Lots of questions??--need help with answers!!

[Sheila]

Why would we have to die first to become immortal? Why can't we be transformed now? It says in the last days that we will be changed in the twinkling of an eye. If were allowed to be changed physically then--then could we ask to become that new creation/creature now rather than later?
If we've only been baptized with water, then when do we get baptized, cleansed and scourged with fire by God?
Why would we have to leave Earth to find heaven--is Earth a less important part of God?
Is God really all things and all life? (Colossians 1:15-18)Then wouldn't heaven come forth from within?
Is God far away and somewhere else or is He within as He said? Don't we believe Him? Who else would hear our prayers?
Why would you need guardian angels when Jesus is whithin? God is the one who is all knowing and all powerful and warns not to worship angels. He also said that nothing comes between God and man. Angels were used in the old testament--not the new after God revealed the truth.
Shouldn't we beware of angels since a hoard of fallen are on Earth? God says we need nothing and no one but Him.

[Amanah]

Question -Why would we have to die first to become immortal?

Answer: In a way we are already immortal because we will all live somewhere for eternity.

Question - Why can't we be transformed now? It says in the last days that we will be changed in the twinkling of an eye. If were allowed to be changed physically then--then could we ask to become that new creation/creature now rather than later?

Answer: The Bible says we can be born again of water and spirit, so we can be transformed right now

Question - If we've only been baptized with water, then when do we get baptized, cleansed and scourged with fire by God?

Answer: Um, not sure, maybe when we go thru fiery trials to purge us?

Question - Why would we have to leave Earth to find heaven--is Earth a less important part of God?

Answer – Earth is God’s creation, and he is going to make a new heaven and earth for us too.

Question - Is God really all things and all life? (Colossians 1:15-18)Then wouldn't heaven come forth from within?

Answer - The Kingdom of God is within when God rules in our hearts.

Question - Is God far away and somewhere else or is He within as He said? Don't we believe Him? Who else would hear our prayers?

Answer – God is everywhere, but he doesn’t violate our free will. We have to surrender to him to allow him to rule in our hearts. And yes, he hears our prayers.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Sheila

Why would we have to die first to become immortal?

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. - john 12:24

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. - romans 8:29

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 1 corinthians 15:20-23

And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. - 1 cor 15:45-49

Why can't we be transformed now? It says in the last days that we will be changed in the twinkling of an eye.

See above.

If were allowed to be changed physically then--then could we ask to become that new creation/creature now rather than later?

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. - 2 cor 5:17


more in a minute....

[bbyrd009]

Hmm, a good "quote" answer, for sure.
A powerful witness for Unitarianism, too.

One's children might be said to grow up
in the twinkling of an eye...

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by bbyrd009

Hmm, a good "quote" answer, for sure.
A powerful witness for Unitarianism, too.

One's children might be said to grow up
in the twinkling of an eye...

What's wrong with quoting Scripture that deals specifically with the subject at hand?

As for Unitarianism... the posted scriptures don't say anything about how many persons are or may be in the godhead.

Did you mean Universalism? If so, then I don't see those verses as a witness for Universalism at all. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Anyway...

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Sheila

If we've only been baptized with water, then when do we get baptized, cleansed and scourged with fire by God?

hmmm.... an entire denomination got built up around the answer to that very question, called the 'Fire Baptised Holiness Church'. They concluded that after the Baptism with the Holy Ghost, there was a 'Baptism with Fire' that was promised to believers.

Anyway, this whole 'baptised with fire' concept comes from John the Baptist (leave it to the baptists to preach about fire and scourging, lol) -

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. matthew 3:11-12

John was baptising the people of Israel with a water baptism. But One was coming, he said, who would baptise the people with the Spirit. Obviously this refers at least in part to Pentecost. But there is a further reference in Matthew's account to being baptised 'with fire' and it is joined with the idea of harvesting the crop and burning up the chaff. This of course, as evidenced elsewhere in Scripture, refers to Judgement. Thus, the idea is that christ will purge Israel, saving the 'wheat' but destroying the 'tares' or 'chaff' with a permanent, unavoidable destruction.

