date sort of parchment saw offers a head that inclines as opposed to a table that inclines.

Hold-Down Foot

As a wellbeing insurance, all parchment saws in the U.S. highlight a hold-down foot that keeps the material you're cutting squeezed immovably against the considered's table to be you cut. Not every person acknowledges this security include on the grounds that a massive hold-down foot can hinder your vision where you're cutting. A few carpenters even eliminate the foot. A superior (and more secure) choice is to pick a saw with a hold-down foot that is produced using solid yet flimsy metal. A massive one can darken a greater amount of the cutting region.

Errand Lighting

At the point when you see scroll saws, you may see a little cylinder that snakes around to the edge of the cutting edge. That is a LED intended to enlighten the specific spot on the material where you're cutting. Splendid lighting is important to make the best cuts. Most parchment saws currently offer adaptable cylinder task lighting.

Residue Blower and Collection

A residue blower eliminates aggregated residue from the outside of your material, so it doesn't develop around the sharp edge and square your perspective on the cutline. A few models likewise highlight dust assortment, commonly as a port on the slicing table underside that connects to a standard wet/dry shop-type vacuum. Beginning the shop vac before making cuts will suck up the residue as you go. A residue assortment port assists keep with tidying out of the air in the carpentry shop (and, all the more significantly, out of a drying wood finish)

[hellboundgentlemen]

Massive Headcanon list Part 2 of 4

Alright so, this one is going to feature headcanons that apply to My interpretation of Alastor given what we know and what can be gleaned. As usual, given the topic, triggers will be listed for blacklisting in the tags

Headcanon 1: Alastor's primary sins are:

Violence

Gluttony (specifically Glutton for both his cannibalism but also in the sense for his drive for power)

Wraith (for reasons that will be apparent)

 Headcanon 2: His original demonic power is the ability to consume any demon whole and "convert" them into a zombie minion. Said zombie may or may not be self aware of their fate.

Headcanon 3: In accordance with Voodun tradition and by going by his domains and outfit, Alastor's Patron Loa (Spirits called in Voodoo rituals and ceremonies) is likely Papa Legba, although for darker rituals, he tends to favor Kalfu, the Petro aspect of Legba.

He made a deal with Kalfu for removing that earthborne limit. He had to give up parts of his sanity.

Headcanon 4: He died by being shot in the lung, then ripped apart by hunting dogs. Turns out the hunter who shot him was the dad of one of his victims. He was still alive when the dogs ripped him apart.

Headcanon 5:His Serial Killer title (due to never being suspected or caught, in life or death) was the Doe Hunter. He tend to hunt unfortunate women who where new in town and lacked anyone to identify them, usually those migrating for a job, a country mouse hoping to turn into a city girl, grifters or out of towners. He has nothing against women personally, they were just easier prey for him by the era's standards. In Hell he hunts both genders.

Headcanon 6: His former Mortal name is Alan Charles Dubois. And he fucking hates it. Especially his first name.

Headcanon 7: He was raised by his physically and mentally abusive grandparents. His birth parents both died under somewhat suspicious circumstances. Unfortunately his grandparents were Southern Gentry which meant they had a concerning amount of influence or political pull. Grandparents names are Grosvenor and Jacqueline Dubois.

Headcanon 8: He's white-passing POC (but he himself didn't know until he was way older). Father was Haitian-puerto Rican and mother was French American.

Headcanon 9: He grew up in the St James Parish of the New Orleans area as a boy but moved into the city proper as a adult.

Headcanonn 10: You can summon Al. I highly advise against it.

Headcanon 11: Alastor's weird radio voice effect is partially tied into the deal he made with Kalfu. Had he not made the deal, part of Alastor's punishment in Hell would have rendered him mute.

Headcanon 12: His cane can also turn into a bunch of other things, including a hunting rifle, a staff, a sword and a broom to shoo Angel Dust out of a room if needed.

Headcanon 13: His favorite candy is Peach Blossoms. But his favorite dessert is Beignets.

Headcanon 14: Despite using the banned Magic of Voodoo, he does not trust nor like fey magic. In his words, nothing good comes from it

Headcanon 15: One of the potential punishments in Hell for cannibals is their flesh tastes like really good food. In Alastor's case, biting him tastes like the most perfectly cooked Venison steak you will ever have. But not many know this....or live to tell the tale.

Headcanon 16: Is demiromantic asexual (mine is at least) and therefore is extremely selective with would be partners.

Headcanon 17: Al takes manners seriously. Like you wouldn’t believe. He may be a murderous sonofabitch but he is a Southern Gent and you will remember that for the love of God.

Headcanon 18: While he’s not formerly diagnosed and he would most certainly have no clue, Alastor does nearly fit into the symptoms of histrionic personality disorder, abet a surprisingly high functioning example. Somehow.

Headcanon 19: His antlers rarely shed, and yes he grows Velvet and it rots, tears, bleeds and peels off like a actual deer. 

Headcanon 20: Alastor’s body is extensively scarred, some are veves etched into his skin, various claw and bite marks, and on his back, massive,  crossing,back-covering flogging scars that his grandparents inflicted,

[tailahjanbash]

No More Blindfolds

Nearly two years ago, in a desperate attempt to understand myself, I opened up a box where I only kept my most secret and desired prayers. I scribbled a prayer down, shut the box, and never thought about it again.

Fast-forward to 2018, and a couple failed attempts at relationship-ing later, I found myself complaining to Holy Spirit.

All of my friends are getting married!

… Well, okay, not allll of them—but some of them are! Okay like, two. But still! Most of them have at least found love!

You know I don’t even want to get married! But it would be cool to be in love. Why can’t you help a sister out here?

Once my pity party was over, he directed my attention to that little box sitting on my bookshelf. I’m pretty sure it had dust on it, because I hadn’t opened it in for-ever.

I walked over, grabbed that tiny box and began leafing through my old entries. I couldn’t help but smile as I read through my cries to God. There wasn’t a prayer he didn’t answer! He really listens. I thought. Then I got to the last one. My smile quickly faded as I read:

“Help me find myself on my own and be happy with just you. 11-27-16.”

My eyes grew wide. I couldn’t believe it.

I played myself.

Did 19-year-old Tailah really just screw up her dating life for the next two years?

I’ll tell you what she thought. She thought this lesson would include a few months of soul searching with some grandiose revelation of who she was at the end, leading her to her “soul mate”.

I sat back after feeling like the Holy Ghost just (lovingly) smacked me in the face. I couldn’t even complain, because I asked for this.

The truth is, sometimes we pray dangerous prayers without even realizing it. This is just one example—others include “Show me your glory”, “Send me”, or “Make me more like Jesus”.

I’ve shared many of the wonderful things I have learned during this year of being single, but this last lesson as my year comes to a close has been the most eye-opening yet.

I don’t know what kind of home you grew up in, but mine was pretty strict. My parents were loving—but Mark and Diane didn’t play. They never babied me, and when my sisters and I were wrong, they made sure we knew we had disobeyed and faced the consequences. On the positive end, whenever we did something great, we were lavished with words of encouragement, affirmation, hugs, high-fives and sometimes even gifts!

While they had good intentions in teaching us right and wrong, this ended up cultivating a performing spirit in me. The enemy came in and told me that I had to achieve, earn, and work for love and affirmation.

I quickly learned that this was not the case with Jesus, because our salvation is not dependent on what we do. The bible say that Christ died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8) and that our salvation is a gift that we did not deserve, but instead given to us simply because He loves us.

But I was today years old when I realized that true love is not something that I have to strive for, earn, or perfectly maintain in order to possess it.

My entire life I grew up in church hearing “Find a man that loves you the way Jesus does.” But to be honest, I was unclear of what that meant.

Does that mean if it ever came down to it, he would die for me? I don’t have a lot of experience in home invasion, but I guess if it ever happened he would take a bullet for me?

Or maybe it means he’s supposed to be a super spiritual guru—you know the kind of guy that leads worship or a life group or goes around praying for sick people.

My measuring stick was still works.

Someone loving you the way Jesus loves you is someone who loves you without judgement or conditions. They see your mess and the worst parts of you that you hide from everyone and still choose you. And they don’t just stay—they love you in spite of all of your shortcomings and failures, because they see your full potential and believe in you. They believe in second chances, because Christ does.

In fact, someone reading this needs to know this: He wouldn’t have died for you If he didn’t believe in you. The enemy tells us that we can’t change, we don’t have enough faith, or can’t earn God’s love, but Jesus would not have gone to the cross if that were the case. We can come to Him at any time, be made new, and be adopted into his family has his sons and daughters, because his sacrifice was more than enough, and we can do all things through Him (Phil 4:15).

In order to identify real love, you have to experience it in its fullness first. If you don’t know the love of Jesus deeply and personally, you will end up settling for someone who cannot give you the love you need. You need perfect love first and foremost, as it acts as the foundation for every other kind of love in our lives. This is only found in Christ.

Trying to find earthly love without knowing perfect, heavenly love is like trying to get to your GPS destination with blindfolds on. Sure, Siri might even be able to give you verbal directions, but what good are they if you have no clue where you are and can’t see the road signs? You end up fumbling around grabbing onto whatever “feels” like what you should be looking for.

There’s a reason why David the psalmist says that God’s word is a lamp to our feet! It guides and gives clarity to every step of our path! If you need clarity over your life or your mind—look no further, friend. He is the master planner and will gladly show you the blueprints you need for the next steps. No more guessing, wandering, or aimlessly feeling around with blindfolds. You don’t have to live in fear of your decisions and relationships being wrong.

Sitting here, in the aftermath of the unpacking, the answer is quite simple: Jesus and his word. Isn’t it funny how we overcomplicate?

I don’t know about you, but I am going into this next season with a clear mind, heart, and sense of where He is directing me. I want my eyes to be centered on him, not looking to the right or to the left for some kind of person or thing to make me feel complete— I want to be full, satisfied, and overflowing with His perfect and complete love.

9-1-18

[pastorralffriedrichs]

The Bible and Compassion?

A general definition of compassion is sympathy and concern for the sufferings of others and a desire to alleviate such suffering. The Hebrew and Greek words translated as "compassion" in the Bible speak to having mercy or being moved with sympathetic pity.

The most important object this word is used to describe is God Himself. God is the root and foundation, the spring and fountainhead, of all true compassion

(1 John 4:16).

God's compassion is extoled throughout the Bible.

Below are two particularly pertinent passages.

"Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance?

He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot.

You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea"

(Micah 7:18–19).

"As a father shows compassion to his children,

so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

For he knows our frame;

he remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass;

he flourishes like a flower of the field;

for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children"

(Psalm 103:13–17).

God is compassionate. He is sympathetic to the suffering of His people.

He sees our distress and takes pity on us. However,

His compassion is more than mere sympathy and pity.

God's compassion is related to His mercy, kindness, patience, grace, forgiveness,

and love.

In fact, some of these attributes are so related and interwoven as to make clear demarcations between them difficult.

God's compassion compels Him to take action.

He is no impotent observer, but the omnipotent sovereign ruler of the universe (Romans 9:14–16).

God's sympathy for our lost and miserable state led Him not only to feel our pain, but to provide an atoning sacrifice for our guilt; this He did by sending His Son to die for our sins (Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:1–10).

Jesus is the Father's most compassionate gift to mankind. It is only by and through faith in Jesus Christ that we are forgiven of our guilt and rescued from our deplorable condition

(John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

Jesus is God in the flesh

(John 1:14).

He experienced human life and is able to sympathize with us fully (Hebrews 4:14–16).

He lived a perfect life and modeled things like compassion for us.

By observing the compassion of Christ we catch glimpses of the compassion of the Father and see how we ourselves can show compassion to others (Philippians 2:1–11).

The compassion of Christ can be clearly seen in the Gospel narratives. For example, in Matthew 9:36, we observe Christ's compassion for the harassed and helpless. In Matthew 14:14, we see His compassion for those who are sick and suffer disease. In Matthew 15:32, we witness His compassion for those who hunger.

In Luke 7:11–15, we hear of His compassion for the widowed who were especially vulnerable; therefore,

He resurrected the widow's son and gave him back to her.

In the case of Lazarus, Christ's compassion was so strong that He wept (John 11).

When Jesus arrived graveside,

He raised Lazarus from the dead and gave him back to his grieving relatives.

No doubt Jesus Himself rejoiced greatly over the return of His friend.

The pinnacle of Christ's compassion can be observed at the cross of Calvary where He lay down His life for the sins of the world (John 3:16). Those who put their faith in Jesus are born again spiritually and receive the Holy Spirit.

We are made new creations in Christ

(2 Corinthians 5:17).

This enables us to love God and our neighbors. We are commanded in Scripture to put on hearts of compassion as we relate to our fellow Christians (Colossians 3:12–15) and to those who have yet to hear the gospel and believe in Christ.

This compassion we are called to is not emotive only, but is a call to action.

True compassion encompasses both a gut level feeling of sympathy and pity as well as positive action taken on our part to relieve the suffering we observe

(1 John 3:18). One of the most compassionate acts we can do is to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ with those who do not know Him so that they might be restored to fellowship with Him.

However, our compassion is not to be limited to the lost. We are commanded to have compassion on all people, but especially those who belong to the household of faith (Galatians 6:10) and more especially to those who are poor and powerless among us (James 1:27).

Jesus has given believers the Holy Spirit and commanded us to follow His promptings to be compassionate (Galatians 5:22–23).

We must have Jesus' heart for the lost, hurt, wounded, poor, and needy souls of this world. Scripture makes it crystal clear that if we do not have compassion or love for each other, then we do not know God

(1 John 3:17; 4:20).

We cannot be void of compassion and still call ourselves Christians. Compassion is of paramount importance in revealing the genuineness of our faith in Christ. Compassion and love are how we are identified as Christ's disciples

(John 13:34–35). Without it we are nothing but clanging cymbals

(1 Corinthians 13:1–3).

