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Our Guiding Principles

Participation in the operation of Q7, membership in the fellowships groups of Q7, or receiving assistance from the programs of Q7, is not dependent on the adherence  to, or the profession of any set of specific Christian beliefs. Likewise, Q7 does not seek to dictate what specific beliefs Christians should hold as they participate in Q7 activities. The Q7 Spiritual Guidelines are scripturally based spiritual principles that guide Q7 in its articulation of its mission and what its founder’s believe are important matters of faith for all to consider. 

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Guiding Principles

 

Prologue

 

Participation in the operation of Q7, membership in the fellowships groups of Q7, or receiving assistance from the programs of Q7, is not dependent on the adherence to, or the profession of any set of specific Christian beliefs. However, the following are the Christian Principles the Corporation will use in guiding and shaping its operations and outreach:

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  1. The Protestant Christian Scriptures (the Bible) are colloquially referred to as the "Word of God", in the sense that they contain parables, historical events, accounts of God's and angels' interactions with men and women. In reading Scripture, you will see that it contains many statements of instruction, spiritual principles, laws, predictions of future events (prophecy), quotes directly as spoken by God the Father, Jesus Christ, angels, and inspired 1 Except as specifically provided in the Corporations By-Laws, especially as it relates to the Chair/President, and the Vice Chair/Vice President, any future executive director of the corporation, and/ or as decided by the members of any particular fellowship group. or instructed human beings. There is nothing in Scripture to support the idea that God sat down and physically wrote all the Scriptures, or actually uttered every word contained in them. These Scriptures were written by human beings under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, sometimes as specifically directed or spoken by God or an angel, or in the case of the Ten Commandments, actually written by God's own finger. The Scriptures are not merely a helpful guidebook filled with useful rules of life. God intended that they reveal the story of His divine interaction with humankind, who He is, His character traits, His purposes, and His law which is mandatory for happiness. He has supplied it for our eternal life and happiness, and to give us hope in an eternal future of peace and happiness. Q7 is guided by the principle spoken of by the Apostle Paul in his letter to Timothy: "All Scripture [not just some of it} is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work". (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NKJV)
     

  2. Q7 recognizes the dual foundation and principles of our Christian duty on this earth. Jesus said... "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind". This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. (Emphasis added - Matthew 22:37-40, NKJV)
     

  3. Q7 rejoices in the inspiration of the Book of James that reminds us that: "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27, NKJV)
     

  4. Q7 will be guided by the Prophet Micah who boldly proclaimed: "He has shown you, 0 man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you ? But to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8, NKJV)
     

  5. Often in wrestling with faith that is forced upon us as LGBT people, we equate "the Church" with a physical building, or a legally created corporation that calls itself a "church", and the people who are members and officers of such particular religious corporations. Often this correlation alienates us from the idea of worshiping God with others, the idea of God in general, and/or makes us feel that we cannot fully embrace the idea of a union with Jesus, or belief in God, unless we find a particular building, connected to a particular legally created faith-based corporation, with and within which we can worship and have fellowship with others. Scripture does indeed contemplate and advise about appointing leaders to properly organize God's work, to be servants in the cause of all believers. However, Scripture does not define "church" as requiring a particular building, incorporation under the law of a particular nation or political subdivision of a nation, or prescribe a lengthy list of requirements to belong to a "church". While there are many man made corporate entities that refer to themselves as "churches", that often require their members to meet in a physical structure made for that purpose, and who employ master lists of requirements for membership, in truth the "Christian Church" are all those who communally are believers in Jesus as the Christ, God made incarnate. Jesus instructed that we, the Christian Church, should "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20 - NKJV). In addition, we as the "Christian Church" are otherwise distinct from life on planet Earth in that we, in various forms, gather together to spiritually support each other, express our adoration, respect, and thankfulness of and to God, care for our fellow man, and from time to time, receive blessing from participating the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, (Jesus' last Passover seder), which Jesus asked that we "do in remembrance of [Him}" (Luke 22:14-20 - NKJV). Contrary to what is all too often common belief, the authority of "Christian Church" does not reside in pope, elder, pastor, bishop, by permission of the government, or through a majority of the members of some legal entity calling itself a church. The Christian Church gets its authority directly from Jesus the Christ. As members of His Church, we are considered adopted members of God's family who have been made part of the compact made between God and humanity, a compact after which we pattern our lives. Sometimes referred to as "the Body of Christ" in Scripture, with human servants that are commissioned from time to time to help organize and lead the Church, there is only one Church, and the head of the Church is no man or woman, but Jesus Christ Himself. Scripture sometimes also refers to the Church as the "bride" of Jesus, for whose benefit the Gospel was carried out so that we could be blessed, refined, and reconnected to God. At Jesus' return, the Church will be ready to join Him in the air filled with blessing, being fully refined, reconnected to God, and ready for eternal life. (Gen. 12:1-3; Exod. 19:3-7; Matt. 16:13-20; 18:18; 28:19, 20; Acts 2:38-42; 7:38; 1 Cor. 1:2; Eph. 1:22, 23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11; 5:23-27; Col. 1:17, 18; 1 Peter 2:9.)
     

