August 13, 2014

From Gary... Silence time

Tests are not fun. But most of the tests in school just refer to memory and reasoning. The real tests in life are those that require the APPLICATION of knowledge with wisdom. To know a thing is not the same as being able to apply a thing. And then there is Jesus; what do we do with Jesus? IS JESUS more than just an historical figure, more than just a great teacher- who is he? Read below to following the sequence of events and the eventual test at the end.

John 6:22-69 NASB
(22) The next day the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other small boat there, except one, and that Jesus had not entered with His disciples into the boat, but that His disciples had gone away alone.
(23) There came other small boats from Tiberias near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
(24) So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats, and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus.
(25) When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did You get here?"
(26) Jesus answered them and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
(27) "Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal."
(28) Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?"
(29) Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."
(30) So they said to Him, "What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform?
(31) "Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.'"
(32) Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.
(33) "For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world."
(34) Then they said to Him, "Lord, always give us this bread."
(35) Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
(36) "But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe.
(37) "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.
(38) "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
(39) "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.
(40) "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."
(41) Therefore the Jews were grumbling about Him, because He said, "I am the bread that came down out of heaven."
(42) They were saying, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, 'I have come down out of heaven'?"
(43) Jesus answered and said to them, "Do not grumble among yourselves.
(44) "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
(45) "It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.
(46) "Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father.
(47) "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.
(48) "I am the bread of life.
(49) "Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.
(50) "This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.
(51) "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh."
(52) Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?"
(53) So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.
(54) "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
(55) "For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.
(56) "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
(57) "As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me.
(58) "This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever."
(59) These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.
(60) Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, "This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?"
(61) But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, "Does this cause you to stumble?
(62) "What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?
(63) "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
(64) "But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him.
(65) And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father."
(66) As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.
(67) So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?"
(68) Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.
(69) "We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God."

Jesus was a great teacher and miracle worker to be sure. But, he was much more than that- He was the source of life. Not everyone could (or will, even today) accept that. Some will even go so far as to accept that, but fail to complete their belief by obedience. For genuine belief requires many things- Mental understanding, repentance, confession, baptism and faithfulness. Now it time for us to think about applying these things to our lives. Verse 67 has been said- I wonder what our verse 68 will be? The moment of silence is deafening!!!!

From Gary... Bible Reading August 13

Bible Reading

August 13

The World English Bible

Aug. 13

Esther 1-3

Est 1:1 Now it happened in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces),

Est 1:2 that in those days, when the King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,

Est 1:3 in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him.

Est 1:4 He displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even one hundred eighty days.

Est 1:5 When these days were fulfilled, the king made a seven day feast for all the people who were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.

Est 1:6 There were hangings of white, green, and blue material, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble pillars. The couches were of gold and silver, on a pavement of red, white, yellow, and black marble.

Est 1:7 They gave them drinks in golden vessels of various kinds, including royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king.

Est 1:8 In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had instructed all the officials of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.

Est 1:9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to King Ahasuerus.

Est 1:10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcass, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

Est 1:11 to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the royal crown, to show the people and the princes her beauty; for she was beautiful.

Est 1:12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by the eunuchs. Therefore the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him.

Est 1:13 Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for it was the king's custom to consult those who knew law and judgment;

Est 1:14 and the next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom),

Est 1:15 "What shall we do to the queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding of the King Ahasuerus by the eunuchs?"

Est 1:16 Memucan answered before the king and the princes, "Vashti the queen has not done wrong to just the king, but also to all the princes, and to all the people who are in all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus.

Est 1:17 For this deed of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to show contempt for their husbands, when it is reported, 'King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she didn't come.'

Est 1:18 Today, the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's deed will tell all the king's princes. This will cause much contempt and wrath.

Est 1:19 If it please the king, let a royal commandment go from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot be altered, that Vashti may never again come before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.

Est 1:20 When the king's decree which he shall make is published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give their husbands honor, both great and small."

Est 1:21 This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan:

Est 1:22 for he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, that every man should rule his own house, speaking in the language of his own people.

Est 2:1 After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

Est 2:2 Then the king's servants who served him said, "Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king.

Est 2:3 Let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the beautiful young virgins to the citadel of Susa, to the women's house, to the custody of Hegai the king's eunuch, keeper of the women. Let cosmetics be given them;

Est 2:4 and let the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti." The thing pleased the king, and he did so.

Est 2:5 There was a certain Jew in the citadel of Susa, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,

Est 2:6 who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.

Est 2:7 He brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.

Est 2:8 So it happened, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together to the citadel of Susa, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken into the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

Est 2:9 The maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness from him. He quickly gave her cosmetics and her portions of food, and the seven choice maidens who were to be given her out of the king's house. He moved her and her maidens to the best place in the women's house.

Est 2:10 Esther had not made known her people nor her relatives, because Mordecai had instructed her that she should not make it known.