May we pray that He will forgive us when our hearts are cold and fan the flames of compassion in us, given by the Spirit.

#hopeministriessanctuary #takeyourlifebacktodayshow #strugglesbecamemystrength #ralffriedrichs #thetruthcannotlie #fall7timesgetup8times #nevergiveup

https://ralffriedrichs.info

[daughter-of-mary]

God is love, and the Holy Scriptures prove it:

Love is patient 

‘’The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.‘’ 2 Peter 3:9 

‘’But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law’’ Galatians 5:22-23 

‘’The Lord is patient, but He is also very powerful! The Lord will punish the guilty; He will not let them go free. He will use whirlwinds and storms to show His power. People walk on the dusty ground, but He walks on the clouds.’’ Nahum 1:3 

Love is kind 

‘’But show me unfailing kindness like the LORD’s kindness as long as I live, so that I may not be killed’’ 1 Samuel 20:14 

“Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty’’ Job 6:14 

‘’The Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His works.” Psalm 145:17 

Love doesn’t envy 

‘’I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to Him.‘’ 2 Corinthians 11:2 

Love does not boast 

‘’Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’’ Matthew 11:29 

‘’And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! ‘’ Philippians 2:8 

‘’Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.’’John 5:19 

Love is not proud 

‘’For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45  

‘’For He knew who was going to betray Him, and that was why He said not every one was clean. 

When He had finished washing their feet, He put on His clothes and returned to His place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.’’ John 13:11-16 

Love does not dishonor others 

“I have no husband,” she replied. 

Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” John 4:17-18 

They were trying to set a trap to find something against Him. Jesus got down and began to write in the dust with His finger. They kept on asking Him. Then He stood up and said, “Anyone of you who is without sin can throw the first stone at her.” Again He got down and wrote in the dust. When they heard what He said, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones until they were all gone. Then Jesus was left alone with the woman. 

Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are those who spoke against you? Has no man said you are guilty?” She said, “No one, Sir.” Jesus said to her, “Neither do I say you are guilty. Go on your way and do not sin again.”’ John 8:6-11 

Love is not self seeking 

‘’For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.’’ John 3:16 

‘’Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His clothes by casting lots.’’ Luke 23:34 

‘’Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to Him, and He began to teach them. As He walked along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed Him. While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Him and His disciples, for there were many who followed Him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw Him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked His disciples: “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?”. Mark 2:13-16 

Love is not easily angered 

‘’The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.’’ Psalm 103:8 

‘’The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.’’ Psalm 145:8 

‘’So he complained to the LORD about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.’’ Jonah 4:2 

‘’’’Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the LORD your God, for He is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.’’ Joel 2:13 

Love does not keep record of wrongs 

‘’The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.’’ Lamentations 3:22-23 

‘’And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.’’ Hebrews 8:12 

“I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for My own sake and will never think of them again.’’ Isaiah 43:25 

‘’Then He adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Hebrews 10:17 

‘’Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,’’ Acts 3:19 

‘’Once again You will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under Your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!’’ Micah 7:19 

‘’As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.’’ Psalm 103:12 

Love does not delight in evil 

‘’To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behaviour and perverse speech.’’ Proverbs 8:13 

‘’The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, He hates with a passion.’’ Psalm 11:5 

“For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In My faithfulness I will reward My people and make an everlasting covenant with them.’’ Isaiah 61:8 

Love rejoices in the truth 

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’’ John 14:6 

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.’’ John 1:14 

‘’Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.’’ John 17:17 

‘’But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come.’’ John 16:13 

‘’For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4: 24 

Love always protects 

‘’Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuternonmy 31:6   

‘’The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.’’ 2 Timothy 4:18 

‘’The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.’’ Proverbs 18:10-12 

‘’The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my Savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.’’ Psalm 18:2 

‘’But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.’’ 2 Thessalonians 3:3 

‘’But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from Me. I, the LORD, have spoken!’’ Isaiah 54:17 

‘’So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. "All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all.’’ Isaiah 41:10-12 

‘’The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.’’ Psalm 23: 1-7 

‘’You make your saving help my shield, and Your right hand sustains me; Your help has made me great. You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.’’ Psalm 18:35-36 

‘’Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.’’ Ephesians 6:10-15 

‘’The Lord will keep you from all harm- He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.’’ Psalm 121:7-8 

‘’You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.’’ Psalm 32:7 

‘’God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.’’ Psalm. 46:1 

‘’So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Hebrews 13:6 

‘’You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.’’ Psalm 119:114 

‘’The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.’’ Psalm 27:1-5 

‘’What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?’’ Romans 8:31 

‘’Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you say, "The Lord is my refuge," and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in Their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. "Because he loves Me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name. He will call on Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.” Psalm 91: 1-16 

‘’But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of Your love; for You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.’’ Psalm 59:16 

‘’We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that His life may also be revealed in our mortal body.’’ 2 Corinthians 4:8-11 

‘’I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:28-30 

Love always trusts 

‘’Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.’’ Proverbs 3:5-6 

‘’Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this.’’ Psalm 37:4-5 

‘’You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.’’ Isaiah 26:3 

‘’Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You.’’ Psalm 9:10 

‘’When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.’’ Psalm 56:3 

‘’But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.’’ Jeremiah 17:7 

‘’Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Mark 5:36’’ 

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me.’’ John 14:1 

Love always hopes 

‘’For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’’ Jeremiah 29:11 

‘’So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.’’ 2 Corinthians 4:18 

‘’For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.’’ Romans 15:4 

‘’For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth.’’ Psalm 71:5 

‘’The LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.’’ Psalm 147:11 

‘’There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.’’ Proverbs 23:18 

‘’May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’’ Romans 15:13 

‘’Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him.’’ Psalm 62:6 

‘’This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.’’ 1 Timothy 4:10 

‘’But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.’’  Isaiah 40:31 

Love always perseveres 

‘’Then David said, "You shall not do so, my brothers, with that which the LORD has given to us, Who has preserved us, and delivered the troop that came against us into our hand.’’ 1 Samuel 30:23 

‘’And didn't spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when He brought a flood on the world of the ungodly.’’ 2 Peter 2:5 

‘’And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me for His heavenly Kingdom; to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.’’ 2 Timothy 4:18 

‘’The LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as at this day.’’ Deuteronomy 6:24 

‘’Thus says the LORD, "In an acceptable time have I answered you, and in a day of salvation have I helped you; and I will preserve you, and give you for a covenant of the people, to raise up the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritage.’’ Isaiah 49:8 

‘’Neither do they say in their heart, 'Let us now fear the LORD our God, who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season; who preserves to us the appointed weeks of the harvest.’’ Jeremiah 5:24 

‘’For it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way in which we went, and among all the peoples through the midst of whom we passed.’’ Joshua 24:17 

‘’Preserve me, God, for in you do I take refuge.’’ Psalms 16:1 

‘’Oh love the LORD, all you His saints! the LORD preserves the faithful, and fully recompenses Him who behaves arrogantly.’’ Psalms 31:23 

‘’You are my hiding place. You will preserve me from trouble. You will surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.’’ Psalms 32:7 

‘’Your righteousness is like the mountains of God. Your judgments are like a great deep. the LORD, You preserve man and animal.’’ Psalms 36:6 

‘’Preserve my life according to Your loving kindness, so I will obey the statutes of Your mouth. LAMED.’’ Psalms 119:88 

‘’The LORD, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet.’’ Psalms 140:4 

‘’The LORD preserves all those who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.’’ Psalm 145:20 

‘’The LORD preserves the simple. I was brought low, and He saved me.’’ Psalm 116:6 

‘’Preserve my soul, for I am godly. You, my God, save your servant who trusts in You.’’ Psalm 86:2 

‘’Let the sighing of the prisoner come before You. According to the greatness of Your power, preserve those who are sentenced to death.’’ Psalm 79:11 

‘’You will keep them, the LORD. You will preserve them from this generation forever.’’ Psalms 12:7 

‘’Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.’’ Joshua 21:45 

‘’God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?’’ Numbers 23:19 

‘’For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.’’ 2 Peter 1:21 

‘’The Lord of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.’’ Isaiah 14:24 

‘’Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.’’ Psalm 136:26 

‘’Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus Our Lord.’’ Romans 8:39 

Love never fails 

‘’The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.’’ Jeremiah 31:3 

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‘’There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.’’ 1 John 4:18 

‘’Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.’’ 1 John 4:8 

‘’So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.’’ John 13:34 

[spencecreates]

I posted 473 times in 2021

174 posts created (37%)

299 posts reblogged (63%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 1.7 posts.

I added 284 tags in 2021

#spence nonsense - 54 posts

#spence nonsense - 53 posts

#self reblog - 41 posts

#answers - 40 posts

#anonymous - 30 posts

#my art - 21 posts

#a pirate's love is the sea - 18 posts

#other's art - 11 posts

#my writing - 8 posts

#oc: floris - 8 posts

Longest Tag: 103 characters

#shout out to middle school me who was terrified of making a chubby character and hated their own weight

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

Lucifer’s hand is so small in Leviathan’s, thin bones so delicate and vulnerable. He could snap them if he wanted to, a single squeeze grinding them to dust. It is an act of trust, of restraint, to be curled together in silken sheets with strong arms around the delicate being half his size. 

The wounds on Lucifer’s back drive him crazy, the smell of blood always around him and broken skin never healing quite enough. It awakens his primal nature, feeding into the rage he feels towards the pain he has, at how a part of him was simply snipped away. 

A predator, bloodthirsty and wild, cradles the broken body of a delicate bird. 

Would it be a mercy to end this life of suffering? Leviathan thinks of the nights Lucifer spends weeping, body so rigid with pain that any touch makes him cry out. The days where he can’t even leave the house, his mind and body trapping him behind the doors of his home. Times of trembling fear, driving him to breaking rules of society as he trembles in a corner, breath caught and choking his throat. 

He thinks of Lucifer’s laughter, so rare but so genuine that it lights the world around him. How he hums to the rose bush outside his room, fingers tracing petals soft as baby’s skin. The nights when he insists on being outside, so he might watch the stars cross the dark sky. He had experienced the sea’s love so recently, and now he seeks it nearly every day. Was it suffering? 

There was no answer Leviathan could give that would satisfy himself. He was selfish. His days would be miserable without eyes so blue the ocean itself envied him. He had met him and knew, never could he bear to be without him again. He loved him more than life itself. 

These thoughts and more passed as he watched Lucifer sleep finally after a hard night, looking so peaceful besides the dark circles under his eyes and the red puffiness from crying. 

And it all stops as Lucifer shifts and curls into his chest. He mumbles something Leviathan can not make out but a smile curls like his hair and nothing else matters.

A predator wraps his arms around his soft broken bird, and silently promises he will help repair him. 

[my ko-fi]

15 notes • Posted 2021-06-06 08:23:36 GMT

#4

Lady of the hour. Queen Sylvia from my new idea

16 notes • Posted 2021-05-14 22:33:58 GMT

#3

So anyway...

But here’s my art tag if you want to look at some examples

20 notes • Posted 2021-04-01 06:31:12 GMT

#2

Some commission info. More on my ko-fi and if you have any questions, you can email me spencerose9@gmail.com

23 notes • Posted 2021-10-18 19:03:04 GMT

#1

Hell yeah we are in BUSINESS baby

285 notes • Posted 2021-01-20 01:34:19 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

[jesus-thenameaboveeveryname]

16 Fully and truly human

1. Fully and Truly human

①     God the Son put on weaknesses of human with sinful desires.

Mark14:33 He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be greatly alarmed and distressed.

Mark14:34 He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch."

†  The Son felt the same anguish and despair that humans feel.

Luke1:35 The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.

Luke1:36 Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

Luke1:37 For no word from God will be void of power."

Luke1:38 Mary said, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word." The angel departed from her.

†  The Son put on the human body as it was, and was confined to all the limitations the body could have. The Son inherited thorns and thistles, the sinful desires, just like us from a human woman in a cursed flesh.[1] Therefore, the Son can command us in a cursed flesh[2] to love God and our neighbors. Would the Creator command us to obey the commandments that He would not have kept if He had been in the same state as us?[3] No creature loves the Creator who kills creatures unless they keep the commandments which the Creator Himself does not keep. The Creator Himself became a creature to leave the example of keeping the commandments to creatures. The Creator God allowed free will to the creatures, and He ordained that the free will to be completed only with love.[4] Accordingly, in the creation world as it is now, only when they are loved by the Creator God and realize His justice, the creatures can come to love the Creator and give up their will to sin.[5]

Luke22:42 saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."

Luke22:43 An angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him.

Luke22:44 Being in agony he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.

†  The Son suffered from anguish enough to cause His thin blood vessels to burst. Like us, the Son was a fully human being, in a flesh that produced thorns and thistles[6], the desires of sin.[7] The only difference is that the Son is the Word[8] and that God the Holy Spirit has been fully present in the Son. Humans who follow the Son can overcome sins like the Son if they receive the word of God and God the Holy Spirit fully.[9]

John12:27 "Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say? 'Father, save me from this time?' But for this cause I came to this time.

†  Although the Son suffered from being abandoned by the Father.[10] He looked at the pain of the Father who abandoned His Son[11], and was very afflicted.[12] But since the Son is the Word itself[13], it was impossible for the Son to reject the cup that the Father gave Him.[14] The Son must have felt anguish, but He did not really want Him to take the cup. The Son came to drink the cup.[15] The Son must have been really distressed, but He was looking at the joy after taking the cross.[16] Through the cross, all creatures would know the love of the Creator and would love the Creator.[17] All creatures granted free will would be completed as the creatures who would never sin.[18] The 1st Adam received the fruit of good and evil that Eve gave him by loving Eve and died for his own sin, but the Last Adam bore Eve's sin by loving Eve, the chuch, and died for Eve's sin.[19]

Rom.8:3 For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh;

Rom.8:4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

†  The Son, like humans, was put on a cursed body that would return to dust[20], producing thorns and thistles, which are the desires of sin.[21] However, the Son, who is the Word[22], kept all the commandments with his weak body through God the Holy Spirit of truth.[23] The Son is the commandments.[24] God the Son became a creature and showed us how God would appear[25] when He put on a flesh.[26]

Heb.2:14 Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

Heb.2:15 and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Heb.2:16 For most assuredly, not to angels does he give help, but he gives help to the seed of Abraham.

