Now Hebrews 1:1
Hebrews 1:1a
"God,…" G-O-D, just exactly like the way Genesis begins. Well let’s go back to Genesis and compare Scripture with Scripture.
Genesis 1:1a
"In the beginning God…"
Do we see that? Now back in Hebrews. The word God written in Hebrew, this term God is Elohim, and Elohim in the Hebrew is a plural word. Elohim when used with a small "e" is translated gods, with a reference to the pagan gods, and it was a plural term. So Elohim is not singular, but rather plural. So it gives rise of course to what we call a Triune God. "Well the word Trinity isn’t in the Bible." So we say, we know that, because it’s a coined term, and one that everyone understands, so we won’t use it to satisfy those folks. But Elohim is a plural term for the Triune Godhead. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. All three are co-equal, in that term Elohim, that Triune Godhead! Now jump up to John’s gospel chapter 1, to see that God the Son was the One Who did the creating. So this Triune God designated the work of creation to the Communicator (known by the Hebrews as Yehoveh (O.T.) and Yeshua-Messieh (N.T.)), and we see that here in John chapter 1. Here's a tip Yehoveh means the ever revealing one or EHYEH-asher-EHYEH, “I am” to be more and more revealed as the communicator.(Exodus 3:14)
John 1:1
"In the beginning was the Word,(and what do you do with words? You communicate! That’s the whole idea, that in the beginning there was a Person in the Godhead that would communicate. He would express thought, and things that happen) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." So the Communicator, the Son, was no less than the Father, no more than the Spirit, because the Three were co-equal in the Godhead. So the Word was God! Now verse 3.
3 "All things were made by Him; (now we're a stickler for grammar, and we always show what modifies what? Well it says all things were made by Him is referring to the Word up in verse 1) and without Him was not any thing made that was made." Now to confirm that this is speaking of the Word, or Christ, or Jesus the Son, as we knew Him in the four gospel accounts, just drop down to verse 14.
John 1:14a "And the Word (this Communicator) was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)…" Now later on we’re going to look at this phrase "the only begotten." But for now let’s just let it sit for the time being.
14b "…full of grace and truth." Now that’s the Word! Remember, that Grace and Truth is what Jesus is full of, or introduces to humanity. If we’ll come on over into Paul’s writings over in Ephesians chapter 3, and we can drop right down to verse 9, and we’ll see Paul also tells us the Son was the Creator. Remember the Scriptures all fit.
Ephesians 3:9 "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world had been hid in God, (the Triune God, but the same God, what was hidden in Jesus Christ? Grace and Truth! And more) who created all things by Jesus Christ:" So its through knowing Christ that we receive Grace and Truth.
Do you see how plain that is? Sure the Godhead was involved, all Three of them. The Elohim of Genesis 1:1. But the Son steps out and speaks the Word and communicates to the nothing that was there, and out came creation of the universe. Now let’s come over to Colossians chapter 1, where Paul makes it even so much plainer. And let’s just drop in at verse 12, so we’re sure who we’re talking about, as some questioned our use of terms in a recent discussion. And Paul writes:
Colossians 1:12-15a "Giving thanks to the Father, which has made us meet (or prepared us made us fit) to be partakers of the inheritance (we’ll be looking at that word also in Hebrews) of the saints in light: 13. Who (speaking of God the Father) has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has (already) translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: (we’ll also chase that word down from Genesis through Scripture, the word Son after a while) 14. In whom (that is in the Son) we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (now here comes the part about creation) 15. Who (speaking of the Son) is the image of the invisible God," Now what does that mean? This Triune Godhead of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit was never visible. The Godhead was an invisible Spirit, and He operates in the invisible. But when the time came it was God the Son Who stepped out and became then the visible manifestation of all three. That’s why in John 14, when Philip said, "Show us the Father and it suffice us." What did Jesus say to Philip? "If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father!" Why? Because Jesus was the manifestation of the invisible Godhead. In verse 12 we has the word "light" in this context what does it mean? Thayer's Word Dictionary says this: "of truth and its knowledge, together with the spiritual purity associated with it" Now read on in verse 15.
