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.

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”."

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.

ROMANS 6-8
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.

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."

The Revelation of Christ Hidden as a secret and mystery of GOD, part 4

Todays study was written by Pastor Hoekstra but I want to take it a bite farther after sharing it. Because of the confusion that I hear and see throughout many religions and their accompanying ministries today. I will preposition this by saying that GOD's plan started eons before the foundation of the world was laid. In what I call a "universal law" which simply means GOD's word spoken into the spiritual universe, in which there is no time or limiting restrictions of time and space, it being multi dimensional. Now the bases for this study is Galatians 3:15-18, which, over the next few days will be expanded upon. And as has become my norm I will use the ESV translation for this study with the LORD's help.


The Faith that brings Righteousness:


The intent of the Law,


Galatians 3:15-18 "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 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."



"God's Promises and God's Law"


"Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ. And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise." (Galatians3:16-18)

"Early in our meditations, we considered one of the most profound subjects in the scriptures: the relationship between the grace of God and the law of God. These verses engage a comparable subject: the relationship between God's promises and God's law. 

Again, we are reminded of God's fundamental use of promises in bringing forth His will among mankind. "Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made." God made far-reaching promises to Abraham and his descendants, promises that included the coming of the Messiah, the anointed King, the Savior. Although these promises guaranteed an innumerable posterity to Abraham, this statement specifies one descendant in particular. "He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ." The Lord Jesus Christ is in view here. The promises that were the root of the new covenant of grace were made by the Father to Abraham and to the Son of God. "Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made." Added assurance is provided here. The Father's commitment was to His Son! 

Now, what about the Law of God (given through Moses), which was added hundreds of years later? Could this law possibly have replaced the promises to Abraham and to the Son of God? "And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ (by way of an Oath)." The promises of God to Abraham and to His Son were not taken out of operation by the giving of the law of God ("that it should make the promise of no effect" ). People, through their own law performance, cannot become heirs of all that God promised to His children. If they could, then, God's blessings are no longer based on God fulfilling His promises. "For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise." This cannot be, because "God gave it to Abraham by promise." God's working among men stands on His ability to fulfill His promises. It does not depend on our ability to live up to the perfect law of God."
 
 From here on I will use John Gill's Expositional Commentary on the whole Bible.

 

Galatians 3:19

"Wherefore why then serveth the law?.... If this be the case, might an objector say, why was the law given? what ends and purposes are to be served by it? of what use can it be? there had as good been no law at all, if the inheritance is not of it, and there is no justification by it. To which it is answered,
 

it was added because of transgressions; four hundred and thirty years after the covenant made with Abraham; it did not succeed it, nor take the place of it, and so make it null and void; but was over and above added unto it, for the sake of restraining transgressions; which had there been no law, men would not have been accountable for them; and they would have gone into them without fear, and with impunity; but the law was given, to lay a restraint on men, by forbidding such and such things, on pain of death; and also for the detecting, discovering, and making known transgressions, what they are, their nature and consequences; these the law charges men with, sets them before them, in their true light and proper colours; and convicts them of them, stops their mouths, and pronounces them guilty before God: moreover, this law entered in, over and above any other revelation God was pleased to make, "that the offence might abound", Romans 5:20 either that particular offence, the sin of Adam, the apostle is there speaking of; the heinous nature of which, its aggravated circumstances, and the justness of its imputation to his posterity, were more clearly discerned by this law; and so the Syriac version here renders it in the singular number,

מטל מסטינותא, "because of transgression"; or all other offences and transgressions, which are increased through the multiplicity of precepts, and attended with more aggravating circumstances, than if no law was given, and more eagerly pursued after, through the prohibition of them; such being the corrupt nature of man, that the more anything is forbidden, the more desirous it is of it: add to all this, that the law was given for the punishing of transgressions, for which it curses, and threatens with death, and inflicts it on Christless sinners: hence it is clear there can be no justification by it, and yet it is not useless and insignificant:

till the seed should come, to whom the promise was made; either Christ the seed of the woman, and of Abraham, who was to come in the flesh, and is come; and to whom the grand promise of life, and all the promises of the covenant were made; not for Himself, but for those He represented, and in whom they are all secure: until whose coming to finish transgression, and bring in everlasting righteousness, the law was to continue in the form in which, and the use for which it was added, and then to cease as the ministration of Moses; for through the coming of Christ it received its full accomplishment, and came to an end; the ceremonial law was utterly abolished, and the moral law ceased to be a covenant of works, though it continues a rule of walk and conversation; and the whole Mosaic economy was no more: or else the seed here intends the spiritual seed of Abraham; particularly among the Gentiles, to whom the promise of blessedness, of justification, and eternal life was made; and the sense be, that till such time that a generation of faithful men, of believers in Christ, should arise among the Gentiles, the law was to continue with the Jews; but when they should spring up, the middle wall of partition should be broken down, and Abraham's spiritual seed among Jews and Gentiles make up one body, one people, and be fellow heirs and partakers of the promise of God in Christ, through the Gospel:

and it was ordained by angels; not Moses and Aaron, and Joshua, as some say; for though Moses was concerned in the giving of the Law (now defunct, as in extinct), yet not Aaron nor Joshua, nor are any of them ever called angels; but the holy elect angels are here meant, the ten thousands of saints, or holy ones, God came to Mount Sinai with, and the LORD was among, in the holy place; see Deuteronomy 33:2 and so the Jews say (l) that the LORD (Lord) appeared on Mount Sinai gloriously, עם כיתיה דמלאכיא, "with companies", or "troops of angels", to give the law to His people: and this may be said to be "ordained" by them, inasmuch as it might be written and spoken by them, as the instruments and ministers God made use of; for though the tables are said to be the work of God, and the writing the writing of God, and to be written with the finger of God, and He is said to speak all the words of it, yet this hinders not, but that all this might be done by the means of angels; who might be employed in disposing and fitting the stones in the form they were, and in writing the Law upon them; hence it is said to be given by the disposition of angels, Acts 7:53 and certain it is, that it was spoken by them, Hebrews 2:2 they forming in the air those articulate and audible sounds, when the Law was delivered; who were also concerned in the thunderings and lightnings, and in the blowing of the trumpet, that waxed louder and louder at that time:

in the hand of a mediator; not Christ, as many interpreters, ancient and modern, have thought; for though He was present at the giving of the Law, as appears from Acts 7:38 and is the Mediator between GOD and man, and had the law in His hand, out of which it went forth as the lawgiver; and as the surety of His people has fulfilled it, and by so doing put an end to it, and delivered them from the curse and condemnation of it; yet He is the Mediator of the new and better covenant, not the ministration of death, but of life; and so Moses and Christ, the Law and Gospel, the old and the new covenant, are continually opposed to each other; besides, the mediator here seems to be represented as inferior to the angels, and as receiving the Law into His hands from them, by whom it was ordained; which to conceive of Christ, is very much to the demeaning and lessening of Him. Moses is the mediator here meant, who stood between God and the people of Israel; not to make peace between them, but to show the word of God from him to them, and this at their own request; see Deuteronomy 5:5, and in his hand the tables of the Law were, when he came down from the mount, and was a typical mediator of Christ. So the Jews say of him, that "he was אמצעי, "a mediator" between them and God (m).''
 

(l) Targum in 1 Chron. xxix. 11. (m) Tzeror Hammor, fol. 136. 1, 2.

 

The Revelation of Christ Hidden as a secret and mystery of GOD, part 3

It was not to long ago that a lady on my Facebook friends list told me that we are not in GOD's plan as Israel is. To this statement I was shocked to say the lease for this revealed to me that she and others clearly are not reading the Bible by faith which is part of the law or requirement of GOD. Then I found the following statement written by Norman Grubbs sometime ago, speaking on Romans 6-8. So I copied it for sharing here, with little editing by me, before I get today's devotional from my e-Sword program.

"THE GREAT DECEPTION"

"The main consequence of our yielding to Satan at the Fall was that he deceived us all (Revelation 12:9) into thinking that we have a human self which can operate and manage itself, even as he lyingly thinks he can manage himself. In fact, we are only operated and managed by the deity of self…or Spirit of Truth or spirit of error (1 John. 4:6)…who owns us. This was symbolized in the Garden by receiving the fruit of one or the other of the two trees. So when the Law, which is meant to expose Satan's lie, comes to us in our deluded condition, Satan has the laugh on us. We obey his self-for-self sin laws, being his slaves, and cannot obey God's hidden laws.

We who are saved admitted our sins in their outer forms and received forgiveness and justification through our Lord Jesus the agent of Christ, and the new birth of the Spirit. But we were still too blind to recognize the depth of Satan's deceit in us. We thought that as saved (redeemed) and new creatures heading towards Christ's salvation, we could still take a share in managing ourselves.

Paul explains the full meaning of redemption through our dying in Jesus' death to sin…Satan's indwelling…and becoming alive in His resurrection to God's Spirit now indwelling us (in His salvation). But it is meaningless to reckon and say that we are now dead to sin and alive to God while that root deception is not yet out of us and we think we are more than a people managed only by the deity spirit in us as vessels, branches, temples, slaves, or wives."

 The Gentiles Included as Children of Promise


"That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel . . . that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Ephesians 3:6 and Galatians 3:14)


"The implications of becoming children of promise through the law of faith and love, which takes hold as a receptive force in the promises of God is monumental. One of the consequences that holds outstanding significance is highlighted in our present verses. It involves the Gentiles.


It is quite obvious in the Old Testament that God had great plans for the Jews (for Israel, as His chosen people). "'And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel" (Exodus 19:6). God's plans ultimately included the Gentiles (the nations of the world). "Oh, praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Praise Him, all you peoples! . . . The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising" (Psalm 117:1 and Isaiah 60:3). Nevertheless, the Jewish people would have a special place in God's purposes. "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth"  (Deuteronomy 14:2).


In light of these Old Testament truths regarding Israel, it was an astounding revelation when the Holy Spirit began to unfold through the Apostle Paul the full participation that the Gentiles would have in the promises of God: "That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs." By believing the promises of God, the Gentiles would have full partnership shares ("fellow heirs" ) in the inheritance of God for His people. The Gentiles would also be "of the same body." This body or family that includes Gentiles and Jews, is the church of the indwelling Christ. "And He is the head of the body, the church" (Colossians 1:18). Jew and Gentile would comprise the one new unit, the church. Now do not loose sight in this fact, the church, body and family are the same meaning as belonging to GOD. There is no longer a separation. Also, the Gentiles would be "partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel." Through the promises of the gospel of grace, Gentiles would share fully in eternal life, daily blessing, and intimate access to the LORD-God. By faith in the God of Abraham, the Gentiles would also enjoy (along with any Jew who believes in Jesus the poser of the Spirit of Messiah) the promise of the Spirit: "that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ's agent, Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Yes, now the Holy Spirit would dwell in the lives of all who would believe - - not only the Jew, but also the Gentile!"

The Revelation of Christ Hidden as a secret and mystery by GOD. part 2

I have since the last post been seeking after GOD my LORD for what to look at next, then this morning a light came on. So I will make use of a daily study that is shared within my e-Sword program, as it is opening the promises given for those who are become Christ Ones. This study is authored by the Spirit of Christ within Pastor Robert Hoekstra and I will use it for that reason with the LORD's help. In the whoever's, whosoever's and everyone's of Deuteronomy 18:15-22. This will been done by three subtitles, each having its own secret.


The Promises that GOD will be restored to His saints.


How We are to Respond to God's Promises


"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:16-17)


How are we to respond to the promises of God? His promises are not automatically at work in every life that hears them. Some respond correctly, while others respond improperly. Some enjoy the benefits of God's promises, whereas others do not. In these two verses, we are given the fundamental response to all that pertains to the gospel and covenant of grace. That response in faith. This would certainly include living by the promises of God.


Paul was unashamed of this gospel due to its effective character. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation." The good news about Christ in Jesus is essentially the grace of God proclaimed to man: "the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." (Acts 20:24) This grace is God's power given out to the redeeming of souls as required by the universal law. This power is experienced by all who place their faith in this gospel, whether Jew or Gentile: "for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." The gospel is effective, because it holds forth God's righteousness to sinful man, if he is willing to trust the LORD. "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith."


The gospel is referred to in the scriptures as a promise. "And this is the promise that He has promised us - - eternal life" (1John 2:25). The gospel is often stated in the form of promises: "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved . . . whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 15:11 and Romans 10:13). These gospel promises are partaken of in by faith. "The just will live by faith."


In addition to initial redemption is received through the gospel as is our salvation received through the good news of God's grace as being a narrow pathway which includes many other promises from God. "I will build My church . . . You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free . . . When He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth"  (Matthew 16:18; John 8:32; and 16:13). All of these promises are experienced by faith, because "the just shall live by faith" - - continually, as well as initially.


God's Children by God's Promises


"For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise . . . Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise." (Galatians 4:22-23, 28)


Our God is a God of promises. He characteristically works by making and fulfilling promises. We are His children by faith. We are children of promise. We were birthed spiritually into God's Family through faith in His promises. Two sons of Abraham (Ishmael and Isaac) provide a vivid contrast that attest to this, our sonship is by promise. As Isaac was of promise.


God had promised to make of Abraham a mighty nation, through which would come the Messianic seed that would bless all nations. "I will make you a great nation . . . and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:1-2). Yet, in verse 3 is the key for those who will bless Abraham in their attitude of faith's receptivity, the same pattern shown and stated by Jesus Himself a man, a seed of promise. (Genesis 3:15) This seed resides within every person born of woman. The years passed by, and Abraham was still without a son. Eventually, he implied to God that his servant would have to be the beginning of this promised seed. "Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house (Eliezer, his servant) is my heir! " (Genesis 15:3). However, the LORD clarified His promise to give Abraham a true son, sired from his own body. "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir" (Genesis 15:4). As time passed, the aging couple decided that they would have to come up with another alternative for God. "Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children . . . So Sarai said to Abram, 'See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.' And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai (revealing the err of Genesis 3). So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived" (Genesis 16:1-2, 4). Thus, Ishmael was born as the result of Abraham's and Sarah's ingenuity: "he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh (a symbol of the Law, in which the Law works unto disobedience)."