Heb.2:17 Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.

†  Because the Son determined to come as a human in a cursed earthy flesh and judge sin and Satan fraudswarms, He helps Abraham's descendants who follow the Son, not angels.[27] Because the Son determined to take the cross and to judge Satan, He became a brother of humans.[28] Since the Son came as a human and overcame Satan, the way of salvation was opened to those who overcome Satan along the way of the Son.[29] Those who receive the Son are forgiven of their sins with the blood of the Son. When those who are forgiven of sins follow the Son to the end, they are finally saved.[30] However, those who betray the Son and obey Satan again, even though they were once forgiven of their sins, are defeated by Satan and become slaves of Satan.[31] Accordingly, when death and Satan are thrown into the lake of fire, they are thrown together with Satan into the lake of fire.[32]

†  Salvation is not immediately confirmed for those who are forgiven by the blood of the Son. Forgiveness of sins and salvation are different. Salvation is the result of forgiveness of sins, but salvation is not the forgiveness of sins. When someone receives the Son, he/she acknowledges that he/she is a sinner and accepts the love of the Son who redeemed his/her sins. When someone receives the Son, he/she promises to forsake Satan and obey the Son. However, if he/she grieves God the Holy Spirit later[33], extinguishes God the Holy Spirit,[34] and deliberately continues to break the commandments and not oby the Son[35], even if he/she says that he/she received the Son with his/her mouth, in fact he/she is still serving Satan as his/her master.[36] Therefore, when his/her master, Satan, is thrown into the lake of fire, he will be thrown into the lake of fire with him.[37]

†  If someone confesses the Son with his/her mouth and receives forgiveness of sins, and God immediately confirms his/her eternal life, he/she would not have to prove to his/her neighbor creatures that his/her faith was true or not. If God unconditionally brings him/her into heaven without any verification about his/her faith just because he/she has confessed with his/her mouth, the creatures looking at such a situation can misunderstand God. If God unconditionally brings him/her into heaven, even though the test of whether he/she really truly loves God or not has not been completed, the creatures looking at such a situation may not be convinced about God's justice.[38] Creatures cannot truly love God with any misunderstanding about God remaining in them. That is the characteristic of free will. In such a state, the possibility of sin remaining in the creatures is not extinguished. God's judgment is completely accurate.[39] But creatures do not know that.[40] God knows everything[41], but creatures do not know everything.[42] This is because God originally created the creation world[43] so that creatures cannot know it.[44] Therefore, God convinces the creatures about His love and justice through proof. That is why God openly verifies the truthfulness of those who have been forgiven of their sins. This is because there may be creatures who will misunderstand God if God forsakes some as the ones who will betray and saves some as the ones who will not betray without any evidence, even though they are equally forgiven. God proves His love and justice to His creatures so that they can know it.[45] Had the Creator not allowed free will to the creatures in the first place, it would not have been necessary to perfect the free will of the creatures.[46] Had the Creator not tried to win the hearts of the creatures in order to complete their free will, it would not have been necessary to make the creatures know His love and justice through proof.[47] However, God granted free will to angels and humans.[48]

†  Even if the angels belonging to God will not be misunderstood, Satan can object to his/her salvation. Satan can appeal to justice of God, asking why God throws Satan that sinned into the lake of fire while He saves those who might sin in the future. Therefore, God reveals to creatures why He saves whom and why He judges whom.[49] God gives each of His creatures opportunities to prove their faith by what they do.[50]

Heb.4:15 For we don't have a high priest who can't be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.

†  The Son felt all the weaknesses He had to feel as a human being, and He was subjected to all tests just like humans. And He won. Therefore, the opportunity for salvation was opened to humans. Anyone who follows the same path the Son has taken will be resurrected as the Son.[51] If he/she is filled with the word of God[52] and led by God the Holy Spirit like the Son[53], and takes the cross like the Son[54], he/she will be resurrected like the Son.[55] Resurrection was impossible for a man who had sinned. But the Son redeemed for his/her sins with His blood[56], gave him/her the word of God[57], and God the Holy Spirit came in the name of the Son to him/her covered with the blood of the Son.[58]

Н   The reason why the Son wore a cursed flesh that arouses the sinful desires

The body from which the sinful desires rise makes it almost impossible to keep the law.[59] The cursed body makes it almost impossible to love God and neighbors.[60] Then, if we do not have the desires of the flesh, can we keep the commandments with our own strength? No. Even without the desires of the flesh, creatures cannot keep the commandments of their own. Even so, because the thorns and thistles do not rise from the flesh, it will be much easier to keep the commandments than when the thorns and thistles come up.[61] Had the Son not been put on the cursed body from which the desires of sin were produced[62], even if the Son had kept all the commandments, the truthfulness of the commandments would not have been fully proved. Even if people who keep the commandments come out with the ground not being cursed and the desires of sin are not produced in the flesh[63], Satan will repeat what he said about Job. "Does Job fear God for nothing?"

But, did Job not keep the commandments for a while wearing a body with the sinful desires?[64] Even though Job in a cursed flesh kept the commandments, did Satan not accuse him anyway?[65] Even though a creature who put on the body of death kept the commandments for a while, Satan continues to accuse the commandments of being unable to keep. I do not think that Satan will stop accusing the commandments of being unable to keep, even if someone wears a body without sinful desires and keeps the commandments. Whether he/she wore a body with the sinful desires or a body without the sinful desires, it is the same that he/she cannot keep the commandments by himself/herself alone.[66] Even so, with the body that produces the sinful desires, it is even more impossible to keep the commandments by his/her own strength than with the body that does not produce the sinful desires. The more the creatures keep the commandments in conditions that it is harder for them to keep, the more certain the truthfulness of the commandments is proved. If creatures keep the commandments with the body that produces the sinful desires, Satan will be completely speechless. God the Son determined to come and keep the commandments as Adam, who would put on the flesh that would make it much more difficult to keep the commandments due to sin. God the Son has ordained to prove the truthfulness of the commandments through those who will put on the cursed flesh.[67] After that, He began to create.[68]

The creature that overcomes sin is not held to death.[69] The creature who keeps the commandments is not held to death.[70] In other words, the creature who loves God and his/her neighbors is not held to death. Only if we are not held to death can we live forever. Only by overcoming sin can we avoid death. Therefore, only those who overcome sin can be resurrected and transformed.[71] And through the resurrection and the transformation of the saints, especially of the martyrs, Satan's assertion that it is impossible for creatures to keep the commandments turns out to be false. The commandments are convinced by creatures as the proper basis of judgment. Accordingly, only after the appointed number of martyr witnesses are resurrected and transformed[72] is the judgment on the evildoers executed.[73] Our Lord Jesus was resurrected and became the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.[74] Among the saints who received the forgiveness of sins through the blood of our Lord Jesus and received God the Holy Spirit, the firstfruits that will be raised with the better resurrection[75] will come out.[76]

God the Son came into Hades, put on a cursed flesh with the sinful desires as Adam, and inherited[77] the incomplete creation world.[78] The Son overcame death and was resurrected and was seated on the true throne of the heaven of angels[79] in a resurrected body.[80] After finishing the judgment[81] and completing the creation[82], the Son will return the inherited and completed creation world back to His Father.[83] God the Son will again be made equal with God the Father in eternity and infinity.[84] (I just look through the perspective of a creature confined in space and time now. There is no way that creatures dare to know[85] the Creator God[86] who made and maintains[87] space and time.[88] Creatures know only[89] as much as the Creator God[90] has made them known.[91])

②     He overcame sin by obeying God the Holy Spirit.

John8:46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?

†  In the Son is no sin.[92]

John15:10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and remain in his love.

†  The Son kept the commandments of the Father.

2Cor.5:21 For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

†  The Son has no sin. This does not mean that He did not even feel the temptation of sin[93], but that He knew what it was to sin, but He could not sin.[94] I guess this would be similar to knowing the concept of harming someone, but not being able to harm him/her because love him/her.

Heb.5:7 He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,

†  There was time when it was difficult for the Son to obey the Father as well. Although the sinful desires may have risen from the cursed flesh that He put on, since He has no evil desires and must have mastered the desires of sin[95], the Son would never have been difficult to obey His Father because of the temptations that come from the desires of the cursed flesh.[96] However, the Son must have been distressed as He saw His most beloved Father suffer from abandoning His most beloved Son. Also, the Son must have suffered from the despair of being rejected by His dearest Father. Even so, the Son was on the path of obedience[97] and obeyed His Father to the end.[98] And the Son must have felt the pain that comes along the way.

Heb.7:26 For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

†  The Son was a fully human, just like Adam who had the desires of sin from his cursed flesh after his fall.[99] But the Son had nothing to do with sin, even though He put on a flesh from which the sinful desires were produced.

1Pet.2:22 who did not sin, "neither was deceit found in his mouth."

1Pet.2:23 Who, when he was reviled, didn't revile back. When he suffered, didn't threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously;

1Pet.2:24 who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.

†  The Son was without sin.[100] Even if Satan's forces attacked the Son to harm Him, the Son entrusted Himself to His Father who judges justly.[101] The Son determined to take the cross first in order to fulfill the will of His Father to annihilate sin from the creation world through the Son.[102] The Son, the Heir[103] and the Judge[104] of the creation world, could have immediately judged sinners.[105] However, the Son did not immediately judge the sinful creatures to annihilate sin.[106] Not only to save sinners who receive the Son, but to perfect the free will of the angels who did not sin[107], the Son patiently endured.[108] If the Son had judged sinning creatures before saving repentant humans through the cross, the free will of the righteous creatures would not have been completed.[109] Because the creatures would not have been completely convinced of God's love and justice.[110] Therefore, the Son paid the wages of sin on behalf of humans who had sinned in order to fulfill the will of His Father.[111]

Ω     The Son who came in the form of prostitute

1Kin.3:17 The  one woman said, Oh, my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was  delivered of a child with her in the house.

1Kin.3:18 It  happened the third day after I was delivered, that this woman was delivered  also; and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save  we two in the house.

1Kin.3:19 This  woman's child died in the night, because she lay on it.

1Kin.3:20 She  arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while your handmaid slept,  and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.

1Kin.3:23 Then  said the king, The one says, This is my son who lives, and your son is the  dead: and the other says, No; but your son is the dead, and my son is the  living.

1Kin.3:24 The  king said, Get me a sword. They brought a sword before the king.

1Kin.3:25 The  king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half  to the other.

1Kin.3:26 Then  spoke the woman whose the living child was to the king, for her heart yearned  over her son, and she said, Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and in no  way kill it. But the other said, It shall be neither mine nor yours; divide  it.

†   Satan tries to escape judgment, even by  killing all of his neighbor creatures. But the Son's heart is arousing with  love for His creatures.[112] For  a mother, giving up her child is like giving up her life. The Son also gives  up His life for the sake of His creatures.[113] That  is the cross. If all of the creatures die, in other words, break the  commandments and sin, the commandments cannot be the basis for judgment.  After all, Satan's intention to make even the living child his own is to make  even the living child die of sin. If most of the creatures sin and most of  the creatures fail to escape judgment, the commandments will be recognized to  creatures as unjust laws that creatures cannot keep. And God, who gave the  commandments that cannot be kept to the creatures, is accepted by the  creatures as unrighteous. If there are no creatures who love God and  neighbors[114],  God will be misunderstood by the creatures.[115]  Satan simply deceives the creatures to rule them and to be glorified by them,  but if the creatures misunderstand God, the creation world will eventually  perish. No creature can be continued to exist even after being cut off from  the life of the Creator.[116]

1Kin.3:27 Then  the king answered, Give her the living child, and in no way kill it: she is  the mother of it.

†   Here, the prostitute symbolizes the  creature[117]  who stood before the King, the Creator, the child, Adam, the mother of the  living child, the Messiah Christ, and the mother of the dead child, Satan.  The Son comes to the creation world as a creature and tries to save neighbor  creatures from judgment. And Satan tries to avoid judgment by tempting  neighbor creatures to sin. On the cross, the Son is judged in place of humans[118], and  from humans who come to know the love of God, those who resist Satan come  out.[119] Through  the cross of the Son who came as a prostitute[120], the  living come out[121] and  through the living, the judgment against Satan is confirmed.[122]

[1] Gen.3:17 To Adam he said, "Because you have listened to your wife's voice, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground for your sake. In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.

[2] Rom.7:22 For I delight in God's law after the inward man, but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death?

[3] 1Pet.2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps, who did not sin, "neither was deceit found in his mouth." Who, when he was reviled, didn't revile back. When he suffered, didn't threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously;

[4] 1John4:9 By this was God's love revealed in us, that God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, if God loved us in this way, we also ought to love one another.

[5] 2Cor.5:14 For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died. He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again.

[6] Gen.3:17 To Adam he said, "Because you have listened to your wife's voice, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground for your sake. In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Thorns also and thistles will it bring forth to you; and you will eat the herb of the field.

[7] Heb.5:7 He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,

[8] John1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

[9] Gal.5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one other, that you may not do the things that you desire. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

[10] Matt.27:46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" That is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

 Ps.22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?

[11] Gen.22:7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, "My father?" He said, "Here I am, my son." He said, "Here is the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" Abraham said, "God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they both went together. They came to the place which God had told him of. Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, on the wood. Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to kill his son.