Colossians 1:15-16 "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (He was before anything was ever created. He comes from eternity past) 16. For by Him (God the Son) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him:" So everything was created by and for Him. Now verse 17. He is still the controlling power, even after His work of the cross, and having been risen from the dead in the power of an Endless Life through His blood. He is the all powerful God.
Colossians 1:17 "And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist." Consist means, "held together." The world today knows nothing of this. For the average citizen of this world, Jesus Christ is just a cuss word. He’s just somebody to blaspheme, He’s someone to ridicule, but oh, one day, the world is going to stand before Him and they’re going drop to their immortal knees, and they’re going to recognize that He was indeed the Creator of everything - never lose sight of that!
We’re not putting our trust in some far flung philosophy, but rather we’re putting our trust in the visible manifestation of the invisible God. One day we’re going to see Him face to face, and we’re going to be with Him the Scriptures say, for all eternity. Now back to Hebrews 1:1
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
The Epistle to the Hebrews part I
Hebrews has all the trappings of an epistle of Paul, although it is not directed to the Gentiles or the Church, but rather it’s directed to the Hebrew believers "Christians". There has always been a lot of controversy over this epistle as to its authorship, and as to its time of writing and so forth. We're not a theologian, so we don’t have to get hung up on any of these big heavyweight arguments. We just tell what we think it is, and we believe the Apostle Paul is definitely the author of the Epistle of Hebrews though at times Clements or Luke's hand can be found in it's language or one of them may have wrote it for Paul.
Secondly, we feel that it was one of his earlier letters, if not the earliest. We read something in the past confirming that, and that is in some of the earliest or ancient manuscripts of our New Testament, the Epistle of Hebrews followed I and II Thessalonians. Now everyone is pretty much agreed that the Thessalonian letters were the first of Paul’s writings, and so if Hebrews in the ancient manuscripts followed Thessalonians, then that falls right in line.
Another thing we think we have to realize of Hebrews, is that there is absolutely nothing of Church language. In other words, we won’t find a Roman road to Salvation in Hebrews. There is not a Hebrews road to Salvation, so, "What’s the theme of the Epistle?" The theme of this Epistle of Hebrews is two fold.
1. We’re being shown a constant comparison of how this economy or dispensation or Age now under Grace is so much Better than anything that went before. And we’ll be looking at this over and over throughout this Epistle. We’ll see this is better! Yes, the Law was good, but this is so much Better.
2.More preeminent in importance is that Hebrews is going to point out Who Jesus Christ really is and that after His ascension we change the arrangement of His name to honor Him and His finished work, to Christ Jesus. Because He is declared by God to be the Son of God and is now our High Priest-King in the order of Melchizedek. It uncovers the veiled secret that God had hidden within His heart and which He called a mystery, as He revealed them to Paul and Paul alone.
This tremendous Epistle to the Hebrews, that it is not a book of Church doctrine, as we won’t find a single word in here about redemption or Salvation based on Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, or any reference to the Body of Christ, the Church nor any reference to faith + nothing as we see so often in Romans through Philemon. Nor is it a Book of corrections and admonitions like the Book of Galatians is. The Epistle of Hebrews is going to just show us what a tremendous important the personage Christ Jesus really is and His Ministry to us, in us. We have to remember, the Bible doesn’t tell us everything we’d like to know. "But the Bible does tell us everything that we need to know." The whole Epistle of Hebrews is written primarily to the Hebrew people who had turned to belief, trusting faith in Christ, and to prove to them that this Jesus of Nazareth, whom most of them now were in the throws of rejection in unbelief saying, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" And yet this Epistle of Hebrews is proving that Christ, the Son of God, is better than anything that had gone before. We hear of people that have been in a cult or even the main line churches, for maybe 40, 50, 60, or even 70 years, and then the Lord begins to show them the Truth of this beautiful Gospel of Grace, and they begin to grasp it, but yet there is that constant nagging, that pulls, with the thought, "What if I was right and this is wrong?" So most have that constant pull to go back into that which they had drummed into them for a lifetime.
