The Evangelical Universalist Forum

Seeing the Word as Prophetic.

I believe in applying logic to the Word of God. As much as we have. As long as it grows- because logic is not fixed or static. Resolution increases. Detail emerges. Grand themes emerge as perspective increases, you know, forest for the trees etc. :slight_smile:

But I think it is important to see the word as prophetic. As the testimony of God. There are many arguments advanced as to why one thing or another can or can’t be, why we cannot have free will or why we must have free will. How it is that God will “win” all with love, or Jesus will “drag” or "alternately “draw” all men unto Him. Is there an argument that cannot be refused in an Arminian model? Is there a choice made by man that was not already made for him by God in a Calvinist model?

These arguments get applied to the discussion about UR and they are valid points of discussion, but(imo) it is the prophetic nature of the word that gives the greatest logic- it is the Logos of God, His wisdom, His testimony. What He has said clearly forms the framework of our understanding- the elements and foundations.

Ideally as we get into the mind of God(1 Cor 2) our perspective grows and impenetrable barriers become torn veils and “entering the kingdom” is certainly about access to what is real in a way that penetrates strict ideology with particle waves of light.

It is a deeper layer of logic. Not without form but with a form more like the relationships of cells or the sources of a flow of water rising from under the earth.

In the beginning God speaks prophetically of the serpent and the Messiah, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Gen 3:15

Already the struggle between the Son of man and the serpent is quantified by God- before it starts. He will crush your head, you will strike His heel.

Groovy :slight_smile:

What a powerful UR verse that is. Right from the beginning. Satan only strikes the heel of the son of man. His enmity and that of his seed, the sons of disobedience, are but a wound that will be healed when Jesus crushes the adversaries head. I think it is so cool his head gets crushed. The source of lies and confusion and distortions of truth. The source of accusations hurled at the innocent and the struggling. Gone. No More.

In me, the struggle between the serpent and the Son of Man continues, every now and then I feel the sting upon my heel and it is painful but, i am glad that the head of the one who inflicts it is being crushed in me.

To be carnally minded is death, to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

The testimony of Jesus Christ comes from the cross into my chaos saying, “Forgive him Father he doesnt know what he is doing”, and as I look up at the serpent on the stick my wound is healed, and I see Jesus crying out in victory- “If I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all men unto me” and I know that I am safe and secure in His promise, and that eventually every living being will be also- serpents head crushed in every one, every heel healed. :slight_smile:

I know this because “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”.(Rev 19:10)

I agree as long as we are using both/and. If it’s both/and then we must use BOTH either/or AND both/and. As for God, He is paradox and paradoxes are ALWAYS both/and. Both one and three. Christ is both human and divine. An example of this paradox for humans is that at present I am both living and dying, I am both good and evil - all at the same time! Moreover, the Bible is BOTH human AND divine.

Well said!! :smiley:

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise His heel.

I read this verse a bit differently. To me, it says that those who walk with God will have order in their lives. In living righteously, sin is where it should be which is underfoot.

I always enjoy reading other people’s views on things because what I find is that each of us adds something valuable to the mix. I call it the mountain effect. It all depends upon our position as to how we see things. :slight_smile:

I agree with that LLC, craning my neck a little to look around the vertical horizon of this great mountain.

Cole, BOTH either/or AND both/and, works for me, viewing from every possible perspective. To me paradox is always a matter of perspective, some of which we will not have sufficient perspective until viewing from a pespective out side of time.