[12] Mark14:34 He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch."

[13] John1:14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

[14] John18:11 Jesus therefore said to Peter, "Put the sword into its sheath. The cup which the Father has given me, shall I not surely drink it?"

[15] Matt.26:53 Or do you think that I can't ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels? How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?"

[16] Heb.12:2 looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

[17] Col.1:20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross. Through him, I say, whether things on the earth, or things in the heavens.

[18] 1Cor.15:25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death.

[19] Is.53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

[20] John8:57 The Jews therefore said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?"

[21] Rom.7:24 What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death?

[22] 1Pet.1:23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever. For, "All flesh is like grass, And all of man's glory like the flower in the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls; But the Lord's word endures forever." This is the word of good news which was preached to you.

[23] John3:3 Jesus answered him, "Most assuredly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can't see the Kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" Jesus answered, "Most assuredly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can't enter into the Kingdom of God!

[24] 1John1:1 That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we saw, and our hands touched, concerning the Word of life (and the life was revealed, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us);

[25] John1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.

[26] John14:9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do you say, 'Show us the Father?'

[27] Heb.2:14 Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For most assuredly, not to angels does he give help, but he gives help to the seed of Abraham. Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.

[28] John5:26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

[29] Rev.12:10 I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now is come the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. They overcame him because of the Lamb's blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn't love their life, even to death.

[30] 1Pet.1:9 receiving the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

[31] 2Pet.2:19 promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for by whom a man is overcome, by the same is he also brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the defilement of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state has become worse with them than the first.

[32] Rev.20:14 Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.

[33] Eph.4:30 Don't grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

[34] 1Thess.5:19 Don't quench the Spirit.

[35] Heb.10:26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries.

[36] 1Tim.5:12 having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge.

 Titus1:16 They profess that they know God, but by their works they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.

[37] 2Pet.2:19 promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for by whom a man is overcome, by the same is he also brought into bondage.

[38] Job1:8 Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil." Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? Haven't you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce you to your face."

[39] Ps.111:7 The works of his hands are truth and justice. All his precepts are sure. They are established forever and ever. They are done in truth and uprightness.

[40] Job36:26 Behold, God is great, and we don't know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.

[41] 1John3:20 because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

[42] 2Chr.6:30 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive, and deal with each man according to all he does, since you know his heart (for you alone know the hearts of men),

[43] Job4:18 Behold, he puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels with error. How much more, those who dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who are crushed before the moth!

[44] 1Cor.2:11 For who among men knows the things of a man, except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God, except God's Spirit.

[45] Rom.5:8 But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

[46] Is.44:22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins: return to me; for I have redeemed you.

[47] 1Tim.5:24 Some men's sins are evident, preceding them to judgment, and some also follow later. In the same way also there are good works that are obvious, and those that are otherwise can't be hidden.

[48] Rom.9:20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed ask him who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?" Or hasn't the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel for honor, and another for dishonor?

[49] Rev.16:5 I heard the angel of the waters saying, "You are righteous, who are and who were, you Holy One, because you judged this way. For they poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve this." I heard the altar saying, "Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments."

[50] James2:17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself. Yes, a man will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder.

[51] Rom.8:17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.

[52] John1:14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

[53] Luke4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness

[54] Matt.10:37 He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn't worthy of me. He who doesn't take his cross and follow after me, isn't worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.

[55] Rom.6:5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection;

[56] Eph.1:7 in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,

[57] John6:55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he who feeds on me, he will also live because of me.

[58] Acts2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

[59] 1Cor.9:21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law.

[60] Gen.3:17 To Adam he said, "Because you have listened to your wife's voice, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground for your sake. In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Thorns also and thistles will it bring forth to you; and you will eat the herb of the field.

 Rom.7:24 What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death?

[61] Gen.3:17 To Adam he said, "Because you have listened to your wife's voice, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground for your sake. In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Thorns also and thistles will it bring forth to you; and you will eat the herb of the field. By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

[62] Rom.7:22 For I delight in God's law after the inward man, but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death?

[63] Job1:8 Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil."

[64] Job31:13 "If I have despised the cause of my man-servant Or of my maid-servant, When they contended with me; What then shall I do when God rises up? When he visits, what shall I answer him? Didn't he who made me in the womb make him? Didn't one fashion us in the womb? "If I have withheld the poor from their desire, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, Or have eaten my morsel alone, And the fatherless has not eaten of it (No, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, Her have I guided from my mother's womb); If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, Or that the needy had no covering; If his heart hasn't blessed me, If he hasn't been warmed with my sheep's fleece; If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, Because I saw my help in the gate: Then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, And my arm be broken from the bone.

[65] Job2:3 Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil. He still maintains his integrity, although you incited me against him, to ruin him without cause." Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "Skin for skin. Yes, all that a man has will he give for his life. But put forth your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce you to your face."

[66] Eph.2:8 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.

[67] Rev.6:9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had. They cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, Master, the holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" A long white robe was given them. They were told that they should rest yet for a while, until their fellow servants and their brothers, who would also be killed even as they were, completed their course.

[68] Col.1:16 For by him were all things created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.

[69] Rom.6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[70] 1Cor.15:55 "Death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

[71] 1Cor.15:54 But when this corruptible will have put on incorruption, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: "Death is swallowed up in victory."

[72] Rev.6:9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had. They cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, Master, the holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" A long white robe was given them. They were told that they should rest yet for a while, until their fellow servants and their brothers, who would also be killed even as they were, completed their course.

[73] Rev.11:15 The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!" The twenty-four elders, who sit before God's throne on their thrones, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: "We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was; because you have taken your great power, and reigned. The nations were angry, and your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and to give your servants the prophets, their reward, as well as the saints, and those who fear your name, the small and the great; and to destroy those who destroy the earth."

[74] 1Cor.15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep.

[75] Heb.11:35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

[76] Rev.14:4 These are those who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed by Jesus from among men, the first fruits to God and to the Lamb.

[77] Luke20:13 The lord of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. It may be that seeing him, they will respect him.' "But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.'

 Heb.1:2 has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds.

[78] 1Cor.15:25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death.

[79] 1Pet.3:22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.

[80] Luke24:39 See my hands and my feet, that it is truly me. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn't have flesh and bones, as you see that I have." When he had said this, he shown them his hands and his feet. While they still didn't believe for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. He took it, and ate in front of them.

[81] John5:22 For neither does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn't honor the Son doesn't honor the Father who sent him.

[82] 1Cor.15:25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death.

[83] 1Cor.15:28 When all things have been subjected to him, then the Son will also himself be subjected to him who subjected all things to him, that God may be all in all.

[84] Phil.2:6 who, existing in the form of God, didn't consider it robbery to be equal with God, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.

[85] Ps.145:3 Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised! His greatness is unsearchable.

[86] Job4:18 Behold, he puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels with error.

[87] Col.1:17 He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.

[88] Rom.8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[89] Matt.10:29 "Aren't two sparrows sold for an assarion? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your Father's will,

[90] Matt.16:17 Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

[91] John3:27 John answered, "A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven.

[92] 1John3:5 You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and in him is no sin.

[93] Matt.4:2 When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward. The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."

[94] Matt.4:4 But he answered, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'"

[95] Gen.4:7 If you do well, will it not be lifted up? If you don't do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it."

[96] James1:14 But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death.

[97] Matt.26:53 Or do you think that I can't ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels? How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?"

[98] Phil.2:7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.

[99] Gen.3:17 To Adam he said, "Because you have listened to your wife's voice, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground for your sake. In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Thorns also and thistles will it bring forth to you; and you will eat the herb of the field.

[100] Heb.4:15 For we don't have a high priest who can't be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.

[101] 1Pet.2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps, who did not sin, "neither was deceit found in his mouth." Who, when he was reviled, didn't revile back. When he suffered, didn't threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously;

[102] 1Cor.15:25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death.

[103] Heb.1:2 has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds.

[104] John5:22 For neither does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn't honor the Son doesn't honor the Father who sent him.

[105] Matt.26:53 Or do you think that I can't ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels? How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?"

[106] John12:47 "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.

[107] 1Pet.1:12 To them it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent out from heaven; which things angels desire to look into. Therefore, prepare your minds for action, be sober and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ --

[108] Heb.12:2 looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

[109] Col.1:20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross. Through him, I say, whether things on the earth, or things in the heavens.

[110] John14:15 If you love me, keep my commandments.

 1John4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

[111] 1Cor.15:28 When all things have been subjected to him, then the Son will also himself be subjected to him who subjected all things to him, that God may be all in all.

[112] Hos.11:8 "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.

[113] John10:15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep.

[114] John15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you.

[115] Rev.6:9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had. They cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, Master, the holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" A long white robe was given them. They were told that they should rest yet for a while, until their fellow servants and their brothers, who would also be killed even as they were, completed their course.

[116] Acts17:28 'For in him we live, and move, and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also his offspring.'

 Col.1:17 He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.

[117] Phil.2:6 who, existing in the form of God, didn't consider it robbery to be equal with God, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.

 Rev.22:8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!"

[118] Gal.3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,"

[119] Titus2:14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

[120] Rom.8:3 For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh; that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

[121] Eph.2:1 You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience; among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,

[122] Rev.11:15 The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!" The twenty-four elders, who sit before God's throne on their thrones, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: "We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was; because you have taken your great power, and reigned. The nations were angry, and your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and to give your servants the prophets, their reward, as well as the saints, and those who fear your name, the small and the great; and to destroy those who destroy the earth."

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Top 30 Reasons You Should Be Considering Power BI Training in Pakistan

BI #1 Power BI Training in Pakistan “In the future, I believe there will be those who were able to adapt the new method early and rapidly and are leading from the front, as well as those who couldn't, shouldn't, or wouldn't and were left in the dust.” For various reasons, there were (and still are) individuals who went early and those who waited. When a company has a big financial commitment in a legacy BI solution, there can be a good reason to hold off. Power BI was primarily a self-service BI solution in 2017, and it wasn't nearly suitable for enterprise use. All of that has changed now. So buckle up – here are my top 30 reasons why you and your firm should adopt Power BI for self-service and/or enterprise BI.

BI #1 Power BI Training in Pakistan

1. It's from Microsoft (the new Microsoft)

Nobody can doubt Microsoft's dominance in the world of business software and IT solutions.

Microsoft hasn't always been good at listening to individual customer complaints, but it has always been good at developing and delivering world-class commercial products. Power BI is a continuation of that tradition, but it is superior for all of the reasons I discuss in this article.

2. Power BI is based on the SSAS platform from the ground up.

Although Power BI is a new tool, it has a long history. Microsoft has been one of the most successful firms in the BI market, with SQL Server Analysis Services Multidimensional and Microsoft Excel, in terms of self-service BI. Excel was the most extensively used self-service BI tool prior to Power BI Training in Pakistan.

3. Power BI is based on SSIS from the ground up.

Power Query (the self-service ETL tool – Extract, Transform, and Load) was designed from the ground up utilizing new technologies yet with a proven track record, just as Vertipaq. However, Microsoft has once again brought in its top SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) team, which has a long and successful track record of successful ET.

4. Power BI can import data from almost any source.

Connectors for the majority of the key data sources have already been constructed and deployed in production. There is also a "catch-all" ODBC database connector, and new (less mainstream) connectors are constantly being developed. In addition, several cloud-based connectors, such as Google Analytics, make it simple for users to connect to cloud content.

5. Power BI is extremely compact and fast.

Vertipaq (the data modelling engine in Power BI and Excel) is a columnar database that is extremely compressed and performant. It creates a highly compressed database that loads completely into memory for fast performance using modern tabular database technology (developed from the ground up). It is not uncommon for a database to compress between 600 and 1200 percent, resulting in a 1 percent reduction in size.

6. Power BI now has a brand-new visualization engine.

There is no luggage to bring with you on this trip - no Silverlight, for example. Microsoft has created a fresh new HTML 5 visualization engine that is simply amazing. Everything (nearly everything) will be sliced and diced, and everything else will be cross-filtered.

7. Open source visualizations are available in Power BI.

Microsoft released early on (thanks to that excellent leadership noted before) that it couldn't solve world peace by itself. Instead of trying to address every visualization challenge for every firm around the world, Microsoft opted to offer its visualization source code so that any competent developer can design their own.

8. Power BI is designed for Excel users, but it is not Excel.

This is the pinnacle of self-service Power BI Training in Pakistan. Who better than the firm that created and owns Excel to develop the user interface for the business user community? While it is reasonably simple to get started for Excel users, it is not Excel. The rigout and structure of SQL Server Analysis Services have been integrated into this product by Microsoft.

9. Power BI is now available in the cloud.

The world is heading to the cloud, whether we like it or not. This solution was designed from the ground up with cloud sharing in mind. It employs all of the latest HTML5 coding approaches to ensure browser compatibility across all platforms. It has industrial-grade security wrapped around its cloud presence, and it is unquestionably safe — Microsoft's image is tarnished.

Unless it's in the cloud, that is.

For whatever reason, not every firm is ready to shift to the cloud. Microsoft has announced Power BI Report Server, an on-premise version of Power BI that allows businesses to store their data on-premise if necessary. Furthermore, the software's desktop version is free for anybody to use and is at least as excellent (if not better) than Excel for performing personal BI analyses.

11. There are mobile apps for Power BI.

One of the advantages of starting from scratch is that you don't have a legacy to uphold. Microsoft has developed apps for both Apple and Android devices (and Windows mobile of course).

12. You can subscribe via email, but don't do so!

I understand that some of you simply want your static report delivered to your inbox every morning. That's fine, Power BI can handle that. Simply navigate to the report tab you wish to see, click "subscribe via email," and when you get to work, a professionally prepared PDF that is excellent for printing will be waiting in your inbox.