  6. We know that following God's vision in both the Old and New Testaments, especially as demonstrated in the life of Jesus the Christ, there is to be unity of mission and equality within the groupings of people who profess to be followers of Jesus, (properly referred to as "the Church"). There is only one Church, comprised of all those who profess to follow Jesus. All are equal. Q7 adopts the principle that as followers of Christ, we will not act based on hierarchies of "status" as the world does based on race, or creed, or nationality, ethnic identity, affectional orientation, gender identity, sex, income level, educational level, or any other like status. We as the Church are drawn to Jesus from every conceivable category of human on Earth. We are bound in this unique communion through Jesus Christ and the agencies of the Holy Spirit, and we are to take care of each other and support one another as co-members of the family of Jesus. We have been adopted as God's offspring, grafted into spiritual Israel by God's grace. Our unity is based on our mutual present belief, and our hope in the message of salvation in the Gospel, made clearly known in Scripture, which we are duty-bound to joyfully proclaim to the world. (Ps. 133:1; Matt. 28:19, 20; John 17:20-23; Acts 17:26, 27; Rom. 12:4, 5; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 5:16, 17; Gal. 3:27-29; Eph. 2:13-16; 4:3-6, 11-16; Col. 3:10-15)
     

  7. As Christians, we need to act as such, which is only possible through faith m the transforming power of Jesus through the Holy Spirit. We should be recognized by the world by our love toward one another. As Jesus said: "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). Likewise, while we have the responsibility to strongly advocate ("preach") the Gospel, to live by and share essential truth and/or the law of God, we must do so in love, "long suffering" and patience. As the Apostle Paul noted: "/ charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching. For the time will come when [people} will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables .... " (2 Timothy -I: 1-4). At the same time, those around must be able to see that we are filled by the Spirt of God. As Scripture tells us: " ... the fruit of the Spirit is love,joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23). Likewise in our advocacy for and adherence to the Gospel, truth, and the law of God, we should never take an attitude of "judgment "or superiority to others who do not wish to hear our message, or who believe differently than we do. As Jesus told us: "Judge not, that you be not judged'' (Matthew 7:1) and further that"... You shall love your neighbor as yourself'' (Matthew 7:39)
     

  8. The Apostle Paul further describes the progression of, and the expected, Christian behavior and attitude that comes from being transformed by the Holy Spirit. He said: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ···And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. ...Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient from tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.... Bless those who persecute you,· bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, "says the Lord. Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:1-3 & 9-21 - NKJV)
     

  9. Christians should be united in humility as well. As the Apostle Paul put it in his Letter to the Philippians: "Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name Jesus which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:1-4).
     

  10. In being guided by these precepts Q7 will not deny, support, resources, and/or services to LGBT persons in need based on their faith tradition (or lack thereof). We invoke the words of the United States Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self­ evident, that all [people] are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
     

  11. Q7 also rejoices in God's law as outlined in Scripture. Q7 is blessed by the words of King David as he sang to God in Psalm 119: "Forever, 0 Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides. They continue this day according to Your ordinances, for all are Your servants ....How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding,· Therefore, I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path". (Psalm 119:88-91, 103-105)
     

  12. Only one time in human history, outside of the incarnation of Jesus the Christ, did God personally visit planet Earth and write with His own fingers laws for the good of mankind. This occurred at the foot of what is referred to in Scripture as Mount Sinai. God had commanded the Hebrew leader and prophet Moses to gather the Hebrews at the base of the mountain so He could talk to them directly. The sound of His voice and other manifestations of His power scared the Hebrews so much they requested that Moses go up on the mountain by himself and speak with God. God and Moses accepted this request and Moses went up on the mountain and spoke to God. During this conversation, God wrote down with His own fingers the ten basic of precepts of His law to be proclaimed to the Hebrews. The laws are commonly referred to as the Ten Commandments. (See Exodus Chapter 20 and Deuteronomy Chapter 5; see also, Exod. 20:1-17; Deut. 28:1-14; Ps. 19:7-14; 40:7, 8; Matt. 5:17-20; 22:36-40; John 14:15; 15:7-10; Rom. 8:3, 4; Eph. 2:8- 10; Heb. 8:8-1O; 1 John 2:3; 5:3; Rev. 12:17; 14:12.)
     

