--- Big Thoughts? ---
Date Written: October, 2022
It is a simple thing I ask of you, or, suggest for you... (2 Kings 5:1‑14) My simple message can be refined to this one brief but powerful thought: "Hear God's command to listen to Jesus Christ! (Mat 17:5) And then, do exactly that." Why would I focus my message so tightly on your need to actually listen to Jesus, and, why would I encourage it; over and over and...? It is because that is how you can live forever!
God's command to put on the mind of Christ (to ingest the teachings of his son) is easy to hear, (Mat 17:5) but, seems really hard for most people to actually understand or certainly to do. (Mat 15:7‑9; Mat 7:15‑20; Luke 13:24‑27) Why would, though, or how could, God's "simple" command actually be "hard" to do?
Number one reason is Christ enemies, those who willfully lie and distort truth. They all misdirect people to religious sects instead of to Christ. (Rom 1:18; Mat 7:15; John 5:42‑44 of 39‑44) Then, there is the danger from those who mean well but have been deceived or confused by that first group. (2 Cor 4:3‑6; Mat 7:21‑23; Luke 13:26‑27) Apart from individuals who mislead, and even though everything Jesus taught is simple, his complete message is somewhat complex. And again, how could Jesus's teachings be at the same time simple and yet complex? Jesus came to teach mankind what he learned from his Father; about our creation and our future. (John 15:15 of 11‑16) God started explaining his purpose to restore and repair the damage Adam and Eve did, right after they sinned in the Garden of Eden some 6000 years ago. Our view of God's plan of salvation began with that Edenic promise to raise up a seed of the woman (Gen 3:15) to destroy what Satan did. (1 John 3:8) The Bible is the record God provided of that promise, and of what has happened since. So... Do you know what has happened since Adam and Eve? That is what we each one you need to understand. If you are to have true faith in what God is doing, doesn't that first require you understand what He is doing. Bible history is made up of simple facts, but the truth they reveal is still complex because it covers over 6000 years. God did provide an easy way to know him: You just need to listen to Jesus because he is the one God sent to explain what God recorded in the Bible, (John 3:34‑36) and, Jesus is the only one who completely understands what God is doing! (Mat 13:11; Mat 13:34‑35) If this starts to sound the least bit complicated, just remember this simple summation: You just need to realize the 6000 year Bible record exists to direct you to have faith in Jesus Christ. (Gal 3:23‑26) Once you understand that, the Bible becomes an easy study: Just read and reread the four short Gospel accounts of Jesus's life and teachings; to familiarity. (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)
The reason you need to listen to Jesus, and to do so over and over, is in part because he spoke to us conveying "large thoughts." Actually, as you learn more and more of what Jesus said, it becomes obvious everything he said is "just one" very large thought. Jesus taught us using Bible principles. Principles help us know God and what pleases him, and to understand "why" it pleases him. Understanding why God does what he does causes you to love him. The principles Jesus taught are like brush strokes in a paint by numbers set. The mental image produced by Bible principles is the understanding of God. (Mat 11:27 of 25‑30) It's easy to express that you want a cup of water. Conveying principles from the mind of one person into another is far more complex. So... To learn what Jesus actually taught, you have to stretch your mind out over his large thoughts. The Bible refers to that as putting on the mind of Christ. (1 Cor 2:16; 1 Cor 1:10; Eph 4:17‑24) Tiny one sentence thoughts can't give you the mind of Christ. Never get caught up using "one" verse quotes to define your faith. I see Catholics recite some long prayer in harmony with counting beads in what I think they call a Rosary. Similarly, I hear members of other Religionist Sects run through a long string of disjoint Bible verse references, doing so to provide proof of their faith. Most claim their asserted faith in those Bible verses (their doctrine of faith) is proof of their salvation. I'm not their judge, of course, but I don't think citing rote memorized prayer is what the Bible means in saying we must put on (fully understand) the mind of Christ. (Luke 13:23‑27; Mat 7:21‑23) That's how Religionists (but never Christians; who are actually following Christ) get lost to truth: Religionists get lost by trying to create a doctrine of faith based on one (or a few) Bible verses or excerpts; which they use to establish rules of sectarian acceptance or approval. (Mat 15:9) Then, rather than continuing to listen to Christ, they start trying to justify and reinforce their faith in their sectarian doctrine; faith in the rules that define and approve their membership; in what ever group they have joined. (At that point they have become religiously weaponized to spread lies. - Mat 15:7‑9) Let's you and I, however, take a different tack. Let's look to the complete teachings of Jesus as our only doctrine of faith. Let's consider how stretching our mind over the large thoughts of Christ can help us know truth, and at the same time, protect us from being misled by religious doctrines. (Mat 7:15‑20; John 8:31‑32) My first thought was to talk about and refute some religious false doctrine I am familiar with, using that to show how people misapplied a few Bible verses in support of their beliefs. Then I realized, that would just be me being judgmental and would make people who believed in that doctrine angry; and therefore, make it harder for them to want to listen to what Christ taught. That's the key to helping people: Realize you are not a judge, and just tell everyone exactly what Jesus did actually say. Avoid arguing about what people mistakenly say Jesus said, or belittling the implications they make and conclusions they draw beyond what he said. (Pro 17:14; 1 Cor 11:1; Mat 24:11‑14; 1 Cor 4:6) Don't get caught up talking [arguing] about what Jesus didn't teach, just because someone says he did say it, (1 Tim 1:3‑7) and/or, are convinced "their" teaching is "right." (Pro 9:7; 1 Tim 2:8; Mat 15:8‑9) Just be careful you listen only to Jesus! Experts say those needing to recognize counterfeit money are not taught what fake money looks like, as that is ever changing. They teach them to be very familiar with every aspect of "real currency," and then, what is counterfeit will be obvious. My attempt on this website, then, is to avoid giving lip service to false teachings at all; but to publish just what Jesus did teach, and so be a sharer among those set free by that intimate knowledge. (John 8:31‑32) Just tell other people what Jesus did say. Lies will then be obvious to all who are actually seeking truth. (John 7:15‑18; John 18:37)
One problem with considering large thoughts is it is just not familiar to us. We live in a world that is largely made up of ignorant small thought thinkers. Please understand, my saying the world is largely ignorant is referring to their spiritual ignorance of Bible teachings, and more specifically, their ignorance of the words of Jesus Christ. Many very sincere religious people, who strongly assert their faith in the Bible, have never really focused their attention on learning what Jesus actually taught. (The Bible is a large Book and a daunting study. The teachings of Jesus that we require, however, are recorded in the four short Bible Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The rest of the Bible exists to direct us to, and help us have faith in, Jesus Christ. [Gal 3:23‑26] So... Read your Gospels! And, read them through from beginning to end. That's how you come to know Christ intimately. That's how you "put on" his mind.) It seems most everyone just want to have a quick response to everything said to them, rather than a well thought out and measured and accurate response. What most people actually want to do, is debate to justify their religion. Christianity is not a debate, it is a lifelong study at the feet of Christ. (Mark 3:31‑35) Also, ignorance is a problem incidental to youth, since all young people are ignorant; simply because they haven't lived long enough to become wise. We are all born ignorant. As Roger, an old friend from my youth recently expressed it, "You can't put an old head on a young body." Young people do have a help, however, if they choose to take advantage. (Psa 19:7 of 7‑11; Psa 119:97‑112) That help offered young people is actually the same help all of us have. Those who are along in years, and still haven't taken advantage of God's help through Christ's words, well, they may be in danger of replacing their ignorance with stupidity. That is, of course, God's judgment (and their choice) to make...
Okay! Enough long winded talk about "big thoughts"... Lets see what one looks like. As you read the following words of Christ from the Book of John, the idea is to try and hold all the points Jesus made in your mind at once! Appreciate he had them all in mind when he taught it, so, try to understand what Jesus was thinking. Just try to visualize what Christ had organized in his mind that he wanted to convey to the woman at the well. John 4:5-26(Modern World Translation) In Samaria Jesus came to a town named Sychar, which was not far from the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. (6) Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired out by the trip, sat down by the well just as he was. It was about noon. (7) A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink of water." (8) (His disciples had gone into town to buy food.) (9) The woman answered, "You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan---so how can you ask me for a drink?" (Jews look down on Samaritans and will not use the same cups and bowls.) (10) Jesus answered, "If you only knew the free gift of God and who it is that is asking you for a drink, you would ask him, and he would give you life-giving water." (11) "Sir," the woman said, "you don't have a bucket, and the well is deep. Where would you get that life-giving water? (12) It was our ancestor Jacob [the grandson of Abraham, who was the father of the Jewish nation - Gal 3:26‑29] who gave us this well; he and his children and his flocks all drank from it. You don't claim to be greater than Jacob, do you?" (13) Jesus answered, "Those who drink this water will get thirsty again, (14) but those who drink the water that I will give them will never be thirsty at all. The water that I will give them will well up in them to become a spring which will provide them with life-giving water and give them eternal life." (15) "Sir," the woman said, "give me that water! Then I will never be thirsty again, nor will I have to come here to draw water." (16) "Go and call your husband," Jesus told her, "and come back." (17) "I don't have a husband," she answered. Jesus replied, "You are right in saying you don't have a husband. (18) You have been married to five men, and the man you live with now is not your husband. You have told me the truth." (19) "I perceive you are a prophet, sir," the woman said. (20) "My Samaritan ancestors worshiped God on this mountain, but you Jews say that Jerusalem is the place where we should worship God." (21) Jesus said to her: "Believe me, woman, The hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you people worship the Father. (22) You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, because salvation originates with the Jews. (23) Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him. (24) God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth." (25) The woman said to him, "I know that the Messiah will come, and when he comes, he will tell us all things openly." (26) Jesus answered, "I am he, and I am talking with you."
There is a great deal we can learn from these verses, but let's try and glean just their overall basic theme. Jesus first arouses the Samaritan woman's interest by offering her something really good: "Water granting everlasting life." The woman asks about who Jesus imagines he is, to be able to make such an offer. Before explaining who he is, Jesus goes on to make clear the water he will give her will quench her thirst and provide her eternal life. The woman is now interested to get the life‑giving water from Jesus, but, will she actually believe what he is about to explain. So she will be able to have faith in his words, Jesus performs a miracle by providing information he could not possibly have without God's help. That convinces the woman Jesus is a prophet. Showing she is a spiritual person, likely the reason Jesus chose her to talk with, her first question is about her Samaritan form of worship and how it is different from his Jewish ways. Which way is proper? Jesus explains his Jewish ways had previously been the proper way to approach God, because the Jews were the source of salvation for everyone. [Jesus was born a Jew, but he offers salvation to all repentant mankind, both Jews and Gentiles. (Rom 1:16‑18)] Jesus goes on to explain, however, that starting with his conversation with this woman (beginning with the teaching he provided "us" through this woman), neither her Samaritan form of worship nor his Judaistic practices would be acceptable. Jesus here explains the proper form of worship... The life giving water was in part, and remains, the knowledge that all people must worship God in Spirit and Truth. The woman understood Jesus was telling her she had to have faith in him as God's Messiah, and must believe "his words" to be that life giving water: She said she knew Messiah was coming who would "explain all things openly." She understood the life giving waters to be the truth Jesus conveyed to her. Jesus told her he was indeed that expected Messiah, and he was speaking with her.
This material isn't complicated. Maybe it's easy for some people to grasp and hold in mind this (seemingly to me large) teaching by Jesus. For me, it tends to difficulty. It's hard to even begin with being relaxed so as to have a clear mind; so other thoughts or worries don't crowd in to interfere with my listening to Christ. I thank God every day for peaceful conditions. Even when conditions are good, my mind still tends to drift. And, in my case, I first needed some additional scriptural background to help me understand what Jesus here means by our need to take in life giving water. And also, to help me understand how taking water from Christ equates with worshipping God in "spirit and truth." Please consider some additional scriptures, then, that helped me better understand these verses. As we do so, ponder whether recognizing the intertwining of these large thoughts of Christ is (or explains) the process of "putting on" the mind of Christ. As you put forth effort to learn what Christ taught, you begin to realize everything he said is interrelated as one large mental image. And based on that, you begin to understand the teaching of the salvation by God through faith in Christ is God's one large thought to help the human race, running from the sin in Eden to the Revelation of Christ. God's large thought toward mankind is like an umbrella of protection above us. Jesus is the one sent by God to teach us to know God, and to understand what He is doing. (John 15:15 of 11‑16) If we comprehend the large thought of Christ, we can then understand the large thought of the entire Bible. That is to say, we begin to comprehend the large thought of God to save mankind.
To better see how everything Jesus taught fits together: We note Jesus later reinforces his teaching about our need to take in God's Spirit by accepting waters of life from him. Jesus said in John 7:37‑39 (English Standard Version) On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. (38) Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" (39) Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive... This is not complicated, but it is "spiritual" thinking.
