Isaiah 51:6 "Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, (same language) and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished."
Now let’s come back to Psalms 102 for a moment, because we know a lot of times we read these Psalms and yet we don’t read them, and here’s another few verses that we would say most people, if they’ve read it, have missed one of the major points. Lets stop at 122:21-23 first.
Psalms 122:21-23 "To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem: 22. When the people are gathered together and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD. 23. He weakened my strength in the way; He shortened my days."
What do we think He’s talking about? How old was Christ when His life was ended? 33 years old, and right in the prime of life as we normally think, so that’s the reference here. Now He cries out to the Father:
Psalms 102:24 "…I said, O my God, (see that’s why Christ in the flesh and refers to the Father as His God. It’s just from that position where He is, as the Man-God or son of man) take me not away in the midst of my days: your years are throughout all generations." In verse 25, God the Son is still addressing the Father from His position on earth and says:
Psalms 102:25 "Of old have you laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of your hands." And now here in verse 26 we come back to the same language that we’ve been seeing in the Epistle of Hebrews and the Psalms, and various other portions of Scripture. Remember the Psalmist is speaking of the work of creation and says:
Psalms 102:26-27 "They shall perish, but you will endure: yes, all of them wax old like a garment; (isn’t it amazing how the Scripture just repeats itself? And we know what we’ve always said, what’s the purpose of repetition? Emphasis! God wants us to understand that this old world isn’t going to last forever. But we see most people today think there’s no end to it, and it will just keep going and going and going. Like the "ever-ready bunny." But there’s a day coming when God’s going to wrap it up, like an old worn out garment) as a vesture shall you change them, (or exchange them) and they shall be changed: (but God never changes, God the Son never changes,) 27. But you are the same, and your years shall have no end."
That’s the Psalmists way of putting it. Now let’s come back and look at some of the New Testament analogies in II Peter to see when this old planet is going to meet its end. Here we have this little epistle of II Peter with this same thought, that there’s coming a day, for not just the earth, but we feel the whole universe will be totally done away with, because everything has to be made New. Now why? Because there isn’t a corner of this universe that hasn’t been defiled by that old devil, Satan. He’s defiled it all, he’s been in the presence of God in Heaven, we know that. He’s been, we think, to the ends of the universe, and it’s all defiled, so consequently, it all has to be destroyed. Here's a point of interest many feel that Christ returned to cleans the Heavens with His Blood because of what was just said about the heavens being defiled. But that is not what the scriptures are saying. Christ took His Blood into the Holiest place to remove the veil that separated fallen man from God's presence and then sanctifies us and our hearts from a sin consciousness in the New Covenant. Now verse 10.
II Peter 3:10 "But the day of the Lord (which goes right on past the Tribulation, and through the 1000 year Kingdom until we come into eternity. Remember 1000 years with God is just a day, so don’t think in terms as we look at it, but rather in God’s thinking. In His thinking it’s all in one successive span (for us its time). So the day of the Lord “will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." Everything is suddenly going to return to the nothingness from which it first came. Verse 11.
II Peter 3:11a "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved,…"
Now you know what dissolved things look like. We mean the heat just melts it down, and if we keep the heat on it long enough, it’s going to be nothing. Now reading on. It’s going to be dissolved, so consequently:
II Peter 3:11b-12 "…what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation (or manner of lifestyle and mind set) and godliness. 12. Looking for and hasting to the coming of the day of God, (when eternity will be ushered in) wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, (see there’s twice we’ve had the word dissolved in two verses.) and the elements (that make up matter) shall melt with fervent heat?" Now verse 13, and see it’s not a hopeless case.
II Peter 3:13 "Nevertheless we, (as believers who become receivers) according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness."
Now to complete this thought, let’s go all the way up to Revelation, and this just puts the capstone on it, and it’s almost the same identical language. Let’s go to chapter 20 first of all, and drop in at verse 11. Keep in mind this whole concept that everything in the universe was created by a loving and merciful God to provide everything that was needed by all life forms, whether it’s human, animal, birds, or whatever. He provided for all of us. Now verse 11, as we’re ready to usher in eternity:
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
The Epistle to the Hebrews part XI
Psalms 104:1-4 "Bless the LORD, O my soul, O LORD my God, you are very great: you are clothed with honor and majesty. 2. Who covers thyself (Yourself) with light (illumination) as with a garment: who stretches out the heavens like a curtain: 3. Who lays the beams of His chambers in the waters: who makes the clouds His chariot: who walks upon the wings of the wind: 4. Who makes His angels spirits; His ministers a flaming fire:"
Psalms 104:5-6 "Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. 6. You cover it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains." And of course we go back to Genesis 1:2 for that:
Genesis 1:2b "…And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." Now back to Psalms 104, and drop down to verse 7.
Psalms 104:7-8 "At your rebuke they fled; at the voice of your thunder they hasted away. 8. They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys to the place which you have founded for them."
Psalms 104:8 “They (the waters) go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys to the place which you have founded for them." (back to the ocean). That’s just plain ole geography. Now let’s drop on down to verse 10.
Psalms 104:10-11a "He sends the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. 11. They give drink to every beast of the field:…"
This is Paul’s agreement with Psalms chapter 104.
Acts 17:24-25 "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of Heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands; 25. Neither is worshiped with man’s hands as though He needed any thing seeing He gives to all life, and breath, and all things;"
What does that mean? Just exactly what it says. The food we eat even here in 2012 AD, Who provides it? The Creator! All the things we enjoy, and the clothes on our back, who provides it? The Creator! The roof over your head, who provides it? The Creator! See, this is what God wants us to understand, that He is the provider of everything, and not just to the believing world, but the whole world. Paul is even telling these pagan Athenians that God had provided everything they needed, and they didn’t know it. Even today many don't know that it is the Lord who provides all things for our enjoyment and pleasure. So everything that has ever been made, everything up in the Heavens and on the earth are the works of His hands.
Hebrews 1:11a "They shall perish;…"
Everything that God has created, everything that God has made for man’s use and privileges and for his comfort, one day it’s all going to disappear! "They shall perish;..." Earlier we went back and correlated the Biblical account of creation with the first two laws of science, do you remember what they were? They’re called the two laws of thermodynamics. The laws of heat and energy. Well the first law of thermodynamics says in plain English: "There is now nothing else being created." Now that’s our first law of heat and energy. And that’s the law that functioned while Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden. There were no deaths and everything was set for all eternity. They could have lived there forever if they had not disobeyed. The simple command "do not eat of it."
When God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden, they could have lived there forever. There was no stipulation. But of course what Adam and Eve didn’t know, and God did, was that Adam would disobey and end that glorious habitation in the Garden of Eden. But until Adam disobeyed the spoken command which became the first law,
thermodynamics was in full control. Everything that was needed to carry everything on and its purposes was completed, and nothing more was needed and it could go forever. But as soon as Adam chose to disobey, what came in? Sin leading to Death! And now when we have death in the picture, the second law of thermodynamics kicks in, and that laws says, "That even though nothing more is being created, yet everything that has been created is constantly going into a less useable state." And science calls that entropy. What does that mean? Everything is in the process of dying (IT IS SEPARATED FROM THE POWER OF ENDLESS LIFE but the incorruptible seed carries that power within itself). We are in that process - at the moment we’re born, we start dying. And that applies to everything on the planet. The moment they’re born, the seeds or law of death are already working, and that’s not only for the animal world, but also for the non-animal world. In other words, just as soon as a tree falls in the forest, it begins to rot; it just simply goes back to the dust it came from.