  13. The Ten Commandments are the primary manifestation of the law and prophets spoken of by Jesus, in that they outline how we manifest our love to, and respect for, God (Commandments 1-4), and how we manifest our love to our fellow human beings (Commandments 5-10) (Ex. 20:1-7)
     

  14. The Ten Commandments are God's express and clear will and have never been changed by any member of the Trinity. All of humankind are required to obey each and every one of them, and they are the standard by which we will be judged by God. Knowing the law and trying to keep it does not transform us into righteous people, reconnected to God, and ready for eternal life and salvation. This law of God was intended by God, in addition to pointing the way to happiness through the influence of the Holy Spirit, to convince humankind of our need for Jesus. To come to this conclusion and recognition of what is the essential and scientific truth. Namely, that without Jesus we would never be able to keep all of God's law in spirit as well as letter. Our salvation is a gift from God; it is therefore of grace, and we receive it, and are transformed by it, by believing in Jesus and His transforming power. We cannot do anything to merit it. The power given us through our faith in Jesus transforms our lives, and the direct product of this transformation is obedience to the law of God. This spirit of obedience transforms the mind and the world, brings happiness and eternal life, and makes clear our love for the Lord and our fellow human beings. As it was said: " Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (James 2:17) (see also Exod. 20:1-17; Deut. 28:1-14; Ps. 19:7-14; 40:7, 8; Matt. 5:17-20; 22:36-40; John 14:15; 15:7-10; Rom. 8:3, 4; Eph. 2:8-10; Heb. 8:8-10; 1 John 2:3; 5:3; Rev. 12:17; 14:12. 9 2)
     

  15. The Fourth Commandment in particular, (in addition to the divinity of and the saving power of Jesus), is a precept that has come under severe attack by Satan. It puts God's stamp of authority as Creator of the Ten Commandments, provides one of the most important ways for finding peace, happiness, and meeting our critical need for continued communion with God. By instituting the Sabbath rest at Creation, God placed a rhythmic, physiological, and cosmic element of peace in keeping the Sabbath. Rest in the Lord is good. It is often asked, "Does the particular day of rest really matter?" Q7 would note that God wrote with His own finger "the Seventh Day" not some other day. The Hebrews have observed the Sabbath day for millennia. Jesus and all the apostles observed the Sabbath day. It is axiomatic that a human, a created being (no matter their ecclesiastical status), cannot change the law of God. Nowhere in all of Scripture does God himself change this Commandment, although Jesus did shed some light on how its observance should not become irrational or riddled with silly man-made rules. The Commandment says to rest, not refrain from cooking your dinner, or taking a shower. The eternal principles of Sabbath observance and the unchanging nature of God's law must be taken into account when considering all references to the Sabbath in Scripture. It defies reason that God himself would rest on the 7th day after Creation, hallow the day and make it holy, descend Himself to Mount Sinai, and write down that we must keep the 7th day, and in his incarnate form keep the Sabbath day, and then allow a mere mortal to change his law. Joyfully keeping the Sabbath from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday demonstrates a loyalty to God and His creative authority and brings us peace, joy, unity with God, and a sacred connection to the universe. (Gen. 2:1-3; Exod. 20:8-11; 31:13-17; Lev. 23:32; Deut. 5:12-15; Isa. 56:5, 6; 58:13, 14; Ezek. 20:12, 20; Matt. 12:1-12; Mark 1:32; Luke 4:16; Heb. 4:1-11.)
     

  16. Q7 is guided by the expression of perfect love as expressed in the triune nature of the one true God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (Gen. 1:26; Deut. 6:4; Isa. 6:8; Matt. 28:19; John 3:16 2 Cor. 1:21, 22; 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2.)
     

  17. Jesus taught us how to address and speak to God. His disciples asked how they should pray, He replied: "In this manner, therefore, pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen'." (Matthew 6: 9-13, emphasis added) (See also, John Chapter 17 - Jesus' prayer to God for Himself, His disciples, and all believers)
     

  18. The Lord God has no beginning and no end, He has always existed, He is omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent, the Creator of all things. He literally sustains the life of all of creation and every object and/or being in His creation. (Gen. 1:26; Deut. 6:4; Isa. 6:8; Matt. 28:19; John 3:16 2 Cor. 1:21, 22; 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2.)
     

