The LORD our Passover

Continuing with the indexing of May 12

Looking to Romans 16 we find this written here beginning with verse 17; “I beseech you, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad to all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise to that which is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Timotheus my work fellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you. I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord. Gaius our host, and of the whole church, salutes you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city salutes you, and Quartus a brother. The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Now to Him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching (proclaiming) of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures (this includes Psalms, Proverbs and all other OT scriptures) of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever, The Amen.”

Next turn to 2Corinthians 4 where we find this beginning in verse 1 through 7; “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; (what do you suppose he meant by this statement? Could it be his former life as a Jewish lawyer and Pharisee in the temple?) but by manifestation of the Truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God (here Paul relates to his Damascus road experience with the Lord who is the manifestation of all Truth). But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine in them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, Who commanded the Light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the Light of the Knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

In Ephesians 2 we find this statement beginning at verse 1 through to verse 10; “You has He quickened, (made alive after being dead to God) who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world (the spirit of blindness that hinders), according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience (these are not only the lost but also those who have been redeemed and remain babes, referred to "even as others" in the last stanza): Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loves us, even when we were dead in sins, has (again) quickened us together with Christ, (by Grace you are saved; placed into His Salvation) and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places In Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His Grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by Grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works (of mans flesh or a mans religion), lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created In Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.”

It must be noted that the “good works, which God has before ordained” are not the works of religion or of mans flesh nature though it be good. For this would contradict the parable of the fig-tree when it understood in the Light of Christ Jesus.