We'll see these people to whom Paul was writing were in that same set of circumstances. They’ve been steeped in Judaism since way back in the days of Moses. They’ve been in Judaism and the Levitical Law-keeping as a nation of people throughout their whole lifetime, and now, to suddenly have this brought before them; that they were to turn their back on all that, because they’re no longer under the bondage to that Law, that God the Son has now finished the work of redemption, and faith alone is all that’s needed. Their no longer under the works as a belief system, of their forefathers, but rather a trusting in the Word which brings obedience or a doing of it. So we can see where a change to that would be tough. Just watch for that flavor throughout the Epistle of Hebrews. These Hebrews are trying to be pulled back into that, which up front, they can see is now behind them.
As a means of introduction to Hebrews let's take a look at another letter, this one will be Peter's letter: II Peter 3:15
"And account (or understand) that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation, even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom (divine illumination) given to him has written to you;" Let’s qualify who are the "you" that Peter is addressing. Well come back to I Peter chapter 1, and there we see very plainly that Peter is writing to the Hebrews, not Gentiles, not even a mixture of each. He is writing to Hebrews of the dispersion, the ones known as “Christians”.
I Peter 1:1
"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia."
So who is he addressing? Hebrews of the dispersion who had already been scattered away from their home area of Jerusalem and Judea, some of them from the Babylonian time. So now coming back to II Peter chapter 3, let’s finish our thought. Peter is letting them know that these people to whom he is writing have received letters from the Apostle Paul.
II Peter 3:15-16
"And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given to him has written to you;" (Hebrews) Then we go into the next verse, and if anyone is tempted to feel that Paul’s writings do not belong in our Bible, then here is proof by the writing of the Apostle Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, like any other writer of Scripture, that Paul’s letters are all Scripture. They carry a heavier glory than did Moses.
II Peter 3:16
"As also in all his epistles (Paul's), speaking in them of these things; (these things which pertain to Redemption leading through our Salvation up there in verse 15) in which are some things hard to be understood, (even Peter at his late date had a very hard time comprehending these doctrines of Grace that had come from the Apostle Paul’s pen, but nevertheless, he is still agreeing, that) which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction."
Now when we say the other Scriptures, after talking about Paul, what does it make them all? Scripture! So Paul’s letters, even by the inspiration of Peter’s pen, are still all Scripture. So if anyone ever tells you, "Well I don’t think much of Paul’s writing," then we just take them right to these verses. This is as plain as it can get that Paul was just as much a writer of the Word of God as Moses, Isaiah, or John, Peter or anyone else.
On our way to Hebrews lets look at one of Paul's statements found in Romans:
Romans 1:16
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it (the Gospel of God's Grace) is the power (remember this word power) of God to salvation to every one that believes; (now what is the process?) to the Jew (Hebrew) first, and also to the Greek."(or Gentiles)
Secondly, we feel that it was one of his earlier letters, if not the earliest. We read something in the past confirming that, and that is in some of the earliest or ancient manuscripts of our New Testament, the Epistle of Hebrews followed I and II Thessalonians. Now everyone is pretty much agreed that the Thessalonian letters were the first of Paul’s writings, and so if Hebrews in the ancient manuscripts followed Thessalonians, then that falls right in line.
Another thing we think we have to realize of Hebrews, is that there is absolutely nothing of Church language. In other words, we won’t find a Roman road to Salvation in Hebrews. There is not a Hebrews road to Salvation, so, "What’s the theme of the Epistle?" The theme of this Epistle of Hebrews is two fold.
1. We’re being shown a constant comparison of how this economy or dispensation or Age now under Grace is so much Better than anything that went before. And we’ll be looking at this over and over throughout this Epistle. We’ll see this is better! Yes, the Law was good, but this is so much Better.