13. You may integrate Power BI into your own custom apps.

Another advantage of starting from the bottom up is that you can consider a wide range of concerns when designing the architecture. Microsoft has always intended for Power BI Training in Pakistan to be able to be integrated into custom apps. So, if you want to create your own website and control user access with your own logon credentials, Microsoft is happy with that. It's just them.

14. Power BI is inexpensive to purchase.

It's completely free to try and use for as long as you wish. If you want to use more enterprise capabilities, such as regulated data sharing and automatic refreshes via gateways, you'll have to pay – wait for it – a whopping US$9.99 per month per user. It's enough to send the competition shivering through their boots!

15. Power BI is simple to use (and hence cheap to train users)

A Power BI report can be interacted with by anyone who can click a button. Anyone who wishes to consume content interactively will find it straightforward and simple to understand. The product's minimal training costs make the total cost of ownership quite appealing. And that's before the product is ever utilized to assist users in making decisions.

16. Power users can learn how to use Power BI's modelling engine.

With the Vertipaq engine, Power BI is also enabling self-service BI for a new breed of "citizen developers" from the business community. It is no longer the sole responsibility of an MDX coder to create a usable cube. Many businesses will continue to require IT cube developers, and they can now do it more easily.

17. Power users can learn how to use data loading features in Power BI.

Power Query is so simple to use that it embarrasses SSIS experts. I'm not implying that SSIS developers are no longer required. For large-scale enterprise BI initiatives, I believe there will always be a demand for enterprise-grade technology. 

18. Power BI is a self-service BI platform

Power BI Training in Pakistan is self-service BI embodied for the two reasons mentioned above (the Vertipaq engine and Power Query). It's all you'd expect from self-service BI and more. Any proficient Excel user may easily learn and apply these tools, allowing them to become partially self-sufficient in their analytics and reporting needs.

19. Except when it's not self-service BI

However, just because Power BI is a powerful self-service BI tool doesn't imply it can't also be a powerful enterprise BI tool — in fact, it can do both. Power BI is both a powerful enterprise tool and a self-service solution. Also, don't overlook the importance of ad hoc and enterprise analysis capabilities.

20. Power BI provides dashboards for consolidation.

Power BI is a data source aggregator, among other things. It makes no difference where your data comes from or how/if it connects with other data that matters to you. You can add data in Power BI and pin your visualizations to a dashboard/cockpit where you can view everything you care about and nothing you don't. 

21. Power BI improves on a daily basis - literally!

The Power BI service is updated on a regular basis. Improvements are released into the cloud service as they are made. Microsoft also has to make upgrades to the mobile apps and Power BI Desktop at the same time. These products are released on a monthly basis rather than on a daily basis, but the speed is still tremendous. 

22. Power BI has a large user base.

At the time of writing, Power BI was less than two years old (it is now six years old), and there are millions of users in the community who ask questions and help out other like-minded people. There are hundreds of user groups in major cities throughout the world, and there are displays illustrating how individuals are already utilizing Power BI. Specifically

23. What's significant is decided by the Power BI community.

Isn't it true that Microsoft has evolved? Rather than producing simply what Microsoft feels we need, the company is asking the community what new features they want the most. Anyone can sign up and submit and/or vote on new product improvement suggestions.

24. Power BI features a query engine that understands plain language.

This may appear to be a gimmick, but believe me when I say it is quite cool and effective. You may ask well-designed Power BI Training in Pakistan data model natural language questions like "what were my sales yesterday by state?" or "how are bike sales trending compared to last year?" Power BI will do its best to provide the answer to you as a table, chart, or whatever else you like.

25. Power BI provides automatic analysis with immediate insights.

When you load your Power BI reports to PowerBI.com, a rapid insights tool will trawl through them and analyze the data for quick insights. Quick Insights produced about 50 fascinating pieces of information about the data in my report when I ran it on the Adventure Works demo database.

26. Power BI works in tandem with Excel (no need for export)

Power BI has two major benefits over the competition in this area. To begin, you don't need to export to Excel; simply choose "Analyze in Excel," and Power BI and Excel communicate as if they were twins separated by an umbilical cord (this is literally true in fact). Second, Power BI's appearance and feel is so similar to Excel that it's hard to tell them apart.

27. Power BI works in tandem with PowerPoint.

The truth is that most organizations rely on PowerPoint to communicate stories, thus many people want Power BI Training in Pakistan and PowerPoint to work together. OK, today's PowerPoint integration is quite limited (you can simply export reports to slides), but it works and will only improve. There is already a third-party product available that allows you to email.

28. R and Python are integrated into Power BI.

R and Python are two of the world's most popular open source statistics and transformation software programmes. Microsoft isn't attempting to compete with these applications. Instead, it has decided to natively integrate R and Python into Power BI, allowing you to use your packages with Power BI.

29. Integration of Third-Party Tools

Third-party tools have been around for a long time, most notably DAX Studio and Tabular Editor, but these are just two of the most well-known; there are many more. Microsoft (the new Microsoft) made the deliberate choice to "harden" the Power BI backend so that third-party developers could connect directly to Power BI Training in Pakistan and Power BI Desktop in a stable and supported manner.

30. Microsoft is a favorite of Gartner

Last but not least, Gartner ranks Microsoft first among all vendors in terms of vision completeness and ability to deliver.

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Is Jesus a Mythical figure based on the Norse god Thor? Um, NO, and here is why:

Thor, Son of the god Odin and the goddess Fjorgyn (aka Jord, aka Hilodyn), was the Norse god of Thunder. He flew on a bronze chariot pulled by two goats (Tanngnost and Tanngrisnir), and battled frost giants, creating thunder whenever he struck one with his hammer Mjollnir (though some sources state that it was caused by his chariot rumbles). 

Though eventually becoming the sworn enemy of Loki, god of fire, Thor’s greatest nemesis was with Loki’s child Jormungand, the Midgard Serpent (due to the fact that it was so big that it encircled the earth). Eventually, Thor and Jormungand would one day clash at Ragnarok, the Norse battle of Armageddon. There, Thor will finally get his wish and slay the Midgard Serpent, only to perish in the venom that flows from its body. Though not the King of the gods (a title reserved for Odin only), Thor was nevertheless the strongest of the gods and more beloved by Norse farmers and Icelandic colonists (while the Viking raiders put more emphasis on Odin).  

But was he more than just the Norse God of Thunder?

Was he the basis for Jesus Christ?  

Let’s look at their “parallels” and see why this is a thick-headed idea:

1. Incarnate god?

No. He was never incarnated as a human.

 2. Trinity?

No. In the Temple of Uppsala, there was supposedly a statue of him along two others (one of Freyr and another of Odin), but this doesn’t mean that they were a trinity. They were simply three gods put together. Indeed, the idea that there were three such statues in the temple has been called into question. Thor was never considered part of a Trinity. 

3. Son of God?

Yes, but not in the same way. While Thor was the son of Odin, Jesus is God the Son, a part of the trinity of God that existed long before he was born into the world as a human being. God did bring about his conception by divine power and thus makes Jesus a “Son of God” (Luke 1:135), but he existed in the infinite past (John 1:1-3).  

4. Born of a Virgin?No, Odin and Fjorgyn had sex. 

5. Born of a union of Heaven and Earth?

Thor’s father was the sky god Odin (also the personification of the sky). His mother, Fjorgyn, is an earth goddess. Thus, he is the product of a union of Heaven and Earth.

Though Jesus existed in spirit long before he was born (John 1:1-3), his conception came about because God used his powers to conceive him in Mary’s womb. Heavenly god, earthly woman, together conceiving God the Son incarnate, a product of a union of Heaven and earth. Of course, this union was not sexual in nature (Luke 1:26-37), but then again, not all such unions in ancient religions and myth were said to be sexual in nature. For example, the first man Adam was made out of the dust of the earth, and later brought to life when God breathed the “breath of life” into him (Genesis 2:7). Animals were likewise made in this fashion (Genesis 2:19, compare with Genesis 1:30, 7:14-16, 21-22). 

It is true that both Jesus and Thor are both, in a sense, a product of a union of heaven and earth, but…is this a good parallel?

Well, it’s a bit of a broad parallel. 

 As I mentioned, there are other figures in religious texts and world myth that are products of a union of heaven and earth.  Indeed, there are many. Adam and the first animals in the Bible are several Old Testament examples. The Titans, Hechantonchires (50 headed, hundred handed giants) and the primordial cyclopes were all likewise children of a union of heaven and earth. Specifically, their parents were a sky god (Ouranos (Roman Uranus) and an earth goddess (Gaia). Later, when their son Cronus castrated Ouranos, his blood fell on the earth, creating the Erinyes (Roman Furies), the Meliae (ash tree nymphs) and the Gigantes or giants, massive creatures who had enormous snakes for legs. 

Given this, can we really say that Jesus’s physical body, being a product of a union of Heaven and Earth, was based on Thor being a product of Heaven and Earth?

No.    

6. Star proclaimed his birth?

No.

7. Wisemen?

No. Odin would have no doubt visited him after he was born, and Odin was wise, but…to make a comparison between that and the Wisemen is one of the greatest stretches imaginable, especially considering the fact that none of the Wise Men were Jesus’ father. Indeed, they visited Jesus about 2 years after his birth, not on the night he was born (Matthew 2:1-16).  

8. Someone sought his life shortly after he was born?

No.

 9. Taught in a temple as a boy?

No.

 10. Baptized?

No.

 11. Tempted by the Devil?

Loki, the Norse Equivalent of the Devil, at times got Thor into predicaments and brought him misery, but he never tempted him.

 12. Miracle worker?

All gods were, big deal.

 13. Turned water into wine?

No.

 14. Multiplied bread and fish?

No.

 15. Walked on water?

No.

 16. Healed the sick?

No.

17. Raised the dead?

Thor’s hammer could raise animals from the dead. He would often kill and eat Tanngnost and Tanngrisnir, using his hammer to resurrect them afterwards (though their bones had to be intact for it to work). However, though his hammer had power over death to a certain extent, it could only resurrect animals, not human beings.

Jesus didn’t need a hammer.

18. Had power over storms? 

 Jesus did calm a storm (Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25. Likewise, Thor, being the god of Thunder, had control over storms. However, there is an important difference; Thor had control over the storms because he is the god of Thunder, while Jesus had control over the storms because he, being God, is omnipotent (Matthew 19:26, compare with John 1:1-3, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 1:17, Titus 2:13, 2 Peter 1:1). Jesus is more than a Thunder God. 

He is the God of all. 

19. Cast out demons?

No, Thor never performed exorcisms.  

20. Betrayed? 

 Loki betrayed him on several occasions. Once, he cut off the hair of Thor’s wife Sif. Thor chased him down and nearly killed him. Indeed, he would have done so if Loki hadn’t vowed to get Sif some new hair. On another occasion, Loki convinced  Thor to leave both his hammer and belt of strength behind before they visited Geirrod the Frost Giant. Previously, Geirrod had once taken Loki prisoner. The fire god obviously didn’t want to die, so they made a deal; Loki would be spared if he agreed to bring Thor to Geirrod…without his hammer in tow. Thus, he would seemingly be defenseless when the Frost Giant made to kill him. However, along the way, Thor and Loki met Grid, a frost giantess who warned Thor about Geirrod’s intentions. 

Worried about him, she gave Thor several weapons, including an unbreakable staff and a strength belt of her own. These proved handy when he battled Geirrod, his daughters and his servants, slaying them all. Likewise, Jesus was betrayed by Judas for 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16, 47-56). 

A parallel, right?

Not so much. 

 I mean, how many people, and how many people in religious texts where shown to be betrayed? How many characters of world myth were likewise betrayed? It’s a bit of a broad category, don’t you think? Look at the Bible alone: Jacob betrayed Esau (Genesis 27), only for Laban his father-in-law and Leah to betray him in turn in Genesis 29. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers (Genesis 37:12-36). God was betrayed by the Israelites whenever they turned to worship other gods, such as during the Golden Calf incident (Exodus 32). Delilah betrayed Samson, cutting off his hair so that the Philistines could capture him (Judges 16). Absalom, David’s son, betrayed his father by launching a rebellion against him (2 Samuel 15). 

I mean…really, folks? Really?

This would be a stronger parallel if Loki had betrayed Thor for money, but that’s not the case; he did it for kicks (Sif) and to save his life (Geirrod).

 21. Crucified?

No, Thor is destined to die by the venom of Jormungand.

 22. Death linked to a serpent?

As stated above, Thor is prophesied to die due to Jormungand’s venom. Right before this happens, Thor slays Jormungand with his hammer.

How does this supposedly parallel Christ?

In Genesis 3, after Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit, God lays the hammer down on both them and the Serpent, who tempted Eve to eat it. He turns his attention first to the serpent, telling him that he is cursed above all animals, that he is to move on his belly and eat dust.

Then he says something startling in verse 15:

“And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel."

This is perplexing, since “Seed” was a euphemism for sperm in the ancient world. Since men have sperm and women don’t, one is left to wonder why the woman’s “seed” is mentioned here instead of man’s. True, some translations have “Offspring” instead of seed, but the Hebrew word translated here, Zera, primarily means seed and semen. It can also refer to offspring, but only by extension. This, among other reasons, is why this passage is considered a Messianic prophecy. After all, Jesus didn’t have an earthly father, but a Heavenly Father. Jesus was conceived by divine power working within Mary.

Thus “seed of a woman”.

This prophecy fits even more when we realize that Satan entered Judas, leading him to betray Christ (Luke 22:3-6, 47-53). As a result, Jesus was arrested and later died on the cross. However…he arose from the grave three days later, enabling mankind to accept him as Lord and Savior and thus have eternal life. Satan’s spiritual stranglehold on all mankind was over (see Colossians 1:13, Hebrews 2:14).

