Paradise on Earth

[onewithhim]

When I learned that the Bible speaks of a restored Garden of Eden and the restoration of mankind to the perfection and endless life that Adam forfeited, I was thrilled. Who doesn't want to keep living on this beautiful earth, with our loved ones, and being able to do all the things we love to do---endlessly?

If God said to you today, "When do you want to die?" would you say "now!!"? I don't think very many people would say that.

We CAN live forever here on Earth. The Bible tells us that we can.

Matthew 5:5
Psalm 37:9-11,29

[FaithWillDo]

[Replying to JehovahsWitness in post #1988]

Dear JehovahsWitness,

You also said:
Obviously Jesus was capable of sin or else there would have been no point in Satan tempting him. Jesus used his free will wisely and the majority of redeemed mankind will do the same.

Neither Jesus nor mankind have a "free will". There are zero scriptures that state this lie. God the Father is the cause of all things that happen. His "will" is always done. Since He didn't want Christ to sin, Christ could not sin because it was the "will" of the Father.

Here is what scripture says about mankind's supposed "free will":

Phil 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Prov 16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

Prov 20:24 Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

Jer 10:23 I know, Jehovah, that the way of man is not his own; it is not in a man that walketh to direct his steps.

Isa 26:12 O Jehovah, Thou appointest peace to us, For, all our works also Thou hast wrought for us.

Mankind has a "will" but it is controlled by God and Christ. It most certainly is not free. We cannot do anything that God does not cause us to do. But since we are "carnally minded" and "of this world" we have no knowledge of God working within us to accomplish His "will":

Ecc 3:11 He (God) has made everything fitting in its season; However, He has put obscurity (the world) in their HEART so that the man may NOT find out His work, that which God does, that which God does from the beginning to the end.

God's work is spiritual work which takes place in mankind's HEART. Our carnality stops us from being aware of the work God is doing there.

Joe

[FaithWillDo]

[Replying to otseng in post #1990]

Dear otseng:
I never personally attack anyone for the purpose of harming or belittling them but I will tell them the truth of what scripture says, even if they may find it offensive.

Would you chastise Christ if He spoke to the scribes and the Pharisees on this forum like He does below?

Mat 23:13-16 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

I'm sure the scribes and Pharisees were offended but it was the truth Christ wanted them to hear. My statements can be very direct but are very mild compared to the way Christ speaks.

Joe

[JehovahsWitness]

There are no verses that state that mankind will be given a body like Christ's physical body.

There is no need. There are only two types of bodies mentioned in scriptures

1 COR 15 :44b Berean Study Bible

... If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

Jesus was human, he was obviously mortal (since he died) so shared the same type of body all other humans have, a physical (natural) flesh and blood body.

Thanks to the ransom, mankind will return to exactly the same condition as Christ was while he was a human. Christ died for mankind so that humans could be physically and spiritually perfect.

JW

[otseng]

I never personally attack anyone for the purpose of harming or belittling them but I will tell them the truth of what scripture says, even if they may find it offensive.

This forum was created for civil debate, so everyone, including Christians, must abide by the rules here. Quite simply, if someone breaks a rule here, no matter what the justification, it will be censured. You are free to speak the truth, but do so in a way without breaking the forum rules.

I'm sure the scribes and Pharisees were offended but it was the truth Christ wanted them to hear. My statements can be very direct but are very mild compared to the way Christ speaks.

Sure, but Christ also accepted that ultimately he would be condemned by the religious leaders.

[myth-one.com]

Jesus was human, he was obviously mortal (since he died) so shared the same type of body all other humans have, a physical (natural) flesh and blood body.

Thanks to the ransom, mankind will return to exactly the same condition as Christ was while he was a human. Christ died for mankind so that humans could be physically and spiritually perfect.

Why would Christians desire to return to the human state, when the Bible promises us everlasting life??

Is the promise of everlasting life a fraud?

[FaithWillDo]

[Replying to otseng in post #1994]

Dear otseng

You said:
Sure, but Christ also accepted that ultimately he would be condemned by the religious leaders.

So are you saying that Christ sinned??? Your comment about Christ doesn't make any sense to me. Either it is wrong and sinful to speak as Christ did or it is acceptable.

Joe

[JehovahsWitness]

Why would Christians desire to return to the human state, when the Bible promises us everlasting life??

There is no "returning" to a human state:

- 144,000 humans will be resurrected to spirit life; they will forever remain in heaven with Christ.

- The "rest of the dead" will be resurrected as humans so they are not "returning" to a human state, they have only ever existed as humans

- Harmageddon survivors are humans and potentially will never die.

[myth-one.com]

Why would Christians desire to return to the human state, when the Bible promises us everlasting life??

There is no "returning" to a human state:

Did you write the following?

Thanks to the ransom, mankind will return to exactly the same condition as Christ was while he was a human. Christ died for mankind so that humans could be physically and spiritually perfect.

[JehovahsWitness]

Why would Christians desire to return to the human state, when the Bible promises us everlasting life??

There is no "returning" to a human state:

Did you write the following?

Thanks to the ransom, mankind will return to exactly the same condition as Christ was while he was a human. Christ died for mankind so that humans could be physically and spiritually perfect.

Yes, I did.

Mankind* (humanity, as represented by Adam and Eve ) was originally perfect. Adam and Eve were perfect humans but they saddly sinned and humans (mankind) was plugged into an imperfect state or CONDITION. All humans became sinful humans. (They were still humans but they were humans in a bad - less than optimal - state or condition).

Thanks to the ransom, mankind (humans) will once again return to their optimal condition. This does not mean they stopped being human and return to being humans again, but rather they will, thanks to Jesus, return to human perfection.

To illustrate: You have a car, its new and in tip-top condition. Sadly it is hit in an accident, its still a car but it is now a car in a bad state. You take it to the mechanic, he repaires your car, it "returns" to being in excellent condition. In a similar way humanity will return to its original state or condition.

Being perfect humans, they will not grow old, get sick or die. All humans under Gods heavenly government will live free of suffering and if they are obedient will live as such forever.

* speaking of humanity as a whole not as individuals.

[myth-one.com]

Thanks to the ransom, mankind (humans) will once again return to their optimal condition. This does not mean they stopped being human and return to being humans again, but rather they will, thanks to Jesus, return to human perfection.

To illustrate: You have a car, its new and in tip-top condition. Sadly it is hit in an accident, its still a car but it is now a car in a bad state. You take it to the mechanic, he repaires your car, it "returns" to being in excellent condition. In a similar way humanity will return to its original state or condition.

Humanity would return to its original state until the next "accident"!

Being perfect humans, they will not grow old, get sick or die. All humans under Gods heavenly government will live free of suffering and if they are obedient will live as such forever.

No, it is appointed that all humans will die.

The Holy Scriptures define the reward of the saved as everlasting life:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Your "perfect humans" live as long as they are obedient to God.

I prefer God's reward of guaranteed everlasting life.

God's system is better than your system.