2.More preeminent in importance is that Hebrews is going to point out Who Jesus Christ really is and that after His ascension we change the arrangement of His name to honor Him and His finished work, to Christ Jesus. Because He is declared by God to be the Son of God and is now our High Priest-King in the order of Melchizedek. It uncovers the veiled secret that God had hidden within His heart and which He called a mystery, as He revealed them to Paul and Paul alone.
This tremendous Epistle to the Hebrews, that it is not a book of Church doctrine, as we won’t find a single word in here about redemption or Salvation based on Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, or any reference to the Body of Christ, the Church nor any reference to faith + nothing as we see so often in Romans through Philemon. Nor is it a Book of corrections and admonitions like the Book of Galatians is. The Epistle of Hebrews is going to just show us what a tremendous important the personage Christ Jesus really is and His Ministry to us, in us. We have to remember, the Bible doesn’t tell us everything we’d like to know. "But the Bible does tell us everything that we need to know." The whole Epistle of Hebrews is written primarily to the Hebrew people who had turned to belief, trusting faith in Christ, and to prove to them that this Jesus of Nazareth, whom most of them now were in the throws of rejection in unbelief saying, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" And yet this Epistle of Hebrews is proving that Christ, the Son of God, is better than anything that had gone before. We hear of people that have been in a cult or even the main line churches, for maybe 40, 50, 60, or even 70 years, and then the Lord begins to show them the Truth of this beautiful Gospel of Grace, and they begin to grasp it, but yet there is that constant nagging, that pulls, with the thought, "What if I was right and this is wrong?" So most have that constant pull to go back into that which they had drummed into them for a lifetime.
We'll see these people to whom Paul was writing were in that same set of circumstances. They’ve been steeped in Judaism since way back in the days of Moses. They’ve been in Judaism and the Levitical Law-keeping as a nation of people throughout their whole lifetime, and now, to suddenly have this brought before them; that they were to turn their back on all that, because they’re no longer under the bondage to that Law, that God the Son has now finished the work of redemption, and faith alone is all that’s needed. Their no longer under the works as a belief system, of their forefathers, but rather a trusting in the Word which brings obedience or a doing of it. So we can see where a change to that would be tough. Just watch for that flavor throughout the Epistle of Hebrews. These Hebrews are trying to be pulled back into that, which up front, they can see is now behind them.
As a means of introduction to Hebrews let's take a look at another letter, this one will be Peter's letter: II Peter 3:15
"And account (or understand) that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation, even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom (divine illumination) given to him has written to you;" Let’s qualify who are the "you" that Peter is addressing. Well come back to I Peter chapter 1, and there we see very plainly that Peter is writing to the Hebrews, not Gentiles, not even a mixture of each. He is writing to Hebrews of the dispersion, the ones known as “Christians”.
I Peter 1:1
"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia."
So who is he addressing? Hebrews of the dispersion who had already been scattered away from their home area of Jerusalem and Judea, some of them from the Babylonian time. So now coming back to II Peter chapter 3, let’s finish our thought. Peter is letting them know that these people to whom he is writing have received letters from the Apostle Paul.
II Peter 3:15-16
"And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given to him has written to you;" (Hebrews) Then we go into the next verse, and if anyone is tempted to feel that Paul’s writings do not belong in our Bible, then here is proof by the writing of the Apostle Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, like any other writer of Scripture, that Paul’s letters are all Scripture. They carry a heavier glory than did Moses.
II Peter 3:16
"As also in all his epistles (Paul's), speaking in them of these things; (these things which pertain to Redemption leading through our Salvation up there in verse 15) in which are some things hard to be understood, (even Peter at his late date had a very hard time comprehending these doctrines of Grace that had come from the Apostle Paul’s pen, but nevertheless, he is still agreeing, that) which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction."
Now when we say the other Scriptures, after talking about Paul, what does it make them all? Scripture! So Paul’s letters, even by the inspiration of Peter’s pen, are still all Scripture. So if anyone ever tells you, "Well I don’t think much of Paul’s writing," then we just take them right to these verses. This is as plain as it can get that Paul was just as much a writer of the Word of God as Moses, Isaiah, or John, Peter or anyone else.
On our way to Hebrews lets look at one of Paul's statements found in Romans:
Romans 1:16
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it (the Gospel of God's Grace) is the power (remember this word power) of God to salvation to every one that believes; (now what is the process?) to the Jew (Hebrew) first, and also to the Greek."(or Gentiles)
Monday, February 27, 2012
Uncovering the Epistle to the Hebrews Introduction
For some time now we've been sharing the revelations of the secret things Moses spoke of in Deuteronomy 29:29 where it is recorded:
“The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (KJV)
“The secret things belong unto Yehovah our God; but the things that are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (ASV)
Now in both of these translations the last word is “law” which in the Strong's Dictionary numbering is H3384 which is the root of H8451 and means: to teach, inform, instruct, and show. And law, a precept, a statute.
Now we'll turn the John's gospel chapter 12 and starting with the 33rd verse:
"This He said, signifying what death He should die. The people answered Him, “We have heard out of the law that Christ abides for ever: and how say you, The Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?” Then Jesus said to them, “Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walks in darkness knows not whither he goes. While you have light, believe in the light, that you may be the children of light.” These things spoke Jesus, and departed, and did hide Himself from them."
"But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him: That the saying of Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, “Lord, who has believed our report? and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, “He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.” These things said Esaias, when he saw His glory, and spoke of Him." (Isaiah 53:1, 40:10-11, 51:5, 9; 44:18-20; 6:9-10; 29:10; 42:19-20, 26:11; 53:5, 57:18-19)
"Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Jesus cried and said, He that believes on me, believes not on me, but on Him that sent me. And he that sees me sees Him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believes on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejects me, and receives not my words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have
not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that His commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said to me, so I speak.
Now the words that Jesus had spoken in the hearing of the people were these also from John chapter 12 verses 23-32:
"Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say to you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it die, it brings forth much fruit. He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor. Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify Your name. Then came there a voice from heaven, “I have both glorified and will glorify again.” The people therefore, that stood by, and heard, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all to me."
This is taken from verses 33-50, 23-32 of the KJV and is edited for ease of reading only as this does not change the text or word meanings but helps in our understanding. This is in plain language and the meaning seems understandable. Now John also wrote in chapter 1 verse 12, 14 and 17: "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, to them that believe (John3:18, 20:31; Matthew 12:21; 1 John5:12) on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the
will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth......And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."
Now with our sharing under the leading of the Holy Spirit, we've had the assistance of many fine and learned men such as the following: Watchman Nee, Andrew Murray, William Law, Les Feldick, James Fowler, Robert Hoekstra, Major Ian Thomas, F J Huegel and a host of others. We were lead to these writers because they all share a common thread of revelation. That being the purpose and perfect Will of God the Father which Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles had received from the mouth of the risen Lord, the secret that God had hidden within Him from before the foundation of the world. This secret or mystery we have been sharing as it is the foundation or ancient path which Jeremiah the Prophet in chapter 6 verses 16-19 spoke of:
Thus said the LORD, “Stand in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. Therefore hear, you nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened to my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.”
Now in verse 16 there's hidden “the old paths...the good way” and this relates all the way back to Genesis chapters 1-3 for in them is the path found which led man in bondage to death and sin. The secret is the taking of this path backward if you will or in reverse. Where Adam fell into death (separation from God) and sin (rebellion, lawlessness and the self will of Satan's nature); we through Christ reverse this evil. How Genesis 3:15 tells us, God placed in all of us a seed of His Divine nature (spirit life) or image and likeness of God the Son. The seed that Mary received, the sperm of God spoken, the Word made flesh, when visited by the angel and given the message that she was the chosen vessel as a virgin and of the house of Judah and King David's heir. When she said, “Behold the hand maiden of the Lord, be it to me according to thy Word O Lord” At that moment the Holy Spirit impregnated her with the Living Word. This proved her willingness to do God's Will and it is in like manner that we are to submit also.
