Christ on Target

ABOVE LINEAR DIVERSION

Flavors have been used to define and redirect markets. A penchant for choices may expand those markets while feeding diversity. Humanity delights in preference where the soul is otherwise barren -- as also during the short interval of early childhood. However, pursuit of preferrences yields ignorance: both with the senses and in our comprehension. Tension soon becomes a force for compromise on-scale. These things have been militarized by the Adversary as a means to foment divisions that overtake and hold captive our faith unto Salvation. They have become siegeworks of preferred reason in this New Enlightenment era, being subject to destruction by the power of God through the weapons of our warfare.

Preferences, zones for compromise, creeds... these and other symptoms reflect the ill-use of perspective or opinion within a proposed range of linear positions. Instead of holding to the needed goal or purpose, opinions begin riding preference, running unchecked to strike elsewhere. Consider by way of illustration: the effect in being moved to select & fan a favorite sports team... a diversion from the core/global objective that has long been more helpful/needful: good sportsmanship by all.

Against all these things, The Truth; the Son or God, Son of Man, the One known as Y'shua, Jesus the Messiah/Christ. Language of the New Testament writings define truth [αληθεια] as what is releasing with liberty to reach the goal. Jesus, the matchless "One Way" Life Narrative lives determined to place our aim back on Him as the what-is-needful target.

EXAMPLES IN CAVEAT

 Atheist to Indoctrinated accompanies the Constantinian churches into our present day. This as an indicator of indoctrination, rather than of new hope, new birth, or new life in Christ. Religious aim & target, drawing the "perfect" miss.

 "As to The Lord..." [Ephesians 5:22; 6:7]. The of this has overtaken us pragmatically by many assumptions that a man or woman must believe that the thing is being done for selfsame. Otherwise, he/she is drawn to misunderstand or fail to appreciate the thought or action. A typical employer will seek your servitude as being directed toward them --- not as to serve your God. What husband will settle for a love he cannot solely possess? Here, the Adversary would bring us to miss what is in order for all things. Specifically, that it is YHVH the Almighty One, bringing up His Family in glory, which is the point, directive and designated direction of all things. Absent this trust controlling, attempts to obviate or balance motive have the outcome of landing our actions at distance from Christ -- the One who could do nothing that He did not perceive the Father doing.

 God's Sovereignty & man's conscience of Choice. The over who chooses whom? John Calvin and Jacobus Arminius remain the oft' cited villains in an early and costly misunderstanding of the koine Greek word καταβολης [kata-bawl-ace]. The progression in how casting-down became constitutione [Latin], makyng [Old English], beginninge [Tyndale], foundation [Darby/KJV], reveals plenty of uncertainty. But Bibles are translated to satisfy needs of an ever-changing, political (and consequently) divided church. To Ephesians 1:4,  accordingly He chooses us prevailing-in Him before the casting-down ["disruption" | CLV] of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. Suddenly, we're back on the target, recalling also the Bridegroom & Bride analogy. Ephesians 1:4 is revelatory in the how (union), rather than a logical delineation of who (God or man) is doing the choosing.

 Sin's weight upon our Desire to be reconciled. Before Calvin & Arminius, Augustine & Pelagius pulled hard against each other over how much acquired corruption is enough to confirm the sovereign mercy of God. Yet, His mercy succeeds neither by an excess nor by a shortage of corruption under sins (we serve the long-suffering, merciful and forgiving God). Divine relationship between the Father and a man or woman -- we may find restoration to God where our love of Christ meets the love of the Father in the Son [John 14:23]: the on-target choice to be chosen together. Pelagius imagined a moral ('of man') and reasoned nature of God, and of Jesus Christ; Augustine envisioning an umbrella of God's sovereignty... either or by some measure of both cannot adequately explain the divine relationship through reconciliation above & beyond earthly wisdom or human understanding. We consider the example portrayed in the words & life of the prophet, Hosea.

 The Scale imagined in-between Yes and No: re-imagining, "How much righteous?" Or, the absurdity to wonder, "How sanctified am I?" Yet, social-driven and mega church has wandered deep into these weeds by means of pulpits & publishing. The whole man cannot be sanctified (set-apart) in-part; neither is he/she to be honestly realized a little-bit or "mostly" righteous in doing. Not merely an abuse of terms... this buoyed approach to the sacred bears the signature of the Adversary, who is bent on confusion via gratification that solicits human feeling. As the remedy for sin is not a scale or measure for sanctification, nor for righteousness, Christ is thereby missed; effectively denied. Under this single diversion, many have fallen of late to condemnation and lifelessness [death].

 Who Twice-fallen may Re-begin in faith? Third century, Novatian argues against having authority to forgive those who repented where they have abandoned their faith. Responding, church councils attempt to outline an for re-admission and for re-baptism. With the arrival of the fourth century, Donatists begin requiring the re-baptism of the lapsi ["fallen"; Latin]; those having recanted from the faith, who later determine to return to be seeking restoration in faith & fellowship. Bishop Petilianus then is moved to declare "loss of grace once received in baptism" for those who fall away. At this, the Orthodox church focused upon forbidding such re-baptisms; yet, the outcomes for these baptized was little sought as indicative toward whom God is truly approving [I Peter 3:10-22]. Peter reminding all what baptism is, and consequence in how it may be denied: an appeal/answer of a good/clear conscience toward God. Instead of waiting in Christ upon YHVH for His answer (follows baptism) that His grace & power be taking hold of that soul, various attempts on-scale were presented on-scale to allow or deny restoration via rules or standard. So often the focus of what we have been is foolishly allowed to transcend... to overrun what God is doing [forming; enabling; maturing] within a chosen vessel.

 Liberal To Conservative. Dogmatics on .

RESOLVE

Press forward, breaking away from aims scaled to humanity.
Our freedom is won and warranted in Christ, for Christ, to the Father.