  19. As an eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful being, God has His own timing and plans for this world and our lives. His decisions and actions sometimes have a mystery about them, and may not make sense from a finite, human point of view. We have to trust Him and who He is, and we cannot read and understand the Bible without keeping this principle in mind. As God told the prophet Isaiah: ''For My thoughts are no/ your thoughts. Nor are your ways My ways ..... For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and J\1y thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9, NKJV)
     

  20. Scripture reminds us that: " ... all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28). Keeping in mind God's eternal attributes, we should be comforted that no matter how difficult life may become, or how incomprehensible to the human mind our circumstances might be, if we knew all that God knows, if we knew the beginning to the end as He does, we would rejoice in the circumstances of our lives and the things God allows to happen, because in everything, God has promised to work it out for the good.
     

  21. In addition to His other eternal attributes, God is in physiological essence and spirit love. The concept of love includes a freedom to choose; God does not force us to do anything. He is merciful, He is long suffering and forgiving, He is faithful to His promises and word. He is justice. He is the Creator and entitled to respect. Everything that was done, said, or caused to occur by God in the Scriptures, throughout human history and in present times, has to be viewed through this lens. (Gen. 1:26; Deut. 6:4 Gen. 1:1; Deut. 4:35; Ps. 110:1, 4;John3:16; 14:9; 1 Cor.15:28; 1 Tim. 1:17; 1 John4:8;Rev.4:11; Isa. 6:8; Matt.28:19; John 3:16 2 Car. 1:21, 22; 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2.).
     

  22. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" is the most basic statement of God's position and authority as literal Creator of all things. Q7 affirms that Scripture gives us an accurate historical and scientific account of a literal 6-day period wherein God collected the elements together, by power of sound (His voice) to transform the void and formless planet we call Earth into a vibrant and beautiful place, together with all the life on the planet, and the supporting solar system. This transformation of Creation occurred as outlined in the genealogies in Scripture in a time period within the recent 6000 years. Q7 affirms from Scripture that on the 6th day God finished this creation of transformation, and on the 7th literal day He rested, and took in and reflected on His creation. As Genesis 3 tells us, God consecrated the day as a day of rest and made it sacred to commemorate the end of His creative activity, (made it "holy"), and set it apart from all other days for this sacred purpose, ("hallowed" it). Humankind, in male and female form, was the ultimate and highest form of life in the Creation event. God made us in His image and handed the beautiful newly created paradise, and all it contained, to us to rule over, take care of, enjoy, and be happy for eternity. As Scripture tells us God saw that things were "Very good' (Gen. 1-2; 5; 11; Exod. 20:8-11; Ps. 19:1-6; 33:6, 9; 104; Isa. 45:12, 18; Acts 17:24; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2; 11:3; Rev. 10:6; 14:7.)
     

  23. The reason for evil in the world is because in times long past, a physically perfect. powerful angel who sat at the right hand of God, decided in his pride and arrogance to rebel against God. He aimed to replace God, be above God. In Scripture he is referred to as "the Serpent", "the Devil", "Lucifer" and "Satan". Lucifer felt that despite the fact that he was a being created by God, he knew more than God, could plan better than God; he was completely full of himself, sadly beguiled by his own physical beauty. He accused God of being arbitrary in His rules and judgements, and that the beings of all the universes and galaxies only worshipped God because they were afraid of Him. He claimed he would free all beings from God's arbitrary forced worship if he was placed in charge. He preached that created beings did not need God or His rules, that they could live by principles they themselves designed, and if they worshipped him and not God, things would be glorious. So intense was Lucifer's spreading and preaching his evil version of the Universe in Heaven that Scripture describes it as "war in Heaven." Lucifer won over 1/3 of the angels in Heaven to his cause. God being a God of love, and love being a concept that involves freedom, did not destroy Lucifer and the angels who joined in rebellion, but rather cast them to Earth to allow them to try out their plan and in so doing, demonstrate that Lucifer's way was one of folly and death. The entire Universe would be allowed to choose whom to follow, based on clear evidence. Lucifer was successful in leading the first humans, Adam and Eve, to join in his rebellion uttering the original lie: "Thou shalt not surely die." Thus, we have the great battle between good and evil began on this Earth, wherein God is allowing Lucifer's plan for evil to run its course, and at the same time giving everyone a chance to freely choose whom they will serve. Our rebellion from God causes death and misery. God assists human beings in their struggle against evil with strength from His throne of power and with grace to overcome evil through the presence of the Holy Spirit and legions of angels, and to lead us to salvation and eternal life. (Gen. 3; 6-8; Job 1:6-12; Isa. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:12-18; Rom. 1:19-32; 3:4; 5:12-21; 8:19-22; 1 Cor. 4:9; Heb. 1:14; 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Peter 3:6; Rev. 12:4-9.)
     

