savagesoto said:
I guess Im not really sure how that answers what I said. More over...if all Jesus had to say about losing an eye over "going to hell for all eternity" is that it was nearly "more profitable", you would think it wouldnt be an infinite period of unreasonable unpurposed terror for those who just didnt "stumble upon the right beliefs in time". "more profitable"? how can it be merely more profitable than spending an eternity in torment? If that was what he meant he shoud have said something more like "PLUCK OUT THAT EYE OR YOUR GONNA BURN FOREVER" oddly though, Jesus wasnt a turn and burn preacher like most make him out to be.
Also I think its important to note that context of that passage which he brings up the law of "an eye for an eye". So how could he then say "an eye for eternal torment????". how could that be actually what he meant?
savagesoto,
It is a symbol. It is the same as Psalm 11:4.
Ps 11:4
4 Jehovah is in his holy temple; Jehovah, his throne is in heaven; His eyes behold,
his eyelids try, the children of men. ASV
And the same as Revelation 19:12.
Rev 19:12
12 And
his eyes (are) a flame of fire, ASV
Noah found grace in the flame of fire (eyes of the Lord). The grace of God comes in the fiery trials.
God comes to us in His voice (a sharp two-edged sword from his mouth that brings the vision of Christ before our hearts and minds) and through his arm (chastisement and discipline). The body parts of God symbolize the different modes through which God communicates with us and the different emotions that we experience in this communication are revealed to us in the Scriptures.
When God
comes to us in his voice we first feel fear(though when we see the burning bush afar off we are at first curious) then peace through the blood then assurance in the purpose of God then tribulation then patience then experience then hope and hope makes us not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad to the four corners of our heart by the holy Spirit which is given unto us, the earnest of our inheritance which is reserved in heaven for us, which Jesus will bring with him when he comes, the crown of righteousness.
The maturity of the election is that it is not a matter of our willing and running but of God's work. Our emotion is the fruit of God's work. We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus before the world began unto the good works that God ordained before time. He does work in us to will and to do of His good pleasure; we are counted all day long as sheep for his sacrifice. This is the strong meat only for the mature. This is the sabbath rest, when we die in the Lord. Then our works follow us.
The beginners must continue drinking the milk, which comes through human agency which has man's ability and responsibility woven in the fabric of the communication. The child phase of milk is not to be despised. We all begin as babes, even Paul, when Jesus first spoke to him on the road to Damascus, he began as a babe in Christ, though he had the zeal of the Pharisee to preach Christ. By his own confession, his understanding of the vision matured. 2 Corinthians 5:16.
There is a "young men" adolescent phase of growth in grace concerning which John witnessed in 1 John 2:13,14. A comparable testimony through Paul is in Romans chapter 6-8, the expansion of sin through the law and the greater expansion of grace through the Spirit. This is an experience between the milk of the word of forgiveness for our sins and the strong meat of God's purpose and work in all things.
If in any thing you be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Philippians 3:15.
Joe