With all that in mind, consider how some other things Jesus said can help us understand John 4:5‑26, or in other words, how more knowledge helps us understand what Jesus meant by our need to take in life giving waters; and then, to understand how that equates with worshipping God in spirit and truth. Consider that Jesus said no one can come to him unless they are first drawn by his Father's spirit. (John 6:44) Christ also said he came for the purpose of bringing truth. (John 18:37) All people who come to Jesus thus worship "in spirit" because they must first be drawn to Christ by God's spirit, and then "in truth," because they are taught the truth by Jesus. Now with this little added scriptural background fresh in mind, go back and read John 4:5‑26 again; trying to grasp the whole of what Jesus conveyed from his mind into the understanding of the woman at the well.
As you learn other things Jesus said, everything you already know makes more and more sense! That will prove useful and very rewarding in all your future Bible reading and study. Stretching your mind over Jesus's thoughts has the added benefit of correcting any errors of misunderstanding you have let Religionists mix into the body of truth you are building; truth based hopefully, on Christ's words alone. (Religionists are all those people who follow doctrines of men. [Mark 7:6‑9] Many or most of them do imagine they are following Christ. [Luke 13:26‑27])
To illustrate how these large thoughts of Christ merge together into one understanding, let's note where Jesus says he is the true bread from heaven, and talks about our need to eat his flesh and drink his blood: John 6:48-58 (Good News Bible) I am the bread of life. (49) Your ancestors ate manna [bread] in the desert, but they died. (50) But the bread that comes down from heaven is of such a kind that whoever eats it will not die. (51) I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If you eat this bread, you will live forever. The bread that I will give you is my flesh, which I give so that the world may live." (52) This started an angry argument among them. "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" they asked. (53) Jesus said to them, "I am telling you the truth: if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in yourselves. (54) Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them to life on the last day. (55) For my flesh is the real food; my blood is the real drink. (56) Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood live in me, and I live in them. (57) The living Father sent me, and because of him I live also. In the same way whoever eats me will live because of me. (58) This, then, is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the bread that your ancestors ate, but then later died. Those who eat this bread will live forever."
Can you now understand, eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ, which these scriptures also refer to as eating the true bread from heaven, is really just another way of saying we need to drink the waters of life Jesus offered the woman at the well? To further clarify this, Jesus said God's spirit is in the words he spoke to us:
John 6:63 (New World Translation) "It is the spirit that is life-giving; the flesh is of no use at all. The sayings that I have spoken to YOU are spirit and are life." So... We take in the spirit of God by consuming the words of his Christ! We take in God's spirit by drinking Christ's blood and eating his flesh, or by eating the true bread from heaven, or by drinking his waters of life. They're all just different ways of saying our spiritual person must feed on and be sustained by the words of Jesus Christ.
Jesus's faithful disciples understood their need to eat his flesh and drink his blood simply meant their lives were tied to knowing what he taught: John 6:66‑68 GNB Because of this [because of Jesus saying they must eat his flesh and drink his blood], many of Jesus' followers turned back and would not go with him any more. (67) So he asked the twelve disciples, "And you---would you also like to leave?" (68) Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life."
