Onlline Sermons

We have posted a lot of sermons from our Universal Life Church ministers. Some are Christian and some are not. You are welcome to use them or just enjoy them as you like.

Friday, February 17, 2006

Four Gospels

Universal Life Church
Dissertation About Matthew
Points of Inquire for the Chapters of the Review in Sequence

1. The Genealogy with various skips in the names
In most Applications of the Original Translation of the Holy Scriptures I’ve seen a constant form of posting of the Genealogy of the Master. Its funny in a way that the “Church” has not placed a long-term study of the facts in the gaps which those whom read and study the Word have seen as they review the Order of Sequence. I see the same “location” difficulties with this book’s list. According to Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology this was common in the Old Writings that only important and known Characters where included in sequenced listings as this; however one must “see” the concern that gaps are there and not addressed.

2. Appears / Says – Old Greek versus Middle Greek
My Greek is as bad as my Russian and I speak, read nor write either fine languages; however the term Appears or the root word appear as posted is
of the “peparein” definition and must be considered such in the base of its relationship to the word Says. Whereas the base word of Appear from Strong’s Dictionary states that the word could be “phaaneroo” (render apparent) or “phaneros” (visible) in this location of the Scriptures. I agree with the concept as written in the Book is sound but wished to point these few items out which made me pause in my reading.

3. Skies – Multi-Cosmos or Outer Space
As I consider the option let us look at the three base words and examine the aspects of their relationships in the Word of God as it pertains to the quote from the scriptures in the book.

Sky ME < ON, a cloud, akin to OE sceo, a cloud, OHG scuwo, shadow < IE base *(s) keu-, a cloud, OHG scuwo, shadow < IE base *(s) keu-, to cover, hide > HIDE1, L cutis, skin, Greek skytos, leather a) [often pl.] the upper atmosphere, esp. with reference to its appearance b) the expanse of the heavens that forms an apparent arch over the earth; firmament c) heaven, or the celestial regions; climate or weather.

Cosmos ME < Greek kosmos, universe, harmony a) the universe considered as a harmonious and orderly system b) [Rare] harmony; order c) any complete and orderly system. Universe L universum, the universe < neut. of universus, all together < unus, ONE + versus, pp. of vertere, to turn: see VERSE a) the totality of all the things that exist; creation; the cosmos b) the world, or earth, as the scene of human activity. As I understand the translation from Old or Middle Greek the writer is attempting to expand upon the concept of the Infinite Agape expanse of the Lord’s Realm. I believe that Sky is a sound option however; after examining the various tenses and verbs of the basis of the quote from Ur-Mark I feel that the Phrase – Multi-Cosmos is sounder in usage. 4. Isaiah – the quote The only problem or concern I felt in the Fourth Trans-quote was the reference to Isaiah and its applications. 5. Luck is not a good word to use in the forming of the basis of God’s Kingdom on Earth and the preaching of the Master to all people. I do not use the Greek translation of luck in the above posted examination for a specific reason; it is not pertinent to the flow of the Words of the Master Christ, Jesus and the truth of his Universal Message.

6. Prayer
I like the KJV of the Lord’s Prayer – it’s just my way and the one in the book is very nice.

7. 1st Parables – interesting
The only problem or concern I felt in the Seventh Trans-quote was the reference to Isaiah and its applications.

8. Isaiah Quotes again
The only problem or concern I felt in the Eighth Trans-quote was the reference to Isaiah and its applications.

9. Errors are not Factual Sins

As it is stated in Theological Hermeneutics one must seek the following in this discourse and debate towards the factual truth of the Lord our God:
• There is ONE Interpretation but MANY Applications.
• No Text without Context only Pretext.
• Factual Hermeneutics leads towards the Science and Interpretation of all Theological Text.
• Faith through the Holy Scriptures breeds factual truth.
• All Scripture texts relates to Context and Content.
• Common Sense is the Basis of Scripture Texts if taken in the Context that the Lord our God has meant us to understand and acknowledge.
• Historical and Literary precepts are important parts of Context.

Factual Sin of any being in this Multi-Cosmos which is of the Lord’s realm; that course for which all beings are trapped (we are born in SIN and will die in SIN – the SIN we inherited) by our Temporal Mortal Ways. “The character of a life without the aspect of God that which is given; unto all soul beings due to our cloud of doubt between the Lord and us.”

Functional Sin of beings in this Multi-Cosmos which is of the Lord thy God glorious realm; that course for which all beings are empowered by (the SIN we face everyday which we can say NO to – SIN we can defeat) Free Will to conquer. Understand Sin is Sin , however we are aided by Christ, Jesus to overcome the Factual Sin of ourselves. Once you understand the difference of the two forms of Sin, you can stop defeating the assistance of your God in your daily life of struggles against your own ignorance.

