Quote:
Originally Posted by James Hutchins
tattoos and so on tells me the degrees are not 'lessons in being demure'.
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Let's take a closer look.
The first problem is that the text is incomplete. The second problem is that it comes from four "translations" excising or adding to critical elements of God's message about Salvation. Here are the dubious renditions; take your pick:
II Timothy 1:9 GNT He saved us and called us to be his own people, not because of what we have done, but because of his own purpose and grace. He gave us this grace by means of Christ Jesus before the beginning of time
II Timothy 1:9 AMP for He delivered us and saved us and called us with a holy calling … not because of our works … but because of his own purpose and grace … which was granted to us in Christ Jesus before the world began
II Timothy 1:9 NIV He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time
II Timothy 1:9 ESV who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began
God explains in more detail what this means, just so that we don't try thinking for ourselves and getting it wrong. Absolutely we could not achieve this under our own steam. In fact human efforts actually ran counter to Christ's achievement which was bestowed already before there was time, even! Wow! Eve really really messed things up! That wicked nature was already overcome before she existed and all she could think of was blasting everyone into the pit forever. Satan's idea, obviously, but she enacted it by "thinking for herself" and following a different plan. Satan's plan – where NOBODY gets redeemed because the sin nature stays alive.
Colossians 3:2-4 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Christians are dead. Sure, the body moves; sure, things may have beed done contrary to what God requires leaving their mark on that body; clearly and explicitly, we're dealing with a "before" and "after" situation. The dead self was rescued, it goes without saying that the Redeemed self didn't need rescuing because it was already rescued. The only "self" needing Redemption was the one that's now dead. What does God say about remembering dead selves? Or any category of dead thing?
Leviticus 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
Two distinct categories there [A] cuttings for the dead (which would include scarification, trepanning, tattooing, bones through the nose, ear grommets and so on when commemorating deceased persons or pets) and [B] printed marks (just in case someone gets smart and claims their tattoo is not strictly "cutting" or is but isn't "for the dead" and/or henna patterns, woad, branding, stencilling oneself to look like a giraffe/tiger/okapi/zebra/etc.) of which that's quite enough covered for now. It's indisputable that texts concerning God's Grace apply to rescued individuals who no longer sin – because they are dead. Therefore why would any such text be chosen for printing or scarification or branding by any Christian? The most charitable explanation I can think of is involuntary printing as a form of mockery, in these last days, very possibly on public transport. Here is the quote with context, as intended:
II Timothy 1:8-10 KJV
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: