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The Ungodly Selected from the on-going INTERNET BOOK, "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets" ( http://www.terrific-tabs.com ) by John N. Todd III, M. D. (link)
This "tablet" correlates closely with these other titles in this Internet BOOK: God's PEOPLE (link) And: The CHOSEN (link) And: ENEMIES of God (link) Initiated 6/6/00; supplemented or "doctored": 4/19/01; 7/4/01; 1/03; 3/03; 4/03; 5/03; 8/03; 9/03; 10/03; 3/04; 4/04; 8/04; 9/04; 10/04; 11/04; 2/05; 8/05; 10/05; 6/06; 1/14/07 CLICK HERE to go to the "FRONT PAGE" of "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets" CLICK HERE for ALPHABETICAL INDEX of this entire WEBSITE CLICK HERE to EMAIL your thoughts to the author In another section of this book, in a "tablet" entitled God's People (see link).... I enumerated a number of Biblical names, and titles, and metaphoric descriptions -- from both the Old Testament and the New Testament.... Biblical terms that refer to those individuals whom God has included among His "accepted" people ("God's people") -- for "salvation" (link).... and for inclusion in the Kingdom of God (link). In this tablet about the "ungodly".... I propose to compare "God's people", with those other individuals who are not included, by God, with God's people. I have categorized those not "accepted", and not included by God.... as "the ungodly".... a term that I will define, and "extrapolate", below. The primary premise of this discussion of the "Godly" and the "ungodly", is as follows.... It is my understanding and belief that the only human-beings who are "included" among "God's people" are those individuals whom God Himself has found to be worthy and "acceptable" -- in His sight.... irrespective of the "judgment" of any human-being, or any group of humans, or any "church".... and unrelated to an individual's "works", and deeds, and/or "misdeeds".... and unrelated to one's recitation of a specific creed.... and regardless of one's own appraisal of himself. Contrariwise.... my belief is that the opposite of this premise is also "true".... there is NO "religion", and no "creed", and no human-being, or group of humans.... that has the power or the authority to REJECT or DENY any individual whom GOD has decided to include with "God's people". That is, if an individual "human-being" is to be categorized as either "godly", or "ungodly".... that determination is within the power of God ONLY.... not God PLUS a church, nor God PLUS a doctrine, nor God PLUS a human "decision". My list of the Biblical designations, and metaphoric terms for "God's people", includes the following (copied here from the tablet entitled "God's People"): Children of God; disciples; servants; friends; the elect; the godly; brothers of Jesus; the born-again; the saved; the remnant; the temple of God; the called; children of Zion; the beloved; a holy nation; co-heirs with Christ; the chosen; Abraham's seed; God's field; God's building; the righteous; the spiritual; Israelites; the redeemed; saints; God's holy ones; peacemakers; my flock; the royal priesthood; heirs of the promise; Christians; the ransomed; His anointed; the good soil; believers; priests; God's sheep; the justified; those born of the Spirit; good trees; sons (daughters) of God; heirs of God. To reiterate.... In this "tablet", entitled "The Ungodly", I want to suggest names and Biblical terms and phrases that are used to refer to those human individuals who have NOT been "accepted" (chosen, elected, claimed, saved, redeemed).... by God.... for "inclusion" among God's people.... in God's Kingdom. And, repeating further, for emphasis.... it is my understanding that there is no other "entity", on earth or in Heaven -- other than God-the-Creator Himself -- who is able to accept and include an individual with "God's people". That is, there is no human-being, no priest, no preacher, no rabbi, no imam.... and no church, or creed, or claim, or profession or rite or ritual.... that is capable of "saving" another human individual.... for God. The entire process of "acceptance" by God, is in God's hands (God-the-Father; God-Incarnate; God-the-Holy-Spirit). In other words, "It is all God's doing". James 4: 12 (NRSV) There is one Lawgiver and Judge -- who is able to save, and to destroy. So then, who are you to judge your neighbor? The Bible refers, in a number of ways -- in various terms -- to those individual human-beings whom God has not, or will not, "include" with His people.... in God's "Kingdom". I have selected the title "The ungodly" as a catch-all "heading", under which to "encapsulate" those individuals who, according to Biblical statements, are NOT included, by God, with His people. Be thinking about it.... as you read the Bible verses below. What other Biblical "designations" can you think of.... to add to this list of "the ungodly"? I will quote below a few scriptures concerning the "ungodly"; and then enumerate other Biblical "terms" (and Biblical metaphors) that refer to those individuals whom God does not "include" with His "people". Remember, however, as you clearly know already.... man-made labelling and categorizing are irrelevant to what God determines -- and ordains. Read (out loud, for yourself to "see" and "hear") the following Biblical references: Psalm 1: 1 (KJV) Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly .... 