Can you say “backfire”?

Satan caused Christ’s death…which in turn destroyed Satan’s spiritual domination over the souls of men. Now people can escape his yoke if they accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. By Jesus’ sacrifice, Satan was defeated.

Keep in mind; Satan is called “Serpent” on several occasions in the Bible (Revelation 12:9, 20:2). Contrary to popular opinion, the identification of the serpent with Satan is actually an ancient one (as indicated in the passages from Revelation cited above). Indeed, one ancient scroll, the “Visions of Amram”, depicts a “Prince of Darkness” in a serpentine fashion. Archeological evidence from ancient Israel shows that they depicted Seraphim angels as winged serpents (sometimes as just serpents). There is much evidence to show that the serpent in the Garden was in reality a powerful supernatural being whose appearance was serpent-like, indeed Satan himself.

Satan, who took on a serpentine fashion, bringing about Christ’s death, only to be defeated as a result, while Thor kills the world serpent, then succumbing to its venom. 

 This is a parallel for sure, but not a perfect one. Indeed, unlike Jormungand, Satan does die; he’s only defeated. He isn’t even shown to take a serpentine form when he enters Judas and gets him to betray Christ. There is a similarity here, but this reeks more of coincidence than of one borrowing from the other. 

Unless, of course, Its not Christians who are doing the borrowing…

Read on. 

23. Resurrected?

No, he is not to resurrect. You’re thinking of the Thor movie.

24. Rules over a future age?

No, his sons Magni and Modi  rule in a future age, along with several other gods.

 Not many similarities, are there?

Indeed, its highly likely that there were originally even less similarities than these. As I said in my previous article on the Norse god Balder, the oldest texts on Norse myths were written by Christian Norsemen in the dark ages, men who added biblical elements to them. I also noted that the Vikings added Christian elements to their faith centuries before this, even placing Jesus Christ into their pagan pantheon. Thus, if there was any borrowing…it was the other way around, the myth of Thor borrowing from the story of Christ in the Gospels. This doesn’t mean that Thor wasn’t worshipped as a God before the arrival of Christianity, or that the Norse were inspired by Christ to come up with Thor (he was worshipped long before Scandinavia was converted), but It does mean that the Norse myths were Christianized by Norse Christians. 

Thus, Thor wasn’t the inspiration for Christ.

Jesus wasn’t based on a hammer-wielding god of thunder. Jesus is God almighty. 

Sources:

“The Prose Edda” by Snorri Sturluson (Translated with introduction and notes by Jesse L. Byock), ix-xiv, 15, 73, 90-92

“The Poetic Edda” Translated by Lee M. Hollander (Second edition, Revised), ix-x

“The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Mythology” by Arthur Coterrell and Rachel Storm, 46, 204, 216-17, 232, 234-37  

“Myths of the Norsemen From the Eddas and Sagas’ by H. A. Guerber, 38, 59-84, 329-39

https://www.ancient.eu/article/1305/nine-realms-of-norse-cosmology/

“Norse myths” By R.I. Page, 46

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Norse_Myths/ODbBmS8Ks-AC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Odin+Thor+Freyr+three&pg=PA46&printsec=frontcover

“The Vikings and Their Age” By Angus A. Somerville, R. Andrew McDonald,102-103

https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Vikings_and_Their_Age/AA7YBgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Odin+Thor+Freyr+three&pg=PA102&printsec=frontcover 

https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_1275.cfm

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jord

“Penguin Dictionary of Classical Mythology”, 141-42, 157-58, 448-49

https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_85.cfm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO13BSSjsYU&t=170s

“Clash of the Gods” Documentary Series, “Thor” episode.

“The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World” Documentary series by Professor Robert Garland, episode 38 (”Being a Viking Raider).

“The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World: Course Guidebook” by Professor Robert Garland, 261-62

“The Portable Seminary” by David Horton (General Editor), 93-95, 120, 124-146, 281

“Systematic Theology Volume Two: God, Creation” By Dr. Norman Geisler,597-99

https://sirtravisjacksonoftexas.tumblr.com/post/628627120722198529/was-jesus-a-mythical-figure-based-on-the-norse-god

https://www.theoi.com/Protogenos/Ouranos.html

“Titans and Olympians: Greek and Roman Myth” by Tony Allan, Sarah Maitland and Dr Michael Trapp (consultant), 25-27

https://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/Erinyes.html 

“Does the Bible Predict the Future?” By Ralph O Muncaster, 14

“Zondervan NIV Exhaustive Concordance: Second Edition” by Edward W. Goodrick and John R. Kohlenberger III, 820, 1401

[frederickwiddowson]

Genesis 50:15-21 comments: Joseph assures his brothers he wants no revenge

Genesis 50:15 ¶  And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. 16  And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, 17  So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. 18  And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. 19  And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 20  But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

We have no evidence that Jacob told his sons to make this request of Joseph. As far as we know this is pure self-interest and understandable as the brother whom they abused is the second most powerful man in their world’s great superpower. They plead with Joseph, through a messenger, not to seek revenge and then further the plea in person. But, they do admit the evil that they did to him in restraining him in the pit and selling him into slavery into Egypt those years ago.

Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then, he gave an important statement about God’s permissive will that we all must understand if we are to understand reality.  This is akin to understanding through the book of Job how all reality, even the most simple thing like dust turning into a clod of dirt in a farmer’s field (see Job 38:38), is a function of His will. Man chooses to do evil; malicious violence, with harmful intent. God can and does use that bad intent to accomplish something for His purpose. You can’t escape His will, though try as you might.

This principle will be noted in the book of Esther, that God’s hand and control can be seen in all events and He has a purpose for us in that situation that we may be blessed by if we acknowledge His sovereignty.

Eshter 4:13  Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

This does not make our evil acceptable. The follower of Christ who believes in His resurrection and that He is the visible image of God, the body of God, and to see Him is to see God, and is the only way to God the Father, in other words, a Christian, is not to do evil so that good may come. In Romans 3 Paul condemns those who twist His words to make it sound like that is what he is implying, that we may do evil that good may come. Instead, we are to seek God’s complete and perfect will as he said in Romans 12.

Romans 12:1 ¶  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We are to keep our minds focused on what is right and good.

Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

And to permit the fruit or proof of having God’s Spirit indwelling us to shine from us.

Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Any so-called Christian who professes that they are willing to do evil so that God may bring something good out of it should be removed from the congregation and you should have no fellowship with them. You only action should be to pray for them, that they may be genuinely saved at some point before it is too late.

God used Joseph’s brothers’ human frailty and hatred of him as a youth to set up His temporal salvation of the people He was creating for Himself.

Joseph forgave and did not seek revenge for wrongs done to him. The Bible speaks often of forgiveness, particularly under the Law where there was a judgment for not forgiving.

Matthew 6:14  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

Mark 11:26  But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

           Paul told us that revenge belongs to God.

Romans 12:19  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Joseph understood these things more than most Christians, particularly in dealing with wrongs done to them by the members of their own family.

Jesus forgave His brethren, the Jews, on the cross, for their ignorance.

Luke 23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…

A willingness to forgive is a fundamental Christian principle although it does go against the American ideal of demanding respect from others and getting fired up if we don’t get our “propers.” In fact, we are so jaded that we will treat someone else in a cruel or thoughtless manner and then become incensed when they respond negatively. We then talk about forgiving them, as Christians, ignoring the fact that we were the original malefactors.

Joseph was abused by his brothers; kidnapped and sold into slavery. He rose to prominence in his new surroundings and was able to turn around and help his own family survive. He realizes God’s hand in these events and does not turn and rend his brothers. He promises to care for them and their families and does so. There are many lessons here for those of us going through trials and tribulations with our families. We must always realize, in every thing, God’s hand in the affairs of men who think they are in control, when they are not. Joseph is a prime example we should follow not some character in an action movie about ‘get-backs’ on people who have hurt you. Remember, though, the brothers are repentant. Forgiveness can only include restoration when there is repentance. That is an important lesson to learn, as well, as some fundamentalists demand women who are abused not only to forgive their tormentor but to restore a sincerely unrepentant tormentor to a position where they can do more harm.

Still, the important thing in this passage is the quality of Joseph’s forgiveness as he recognizes how God acted in his life. We see this more often than we admit if our eyes are open.

[bldgrelationshipwgod]

Christ the Wisdom & Power of God | 1 Corinthians 1:18-20

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” (v.19) Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?              ________________________________________________________

Prime example of this would be: mankind explaining the beginning of time, or as some would pass off as ‘evolution.’

God is incomprehensible — Deuteronomy 29:29; Ecclesiastes 3:11; Isaiah 40:12-14; Isaiah 55:8-9; Proverbs 25:2; 1 Corinthians 2:16.

Deuteronomy 29:29 | The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us & to our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 | He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end.

Isaiah 40:12-14 | Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or marked off the heavens w/ the span of his hand? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on a scale & the hills w/ a balance? Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or informed Him as His counselor? Whom did He consult to enlighten Him, & who taught Him the paths of justice? Who imparted knowledge to Him & showed Him the way of understanding?

Isaiah 55:8-9 | “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways & My thoughts than your thoughts.

Proverbs 25:2 | It is the glory of God to conceal a matter & the glory of kings to search it out.

1 Corinthians 2:16 | “For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. ___________________________________________________________

God is Compassionate — Exodus 22:27; Exodus 34:6; Psalm 65:3; Psalm 78:38; Psalm 103:3; Psalm 106:1.

Exodus 22:27 | because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? And if he cries out to Me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.

Exodus 34:6 | Then the LORD passed in front of Moses & called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate & gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion & faithfulness,

Psalm 65:3 | When iniquities prevail against me, You atone for our transgressions.

Psalm 78:38 | Yet He was compassionate; He forgave their iniquity & did not destroy them. He often restrained His anger & did not unleash His full wrath.

Psalm 103:3 | He who forgives all your iniquities, & heals all your diseases,

Psalm 106:1 | Hallelujah! Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.

RE: You can’t out give GOD! Blessings that will come from GOD in this life, through others, & in the future; eternal blessings.

As per Luke 6:38, we are to hear GOD’s Words obediently & appreciatively because of the promise of reward the LORD has given to us as faithful listeners — who let what we hear be known to others.

Whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what s/he thinks s/he has will be taken away from them. [Matthew 13:12, 25:29, Mark 4:24-25, Luke 8:18, 12:48, 19:26,]

Luke 6:38 | Give, & it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, & running over will be poured into your lap. For w/ the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Matthew 13:12 | Whoever has will be given more, & s/he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

An abundance of what? Divine Blessings. As you give out the truth, you'll be given more understanding, truth, & grace, more power, more joy, more satisfaction/fulfillment. A more abundant life.

And more eternal reward.

You simply can’t out give GOD!

John 10:10 | The thief comes only to steal and kill & destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness. [Divine Blessing: Abundant life]

[dfroza]

beautiful truth.

A set of posts shared by John Parsons all about the True illumination of Light:

The implication that God is our Creator is enormous and pervades everything else in our lives. God’s creative power is witnessed by all conscious life. The Divine Light that was created before the sun and the stars represents God's immanent presence that "lights up" all of creation - including our minds (Gen. 1:3). Since we were created b’tzelem Elohim, “in the image of God,” the witness of God's truth is foundational to all of our thinking as well. The revelation (not the invention) of logical first principles is part of God's "signature," if you will, of how the mind is wired to reality. Likewise we have intuitive awareness regarding the existence of moral truth (i.e., the standard of justice and moral law), aesthetic truth (i.e., ideals of beauty, goodness, worth, and love), and metaphysical truth (i.e., cause and effect relationships). “The heavens are recounting the glory of God, and the expanse is proclaiming his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). God’s power and presence can be clearly inferred from the tremendous effect of the universe itself. As Paul stated, "the invisible things of Him (τά ἀόρατα αὐτοῦ) from the creation of the world are clearly seen (καθοράω), so that people are without excuse" (Rom. 1:19-20). It is the fear of the LORD (יִרְאַת יהוה) that is truly the beginning of wisdom and knowledge (Psalm 111:10; Prov. 1:7; 9:10). The Hebrew word for fearing (ירא) and seeing (ראה) share the same root. We cannot truly see reality apart from reverencing God as the Lord and King of Creation. [H4C]

The New Testament identifies the “Voice of the Creator” (קוֹל יְהוָה אֱלהִים) as the all-powerful Word of God: בְּרֵאשִׁית הָיָה הַדָּבָר / “in the beginning was the Word” (John 1:1,14). Yeshua is the Source of all life in the universe: כָּל־הַמַּעֲשִׂים נִהְיוּ עַל־יָדוֹ / “All things were made by Him (John 1:3). The “Word made flesh” is the "image of the invisible God" and the "radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint (χαρακτήρ, 'character') of his nature" (John 1:14, Col. 1:15). All of creation is being constantly upheld by the word of His power (Heb. 1:3): “All things were created by Him (i.e., Yeshua), and for Him” and in Him all things consist (συνεστηκεν, lit. “stick together”) (Col. 1:16-17). Creation begins and ends with the redemptive love of God as manifested in the Person of Yeshua our Messiah... He is the Center of Creation - its beginning and end. As it is written: אָנכִי אָלֶף וְתָו רִאשׁוֹן וְאַחֲרוֹן ראשׁ וָסוֹף / "I am the 'Aleph' and the 'Tav,' the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End" (Rev. 22:13). Every knee shall one day bow before Him (Isa. 45:23; Rom. 14:11; Phil. 2:9-11). Indeed, Yeshua is מֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים / Melech Malchei Hamelachim: The "King of kings of kings." He is LORD of all possible worlds -- from the highest celestial glory to the dust of death upon a cross... יְהִי שֵׁם יהוה מְברָךְ / yehi shem Adonai mevorakh: “Let the Name of the LORD be blessed” forever (Psalm 113:2). Amen. [H4C]

The question is raised as to why Adam was created alone. Why didn’t God create Adam and Eve together at the same time, or perhaps even create a community of people? The sages answer that God created Adam alone as “olam malei” (עוֹלָם מָלֵא), an entire world, to teach us that each individual person is of great value and significance. “Thus anyone who sustains one individual has sustained the world; and anyone who destroys one individual has destroyed an entire world.” In addition, God created man as a solitary creation to remind all people that they descend from a common source. No one has a greater or better lineage than anyone else. Moreover, each of us is created with a radical sense of “aloneness,” since - despite our relationships with other people - each of us is born alone and will die alone. This sense of aloneness is a built in “hunger” for relationship and especially for God’s presence. Therefore the very first commandment comes in the form of a blessing: “And God blessed them and said, פְּרוּ וּרְבוּ / pru urvu: "be fruitful and multiply" (Gen. 1:28). People were created to be in fellowship with others and with God, and when this is lacking, there is a profound soul hunger and divine need. [H4C]

The New Testament affirms that knowing that the First Cause of the universe is the personal God revealed in the Jewish Scriptures is the result of faith in God’s direct revelation: “By faith (בָּאֱמוּנָה) we understand that the universe [lit. “worlds”] were created by the utterance of God (בִּדְבַר אֱלהִים), so that what is seen [i.e., the “effect” of the universe] did not come into being out of existing phenomena [i.e., was made yesh me’ayin - ‘out of nothing’]” (Heb. 11:3). Again, this is a matter of special revelation directly imparted by God’s grace so that the soul may apprehend the Divine Light that preceded the creation of the worlds. Faith "looks not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:18). This "collision" with the world of everydayness creates a restlessness or homesickness for our true home in heaven... (May God help each of us persevere.)

