The late repentants were those who narrowly escaped the torment of hell. While of some speculation, the poem reads as a vivid contrast between different providence levels through saving faith and life lived out by grace—this artistically expressed through Dante’s purgatory. Yet as a comparison, it is written, escaped so as by fire (Ita Quod Per Ignem). “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1 Cor 3:15). Is it possible to obtain the gift of repentance without first obtaining faith through grace?
The Late Repentants – Divine Comedy Purgatory IV 103-105
“Thither we drew; and there were persons there / Who in the shadow stood behind the rock, As one through indolence is wont to stand.”
Godly Sorrow Produces Repentance Leading to Salvation
– 2 Corinthians 7:10
“The entrance into the kingdom of God is through the sharp, sudden pains of repentance colliding with man’s respectable “goodness.” Then the Holy Spirit, who produces these struggles, begins the formation of the Son of God in the person’s life (Galatians 4:19). This new life will reveal itself in conscious repentance followed by unconscious holiness, never the other way around. The foundation of Christianity is repentance. Strictly speaking, a person cannot repent when he chooses— repentance is a gift of God.” Oswald Chambers
“And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” – 2 Timothy 2:24–26 (NKJV)
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Rom 12:2
Some notes and highlights in my understanding about what Jesus wants in our relationship with God:
If love does not come from knowing God, there is no point in calling it love for God.
When God’s glory becomes our supreme pleasure, we begin to prefer above all else to know him, see him, and be like him.
True love for God will always bring about love for people.
Loving God is a strong inward emotion, not a mere outward action.
Jesus does not equate loving God with serving God. He roots serving God with loving God.
“Heart” highlights the center of our volitional and emotional life without excluding thought (Lk 1:51). “Soul” highlights our life as a whole, though sometimes distinguished from the body (Mt 10:28). “Mind” highlights our thinking capacity. And “Strength” highlights the capacity to make vigorous efforts both bodily and mentally (Mk 5:4, Lk 21:36).
Every faculty and every capacity treasures God above all things in such a way that our treasuring of any other thing is also a treasuring of God.
That any pleasure is not also a delight in God, then we have not loved God with all that capacity.
“He loves thee too little who loves anything together with Thee, which he loves not for thy sake.” – Augustine.
“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.
If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Dt 30:15–20).
After a long while, I have come to the end of Ezekiel. A word-for-word slow and careful look at what the words and Spirit within me would say. Here is an outline of notes below what really stood out because of what the Lord’s people did to betray Him as their everlasting and loving Lord and God YHWH. He applied a just and harsh punishment to them and surrounding nations. There is a place (Ezekiel 18:21-32) on a page where I could not catch a welled-up tear before it dropped on one the pages (pg 1344 of Heirloom).
“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.” – Ezekiel 36:26-28
HIGHLIGHTS
The glory of God is an unspeakable thing to witness. Unless we are given the strength and charge to speak.
The physical sense of holiness is transmittable over physical matter. From the attire of Godly men and the sacrifices made to YHWH.
He did this to vindicate the holiness of His great name.
The geographical position and place of Israel were given by YHWH to the 12 tribes of Jacob.
The Lord causes calamity as an outcome of rebellion; he doesn’t just let disasters or invasions happen.
He is fiercely jealous for His people and His glory.
“Then, they will know I am the Lord.” Often appears throughout the book. I found myself wanting to apologize for His people and what they had done to Him before all other nations.
The priestly order “Sons of Zadok” remained faithful throughout all the betrayal and defilement. The Lord honored them for that in His third temple that will get built on the temple mount in Jerusalem.
For all the events that have occurred, the Lord revealed Himself by his glory, by his judgment and restoration. If narrowly following a single story at a time, one might conclude that the Lord God YHWH is unjustly vindictive. Yet it’s a love story—a story of redemption through horrific circumstances.
A foreshadowing of Yeshua, our Most High king. The incredible gravity of His mercy, a descriptive and fearsome glory to witness. Ultimately His restoration of fellowship with His people.