Thus the idea that error is the exchange noun for the foundation word / phrase of Sin does not have a firm basis in the fundamental directness of the Word of God. I like the idea of pushing the envelope of truth however; one must consider the inverted sight of those attempting to understand.

10. Sent out the future Apostles
I’ll reread this passage several times before I feel I'll see the inner core of the application of God’s Word; it’s factually true but functionally in error. I am not sure why (please forgive an Old Cavalry Man whom had one too many bumpy rides).

11. John the Baptist
I like the form and style of these passages and how they opened the Word of God to all whom had the pleasure to read (including myself). I feel that the form meant this when John began final preparations for his mission; he was probably in his thirty-second year. He withdrew into the harsh, rocky desert beyond the Jordan to fast and pray, as was the ancient custom of holy men.

It is said that he kept himself alive by eating locusts and wild honey and wore a rough garment of camel's hair, tied with a leathern girdle. When he came back to start preaching in the villages of Judea, he was haggard and uncouth, but his eyes burned with zeal and his voice carried deep conviction. The Jews were accustomed to preachers and prophets, who gave no thought to outward appearances, and they accepted John at once; the times were troubled, and the people yearned for reassurance and comfort.

So transcendent was the power emanating from the holy man that after hearing him many believed he was indeed the long-awaited Messiah. John quickly put them right, saying he had come only to prepare the way, and that he was not worthy to unloose the Master's sandals. Although his preaching and baptizing continued for some months during the Savior’s own ministry, John always made plain that he was merely the Forerunner.

His humility remained incorruptible even when his fame spread to Jerusalem and members of the higher priesthood came to make inquiries and to hear him. "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,"-this was John's oft-repeated theme. For the evils of the times his remedy was individual purification. "Every tree," he said, "that is not bringing forth good fruit is to be cut down and thrown into the fire." The reformation of each person's life must be complete—the wheat must be separated from the chaff and the chaff burned "with unquenchable fire."
This is what I got out of the passages and it's a nice view to have of the Word when you are hungry for the truth. The simple form of the Book on this issue gave me pause again. Oh, if we could always be of this path to the Lord.

12. Sabbath / Demon
I consider the application of your definition for Sabbath is too open and at the same time just right; which makes me either very crazy or just a old man trying to grasp the Word of God as he presents it.

The Sabbath as per the definition is: ME sabat < OFr & OE, both < L sabbatum < Greek - sabbaton < Hebrew - shabat < shavat, to rest the seventh day of the week (Saturday), set aside for rest and worship and observed as such by Jews (from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) and some Christian denominations; Sunday as the usual Christian day of rest and worship; a day or time set aside for rest or worship. I feel that you are correct in your movement towards this point however; if you changed the basis of Heaven why not the Sabbath?

The stories of the battles against the Demons are those of which I was raised however; I’m missing something I just can’t touch.

13. 2nd Parables
Most of all the applications you used in this discourse I liked.

14. Beheaded John the First
Sad but true in application, pain and wonder – will we ever understand the scope of our humanity when we allow our Inner Child to rule?

15. Sadducees not the Pharisees
Most if not all Pharisees felt just like Christ, Jesus and supported his views openly; however the Theological Scholars of the Old World have made sure that this information and supported facts are left out of all text dealing with the Lord and the Theological Movement he belonged to. I have read, studied and researched these issues for over twenty years and so far have found very little to support the thesis of Pharisees biting the hand that feed them.

The Sadducees on the other hand were a Political / Religious Organization which maintained control through the Military Arm of the Roman Empire. The grouping of one with the other is normal for those in that period whom fought daily battles with these fellowships while writing the Gospels. If I understand most of what this Book is trying to convey – the meaning has never changed but the view has.

16. Peter the Rock
It read well but for some reason some parts left me wondering how this application and translation was developed. I cannot place my finger on it but liked the tone quality of it nonetheless. You see the application from Hilary of Potiers "Blessed Simon, who after his confession of the mystery was set to be the foundation-stone of the Church, and received the keys to the kingdom of heaven." (On the Trinity, 20, NPNF2, 9:105)

Then again via Augustine "[In] the Catholic Church, there are many other things which most justly keep me in her bosom. The consent of peoples and nations keeps me in the Church; so does her authority, inaugurated by miracles, nourished by hope, enlarged by love, established by age. The succession of priests keeps me, beginning from the very seat of the Apostle Peter, to whom the Lord, after His resurrection, gave it in charge to feed His sheep, down to the present episcopate. And so, lastly, does the name itself of Catholic , which, not without reason, amid so many heresies, the Church has thus retained; so that, though all heretics wish to be called Catholics, yet when a stranger asks where the Catholic Church meets, no heretic will venture to point to his own chapel or house.