Hebrews 1:11 "They shall perish; (all the things God has created) but you (the Creator) remain; and they all shall wax old as does a garment;" What a beautiful illustration. Now a garment doesn’t wear out overnight. That’s something that is accomplished over a process of time, and so is creation. Both of which are governed by Eternity and the power of an Endless Life as there is no decay or dying there in them. But as the eons of time are going by, everything is in entropy, it’s all going into a less useable state, until finally God will undo the whole thing because of sin. All because of the disobedience of one man, Adam.
Hebrews 1:12 "And as a vesture shall you (the Creator) fold them up, and they shall be changed: (we think a clearer word there would be exchanged. The Heaven and earth are not going to be changed from this to that, but they’re going to be totally destroyed, and we’re going to have everything New.) but you (Creator) are the same, and your years shall not fail." Remember that Eternity is not limited to nor does it have time within it as a governing factor. Now let’s go back once again to the Old Testament to Isaiah chapter 51, then we’re going to look at Psalms again.
Psalms 104:5-6 "Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. 6. You cover it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains." And of course we go back to Genesis 1:2 for that:
Genesis 1:2b "…And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." Now back to Psalms 104, and drop down to verse 7.
Psalms 104:7-8 "At your rebuke they fled; at the voice of your thunder they hasted away. 8. They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys to the place which you have founded for them."
Psalms 104:8 “They (the waters) go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys to the place which you have founded for them." (back to the ocean). That’s just plain ole geography. Now let’s drop on down to verse 10.
Psalms 104:10-11a "He sends the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. 11. They give drink to every beast of the field:…"
This is Paul’s agreement with Psalms chapter 104.
Acts 17:24-25 "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of Heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands; 25. Neither is worshiped with man’s hands as though He needed any thing seeing He gives to all life, and breath, and all things;"
What does that mean? Just exactly what it says. The food we eat even here in 2012 AD, Who provides it? The Creator! All the things we enjoy, and the clothes on our back, who provides it? The Creator! The roof over your head, who provides it? The Creator! See, this is what God wants us to understand, that He is the provider of everything, and not just to the believing world, but the whole world. Paul is even telling these pagan Athenians that God had provided everything they needed, and they didn’t know it. Even today many don't know that it is the Lord who provides all things for our enjoyment and pleasure. So everything that has ever been made, everything up in the Heavens and on the earth are the works of His hands.
Hebrews 1:11a "They shall perish;…"
Everything that God has created, everything that God has made for man’s use and privileges and for his comfort, one day it’s all going to disappear! "They shall perish;..." Earlier we went back and correlated the Biblical account of creation with the first two laws of science, do you remember what they were? They’re called the two laws of thermodynamics. The laws of heat and energy. Well the first law of thermodynamics says in plain English: "There is now nothing else being created." Now that’s our first law of heat and energy. And that’s the law that functioned while Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden. There were no deaths and everything was set for all eternity. They could have lived there forever if they had not disobeyed. The simple command "do not eat of it."
When God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden, they could have lived there forever. There was no stipulation. But of course what Adam and Eve didn’t know, and God did, was that Adam would disobey and end that glorious habitation in the Garden of Eden. But until Adam disobeyed the spoken command which became the first law,
thermodynamics was in full control. Everything that was needed to carry everything on and its purposes was completed, and nothing more was needed and it could go forever. But as soon as Adam chose to disobey, what came in? Sin leading to Death! And now when we have death in the picture, the second law of thermodynamics kicks in, and that laws says, "That even though nothing more is being created, yet everything that has been created is constantly going into a less useable state." And science calls that entropy. What does that mean? Everything is in the process of dying (IT IS SEPARATED FROM THE POWER OF ENDLESS LIFE but the incorruptible seed carries that power within itself). We are in that process - at the moment we’re born, we start dying. And that applies to everything on the planet. The moment they’re born, the seeds or law of death are already working, and that’s not only for the animal world, but also for the non-animal world. In other words, just as soon as a tree falls in the forest, it begins to rot; it just simply goes back to the dust it came from.
Hebrews 1:11 "They shall perish; (all the things God has created) but you (the Creator) remain; and they all shall wax old as does a garment;" What a beautiful illustration. Now a garment doesn’t wear out overnight. That’s something that is accomplished over a process of time, and so is creation. Both of which are governed by Eternity and the power of an Endless Life as there is no decay or dying there in them. But as the eons of time are going by, everything is in entropy, it’s all going into a less useable state, until finally God will undo the whole thing because of sin. All because of the disobedience of one man, Adam.
Hebrews 1:12 "And as a vesture shall you (the Creator) fold them up, and they shall be changed: (we think a clearer word there would be exchanged. The Heaven and earth are not going to be changed from this to that, but they’re going to be totally destroyed, and we’re going to have everything New.) but you (Creator) are the same, and your years shall not fail." Remember that Eternity is not limited to nor does it have time within it as a governing factor. Now let’s go back once again to the Old Testament to Isaiah chapter 51, then we’re going to look at Psalms again.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
The Epistle to the Hebrews part X
Job 38:1-2 "Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, (now remember when we have the word "LORD" speaking in the Old Testament, it’s God the Son, but in His Old Testament role, as He spoke to the prophets. But here He’s speaking to Job. And the whirlwind is the smoke that hid God from sinful man. Psalm 97:2; Lamentations 3:44) and said, 2. Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?"
Now some would say, "Well, He’s referring to Job’s friends." We don’t think so. We think He’s referring to Job, because he’s proud and he thought he knew a lot. But God is sort of putting Job in his place. So God says:
Job 38:3 "Gird up now your loins like a man; (in other words, let’s see Job if you can take it, because I’m going to show you how much wisdom you don’t have) for I will demand of you, and answer me." See, God’s not talking to Job’s friends, but rather He’s talking to Job. Now read on.
Job 38:4a "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?…"
Isn’t that something? Could Job answer? He didn’t know the first thing about it did he? He didn’t know where the world came from and how it was hung in space.
Job 38:4b "…declare if you have understanding." Do you see where I’m getting the idea that the Lord is just pointing out Job’s pride, that he had nothing to be proud of?
Job 38:5a "Who has laid the measures thereof, if you know?…"
Maybe most people don’t read that like we do, but we read that like, "Alright Job if you’re so smart, tell me these things I’m asking" We know Job couldn’t! Today God could do the same thing with the most brilliant scientists and philosophers of our day and time. God could confront them with things that even though we have such tremendous technology, God could put them on the spot and just make them sweat like a butcher, couldn’t He?" They wouldn’t know the first thing He was talking about, so that’s what He’s doing here with Job. Now verse 7
Job 38:7-8 "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (we can hear the Lord say, ‘Where were you Job? Can you explain it?) 8. Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?" Then come all the way over to verse 22.
