The Coffee House Eon Scripture Study 1.2 - Some Special Truths for Which I Will Stand

Rodney Paris 

A creed is another word for a statement of beliefs. It's a structure built from the primary items that one "holds on to." It's like the foundation on which all other things must depend. Mine is based on the reality of God's existence. It is informed by His sovereignty, grace, love, and promise of reward... and all of that comes free of cost and effort on my part. God's provision and the cost Christ paid were sufficient to save.

My current position is briefly summed up in a single passage of scripture. It's simple, but covers everything that is undeniable and true concerning God. It contains all that I need to know and focus on. It is the center of all that God has shown me.

I like it a lot.

It keeps the focus of all things on the Creator of all things...

"All is out of Him and through Him and for Him..."

For God locks up all together in stubbornness, that He should be merciful to all. O, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How inscrutable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways! For, who knew the mind of the Lord? Or, who became His adviser? or, who gives to Him first, and it will be repaid him? seeing that out of Him and through Him and for Him is all: to Him be the glory for the eons! Amen!

Everything comes from God. Everything must pass through God. Everything returns to God. ONLY God's intentions are supreme and ONLY God's goals are achieved.

That's it. The center of my understanding is that IT IS ALL ABOUT GOD.

If there is a notion, utterance, thought, prayer, hope, or belief that contradicts this REALITY, then it is not true.

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IT IS ALL ABOUT GOD. All comfort, satisfaction, and peace exist because of this fact about the nature of reality. The fact of God's centrality to all things, glorifies God and His Christ. All properly translated scripture will agree with this majestic summation of God's relationship to His creation. His will, desire, work, plans, glory and love override all other considerations. There are no other considerations of primacy besides His.

It is that simple. It solves all apparent contradictions and avoids misunderstanding. If there is something hard to understand about God, then it is probably something that doesn't agree with this truth. EVERYTHING is ultimately about GOD, HIS glory, HIS character, and HIS word. Even the creation and humanity ONLY matter because they belong to GOD and satisfy His purpose. Evil exists because it serves God's purposes. ALL is of God.

If you want to untie the knots of evil and sin you need to see their purposes and their end for God's glory. The understanding that God has a purpose in all things... that understanding will fill the void of speculation about WHY things exist. When you see that God has a purpose for sin, evil, death, and pain... you can then see a greater light and glory surrounding God. He has HIS purpose for all this world and His grace is sufficient for us. God makes sense when you know the truth. I would not do creation His way, but that is just proof that I am not God (as if I needed proof.) What God is doing may not be clear (I still yell and cry at Him,) but HE has reasons that work to bring a legitimate glory in His effulgence. I can trust Him. When I see that HE DOES EVERYTHING, (that the ultimate responsibility for all things falls on HIM,) it is then that I no longer curse Him for 'not preventing evil.' I can trust that He knows what He is doing, and that HE acts in love. That trust, the faith He gives, becomes a solid surface to smooth a brittle landscape of a religious patchwork of doctrines.

Consider this.

The Lamb was slain from the ages. The greatest blessing for all men, for all time, came from the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The crucifixion of Christ is also, doubtless, the greatest evil of all time.

Who gets credit for that?

That most horrible, evil, glorious blessing is on the shoulders of the Father of all. There is a purpose and glory originating in these things. The truth of this makes me see I am small, and forces my eyes to leak.

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Concerning the Sacred Scriptures

In each body of people where I have fellowshipped, there has been a cultural standard related to that group’s method of handling difficult scriptures (one group even literally called them “difficult scriptures”). Deacons and elders were considered skillful and wise when they could artfully interpret a scripture within the church doctrines. This was a skill used to avoid problems with contradictions. When inconsistencies between a doctrine and the Scriptures surfaced then this sad skill came to the front. Many years after seeing that “skill” exercised, I learned the Scriptures should be used to define doctrine not simply used to confirm a doctrine. Humans often simply check to see if they can find things to support their bias. But know this… All scripture is inspired by God, and is beneficial for teaching truth, for exposing error, for correction of the wise, and for discipling all in righteousness...