2 for his delight is in the Law of the LORD; and in His Law doth he meditate day and night.... 4 The ungodly are not so.... but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore, the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment (link); nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (See link Righteousness from God.) (Also, see the link SIN; who decides what is sinful?.) Psalm 3: 7 (KJV) Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone. Thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Psalm 18: 4 (KJV) The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. Psalm 43: 1 (KJV) Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. Same (NRSV)... Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly PEOPLE.... from those who are deceitful and unjust, deliver me! Jude 14 (KJV) And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him. Same (NRSV) Jude 14 "See, the Lord is coming with ten thousands of His holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all; and to convict everyone of all the deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way; and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against Him." 16 These are grumblers and malcontents. They indulge their own lusts.... they are bombastic in speech, flattering people to their own advantage. Psalm 91: 8 (NRSV) You will look with your eyes, and see the punishment of the wicked (the ungodly). 9 Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, 10 no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. 11 For He will command His angels concerning you.... to guard you in all your ways. Now, consider the following list of OTHER names, titles, and metaphoric terms that have been used in the Bible, to refer to those "ungodly" individuals and groups who have NOT been included, by God, with His "accepted" individuals (God's people): THE "UNGODLY".... The wicked; the chaff; bad trees; enemies of God (link); enemies of God's people; the deceitful; the scornful; the unspiritual; the unjust; rocky soil; the hardened; the dulled; the godless; adulterers; sinners; the unrighteous (see link Righteousness from God); "objects of wrath"; false prophets; false teachers; idolators; the (spiritually) "blind" or "deaf" or "dead"; the covetous; revilers; drunkards; extortioners; names not included in the "Book of Life"; thieves; fornicators.... and on and on. Note these additional Bible verses that are pertinent to this discussion: 1 Corinthians 6: 9 (KJV) Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor EFFIMINATE, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners.... shall inherit the Kingdom of God (link). Romans 9: 22 (NRSV) What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath that are made for destruction. Isaiah 57: 21 (NRSV) PEACE, PEACE, to the far and the near, says the LORD; and I will heal them. 20 But the WICKED are like the tossing sea that CANNOT keep still.... its waters toss up mire and mud. 21 There is NO PEACE for the wicked.... says my God. See link GOOD and EVIL, from God. 2 Peter 3: 7 (NRSV) But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless. 2 Peter 2: 1 (NRSV) But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive opinions. They will even deny the Master who bought them -- bringing swift destruction on themselves. Revelations 17: 8 (NRSV) And the inhabitants of the earth, whose names have NOT been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world.... And so, what are your thoughts? Can you think of other Biblical terms that should be shown in this list of the "ungodly"? Make your own list. Do you think that we humans have anything at all to do with the salvation (link) that is granted by God? Can your church "save" its members, for God. Can your preacher help? Will my approval of myself, "save" me.... or convince God that I should be included in His Kingdom? Is it up to you, or to your church, or to your preacher, or to your doctrine.... to judge me, and to "include" me with "God's people".... OR, is it within your power and your decision to cast me into the category of the condemned, the damned, and the doomed.... "the ungodly"? Let me know your answers to these intriguing questions. 1/14/07 |