Job 38:22a "Have you entered into the treasures (or the secrets) of the snow?…"
What do you suppose God was talking about? That no two snow flakes are alike. "Did you know that Job?" So when we read about creation just go back and read Job chapters 38 and 39 and we’ll get a pretty good inkling of the amount of knowledge that most people do not have concerning the miracle and power of creation. Now coming back to Hebrews we realize that God the Son was the One who had all this knowledge that Job knew nothing of. Now let’s read 10 again.
Hebrews 1:10-11a "And you, Lord, in the beginning have laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of your hands; 11. They shall perish; but you remain;…" That’s the Creator, that’s the God whom we worship and serve!
It was no doubt written by the Apostle Paul. He leaves his name off of it, and that’s understandable because the Hebrews of his day just detested him, because they thought he had become a renegade to their race and religion, so we're sure that’s the reason he left his name off it. But we think the evidence is interior, as well as exterior that the Apostle Paul is the author of this Epistle of Hebrews. "Determine to whom a portion of Scripture is addressed in its original setting." Now that does not mean that if it isn’t addressed to us that we ignore it. We're always coming back to the portion of Scripture that says, "All Scripture is inspired of God." That means every word from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 is inspired by the Holy Spirit. It’s all the Word of God, and Paul says, "It’s profitable for reproof, and instruction in righteousness." But on the other hand we have to realize that some of the Scripture is not directed to us Gentiles, as such it was directed primarily to the Nation of Israel, the Hebrews, so we always have to take those things into consideration. There there for our learning of principles in the ways of Gods dealings and workings with men and nations.
Hebrews 1:10 "And, You, Lord, (speaking to the Son) in the beginning have laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Your hands:"
Here we have another record of creation from David the Psalmist. Oh listen, we think every believer who becomes a receiver ought to read this once a week and just be reminded of how great our God, our Christ, our Savior, the Head of the Body, really is because He’s the One that did it. We’ll just look at a few of them, we won’t take it verse by verse.
Now some would say, "Well, He’s referring to Job’s friends." We don’t think so. We think He’s referring to Job, because he’s proud and he thought he knew a lot. But God is sort of putting Job in his place. So God says:
Job 38:3 "Gird up now your loins like a man; (in other words, let’s see Job if you can take it, because I’m going to show you how much wisdom you don’t have) for I will demand of you, and answer me." See, God’s not talking to Job’s friends, but rather He’s talking to Job. Now read on.
Job 38:4a "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?…"
Isn’t that something? Could Job answer? He didn’t know the first thing about it did he? He didn’t know where the world came from and how it was hung in space.
Job 38:4b "…declare if you have understanding." Do you see where I’m getting the idea that the Lord is just pointing out Job’s pride, that he had nothing to be proud of?
Job 38:5a "Who has laid the measures thereof, if you know?…"
Maybe most people don’t read that like we do, but we read that like, "Alright Job if you’re so smart, tell me these things I’m asking" We know Job couldn’t! Today God could do the same thing with the most brilliant scientists and philosophers of our day and time. God could confront them with things that even though we have such tremendous technology, God could put them on the spot and just make them sweat like a butcher, couldn’t He?" They wouldn’t know the first thing He was talking about, so that’s what He’s doing here with Job. Now verse 7
Job 38:7-8 "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (we can hear the Lord say, ‘Where were you Job? Can you explain it?) 8. Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?" Then come all the way over to verse 22.
Job 38:22a "Have you entered into the treasures (or the secrets) of the snow?…"
What do you suppose God was talking about? That no two snow flakes are alike. "Did you know that Job?" So when we read about creation just go back and read Job chapters 38 and 39 and we’ll get a pretty good inkling of the amount of knowledge that most people do not have concerning the miracle and power of creation. Now coming back to Hebrews we realize that God the Son was the One who had all this knowledge that Job knew nothing of. Now let’s read 10 again.
Hebrews 1:10-11a "And you, Lord, in the beginning have laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of your hands; 11. They shall perish; but you remain;…" That’s the Creator, that’s the God whom we worship and serve!
It was no doubt written by the Apostle Paul. He leaves his name off of it, and that’s understandable because the Hebrews of his day just detested him, because they thought he had become a renegade to their race and religion, so we're sure that’s the reason he left his name off it. But we think the evidence is interior, as well as exterior that the Apostle Paul is the author of this Epistle of Hebrews. "Determine to whom a portion of Scripture is addressed in its original setting." Now that does not mean that if it isn’t addressed to us that we ignore it. We're always coming back to the portion of Scripture that says, "All Scripture is inspired of God." That means every word from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 is inspired by the Holy Spirit. It’s all the Word of God, and Paul says, "It’s profitable for reproof, and instruction in righteousness." But on the other hand we have to realize that some of the Scripture is not directed to us Gentiles, as such it was directed primarily to the Nation of Israel, the Hebrews, so we always have to take those things into consideration. There there for our learning of principles in the ways of Gods dealings and workings with men and nations.
Hebrews 1:10 "And, You, Lord, (speaking to the Son) in the beginning have laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Your hands:"
Here we have another record of creation from David the Psalmist. Oh listen, we think every believer who becomes a receiver ought to read this once a week and just be reminded of how great our God, our Christ, our Savior, the Head of the Body, really is because He’s the One that did it. We’ll just look at a few of them, we won’t take it verse by verse.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
The Epistle to the Hebrews part IX
Hebrews 1:5b "….And again, I will be to him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son."
Now again, that does not imply that God the Father was here first and then came God the Son and then the Spirit. No way!! They have been equal in all Eternity passed. They are equal in everything, even today and in Eternity future. And everything that was accomplished by Jesus on the cross was also attributable to the glory of Christ Jesus the risen one of the Father. Now verse 6.
Hebrews 1:6 "And again, when He brings in the first begotten into the world (the Son) He said, And let all the angels of God worship Him."
Now remember those verses in Philippians we looked at, when Christ left glory, was born of the virgin and became Jesus of Nazareth in His earthly ministry to the Hebrews, He never gave up His deity. Now He laid aside His glory, but He never stopped being God. There is no room for argument. So even though He did lower Himself below the angels for a little while or for a short time in order to take on human flesh, yet in His power and in His majesty, He never stopped being God. Now that is the reason for His signs and miracles or wonders. Why in the world when the Sea of Galilee was raging and billowing and the little ship was about to sink, and the disciples were all shook up and fearing for their lives, they went below and told the Lord, and what did He do? He merely stepped out and spoke and said, "Peace be still." And just that quickly everything was quiet. What did the disciples say? "What manner of man is this that even the wind and waves obey His voice?" Well, they had a hard time, too, recognizing Who He really was. The very Lord of Peace Himself, just as He is the Sabbath Rest.
So this is what we have to be constantly reminded of, that as He proved through His miracle working powers in His earthly ministry, He showed that He never stopped being God. Even though the angels were powerful and they had glory, yet it was nothing compared to His. Now verse 7 and this might answer some questions concerning us today.