All scripture is inspired by God, and is beneficial for teaching, for exposure, for correction, for discipline in righteousness, that the man of God may be equipped, fitted out for every good act.

    - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

And therefore we also are thanking God unintermittingly that, in accepting the word heard from us, from God you receive, not the word of men, but according as it truly is, the word of God, which is operating also in you who are believing.

    - 1 Thessalonians 2:13

I have noticed and noted that a number of the pastors and teachers I have spoken to have serious doubts about the veracity and/or relevance of the Bibles they teach from:

"The Bible is a tool written by man to control people!"

"It’s been changed by so many men..."

"I can’t learn about God in a book written by men!"

"This is just humans telling me what they think God is like!"

REALLY? There are ALWAYS reasons available for doubting something that is found in the bible. A lot of the "problems" disappear when it is accepted that in the original language, the original documents were flawless. Each word meant one thing and each single idea had one word representing it. The word of God is clear and useful. There are tools to use when you need to check what you are reading… God has removed the originals from our access so there is a need of faith to pursue the truth and the depth to believe God meant what He said. I do most of my study using the Concordant Literal New Testament (CLNT) and that Version of Old Testament (CVOT).

That can be a good conversation…

The pattern of sound words must be preserved as given in the Originals:

Have a pattern of sound words, which you hear from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

    - 2 Timothy 1:13

The word of truth must be correctly cut and each part applied to those to whom it was written:

Endeavor to present yourself to God qualified, an unashamed worker, correctly cutting the word of truth.

    - 2 Timothy 2:15

Our Lord’s ministry and the twelve apostles, they were writing to the Circumcision (the Israelites, the literal descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob)…

For I am saying that Christ has become the Servant of the Circumcision, for the sake of the truth of God, to confirm the patriarchal promises.

    - Romans 15:8

...and the letters written by the apostle Paul were to the congregated groups of gentiles, the nations, the uncircumcision, the "goyim"…

To me, less than the least of all saints, was granted this grace: to bring the evangel of the untraceable riches of Christ to the nations...

    - Ephesians 3:8

I was appointed a herald and apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the nations in knowledge and truth.

    - 1 Timothy 2:7

All scripture is for us, but it is not all about us or written to us.

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Concerning the Deity

There is no God except One... God, the Father, out of Whom all is... and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom all is...

Then, concerning the feeding on the idol sacrifices: we are aware that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God except One. For even if so be that there are those being termed 'gods,' whether in heaven or on earth, even as there are many gods and many lords, nevertheless for us there is one God, the Father, out of Whom all is, and we for Him, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom all is, and we through Him.

    - 1 Corinthians 8:4-6

Now there is no Mediator of one. Yet God is One.

    - Galatians 3:20

All is out of Him, through Him, and for Him.

For out of Him, and through Him, and into Him is all. Glory to Him for the eons; amen!

    - Romans 11:36

God creates evil.

I form the light and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil: I, Yahweh, do all these things.

    - Isaiah 45:7

God never sins, and gives the experience of evil to humanity to humble them.

I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: It is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity, to humble them by it.

    - Ecclesiastes 1:13

Even when contrary to His stated will, evil carries out His intention.

You will be protesting to me then, 'Why, then, is He still blaming? for who has withstood His intention?'

    - Romans 9:19

The goal is to publish His name in the earth...

For the scripture is saying to Pharaoh that 'For this selfsame thing I rouse you up, so that I should be displaying in you My power, and so that My name should be published in the entire earth.'

    - Romans 9:17

...and to reveal His love to His creatures. Using evil and sin, God has chosen to unveil His heart. These are justified from His standpoint, for they will bring untold blessing to His creatures, through the sacrifice of Christ and the framework of grace that counter them.

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Concerning the Lord Jesus Christ

He is the Son of the Most High, generated by His holy spirit.