Est 2:11 Mordecai walked every day in front of the court of the women's house, to find out how Esther did, and what would become of her.

Est 2:12 Each young woman's turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after her purification for twelve months (for so were the days of their purification accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet fragrances and with preparations for beautifying women).

Est 2:13 The young woman then came to the king like this: whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the women's house to the king's house.

Est 2:14 In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second women's house, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch, who kept the concubines. She came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and she was called by name.

Est 2:15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, came to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's eunuch, the keeper of the women, advised. Esther obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked at her.

Est 2:16 So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus into his royal house in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

Est 2:17 The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

Est 2:18 Then the king made a great feast for all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces, and gave gifts according to the king's bounty.

Est 2:19 When the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting in the king's gate.

Est 2:20 Esther had not yet made known her relatives nor her people, as Mordecai had commanded her; for Esther obeyed Mordecai, like she did when she was brought up by him.

Est 2:21 In those days, while Mordecai was sitting in the king's gate, two of the king's eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, who were doorkeepers, were angry, and sought to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus.

Est 2:22 This thing became known to Mordecai, who informed Esther the queen; and Esther informed the king in Mordecai's name.

Est 2:23 When this matter was investigated, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree; and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the king's presence.

Est 3:1 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.

Est 3:2 All the king's servants who were in the king's gate bowed down, and paid homage to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai didn't bow down or pay him homage.

Est 3:3 Then the king's servants, who were in the king's gate, said to Mordecai, "Why do you disobey the king's commandment?"

Est 3:4 Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he didn't listen to them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's reason would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew.

Est 3:5 When Haman saw that Mordecai didn't bow down, nor pay him homage, Haman was full of wrath.

Est 3:6 But he scorned the thought of laying hands on Mordecai alone, for they had made known to him Mordecai's people. Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the Mordecai's people.

Est 3:7 In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, and chose the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

Est 3:8 Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom, and their laws are different than other people's. They don't keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not for the king's profit to allow them to remain.

Est 3:9 If it pleases the king, let it be written that they be destroyed; and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who are in charge of the king's business, to bring it into the king's treasuries."

Est 3:10 The king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.

Est 3:11 The king said to Haman, "The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you."

Est 3:12 Then the king's scribes were called in on the first month, on the thirteenth day of the month; and all that Haman commanded was written to the king's satraps, and to the governors who were over every province, and to the princes of every people, to every province according its writing, and to every people in their language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus, and it was sealed with the king's ring.

Est 3:13 Letters were sent by couriers into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to plunder their possessions.

Est 3:14 A copy of the letter, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that they should be ready against that day.

Est 3:15 The couriers went forth in haste by the king's commandment, and the decree was given out in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

From Mark Copeland... Not Ashamed Of The Gospel (Romans 1:14-17)

"THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS"

Not Ashamed Of The Gospel (1:14-17)

INTRODUCTION

1. As Paul began his grand epistle to the Romans, he wrote of his desire
to see them...
a. His diligent prayers toward that end - Ro 1:9-10
b. His desire to encourage them through mutual edification - Ro 1:
11-12
c. His plans to come, that he might have some fruit among them - Ro 1:13

2. His desire to see them was related to the gospel...
a. Which he served as an apostle of Christ - Ro 1:1
b. The good news concerning Jesus - Ro 1:3
c. Of which he was not ashamed - Ro 1:16

3. Are we ever ashamed of the gospel of Christ...?
a. Embarrassed to tell others about Jesus?
b. Could this be a reason why many are not active in personal
evangelism?

[Perhaps by examining how and why Paul was not ashamed of the gospel, we
might be more diligent in our efforts to share the good news of Jesus
Christ...]

I. PAUL WAS NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL

A. HOW HE WAS NOT ASHAMED...
1. He felt obligated to preach the gospel to everyone
a. To Greeks and barbarians (non-Greeks), to wise and unwise
- Ro 1:14
b. His obligation due partly to favor God had shown him - 1Co 15:9-10; 1Ti 1:12-14
2. He was ready to preach the gospel in Rome
a. Whatever opportunity was given him, he would take it! - Ro 1:15
b. Even though his preference was to preach where Jesus had not
been proclaimed before - Ro 15:20
-- Paul showed that he was not ashamed by his willingness and
preparedness to preach the gospel anytime and anywhere!

B. WHY HE WAS NOT ASHAMED...
1. It is the power of God to salvation
a. For everyone who believes, both Jew and Greek (Gentiles)
- Ro 1:16
b. For it tells of Christ, the power of God and wisdom of God
- 1Co 1:23-24
2. It reveals the righteousness of God in salvation
a. How the just shall live by faith - Ro 1:17
b. How God is both just and the justifier of those who believe
in Jesus - Ro 3:21-26
-- Because of its power and message, Paul was not ashamed to
preach the gospel to anyone willing to listen!

[From Paul, then, we should note several reasons why...]

II. WE SHOULD NOT BE ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL

A. THE GOSPEL REMAINS THE SAME...
1. It is still God's power to save
a. The power to produce faith in the hearts of those who hear
it - Ro 10:17
b. The power to produce fruit in those who hear and know the
truth - Col 1:5-6
2. It still reveals God's righteousness in salvation
a. How Jesus died for our sins - 1Co 15:1-4
b. How we can receive remission of our sins in Jesus through
faith, repentance, and baptism - Ac 2:36-38; 22:16
-- The passing of time has not weakened the power and message of
the gospel of Christ!

B. THE NEED REMAINS THE SAME...
1. Souls are in need of salvation
a. All have sinned - Ro 3:23
b. The wages of sin is death - Ro 6:23
2. Both wise and foolish, both near and afar
a. Jesus is still the only way to the Father - Jn 14:6
b. His gospel still needs to be preached to every creature - Mk 16:15-16
-- The passing of time has not lessened the need and scope of the
gospel of Christ!

[From the example of Paul, we can know the proper attitude and conduct
of..]

III. THOSE NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL

A. WILL FEEL A SENSE OF OBLIGATION...
1. To God who saved them
a. Are we not thankful for what God has done for us?
b. Will this not affect how we live our lives? - cf. Ga 2:20
2. To those who are lost
a. Are we not concerned about their eternal destiny should they
die in their sins?
b. Will this not move us to do something? - cf. 2Co 5:11
-- Those not ashamed of the gospel will feel an obligation similar
to Paul's - Ro 1:14

B. WILL MAKE THEMSELVES READY...
1. To share the gospel as they have opportunity
a. If uncertain what to say, they will learn it (even relearn
it) - cf. 1Pe 3:15; He 5:12
b. They will not rest until they have found some method, aids,
or tools, whereby they can communicate the gospel to others
c. Then they will be looking for "open doors" to teach others
- cf. 1Co 3:5
2. To spread the gospel as they have opportunity
a. They may not be in a position to go, but they can still send
- cf. Ro 10:14-15; 3Jn 5-8
b. They may not be in a position to teach, but they can still
invite - e.g., Ac 10:24,33
c. Then they will be looking for "open doors" to send - e.g.,
Php 4:15-16
-- Those not ashamed of the gospel will make themselves ready like
Paul - Ro 1:15

CONCLUSION

1. Are you ashamed of the gospel of Christ? You may be, if you are
not...
a. Doing anything to share the gospel yourself
b. Involved in helping others to spread the gospel

2. You have no reason to be ashamed, it is still the same gospel!
a. With power to save the souls of men
b. Revealing the wonderful righteousness of God to save men

May we never be ashamed of the gospel, or of Jesus Himself...

"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and
sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when
He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." (Mk 8:38)

"Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but
let him glorify God in this matter." (1Pe 4:16)

Things God Cannot Do by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=1240

Things God Cannot Do

by	Dave Miller, Ph.D.

Both Christians and atheists generally have assumed that if the God depicted in the Bible exists, He can do anything—since He is represented as being all-powerful. However, this assumption is incorrect. The Bible does not claim that the omnipotence of God implies that He can do anything and everything. In reality, “omnipotence” does not, and cannot, apply to that which does not lend itself to power. Skeptics and atheists have posed queries that they feel nullify the notion of omnipotence, thereby demonstrating the nonexistence of God. For example, “Can God create a boulder so large that He, Himself, cannot lift it?”
Separate and apart from the fact that God is not, Himself, physical, and that He created the entire physical Universe, though He is metaphysical and transcendent of the Universe, the question is a conceptual absurdity. It’s like asking, “Can God create a round square or a four-sided triangle?” No, He cannot—but not for the reasons implied by the atheist: that He does not exist or that He is not omnipotent. Rather, it is because the question is, itself, self-contradictory and incoherent. It is nonsensical terminology. Rather than saying God cannot do such things, it would be more in harmony with the truth to say simply that such things cannot be done at all! God is infinite in power, but power meaningfully relates only to what can be done, to what is possible of accomplishment—not to what is impossible! It is absurd to speak of any power (even infinite power) being able to do what simply cannot be done. Logical absurdities do not lend themselves to being accomplished, and so, are not subject to power, not even to infinite power (see Warren, 1972, pp. 27ff.).
While God can do whatever is possible to be done, in reality, He will do only what is in harmony with His nature. Further, to suggest that God is deficient or limited in power if He cannot create a rock so large that He cannot lift, is to imply that He could do so if He simply had more power. But this is false. Creating a rock that He, Himself, cannot lift, or creating a four-sided triangle, or making a ball that is at the same time both white all over and black all over, or creating a ninety-year-old teenager, or making a car that is larger on the inside that it is on the outside—to propose such things is to affirm logical contradictions and absurdities. Such propositions do not really say anything at all. Though one can imagine logical absurdities that cannot be accomplished, they do not constitute a telling blow against the view that God is infinite in power.
So, no, the concept of “omnipotence” does not mean that there are no limits to what an omnipotent being can do. In fact, the Bible pinpoints specific things that God cannot do. For example, the Bible states unequivocally that God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; 2 Timothy 2:13; Titus 1:2). He is a Being whose very essence entails truthfulness. Falsehood is completely out of harmony with His divine nature. Further, God cannot be tempted by evil (James 1:13).
Another impossibility pertaining to God’s power is the fact that He shows no partiality or favoritism (Deuteronomy 10:17; Romans 2:11; Colossians 3:25; 1 Peter 1:17). He is “open and above board”—evenhanded—with all His creatures. He can be counted on to interact with human beings as He said He would. His treatment of us centers on our own self-chosen behavior—not on our ethnicity or skin color (Acts 10:34-35; 1 Samuel 16:7).
A third instance that qualifies the meaning of “omnipotent” is seen in God’s inability to forgive the individual who will not repent and forsake his or her sin (Joshua 24:19; Proverbs 28:13; Matthew 6:15; 18:35; Luke 13:3,5). As great and as magnificent as the mercy and forgiveness of God are, it is impossible to bestow forgiveness upon the person who does not seek that forgiveness by meeting the pre-conditions of remission. God is literally powerless to bestow forgiveness through any other avenue than the blood of Jesus and obedience to the Gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16; 2:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Peter 4:17).
The more one studies the Bible, examining the attributes and characteristics of the God depicted there, the more one is struck with (1) the inspiration of the Bible—since its skillful handling of such matters places it beyond the charge of successful contradiction, and (2) awe at the infinitude of God. Not one of the factors discussed in this article reflects adversely upon the reality of God’s omnipotence. But it is abundantly clear that a person may so live as to render the God of heaven incapable of coming to that person’s aid. It is imperative that every human being recognizes the need to understand His will and to conform one’s behavior to that will. It is imperative that every individual avoid placing self in the precarious position of being in need of that which God cannot do.

REFERENCES

Warren, Thomas B. (1972), Have Atheists Proved There Is No God (Jonesboro, AR: National Christian Press).

From Jim McGuiggan... The Cross serving Creation

The Cross serving Creation

1. Because God did not want to be God without us, out of his holy grace God chose to create humankind to share life with him as beloved children and as brothers and sisters one to another. (See Philippians 2:6 in the NRSV for God's astonishing view of his Godhood.)

2. Because he willed to create embodied beings he created a home suited to our nature in which we would live in peace and joy with him, ever growing into his holy likeness in righteousness.

3. The home was/is not an end in itself but is the place in which the human family lives unto God and with one another in growing holy intimacy.

4. That "Grand Enterprise" would come to its fullness in the person of the immortal and glorified Jesus and all who are embraced in him and in his work.

5. The Grand Enterprise took into account that the human family would rebel and would be in need of "saving" and God purposed to save, as part of what was essential to fulfilling the (conceptually) prior creation purpose which remained intact despite the rebellion.

6. The "saving" work of God serves his creation purpose and does not conceptually precede it. That is, God's first thought was not, "I would like to save someone" and so he created someone to save. No, God purposed to share his life of joy-filled holiness with companions he would create and, since he took into account that they would sin, he said, "I will 'save' them in order to remain faithful to my creative purpose."

7. The creation purpose expressed itself in embodied beings (humans) who would live with God in this creation home. With the Fall the humans dragged the creation home down with them and God, in keeping with his creation purpose, planned the "salvation" of the creation as he brings his Grand Enterprise to its completion. (See Romans 8:20-22.)

8. But the completion of his creation purpose is not the mere restoration of things as they were in Genesis 1—2 because the aim was never simply to create beings who could be happy in an earthly paradise. The aim was to share his joy and life in righteousness so that while the place (home) in which that would take place was an essential element, the nature and quality of life lived in that place (home) was the paramount issue.

9. God's eternal aim was life lived in a ceaseless growing toward his likeness as it would be expressed fully in the man Jesus. So that when God called and calls people to holiness he is not simply laying down a command, he is expressing a condition without which the life he has purposed to bless us with isn't possible. "Be like me!" is not just a command—it is a call to life to the full.

10. The cross experience of Jesus is the self-revelation of the God who created and purposed us for life and who would pay the ultimate price to bring about the ultimate relationship. God's eternal aim was not a status but a relationship, ever growing in holy intimacy and righteousness and therefore joy and peace

[All talk about God ordaining and predestinating human sin is the outgrowth of a theology that, thank God, is fatally flawed.]