Hebrews 1:7 "And of the angels He said, Who makes His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire."
The question comes periodically, do we believe in angels? Well, of course we believe in angels because the Bible teaches them. Now, we do not have their manifestation in miraculous ways as they did in the past during the time of the early church or assembles of the Hebrews. They don’t appear to us. In fact, we tell everybody when they talk about some of these things, what would we do today if we’re driving home on a dark night and all of a sudden there would be 8 or 10 angels standing on the road? Have we ever thought about that? How would we handle it? We think it would drive most of us almost to the loony bin, wouldn’t it? We’re not ready for something like that. Angels haven’t appeared in that form since almost the apostolic days and we’re not supposed to be looking for angels. But, that doesn’t mean we don’t believe that they are real. Many fail to remember that we are required to walk in terms of trusting obedience and not dependency on our five senses as the Hebrews did. (:מיהוה מצעדי־גבר כוננו ודרכו יחפץ...Psalm 37:23 Hebrew ..different than King James >>KJ says "a good man" and there is none. The Hebrew says...the Lord gets delight when HE can establish a man's way.) More on this later.
Hebrews 1:8a "But to the Son He said, Your throne, O (what’s the next word?) God, is for ever and ever:…"
We’ll never understand how people can reject Christ the Son as God. Especially when they can look at verses like this and say, "That isn’t what it means," or "I don’t believe that." Well we have a hard time contemplating that. But to the Son, God Himself says:
Hebrews 1:8b "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom."
A scepter of course denotes kingship, or royalty. A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your Kingdom, and He will be King over all. We know the verse in Revelation, so let’s go back and look at it. Oh, the day is coming when this will take place. But also keep in mind that we're always stressing that we in the Church Age do not address Him as our King. Christ is the Head of the Body, Head of His Church our High Priest-King of which we as believers by receptivity are joint heirs with Him. Now that doesn’t take away this which is in Revelation chapter 19 and verse 16. This is still future, and absolutely we believe it, but that doesn’t mean He’s the King over the Church today. But rather He’s the Head of the Body as High Priest-King or it's Master (LORD) which we are a direct inheritance of. We’re joint-heirs with Christ, but look what Revelation says when He finally returns at His second coming.
Revelation 19:16 "And He has on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."
Now that’s the epitome of His title, and He’s going to exercise that power over His Kingdom during the millennial reign! And that’s what the Psalmist is saying back here in Hebrews 1:8.
Hebrews 1:8 "But to the Son He said, your throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your Kingdom."
This 1000 year Kingdom that Christ will one day establish on the earth, where the Hebrews will be the crowning Nation of the nations. Now verse 9. This is all to elevate our understanding of the Son.
Hebrews 1:9a "You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity;…" Now listen that’s the mind of God, even for us under Grace. Don’t ever think for a minute that God winks at iniquity (evil, wickedness and lawlessness), because God hates it! God hated it in the Old Testament economy during the focus on the Hebrews through which He was to bring His Son. He hated it during His earthly ministry, but in Grace and Truth He is so willing to forgive, but that doesn’t mean that He doesn’t hate sin. Though many of our denominations teach a watered down Love gospel which by the is NO gospel at all, He and we are to hate and detest sin in all its forms as there are many.
Hebrews 1:9 "You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God (again the Triune God) even your God, (in which the Son is a part) has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows." Here again He has been exulted. And as God the Son, every knee will one day bow before Him. Here is another of those often over looked words: “fellows” when one is a fellow of Christ Jesus; he shares in, partakes of and is a partner with the Lord Jesus Christ, he has the mind of Christ in all things. ( Psalm 40: 8-11; Hebrews 2:11; 1Corinthians 1:9; 1John 1:3)
Hebrews 1:10 "And you, Lord, in the beginning have laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of your hands:"
When we read verses like this, we can’t help it, but we always have to run back to Job 38 and just get such a thrill out of those two chapters because we hope we're not doing Job an injustice, but we have to think that Job was full of pride. We mean, he was a good man, God had blessed him, he had wisdom, but we think he was proud, and we think this is why God was dealing with him. The reason we’ve come to this conclusion is the statements in Job 38. Now if we're wrong may we someday have to admit to Job himself, but we know that Job had to be dealt with for some reason or other. Once he realized that he was nothing in God’s eyes then God could restore him seven fold, remember too, that God is always looking for a humble and contrite heart and child like trust in all of us. But we think you’ll see what we're talking about here in Job 39. And let’s start with verse 1.
Now again, that does not imply that God the Father was here first and then came God the Son and then the Spirit. No way!! They have been equal in all Eternity passed. They are equal in everything, even today and in Eternity future. And everything that was accomplished by Jesus on the cross was also attributable to the glory of Christ Jesus the risen one of the Father. Now verse 6.
Hebrews 1:6 "And again, when He brings in the first begotten into the world (the Son) He said, And let all the angels of God worship Him."
Now remember those verses in Philippians we looked at, when Christ left glory, was born of the virgin and became Jesus of Nazareth in His earthly ministry to the Hebrews, He never gave up His deity. Now He laid aside His glory, but He never stopped being God. There is no room for argument. So even though He did lower Himself below the angels for a little while or for a short time in order to take on human flesh, yet in His power and in His majesty, He never stopped being God. Now that is the reason for His signs and miracles or wonders. Why in the world when the Sea of Galilee was raging and billowing and the little ship was about to sink, and the disciples were all shook up and fearing for their lives, they went below and told the Lord, and what did He do? He merely stepped out and spoke and said, "Peace be still." And just that quickly everything was quiet. What did the disciples say? "What manner of man is this that even the wind and waves obey His voice?" Well, they had a hard time, too, recognizing Who He really was. The very Lord of Peace Himself, just as He is the Sabbath Rest.
So this is what we have to be constantly reminded of, that as He proved through His miracle working powers in His earthly ministry, He showed that He never stopped being God. Even though the angels were powerful and they had glory, yet it was nothing compared to His. Now verse 7 and this might answer some questions concerning us today.
Hebrews 1:7 "And of the angels He said, Who makes His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire."
The question comes periodically, do we believe in angels? Well, of course we believe in angels because the Bible teaches them. Now, we do not have their manifestation in miraculous ways as they did in the past during the time of the early church or assembles of the Hebrews. They don’t appear to us. In fact, we tell everybody when they talk about some of these things, what would we do today if we’re driving home on a dark night and all of a sudden there would be 8 or 10 angels standing on the road? Have we ever thought about that? How would we handle it? We think it would drive most of us almost to the loony bin, wouldn’t it? We’re not ready for something like that. Angels haven’t appeared in that form since almost the apostolic days and we’re not supposed to be looking for angels. But, that doesn’t mean we don’t believe that they are real. Many fail to remember that we are required to walk in terms of trusting obedience and not dependency on our five senses as the Hebrews did. (:מיהוה מצעדי־גבר כוננו ודרכו יחפץ...Psalm 37:23 Hebrew ..different than King James >>KJ says "a good man" and there is none. The Hebrew says...the Lord gets delight when HE can establish a man's way.) More on this later.