There are times at random when in passing I will just pick up my bible off the desk, hold it to my chest and breathe it in with my eyes closed. There is a unique and centering sense about it. That the totality in the meaning of its words brings certainty about truth, life, assurance, and renewal. The cool of the pages and the holiness of its words reach through to take the heat, confusion, and distress off. To soothe the uneasiness for another stretch of the day. Until back again inside for what it brings. Even better sometimes is my head down at my desk supported by His Holy book. I belong at home in those words.
On a 3 x 5 index card, I have been writing notes and symbols about the process of spiritual life and death. Also many other 3 x 5 cards with various thoughts and conclusions that come and go. Not to miss anything, but to write while immersed in spirit and reading. As abbreviated mapping, this one goes something like this:
(1) Justification ————-> Event: At spiritual rebirth Kept from Penalty of Sin & Evil
(2) Sanctification ———–> Process: Transformation & renewal of your soul during life Kept from Power of Sin & Evil
(3) Glorification ————-> Event: At physical death Kept from Presence of Sin & Evil
To post this kind of content is my cross to bear at the risk of being confused, wrong, or ridiculed. There’s more to it, but Christ didn’t only die for our sinful rebellion, He also had to live for our righteousness. He is our righteousness. A double imputation. Our sinful rebellion to His death and our redemption. His righteousness is imputed to us. His life of perfect obedience is just as necessary for our eternal life as is His atoning death at the crucifixion. Our sin to Him, His righteousness to us.
In the past week or so, I have still had this lasting appetite to pour daily into Ezekiel. Not in a visceral sense, but as a sheep that nurses to get its energy. Something happens to lighten the heart and spirit by bringing those words into view by holding the pages close and dwelling upon their meaning. Honestly, when Jesus said that we would live on more than bread, but on the word of God, I didn’t take it in the literal sense. I was wrong. It is, in fact, in the literal sense. Once you have a taste, there isn’t a way to live without having those words as a source of wisdom, guidance, comfort, and faith.
“And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”
But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” – Matt. 4:4
Here’s a profile of our newly sponsored child. Destine Hanamaria has made it through one of the most vulnerable times in life for a human living in poverty. She made it past her first birthday because of generous givers like you. At this age, having someone to love and take care of her can still mean the difference between life and death. That’s why your sponsorship provides for a trained Survival Specialist from her local church to visit her every month at home.
Destine Hanamaria Birthday: July 09, 2015 Gender: Female Location: Indonesia (Asia) Child ID: XXXXXXXXXXXX
• Age: 2 • Birthday: July 9, 2015 • Gender: Female • Location: Indonesia • Center: Evangelical Church in Minahasa “Trifena” Karegesan • Child ID: XXXXXXXXXXXX • Waiting: 215 days for a sponsor. Urgent need for a sponsor.
Overview
Destine Hanamaria has made it through one of the most vulnerable times in life for a human living in poverty. She made it past her first birthday because of generous givers like you. At this age, having someone to love and take care of her can still mean the difference between life and death. That’s why your sponsorship provides for a trained Survival Specialist from her local church to visit her every month at home.
These specialists provide access to much-needed immunizations and medical care, as well as food and water to meet critical physical needs. They also lend emotional and spiritual support to family members committed to caring for her. Your sponsorship allows Destine Hanamaria a strong, healthy start, early in life when it can have the biggest impact.
Please remember Destine Hanamaria in your prayers. Your love and support will help her to receive the assistance she needs to grow and develop.
Community
Project: ID-119, Trifena Student Center Location: Karegesan, 25 km southwest of Bitung, Indonesia
Destine lives on the plains of Karegesan, home to approximately 20,000 residents. Typical houses are constructed of cement floors, wood walls, and corrugated iron roofs. The primary ethnic group is Minahasa.
The regional diet consists of fish, plantains, and rice. A common health problem in this area is coughs. Most adults in Karegesan work as day laborers and earn the equivalent of $89 per month. This community has electricity but needs vocational training and scholastic materials
Your sponsorship allows the staff of Trifena Student Center to provide Destine with Bible studies, leadership training, medical checkups, nutritious food, sports, community service opportunities, tuition, scholastic materials, tutoring, and vocational training. The center staff will also provide meetings and seminars on economic empowerment for the parents or guardians of Destine.
