Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.
-Matthew 25
Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
-Luke 11
Everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.” But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.” But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!” Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.” “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.
-Matthew 15
Is Hell eternal?
Is death final?
Wherever the tree fell, that's where it lays? Is that how You are Jesus? If I go to get more oil could I be locked out of the wedding party forever?
How can any of us enjoy Heaven knowing if even one is stuck in Hell? Isn't that the exact reason You came for the cross? To seek and save the lost? To leave the 99 in search of the 1 lost sheep? Wouldn't You leave Heaven and go down in to Hell to find the 1 lost child?
Are we saved by grace alone? Or is it dependent on our faith?
What about in 2 Timothy when the write writes about God:
If we are unfaithful,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny who he is.
So does salvation rest on our faithfulness? But even if we are unfaithful You remain faithful. It's who You are.
What if I am locked out of the wedding party but I do not stop knocking? If my friends on earth, who are evil, will get up and let me in how much more will my Father in Heaven who is righteous get up and let me in?
What if You call me an unworthy dog but yet I still persist? What if I sit at Heaven's gates for eternity knocking? Won't You who are good let me in? You cannot deny who You are.
Despite the fact that I may break the new covenant, You won't. You can't. It's who You are. I take communion, the Eucharistic, the pass over meal, whatever you want to call it ever mindful of Your faithfulness in spite of my unfaithfulness.
Even dogs get crumbs.
Even friends answer the door if not for friendship’s sake, they will get up and give whatever is needed because of shameless persistence.
But You are more than a dog owner.
You are more than a friend.
You are more than a bridegroom.
Is Hell eternal?
Is death final?
Manifesto - The City Harmonic
-Matthew 25
Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
-Luke 11
Everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.” But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.” But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!” Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.” “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.
-Matthew 15
Is Hell eternal?
Is death final?
Wherever the tree fell, that's where it lays? Is that how You are Jesus? If I go to get more oil could I be locked out of the wedding party forever?
How can any of us enjoy Heaven knowing if even one is stuck in Hell? Isn't that the exact reason You came for the cross? To seek and save the lost? To leave the 99 in search of the 1 lost sheep? Wouldn't You leave Heaven and go down in to Hell to find the 1 lost child?
Are we saved by grace alone? Or is it dependent on our faith?
What about in 2 Timothy when the write writes about God:
If we are unfaithful,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny who he is.
So does salvation rest on our faithfulness? But even if we are unfaithful You remain faithful. It's who You are.
What if I am locked out of the wedding party but I do not stop knocking? If my friends on earth, who are evil, will get up and let me in how much more will my Father in Heaven who is righteous get up and let me in?
What if You call me an unworthy dog but yet I still persist? What if I sit at Heaven's gates for eternity knocking? Won't You who are good let me in? You cannot deny who You are.
Despite the fact that I may break the new covenant, You won't. You can't. It's who You are. I take communion, the Eucharistic, the pass over meal, whatever you want to call it ever mindful of Your faithfulness in spite of my unfaithfulness.
Even dogs get crumbs.
Even friends answer the door if not for friendship’s sake, they will get up and give whatever is needed because of shameless persistence.
But You are more than a dog owner.
You are more than a friend.
You are more than a bridegroom.
Is Hell eternal?
Is death final?
Manifesto - The City Harmonic