We are very familiar with Psalm 19 and the fact that all creation speaks of God. Now let’s consider the voice of redemption in Romans 8. Beginning in verse 22 (NASB) For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. . . even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. . .in the same way Christ helps . . . the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
We have the testimonies of the calling of God, the intercession of the Spirit and the Son, the groaning of creation and the groaning within ourselves as witness. What a wonderful thought for us to consider. God in His masterful plan of redemption has pulled all the stops for our adoption.
The will of God is that mankind respond to the predestined plan of His calling. There lies within each of us a groaning for this since at creation we were predestined for a relationship with God. As Paul strategically does on other occasions, a courtroom scene has been arranged and we are left as the jury to decide a verdict. Bringing the case to rest, the jury is asked for a decision in verse 31 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” Finishing with verses 33, 34, “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. ”
Yes, the God of the universe is mindful of us. What is the false witness that speaks otherwise?
Please consider responding to this with your own ideas.
Is it possible one’s will separates? It seems the passage addressed above bears also the notion that those receiving the epistle would be on board with the apostle, teacher, authority (and that entails) of the saint otherwise known as Paul. In a setting of at least harsh condemnation with consequences coming from 1) family members expecting not what the gospel offers and 2) all varieties of cultural hegemony wishing to further the Empire, the encouraging words offered should not be removed from the all inclusive, first century (Paul and his retinue and those he includes in his vocabulary) we’s,” “ours,” and “us’s.”
In the face of the death of the body or the condemnation of higher consciousnesses, those who have the Holy Spirit in them should expect the restoration of their relationship with God. The Kingdom is one of the spirit.
It seems the false witnesses then were at least 1) Jews who refused to accept Jesus (and all that meant in varied situations) and 2) “secular” authorities able to kill the body …
You ask what “is” the false witness that speaks otherwise?
There will be any number of earthly accusers, some with connections to the heavenlies and some not so much. But in the heavenly court, Christ has removed the accuser. In the heavenly court there no longer stands a false witness.
I have known many to apply this passage to their lives to justify several types of situations … as a catch all that perpetuates everything from schisms to heresies to atrocities. Such do not give justice to the text. The Holy Spirit convicts here as Christ will convict.
I don’t want my will to overshadow that/those of God and his spirit’s leading. To do so makes my testimony false. My will can separate me from God’s love (the Church), but not his mindfulness. I doubt though he is mindful of those willfully place themselves in the outer darkness, ignoring all attempts of reconciliation. I suppose though it’s possible to harrow someone from hell … Not prepared to discuss that as I haven’t studied all the sources well enough.
What is the church’s role in approving God’s elect?
Not to mention the witness of angels who would be otherwise offended at the disorder a church is prone to if roles are misunderstood (1 Corinthians 11) and the witness of the “cloud” of Hebrews 11. I’ll call it the “Christian Cloud” as compared to the modern day resource relied upon by so many.
Misunderstanding roles … a nemesis indeed.
Gotta keep the active roles of the witness of God (holy spirit), the angels, the Christian cloud, et al. (churches, to include the leaders who do not offer false witness) alive. The cognizance that the spiritual beings and the departed have … wow, there is a target for connection among the waves. It seems the witness of the angels has less to do with words and more to do with actions in that “heavenly” outside the “heavenly” court; and outside the gate … that theater of spiritual warfare the mention of which evokes the eternal prison …
Do you think much about video and sets, props, and scripts?