What do you suppose follows being born again? Do you think people become instantly spiritual?
Well, that depends on what you mean by a person becoming spiritual. I don't mean to be cryptic or anything by that, but, yeah, not sure what you mean by "instantly spiritual." As Paul says in Ephesians 2, on being born again of the Spirit, we are no longer dead in our sin but made alive to God. So you have to do something with that... If by "instantly spiritual," you mean born again of the Spirit and
of God, then yes.
...you apparently believe the resurrection is past and that we are in the millennial age?
Ah, well, for those who are born again of the Spirit, yes, the first resurrection event for them is past, and they have joined all the saints of God, past and present, in sharing in the first resurrection of Revelation 20. Yes, God's millennium is the current age.
Well, I'll be honest, you really got me confused.
Hmmm, okay, fair enough... I don't think what I'm saying should be confusing. But you had said, "the elect are the first resurrection," which... doesn't really make any sense, so maybe you confused yourself a bit...? I mean, you'll have explain that, I guess. But again, each of us, in our own time, come to share in the first resurrection with Christ when we are born again of the Spirit and... I referred to what Paul says in Ephesians 2.... we are thus
"made alive together with Christ and raised up with Him and seated with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." This is a resurrection... we are "raised up"... Beebster. Not physical ~ we have not yet died physically ~ but rather
spiritual, of the spirit, which was previously
"dead in the trespasses and sins in which we once walked."
Judgement does not last for eternity. It last for the eon, the age after which is resurrection.
The final Judgment is eternal, Beebster. Those who will be on Jesus's left will have been resurrected to it (John 5:29). And upon the final Judgment, they will depart into it. Yes, for eternity. <
shudder> We Christians, however, will have been resurrected to life, and after the final Judgment will enter into the New Heaven and New Earth with Jesus, Who is life, for eternity.
No, we are all judged by fire.
Ah, well... yes, our God is a consuming fire, yes. <
smile>
The elect now, the rest of his church along with the the sea of humanity will be later.
Not sure what you're saying here, Beebster. The final Judgment will be a one-time event.
Second death is the death of our carnal minds.
Hmmm, disagree. The second death is the fate of those who are not born again of the Spirit, who do not repent of their sin and believe on Christ.
It is what brings us to having a spiritual mind which is the mind of Christ, who is the judge.
Ah, 'spiritual'... Yeah, I kind of gathered above that that was an area we were going to, um, disagree on...
The kingdom of God is in you.
Sure, but I don't think you quite understand... Maybe you do; you'd have to explain your take on that. The statement itself is true, but... well, yeah.
You are that temple and his throne is in you ..
Ah, well, I agree, except again, I think we're understanding that in different senses... As David say... sings, actually... in Psalm 22:3,
"(God is) enthroned on the praises of Israel..." So if you mean to refer to the temple in the corporate sense, that God's Israel is the temple in which, as Paul says in Ephesians 2, all we Gentiles who are in Christ
"are no longer strangers and aliens, but are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God..." ~ so all believers, regardless of ethnicity ~ "...built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in Whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord..." so corporately
"...in Christ being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit," then yes, we are in agreement. Your citation of 1 Corinthians 3:16 is a good one; it is in the very same sense as what Paul says here to the Ephesians.
Where do you suppose God's throne is? What do you suppose that throne is? Do you think the throne Christ sits on is a literal throne?
Why don't you answer those questions, Beebster. <
smile> It kind of feels like you have me on trial or something. <
smile> Let me know your thoughts, and I'll see what I can do. <
smile> I'll say this: When we think of God's throne, rather than thinking of a literal chair, we should think of a place, a position, of absolute preeminence and absolute sovereignty over all creation. <
smile>
Christ doesn't have a Christ. We are to continue Christ's work, for sure, we have the great privilege of doing so; we are His witnesses to all the earth. But "Christ's Christ"... hmmmm...
his elect are judged now in this age.
We can be subject to judgments as well as blessings, yes. The Lord makes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust alike...
1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Hmmm.... Well in the final Judgment, we will... go first... <smile> ...as we see in Jesus's portrayal of the final Judgment in Matthew 25:31-46.
Christ is the judge and his elect are him, his body. They too will judge as ONE.
Ah, well, we are in Christ. So He rules over creation ~ now ~ and we in Him rule. Now, does that mean we all, individually speaking, can and do issue judgments on others? No. No, it does not. In the sense of
pronouncing judgment on anyone else, no. And Christ will execute the final Judgment (Matthew 7:21-23; 25:31-46; Revelation 20:11-15).
Interesting... <
smile>
Grace and peace to you.