The very first phrase of the Scriptures, “In the beginning God created...” (Gen. 1:1), is therefore the starting point of all true and right thinking about the universe itself. Everything else follows from this revealed truth which natural (i.e., human) reason can merely approximate. God alone can create yesh me’ayin - “out of nothing” (the Hebrew verb bara (בָּרָא) is used exclusively to refer to God’s power in this way), and therefore God stands exaltedly apart from the universe as its unique Creator and personal Master. This is the guiding thought that overshadows all that follows in the pages of Scripture. God is holy - separate - and entirely unique. He is the Personal God who loves, wills, speaks, intends, etc., and to whom human beings owe their allegiance and life. The God of Israel is not some indifferent deity that functions as a theoretical construct to explain the universe: He is the Source of all life, the personal Judge and Redeemer of all people. [H4C]

“Then the LORD God formed the man from dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living soul” (Gen. 2:7). We tend to think of dust in self-effacing terms; for example, repenting in “dust and ashes” expresses unworthiness and sinfulness. Yet the dust God used to form Adam was not worthless, but instead represented very fine particles of creation, a substance suspended midway between heaven and earth, almost a “spiritual matter.” This is suggested by the fact that God first intended man to be his image bearer and only then used dust as the material for that higher end. The sages note that regarding the creation of animals, God said, “Let the earth (eretz) bring forth according to their kinds” (Gen. 1:24), but regarding man he said, “Let us make him be’tzelmeinu - in our image (as a photograph), after our likeness” (Gen. 1:26). Therefore God brought forth the lower animals in groups, but he created Adam as the only one of its kind, the son of God and prince of God’s creation. God breathed into Adam nishmat chayim (נִשְׁמַת חַיִּים), “a living soul” (the word neshamah [נשָׁמָה] is used to describe life breathed into humans, not to animals). The LORD breathed “out of himself” to share his own spirit with mankind... Therefore your soul does not come from nature, but from God; your inner essence originates directly from the LORD. Yeshua breathes out and says to you, "Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). [H4C]

The Torah begins with the letter Bet (בּ) rather than the letter Aleph (א) to denote God's humility. The letter Aleph is the first letter, the king of the alphabet, and the letter that begins "I AM" (i.e., אנכי) - the first word of the Ten Commandments. The letter Bet, on the other hand, is the second letter that means "house" or "home" (בּית). This suggests that the Torah begins with the focus not on the "I" but on creation, the household of God. And though God did not wish to be the center of attention, so to speak, Aleph and Bet together spell the word "father" (אב), that is, the One who oversees the household of the world in love. As it is written, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights (אֲבִי הַמְּארוֹת) with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change" (James 1:17). [H4C]

The very first prophecy of the Bible was spoken to the serpent, namely, God's promise that through the "seed of the woman" would come One who would battle the serpent and ultimately crush the kingdom of Satan (Gen. 3:15). Notice that the promise of the coming "Serpent Slayer" was given to Adam and Eve before their judgment was announced. And even after their judgment was given, "the LORD God made tunics of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them" - a clear picture of being compassionately "robed in righteousness" imparted by an innocent sacrifice. The very first sacrifice recorded in the Torah - performed by God Himself - prefigured the coming redemption by the "seed of the woman" who would die as a substitutionary sacrifice for their sins.

"God creates the cure before the plague." Just as God created mankind only after He created the pathway of repentance (i.e., Yeshua is called the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world": 1 Pet. 1:20, Eph. 1:4, Rev. 13:8), so purification from death and the nullification of the curse was also foreseen and provided by the cross of the Messiah. Yeshua is the antidote to the venom delivered through the serpent's bite (John 3:14-15). "For as in Adam all die, so also in Messiah shall all be made alive" (1 Cor. 15:22). The "new seed" of life given to us in Yeshua makes us into a "new creation" (בְּרִיאָה חֲדָשָׁה) that fully restores the defaced image of God within us: "Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven" (1 Cor. 15:49). [H4C]

We are in the midst of a great spiritual war -- the war for the truth. This has been the battle from the beginning. The very first words of evil (הַנָּחָשׁ) questioned and garbled God's truth: אַף כִּי־אָמַר אֱלֹהִים לֹא תֹאכְלוּ מִכֹּל עֵץ הַגָּן - "Did God really say you shall not eat from all the trees of the garden?" (Gen. 3:1). The test of the orchard was therefore the test of teshuvah - that is, whether Adam and Eve would turn to God or turn to evil. Satan’s deceptive appeal to Eve was that the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge would give her wisdom that would make her “like God,” knowing both good and evil. The essence of temptation focused on her pride and her desire to acquire wisdom using her own autonomous reasoning. The fruit represented self-will and the abandonment of God’s rule as King of the universe. Eve’s sin was ultimately that of unbelief (which is the reason why we must be saved by faith, as a reversal of the original sin). When she ate the forbidden fruit, the body (carnality) became the central focus and shame was the result.

The Hebrew word for truth (i.e., emet: אֱמֶת) implies more than descriptive correspondence to include faithfulness and trust; it is both cognitive (emunah) and emotive (bittachon). In the end there will be found two types of people: those who love the truth and those who love the lie; these are children of light (בְּנֵי הָאוֹר) and children of darkness (בְּנֵי הַחשֶׁךְ), respectively. Followers of Yeshua the Messiah are told to "walk as children of light" / ὡς τέκνα φωτὸς περιπατεῖτε (Eph. 5:8). Children of light are called to be am kadosh - a holy people - separate from the evil engendered by the fallen world and its forces, just as the very first creative expression of God was the separation of light from darkness (Gen. 1:3-4). The children of light "hate evil and love the good," and conversely, the children of darkness "hate the good and love evil" (Psalm 34:21, Prov. 8:13, Amos 5:15, John 3:20-21). Yes, we hate sin, because sin separates people from healing; we hate sin but we love others. We are to walk in the peace and love of God; to do acts of justice and lovingkindness (Psalm 97:10). "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” [H4C]

We are people of truth, people of faith in the LORD God of Israel. We share our hope with the great tzaddikim of the ages as we walk through the "valley of the shadow of death" that is this world. We believe in God's mercy and love given in the Messiah; we believe in the resurrection of Yeshua from the dead and hold fast to the promise of an unimaginably wonderful blessing reserved for us in the world to come. Meanwhile we walk by faith, believing that no prayer we utter ever goes unanswered. We trust in our heavenly Father's care as we pour out our hearts to him for the healing of those who are still lost and in despair... We remember that time is short and soon we will see our great King panim el-panim, "face to face"! At any given moment of the day, then, regardless of our present circumstances, we can turn to the secret reality of the Divine Presence and come "boldly before the Throne of Grace." As Yeshua said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven...” (Matt. 13:11). The Spirit of God always says, "Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you” (Isa. 26:20). In the secret places of our heart - our “prayer closet” - we appeal to the Hidden Presence to be manifest in the midst of every circumstance of our lives. Our Heavenly Father sees in secret; he knows the groaning of our hearts. Therefore may we never be ashamed; may we never grow bitter; may our sorrows lead us from strength to strength; and may the days of our sojourn yield to us greater wisdom, deeper compassion, and finally return us to the accepting arms of our great God and Savior. By faith let us draw near and call upon the Name of the LORD. Shabbat shalom dear friends... - jjp

10.25.19 • Facebook

[ourhaileydavies]

Latex Allergy: Overview and Recommendations for the Perioperative Management of High-Risk Patients-Juniper Publishers

Introduction

Latex is a natural substance that comes from the sap of the rubber tree. It is a material widely used in the manufacture of domestic, industrial and especially medical products [1]. The prevalence of latex allergy in the general population is estimated between 0.8 and 6.5% [2], and the repeated exposure to this material is the most significant risk factor for its development [3]. Among the main risk groups are health personnel, where the incidence reaches 17%, and patients with spina bifida where 73% incidence has been described [4] (Table 1). Factors as age, race or sex are not associated with an increase in risk.

Worldwide, it is estimated that in one of every 3.500 to 20.000 surgeries an anaphylactic reaction occurs, which represents about 9% to 19% of all surgical complications, with a mortality varying between 3% and 9% [5]. About 50% of the medical devices contain latex [6], so it is not a surprise that this material is the second cause of perioperative anaphylaxis, being responsible in the 12 to 16.7% of cases [7]. Fortunately, this incidence has decreased significantly since hospitals and outpatient surgery facilities have adopted latex-free policies [5]. Based on this background, latex allergy is a condition of special interest to the healthcare professionals. This review of the literature seeks to expose the relevant basic concepts about allergic reactions to latex, as well as to generate guidelines for the perioperative management of sensitized patients.

Sensitization mechanisms and immunological associated to latex reactions

Latex allergy is associated to any immunologically mediated reaction to this material, associated with  clinical symptoms. Since the 1980s, there has been an increase in the incidence of allergic reactions to latex, associated with the introduction of mandatory use of gloves within universal precautions in the prevention of infectious diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C [1,3,8]. Sensitization depends on factors such as the route, dose, frequency of exposure, and individual susceptibility [2,4,9]. Exposure may occur as a result of direct contact with skin or mucous membranes, a wound inoculation, or ingestion.

Another type of exposure occurs when the latex proteins bind to the dust that contain these products, volatilizing during the placement and removal of gloves, being inhaled and to enter the respiratory tract [10].

It has been shown that these particles can remain suspended in the environment for up to 5hours [4,11]. The amount of exposure needed to sensitize a person is unclear, and the threshold required to trigger an allergical response varies considerably among individuals [12,13]. Is possible to describe three types of allergic reactions to latex:

Irritant contact dermatitis: It is the most common type of allergic reaction. Can develop within minutes or hours after exposure, due to mechanical or chemical skin irritation by the components used in the product manufacturing process [3]. Clinically it is characterized to present as pruritus, rash, scaling, burning sensation, inflammation or blistering [8]. No previous sensitization is necessary for the development of dermatitis, but this condition facilitates the progress of an immunologically mediated hypersensitivity reaction, because the lost of skin integrity favors the direct exposure to allergens [14].

Allergic contact dermatitis or type IV hypersensitivity reaction: Reaction mediated by cellular immunity. It occurs between 6 and 48hours after contact with latex, but is usually produced by other allergens from the chemicals used in the production process [8]. T lymphocytes are sensitized and infiltrate the contact zone on the skin [1]. The symptoms are similar to those of irritative contact dermatitis (erythema, vesicles and desquamation) and do not require a history of previous contact to manifest itself [7].

Type I hypersensitivity reaction: It occurs after minutes of exposure, either by the cutaneous, mucosal or aerial route. It requires prior sensitization with latex proteins and production of IgE antibodies. Clinically, it can present as a localized urticaria to a frank anaphylactic reaction. Moderate reactions include rhinitis and conjunctivitis, and are more likely to occur due air exposure or skin contact.

Eighty percent of the reactions associated to latex correspond to contact dermatitis or type IV hypersensitive and occur mainly in response to chemicals used in the manufacture of these products [12]. Only type I hypersensitivity corresponds to a response to proteins in the latex [8]. This reaction is less frequent but can generate large complications and life threatening if it is developed during the perioperative period.

Identification of allergic patients or at potential risk

High-risk populations are those that are frequently exposed to latex elements, such as patients undergoing multiple surgical procedures, health personnel, rubber workers, and individuals with a history of atopy [1]. These populations are at increased risk of developing more frequent and severe allergic reactions [5]. In particular, patients with congenital malformations of the central nervous system give especial interest. In patients with spina bifida, incidence of latex allergy has been reported in 35% to 73% [4,15]. These patients have also show increased sensitization to latex protein and a significant increase in levels of fully and specific latex IgE from the perinatal period, which could be associated with the occurrence of allergy in the future [16]. Another example is patients diagnosed with myelomeningocele, with an estimated incidence of 19.51% latex allergy, and 18% of sensitized patients [17]. The most important risk factor to the development of allergy in these cases is the history of 5 or more surgical interventions [17,18].