The large thought I hope pray you now hold in mind, about your need to take in waters of life from Jesus, about eating his flesh and his blood, and about taking in God's spirit in the words Jesus spoke, will lead to understanding something else Jesus taught. He went on to teach we each one need to be born again. He said we must be born again by the Spirit: John 3:1-21 GNB'There was a Jewish leader named Nicodemus, who belonged to the party of the Pharisees. (2) One night he went to Jesus and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher sent by God. No one could perform the miracles you are doing unless God were with him." (3) Jesus answered, "I am telling you the truth: no one can see the Kingdom of God without being born again." (4) "How can a grown man be born again?" Nicodemus asked. "He certainly cannot enter his mother's womb and be born a second time!" (5) "I am telling you the truth," replied Jesus, "that no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. (6) A person is born physically of human parents [from water], but is born spiritually of the Spirit [by being drawn to Christ by God's spirit]. (7) Do not be surprised because I tell you that you must all be born again. (8) The wind blows wherever it wishes; you hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. It is like that with everyone who is born of the Spirit." [People who don't know Christ can't understand what drives or motivates people who do follow Jesus.] (9) "How can this be?" asked Nicodemus. (10) Jesus answered, "You are a great teacher in Israel, and you don't know this? (11) I am telling you the truth: we speak of what we know and report what we have seen, yet none of you is willing to accept our message. (12) You do not believe me when I tell you about the things of this world; how will you ever believe me, then, when I tell you about the things of heaven? (13) And no one has ever gone up to heaven except the Son of Man, who came down from heaven." (14) As Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the desert, in the same way the Son of Man must be lifted up, (15) so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. (16) For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. (17) For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its savior. (18) Those who believe in the Son are not judged; but those who do not believe have already been judged, because they have not believed in God's only Son. (19) [Now this is the basis of judgment] This is how the judgment works: the light has come into the world, but people love the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds are evil. (20) Those who do evil things hate the light and will not come to the light, because they do not want their evil deeds to be shown up. (21) But those who do what is true come to the light in order that the light may show that what they did was in obedience to God.'All these teachings we have considered from the mouth of Jesus, then, are simply to help us understand we each one need to take in his Father's Spirit; the Spirit alive in the words Jesus spoke. (Heb 4:12‑13; John 6:63) So, as you read about your need to be born again by spirit, you can know that refers to your requirement to be drawn to Jesus by God's spirit, (John 6:44) and about your taking in God's spirit alive in Christ's words. (John 6:63; John 7:39) God making use of his spirit to draw you to Christ is him showing his power in your behalf. (2 Chron 16:9) All these scriptures fit together and form an understanding of the one large thought of God toward mankind: The sanctification and glorification of God's name (Mat 6:9‑10) by our deliverance through our faith in his son.
Can you now see and understand, if you are able to both grasp in mind and have faith in these simple teachings of Jesus, it must surely mean you are being drawn to Christ by God's spirit? (John 6:44) That, in turn, means you are a new creation: (Gal 6:15; 2 Cor 5:17 of 16‑19) You have been reborn as that "new creation" by the Spirit of ; the Spirit of יהוה that drew you to Christ and is alive in the words Jesus spoke. (John 6:63) You are part of the group whose faith has placed them in our modern day ark of salvation. (Luke 17:26‑30) You are among the group surviving the tribulation right now destroying our world. (Psa 91:5‑8 of 91; Psa 110‑111) If you have taken to heart and truly believe these words of Christ, a beautiful way the Bible expresses what you have done is to say you have washed your robes white in the blood of the Lamb. (Rev 7:9‑17) You will survive because you have clothed yourself with the mind of Christ, (Rev 16:15; Eph 6:10‑20) thus truly knowing both him and the Father he was sent to teach us about. (Pro 30:4; John 15:14 of 11‑15) It will certainly not be because you have joined any sect of men, men who have actually emboldened themselves (Mat 23:1‑15) to imagine they can approve or disapprove you before God. (1 Cor 4:5 of 1‑5; Mat 15:8‑9) As Jesus himself said over and over: Your survival will be contingent upon your faith. (Mat 9:22; Eph 2:8; Mark 10:52; Luke 7:50; Luke 17:19; Luke 18:42; Acts 14:9; Luke 8:48 of 42‑48; John 7:37‑39; John 19:34)
After a lengthy and pleasant consideration of these scriptures, and in light of my stated hope of living forever, a well versed Bible student (James) asked me exactly what I expect to happen. His question included asking if I expected to be changed in the twinkling of an eye,
1 Corinthians 15:49‑53 KJV ...And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. (50) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (51) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep [in death], but we shall all be changed, (52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we (who are alive) shall be changed. (53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
and if I expect the elements, being intensely hot, to melt.