Now we'll begin the study of the Epistle to the Hebrews and though it contains no Church language or redemption and salvation plain in it. It does have five warnings which we need to have knowledge of and like the OT scriptures we can gain wisdom and divine illumination from it.
“The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (KJV)
“The secret things belong unto Yehovah our God; but the things that are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (ASV)
Now in both of these translations the last word is “law” which in the Strong's Dictionary numbering is H3384 which is the root of H8451 and means: to teach, inform, instruct, and show. And law, a precept, a statute.
Now we'll turn the John's gospel chapter 12 and starting with the 33rd verse:
"This He said, signifying what death He should die. The people answered Him, “We have heard out of the law that Christ abides for ever: and how say you, The Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?” Then Jesus said to them, “Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walks in darkness knows not whither he goes. While you have light, believe in the light, that you may be the children of light.” These things spoke Jesus, and departed, and did hide Himself from them."
"But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him: That the saying of Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, “Lord, who has believed our report? and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, “He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.” These things said Esaias, when he saw His glory, and spoke of Him." (Isaiah 53:1, 40:10-11, 51:5, 9; 44:18-20; 6:9-10; 29:10; 42:19-20, 26:11; 53:5, 57:18-19)
"Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Jesus cried and said, He that believes on me, believes not on me, but on Him that sent me. And he that sees me sees Him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believes on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejects me, and receives not my words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have
not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that His commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said to me, so I speak.
Now the words that Jesus had spoken in the hearing of the people were these also from John chapter 12 verses 23-32:
"Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say to you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it die, it brings forth much fruit. He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor. Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify Your name. Then came there a voice from heaven, “I have both glorified and will glorify again.” The people therefore, that stood by, and heard, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all to me."
This is taken from verses 33-50, 23-32 of the KJV and is edited for ease of reading only as this does not change the text or word meanings but helps in our understanding. This is in plain language and the meaning seems understandable. Now John also wrote in chapter 1 verse 12, 14 and 17: "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, to them that believe (John3:18, 20:31; Matthew 12:21; 1 John5:12) on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the
will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth......And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."
Now with our sharing under the leading of the Holy Spirit, we've had the assistance of many fine and learned men such as the following: Watchman Nee, Andrew Murray, William Law, Les Feldick, James Fowler, Robert Hoekstra, Major Ian Thomas, F J Huegel and a host of others. We were lead to these writers because they all share a common thread of revelation. That being the purpose and perfect Will of God the Father which Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles had received from the mouth of the risen Lord, the secret that God had hidden within Him from before the foundation of the world. This secret or mystery we have been sharing as it is the foundation or ancient path which Jeremiah the Prophet in chapter 6 verses 16-19 spoke of:
Thus said the LORD, “Stand in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. Therefore hear, you nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened to my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.”
Now in verse 16 there's hidden “the old paths...the good way” and this relates all the way back to Genesis chapters 1-3 for in them is the path found which led man in bondage to death and sin. The secret is the taking of this path backward if you will or in reverse. Where Adam fell into death (separation from God) and sin (rebellion, lawlessness and the self will of Satan's nature); we through Christ reverse this evil. How Genesis 3:15 tells us, God placed in all of us a seed of His Divine nature (spirit life) or image and likeness of God the Son. The seed that Mary received, the sperm of God spoken, the Word made flesh, when visited by the angel and given the message that she was the chosen vessel as a virgin and of the house of Judah and King David's heir. When she said, “Behold the hand maiden of the Lord, be it to me according to thy Word O Lord” At that moment the Holy Spirit impregnated her with the Living Word. This proved her willingness to do God's Will and it is in like manner that we are to submit also.
Now we'll begin the study of the Epistle to the Hebrews and though it contains no Church language or redemption and salvation plain in it. It does have five warnings which we need to have knowledge of and like the OT scriptures we can gain wisdom and divine illumination from it.
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