Indonesia consists of 17,000 islands along the equator between Australia and Asia. The larger islands have central mountain ranges and fertile plains and lowlands. The climate is tropical with a rainy season from October to April.
The country squeezes a population nearly the size of the United States into a landmass roughly triple the size of Texas; it has the fourth largest population in the world. Indonesia is also a diverse nation with many resources. More than 700 languages are spoken but the most common is Bahasa Indonesia. Islam claims 90 percent of Indonesians; however, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and animism are also practiced.
When Columbus sailed from Spain in 1492, he sought a new route to the Spice Islands of Indonesia. The Portuguese arrived in the sixteenth century but in 1602 the Dutch began slowly gaining control of the islands. Following Japanese occupation during World War II, the country, led by Sukarno, proclaimed independence in 1945. Suharto ousted Sukarno in 1968 and held the presidency of the military-controlled republic until 1998 when a collapsing economy fueled riots and demands for reforms. In 2001, the country elected a female leader, President Megawati Sukarnoputri.
Continuing along in my reading of John Piper’s book, “What Jesus Demands from the World”, I just finished the section entitled “Abide in Me.” Numbered as demand #7 with references Jn 15:4, Jn 15:9, and Jn 8:31-32.
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” -Jn 8:31-32
That dwelling, continuing, and remaining with Jesus comes from believing in him and his love daily. By being in daily prayer and abiding in His word, He will produce fruit within us and from us. And I would also add that worship is a crucial practice to glorify God in us in order that we are most satisfied in Him.
“Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.” – Rev 1:19-20
Several weeks ago, I began the gradual re-introduction to the KJV. Not to abandon the NASB, but to run concurrently with the archaic and beautiful language in the KJV.
My spirit is still deep into daily reading and study of my NASB, but along with that, I am tracing back all of the same/common written words in this earlier KJV version. Usually a few chapters a day for months now, plus random sections here and there.
There is something deeper and meaningful about repeating the same material with written notes and illustrations side by side. My eyes see the words differently in full absorption of this early translation.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ” -Eph 2:8-9
Obedience must accompany faith. As evidence of authentic faith made real by grace as given by God.
Sola Gratia (Grace Alone) Solus Christus (Christ Alone) Sola Fide (Faith Alone) Soli Deo Gloria (To the Glory of God Alone) Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone)
These are five principles that give us hope that we could live. And that God could be eternally 100% for us rather than against us and objects of his wrath (Ep 2:3). Principles recognized, understood, and followed to spiritually become made alive in Christ. This is what it is to be made alive in Christ. God sets His love and grace upon His elect for authentic repentance to obey the Son. We are otherwise dead spiritually and completely unable to believe and obey.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Eph 2:8–9). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
What I consider fascinating is this idea of the “Book of Nature” just as there is a book of scripture. First introduced to me by Dr. Hugh Ross as a scientific companion for observation and study. Not necessarily as a book per se, but as a philosophical idea that we are living within to read, measure, observe, test, and understand. To quote Wikipedia, “The first use of the phrase [book of nature] is unknown. However, Galileo used the phrase, quoting Tertullian, when he wrote of how ” “We conclude that God is known first through Nature, and then again, more particularly, by doctrine; by Nature in His works, and by doctrine in His revealed word.”
Book of Nature (Buch der Natur).
To further see a physical manifestation of a book of nature, there is a medieval book of incunabula (Buch der Natur) which serves as a guide which also testifies of Ps 24:1, “The Earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. ” Both the book of scripture and the book of nature are used as a means to bring people to faith in Jesus Christ. Both books corroborate each other.
What isn’t so obvious between these books is their relationship to God’s spiritual book of life as written about in Revelation 20:12. The books that were opened in John’s vision when he saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. So in addition to the book of life, were the books of “nature” and scripture opened among them?