Such then in number and importance are the precious ties belonging to the Christian name, which keep a believer in the Catholic Church, as it is right they should.... With you, where there is none of these things to attract or keep me.... No one shall move me from the faith, which binds my mind with ties so many and so strong to the Christian religion.... For my part, I should not believe the gospel except as moved by the authority of the Catholic Church." (Against the Epistle of Manichaeus [Contra Epistolam Manichaei Quam Vacant Fundamenti.)

17. Transfigurations / Students
The fact their Teacher Transmuted into a higher life form was not the interest of the Chapter, which made me pause. The use of the Word Student for the Disciples was of most intriguing to me. We must always consider the factor of One in the positioning of the reason for the Word of God. This application not withstanding we must compare the two meanings to see the similarities and the differences as used by the author.

Disciple is the noun {5ME < OFr desciple & OE discipul, both < L discipulus, learner, in LL (Ec), a disciple of Jesus < *discipere, to comprehend < dis-, apart + capere, to hold (see HAVE): influenced by discere, to learn6 a pupil or follower of any teacher or school of religion, learning, art, etc.; an early follower of Jesus, esp. one of the Apostles; [D-] a member of the Disciples of Christ} used to expand the virtue of the followers of the Master (thus maximizing the teaching of Jesus). Now let us look at the term Student that via the footnote shows no detailed definition for the word or term Apostle used in relation to the Instructor – one must consider as to why? The word usage of student in this vein is functionally correct but leaves much to doubt as to its real meaning. 18. 3rd Parables I liked it for the most part and enjoyed its quality of uncomplicated truth for which we all must search. 19. Marriage? We must consider that the Lord would never break the Law nor even consider it an option however; for some reason the Gospel Writer’s in their wisdom required him to break multiple Laws, Edits and Concepts of the Pentateuch – for a Rabbi not to marry and bring forth the rights of the Law unto his family is beyond my understanding. I am just a lost lonely sinner seeking the truth of the Lord as is read and reported by those whom we must trust. May God have mercy on my soul for my questions of faith. 20. Lord in the Field A true story of that the Lord spoke to us whom would hear and for us who would not. I like the presentation of the flow of the story as it brings the message of open Logic of the Lord’s Inner Way. 21. Pre-Jerusalem – Authority The story of the journey to the end and the approach of the use of God’s Power to maintain the pulse of the Multi-Cosmos throughout the passages did much to keep my attention to the main point. God has sovereignty over all whom seek his Will and keeps his Word before he is asked (including his Son). Let us look at how the Word interlinks in the passage from this point and throughout the Book. Jesus, himself the second person of the Godhead, often appealed to scripture as the authoritative word of God (Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 7:27; 20:17; 22:37; John 2:17). “With God all things are possible” (Jeremiah 32:17; Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37). Power and authority are usually associated together. Since God is all-powerful, he also has all authority. Thus, when Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, both Satan and Jesus appealed to the written word as having all the authority of God himself (Matthew 4:4, 6, 7, 10; Luke 4:4, 8, 10, 12). Since all authority in heaven and on Earth is now given to Christ, he has the right to command (Matthew 28:18-20). We are to hear him in whatever he says (Matthew 17:5; Acts 3:22). In both Old and New Testaments, everyone is required to love God with all one’s heart, soul, mind and strength (Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:29-30; Luke 10:27), and to love one’s neighbor as oneself (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27). From New Testament days until now, everyone should believe that Jesus is God’s son (John 3:18), treat others as they would themselves want to be treated (Matthew 7:12), forgive others for wrongs done against them (Matthew 6:12; Luke 11:4) 22. Metaphors The term metaphor {as used in this series of passages show that a metaphor Fr m=taphore < L metaphora < Greek < metapherein, to carry over < meta, over (see META-) + pherein, to BEAR a figure of speech containing an implied comparison, in which a word or phrase ordinarily and primarily used of one thing is applied to another. Allegory 7al$! gCr#c8 pl. -[ries 5ME allegorie < L allegoria < Greek - allcgoria, description of one thing under the image of another < allos, other (see ELSE) + agoreuein, to speak in assembly < agora, AGORA6 a) a story in which people, things, and happenings have a hidden or symbolic meaning: allegories are used for teaching or explaining ideas, moral principles b) the presenting of ideas by means of such stories c) any symbol or emblem} which developed this diatribe from a chaotic reach to a patient craft of loving hope for all whom read it. I liked most of the flow of this Chapter and how it grew the truth of the Lord. 23. Money and Caesar It was as it was and was told as it was – well done. 24. Sadducees not the Pharisees See point 15 and my Second Book once it is published in the near future. 25. Ten Maidens Good but less than I had hoped. 