Is God merciful, as Scripture says He is? Yes, because mercy is a gift many millions of people - and prophets - have felt deeply. But why is it known to be profoundly valuable?
If we have any wisdom at all we know we've done wrong, and hurt people, or animals, or the Holy Spirit, consciously or unconsciously at some time in our lives. This author still feels some shame about it, and knows the sweetness of God's mercy.
God is infinite and without limitations of any kind; being the Creator of all life, all things visible and invisible, even laws and limitations.
God could forgive all crimes if He wished to. But God is especially clear on this one thing: sins against the Holy Spirit are unforgivable, and will be punished with unspeakably terrible consequences - which starkly reveals the precious quality of His grace.
This is made a law in the Third Commandment of Moses, which is usually translated as "You shall not use God's name in vain." But that is a mis-translation from the original Hebrew, which says, "You shall not carry God's name in vain." Which means that doing evil in God's name can never be forgiven, because you do irreparable damage to God; you kill God by these deeds.
We're now seeing epic and Apocalyptic evil done in the name of God by religious authorities of all kinds, and especially since Islamists have declared war on the West, and all Jews and Christians. The end of these people will be very terrible.
Hell has many levels, as Dante specified (Link), and the worst of them are reserved for the violators of the sanctity and love of God. "They will be cast into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" - Matthew 13:50. "It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble" [speaking of the young and innocent] - Luke 17:2.
What is the Holy Spirit? It's one of the three attributes of God Himself. It's not a corporeal being; that is, it has no body, but is pure energy, like electricity. It has personality and consciousness like Jesus himself, and is the very essence of goodness. Jesus said that we may not like him personally, which may be forgiven. But to hate the animating spirit of love and kindness that God sends into the world will never be forgiven. How else can it be? If you are rageful, cruel, unkind, unforgiving, and dishonest with yourself and others, then you're a creation of Satan, the sworn enemy of God - Matthew 12:22.
The Holy Spirit inhabits many forms which may deceive us. Jesus said, regarding those who fail the Lord's final judgement, "Whatever you did not do for the least of these [speaking of children], you did not do for me." All innocent lives might be holy, and must be protected.
Of all offenses, hypocrisy is the worst. If we preach to others a certain standard of virtuous behavior, and exempt ourselves from it, we're living a lie. God hates lies, which violate His ultimate Truth. But there's worse in our world, what this author calls hypo-criticism. There are millions who not only live hypocritical lives, but also loudly project onto others the crimes that they themselves are most guilty of. They often go so far as to use the mantle of godliness and religion. Politicians all over the globe do this, and their end will be horrific - Malachi 4:1.
We all know by now that the terrible torments that afflict this world are caused by sins against the Holy Spirit. Can anyone say that if we behaved as Jesus did the world would not be utterly transformed? Of course it would. But that means we would all have to act like angels of goodness and mercy, an extremely unlikely turn of events.
Which is why God has promised to intervene and remake the earth. There is no other choice, because evil nations have nuclear weapons in abundance. North Korea and Iran have sworn that they will plunge us into Armageddon, sooner or later.
Some of you may think God's harsh judgment of the evil ones is wrong and cruel, but consider this:
Which points out another aspect of holiness. We're not all called on to be martyrs. Jesus used the example of a Centurion (a Roman military officer) who came to him in Capernaum as an admirable man of perfect faith - Matthew 8:5-13. We must have soldiers and police to build and maintain civilization.
The Knights Templar of the Middle Ages were made up, in part, of holy priests who were warriors as well. Wherever we are in life, and whatever we do, our faith will save us. We all have God-given talents we can use to assist in His plan.
So the question for you is, will you use this open window of opportunity to repair your relationship with God? Or will you waste it, trying to make your own utopia in the wastelands of earth?
If we have any wisdom at all we know we've done wrong, and hurt people, or animals, or the Holy Spirit, consciously or unconsciously at some time in our lives. This author still feels some shame about it, and knows the sweetness of God's mercy.
God is infinite and without limitations of any kind; being the Creator of all life, all things visible and invisible, even laws and limitations.
God could forgive all crimes if He wished to. But God is especially clear on this one thing: sins against the Holy Spirit are unforgivable, and will be punished with unspeakably terrible consequences - which starkly reveals the precious quality of His grace.
This is made a law in the Third Commandment of Moses, which is usually translated as "You shall not use God's name in vain." But that is a mis-translation from the original Hebrew, which says, "You shall not carry God's name in vain." Which means that doing evil in God's name can never be forgiven, because you do irreparable damage to God; you kill God by these deeds.
We're now seeing epic and Apocalyptic evil done in the name of God by religious authorities of all kinds, and especially since Islamists have declared war on the West, and all Jews and Christians. The end of these people will be very terrible.
Hell has many levels, as Dante specified (Link), and the worst of them are reserved for the violators of the sanctity and love of God. "They will be cast into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" - Matthew 13:50. "It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble" [speaking of the young and innocent] - Luke 17:2.
What is the Holy Spirit? It's one of the three attributes of God Himself. It's not a corporeal being; that is, it has no body, but is pure energy, like electricity. It has personality and consciousness like Jesus himself, and is the very essence of goodness. Jesus said that we may not like him personally, which may be forgiven. But to hate the animating spirit of love and kindness that God sends into the world will never be forgiven. How else can it be? If you are rageful, cruel, unkind, unforgiving, and dishonest with yourself and others, then you're a creation of Satan, the sworn enemy of God - Matthew 12:22.
The Holy Spirit inhabits many forms which may deceive us. Jesus said, regarding those who fail the Lord's final judgement, "Whatever you did not do for the least of these [speaking of children], you did not do for me." All innocent lives might be holy, and must be protected.
Of all offenses, hypocrisy is the worst. If we preach to others a certain standard of virtuous behavior, and exempt ourselves from it, we're living a lie. God hates lies, which violate His ultimate Truth. But there's worse in our world, what this author calls hypo-criticism. There are millions who not only live hypocritical lives, but also loudly project onto others the crimes that they themselves are most guilty of. They often go so far as to use the mantle of godliness and religion. Politicians all over the globe do this, and their end will be horrific - Malachi 4:1.
We all know by now that the terrible torments that afflict this world are caused by sins against the Holy Spirit. Can anyone say that if we behaved as Jesus did the world would not be utterly transformed? Of course it would. But that means we would all have to act like angels of goodness and mercy, an extremely unlikely turn of events.
Which is why God has promised to intervene and remake the earth. There is no other choice, because evil nations have nuclear weapons in abundance. North Korea and Iran have sworn that they will plunge us into Armageddon, sooner or later.
Some of you may think God's harsh judgment of the evil ones is wrong and cruel, but consider this:
Which points out another aspect of holiness. We're not all called on to be martyrs. Jesus used the example of a Centurion (a Roman military officer) who came to him in Capernaum as an admirable man of perfect faith - Matthew 8:5-13. We must have soldiers and police to build and maintain civilization.
The Knights Templar of the Middle Ages were made up, in part, of holy priests who were warriors as well. Wherever we are in life, and whatever we do, our faith will save us. We all have God-given talents we can use to assist in His plan.
So the question for you is, will you use this open window of opportunity to repair your relationship with God? Or will you waste it, trying to make your own utopia in the wastelands of earth?