  24. Q7 affirms that part of being made in the image of God means that we as humankind were granted by God the mental power to be individuals, and the power and freedom to make our own choices, good or bad. Love is freedom and this we were granted. We are beings that can only exist, think and do in a combination of mind, body, and the spirit of life that God breathed into our nostrils on the 6th day of the Creation transformation. This triad of being is undividable; we cannot be sentient beings without this unison. At the same time humankind, as a matter of science, physics, and principle, is completely dependent on a connection with God and His power to exist at all, and to have the ability to be good, peaceful, kind, loving, and joyful individuals. Most importantly, to live in the eternal sense. When Adam and Eve joined Lucifer's rebellion by exercising their free will, much like a lamp being unplugged from an electric socket, they and the entire human race become disconnected from God, the source of life and all that is good. As a matter of science, we as a race became genetically transformed, subject to death, subject to evil and moral weakness, and we passed these qualities down to generations after Adam and Eve, resulting in the world of evil and upheaval we have today. God knew that after the fall of humankind, it would be very difficult for us humans to resist the devil. Thus, in Genesis 3:15 He placed enmity, (a sense of opposition), between good and evil in human beings, and promised to send a deliverer to reconnect humankind to His life-giving power, and to in the end "crush" and defeat evil. God's plan was revealed and made real in the person of Jesus Christ, through Whose life and death God reconnects Himself to the world and those who choose to be connected to Him through the Holy Spirit. This reconnection transforms humans heretofore subject to death and decay to their former luminance in the perfect image of God, to eternal life, contentment and happiness. God through Jesus calls us all to reflect the true splendor and beauty of God, to love God with all our heart, to love one another as we do ourselves, and to care for the planet that was entrusted to us. (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:7, 15; 3; Ps. 8:4-8; 51:5, 10; 58:3; Jer. 17:9; Acts 17:24-28; Rom. 5:12-17; 2 Cor. 5:19, 20; Eph. 2:3; 1 Thess. 5:23; 1 John 3:4; 4:7, 8, 11, 20.) 5 2
     

  25. Jesus Christ the Messiah arrived in the specific time frame predicted centuries earlier by the Angel Gabriel in Daniel Chapter 9. His birth, death, and resurrection were also otherwise described prior to His birth in Scripture by God Himself, the Prophet Isaiah and numerous other Old Testament prophets, and by King David. God the Son, known to us as Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created became human, (incarnate). As noted by the Apostle John: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shone in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it  He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten son of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:1-5; 10-13)
     

  26. Jesus told us that: " ...He that hath seen me hath seen the Father;..... (John 14:9 - NKJV). He demonstrated the Father's attributes to us. His birth, death, and resurrection, accomplish the reconnection to God that brings about what we call salvation, and allows the fate all of humanity to decided. Jesus was both fully human, and fully divine. He existed on this Earth in human form and experienced all the challenges, enticements to do evil originating from Satan."[He] was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15)." Yet He never gave in to the incitements to do, say, or think evil, but instead demonstrated God's love in His daily life, and demonstrated God's divine power in the miracles He accomplished. He was the Messiah spoken of in the Old Testament. Because He freely made a choice, Jesus allowed the human beings He created to torture, disrespect, and murder Him. As the Scripture promised, God raised Him from the dead, and He went up to Heaven on a cloud to advocate on our behalf before God the Father. Jesus promised to return again, make all things new, and usher in eternal happiness and peace. (Isa. 53:4-6; Dan. 9:25-27; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-3, 14; 5:22; 10:30; 14:1-3, 9, 13; Rom. 6:23; 1 Cor. 15:3, 4; 2 Cor. 3:18; 5:17-19; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:15-19; Heb. 2:9-18; 8:1,2.)
     

  27. The only way to have reconnection with God and be cleansed of our rebellion is through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. (Gen. 3:15; Ps. 22:1; Isa. 53; John 3:16; 14:30; Rom. 1:4; 3:25; 4:25; 8:3, 4; I Cor. 15:3, 4, 20-22; 2 Cor. 5:14, 15, 19-21; Phil. 2:6-11; Col. 2:15; I Peter 2:21, 22; I John 2:2; 4:10.)
     

