Again, can two walk together accept they be in agreement? Remains the over all focus of this blog and has been from its inception and creation, even though the title does reflect it as such. In fact all this is "Christianity," is just that. Walking together as One in body and spirit and in truth as living epistles of Christ's earthy witnesses. As such the question is answered in those who have become so, has Christ come in the flesh ?.....the is a resounding YES! For His transformation is made complete in His living subjects. In fact that is the area of todays targeted subject after we look at Pastor Hoekstra's teaching on Grace and our living daily by faith and not under the perilous bondages relegated to Law. All will be using the ESV translation and under the watchful eyes of the LORD Who is transformed and restored within me.
"Living by Faith Contrasted with Living by Law"
"For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the Law, to do them." But that no one is justified by the Law in the sight of God is evident, for "The just shall live by faith." Yet the Law is not of faith, but "The man who does them shall live by them." (Galatians 3:10-12)
"In our previous meditation, we considered GOD's call to live by Faith, given through the prophet Habakkuk. "Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4). We also looked at the first of three appearances of this quote in the New Testament. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ . . . for in it the righteousness of GOD is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:16-17).The second appearance is given in Galatians, where living by faith is contrasted with living by Law.
This contrast between Law and Faith involves a curse that is related relegated to the Law. "For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse." The curse is upon those who attempt to establish an acceptable relationship with GOD based on human works, as measured by GOD's holy law. The accompanying Old Testament quote explains the curse. "For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the Law, to do them." The curse is that those who choose to live by human performance under the Law must always accomplish everything the Law commands. Performance of some of the Law's demands some of the time is unacceptable. This comprehensive pressure requiring perfect performance may seem curse enough. Yet, the consequences of inevitable failure intensifies the relegated curse. This dreadful consequence can be seen in the reminder of the blessed remedy that GOD's Grace provides. "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree')" (Deuteronomy 21:23; Galatians 3:13-14). Those who violate any portion of the Law's demands deserve the judgment that Jesus took on the cross.
This gracious provision of salvation through the substitutionary death of Christ reminds us that faith, not Law, is our abundant hope. "But that no one is justified by the Law in the sight of GOD is evident, for 'The just shall live by faith.'" Faith involves depending upon the work of another, even Christ. Living by Law is not living by faith. It is living by human performance. "Yet the Law is not of faith, but "The man who does them shall live by them."
Transformation of Christ:
Matthew 17:1-8 "After six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. Where He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Him. And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If You wish, I will make three tents here, one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah." He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased; listen to Him." When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear." And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only."
Mark 9:1, 2-8 "Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of GOD after it has come with power."
Then after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them, and His clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah." For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is My beloved Son; listen to Him." And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only."
Luke 9:18-22, 23-27, 28-36 "It happened that as Jesus was praying alone, the disciples were with Him. And He asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" And they answered, "John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen." Then He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered, "The Christ of GOD." To this He strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised."
He said to all, "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow [come with, as in Amos 3:3] Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life [denies as in renounces this earthy life] for My sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in His glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of GOD." About eight days after these sayings He took with Him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As He was praying, the appearance of His face was altered, and His clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with Him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and those who were with Him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. And as the men were parting from Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah"—not knowing what he said. As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!" And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen."
2Peter 1:16-18, 19-21 "For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased," we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with Him on the holy mountain.
We have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from GOD as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."
Now I must add the following verses found in 1John.
1John 4:1-3 "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already."
1John 4:15-18a "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of GOD, GOD abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that GOD has for us. GOD is love, and whoever abides in love abides in GOD, and GOD abides in him. By this is love perfected within us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as He is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, for perfect love casts out fear."
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