2 Peter 3:10‑13 KJV ...But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (11) Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, (12) Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (13) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
The answer to both his questions is yes. If the Bible says it, I believe it. James and I might not, however, have the same understanding of what those scriptures mean. For our faith to be based in truth (for us to have the mind of Christ), our faith must be supported by "all" the scriptures. (2 Tim 3:16) And, we must always remember, while the Bible always expresses truth, it is not always literal: We don't literally, for example, eat the flesh and blood of Christ. (John 6:53 of 52‑54) So... If you find a scripture that doesn't support (that contradicts) your faith, even if your faith is based on 99 percent of the rest of the Bible, your faith is still in error... You must correct it so it harmonizes with "every single verse" of the Bible! That is the definition of truth. That is having the mind of Christ. (2 Tim 3:16‑17) And, that is what the Gospel teachings of Jesus are for! Just as the scriptures James referenced say, I expect to be changed "in the twinkling of an eye," as my "corruption puts on incorruption." (Actually, I think I've already changed, some...) But, I don't expect that means I will regain my youthful vigor and have my flesh become fresher than in my youth instantly. (Job 33:24‑25 of 13‑30) I expect to be changed in the twinkling of an eye in the sense of instantly being set on the path leading to life, and removed from the path leading to death (my corruption puts on incorruption). That means I will (and likely unobservable from an imperfect human perspective, the same as my getting old was very gradual) start getting fresher and stronger every day, instead of older and nearer the grave. (Job 33:24‑25; ) If God restored my youthful vigor instantly, all my neighbors would try and flock to Christ for that reward, instead of because it is the right thing to do. Faith must remain a part of our salvation. (Rom 1:16‑18) I don't "know" what is happening, I have "faith"... Jesus said it will happen to you according to your faith. (Mat 9:27‑30; Mat 9:22; Eph 2:8; Mark 10:52; Luke 7:50; Luke 17:19; Luke 18:42; Acts 14:9; Luke 8:48 of 42‑48; John 7:37‑39; John 19:34) That certainly begs you and James answer that same question James asked me: What is your faith? What do you believe is happening to you? My faith is I have put on incorruption and things are getting better every day...
As to the second part of James's question: Even though I avoid spending much time thinking about what other people believe, so I can focus my attention on listening to Christ [and him alone], my understanding is James believes the earth is going to be completely and literally burned out of existence, and that he is going to heaven to be with Christ (even though heaven is God's realm - Psa 115:16). He does reasonably take his belief from the Bible:
2 Peter 3:10‑13: (King James Version) 'But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. [Or possibly "refined"... Please follow the link to 2 Peter 3:10‑13 and note some translators rendered 2 Pet 3:10 to say the earth's works will be "exposed" or "discovered" and the wicked destroyed.] (11) Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, (12) Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (13) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.'[I here quoted the King James Bible because James said he uses that Bible. And, I do know, many other people share his belief and like that translation. I do believe in the new heavens and new earth verse 13 promises.]
My answer to his question about what I believe is going to happen, then, is what I believe is already happening... It is this: I believe it is the day James mentioned he also believes in, when the earth is being destroyed. If I am correct, it's only going to get worse until it's over. (Mat 24:21‑22) We are witnessing the tribulation. The Bible says the earth was destroyed in Noah's day, meaning all wickedness was washed away. This time, the earth is being destroyed as by fire, meaning the badness of this old wicked world system is being destroyed completely and forever. (2 Pet 3:5‑7; Mal 4:1-3) As to our physical earthly home, I believe the Bible when it says the earth lasts forever. (Ecc 1:4; Psa 37:10‑11; Psa 104:5; Psa 37:29) I believe Jesus is preparing a place for us right now, here on earth (doing so from his current place in heaven), as he goes subduing in the midst of his enemies (Psa 110:2 of 1‑3) using his words (using the sword of his mouth - Rev 19:15 of 11‑16). Christ's words strike his enemies as they are shouted from the mouths of his earthly servants. (Psa 110:3 of 1‑3; Rev 2:16; Rev 19:11‑16) Jesus's nondenominational "Christian" servants (Acts 11:26) are being protected from being destroyed by the tribulation. (Psa 91:7‑11 of Psa 91; Psa 110‑111) The wicked are all being destroyed by Armageddon. I believe we must, up to now, see all this through eyes of faith. (2 Kings 6:15‑17) The tribulation(we have caused by disobeying God to abuse our fellow man and our earthly home) is, however, escalating all around us: We note famine and disease and war and social breakdown, while whole nations produce fentanyl and distribute it using powerful cartels who target children with their life threatening addictive drugs. Added to all that and more, is the threat of nuclear war in Ukraine and Taiwan. When I was young I took pride in my job working in a factory building automobiles. In the news, I saw a large company with 100 or so employees gathered in a call center for the sole purpose of stealing money from old people. What kind of vile nation sponsors or even allows such wicked business practices. Do those telephone thieves refer to what they do all day as a job? Do they take pride in it? Do they imagine God doesn't see? (Eze 9:9‑10) The list of escalating badness seems nearly endless. The wicked have foolishly lost all fear of God. (Heb 10:30‑31) It is God's purpose, however, for those wicked individuals (all those who reject Christ - John 15:22) to identify and mark themselves in just that way. (Ecc 8:11‑13) The world's problems are terrorizing all of humanity, as they also destroy a large portion of them: Thousands of thousands are dying. (Psa 110‑111) To make it all completely unsolvable by humans, there are so many liars pretending to be upright. With some seemingly rare exceptions, integrity is lost to the modern world. Lying ridiculers say the Bible's promised tribulation isn't happening, and things will go on as they have. (2 Pet 3:1‑7) Surely by now, no sane person can imagine there is any hope apart from Christ. (Mark 13:19‑20) If they don't realize the tribulation yet, they soon will; (Isa 45:22‑25) it's only getting worse. Soon, however, the last of the wicked (those not yet destroyed by the tribulation) will be killed by the armies of heaven. (Psa 37:10‑11; Mat 24:21‑22) No faith will be required... (Rom 14:11‑12; Rev 1:3‑7) Bree Smith, our Nashville, TN weather person said while showing pictures of Hurricane Ian approaching the Florida coast, Ian having a near perfect eye wall, that it was dead calm in that eye. Bree said you would be able to look straight up and see blue sky. She left me imagining a man in a little boat that got caught in the eye as the storm formed, and then matched its 10 to 15 miles per hour speed across the water. As long as he putted along keeping his little boat in the center of the eye, he would be safe and secure. Even while 250 mile per hour winds circled around him, it would be calm where he was. That's where Christians live now! I'm seated at the feet of Jesus, (Mat 12:46‑50) listening to his words to keep myself in the eye of this worldwide storm of tribulation... My mail delivery woman said when the terrors of this world creep in to cause distress, she remembers the comforting words of Christ at Luke 21:28 CEV When all of this (the tribulation) starts happening, stand up straight and (hold your heads high) be brave. You will soon be set free. Our personal faith in the words of Christ is our salvation...
One last point this well educated young man raised is that I can't probably know I'm going to live forever, because Jesus said no man, including even himself, knows the day or hour of Judgment day. (Mat 24:36) That is, I believe, another example of a thought being misunderstood by pulling a scripture out of context in support of a doctrine of faith. It is taken from another large thought Jesus conveyed, actually in answer to that specific question of when the end would come. (Mat 24:3) In surrounding verses, Jesus said the end was dynamic; that is to say, it was not a preset day or date. Judgment day was/is being picked by God based on our activities: Jesus said the end wouldn't come until we have preached God's warning message throughout the earth. (Mat 24:14) That is the message you are hearing right now. Do you now see how important it is to share Christ's words: You can help warn the wicked, and in doing so, speed us to the end of all this suffering. Direct everyone to this webpage. Print it and give it to everyone you know. If nothing else, just ask them what they think about the things this old man is saying Jesus said. (If possible, the material should be read online to easily consider the scriptures. Those who don't have internet access can go to a public library. Most have staff who can help you pull JustBibleTruth.com up and get started.) While Jesus said he didn't know the day or hour, he did know what would happen to bring the end, and he very specifically told us what to look for. (Mat 24:3‑31) So, while Jesus did say he didn't know the exact day, he did describe as signs of the tribulation exactly what we see happening in the earth today (or, he described multiple parts of one "composite sign," as some Religionists will want to argue; as they likely miss Jesus's point by arguing their doctrine). Jesus also said we should raise our heads in anticipation of deliverance when we recognize the signs he gave. (Luke 21:25‑28) If you love Christ, I love you. Even if I don't get to meet you personally in this old system, you can know me through these webpages. These pages are me! Far more importantly, you can know Christ Jesus through the Gospels. The Gospel pages are Jesus! All sincere Christians realize they are just a work in progress. Since we are all just learning, there will be differences in our current understanding. (1 Cor 14:20‑25; Eph 4:13‑15) Just don't be deceived to believe any self named (Acts 11:26) religious sect of men is going to help you "put on the mind of Christ"... (Mark 7:6‑9) Even when they do mean well, they may be deceived. And, they [we] are all ignorant to some degree. (Mat 7:21‑23; Luke 13:26‑27) No man or woman knows what Jesus knows. What ever the details of your personal doctrine of faith, I do believe this: If you love God, (Heb 11:6; 2 Chron 16:9) and have heard his command to listen to Jesus, (Mat 17:5) and so are taking to heart the words of Christ, (John 17:3; Eph 4:11‑16; John 18:37) you must surely be a Christian. (John 6:44) I'll see you soon, then, in paradise. (Isa 11:1‑12; Rev 7:13‑17)