  28. The power of the Gospel and its transforming power come to us because God sent us Jesus, the agent of our transformation. Jesus came to Earth and lived a live free from evil and in so doing taking our evil unto Himself, and thereby reconnected us to God. God sent Jesus to accomplish this task because He is mercy, He is love, and the gift of Jesus and salvation was not based on anything we did, deserved, or ever can accomplish. We call this God's grace. God leads us with His spirit and from our awe of Him we are convinced and understand that we are humans, weak in moral stature, filled with evil and selfishness, mortal, need to change our ways, and can only do so through the power of the Gospel, the power of Jesus. Upon this belief, we are granted membership in God's family, forgiven by God, reconnected with Heaven, and freed from the power of evil. We are actually psychologically changed by the Holy Spirit, we become new, freshly untaught beings, God gives us new psychological outlooks on the world, His law of happiness in imprinted in our minds and we are given power from God's throne to really live a happy, justified life serving God and others. We are also assured of resurrection if we should die before Jesus' Second Coming, and eternal life thereafter. (Gen. 3:15; Isa. 45:22; 53; Jer. 31:31- 34; Ezek. 33:11; 36:25-27; Hab. 2:4; Mark 9:23, 24; John 3:3-8, 16; 16:8; Rom. 3:21-26; 8:1-4, 14-17; 5:6-10; 10:17; 12:2; 2 Cor. 5:17-21; Gal. 1:4; 3:13, 14, 26; 4:4-7; Eph. 2:4-10; Col. 1:13, 14; Titus 3:3-7; Heb. 8:7-12; 1 Peter 1:23; 2:21, 22; 2 Peter 1:3, 4; Rev. 13:8.)
     

  29. Our transformation to be all that we can be is a gradual and continual process. Jesus' life and death assures the ultimate victory of good over evil for all time, eventually in the universe, and inside us as individuals on a day-to-day basis. Our transformation and victory over evil is assured while we enwrap ourselves and actively cover and engage ourselves in the power of Jesus' affection, harmony, and bliss. Our transformation and happiness is maintained by talking to God on a daily basis, as a friend, letting Him know our desires, struggles, and circumstances of life. He wants to hear from us. He desires to fellowship with us. He cares and loves us. Our transformation is also maintained and continued through always studying Scripture to gain power by discovering more of who God is and what He expects of us, and likewise regularly gathering with other followers of Jesus for mutual support and to worship God. The process of our transformation is likewise strengthened by actively looking after all the various needs of all of humankind, no matter their religion, race, sex, affectional orientation, or other category that discriminates. As the Scripture says we will live in "spirit" at all times. (1 Chron. 29:11; Ps. 1:1, 2; 23:4; 77:11, 12; Matt. 20:25-28; 25:31-46; Luke 10:17-20; John 20:21; Rom. 8:38, 39; 2 Cor. 3:17, 18; Gal. 5:22-25; Eph. 5:19, 20; 6:12-18; Phil. 3:7-14; Col. 1:13, 14; 2:6, 14, 15; 1 Thess. 5:16-18, 23; Heb. 10:25; James 1:27; 2 Peter 2:9; 3:18; 1 John 4:4.)
     

  30. Q7 adheres to the belief that our efforts to spread the Gospel, to be transformed and reconnected to God, to love God, and to care for needs of our fellow man, are a spiritual battle involving forces seen and unseen. As noted in Scripture: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which, you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. " (Ephesians 6:10-18 - NKJV). Q7, while vigorously ministering to this world to improve the lives of all, does not regard with favor the current conditioning of many Christians who "understand their struggle as one against flesh and blood, fixated on earthly concerns, a fight for the kingdom of this world ....[and that therefore believe that] any means [is] justified"2, including imposing by government fiat the principles of the Gospel, or to in the same manner use the force of the government to "Christianize" the world and therefore to quicken Jesus' Second Coming. Christians share God's love and power to change hearts, not substituting legislation or force to try to change beliefs or ones spiritual 2 Tim Alberta, "How Politics Poisoned the Church", The Atlantic Magazine, June 2022, at p. 33. condition. As Jesus said: "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." (Matthew 22:21). He did not say "Use Caesar to force others to act as you believe God wants them to." As has also been noted: ..Violence is what happens when you try to resolve a religious dispute by means of power. It cannot be done. Trying to resolve ultimate issues of faith, truth and interpretation by the use of force [legislation being one form of force] is a conceptual error of the most fundamental kind. Just as might does not establish right, so victory does not establish truth. Both sides may fight with equal passion and conviction, but at the end of the day, after thousands or millions have died. whole countries reduced to disaster zones, populations condemned to poverty and generations to hopelessness. after the very enterprise of faith has been degraded and disgraced, no one is a millimeter closer to God or salvation or illumination. You cannot impose truth by force. That is why religion and power are two separate enterprises that must never be confused."
     

  31. While Q7 and all those human beings so inclined to make the world a better place, will and must strive, and work, and love, and hope, for as long as we can, to make the world as we know it a place of total peace and love; we know this is ultimately impossible without direct divine intervention. Only when Jesus returns to Earth the second time, will we reach and finally see fulfillment of all our expectations for peace, love, justice, salvation, and of all the promises God made in Scripture. This event is commonly referred to as the Second Coming of Christ. When Jesus returns it will not be a secret to anyone. He will not snatch some up in secret to be in Heaven with Him and leave the rest of us. 3 Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. Not in God's Name. p. 225 His coming will be bright, His coming will be loud, His coming will be literal, His coming will be seen by each and every person alive on earth, all at the same time. Scripture tells us it is only at this time, (not before), when those who died as believers in Jesus will be resurrected to meet the Lord in the air, and those of us who are alive and remain will also be caught up in the air to be with Jesus. Our bodies instantly immortalized. Those who are not counted among the saved, those who have freely chosen to reject Jesus, who are alive at this time will be consumed and die because of the brightness of His coming. God is a god of love, compassion, and mercy who has taken great pains in Scripture to give us a generalized sense of the nearness of Jesus' Second Coming. A familiarity with these prophecies and the current events taking place on planet Earth tell us very clearly that Jesus' return is at the door. God does not give us the exact month, day, and hour, but He points toward it and expects us to be ready at all times. (Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 5:1-6; 2 Thess. 1:7- 10; 2:8; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; Titus 2:13; Heb. 9:28; Rev. 1:7; 14:14-20; 19:11-21.)
     

  32. Of course, many will make light of, scoff, and laugh when Christians talk of the closeness of Jesus' return, Q7 takes very seriously the comments of the Apostle Peter in Scripture, wherein he reminds us that:"...scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. "For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." (2 Peter 3:3-10)
     

  33. In recent times, Satan's sophistry perhaps hit its zenith by using the conduct of evil Christians to provide a basis to reject the Gospel, the eternal exclusive power of God to redeem human beings, grant all eternal life, peace and happiness. The evil Christian examples should not be a cause to lose hope in the Gospel, or to doubt God's revelation of Himself to us. The Bible predicts rot in the Christian Church, its predictions confirm God's love and faithfulness in letting us know beforehand in Scripture, so we do not lose hope. Jesus famously said: "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matthew 7:13-14) Christians often snobbishly apply this principle to those outside the church. It is plain that Jesus does not so limit the principle. We should not expect the test of faith to be based on what most Christians do, we are told most of us will not get it. Rather our faith should be based on what God provides us to rely upon.
     

  34. Jesus Himself, speaking of our time to the Apostle John in the Book of Revelation, speaks of the rot of the Christian church. He said: "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich,· I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. " (Revelation 3:14- 22 - NKJV). Clearly a church Jesus is about to "spit out of [His] mouth" is not a church that should be held up as an example of the Gospel, what a Christian should be, what God wants people to do, or as evidence of whether Jesus is the Christ. However, this Scripture should give us hope and certainty about the time of human history in which we are living.
     

  35. Scripture also warns of evil and hypocritical Christians. Paul in warning his brother in Christ Timothy of the end times said: "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!" (Timothy 3:1-5 - emphasis added). Christians again have arrogantly applied this Scripture to non-Christians, but the verse on its face does not so limit itself. We should also expect to see these characteristics within the Christian church. Many can especially relate to the church members who have a "form of godliness." We see them go to church regularly, demonstrate an ability to quote Scripture (often erroneously), point the finger, judge others, dress up nicely for church, use the government to force faith on others, and think highly of themselves. Yet at the same, they lack "the power" of a faith that is grounded in love for others and the power of the transformative power of the Gospel. As Paul said: "[it is] that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith-that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God". (Ephesians 3:17-19). The Scripture quotes Jesus telling us: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fi·uits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them." (Matthew 7:15-20 - NKJV). Anyone can call themselves a Christian, but you will know if they are worthy of emulation by their fruits: what they do, not what they call themselves.
     

  36. In the midst of the current rot (we can also use the word apostasy) of the Christian Church, God still remains faithful in working out His purposes for this world, by still having connected to Him a core group of people who are true to the letter and spirit of the Gospel and His Commandments. We could say those people who "get it." Scripture refers to these believers as "the remnant". A similar situation existed when all of Israel fell under the spell of idolatry in worshiping the god Baal in the time of the prophet. As Paul noted: "Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? 'Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life. ' But what is God's reply to him? '/ have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal. So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace'. " (Romans 11:2-5). Scripture does not say that one particular corporate entity calling itself a particular denomination of the Christian church has a monopoly on meeting the requirements of being part of the "remnant" of the Church spoken of by the Apostle Paul. Rather, Scripture tells us that these true Christians at the end times will be all those who " ... keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Revelation] 2:17). Scripture tells us also that"...the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." This remnant group of Christian believers is especially tuned into last day events and scriptural prophecy, and each one of them, and collectively as a group, are given the responsibility to warn the world and the church of their collective evil, their need for the Gospel, and the soon-approaching hour of God's judgment and Jesus' Second Coming. Revelation Chapter 14 describes this activity as proclaiming the message of the 3 angels, and Scripture tell us that this activity of the remnant in the last days coincides with events in Heaven that are concluding the process of final judgement of humankind. The final judgment will be declared right before the Lord appears the second time when God declares: "He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still. " (Revelation 22:11). (Dan. 7:9-14; Isa. 1:9; 11:11; Jer. 23:3; Mic. 2:12; 2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Peter 1:16-19; 4:17; 2 Peter 3:10-14; Jude 3, 14; Rev. 12:17; 14:6-12; 18:1-4.)
     