Hebrews 1:8a "But to the Son He said, Your throne, O (what’s the next word?) God, is for ever and ever:…"
We’ll never understand how people can reject Christ the Son as God. Especially when they can look at verses like this and say, "That isn’t what it means," or "I don’t believe that." Well we have a hard time contemplating that. But to the Son, God Himself says:
Hebrews 1:8b "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom."
A scepter of course denotes kingship, or royalty. A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your Kingdom, and He will be King over all. We know the verse in Revelation, so let’s go back and look at it. Oh, the day is coming when this will take place. But also keep in mind that we're always stressing that we in the Church Age do not address Him as our King. Christ is the Head of the Body, Head of His Church our High Priest-King of which we as believers by receptivity are joint heirs with Him. Now that doesn’t take away this which is in Revelation chapter 19 and verse 16. This is still future, and absolutely we believe it, but that doesn’t mean He’s the King over the Church today. But rather He’s the Head of the Body as High Priest-King or it's Master (LORD) which we are a direct inheritance of. We’re joint-heirs with Christ, but look what Revelation says when He finally returns at His second coming.
Revelation 19:16 "And He has on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."
Now that’s the epitome of His title, and He’s going to exercise that power over His Kingdom during the millennial reign! And that’s what the Psalmist is saying back here in Hebrews 1:8.
Hebrews 1:8 "But to the Son He said, your throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your Kingdom."
This 1000 year Kingdom that Christ will one day establish on the earth, where the Hebrews will be the crowning Nation of the nations. Now verse 9. This is all to elevate our understanding of the Son.
Hebrews 1:9a "You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity;…" Now listen that’s the mind of God, even for us under Grace. Don’t ever think for a minute that God winks at iniquity (evil, wickedness and lawlessness), because God hates it! God hated it in the Old Testament economy during the focus on the Hebrews through which He was to bring His Son. He hated it during His earthly ministry, but in Grace and Truth He is so willing to forgive, but that doesn’t mean that He doesn’t hate sin. Though many of our denominations teach a watered down Love gospel which by the is NO gospel at all, He and we are to hate and detest sin in all its forms as there are many.
Hebrews 1:9 "You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God (again the Triune God) even your God, (in which the Son is a part) has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows." Here again He has been exulted. And as God the Son, every knee will one day bow before Him. Here is another of those often over looked words: “fellows” when one is a fellow of Christ Jesus; he shares in, partakes of and is a partner with the Lord Jesus Christ, he has the mind of Christ in all things. ( Psalm 40: 8-11; Hebrews 2:11; 1Corinthians 1:9; 1John 1:3)
Hebrews 1:10 "And you, Lord, in the beginning have laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of your hands:"
When we read verses like this, we can’t help it, but we always have to run back to Job 38 and just get such a thrill out of those two chapters because we hope we're not doing Job an injustice, but we have to think that Job was full of pride. We mean, he was a good man, God had blessed him, he had wisdom, but we think he was proud, and we think this is why God was dealing with him. The reason we’ve come to this conclusion is the statements in Job 38. Now if we're wrong may we someday have to admit to Job himself, but we know that Job had to be dealt with for some reason or other. Once he realized that he was nothing in God’s eyes then God could restore him seven fold, remember too, that God is always looking for a humble and contrite heart and child like trust in all of us. But we think you’ll see what we're talking about here in Job 39. And let’s start with verse 1.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
The Epistle to the Hebrews part VIII
Hebrews 1:3 "Who (speaking of the Son in verse 2) being the brightness of His glory, (something that is a stumbling block for many) and the express image of His person, (and as we saw in the Book of Colossians, He is the visible manifestation of the invisible God) and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, (had finished the work of the cross, His death, His shed blood, His burial, and His resurrection and ascension and brought the New Covenant's Grace there inaugurated) sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;"
We see that when Christ said, “it is finished,” the work of that alter, the cross, meant that His humanity (as the son of man) and His prophetic ministry to the Hebrews had also ended as it was the end of that age, and so He could sit down, and that’s what we have to understand. It’s a symbolic thing more than anything else, His work of redemption is now finished, for the Hebrews and all of mankind. As the second Adam to correct or redeem that which was lost by the first man Adam. But His High Priestly Spiritual ministry to the world had just begun. Now without physical limitation of time and space and substance, as He had before His incarnation, as the third person of the Godhead. He now works through His Body and each of His disciples who are the obedient willing, the select few. He through obedience of death released or completed the requirements of the ministration of death in the old covenant's law being made a curse in mans flesh.
That’s why we're almost screaming that Redemption and Salvation is by trusting, and trust alone in that finished work of the cross and the Lords ascension. Listen, we can’t add to it, and we can’t take away from it. See that’s why Paul puts such an anathema on those who would adulterate the Gospel of Grace leading to Salvation, by adding something that we might consider harmless in some of the deeds of the Levitical Law. But Paul says, "If you’re going to adulterate my Gospel, then you’re under the anathema of God." And why not, because He had finished it completely. He suffered, He died, He shed His Blood, and He arose from the dead and ascended back to His place at the Fathers right hand. So how in the world can men dare to add to that for Redemption or His working of our Salvation? So here’s the whole idea that He had finished it, He now presented Himself in Heaven and was declared the Son of God and our High Priest-King, and He could sit down, and He never again had to do the work of an Apostle or Prophet. Now let’s see what Paul says about it back in Ephesians chapter 1, and verse 20. And again, we're going to come up to verse 19 because of that word "power." Every times we see that word "power," we stop and read it slowly and digest it, because with it is associated the Authority and power of an Endless Life. The work of Grace in those who have through death passed through the eye of the needle into the power of an Eternal Life which was hid in Christ Jesus. And seen by the three on the hill of transfiguration.
Ephesians 1:19 "And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power."
The only criteria for our Redemption and Salvation under Paul’s Gospel is to believe it with all our hearts.(This is not an emotional reaction to a moving sermon or the feeling of goose bumps on our arms. It is a Knowing or having an inward understanding of the Truth.) That power is released when we believe and receive the Truth as our own. And it’s according to the working of His mighty power, as we showed in the last section of studies and that power was exercised at His resurrection. In death to the old system of religion and its legalism and ministration of death which served only to reveal mans total bondage to sin and his inability in his sufficiency to over come its hold on him.
Ephesians 1:20 "Which (that is the mighty power) He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, (remember our remarks of Romans 1:4? What is it but that it was the power of God when He raised Christ from the dead? In the Authority and power of an Endless Life. Here it is again.) and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places."
It was finished! No more Apostolic or Prophetic work needs to be done. It’s all finished. And we are part and parcel of that power when we've passed from death into the New Covenant of an Endless Life in Christ. Now His position at the Father’s right hand is exemplified in verse 21.
Ephesians 1:21 "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, (and again it goes back to the power above) and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:"
Not only in this world, but even in all eternity to come. There will never be a name that will match the name of Jesus Christ, God’s Son. Now let’s come back to Hebrews once again. Why? Because of the Endless Life or Eternal Life that He imparts to those who by trusting His word receive the benefit of the benefactor His Grace and Truth in our heart. By having received the revelation which Paul reveals which requires the Holy Spirits working in us as we pass through the first covenant's training and its ministration of death to reveal our undoneness and need of redemption from religions legalism which holds us in darkness.
So after finishing the work of redemption to which no man dare add a thing, He could sit down and proclaim that everything was done that needed to be done to bring about man’s redemption and salvation. Now let’s go down to verse 4 and remember when we introduced Hebrews, we made the statement that throughout the Epistle of Hebrews we’re going to be running into a constant comparison of that which was good, but now we’ve got something far Better. Here we have the first instance. God the Son having finished the work of redemption, having set down at the Father’s right hand:
Hebrews 1:4 "Being made so much better (underline that word "better" every time we come across it, we think there will be 11 or 12 of them in this Epistle of Hebrews.) than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they." Even the two crowning angels of Michael and Gabriel can’t come close to the power and majesty of the Son, Christ Jesus the High Priest-King. Now verse 5 and here is the argument.
Hebrews 1:5a "For to which of the angels said He at any time, you are My Son, this day have I begotten You?…." The only begotten Son of God is a reference to His resurrection. Never to Bethlehem, because He was not a begotten, He was simply brought about by an act of God. It was not a procreation between a man and a woman. God Himself overshadowed Mary and it was not an act of procreation. As Mary was just a surrogate mother as she willfully received the incorruptible seed the Word spoken into her womb, which there put on the flesh of man to become the son of man, a secret of God. So that is not what begotten is talking about. The only begotten Son of God is His resurrection in the power of an Endless Life.
We see that when Christ said, “it is finished,” the work of that alter, the cross, meant that His humanity (as the son of man) and His prophetic ministry to the Hebrews had also ended as it was the end of that age, and so He could sit down, and that’s what we have to understand. It’s a symbolic thing more than anything else, His work of redemption is now finished, for the Hebrews and all of mankind. As the second Adam to correct or redeem that which was lost by the first man Adam. But His High Priestly Spiritual ministry to the world had just begun. Now without physical limitation of time and space and substance, as He had before His incarnation, as the third person of the Godhead. He now works through His Body and each of His disciples who are the obedient willing, the select few. He through obedience of death released or completed the requirements of the ministration of death in the old covenant's law being made a curse in mans flesh.
That’s why we're almost screaming that Redemption and Salvation is by trusting, and trust alone in that finished work of the cross and the Lords ascension. Listen, we can’t add to it, and we can’t take away from it. See that’s why Paul puts such an anathema on those who would adulterate the Gospel of Grace leading to Salvation, by adding something that we might consider harmless in some of the deeds of the Levitical Law. But Paul says, "If you’re going to adulterate my Gospel, then you’re under the anathema of God." And why not, because He had finished it completely. He suffered, He died, He shed His Blood, and He arose from the dead and ascended back to His place at the Fathers right hand. So how in the world can men dare to add to that for Redemption or His working of our Salvation? So here’s the whole idea that He had finished it, He now presented Himself in Heaven and was declared the Son of God and our High Priest-King, and He could sit down, and He never again had to do the work of an Apostle or Prophet. Now let’s see what Paul says about it back in Ephesians chapter 1, and verse 20. And again, we're going to come up to verse 19 because of that word "power." Every times we see that word "power," we stop and read it slowly and digest it, because with it is associated the Authority and power of an Endless Life. The work of Grace in those who have through death passed through the eye of the needle into the power of an Eternal Life which was hid in Christ Jesus. And seen by the three on the hill of transfiguration.
Ephesians 1:19 "And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power."
The only criteria for our Redemption and Salvation under Paul’s Gospel is to believe it with all our hearts.(This is not an emotional reaction to a moving sermon or the feeling of goose bumps on our arms. It is a Knowing or having an inward understanding of the Truth.) That power is released when we believe and receive the Truth as our own. And it’s according to the working of His mighty power, as we showed in the last section of studies and that power was exercised at His resurrection. In death to the old system of religion and its legalism and ministration of death which served only to reveal mans total bondage to sin and his inability in his sufficiency to over come its hold on him.
Ephesians 1:20 "Which (that is the mighty power) He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, (remember our remarks of Romans 1:4? What is it but that it was the power of God when He raised Christ from the dead? In the Authority and power of an Endless Life. Here it is again.) and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places."
It was finished! No more Apostolic or Prophetic work needs to be done. It’s all finished. And we are part and parcel of that power when we've passed from death into the New Covenant of an Endless Life in Christ. Now His position at the Father’s right hand is exemplified in verse 21.
Ephesians 1:21 "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, (and again it goes back to the power above) and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:"
Not only in this world, but even in all eternity to come. There will never be a name that will match the name of Jesus Christ, God’s Son. Now let’s come back to Hebrews once again. Why? Because of the Endless Life or Eternal Life that He imparts to those who by trusting His word receive the benefit of the benefactor His Grace and Truth in our heart. By having received the revelation which Paul reveals which requires the Holy Spirits working in us as we pass through the first covenant's training and its ministration of death to reveal our undoneness and need of redemption from religions legalism which holds us in darkness.
So after finishing the work of redemption to which no man dare add a thing, He could sit down and proclaim that everything was done that needed to be done to bring about man’s redemption and salvation. Now let’s go down to verse 4 and remember when we introduced Hebrews, we made the statement that throughout the Epistle of Hebrews we’re going to be running into a constant comparison of that which was good, but now we’ve got something far Better. Here we have the first instance. God the Son having finished the work of redemption, having set down at the Father’s right hand:
Hebrews 1:4 "Being made so much better (underline that word "better" every time we come across it, we think there will be 11 or 12 of them in this Epistle of Hebrews.) than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they." Even the two crowning angels of Michael and Gabriel can’t come close to the power and majesty of the Son, Christ Jesus the High Priest-King. Now verse 5 and here is the argument.
Hebrews 1:5a "For to which of the angels said He at any time, you are My Son, this day have I begotten You?…." The only begotten Son of God is a reference to His resurrection. Never to Bethlehem, because He was not a begotten, He was simply brought about by an act of God. It was not a procreation between a man and a woman. God Himself overshadowed Mary and it was not an act of procreation. As Mary was just a surrogate mother as she willfully received the incorruptible seed the Word spoken into her womb, which there put on the flesh of man to become the son of man, a secret of God. So that is not what begotten is talking about. The only begotten Son of God is His resurrection in the power of an Endless Life.
Monday, March 5, 2012
The Epistle to the Hebrews part VII
Hebrews 1:3b "…when He had by Himself purged our sins,…" And where did He purge our sins? On the alter of the cross, and in resurrection power, the power of an Endless Life. See, we can’t just stop at the cross, like so many do. For the cross by itself did not finish the work of redemption. Now that paid the sin debt, of course it did, but the power of it all was never released until He arose from the dead, three days and three nights later. Now we guess we could tie this in together if we went ahead and skipped over to verse 5
Hebrews 1:5 "For to which of the angels said He (God) at any time say, You are my Son (Jesus Christ), this day have I begotten you?" That’s never been spoken to anybody but the Son. Now, come back to Psalm chapter 2 where King David speaking as a Prophet is giving a narrative of a conversation between the Father and His son (this is one of about 14 such talks David recorded).