26. Passover The story of the last known supper of the Lord is one of intrigue and mystery, which leads to the next series of events in the Passion. The style of the passages and the application of its changes lead me to study more on the form of Passover committed at the time of the gathering. As it is written the Passover is probably the best known of the Jewish holidays, mostly because it ties in with Christian history (the Last Supper was apparently a Passover seder), and because a lot of its observances have been interpreted by Christians as Messianic and a factual sign of the Lord. Passover begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan. It is the first of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance (the other two are Shavu’ot and the Sukkot). Agriculturally, it represents the beginning of the harvest season in Israel, but little attention is paid to this aspect of the holiday. The primary observances of Passover are related to the Exodus from Egypt after 400 years of slavery. This story is told in Exodus, Ch. 1-15. Many of the Passover observances are instituted in Chs. 12-15. The name "Passover" refers to the fact that God "passed over" the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt. In Hebrew, it is known as Pesach (that "ch" is pronounced as in the Scottish "loch"), which is based on the Hebrew root meaning, "pass over". The holiday is also referred to as Chag he-Aviv (the Spring Festival), Chag ha-Matzoth (the Festival of Matzahs), and Zeman Herutenu (the Time of Our Freedom) (again, all with those Scottish "ch"s). Probably the most significant observance related to Passover involves the removal of chametz (leaven; sounds like "hum it's" with that Scottish ch) from our homes. This commemorates the fact that the Jews leaving Egypt were in a hurry, and did not have time to let their bread rise. It is also a symbolic way of removing the "puffiness" (arrogance, pride) from our souls. The Lord and his “friends” at their meal did this and much, much more for the beings on this sad little planet. God’s Will in the supper and how the passages played out in the book gave me the feel of truth. Let us hope we all remember that time in our lives when the truth touched us. 27. Trial / Pilate / Cross / Resurrection The Passion of the Lord and the War within – the telling was good and very sad at the same time. I liked it but still have that feeling when I read it in the back of my heart – it hurts. 28. Return / Mission The story has come full circle and now the payoff for all the beings in the Multi-Cosmos; The Great Commission. This is the challenging command of Christ which closes each of the synoptic gospels is often called "the great commission." It reads, "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matt. 28:19, 20). Many reasons exist for this commission to be modified with the adjective "great." Perhaps a study of some of them will be edifying, and when appreciation for the commission of Jesus is deepened a higher level of involvement may result. Another reason for the commission being ascribed as great is because of its contrast with the limited commission during the earthly ministry of Christ to the Jews only. When Jesus sent out the twelve he said, "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not; But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt. 10:5, 6). Whereas this charge to the twelve (Matt. 10:5) and to the seventy (Lk. 10:1) was limited in its scope, the great commission was "into all the world," "to the whole creation" or "to every creature," and to all the nations. Finally, the commission is great because of the great things that accompany it. Luke recorded that "great grace was upon them all" (Acts 4:33b). A great sense of wonder, awe, and fear possessed the Christians (Acts 5:5, 11). Luke presents the great commission being associated with "great joy" from the first of his gospel account (Lk. 2:10) to the last of it (Lk. 24:52) and right on through to the task of carrying out the great commission as the church spreads (Acts 8:8, 15:3). Not only is "great joy" a feature of the commission of Christ but "great consolation" or comfort and encouragement is, too (Philem. 7). "Exceeding great and precious promises" come out of the commission (II Pet. 1:4). The great commission should be of paramount interest to everyone because of the "great gain" and "great reward" it promises (Matt. 5:12; Lk. 6:23, 35; I Tim. 6:6; and Heb. 10:35). In summary, the great commission speaks of "so great a salvation" (Heb. 2:3, ASV). When Christ returns from heaven to judge the world (Matt. 25:31-33), he will come "in the clouds with great power and glory" (Mk. 13:26). Perhaps it will not be until then that the true greatness of the charge Jesus gave to that small band of disciples from the top of the Mount of Olives just prior to his ascension will be fully realized. Jesus said, "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear" (Matt. 13:43). Thus I close my small attempt at understanding this new application of truth of God’s Word in a very simple way. Is it the correct way? Does it bring us closer to the Lord in our Hearts? I’ll know more once I finish the reading of the three remaining Gospels; this is a fact. I liked what I’ve read so far and must read more, study wiser and listen better to God’s kind whisper of faith in his Son. 

*******************************
 
The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. 
Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use.

 
The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.  
 
Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar