The Kingdom of the Heavens

The Apostle Paul approved of arbitration of disputes between Christians by other believers

Ian Johnson January 15, 2025 0 Comments

The theme of this installment is a question Paul asked the church in Corinth: 1 Corinthians 6:5 (WEB) While the process Jesus described in Matthew 18:15-20 (see previous series of installments) is the ideal procedure, the one most likely to produce reconciliation–which is the goal of all such procedures–the New Testament is not rigidly inflexible in demanding that only this…
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choosing not to forgive, Divisions in the Church, Forgive as we forgive, Forgiveness and Unforgiveness, God was never our enemy, Love each other, Must Trust God to Enter, Quarrels, Reconciliation, Refusing to hear, Restoration of God's Image, Restoration of our Relationships, The Kingdom of the Heavens, Trusting sight over God's words, What is sin?

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Pray for all people, for everyone who is important in my world

Ian Johnson January 8, 2025 0 Comments

Paul told Timothy to pray for “all people.” He said to pray for them–not against them–so that we may live in peace. He emphasized that he meant to pray for everybody by including “kings,” by implication including the Roman Emperor, who at that time was the despicable Nero. If I am thinking about you, I should be praying for you.

For everyone, God's purpose for us, Love each other, Prayer for others, Restoration of our Relationships, The Kingdom of the Heavens, To be his ambassadors

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Parts of doing good: love, affection, honor, prayer, hospitality, caring for each other’s needs, preferring each other

Ian Johnson January 6, 2025 1 Comment

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good. In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another; not lagging in diligence; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer; contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality.

Emotions, God's purpose for us, Human Rationality, In the Church, Love each other, Meaning of Unity, Restoration of God's Image, Restoration of our Relationships, The Kingdom is all around us, The Kingdom of the Heavens, To be in his image, To live in unity

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A Visit with the Second Servant in Debtors’ Prison

Ian Johnson January 2, 2025 1 Comment

Links: This post read as a YouTube video. Full playlist for this series. Remember the other servant? The one the Unforgiving Servant threw in prison instead of showing him mercy? I thought so. Most people don’t. I know nearly everyone thinks this story is only about the relationship between the Lord and the Unforgiving Servant. That’s why it is usually…
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Forgive as we forgive, forgiveness and mercy, Forgiveness and Unforgiveness, God is Love, God's rationality, Parables, Restoration of our Relationships, The Kingdom of the Heavens, The Problem of Evil, Through Jesus

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A Visit with the Unforgiving Servant on the Rack. What did he Still Owe?

Ian Johnson January 1, 2025 0 Comments

Links: This post read as a You Tube video. Full playlist for this series. We now continue with the story of the first servant—the one whose Lord forgave him an astronomically large debt, but who then wouldn’t forgive his fellow servant a debt of three months’ wages. While the two servants were the only parties to the debt, they were…
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choosing not to forgive, Forgive as we forgive, forgiveness and mercy, God is Love, God's rationality, Love each other, Restoration of God's Image, Restoration of our Relationships, The Kingdom of the Heavens, The Problem of Evil, Uncategorized, What is sin?

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Is Infinite Forgiveness shown to Us by God? Are We Supposed to Do the Same?

Ian Johnson December 31, 2024 0 Comments

Links: This post read as a YouTube video . Full playlist for this series. The next part of Jesus’ discussion of forgiveness in Matthew 18 asks the question “is infinite forgiveness shown to us by God. and are we supposed to do the same?” Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me,…
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choosing not to forgive, forgiveness and mercy, God is Love, God was never our enemy, Reconciliation, The Kingdom of the Heavens, What is sin?

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The Blog Will Continue Under a New Name, Emphasizing that I’m an Incurable Fool!

Ian Johnson December 9, 2024 0 Comments

Full retraction of all previous blog content as the words of an ignorant fool. Declaration of a new purpose and an intention to now burn myself out following it.

Must Trust God to Enter, Reconciliation, Restoration of our Relationships, Truth and Falsehood, Victory

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Where am I going next–and does it really matter?

Ian Johnson October 21, 2024 0 Comments

About the shortness of my time remaining, the failure of my life thus far, priorities, how Don Quixote, the Serenity Prayer and Ponce de Leon fit, love is always passionate, and passion always hurts, and proudly wearing the craters on my heart.

Complex unity, Emotions, God is light, God is Love, His Friends, Human Rationality, Love each other, Restoration of our Relationships, The Kingdom is all around us, The Kingdom of the Heavens, To be in his image, To live in unity

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The Sheep and the Door of their Fold

Ian Johnson September 25, 2024 0 Comments

John 10:7-10: Here, Jesus changes his metaphor a bit. He still calls us his sheep who trust in him. But now he is identified as the door of our fold, the place where we are safe. Just like in the previous metaphor, everyone else who came before Jesus and tried to lead the sheep were thieves and robbers. And once…
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A God who Speaks, God is Love, God Speaks to Us, God's purpose for us, God's Voice, His sheep, Must Trust God to Enter, The Kingdom of the Heavens, Through Jesus, Victory

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Las Ovejas y La Puerta de su Redil

Ian Johnson September 25, 2024 0 Comments

Jesús se describe como la puerta del redil, asegurando la protección y guía de sus verdaderas ovejas, que solo siguen su voz y no la de los ladrones. Contrasta su misión de dar vida eterna con la de los ladrones, que buscan robar y destruir. Solo a través de él se obtiene vida abundante y eterna.

A God who Speaks, God is Love, God Speaks to Us, God's purpose for us, God's Voice, His sheep, Must Trust God to Enter, The Kingdom of the Heavens, Through Jesus, Ultimate reality, Victory, What is God's Word

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The Apostle Paul approved of arbitration of disputes between Christians by other believers

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Pray for all people, for everyone who is important in my world

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Parts of doing good: love, affection, honor, prayer, hospitality, caring for each other’s needs, preferring each other

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A Visit with the Second Servant in Debtors’ Prison

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A Visit with the Unforgiving Servant on the Rack. What did he Still Owe?

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Is Infinite Forgiveness shown to Us by God? Are We Supposed to Do the Same?

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The Blog Will Continue Under a New Name, Emphasizing that I’m an Incurable Fool!

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Where am I going next–and does it really matter?

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The Sheep and the Door of their Fold

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Las Ovejas y La Puerta de su Redil

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The Kingdom of the Heavens

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