Todays study looks at redeemed mans responsibility in relation to GOD's Spirit of Christ restored to him, known as the "Seven Figures" in my Thomason Chain-Reference Bible. I was going to look at the old testament witnesses of the future coming of Christ in Jesus as a completion in "Seven Times," its completion took place within Proverbs 24:16, Daniel 3:19-25 and Matthew 18:21-22's explanation. But seeing as how it is completed there seems to be no need to do so here. Using the ESV translation with the LORD's help I will look at the targeted passages. All these things tie to Deuteronomy 18:15-22 and the true LORD's Prayer of John 17. At the end of this study I will add a post that I shared on my Facebook page dealing with king David's obedience of faith.
The Seven Figures, used to express Christian Influence and Responsibilities, once having entered into GOD's rest (Genesis 2:1-2) or His Salvation:
Witnesses (testimony) in Isaiah 43: 8-13, "Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes, who are deaf, yet have ears! All the nations gather together, and the peoples assemble. Who among them can declare this, and show us the former things? Let them bring their witnesses to prove them right, and let them hear and say, It is true. "You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "and My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after Me. I, I am the LORD, and besides Me there is no savior. I declared and save and proclaim, when there was no strange god among you; and you are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "and I am GOD. Also henceforth I am He; there is none who can deliver from My hand; I work, and who can turn it back?"
Salt (a preservative) in Matthew 5: 13, (Jesus speaking) "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet."
Light (illumination or revelation) in Matthew 5: 14-16, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good (love) works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Branches (bearing fruits of GOD's character) in John 15: 1-11, (Jesus is speaking) "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit HE takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit HE prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so have I love you. Abide in My love. If you keep My commandments (instructions), you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments (instructions) and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy (in peace and rest) may be in you, and that your joy may be full."
Epistles (instructions) in 2Corinthians 3: 1-3, "Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living GOD, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts."
Ambassadors (personal representatives of GOD within you) in 2Corinthians 5: 20-6:10, "Therefore, we are ambassadors of Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to GOD. For our sake HE made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of GOD. Working together (as in a marriage of agreement) with Him, that, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of GOD in vain. For HE says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants (and stewards) of GOD we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and by the power of GOD; with the weapons of righteousness for the right and for the left hand; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything."
Stewards (distributers of the secret of GOD restored to indwelling man) in 1Peter 4: 1-11, "Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh (of Jesus), arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will (plain and purposes) of GOD. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles (the unsaved, unregenerate of this world) want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living (those redeemed) and the (those who remain) dead (as in separation from GOD). For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in their spirit the way God does. The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of GOD; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that GOD supplies—in order that in everything GOD may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. The Amen."
The next three in this section have to do with all things that belong in and through Christ's revelation within us, they deal with the completion of Christ in days, years and last sayings of Christ.
Today's meditation is a strong one, so if you are one with a faintness of heart think twice before reading this.
"King David's Urging Others to Trust in the LORD God"
By Pastor Hoekstra
"Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass." (Psalm 37:3-5)
"Those who live by grace trust GOD to work in their lives. We can see David's heart to live this way, as he urges others to trust in the LORD. "Trust in the LORD . . . feed on His faithfulness . . . Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him."
GOD wants His people to be characterized by righteous goodness. Yet, David affirmed that no one does good on their own. "There is none who does good, No, not one" (Psalm 14:3). So, for anyone to do good, the LORD God must do His good work in and through their lives. Those who place their trust in the LORD find the will and the strength to do that which is pleasing in the sight of God. "Trust in the LORD, and do good." To be faithful in doing good, God's people must be nurtured by God's faithfulness. "Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness." Those who place their hope and trust in a faithfulness of GOD become increasingly faithful servants and stewards of GOD.
Of course, the work of GOD in lives is centered in the heart of man. David prayed for an undivided heart of reverential trust in the LORD. "Unite my heart to fear Your name" (Psa 86:11). Everyone who is willing to let the LORD God be the captivating joy of their inner man will have GOD Himself undertakes the planting of His godly desires within their heart. "Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall (will) give you the desires of your heart." These implanted desires are then worked outward unto godly living.
As this godliness is developing, we desire that the LORD's path in our lives would become increasingly evident. We have a growing interest in walking in the ways of the LORD. David had such a desire in his heart toward the LORD. "Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me" (Psalm 25:4-5). The LORD's Spirit teaches those who are willing to entrust their lives into His directing. "Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall (will) bring it to pass." Those who place their lives in the sovereign care of GOD enjoy the great privilege of having the LORD God almighty governing their very step that they take day by day."
Heavenly Father, I want to trust You that I might see Your goodness developing in me. I want to have You as the ultimate joy of my heart that You might have free rein to plant Your desires deep within me. I place my trust and life into Your hands that I might have You controlling my daily path, through the ascended LORD God, Christ Jesus my LORD, for this my freewill request I Thank You and say the Amen.
Friday, September 8, 2017
Thursday, September 7, 2017
Continuing with, The Seven Spirits of GOD
I am still looking into the Seven Spirits of God as mentioned in Revelation 4:5 and spoken of in Isaiah 11:1-5, this number speak of perfection as being GODS number for redeemed man. Who by the Holy Spirit begins to walk in agreement by regeneration and then by entry into the narrow pathway. Enters His, "so great a Salvation," wherein mans perfection begins. Whereas the number eight is for completion, and six is for all things of the world under unredeemed mans influence, such as religion, government, and finance. These areas are subject to the influence of the evil one, who rules through the agent of mans flesh, as the prince of the powers of the air and false prophet or anti-Christ. We are to encourage and thereby strengthen one another to stay the course of faith as victors of our former way of separation life to resist all evils of this worlds influence upon us. Paul speaks of gifts given redeemed men, which also lends itself to our study. Now for the "Seven things Opened," to Redeemed man, redeemed from mans fallen nature of slavery and heavy bondage to an evil task master.
Seven things Opened:
Hands, for benevolence in Deuteronomy 15:7-11, "If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, 'The seventh year, the year of release is near,' and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin. You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, 'You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.'"
Eyes, for vision in 2Kings 6:15-19, "When the servant of the man (Elisha) of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, "Please strike this people with blindness." So He struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. And Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." And he led them to Samaria."
Ears, for hearing in Psalm 40:6-8, "In sacrifice and offering You have not delighted, but You have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required. Then I said, "Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of Me: I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart." (John 4:34; Hebrews 10:5-7)
Lips, for testimony in Psalm 51:14-17, "Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. For You will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; You will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."