Psalm 2:7 “I will declare the decree: the LORD has said to me, You are my Son; this day have I begotten you." Let’s go to Acts, chapter 13, and that’s where we have to let Scripture speak. Here Paul is speaking there in Antioch, and he’s in the synagogue, and he is preaching to a synagogue full of Hebrews, so he’s going to use a lot of the Old Testament.
Acts 13:32-33 "And we declare to you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made to the fathers, (through the prophets) 33. God has fulfilled the same to us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second Psalm, You are my Son, this day have I begotten you." Now here is where we get the Scriptural definition of the only begotten Son of God.
Acts 13:34 "And as concerning that (begotten in verse 33) He raised Him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, He said on this wise, I will give You the sure mercies of David." Now go to Romans chapter 1 for more follow up. This is all with regard to the term "The only begotten Son of God." It wasn’t when He was born in Bethlehem. Listen, that was not the result of a sire having a reproduction. The only begotten Son was when He was raised from the dead not even then but rather when He took His place at the Fathers right hand. He was referred to as the only begotten son and then the first begotten meaning that there would be more son's to follow Him, who would be called begotten as well. (Psalm 2:7, 89:26-27, Hebrews 1:5, 5:5; Micah 5:2)
Romans 1:3-4 "Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; (here it comes in verse 4). And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of Holiness, (and how was that power executed? The power of an Endless Life in or) by the resurrection from the dead:"
Always remember when Paul speaks of the power of God unto Salvation, what is he referring to? The power of His resurrection and the power of an Endless Life that is in the Blood! At that time, Christ overcame all the forces of Satan, and He became the epitome of the Creator God, and it was that power that lifted us out of our deadness, darkness and out of our sins, and that’s why we have to use His resurrection as part and parcel of our Gospel! The Gospel of God's Grace and not the kingdom gospel that Jesus taught to the Hebrew's in compliance with the scriptures and prophecies about Him and His first advent. In the last days of the Hebrew economy under the commandments and covenants given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob/Israel.
Romans 10:9 "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. (Notice that it does not say will be saved, this would imply that there maybe something missing from this equation. Consider to that Romans 9-11 is focused on the Hebrew's past, present and future standing with God. It is a parenthetical insertion as chapters 8 and 12 fit together.) It is within that parenthetical that God will pick back up or even set it aside for His dealings with the nation of Israel through the tribulation period and after. Just like there's a parenthetical between verses 6 and 7 of God time line in Psalm 2, which we feel is this Age of Grace. Which is also a parenthetical period until the fulness of the gentiles come in.
Hebrews 1:5 "For to which of the angels said He (God) at any time say, You are my Son (Jesus Christ), this day have I begotten you?" That’s never been spoken to anybody but the Son. Now, come back to Psalm chapter 2 where King David speaking as a Prophet is giving a narrative of a conversation between the Father and His son (this is one of about 14 such talks David recorded).
Psalm 2:7 “I will declare the decree: the LORD has said to me, You are my Son; this day have I begotten you." Let’s go to Acts, chapter 13, and that’s where we have to let Scripture speak. Here Paul is speaking there in Antioch, and he’s in the synagogue, and he is preaching to a synagogue full of Hebrews, so he’s going to use a lot of the Old Testament.
Acts 13:32-33 "And we declare to you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made to the fathers, (through the prophets) 33. God has fulfilled the same to us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second Psalm, You are my Son, this day have I begotten you." Now here is where we get the Scriptural definition of the only begotten Son of God.
Acts 13:34 "And as concerning that (begotten in verse 33) He raised Him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, He said on this wise, I will give You the sure mercies of David." Now go to Romans chapter 1 for more follow up. This is all with regard to the term "The only begotten Son of God." It wasn’t when He was born in Bethlehem. Listen, that was not the result of a sire having a reproduction. The only begotten Son was when He was raised from the dead not even then but rather when He took His place at the Fathers right hand. He was referred to as the only begotten son and then the first begotten meaning that there would be more son's to follow Him, who would be called begotten as well. (Psalm 2:7, 89:26-27, Hebrews 1:5, 5:5; Micah 5:2)
Romans 1:3-4 "Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; (here it comes in verse 4). And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of Holiness, (and how was that power executed? The power of an Endless Life in or) by the resurrection from the dead:"
Always remember when Paul speaks of the power of God unto Salvation, what is he referring to? The power of His resurrection and the power of an Endless Life that is in the Blood! At that time, Christ overcame all the forces of Satan, and He became the epitome of the Creator God, and it was that power that lifted us out of our deadness, darkness and out of our sins, and that’s why we have to use His resurrection as part and parcel of our Gospel! The Gospel of God's Grace and not the kingdom gospel that Jesus taught to the Hebrew's in compliance with the scriptures and prophecies about Him and His first advent. In the last days of the Hebrew economy under the commandments and covenants given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob/Israel.
Romans 10:9 "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. (Notice that it does not say will be saved, this would imply that there maybe something missing from this equation. Consider to that Romans 9-11 is focused on the Hebrew's past, present and future standing with God. It is a parenthetical insertion as chapters 8 and 12 fit together.) It is within that parenthetical that God will pick back up or even set it aside for His dealings with the nation of Israel through the tribulation period and after. Just like there's a parenthetical between verses 6 and 7 of God time line in Psalm 2, which we feel is this Age of Grace. Which is also a parenthetical period until the fulness of the gentiles come in.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
The Epistle to the Hebrews part VI
Romans 8:16-17a "The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (we don’t have to wonder if we are one of God’s children if we have believed Paul’s Gospel in our heart for Redemption which leads to our Salvation) 17. And if children, then heirs; (just like in an earthly family. The first born child usually is the heir of all of the father’s wealth. So we’re) heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;…"
Now we know that’s unbelievable, but that’s the prospect. Christ is the heir of everything that’s ever been created or ever will be, and we in turn are joint-heirs with Him. Isn’t that enough to just shun the things of this world for a little while? And the world thinks we’re missing it. Well, we’ve got news for them, we’re not missing anything, but rather they are. They’re missing everything, because the world is nothing but a pigpen by comparison to the glory that will be revealed to us or rather in us.
Romans 8:17b "…if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
Hebrews 1:2 "Has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds;" Our Lord Jesus Christ created everything! Now let’s move on into verse 3. And what a loaded verse:
Hebrews 1:3a "Who (speaking of Son) being the brightness of His glory,…" Whose glory? The Godhead. The whole Triune God! Now we've had just a little glimpse of that back in Matthew chapter 17 so let’s look at it. This is just a little window that God gives us from time to time. But this little glimpse should be enough to make our hearts leap, because we’re going to be partakers of this in the full, one day. We think we’re getting closer to that day.
Matthew 17:1-2 "And after six days Jesus toke Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up to an high mountain apart, (from all the rest of the activity. Even from the other nine) 2. And (Jesus) was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light."