In the conversation [Communion] I had with James about these Bible verses, he shared that he and his brothers and sisters wash each others feet as a part of their meetings for worship. (I believe he was saying it is required! That it is an ordinance [similar to a doctrine] of approval by their group.) They take their belief from Jesus having actually said that very thing at John 13:12‑15 (KJV). "So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? (13) Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. (14) If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. (15) For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." Jesus there gave an example to us all about our need to be humble and respectful. I don't believe, however, it is a "special" teaching by Jesus, one to be picked out and used as part of our doctrine of faith and worship; any more than we would try to literally eat his flesh and drink his blood, or to walk on water. (Mat 4:5‑7) Remember too, Jesus was talking to his disciples. He had given them power to raise the dead and heal the sick, because they had the responsibility of "starting" Christianity after Jesus was resurrected to heaven. (Acts 4:5‑13; Acts 20:7‑12) Don't get me wrong, I would be pleased to wash James's feet; but, I would be fearful of becoming part of a self named sect that approves or disapproves others based on feet washing. That's how every religious sect has come into existence. Baptists, for example, properly note that John the Baptist is a supreme example of one who came as a forerunner of Christ, to announce Jesus to mankind. (John 1:29‑34) So, then, a group formed who wanted to call themselves Baptists. According to the Bible, however, you should call yourself a Christian (Acts 11:26) and your only doctrine of faith should be the teachings of Jesus Christ; "all" the teachings of Jesus Christ. You should never be misled to worship according to a subset of his teachings, picked by some sect to be his "most important" teachings. Don't follow religious "doctrines" or "ordinances" or what ever religious people choose to call them. (Rev 22:18‑20; Mark 7:7‑8) You are my Christian brother or sister based solely on your faith in Jesus's teachings. You and Christ and his Father know who you are. I'm not your judge either to praise in approval, or to disapprove. (1 Cor 4:5 of 3‑5) If you join with me in speaking about the words of Christ, we are in Christ's church. If you read and believe these scriptures, you are in Christ's church. If you are in Christ's church, you are a Christian and a member of the Israel of God. You don't need any man or group to get you there, to help you stay there, or certainly to erroneously approve that you are there. If you seek approval from other men, do you really know Christ? (John 5:44 of 39‑44) Just read the Gospel accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus. Read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John to familiarity... Whether you have faith in Jesus's words is your only judge. You, then, are your only judge! (John 12:48 of 46‑50; John 3:18 of 16‑21)
In closing let me draw special attention to some scriptures we considered that I am only now starting to have new faith in, or, only now starting to have faith in a newly understood meaning. Did you notice what John 4:14 taught us? Jesus there said: (English Standard Version) "...but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." Isn't that a compelling statement by Jesus? What do you think that means? Some Bible translators reference Isa 58:11 from that verse. Isaiah there quoted God as saying: (Good News Bible) And I will always guide you and satisfy you with good things. I will keep you strong and well. You will be like a garden that has plenty of water, like a spring of water that never goes dry. Or, as the Bible in Basic English renders it: "you will be ...like an ever-flowing spring." What to you think Jesus meant (as he was possibly referencing Isaiah) when he said in John 4:14, "The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." What did he mean when Jesus said in John 6:53 that we can have "the source of life" within ourselves? Really just think about that: "Having the source of life within yourself." Is our personal source of life our faith in Christ's teachings? (Mat 9:22; Eph 2:8; Mark 10:52; Luke 7:50; Luke 17:19; Luke 18:42; Acts 14:9; Luke 8:48 of 42‑48; John 7:37‑39; John 19:34) Is that what Jesus meant when he said we could approach his Father directly...? (John 16:23; John 15:16) Based on all the scriptures we have considered, I believe our personal faith in the teachings of Jesus Christ well up inside us to impart everlasting life. I believe that is happening right now, to all those who have true faith in Christ. Do you see how important what you believe is? What do you have personal faith is happening to you?... Christ is your judge, (John 5:22) of course, but I fear our internal spring of waters of life can not come from having faith in any of the many self‑named religious sects. I hope you can tell the life giving difference between Religion and Christianity. Let me know! (Write: support@justbibletruth.com)
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