Windows, for prayer in Daniel 6:10-13, "When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, "O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered and said, "The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked." Then they answered and said before the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day."
Hearts, for God's message in Acts 16: 10-15, "When Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The LORD opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the LORD, come to my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us."
Doors, for service in 2Corinthians 2:12-13, "When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the LORD, my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia."
The LORD willing I will look next into, "Seven Things, indicating perfection and then, Seven Figures, used to express Christian Influence and Responsibilities."
Seven things Opened:
Hands, for benevolence in Deuteronomy 15:7-11, "If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, 'The seventh year, the year of release is near,' and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin. You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, 'You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.'"
Eyes, for vision in 2Kings 6:15-19, "When the servant of the man (Elisha) of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, "Please strike this people with blindness." So He struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. And Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." And he led them to Samaria."
Ears, for hearing in Psalm 40:6-8, "In sacrifice and offering You have not delighted, but You have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required. Then I said, "Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of Me: I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart." (John 4:34; Hebrews 10:5-7)
Lips, for testimony in Psalm 51:14-17, "Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. For You will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; You will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."
Windows, for prayer in Daniel 6:10-13, "When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, "O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered and said, "The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked." Then they answered and said before the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day."
Hearts, for God's message in Acts 16: 10-15, "When Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The LORD opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the LORD, come to my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us."
Doors, for service in 2Corinthians 2:12-13, "When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the LORD, my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia."
The LORD willing I will look next into, "Seven Things, indicating perfection and then, Seven Figures, used to express Christian Influence and Responsibilities."
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Continuing with, The Seven Spirits of GOD
In the last post we looked at seven attitudes of spiritual life and the things opened for the spiritual person of receptive humanity, in an abbreviated form. In this post I will look at look at each a little deeper by way of using the complete thought form as is my usual custom of practice, with the use of the ESV translation.
Seven Attitudes of the Spiritual Life:
Lying down, for spiritual rest in Psalm 23:1-3, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Sitting, for instruction in Luke 10:38-42, "Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to His teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to Him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."
Standing, for warfare in Ephesians 6:10-17, "Finally, be strong in the LORD and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
Walking, for fellowship in 1John 1:5-10, "This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."
Running, for progress in Hebrews 12:1-2, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of GOD.
Leaping, for ecstasy in Acts 3:1-10, "Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms from them. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him."
Mounting up, for exaltation in Isaiah 40:27-31, "Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God"? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
The LORD willing I will look into "Seven Spiritual things Opened," to us next.
Seven Attitudes of the Spiritual Life:
Lying down, for spiritual rest in Psalm 23:1-3, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Sitting, for instruction in Luke 10:38-42, "Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to His teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to Him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."
Standing, for warfare in Ephesians 6:10-17, "Finally, be strong in the LORD and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
Walking, for fellowship in 1John 1:5-10, "This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."
Running, for progress in Hebrews 12:1-2, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of GOD.
Leaping, for ecstasy in Acts 3:1-10, "Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms from them. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him."
Mounting up, for exaltation in Isaiah 40:27-31, "Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God"? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
The LORD willing I will look into "Seven Spiritual things Opened," to us next.
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
The Seven Spirits of GOD
Over the past few weeks I have been seeking the LORD on what to share or look at next. The only thing so far is dealing with the seven spirits of God as seen in Revelation 4:5-7 which states this from the ESV: "From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight."
Upon looking into this phrase I found that the Thomson chain-reference Bible referred to two areas dealing with redeemed man, like seven attitudes of spiritual life and seven things opened to man, others just showed old testament references such as Isaiah 11:1-5 from the ESV, which states this: "There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. For His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what His eyes see, or decide disputes by what His ears hear, but with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His waist, and faithfulness the belt of His loins."
For this study I will call on the Thomason chain-reference and its rendering on "the seven attitudes of spiritual life" and "the things open" to redeemed man. Then if the LORD expands on these I will look a little farther as He leads, for each deals with those called of GOD as stewards and servants. From which we have this spoken by Paul in Acts 27:21-26 and Romans 1:8-15 using the ESV: "Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.' So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island." and then this; "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome."
And this spoken of as stewards again by Paul in 1Corinthians 4:1-5 and 8-13 which states this: "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the LORD Who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the LORD comes, Who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God......Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things."
From here we find the following dealing with, "seven attitudes of spiritual life:"
Lying down, for spiritual rest in Psalm 23:2.
Sitting, for instruction in Luke 10:39.
Standing, for warfare in Ephesians 6:14.
Walking, for fellowship in 1John 1:7.
Running, for progress in Hebrews 12:1.
Leaping, for ecstasy in Acts 3:8.
Mounting up, for exaltation in Isaiah 40:31.
Then for "the seven things opened:"
Hands, for benevolence in Deuteronomy 15:8.
Eyes, for vision in 2Kings 6:17.
Ears, for hearing in Psalm 40:6.
Lips, for testimony in Psalm 51:15.
Windows, for prayer in Daniel 6:10.
Hearts, for God's message in Acts 16:14.
Doors, for service in 2Corinthians 2:12.
Upon looking into this phrase I found that the Thomson chain-reference Bible referred to two areas dealing with redeemed man, like seven attitudes of spiritual life and seven things opened to man, others just showed old testament references such as Isaiah 11:1-5 from the ESV, which states this: "There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. For His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what His eyes see, or decide disputes by what His ears hear, but with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His waist, and faithfulness the belt of His loins."
For this study I will call on the Thomason chain-reference and its rendering on "the seven attitudes of spiritual life" and "the things open" to redeemed man. Then if the LORD expands on these I will look a little farther as He leads, for each deals with those called of GOD as stewards and servants. From which we have this spoken by Paul in Acts 27:21-26 and Romans 1:8-15 using the ESV: "Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.' So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island." and then this; "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome."
And this spoken of as stewards again by Paul in 1Corinthians 4:1-5 and 8-13 which states this: "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the LORD Who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the LORD comes, Who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God......Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things."
From here we find the following dealing with, "seven attitudes of spiritual life:"
Lying down, for spiritual rest in Psalm 23:2.
Sitting, for instruction in Luke 10:39.
Standing, for warfare in Ephesians 6:14.
Walking, for fellowship in 1John 1:7.
Running, for progress in Hebrews 12:1.
Leaping, for ecstasy in Acts 3:8.
Mounting up, for exaltation in Isaiah 40:31.
Then for "the seven things opened:"
Hands, for benevolence in Deuteronomy 15:8.
Eyes, for vision in 2Kings 6:17.
Ears, for hearing in Psalm 40:6.
Lips, for testimony in Psalm 51:15.
Windows, for prayer in Daniel 6:10.
Hearts, for God's message in Acts 16:14.
Doors, for service in 2Corinthians 2:12.
Friday, August 11, 2017
The Revelation of Christ Hidden as a secret and mystery of GOD, part 5
Over the past month or two I have been looking at Deuteronomy 18:15-22 as the bases of the revelation of Christ's spirit being restored in man by mans receptiveness after his rebirthing as required in the universal law. There are in the ending of Jesus' ministry two areas where He opens up the old scriptures that reveal Him as speaking of Him. These are found in Luke 24: 27 and John 1: 45 each of which state this, using the ESV translation, first Deuteronomy 18:15-22 and then the thoughts of Luke's and John's synoptic gospels. After sharing these I will list the passages as listed in three of my study Bibles, one of which I used elsewhere in the course of this study, with the fulfilled new testament counter parts listed. I will list first the particular passages for Luke and John only. Keep this one thing in mind, GOD has to follow His own universal laws when doing anything concerning His creation. For all is done in order and harmony with this law. Now, How is it that all ties with the question asked of me by the LORD the evening of August 14th of 2007? This question is found in Matthew 11:29, from which we find, I have shared repeatedly in this blog, 'Are you ready to take My yoke upon you and learn of Me?' Everything from beginning to its end is the revelation of Christ restored to mans being as given in Genesis 3:15, which as we will soon see speaks also of Christ, in accord to the law of the universe. Then I will share a post written by Norman Grubbs.
Deuteronomy 18:15-22 "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, 'Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.' And the LORD said to me, 'They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to My words that he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.' And if you say in your heart, 'How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?'— when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.
Luke 24:13-27 "That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and as they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And He said to them, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" And He said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. For we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." And He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself."
John 1:43-51 "The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." And He said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
Before continuing on with this post I want to share today's meditation done by Pastor Hoekstra in the daily thought in my e-Sword program which states this:
"Exceedingly Great and Precious Promises"
By Pastor Robert Heokstra
"By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises... And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." (2Peter 1:4 and Matthew 4:19)
"As we have seen, faith is the only proper response to the promises of God. Let us now return to individual consideration of God's wonderful promises. They are so wonderful that the scriptures describe them as "exceedingly great and precious." The promises of God (which are deserving of our trust) are "exceedingly great." They are far beyond magnificent. The root of this word gives us our English prefix, "mega" (as in "mega-bomb" or "mega-celebrity"). The promises of God are also "precious." They are priceless. They are beyond what any human or temporal treasure could ever secure.
One of God's "exceedingly great and precious promises" is linked to Jesus' call to discipleship. This call was an invitation to come and pursue after Him. "And He said to them, 'Follow Me' ." The Lord Jesus wants people to develop a life with Him. He wants us to build a relationship with Him. For all who will humbly focus their days on earth in a quest after Him, Jesus makes this magnificent promise. "I will make you." As we follow after Him, we can count on His fulfilling the promise to remake us. These men He addressed were "fishers of fish." Jesus promised to make them "fishers of men." "From now on you will catch men" (Luke 5:10).
The critical point is that Jesus would be the one changing these men. In this situation, He speaks of changing them from those who caught fish (for a temporal fishing business) to those who would catch men (for the eternal kingdom of God). Yet, in every situation, He is the one to rely upon for a changed life. It is amazing what people (even believers of Jesus Christ) will do to try to change their lives. They will sign up for every new program that comes through town (or is offered over national television or new religious program). They will commit themselves to years of humanistic, speculative therapy and religious theory. They will follow gurus to every continent on earth. They will even make endless lists of promises to God to do their level best to be better or try harder. Yet, all of this is to no avail. God's plan for transformation of life is to believe His promises. Among which is, "I will make you." God wants to be the cause that produces the effect of a transformed life. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus" (Ephesian 2:10 and before the foundation of the world was laid as being found in Genesis 1: 26-27 and 2:6-7...Ephesians 4:24).
Yes, by the grace of God, transformation of life is available by faith in the promises of God. If we are willing to humbly pursue after a developing relationship with the LORD of life, He promises to make us into what He wants us to be."
Now for the scriptures of Moses and the Prophets which Jesus spoke of:
Luke 24: 26-27 and John 1:45 "Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself."
John 1:45 "Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
Genesis 3:15 (8-19), 22:18 (15-19), 26:4 (1-5), 49:10 (8-12);
Numbers 21:9 (4-9);
Deuteronomy 18:15 (15-22);
Psalm 2; 16:9 (5-11), 22, 132:11 (10-12);
Isaiah 7:14 (10-16), 9:6-7 (1-7), 40:10 (9-11), 50:6 (4-11), 53;
Jeremiah 23:5 (5-6), 33:14-15 (14-18);
Ezekiel 34:23 (23-24), 37:25 (24-28);
Daniel 9:24 (24-27);
Micah 5:2 (1-6), 7:20 (14-20);
Zechariah 6:12 (9-15), 9:9 (1-10);
Malachi 3:1 (1-4), 4:2 (1-3);
Matthew 21:5 (1-11), 27:11 (11-14);
Mark 15:2 (1-5);
Luke 24:26-27 (13-27);
John 1:45 (46-52)
Now for Norman Grubbs thought on Romans 7 and Paul's struggle of the redeemed man and his old man that was held in deception.
Deuteronomy 18:15-22 "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, 'Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.' And the LORD said to me, 'They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to My words that he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.' And if you say in your heart, 'How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?'— when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.
Luke 24:13-27 "That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and as they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And He said to them, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" And He said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. For we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." And He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself."
John 1:43-51 "The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." And He said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
Before continuing on with this post I want to share today's meditation done by Pastor Hoekstra in the daily thought in my e-Sword program which states this:
"Exceedingly Great and Precious Promises"
By Pastor Robert Heokstra
"By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises... And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." (2Peter 1:4 and Matthew 4:19)
"As we have seen, faith is the only proper response to the promises of God. Let us now return to individual consideration of God's wonderful promises. They are so wonderful that the scriptures describe them as "exceedingly great and precious." The promises of God (which are deserving of our trust) are "exceedingly great." They are far beyond magnificent. The root of this word gives us our English prefix, "mega" (as in "mega-bomb" or "mega-celebrity"). The promises of God are also "precious." They are priceless. They are beyond what any human or temporal treasure could ever secure.
One of God's "exceedingly great and precious promises" is linked to Jesus' call to discipleship. This call was an invitation to come and pursue after Him. "And He said to them, 'Follow Me' ." The Lord Jesus wants people to develop a life with Him. He wants us to build a relationship with Him. For all who will humbly focus their days on earth in a quest after Him, Jesus makes this magnificent promise. "I will make you." As we follow after Him, we can count on His fulfilling the promise to remake us. These men He addressed were "fishers of fish." Jesus promised to make them "fishers of men." "From now on you will catch men" (Luke 5:10).
The critical point is that Jesus would be the one changing these men. In this situation, He speaks of changing them from those who caught fish (for a temporal fishing business) to those who would catch men (for the eternal kingdom of God). Yet, in every situation, He is the one to rely upon for a changed life. It is amazing what people (even believers of Jesus Christ) will do to try to change their lives. They will sign up for every new program that comes through town (or is offered over national television or new religious program). They will commit themselves to years of humanistic, speculative therapy and religious theory. They will follow gurus to every continent on earth. They will even make endless lists of promises to God to do their level best to be better or try harder. Yet, all of this is to no avail. God's plan for transformation of life is to believe His promises. Among which is, "I will make you." God wants to be the cause that produces the effect of a transformed life. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus" (Ephesian 2:10 and before the foundation of the world was laid as being found in Genesis 1: 26-27 and 2:6-7...Ephesians 4:24).
Yes, by the grace of God, transformation of life is available by faith in the promises of God. If we are willing to humbly pursue after a developing relationship with the LORD of life, He promises to make us into what He wants us to be."
Now for the scriptures of Moses and the Prophets which Jesus spoke of:
Luke 24: 26-27 and John 1:45 "Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself."
John 1:45 "Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
Genesis 3:15 (8-19), 22:18 (15-19), 26:4 (1-5), 49:10 (8-12);
Numbers 21:9 (4-9);
Deuteronomy 18:15 (15-22);
Psalm 2; 16:9 (5-11), 22, 132:11 (10-12);
Isaiah 7:14 (10-16), 9:6-7 (1-7), 40:10 (9-11), 50:6 (4-11), 53;
Jeremiah 23:5 (5-6), 33:14-15 (14-18);
Ezekiel 34:23 (23-24), 37:25 (24-28);
Daniel 9:24 (24-27);
Micah 5:2 (1-6), 7:20 (14-20);
Zechariah 6:12 (9-15), 9:9 (1-10);
Malachi 3:1 (1-4), 4:2 (1-3);
Matthew 21:5 (1-11), 27:11 (11-14);
Mark 15:2 (1-5);
Luke 24:26-27 (13-27);
John 1:45 (46-52)
Now for Norman Grubbs thought on Romans 7 and Paul's struggle of the redeemed man and his old man that was held in deception.
ROMANS 6-8
By Norman P. Grubb
"COMING HONEST"
"Paul's main point then, in Romans 6 and 7 has been to expose how we were deluded by Satan into thinking that we were self-operating selves. In actuality, however, it was Satan expressing his self-for-self (sin) nature as us. Then Paul tells us at length how God sent the Law (in the man Jesus as the Word) with its requirements to expose us when we come honest. We first had to learn that we had not kept the Law as lost sinners, and then that we could never keep it because we have never been independent self-relying selves. We were deceived by Satan to think we were, but actually we were only expressers of Satan's self-for-self nature.
In unfolding the value of the Law in Romans 7, Paul makes a unique contribution to exposing and removing the main blockage to effective Christian living. At last, in our agony and desperation at our failures, light dawns within us. We are then capable of seeing that the evil was not in our beautiful, God-created humanity, but in the lie of the independent self (sin dwelling in us). Through Calvary, we now move in by faith to see and recognize that it is He, the Spirit of Truth, expressing Himself in our vessels - branch containers - in us and by us, in place of that evil one.
So by faith in the revealed fact, we find ourselves free just to be our human selves with no fears or condemnations. Through the Spirit's certain inner witness, we are expressers of Him: Christ in us as us. And now, after a brief Law interlude, we go into chapter 8 of Romans, not as in our walking-Satan forms, but walking as Christ's…"more than conquerors”."
By Norman P. Grubb
"COMING HONEST"
"Paul's main point then, in Romans 6 and 7 has been to expose how we were deluded by Satan into thinking that we were self-operating selves. In actuality, however, it was Satan expressing his self-for-self (sin) nature as us. Then Paul tells us at length how God sent the Law (in the man Jesus as the Word) with its requirements to expose us when we come honest. We first had to learn that we had not kept the Law as lost sinners, and then that we could never keep it because we have never been independent self-relying selves. We were deceived by Satan to think we were, but actually we were only expressers of Satan's self-for-self nature.
In unfolding the value of the Law in Romans 7, Paul makes a unique contribution to exposing and removing the main blockage to effective Christian living. At last, in our agony and desperation at our failures, light dawns within us. We are then capable of seeing that the evil was not in our beautiful, God-created humanity, but in the lie of the independent self (sin dwelling in us). Through Calvary, we now move in by faith to see and recognize that it is He, the Spirit of Truth, expressing Himself in our vessels - branch containers - in us and by us, in place of that evil one.
So by faith in the revealed fact, we find ourselves free just to be our human selves with no fears or condemnations. Through the Spirit's certain inner witness, we are expressers of Him: Christ in us as us. And now, after a brief Law interlude, we go into chapter 8 of Romans, not as in our walking-Satan forms, but walking as Christ's…"more than conquerors”."
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
The Revelation of Christ Hidden as a secret and mystery of GOD, part 4b
I am looking at Galatians 3:15 through 29 and its related passages, using Pastor Hoekstra, Norman Grubbs and John Giles Exposition of the entire Bible. Using the ESV translation for ease of reading and as always the LORD's help. Now as we have seen there are indeed other laws of GOD not herein spoken of as such among these are; the that holds the universe together, the law of marriage, the law of love and the law of faith, to name but a few.
Faith that brings Righteousness:
Galatians 3:15-18, 19-22, 23-29 "To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, "And to off springs," referring to many, but referring to one, "And to your offspring," who is Christ. This is what I mean: the Law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
Why then the Law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is One. Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the Law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise."
Even More on God's Promises and God's Law
By Pastor Hoekstra
"For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect." (Romans 4:13-14)
"These words from the book of Romans continue our consideration of God's promises and God's law. Abraham is again the person around whom the insights unfold.
God promised Abraham blessings beyond measure. "Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 28:14). These promises were not contingent upon Abraham's ability to perform up to the level God's holy law. "For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law." When God made these promises to Abraham, the law was still hundreds of years from being revealed. Likewise, these promises were not contingent upon circumcision (the sign of this covenant with Abraham). "And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised (being a gentile), that he might be the father of all those who believe" (Romans 4:11). Circumcision was added after Abraham heard the promises and believed.
In these encounters with God, Abraham was being asked to put his trust and confidence in the LORD. "For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith." When Abraham believed in the promises of God, at that moment, God declared him righteous in His sight. "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness" (Romans 4:3). What gave Abraham a right standing with God and allowed him to enter into God's promises was his trusting in the LORD.
The only other option to "God-dependent faith" would be "self-dependent Law performance." Such an approach to God would be totally unacceptable. "For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect." Attempting to merit God's promises by Law performance says we view faith in Him as meaningless. Striving to earn what God has pledged to provide says we consider His promises as ineffectual."
Now for John Giles Exposition of the entire Bible:
Romans 4:13
For the promise that he should be heir of the world, .... This promise is thought by some to refer to that of his being "the father of many nations", Genesis 17:4; by whom the Gentiles are particularly meant, who are sometimes called "the world", and "the whole world", or "the elect of God," the believing part of the world; whether among Jews or Gentiles, who sometimes go by the name of "the world" in Scripture: but to this it may be objected, that the promise here spoken of is made to Abraham's seed, as well as to himself; by which is meant not the Messiah, who is indeed heir of the world, and all things in it, but all believers, whether Jews or Gentiles; as appears from Romans 4:16; and therefore cannot be both heirs and inheritance too. Others think the land of Canaan is designed, and by a synecdoche, a part of the world is put for the whole world; but that land is never so called, and, besides, the promise of it belonged to those of the Law, and to them only, contrary to what the apostle argues, Romans 4:14. Others therefore consider Canaan as a type of heaven, which Abraham and his spiritual seed are heirs of by promise. But rather, by "the world" here, is meant, both this world and that which is to come; Abraham and all believers are the "heirs" of this world, and of all things in it; "all things" are theirs, and, among the rest, the world, in Christ being theirs, and they being Christ's; He is heir of all things, and they are joint heirs with Him; and how little so-ever they may enjoy of it now, the time is coming, when they, by virtue of their right, "shall inherit the earth"; see Psalm 37:9; and now they have as much of it as is necessary, and with a blessing, and which the Jews call their "world". It is a saying in their Talmud (o), עולמך תראה בחייך, "thou shall see thy world" in thy lifetime; which the gloss explains, "thou shalt find", or enjoy all thy necessities, or what is needful for thee; and of Abraham they say (p), that
"he was the foundation of the world, and that for his sake the world was created;''
and introduce God saying of Him thus (q).
"as I am the only one in My world, so He is the only one, בעולמו, "in His world".''
And as he and all the saints are heirs of this world, so of the world to come, the future salvation, the inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, never fading, and reserved in the heavens; for they are heirs of God Himself, and shall inherit all things: now this large and comprehensive promise, which takes in the things of time and eternity,
was not to Abraham, or to his seed through the Law: not through the law of circumcision, or on the score of their obedience to that, for this promise was made before that was enjoined; see Genesis 12:2; nor through the Law of Moses, which was not as yet given; nor through the law of nature, nor by any righteousness of the law;
but through the righteousness of faith: by virtue of which they have "all things that pertain to life and godliness", 2Peter 1:3; and have "the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come", 1Timothy 4:8; enjoy with a blessing what they now have, and have a right and title to the heavenly glory."
(o) T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 17. 1. (p) Caphtor, fol. 99. 2. (q) T. Bab. Pesachim, fol. 118. 1.
Now for Norman Grubbs and his insight on Romans 6-8.
Faith that brings Righteousness:
Galatians 3:15-18, 19-22, 23-29 "To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, "And to off springs," referring to many, but referring to one, "And to your offspring," who is Christ. This is what I mean: the Law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
Why then the Law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is One. Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the Law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise."
Even More on God's Promises and God's Law
By Pastor Hoekstra
"For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect." (Romans 4:13-14)
"These words from the book of Romans continue our consideration of God's promises and God's law. Abraham is again the person around whom the insights unfold.
God promised Abraham blessings beyond measure. "Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 28:14). These promises were not contingent upon Abraham's ability to perform up to the level God's holy law. "For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law." When God made these promises to Abraham, the law was still hundreds of years from being revealed. Likewise, these promises were not contingent upon circumcision (the sign of this covenant with Abraham). "And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised (being a gentile), that he might be the father of all those who believe" (Romans 4:11). Circumcision was added after Abraham heard the promises and believed.
In these encounters with God, Abraham was being asked to put his trust and confidence in the LORD. "For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith." When Abraham believed in the promises of God, at that moment, God declared him righteous in His sight. "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness" (Romans 4:3). What gave Abraham a right standing with God and allowed him to enter into God's promises was his trusting in the LORD.
The only other option to "God-dependent faith" would be "self-dependent Law performance." Such an approach to God would be totally unacceptable. "For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect." Attempting to merit God's promises by Law performance says we view faith in Him as meaningless. Striving to earn what God has pledged to provide says we consider His promises as ineffectual."
Now for John Giles Exposition of the entire Bible:
Romans 4:13
For the promise that he should be heir of the world, .... This promise is thought by some to refer to that of his being "the father of many nations", Genesis 17:4; by whom the Gentiles are particularly meant, who are sometimes called "the world", and "the whole world", or "the elect of God," the believing part of the world; whether among Jews or Gentiles, who sometimes go by the name of "the world" in Scripture: but to this it may be objected, that the promise here spoken of is made to Abraham's seed, as well as to himself; by which is meant not the Messiah, who is indeed heir of the world, and all things in it, but all believers, whether Jews or Gentiles; as appears from Romans 4:16; and therefore cannot be both heirs and inheritance too. Others think the land of Canaan is designed, and by a synecdoche, a part of the world is put for the whole world; but that land is never so called, and, besides, the promise of it belonged to those of the Law, and to them only, contrary to what the apostle argues, Romans 4:14. Others therefore consider Canaan as a type of heaven, which Abraham and his spiritual seed are heirs of by promise. But rather, by "the world" here, is meant, both this world and that which is to come; Abraham and all believers are the "heirs" of this world, and of all things in it; "all things" are theirs, and, among the rest, the world, in Christ being theirs, and they being Christ's; He is heir of all things, and they are joint heirs with Him; and how little so-ever they may enjoy of it now, the time is coming, when they, by virtue of their right, "shall inherit the earth"; see Psalm 37:9; and now they have as much of it as is necessary, and with a blessing, and which the Jews call their "world". It is a saying in their Talmud (o), עולמך תראה בחייך, "thou shall see thy world" in thy lifetime; which the gloss explains, "thou shalt find", or enjoy all thy necessities, or what is needful for thee; and of Abraham they say (p), that
"he was the foundation of the world, and that for his sake the world was created;''
and introduce God saying of Him thus (q).
"as I am the only one in My world, so He is the only one, בעולמו, "in His world".''
And as he and all the saints are heirs of this world, so of the world to come, the future salvation, the inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, never fading, and reserved in the heavens; for they are heirs of God Himself, and shall inherit all things: now this large and comprehensive promise, which takes in the things of time and eternity,
was not to Abraham, or to his seed through the Law: not through the law of circumcision, or on the score of their obedience to that, for this promise was made before that was enjoined; see Genesis 12:2; nor through the Law of Moses, which was not as yet given; nor through the law of nature, nor by any righteousness of the law;
but through the righteousness of faith: by virtue of which they have "all things that pertain to life and godliness", 2Peter 1:3; and have "the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come", 1Timothy 4:8; enjoy with a blessing what they now have, and have a right and title to the heavenly glory."
(o) T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 17. 1. (p) Caphtor, fol. 99. 2. (q) T. Bab. Pesachim, fol. 118. 1.
Now for Norman Grubbs and his insight on Romans 6-8.
ROMANS 6-8
By Norman P. Grubb
A FRUSTRATING COMPLICATION
By Norman P. Grubb
A FRUSTRATING COMPLICATION
Now comes the burning question. If the new relationship has replaced the old, and given us fully-satisfying life, rich fruit, happy service, loving union and communion, and the conscious ability to be who we long to be and help others to be the same, why doesn't it happen? What is wrong? Where is this completion in Christ, loving as He loves, walking as He walked with the faith that overcomes, being more than conquerors, easily living out the Sermon on the Mount as Jesus said we would, as lights in the world? Hasn't Paul made it plain to us that we have been crucified, raised, and ascended with Jesus and inwardly confirmed by the Spirit? Then where is the snag?
This burning question has greatly disturbed and seemingly disrupted our first faith statements, by which Paul told us to "reckon ourselves dead indeed unto sin and alive unto God." It has also caused many sincere, born again, Bible rooted believers to use a nice little cliché – our position in Christ is one thing, but our condition in its outworking is quite another. And they usually add, "Of course, our condition does not level up to our position." But this is precisely what Paul says does level up! Our position in Christ and our condition in living this Christ-Life are one and the same.
Next Paul reaches the least understood and most misused section of his Romans letter, or of all his writings. But when understood through Paul's own explanation and experienced by the inner confirmation of the Spirit, this section gives the desperate believer the one key that turns the lock and the whole freedom he seeks. In his need, the believer must find the full and final meaning of life, for which he was created and is now redeemed by grace. This extends from Romans 7:7 through 7:24 and then is fulfilled in Romans 7:25 right through chapter 8.
This burning question has greatly disturbed and seemingly disrupted our first faith statements, by which Paul told us to "reckon ourselves dead indeed unto sin and alive unto God." It has also caused many sincere, born again, Bible rooted believers to use a nice little cliché – our position in Christ is one thing, but our condition in its outworking is quite another. And they usually add, "Of course, our condition does not level up to our position." But this is precisely what Paul says does level up! Our position in Christ and our condition in living this Christ-Life are one and the same.
Next Paul reaches the least understood and most misused section of his Romans letter, or of all his writings. But when understood through Paul's own explanation and experienced by the inner confirmation of the Spirit, this section gives the desperate believer the one key that turns the lock and the whole freedom he seeks. In his need, the believer must find the full and final meaning of life, for which he was created and is now redeemed by grace. This extends from Romans 7:7 through 7:24 and then is fulfilled in Romans 7:25 right through chapter 8.
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
The Revelation of Christ Hidden as a secret and mystery of GOD, part 4a
In order to keep the integrity of scripture I will use all of the thought of Galatians 3 beginning at verse 15 in this study. And it will include the thoughts of others like Norman Grubbs, Pastor Hoekstra and John Giles. I will be using the ESV translation and as always this dependency of the LORD, Christ within me. I am looking into the Law verses Grace because their are many who remain hooked by the deception of the self-for-self of mans religion and the works of condemnation under the Law of Moses.
Faith that brings Righteousness:
Galatians 3:15-18, 19-22, 23-29 "To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, "And to offsprings," referring to many, but referring to one, "And to your offspring," who is Christ. This is what I mean: the Law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified (made by way of an Oath) by God, so as to make the promise void. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
Why then the Law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is One. Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Now before faith came, we were held captive under the Law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the Law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus (we all are justified and) are all sons of God, through (the faith in Christ Jesus') faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's (spiritual) offspring, heirs according to promise."
"More on God's Promises and God's Law"
By Pastor Hoekstra
"What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions . . . Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe." (Galatians 3:19, 3:21-22)
"In our previous meditation, we saw that God implemented His plan and purposes for salvation by making and fulfilling promises. His plan is not contingent upon man's ability to perform acceptably before His holy law. To put it another way, the law of God (given hundreds of years after the promises to Abraham) does not replace those promises.
This raises a very important question: "What purpose then does the Law serve? " If God's law did not cancel or rearrange His promises to Abraham, then, why was it added? "It was added because of transgressions." God wanted people to know that they had a major problem: sin. Man's sin needed to be clearly defined. "For by the Law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20). The extent of sin would never be fully known apart from this Law. "I would not have known sin except through the Law" Paul stated in Romans 7:7. Also, God wanted everyone in this world to know that they were accountable to Him for their transgressions. Thus, this Law convicts the sinfulness of man, that "all the world may become guilty before God" (Romans 3:19).
This raises another important question. "Is the Law then against the promises of God? " The Law does not replace God's promises, but does it work against His promises? "Certainly not! " The law of God and the promises of God simply have different purposes (just as it is with law and grace). The law of God reveals the holiness that is inherent to the very character of God. At the same time, it describes the holy life that God wants His people to live. "You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am Holy" (Leviticus 19:2). The promises of God become the means by which man deals with his unholiness, unworthiness and accesses God's holiness. This is what true spiritual life is about: forgiveness of sin and a life of righteousness in and through Christ. This cannot come by Law performance. "For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by this law." Rather, the promise of life is entered into only by faith. "But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe."
Now for John Giles Exposition on the entire Bible.
Galatians 3:21
"Is the law then against the promises of God?.... If the law was added because of transgressions, and curses for them, and if the inheritance is not of it, but by promise, were it, it would not be by promise, then, says an objector, it is against the promises: these are contrary to one another, and God, in giving the one and the other, must contradict Himself: to which it is replied,
God forbid; a way of speaking the apostle uses, when he would express his abhorrence and detestation of anything, as here; for though the law and promises are distinct things, and have their separate uses, yet they are not contradictory to each other; the law has its use, and so have the promises; the promises do not set aside the law as useless on all accounts, nor does the law disannul the promises, but is subservient to them:
for if there had been a law which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law; but the law cannot give life, spiritual life to a dead sinner; God only can do this, Father, Son, and Spirit; so far is the law from giving it efficiently, that it is not so much as the means of it; it is not made use of this way; God makes use of the law to kill, but not to make alive; He makes use of the law to strike dead all a man's hopes of happiness, by the deeds of it; but it is the Gospel He uses to quicken and comfort; that is the Spirit that gives life. The law requires as much of a dead sinner, as it did of Adam in innocence, but gave him no life, activity, and strength to perform; could it quicken him, and enable him to do all its demands perfectly, then there would be righteousness, and so justification by it, as by the promise; whence it appears that there is no contrariety in the law to the promises: the reason why there is no righteousness is, because it cannot give life, nor spiritual life and strength; and if so, then not eternal life; which is the free gift of God, and not the merit of men's works: this is directly contrary to a notion of the Jews, who cry up the law as a life giving law; say they (n),
"great is the law, שהיא נותנת חיים לעושיה, "for it giveth life to them that do it", in this world, and in the world to come:''
and elsewhere (o),
"the law is a tree of life to all that study in it,
למיהב לון חיי, "to give unto them life" in this world, and "to give unto them life" in the world to come.''
(n) Pirke Abot, c. 6. sect. 6. (o) Zohar in Gen. fol. 70. 3. & in Num. fol. 62. 1.
Now for Norman Grubbs:
ROMANS 6-8
By Norman P. Grubb
"NO SEPARATE SELF"
"When Paul tells us that we are no longer under that former outer Law of Moses, doesn't that mean that we shall be given over to a spirit of license? "God forbid," pronounces Paul. In our new life our human selves are motivated, controlled, and spontaneously express the nature of God, by His Spirit united to our spirits. Laying the foundation for this assurance in Romans 6:16-7:6, Paul there presents one strong evidence after another that there is no intermediate, "independent me" to be taken over, unless we foolishly believe it.
"First," he says, "we were always slaves; and a slave just obeys his owner." We had handed ourselves over to owner Sin-Satan, to express his sin-nature. Now, however, we have become God's willing slaves through the obedience of faith which takes Him at His word, and we express His nature of holiness.
"Put it this way," Paul explains. "We were free in our sinning, with no response to God's law. Now we are free in our right living, with no response to Satan's law. And there is no 'you,' with an in-between or independent life (of self-for-self) of your own (Romans 6:16-20)."
Next Paul introduces a second illustration…a fruit-bearing tree. He describes how we are now producing right, good fruit in our lives, whereas we were ashamed of the former fruit (Romans 6:21,22). He wants us to understand that we are only branches which have changed trees. We never produced fruit without a tree!
To sum it up, we learn through the slave and branch analogies that we never exercised any kind of in-between life as self-operators. We are slaves of either one owner or another, or branches of either one vine or the other. Therefore, the idea that we humans were self-operating selves and had a "nature" or quality of life of our own has been a vast human illusion -- there never was such a thing. We have been created to produce the way of life of our Deity Creator and Operator. Only first we had to experience and discard through Calvary that false deity operator, who produced that opposite, negative way of life.
In Romans 7:1-6 Paul uses one further powerful and convincing illustration…the law of marriage, which he speaks of here as the "law of the husband" (Romans 7:2). The wife is legally bound to her husband so long as he lives, and he is her "lord" (1 Peter 3:6); she receives his seed, conceives by it, and produces their family.
We humans were "married" at the Fall to our Sin-satan husband and became his sin family, he working in us the "motions of sins" which produced "fruit unto death" (Romans 7:5). We had to do this according to the law and demands of marriage, as any change of husbands would have been an "adultery." It looked hopeless; our husband was not going to die.
But there was One, representing the whole human family, who died as us. So the marriage was dissolved because we died "wherein we were held" (Romans 7:6). The dissolution of the first marriage and release from that husband meant that in Christ's resurrection we were immediately married to another, our risen Saviour, now our LORD and are now under His law.
The law of marriage in Romans 7:1-6 is therefore a continuation by Paul of his two illustrations from Romans 6. For just as we have always been slaves to an ‘owner,’ and branches producing the fruit of a tree, we have always produced the fruit of a husband. We have never been widows conceiving without a husband."
Faith that brings Righteousness:
Galatians 3:15-18, 19-22, 23-29 "To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, "And to offsprings," referring to many, but referring to one, "And to your offspring," who is Christ. This is what I mean: the Law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified (made by way of an Oath) by God, so as to make the promise void. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
Why then the Law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is One. Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Now before faith came, we were held captive under the Law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the Law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus (we all are justified and) are all sons of God, through (the faith in Christ Jesus') faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's (spiritual) offspring, heirs according to promise."
