Heaven Coach

This website presently contains three different pages/posts that address the subject of “Understanding God” including this post.

Understanding God-part1: God Purposely Provides A Veil

Understand God: Astonishing Differences From Your Current Thinking

And now this page, Understanding God:

Godly Principles For Dealing with Mankind

Actually many of the pages/posts at this website are designed to help you better understand God as He has revealed Himself. The correct understanding of God helps you to understand the true purpose of life, to understand why you exist. Of course, the goal is heaven and as YOU understand God, you will understand His purpose and know how to live. Additionally, day-by-day as your understanding and appreciation of God increases so will your confidence in your eventual success. Another good page at this website to enhance your understanding of God is, “Clarity From God.”

The most fundamental principle
for understanding God can be stated as:

The only way to understand God is from what God has revealed. This distinction is essential because the confusion, the incorrect understanding of God comes when you believe what men teach about God.

One might say that since God does not speak to us from the sky with some voice ringing throughout the universe, how can we know what is true, how can we truly understand God? The answer is that God has delivered His truth to His creation using men inspired by God to speak and to record His revelation. You can know, understand and be confident in His word by looking into the scriptures in a serious way, with a good heart. This was the best way for God to reveal His purpose to mankind because it requires the right kind of person, that is, the kind of person God is looking for to respond favorably. God is indeed the God of the bible and those who love the truth, are humble, are courageous, are forgiving, and open minded to the truth will be delighted daily as they understand God better and act to please God.

So, How does God deal with man? What are the principles that will help you to understand God and the how and why God interacts with mankind? As mentioned, we can understand God correctly inasmuch as God has revealed.

Some Basic Understandings About God

(That will help us understand the how and why God deals with mankind)

1)Time does not matter to God

Mankind is created in a time world and man cannot conceive of an existence without time. Man fumbles around and questions the creation of the universe, the age of the earth, God’s explanation of the creation of man and woman in view of bible teachings on these subjects. Time typically plays a part in their arguments but for God a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years as a day. God created time and provides little explanation because the bible although correct scientifically is not a book of science. God’s purpose is not related to amazing mankind but is related to mankind’s battle with sin. We see God explaining mankind’s time on earth as a vapor or something that appears and then quickly disappears. Such is life and indeed as you age you see that God’s description is very accurate. Where did my life go? It just seems like I was young and now “suddenly” old.
God is allowing mankind to make choices that will expose the character of each person, and from this God will know who will qualify for eternal life with Him. Many, many people will fall to the obstacles that God allows and in fact they are part of the test. God’s children will see past issues that science raises because they know science in this area is always changing and as you better understand God you see His focus is on souls. It will also be apparent that God has limited man’s ability to comprehend certain issues related to such things as the creation. A person with a good heart, open mind will understand God’s purpose and seek the truth, find it and live it.
An interesting obstacle that people create for themselves and others is to question God’s ability. One example is to find some person who would seem to be incapable of hearing and obeying the truth and effectively “hide behind” that person. Asking, how is God going to handle this situation or that situation? Just because you cannot envision an answer does not mean God does not have a perfect solution in administering perfect justice. After all, you may not be able to create the universe by saying it or thinking it – but it is no problem for God.

2) God cannot lie and in this way God limits Himself

We learn from scripture that God cannot lie and for many people this is fearsome and moves them away from God and yet for many others the fear of the Lord is as God says, “the beginning of knowledge.” Jesus says, unless you believe in Him you will die in your sins. This is a hard saying that evokes different responses:
a) One response might be, “this cannot be God.”
b) Another response might be, “God is serious about sin and I must live pleasing God, having my sins forgiven.”
You see it is always pride that causes us to reject God. Many people place themselves on a pedestal as though they are God. God’s test is indeed tough and will sort out those who love Him from those who do not. Indeed, God cannot lie and in fact He has chosen to deliver truth by His word in a way that those who love truth will understand, but in a way that those looking for excuses will reject God as the God of the bible. God’s word is the vehicle that allows men and women the opportunity to achieve heaven and oddly many do not like or trust this method. They find fault in the method and they would frequently be right in their objections if God were a human being. However, God is not a man, and for God to use this method means it is the VERY BEST WAY to achieve HIS purpose. Man might think God’s purpose is to save as many as possible and although God wishes none to perish His purpose is to select quality and not quantity. It is clear God would like the quality to be high quantity but first a person must meet His standards. So, all the ways you think God should reveal Himself and his plan might be under your assumption that God will save most people. That is very misleading and results in complacency, when serious urgency is required in your short life.

God has inspired men to speak or write as directed over the course of time. God’s purpose and God’s plan have been revealed from heaven and we have the accurate record of what God wants us to know because God has the oversight. Everything in God’s plan since Genesis 3.15 has been fulfilled with God’s oversight in relation to the reconciliation. The final piece was the New Testament, the Doctrine of Christ and thus we have the message from God we need. It is exactly as God planned and God will indeed receive those who overcome sin through His Son. Those people will have a love of the truth, perseverance, and the courage to do the right things, which God requires for heaven. Once again, God can easily handle all your “little concerns.” There should be no reason for you to miss heaven. However, for many, pride will destroy their eternity. There are literally hundreds of places in Scripture where God points to His word as truth and makes it perfectly clear in the extreme by saying in Romans 3.4, “Let God be found true and every man a liar.” The following three verses indicate the importance of the word of God.

Proverbs 30:5

5 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

Luke 4:4

4 But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ “

John 17:17

17 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

The conclusion: There is nothing like the bible and those who “dig in” with a love of the truth will be amazed. God’s word is the truth and to be trusted and for some strange reason you trust men in matters of God and your eternity. We will now look at God’s dedication to purpose from Genesis 3.15 and including the establishment of the church and its mission.

3) An obvious conclusion from God’s word is God’s dedication to His purpose.

Nowhere is this more clear than in Genesis 3.15 and how everything “plays-out” from that point. Some people see the harshness of God in dealing with various persons from the time of Adam and then Noah and throughout the time the Jews were establishing the nation of Israel and its maintenance until the birth of Jesus. Many battles were fought and God allowed Israel to survive in order to keep the lineage intact. At times God punished Israel for their disobedience and allowed their captivity, but God did not abandon them. Jesus, did eventually come through the lineage. Interestingly, following the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, God (in 70 A.D.) did bring a final judgement on Israel just as Jesus told the apostles.

God’s dedication to purpose is seen throughout the bible but many who do not understand God’s plan fail to see what God is doing and why. They often oppose God in their stubborn ways and admire men/women and their obscure and diverse teachings. We will now look at God’s dedication to His purpose and the essential role of the church.

We see God’s dedication to purpose in the church

God lays the groundwork for man’s reconciliation and the central event is the crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. God’s part in the reconciliation is almost complete. The remaining part for God is to explain mankind’s part. God has chosen to call out people by the gospel of Christ. The word church means “the called out” and Jesus told the disciples the Spirit would come to lead them into all truth. DOING THE TRUTH (that is, what God TRULY requires) is mankind’s part in salvation. The Spirit indeed does come and the gospel is preached for the first time on the day of Pentecost following the resurrection of Jesus. God’s people are called out by the gospel and thus in Acts 2.47 following their obedience God adds them to the church – they are the church, the church universal. We can look at the conversions of the New Testament and see people added to the church in the same way as in Acts 2. There is certainty in what happened to people here and it seldom represents how people are “supposedly saved” today. In addition, the apostles led by the Holy Spirit complete the plan of God by confirming the word and defining the local church. God has completed His part, which was perfectly aligned with His purpose. Now, what will man do, what will YOU do? Above, it was mentioned that people are seldom taught the plan of salvation despite the simplicity of the instructions. Jesus points out why this was the case with the Jews in following the law, and it is the same reason men teach useless doctrines today.
During the time Jesus was on earth, Jesus would point out to the Jews their disregard for God’s laws. Specifically, how they failed in worship by following the COMMANDMENTS OF MEN, The Traditions Of MEN.

Matthew 15:9

9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.

Matthew 15:3

3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?

The result of their disregard for God’s commandments is indeed pathetic and Jesus strongly indicates the net result of their attempts to convert others.

Matthew 23:15

15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

Here is the problem today: The Christian Church, and their self-proclamation to be Christians have followed the pattern of the Jews by rejecting God’s commands and substituting the doctrines of men and their many traditions. The result is the same as the Jews in terms of their evangelizing, namely destroying souls instead of saving them.

God’s care in defining the local church

The local church was defined by God with as much care as was the creation and as was God’s plan of reconciliation of which the local church plays a part. First, we need people to qualify for the church and that was done when God adds the obedient to the church (Acts 2.47). This is as mentioned, the universal church with the qualification they have obeyed the gospel. God made sure the Holy Spirit defined the local church in a way it could best accomplish the purpose of God. What a mess men have made of the church! Souls are being destroyed instead of being saved because they follow the commandments and traditions of men and women. All this time, all the dedication of God to see we have the truth and they miss the lessons of Cain (substituting for God’s will), Saul who selected sacrifice over obedience, and others. Then centuries later Jesus points out the same problems are found with the Jews. More centuries later and the gospel message has been changed by the dictates of men and women, much of which today is just tradition. If you love God, respect God you will speak as the oracles of God, God breathed speech.

We See God’s Focus in His Purpose for the Local Church

First, God organized the church to be simple consisting of members (the called out by the gospel) and elders and deacons with roles and qualifications defined by God. When you speak of the local church in different terms than these you add to or take away from God’s word.
Second, the church has a singular mission, namely evangelism. This mission is consistent with God’s plan since Genesis 3.15. It is consistent with Jesus stated mission to seek and save the lost. Indeed, God is focused on the souls of mankind. Yet, for some strange reason mankind wants to extend the mission of the church to include a hundred other things. As a result, churches are very social, very benevolent, very much associated with the entertainment of members, and create and/or support all kinds of activities. There may be building committees and various money raising schemes and churches appear like any number of other organizations.
The fact that the Church is only authorized for one thing, “says a lot about God.” Life is about the soul and nothing else and God’s focus is on the soul and the church of His Son has a singular focus, namely souls! Most people will not understand this during their lifetime. YOU need to understand that if you love God you will keep His commands and not the commands of men. YOU need to understand that the commands of men are not the commands of God. When you follow God’s ways the results are as God promised.

Never Think You Are More Fair Than God

Mankind in this present age has a very enabling attitude. Technicalities can allow a guilty man/woman to go free. God gives men and women one chance, one lifetime and this settles their eternal fate. Do you think this is not fair? If so, you have fallen into the trap that snares those who place themselves in the position of God. You do not know more than God or are you more empathetic, more concerned than God. God is perfect in justice and perfect in love.

Jesus tells the disciples that people want the truth and it is no different today. God’s people need to bring the message to the world, actually individuals in the world who desperately want the truth.

John 4:35

35 “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!

You see, God does not desire any to perish.

2 Peter 3:9

9 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.

Yet, Jesus made it clear that if the word of God is rejected then depart that region, that person. In other words use your time wisely and get the message to those who will receive it.

Matthew 10:14

14 “And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.

This is hardly enabling but making the most of your time in service to God. There is little value in pointing out sin to people who do not believe in God and God as the God of the bible or are not interested in learning. God has not provided any second chances for men and women and yet men and women teach there are second chances. A basic principle of God is: No Second Chances.

In Summary, How Does God Deal With Man

In addition to this page you need to look at all the references used on this page to get a reasonable idea of God’s principles for dealing with man. Nonetheless, I will summarize some things from this page.
1) Although God does not desire any to perish, He is not enabling and has done all He can in Jesus. Men would like to think there will be second chances but this is not true (this idea is not in scripture but the opposite) and totally inconsistent with God’s plan.
2) God has let man know that His word will be the final judge of man, and this is certain since God cannot lie. In other words if you die in your sins you will be lost.
3) God warns man regarding the shortness of life and points out His power as seen in the creation. God throughout scripture is telling mankind about the seriousness of life.
4) God is perfect in every way and that means for mankind there will be a perfect judgment.
5) Jesus instructs His disciples to bring the word to the lost but not to spend time with those who do not love the truth, that is those who reject God’s word.
6) God will fulfill His purpose and a few will succeed and receive heaven as their reward.
7) God is focused on souls, that is on His purpose. Often men and women focus on proving there is no God or that God is not the God of the bible.

God places those who obey the gospel in the church. They are called out by the gospel. The gospel is declared in 1 Corinthians 15.1-4.

1 Corinthians 15.1-4

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,
2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures

This was God’s plan that men and women would have the opportunity to benefit (be reconciled to God) as a result of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. When they obey the gospel they obey that form of doctrine represented by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Baptism is that form of doctrine as one is buried with Christ in the watery grave and then raises into a new life having their past sins forgiven.
The church is where ALL those in Christ reside – there is no physical location, it is spiritual.
The local church, which is made of those who God has added to the church is physical and consists of a number of people located in the same region. The mission of the local church is singular and that is to seek and save the lost. God has had this singular, dedicated focus since Genesis 3.15, Jesus had this singular focus and it should not be surprising that the local church is to have the same focus. It should also not be surprising that men have invented hundreds of different missions for the church and they may all be “wonderful things.” However, they do not please God and many will be lost “within the walls” of such institutions.

Everything God has done is in relation to His purpose and amazingly YOU ARE THAT PURPOSE. God wants you to succeed and yet you may be very near sighted and only live for yourself, live for this day and what you can take from the day.
God describes the folly of living for the day, for this day and really living for yourself, living and planning for your gain – not realizing you may not have tomorrow.

James 4:13-15

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”;
14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

So, how does God deal with mankind? God deals with man according to His purpose and that purpose is the best possible thing for man. A few men and women will be successful but most will live for themselves and never come to the truth, which would qualify them for heaven. It is not what God wants for mankind (that none should perish), but nonetheless God will have the best and only deserving persons. God will only have them because of His dedication to the reconciliation. A reconciliation that required the terrible death and suffering of His Son. Indeed, the ones that fail will see His wrath because they rejected God’s love in rejecting His Son.