Because of what was stated on my wife Glenda's face book page by a young wife, mother and friend of ours who by the way is counted among the millennials and gifted with a university education. Well, she stated that we do not know or have the same Christ that she knows and that was a grave concern to me. Because, did I miss Him? Popped into my head as it did my wife's. Because no matter the translation of the Bible we favor, they all say the same thing. HE remains the same from Genesis through to the end of Revelation, as HE does to each new generation that comes behind us, so how is it that so many have a different Christ view point? Is my question, and then from what view point is this young lady approaching Him, is my next question. All that said I want to take a few days to look at Christ our Savior and His many aspects, the first of which is "His coming to the earth to be our Savior. But first Pastor Hoekstra and his teaching on Grace and our walk of faith. Then I will tackle my chosen area with the use of the ESV translation all the while under the watchful eye of the LORD because after all I am talking about Him Who Is. Also keep it in the back of your mind the two base root phrases that have been my watch words of later, in the beginning, GOD, and can two walk together accept they be in agreement. From that view point Pastor Hoekstra.
"Walking by Faith, Not by Sight"
"We walk by faith, not by sight . . . while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen." (2Corinthians 5:7 and 4:18)
"The Christian life is a walk. It is comprised of day by day steps from where we are to where the LORD wants us to go (both spiritually and geographically). This walk is undertaken by faith, not by sight. "We walk by faith, not by sight."
"Walking by sight is the natural manner by which every human beings walks. This is true both for literal walking, as well as for taking the proverbial journey through life. When engaged in physical walking, people rely upon visual data (along with input from other human senses: like sound, smell, and touch and yes even their education). Likewise, as the unredeemed are engaged in their trek through life, they set their course and proceed by that which their natural abilities provide. We who know the Lord Jesus Christ cannot walk in this manner and be in His kingdom. We must walk by faith, by depending more upon our LORD, His word, and the work of Grace by His Holy Spirit within us. Spiritual progress is made "while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen." Thereby we soon learn that by the common life crisis' we are trained and nurtured by the Holy Spirit and soon find that we are in the gravest of need. We no long can trust ourselves as an independent thinker or reasoner.
So often, things are not as they appear to be in the natural. Consider Joseph being sold to slave traders by his jealous and deceitful brothers. It did not look like Joseph was being groomed to be Prime Minister in Egypt. Think of Pharoah and his army closing in on Israel, as they were trapped beside the Red Sea. It did not look like Israel would be delivered, while the Egyptian army would be destroyed. Remember young David standing before gigantic Goliath. It did not look like the giant would be defeated, while David would enjoy a thorough victory. Only eyes of faith could really appreciate what was actually happening.
The cross of our Lord Jesus is undoubtedly the greatest example of things not always being what they appear to be. As Jesus hung upon the cross, suspend between heaven and earth, and oh yes outside of the city or camp as it were, where the sin offering was made, it appeared that godless men had defeated the most godly man that ever lived. "Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by GOD to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which GOD did through Him in your midst . . . Him . . . you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death" (Acts 2:22-23). Yet, in fact, GOD was at work, even within those doing the dastardly act, just as HE was in Pharoah, Joseph's brothers and Goliath, all the while preparing a resurrection victory over sin and death for all who would believe. "Whom GOD raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it" (Acts 2:24). No one does anything apart from GOD as in the beginning HE Is even Now.
Christ our Savior,
Luke 2:8-14 "In the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the LORD appeared to them, and the glory of the LORD shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And a angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, Who is Christ the LORD. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising GOD and saying, "Glory to GOD in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom HE is pleased!"
Luke 19:1-10 "Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today." So he hurried and came down and received Him joyfully. And when they (the religious elitist's) saw it, they all grumbled, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold." To this Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
John 3:16-21 "For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave His only Son, that whoever believes Him should not perish but have eternal life. For GOD did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved (receive healing...ie, Salvation, transformation, not redemption in this case, healing is not pardon) through Him. Whoever believes Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of GOD. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in GOD."
Acts 5:27-32 and 13:13-25 "When they (the synagogue guards) had brought them (the apostles with Peter), they set them before the council (the sect of Sadducees). And the high priest questioned them, saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us." But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey GOD rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree. GOD exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, Whom GOD has given to those who obey Him."
Acts 13:13-25 "Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it." Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: "Men of Israel and you who fear GOD, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm HE led them out of it. And for about forty years HE put up with them in the wilderness. And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, HE gave them their land as an inheritance. All this took about 450 years. And after that HE gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. Then they asked for a king, and GOD gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. And when HE had removed him, HE raised up David to be their king, of whom HE testified and said, 'I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after MY heart, who will do all MY will.' Of this man's offspring GOD has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as HE promised. Before His coming (into view as He was already among them), John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John was finishing his course, he said, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not HE. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'"
1Timothy 1:12-17 and 2Timothy 1:8-13 "I thank Him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our LORD, because HE judged me faithful, appointing me to His service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the Grace of our LORD overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe Him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only GOD, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."
2Timothy 1:8-14 "Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our LORD, nor of me His prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of GOD, Who saved (healed, made while again through His Salvation, transform, this not being His redemption which purchases) us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which HE gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, Who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know Whom I have believed, and I am convinced that HE is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit Who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you."
Hebrews 7:23-25 and 1John 4:7-14 "The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but HE holds His priesthood permanently, because HE continues forever. Consequently, HE is able to save (heal and make whole again, transform) to the uttermost those who draw near to GOD through Him, since HE always lives to make intercession for them."
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