Posted on 08/30/2016 1:24:37 PM PDT by Jim W N
Says who? That's just nonsense and not supported by any scripture. In fact it directly contradicts it. As I recall the Apostle Paul prayed three times for God to remove the thorn from his flesh. According to you this means the Holy Spirit was "asserting God's will" that he be relieved of this infirmity. Yet God directly denied this prayer. Thus, under your interpretation God directed Paul to pray "according to God's will" and then God changed his mind and denied the prayer he directed Paul to pray in the first place. That's just utter nonsense. According to Jesus specific words "How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God. For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." So, we're suppose to believe, once again according to you, that God has again changed his mind and wants everyone to be wealthy? You are just reading into scripture what you want to be in there. Quit focusing on wealth and other worldly concerns and pray for spiritual discernment.
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” 3 John 2.
That is a plain scriptural assertion of God’s will for us for health and wealth. Paul’s narrative of how God was dealing with him about his thorn is the flesh is just that, a narrative, not an assertion of God’s will. In Paul’s narrative, God’s assertion for us is that God’s grace is sufficient for us in our difficulties and trials. The two are not mutually exclusive.
Health and wealth for God’s people are made possible by Jesus on the cross and stated in scripture:
“By his stripes you were healed.” 1 Peter 2:24.
“For your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich.” 2 Cor 8:9.
Again, your difficulty in reconciling scripture or confusion and dislike of scripture does not negate scripture just because you choose to set aside or wrest scripture. It just makes you a promulgator of false doctrine.
That's not plain to me at all or is it any way suggested by the text. Apostle's prayers are not a priori the will of God. Apostle Paul prayed for the removal of his thorn and it was specifically not the will of God. "By his stripes you are healed" is a reference to the salvation offered by the substitutionary atonement of Christ. We are healed of the effects of our sin. This is made perfectly clear by the portion of 1 Peter 2.24 you chose to leave out. Here's the whole verse: "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his stripes you have been healed". The following verse confirms this is the subject referenced: 1 Peter 2.25 - "For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
The 2 Cor verse is referring to Spiritual richness in Christ. This is made clear by Christ's letter to the Church of Smyna where Christ says "I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan." Rev. 2.9. Those who are in Christ are rich despite whatever their material condition is. Finally - if you are correct why weren't the Apostles ever wealthy? If God wants all Christians to be wealthy why weren't any of God's hand picked messengers wealthy? And why did Christ say it would be difficult for "those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God" if he wanted his followers to be wealthy? Please answer these questions.
Circlecity, I’d love to delve into all of these things you question, but we have a basic problem which is you are willing to set aside scripture that clearly says it is God’s desire for us to be healthy and wealthy. We can’t get past that problem. If you were to say, “Yes, I know what 3 John 2 says, but I don’t understand...”, then maybe we could continue. But you deny what scripture plainly says here. So we’re stuck.
I think unless or until you’re willing to acknowledge what 3 John 2, 1 Peter 2:24, 2 Cor 8:9 plainly say, we have no common ground to continue and I’ll sign off.
God bless.
Fine with me. We will let the readers decide which is the more biblical analysis.
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