Deep clinical history minimizes the risk of new exposure in sensitized individuals during prior medical and dental procedures. The anamnesis should emphasize on risk factors, such as exposure to latex, spina bifida, reconstructive urologic surgery, multiple surgical procedures, intolerance to latex products [balloons, gloves, preservatives, dental rubber dams), allergy to fruits, history of intraoperative anaphylaxis of unknown cause, or health personnel with a history of atopy [4] (Table 2). It is estimated that in 30% of cases of anaphylaxis, there is a suggestive history of previous reactions [7]. Individuals with allergies to some specific foods are at increased risk of develop allergic reactions to latex. Although the mechanism is not clear, some proteins present in certain fruits may act similarly to the latex allergenic proteins and produce sensitization [1]. It has been reported that between 21.2% and 86% of patients with documented allergy to latex also had a food allergy. Some of the foods that could produce cross-reaction with latex include banana, avocado, kiwi, grapefruit, papayas, almonds, chestnut, pineapple and tomatoes among others [6]. Allergy to these foods may precede allergy to latex or vice versa.

Prevention Strategies

The best treatment is to avoid exposure [1,12]. The incidence of anaphylactic reactions to latex has decreased due to the identification of high-risk patients, better diagnostic tests and preventive measures [3]. For patients with spina bifida treated in latex-free environments, incidence of latex allergy seems to be similar to the general population. More specifically, it has been reported an incidence of 5% sensitization and 0.8% of allergies in patients with spina bifida hospitalized in latex-free environments, versus 55% and 37%, respectively, in patients managed in environments without restriction to exposure to latex [19].

Given that in most cases is not feasible to have 100% latex-free environments, is essential to at least generate a safe environment for patients with prior allergy history to this material. This is usually sufficient and is more achievable than an environment completely free of latex [11]. These general measures include adequate identification of allergic patients, proper labeling of products formulated with latex and use of latex-free gloves. Among the general recommendations for health establishments is important to educate staff, establish clear protocols for the management of these patients, have a latex-free cart available and check the latex contents of the entire surgical team.

The antigen content in latex products can vary significantly. Products manufactured with an “immersion” process (eg gloves and preservatives) have the highest levels of allergens, whereas dry rubber (eg tires, rubber seals, plugs and plugs of vials and syringes) are less allergenic [8]. It is important to note that products labeled as hypoallergenic have fewer chemicals responsible for causing allergic reactions, skin irritation and dermatitis, but this labeling is not related to the latex content of these products [11,14]. The two main prevention strategies are:

Use of latex free gloves: There is important evidence that latex gloves are the main source of allergens in health care settings [12]. These have been the most popular given their characteristics, which include strength, elasticity and superior protection qualities. It has been shown that the level of aeroallergens in the environment is strongly correlated with the use of gloves with high content of allergens and dust, total number of gloves used and hours of activity in the environment. Studies have shown that changing gloves with high dust content by gloves with low amounts or dust-free (which are low in proteins and allergens) results in a significant reduction of aeroallergens and a dramatic decrease in the incidence of latex allergy. It has also been reported that after removing latex gloves at work sites, the levels of aeroallergens are reduced to undetectable levels after 24hrs [8].

Concern about latex allergy has led to alternatives such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gloves or nitrile gloves. It seems to be that PVC gloves filter more than latex gloves (63% filtration in PVC gloves, versus 7% latex gloves), but on the other hand nitrile gloves have shown a better performance than those of PVC. Unfortunately routine use has received some resistance [12] and latex gloves continue to be a cheap alternative, offering appropriate protection and other essential qualities for safe and effective performance.

Pre-medication: The role of pre-medication with H1 antagonists and corticosteroids is not well defined. These medications may help to decrease non-IgE-mediated reactions. However, they do not prevent IgE-mediated immune reactions [7,12,20]. Avoiding exposure to the allergen is the only way to avoid an anaphylactic reaction.

Surgical Management Protocol for Patients with Latex Allergy [2,4,13]

The following measures are aimed at promoting safe care during the perioperative period in patients at risk for an allergic reaction to latex, either by medical history or because they have positive laboratory tests:

Preparation of the surgical theater and preoperative period [2,13]

The procedure or surgery should be scheduled first thing in the morning, when the levels of aeroallergens are lower.

Install a label on the door of the operating room that identifies the patient as allergic and to the room as latex-free.

The day before surgery, remove all products containing latex (reserve bags, endotracheal tubes and laryngeal masks that are not latex-free).

Cleaning staff of the surgical room should not wear latex gloves. The day of the surgery, the surfaces should be cleaned again to remove the suspended powder.

When appropriate, the mattress should be protected with double bed sheet.

Cover all monitoring devices, cables/tubes (oximeter, blood pressure, electrocardiogram) to avoid direct contact with the skin.

Products sterilized in ethylene oxide must be rinsed before use. Residual ethylene oxide reacts and may cause an allergic response in a patient allergic to latex.

A cart with latex-free supplies (Table 3) should be available inside the operating room.

- The operating room should be adequately equipped to handle an unexpected anaphylactic reaction and have immediate availability of epinephrine.

- Allergic patients should be identified at the time of admission with: a bracelet, in the medical history and in the sheets of nursing.

- Before the pressure is taken, the arm should be covered with a cotton mesh and auscultated through it, avoiding that the stethoscope has contact with the skin.

- The patient should wear a cap without elastic and gender boots.

Intraoperative period

- All the surgical team should wear latex free gloves.

- The traffic inside the surgery room should be minimal.

- Do not use penrose drains, latex bands, latex irrigation elements (eg irrigation pears).

- Latex-free or glass syringes should be used.

- Medications should be preferred in glass ampoules. If not available, remove the rubber stoppers before preparing the medication.

- Medications should be prepared immediately prior their administration to minimize contact with the syringe plunger.

Postoperative period

- The postoperative period should be performed in the room prepared for the patient or inside the same operating room.

- All departments involved must be informed of the presence of patients allergic to latex, so that they can take the necessary precautions to protect them.

Detection and management of an allergic latex reaction

Since the allergen is generally absorbed slowly from the surgeon’s glove, the reaction usually occurs about 30 minutes after contact with the skin and mucous membranes during the maintenance of anesthesia, not during the induction period. However, the actual start of the reaction may range from 10 to 290minutes [13]. This interval will depend on the sensitivity of the patient, amount of allergen absorbed and the contact surface (absorption is faster through the peritoneum or vaginal mucosa than through the skin) [7]. Except for these characteristics, latex reactions are similar in their manifestation to those reactions caused by other agents during surgical and medical procedures [2] such as muscle relaxants or antimicrobials.

The management of an intraoperative anaphylactic reaction is well-documented [4,5,13,21] and includes pharmacological and non-pharmacological measures according to the clinical presentation, course of the condition and the context in which anaphylaxis occurs. In the particular case that the reaction is suspected to be caused by an undiagnosed allergy to latex, the following measures should be incorporated as part of the management:

- Stop or minimize the absorption of the agent (consider the variety of possible routes of exposure).

- Remove all products containing latex and change to latex-free gloves.

- Place an allergy alert to the latex in a visible place at the entrance and inside the surgery room.

- Complete the study of the patient after the reaction.

In mild cases, spontaneous recovery may be observed even in the absence of any specific treatment. In such circumstances, lack of proper diagnosis and evaluation can lead to fatal re-exposure [20]. Any suspected hypersensitivity reaction during anesthesia should be extensively investigated through a detailed history of the reaction, with emphasis on concomitant pathologies, known allergies, previous anesthetic history and the stage of anesthesia were the reaction occurred, in addition to performing laboratory tests according to each case [7]. Immediate tests have been designed primarily to determine whether or not an allergic mechanism is involved in the reaction, while late testing seeks to identify the drug responsible and possible alternatives to its use [20]. Among the tests available for the study of latex allergy are:

Serum tryptase: Indication of mast cell activation. It rises in mediated and non-IgE mediated reactions. A concentration above 25mcg/ml might suggest a type I reaction [5,7]. The recommendation is to take serial samples immediately, at 2, 6 and 24 hours, after the reaction. It has a sensitivity of 64% and a specificity of 89% for anaphylaxis. The absence of a high tryptase does not exclude an anaphylactic reaction.

Serum-specific IgE: The recommendation to perform this test after 4 to 6 weeks and before 6 months of the event. Immediate measurement could give a false negative. The sensitivity of IgE tests is variable; for latex is about 92%.

Skin tests: They can be done up to one year after the event, but not immediately to avoid a false negative. The recommendation is to wait 4 to 6 weeks after the reaction.

Prick test: Evaluates the sensitization to the latex, with a sensitivity and specificity close to 100% [4]. Only IgE-mediated reactions can be studied with cutaneous tests [7], since they do not identify non-immunologically mediated reactions [5].

Patch test: Is recommended for the study of latex contact dermatitis. Additives used in the glove manufacturing process should be included, since delayed hypersensitivity is rarely due to allergens characteristic of unprocessed latex [14].

Conclusion

Although achieving completely latex-free environments is unrealistic, every effort should be made to minimize the risk of sensitization, especially in high-risk groups such as patients with congenital malformations requiring multiple surgical interventions during their early years of life. In addition, it is important to consider that achieving an environment with low levels of allergens is an issue that not only involves the safety of the allergic patient. The implementation of these measures has a significant impact on the sensitization of exposed health personnel and barriers to protection against infectious diseases.

The management of latex allergy should be approached from different perspectives and multidisciplinary support should be obtained to:

Establish policies for the identification and care of patients with known allergy to latex;

Develop policies and procedures for health workers with latex allergy;

Provide environmental control and resource management to minimize unnecessary exposure of patients and staff to materials with a high content of latex antigens; and,

Promote the ongoing training of patients and employees on the topic of latex allergy.

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[pastorralffriedrichs]

The Bible and Compassion?

A general definition of compassion is sympathy and concern for the sufferings of others and a desire to alleviate such suffering. The Hebrew and Greek words translated as "compassion" in the Bible speak to having mercy or being moved with sympathetic pity.

The most important object this word is used to describe is God Himself. God is the root and foundation, the spring and fountainhead, of all true compassion

(1 John 4:16).

God's compassion is extoled throughout the Bible.

Below are two particularly pertinent passages.

"Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance?

He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot.

You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea"

(Micah 7:18–19).

"As a father shows compassion to his children,

so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

For he knows our frame;

he remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass;

he flourishes like a flower of the field;

for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children"

(Psalm 103:13–17).

God is compassionate. He is sympathetic to the suffering of His people.

He sees our distress and takes pity on us. However,

His compassion is more than mere sympathy and pity.

God's compassion is related to His mercy, kindness, patience, grace, forgiveness,

and love.

In fact, some of these attributes are so related and interwoven as to make clear demarcations between them difficult.

God's compassion compels Him to take action.

He is no impotent observer, but the omnipotent sovereign ruler of the universe (Romans 9:14–16).

God's sympathy for our lost and miserable state led Him not only to feel our pain, but to provide an atoning sacrifice for our guilt; this He did by sending His Son to die for our sins (Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:1–10).

Jesus is the Father's most compassionate gift to mankind. It is only by and through faith in Jesus Christ that we are forgiven of our guilt and rescued from our deplorable condition

(John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

Jesus is God in the flesh

(John 1:14).

He experienced human life and is able to sympathize with us fully (Hebrews 4:14–16).

He lived a perfect life and modeled things like compassion for us.

By observing the compassion of Christ we catch glimpses of the compassion of the Father and see how we ourselves can show compassion to others (Philippians 2:1–11).

The compassion of Christ can be clearly seen in the Gospel narratives. For example, in Matthew 9:36, we observe Christ's compassion for the harassed and helpless. In Matthew 14:14, we see His compassion for those who are sick and suffer disease. In Matthew 15:32, we witness His compassion for those who hunger.

In Luke 7:11–15, we hear of His compassion for the widowed who were especially vulnerable; therefore,

He resurrected the widow's son and gave him back to her.

In the case of Lazarus, Christ's compassion was so strong that He wept (John 11).

When Jesus arrived graveside,

He raised Lazarus from the dead and gave him back to his grieving relatives.

No doubt Jesus Himself rejoiced greatly over the return of His friend.

The pinnacle of Christ's compassion can be observed at the cross of Calvary where He lay down His life for the sins of the world (John 3:16). Those who put their faith in Jesus are born again spiritually and receive the Holy Spirit.

We are made new creations in Christ

(2 Corinthians 5:17).

This enables us to love God and our neighbors. We are commanded in Scripture to put on hearts of compassion as we relate to our fellow Christians (Colossians 3:12–15) and to those who have yet to hear the gospel and believe in Christ.

This compassion we are called to is not emotive only, but is a call to action.

True compassion encompasses both a gut level feeling of sympathy and pity as well as positive action taken on our part to relieve the suffering we observe

(1 John 3:18). One of the most compassionate acts we can do is to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ with those who do not know Him so that they might be restored to fellowship with Him.

However, our compassion is not to be limited to the lost. We are commanded to have compassion on all people, but especially those who belong to the household of faith (Galatians 6:10) and more especially to those who are poor and powerless among us (James 1:27).

Jesus has given believers the Holy Spirit and commanded us to follow His promptings to be compassionate (Galatians 5:22–23).

We must have Jesus' heart for the lost, hurt, wounded, poor, and needy souls of this world. Scripture makes it crystal clear that if we do not have compassion or love for each other, then we do not know God

(1 John 3:17; 4:20).

We cannot be void of compassion and still call ourselves Christians. Compassion is of paramount importance in revealing the genuineness of our faith in Christ. Compassion and love are how we are identified as Christ's disciples

(John 13:34–35). Without it we are nothing but clanging cymbals

(1 Corinthians 13:1–3).

May we pray that He will forgive us when our hearts are cold and fan the flames of compassion in us, given by the Spirit.

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