And lo! you shall be conceiving and be pregnant and be bringing forth a Son, and you shall be calling His name Jesus. He shall be great, and Son of the Most High shall He be called. And the Lord God shall be giving Him the throne of David, His father, and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for the eons. And of His kingdom there shall be no consummation."

Yet Miriam said to the messenger, "How shall this be, since I know not a man?" And answering, the messenger said to her, "Holy spirit shall be coming on you, and the power of the Most High shall be overshadowing you; wherefore also the holy One Who is being generated shall be called the Son of God.

    - Luke 1:32-35

In Jesus, the entire complement of the Deity is dwelling bodily,

For in [Christ] the entire complement of the Deity is dwelling bodily.

    - Colossians 2:9

He is the Effulgence of God's glory, and the Emblem of God's assumption,

Christ, being the Effulgence of [God's] glory, and Emblem of [God's] assumption, besides carrying on all by His powerful declaration, making a cleansing of sins, is seated at the right hand of the Majesty in the heights.

    - Hebrews 1:3

the Image of the invisible God, Firstborn of every creature,

[Christ] is the Image of the invisible God, Firstborn of every creature...

    - Colossians 1:15

Now this is saying the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, and the Origin of the Creation of God...

    - Revelation 3:14

Who, inhering in the form of God, deems it not pillaging to be equal to God, nevertheless empties Himself, taking the form of a slave, coming to be in the likeness of humanity, and, being found in fashion as a man, He humbles Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross...

Who, being inherently in the form of God, deems it not pillaging to be equal with God, nevertheless empties Himself, taking the form of a slave, coming to be in the likeness of humanity, and being found in fashion as a man, He humbles Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

    - Philippians 2:6-8

He was apart from sin,

For we have not a Chief Priest not able to sympathize with our infirmities, but One Who has been tried in all respects like us, apart from sin.

    - Hebrews 4:15

does no sin,

Who does no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.

    - 2 Peter 2:22

could not be exposed concerning sin,

Who of you is exposing Me concerning sin? If I am telling the truth, wherefore are you not believing Me?

    - John 8:46

nevertheless He was made sin, that we might become the righteousness of God, in Him,

'Be conciliated to God!' For the One not knowing sin, He makes to be sin for our sakes, that we may be becoming God's righteousness in Him.

    - 2 Corinthians 5:21

There is one Mediator of God and mankind, a Man, Christ Jesus, the One giving Himself a correspondent Ransom for all.

For there is one God, and one mediator of God and of mankind, a Man, Christ Jesus, Who is giving Himself a correspondent Ransom for all...

    - 1 Timothy 2:6

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Concerning God's Eonian Purpose

The Scriptures speak of God's wisdom in a secret, designated 'before the eons,'

We are speaking God's wisdom in a secret, wisdom which has been concealed, which God designates before - before the eons, for our glory...

    - 1 Corinthians 2:7

His own purpose and grace before the eonian times,

[God] saves us and calls us with a holy calling, not in accord with our acts, but in accord with His own purpose and the grace which is given to us in Christ Jesus before times eonian...

    - 2 Timothy 1:9

and life promised before eonian times.

In expectation of life eonian, which God, Who does not lie, promises before times eonian...

    - Titus 1:2

Each eon (aion,) has its own world (kosmos, SYSTEM,) and they synchronize...

And you, being dead to your offenses and sins, in which once you walked, in accord with the eon of this world, in accord with the chief of the jurisdiction of the air...

    - Ephesians 2:2

God is the King of the eons,

Now to the King of the eons, the incorruptible, invisible, only, and wise God, be honor and glory for the eons of the eons! Amen!

    - 1 Timothy 1:17

and made them through Christ:

in the last of these days [God] speaks to us in a Son, Whom He appoints enjoyer of the allotment of all, through Whom He also makes the eons...

    - Hebrews 1:2

Five epochal eons can be found. The first two eons are not mentioned, but their corresponding worlds are. Two eons are impending.

In the oncoming eons, [God] should be displaying the transcendent riches of His grace in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

    - Ephesians 2:7

We are living in the present wicked eon.

[Jesus Christ] gives Himself for our sins, so that He might extricate us out of the present wicked eon...

    - Galatians 1:4

The eons have consummations,

Now all this befalls [Israel] typically. Yet it was written for our admonition, to whom the consummations of the eons have attained.

    - 1 Corinthians 10:11

and a conclusion.

He must often be suffering from the disruption of the world, yet now, once, at the conclusion of the eons, for the repudiation of sin through His sacrifice, He is manifest.

    - Hebrews 9:26

God is the Savior of all mankind at the consummation, but especially of believers during the eons.

[God] will that all mankind be saved and come to a realization of the truth.

    - 1 Timothy 2:4

For for this are we toiling and being reproached, that we rely on the living God, Who is the Savior of all mankind, especially of believers.

    - 1 Timothy 4:10

At the consummation, we find all saved, justified,

Consequently, then, as it was through one offense for all mankind for condemnation, thus also it is through one just award for all mankind for life's justifying.

    - Romans 5:18

vivified,

For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also in Christ, shall all be vivified.

    - 1 Corinthians 15:22

I charge you in the sight of God, Who is vivifying all...

    - 1 Timothy 6:13

and all the estranged will be reconciled.

Through [Christ] to reconcile all to [God] (making peace through the blood of His cross), through Him, whether those on the earth or those in the heavens.

    - Colossians 1:20

Death will be abolished,

Yet now [grace] is being manifested through the advent of our Savior, Christ Jesus, Who, indeed, abolishes death...

    - 2 Timothy 1:10

The last enemy is being abolished: death.

    - 1 Corinthians 15:26

sin having been repudiated,

He must often be suffering from the disruption of the world, yet now, once, at the conclusion of the eons, for the repudiation of sin through His sacrifice, He is manifest.

    - Hebrews 9:26

and God will be All in all

Now, whenever all may be subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to Him Who subjects all to Him, that God may be All in all.

    - 1 Corinthians 15:28

I wanted to be VERY CLEAR at this point. Some people miss the point in the fog of presumption. God created all. God locked up all. He saves all. That is guaranteed to ALL creation by the redemptive work and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God has a plan. It is successful. The entire volume of the drama tied to belief and faith in THIS age is not about eternal life but about life for the ages, the eons. Eonian Life. (to use transliterated Greek). Life during the 1000 Year Reign and the period after the Great White Throne are the topic of concern when it is about humans DOING THINGS for God. Even then it is about what God has done for us… again, it’s ALL about Him always.

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Concerning the Circumcision and the Nations

God, before Israel was cast away,

For if their casting away is the conciliation of the world, what will the taking back be if not life from among the dead?

    - Romans 11:15

had the Circumcision near while the nations were far off.

That you were, in that era, apart from Christ, being alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and guests of the promise covenants, having no expectation, and without God in the world.

    - Ephesians 2:12

But now, in Christ Jesus, He is conciliated and friendly toward them and the world. God has conciliated the world to Himself, and is not reckoning their offenses to them.

Yet all is of God, Who conciliates us to Himself through Christ, and is giving us the dispensation of the conciliation, how that God was in Christ, conciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offenses to them, and placing in us the word of the conciliation.

    - 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

The entreaty of the evangel for today is, "Be conciliated to God!"

For Christ, then, are we ambassadors, as of God entreating through us. We are beseeching for Christ's sake, "Be conciliated to God!"

    - 2 Corinthians 5:20

That we might become, practically, what we already are, positionally. Then we become reconciled. We are no longer at enmity with Him, and there is mutual reconciliation. Through the blood of Christ's cross, all the estranged living on earth and in heaven shall be reconciled, at the consummation. The blood of the cross is for all creation.

In [Christ] is all created, that in the heavens and that on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or sovereignties, or authorities, all is created through Him and for Him, and He is before all, and all has its cohesion in Him.

    - Colossians 1:16-20

for creation and reconciliation have the same scope. The heavens and the earth... all those below, upon, and above.

- Rodney Paris