"More on God's Promises and God's Law"
By Pastor Hoekstra
"What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions . . . Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe." (Galatians 3:19, 3:21-22)
"In our previous meditation, we saw that God implemented His plan and purposes for salvation by making and fulfilling promises. His plan is not contingent upon man's ability to perform acceptably before His holy law. To put it another way, the law of God (given hundreds of years after the promises to Abraham) does not replace those promises.
This raises a very important question: "What purpose then does the Law serve? " If God's law did not cancel or rearrange His promises to Abraham, then, why was it added? "It was added because of transgressions." God wanted people to know that they had a major problem: sin. Man's sin needed to be clearly defined. "For by the Law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20). The extent of sin would never be fully known apart from this Law. "I would not have known sin except through the Law" Paul stated in Romans 7:7. Also, God wanted everyone in this world to know that they were accountable to Him for their transgressions. Thus, this Law convicts the sinfulness of man, that "all the world may become guilty before God" (Romans 3:19).
This raises another important question. "Is the Law then against the promises of God? " The Law does not replace God's promises, but does it work against His promises? "Certainly not! " The law of God and the promises of God simply have different purposes (just as it is with law and grace). The law of God reveals the holiness that is inherent to the very character of God. At the same time, it describes the holy life that God wants His people to live. "You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am Holy" (Leviticus 19:2). The promises of God become the means by which man deals with his unholiness, unworthiness and accesses God's holiness. This is what true spiritual life is about: forgiveness of sin and a life of righteousness in and through Christ. This cannot come by Law performance. "For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by this law." Rather, the promise of life is entered into only by faith. "But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe."
Now for John Giles Exposition on the entire Bible.
Galatians 3:21
"Is the law then against the promises of God?.... If the law was added because of transgressions, and curses for them, and if the inheritance is not of it, but by promise, were it, it would not be by promise, then, says an objector, it is against the promises: these are contrary to one another, and God, in giving the one and the other, must contradict Himself: to which it is replied,
God forbid; a way of speaking the apostle uses, when he would express his abhorrence and detestation of anything, as here; for though the law and promises are distinct things, and have their separate uses, yet they are not contradictory to each other; the law has its use, and so have the promises; the promises do not set aside the law as useless on all accounts, nor does the law disannul the promises, but is subservient to them:
for if there had been a law which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law; but the law cannot give life, spiritual life to a dead sinner; God only can do this, Father, Son, and Spirit; so far is the law from giving it efficiently, that it is not so much as the means of it; it is not made use of this way; God makes use of the law to kill, but not to make alive; He makes use of the law to strike dead all a man's hopes of happiness, by the deeds of it; but it is the Gospel He uses to quicken and comfort; that is the Spirit that gives life. The law requires as much of a dead sinner, as it did of Adam in innocence, but gave him no life, activity, and strength to perform; could it quicken him, and enable him to do all its demands perfectly, then there would be righteousness, and so justification by it, as by the promise; whence it appears that there is no contrariety in the law to the promises: the reason why there is no righteousness is, because it cannot give life, nor spiritual life and strength; and if so, then not eternal life; which is the free gift of God, and not the merit of men's works: this is directly contrary to a notion of the Jews, who cry up the law as a life giving law; say they (n),
"great is the law, שהיא נותנת חיים לעושיה, "for it giveth life to them that do it", in this world, and in the world to come:''
and elsewhere (o),
"the law is a tree of life to all that study in it,
למיהב לון חיי, "to give unto them life" in this world, and "to give unto them life" in the world to come.''
(n) Pirke Abot, c. 6. sect. 6. (o) Zohar in Gen. fol. 70. 3. & in Num. fol. 62. 1.
Now for Norman Grubbs:
ROMANS 6-8
By Norman P. Grubb
"NO SEPARATE SELF"
"When Paul tells us that we are no longer under that former outer Law of Moses, doesn't that mean that we shall be given over to a spirit of license? "God forbid," pronounces Paul. In our new life our human selves are motivated, controlled, and spontaneously express the nature of God, by His Spirit united to our spirits. Laying the foundation for this assurance in Romans 6:16-7:6, Paul there presents one strong evidence after another that there is no intermediate, "independent me" to be taken over, unless we foolishly believe it.
"First," he says, "we were always slaves; and a slave just obeys his owner." We had handed ourselves over to owner Sin-Satan, to express his sin-nature. Now, however, we have become God's willing slaves through the obedience of faith which takes Him at His word, and we express His nature of holiness.
"Put it this way," Paul explains. "We were free in our sinning, with no response to God's law. Now we are free in our right living, with no response to Satan's law. And there is no 'you,' with an in-between or independent life (of self-for-self) of your own (Romans 6:16-20)."
Next Paul introduces a second illustration…a fruit-bearing tree. He describes how we are now producing right, good fruit in our lives, whereas we were ashamed of the former fruit (Romans 6:21,22). He wants us to understand that we are only branches which have changed trees. We never produced fruit without a tree!
To sum it up, we learn through the slave and branch analogies that we never exercised any kind of in-between life as self-operators. We are slaves of either one owner or another, or branches of either one vine or the other. Therefore, the idea that we humans were self-operating selves and had a "nature" or quality of life of our own has been a vast human illusion -- there never was such a thing. We have been created to produce the way of life of our Deity Creator and Operator. Only first we had to experience and discard through Calvary that false deity operator, who produced that opposite, negative way of life.
In Romans 7:1-6 Paul uses one further powerful and convincing illustration…the law of marriage, which he speaks of here as the "law of the husband" (Romans 7:2). The wife is legally bound to her husband so long as he lives, and he is her "lord" (1 Peter 3:6); she receives his seed, conceives by it, and produces their family.
We humans were "married" at the Fall to our Sin-satan husband and became his sin family, he working in us the "motions of sins" which produced "fruit unto death" (Romans 7:5). We had to do this according to the law and demands of marriage, as any change of husbands would have been an "adultery." It looked hopeless; our husband was not going to die.
But there was One, representing the whole human family, who died as us. So the marriage was dissolved because we died "wherein we were held" (Romans 7:6). The dissolution of the first marriage and release from that husband meant that in Christ's resurrection we were immediately married to another, our risen Saviour, now our LORD and are now under His law.
The law of marriage in Romans 7:1-6 is therefore a continuation by Paul of his two illustrations from Romans 6. For just as we have always been slaves to an ‘owner,’ and branches producing the fruit of a tree, we have always produced the fruit of a husband. We have never been widows conceiving without a husband."
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