So I would suggest the 'baptism with fire' is primarily referring to Judgement and separation, one of Christ's functions.

Others of course have taken it to be a metaphor for any type of trial that is used by God to purge the individual of whatever He wants to get rid of. Although I do not believe that is the PRIMARY intent of John's words, it certainly functions as a figurative reference to the individual's growth in Christ. And no wonder... Christ in effect re-enacted Israel's history, and we are to be conformed to His image, so it would make sense that what was to take place in Israel by God's decree would be reflected somewhat in the individual Christian life.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Sheila

Why would we have to leave Earth to find heaven--is Earth a less important part of God?

'To find Heaven'??

The bible teaches the righteous shall dwell forever on the earth.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. matthew 5:5

But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. - daniel 7:18

A word from the Geneva Study Bible margin notes:

Because Abraham was appointed heir of all the world, Ro 4:13, and in him all the faithful, therefore the kingdom of him is theirs by right, which these four beasts or tyrants would invade, and usurp until the world were restored by Christ. And this was to strengthen and encourage those that were in troubles, that their afflictions would eventually have an end.

From Barnes' Notes:

But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom - That is, they shall ultimately take possession of the rule over all the world, and shall control it from that time onward to the end.

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. - revelation 21:1-3

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Sheila

Is God really all things and all life? (Colossians 1:15-18)Then wouldn't heaven come forth from within?

That passage does not say 'God is all things and all life'. It says this:

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Is says Christ is the Supreme Authority of the church, that He is beginning (the source), the firstborn from the dead (first of the Resurrected Ones), so that in all things He (Christ) would be Numero Uno. It also says that all things were created by Him, that He is the visible representation of the invisible God, the 'firstborn' (ie the one with right of inheritance and position of supremacy).

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Sheila

Is God far away and somewhere else or is He within as He said? Don't we believe Him? Who else would hear our prayers?

God is neither 'here nor there' as far as physical location is concerned. He is 'omnipresent, meaning everywhere at once and at all times.

God being 'within' is a figure meant to describe the person controlled by the will and spirit of God. A person who doesn't have God inside would be a person who is in rebellion to the Divine Will.

It has little or nothing to do with physical locations in space, since God is the omnipresent Spirit.

God can of course appear at a particular point in space, and the Incarnation is the ultimate example of that, but that does not mean He is not also omnipresent.

If God is 'far away' that is a figure, a metaphor, an 'anthropomorphism' that really means we either do not understand what God is doing ("where are you, God? I need you!") or that we are separated from God by our sin, in a moral or spiritual sense (not a geo-spatial sense).

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Sheila

Why would you need guardian angels when Jesus is whithin? God is the one who is all knowing and all powerful and warns not to worship angels.

I don't see 'guardian angels' assigned to each individual in Scripture. I believe that is a pagan idea incorporated into Catholic folk-lore.

He also said that nothing comes between God and man.

Actually, the bible says sin separates us from God. It also says nothing can separate US (the saints, those who abide in Christ) from the LOVE of God. One can walk away from God, apostasize, fall away, whatever. And ultimately be damned. And yet still be loved by God. God's love does not set aside His Justice willy-nilly.

And there is someONE between God and man - the man Christ Jesus.

Angels were used in the old testament--not the new after God revealed the truth.

An angel broke Peter out of jail. Angels ministered to Christ. The book of Hebrews tells us to entertain strangers, for some have thereby entertained angels. The New Testament clearly shows angels still active even in this new covenant era - see the book of Revelation, which is chock full of angels doing things on God's behalf... including delivering the bulk of the message of Revelation to the apostle John.

Shouldn't we beware of angels since a hoard of fallen are on Earth? God says we need nothing and no one but Him.

We should beware of a false humility and worshipping of angels. I don't know about a 'horde of fallen angels on Earth'. Seems Jude said the angels which fell are chained up.

And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. -jude 6