  37. In the last days of Earth's history, as there were in biblical history, there will be many who prophesy, some much greater than others. "In the Scriptures this term [prophecy] applies to any inspired utterance and is not to be limited to the foretelling of future events".4 From the Book of Acts, (quoting the Prophet Joel), we know that: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams." (Acts 2:17 - NKJV). Clearly, many people of both sexes will take part in this last day warning to the church and the world, and we know that prophecy is a gift to particular individual believers. (See Romans 12:5-6)
     

  38. Human beings caught in sin and evil are destined to die and lose their lives for eternity. Many millions have died since Adam and Eve plunged the human race into a spiral of death and destruction. God alone, who has no beginning and no end, has the power to grant immortality and forgive sin, for those who decide that is what they want. Until Jesus returns the second time, all those who have died in Christ over the centuries are dead, and as the Scripture says, "they know nothing". Until Jesus' Second Coming, those who have died are in an unconscious state and are then resurrected to be with the Lord. There will be a subsequent resurrection of all those who voluntarily rejected God's salvation, mercy and forgiveness, which will be an event that will occur 1,000 years after the Second Coming of Christ. (Job 19:25-27; Ps. 146:3, 4; Eccl. 9:5, 6, 10; Dan. 12:2, 13; Isa. 25:8; 4 Seventh Day Adventist bible Commentary, Vol. 6, page 618, citing, Exodus 7:1; Luke 1:76, 77; Ats 15:32; 1 Corinthians 14:3, 24, 25 (1957) John 5:28, 29; 11:11-14; Rom. 6:23; 16; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; Col. 3:4; 1 Thess. 4:13-17; 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 20:1-10.)
     

  39. Q7 realizes that there are many who believe that before Jesus returns the second time, that the Earth will enjoy 1000 years of peace and happiness. The period of time is popularly referred to as "the Millennium". This popular method of setting the time of the Millennium is not Scriptural. Rather this 1,000-year period is the time when Jesus and those who have been saved, granted eternal life, and are reconnected to God," reign" and live with Jesus in the heavens, in the Holy City of Jerusalem. This thousand years spans the period of time between the Second Coming of Jesus, and what might be called the "third coming of Jesus". During this 1,000 years, the redeemed will be able to review the records of all those who have been lost to evil and conclude for themselves that God was just in the judgments He made. Far from being a place of peace and happiness during this time, the Earth will be forsaken, abandoned, and every person, (aside from those taken to heaven), and everything on it will be dead. This is with the exception of Satan and his angels, who are allowed to live on the Earth during this time and are left to contemplate all the evil they have caused, and to await the final destruction of Satan and all evil. When the 1,000 years comes to an end, Jesus and those human beings who were taken to the heavens at the Second Coming of Jesus will descend back to Earth in the holy city of Jerusalem. All the unsaved from the beginning of human history will be resurrected, and along with Satan and his angels will surround the city in an attempt to destroy it. The last vivid example shows the depths to which evil has taken angels and those humans who are still desiring to displace and destroy all that is holy. It is at this time that God will send fire from heaven to destroy Satan, his angels, and all the unsaved forever. (Jer. 4:23-26; Ezek. 28:18, 19; Mal. 4:1; 1 Cor. 6:2, 3; Rev. 20; 21:1-5.)
     

  40. God will then re-create the Earth, the "New Earth", as it has been called. This will be where human beings live with Jesus, (who will be there in person), in perfect happiness and peace forever. We cannot even imagine with our finite human minds what heaven, or the New Earth, will be like. Scripture tells us that: " ... Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." (1 Corinthians 2:9-11). The war between good and evil, between Christ and Satan, will be over; evil is vanquished and defeated. All of creation will testify that God is love and that God was right and will rejoice in the fact that indeed God will rule for eternity. As noted by the Apostle John, the ultimate hope of humankind, and the ultimate promise of God, will be fulfilled. John in vision said: "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away  And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.' Then He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.' And He said to me, 'Write, for these words are true and faithful. 'And He said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son'." (Revelation 21: 1, & 3-7)." (Isa. 35; 65:17-25; Matt. 5:5; 2 Peter 3:13; Rev. 11:15; 21:1-7)

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By Q7

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