To: John S. who wrote (834 ) 11/5/1998 4:41:00 AM From: Darrin Vernier Respond to of 14396
John, "John 8 23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." What if John is speaking to the parts of himself that he knew must die to be reborn? "42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.... 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." What if Jesus is speaking to the congregation within/between his 'temples'? What if he is showing us how to look inside ourselves, and separate those thoughts that are written in the book of life, from those which are not? What if the 'murderer' of the spirit is the ego and his ilk? What if Jesus is showing us how to speak to our inner congregation, and become like him? "The bible says in John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotton Son of God." Then he who is condemned by disbelief, has allowed Jesus to be foresaken and die, once again, within himself. "Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."" I agree completely, he did indeed show us the way. He showed us how to purify ourselves, and rid ourselves of all that is not of the spirit. "I John 5 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." John tells us that we HAVE eternal life, not that we MAY have it. What he does say is that we MAY choose to believe that we do. If we choose not to, then we have given away our crown, and foresaken the resurrection yet again. Just a different way of looking at things. I do not say that you are wrong, or that I am wrong. I don't preach a different gospel, I just see the same ones in a different way. I used to see them in the way that you do. If we both arrive at the same place, what difference? Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Peace, Darrin