Now look, we can’t look on the sun without being blinded. We imagine that somehow or other the three were protected from it, or they too would have been blinded as Saul of Tarsus was on the road to Damascus. But here He was transfigured before them, and suddenly that lowly Jesus of Nazareth Who had been walking those dusty roads of the Nation of Israel is transfigured. He does shine like the sun, and His raiment became white as the light.
Now again, many can’t comprehend the brightness of that kind of light. Now we all know of the experience of Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus. We think it was that same light that just literally blinded him, and scarred his eyes when he was confronted with that light from the Person of the risen Son. So the Son, the One Who had walked the earth, who had humbled Himself to be crucified and slain, and as He said on the cross, "It is finished!" And nothing else can be added to it. Nobody can put their fingers to the work that Christ accomplished, because it’s all done. It is perfect. As in the seventh day of creation when all was finished and He rested on the seventh day from His works of creation. Though many have added to it and are still adding their opinions to it.
Hebrews 1:3a "Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person,…" Now we think sometimes people get the wrong idea from Genesis where it says, "God created man in His image." (Genesis 1: 26-28) Now we want to remember at the time of the creation, God had never appeared in human form so far as we know from Scripture. But rather He was Spirit! So He didn’t create Adam in likeness of a physical body that the Godhead had, because they didn’t have one, as they were Spirit. Adam was created as a spiritual being later to be placed in a physical body which housed God's glory (Genesis 2: 6-7)or if we will Christ, until Adam was separated from God by disobedience and fell into sin and death. Death being the separation from God (Genesis 2: 15-17) (El, Christ or God the Son, His old Testament name is controversial as it's spelling is not clear). In Ephesians Paul reveals that there are four dimensions and that humanity only lives in a three dimensional world at this time. (Ephesians 3:17-19) So man was literally created from the pattern of an invisible creator, patterned after the invisible Spirit God, as a divine being (Genesis 1: 27). But in order for man to function in creation, we know God put the invisible man into a visible body (Genesis 2: 6-7).
And that had to be, because all of creation in basic science, is again made up of three things. "Matter, time, and space!" Take any one of those away and we don’t have a universe. It’s just plain and simple isn’t it. Matter – a star, a moon, a person. We are matter moving through time, in space, and that’s creation! So God took this invisible part of us and placed it in a body a house. The same way with Himself. When He came and He placed that Spirit being, the very mind, will, and emotion of the Son in a body, He became then the visible manifestation of the invisible God (Luke 1: 38; Genesis 3: 15; Psalm 40:7). This is why we maintain then that the human being is eternal, whether he is lost or saved, he’s going to live some place for eternity, because God’s eternal, and man was created in God’s image, in the sphere of the eternal.
Hebrews 1:3a "(The Son) Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power,…"
"And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist." Everything in the universe is held together by the power of the Word of Christ! And if He should ever relinquish His Authority or that power, the universe would go into fission, and would utterly be burned up, which will probably happen one day, just before we get the New Heaven and New earth. But nevertheless, everything is held in control by the Word of Christ’s power.
Now we know that’s unbelievable, but that’s the prospect. Christ is the heir of everything that’s ever been created or ever will be, and we in turn are joint-heirs with Him. Isn’t that enough to just shun the things of this world for a little while? And the world thinks we’re missing it. Well, we’ve got news for them, we’re not missing anything, but rather they are. They’re missing everything, because the world is nothing but a pigpen by comparison to the glory that will be revealed to us or rather in us.
Romans 8:17b "…if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
Hebrews 1:2 "Has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds;" Our Lord Jesus Christ created everything! Now let’s move on into verse 3. And what a loaded verse:
Hebrews 1:3a "Who (speaking of Son) being the brightness of His glory,…" Whose glory? The Godhead. The whole Triune God! Now we've had just a little glimpse of that back in Matthew chapter 17 so let’s look at it. This is just a little window that God gives us from time to time. But this little glimpse should be enough to make our hearts leap, because we’re going to be partakers of this in the full, one day. We think we’re getting closer to that day.
Matthew 17:1-2 "And after six days Jesus toke Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up to an high mountain apart, (from all the rest of the activity. Even from the other nine) 2. And (Jesus) was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light."
Now look, we can’t look on the sun without being blinded. We imagine that somehow or other the three were protected from it, or they too would have been blinded as Saul of Tarsus was on the road to Damascus. But here He was transfigured before them, and suddenly that lowly Jesus of Nazareth Who had been walking those dusty roads of the Nation of Israel is transfigured. He does shine like the sun, and His raiment became white as the light.
Now again, many can’t comprehend the brightness of that kind of light. Now we all know of the experience of Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus. We think it was that same light that just literally blinded him, and scarred his eyes when he was confronted with that light from the Person of the risen Son. So the Son, the One Who had walked the earth, who had humbled Himself to be crucified and slain, and as He said on the cross, "It is finished!" And nothing else can be added to it. Nobody can put their fingers to the work that Christ accomplished, because it’s all done. It is perfect. As in the seventh day of creation when all was finished and He rested on the seventh day from His works of creation. Though many have added to it and are still adding their opinions to it.
Hebrews 1:3a "Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person,…" Now we think sometimes people get the wrong idea from Genesis where it says, "God created man in His image." (Genesis 1: 26-28) Now we want to remember at the time of the creation, God had never appeared in human form so far as we know from Scripture. But rather He was Spirit! So He didn’t create Adam in likeness of a physical body that the Godhead had, because they didn’t have one, as they were Spirit. Adam was created as a spiritual being later to be placed in a physical body which housed God's glory (Genesis 2: 6-7)or if we will Christ, until Adam was separated from God by disobedience and fell into sin and death. Death being the separation from God (Genesis 2: 15-17) (El, Christ or God the Son, His old Testament name is controversial as it's spelling is not clear). In Ephesians Paul reveals that there are four dimensions and that humanity only lives in a three dimensional world at this time. (Ephesians 3:17-19) So man was literally created from the pattern of an invisible creator, patterned after the invisible Spirit God, as a divine being (Genesis 1: 27). But in order for man to function in creation, we know God put the invisible man into a visible body (Genesis 2: 6-7).
And that had to be, because all of creation in basic science, is again made up of three things. "Matter, time, and space!" Take any one of those away and we don’t have a universe. It’s just plain and simple isn’t it. Matter – a star, a moon, a person. We are matter moving through time, in space, and that’s creation! So God took this invisible part of us and placed it in a body a house. The same way with Himself. When He came and He placed that Spirit being, the very mind, will, and emotion of the Son in a body, He became then the visible manifestation of the invisible God (Luke 1: 38; Genesis 3: 15; Psalm 40:7). This is why we maintain then that the human being is eternal, whether he is lost or saved, he’s going to live some place for eternity, because God’s eternal, and man was created in God’s image, in the sphere of the eternal.
Hebrews 1:3a "(The Son) Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power,…"
"And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist." Everything in the universe is held together by the power of the Word of Christ! And if He should ever relinquish His Authority or that power, the universe would go into fission, and would utterly be burned up, which will probably happen one day, just before we get the New Heaven and New earth. But nevertheless, everything is held in control by the Word of Christ’s power.
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