Thereafter, the LORD reiterated His promise of a son. "My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year" (Genesis 17:21). As God promised, so He did. "And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken" (Genesis 21:1). Thus, Isaac was birthed as a result of God's promises. This is a picture of the only possible way that we could ever have become God's children, by His fulfilling of His promises, thereby proving His faithfulness through the man Jesus. "Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise."


 More on God's Children by God's Promises


"Those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. For this is the word of promise: "At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son" . . . Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise . . . As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him." (Galatians 4:28; and Colossians 2:6)


Once again, our verses reveal God as a faithful God of promises, Who brings forth spiritual children of promise. This truth not only dictates how we enter the family of God, for it also determines how we are to live as restored children of God.


Ishmael could not be counted as the true seed of Abraham, because he was the product of fleshly ingenuity. "Those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God." Only Isaac could be called the true seed. "But the children of the promise are counted as the seed ( this having a dual meaning because it also meets the requirement of Genesis 3:15)." This is true concerning us as well. We became God's children through faith in the promise of the gospel. "As many as receive Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12). We could not be redeemed by any fleshly provision, neither can we enter His salvation by fleshly means: "Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:13). Isaac was born through faith in the promises of God. "For this is the word of promise: 'At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son'." We also are born again through faith in the promises of God. "Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise."


Children of promise are spiritually birthed by promise and spiritually developed by promise. Now that we have been born into God's Family by faith in His promises, we are to live day by day in the same way that we became His children. "As you have therefore received Christ, that walk and worked in Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him." The parallel is simple and straightforward: "As . . . so." As we were saved, so we are to walk. We started out with the Lord by faith in the life-giving promise of the gospel "And this is the promise that He has promised us - - eternal life" (1John 2:25). We are to live each day by faith in the life-developing promises that are inherent to the gospel. "He who believes Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38).


The LORD willing I will continue with a few more of these daily teaching posts written by Pastor Hoekstra.

The Revelation of Christ hidden as a mystery carring a warning. part 1

Since August of 2007 when I heard the LORD ask me, 'are you ready to take My yoke upon you and learn of Me,' I have been a sincere student of the Logos of the LORD-Christ. Then in 2007-8, I started this blog as a story line. But since then I removed the story line to carry what was being given me of the secret of God, as found in Deuteronomy 29:29 and Paul's revelation, which he called the "mysteries," which are of Christ. Then in June on the 24th, I started this indepth search of related scriptures highlighting Deuteronomy 18:15-22 with it's warning to those of whoever's who would not listen to GOD through His anointed prophet. The LORD of Genesis 1:1-5 and John's synoptic gospel of John 1:1-5. I should say that among the disciples both Luke and John spent time with the called out Paul and learned more of the Spirit of or by the "Christ," within each of them.

Now for a closer look at 1Thessalonias 5:23-24; 4:1-8; Philippians 2:14-18; John 17:6-19; Ephesians 5:25-33 and how they come together with Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1. And as has become my norm I will use the ESV translation for this study. Beginning with Genesis 1 and then John 1. And Deuteronomy 18:15-22.


The Warning of:

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 (a thing containing order verses water which means chaos) 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."


Genesis 1:1-5, 26-28 with 2:1-3, 5-7 "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters (chaos). And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light (order). And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness (obscurity). God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day......Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after Our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth." ----The Word, or Logos, the LORD-Christ created man in His likeness; even that Word that was in the beginning with God, and was God, and in time became incarnate, by whom all things were made, Joh_1:1. 

Genesis 2:1-3, 5-7 "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work (of creation) that He had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all His work that He had done in creation......When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground— then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed (inspiration, to revive) into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature."

John 1:1-5 "In the beginning was the Word (Logos, said, Divine Expression that is to say, Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him is life, and the life was the light (order) of men. The light shines in the darkness (chaos), and the darkness has not overcome it."


1Thessalonians 5:23-24 "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He Who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it."


 1Thessalonians 4:1-8 "Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will (plan and purpose) of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, Who gives His Holy Spirit to you."


Philippians 2:14-18 "Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word (Logos the Divine Expression this is to say, Christ) of life (G4151, the rational and immortal soul verses G2222, the plant and animal life, a mere vitality), so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me."


John 17:6-19 Jesus is speaking as the Oracle of GOD. "I have manifested Your name to the people whom You gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and You gave them to me, and they have kept Your word. Now they know that everything that You have given me is from You. For I have given them the words that You gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from You; and they have believed that You sent me. (Deuteronomy 18:15-22) I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom You have given me, for they are Yours. All mine are Yours, and Yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name (to have divine knowledge of), which You have given me, that they may be one, even as We are One. While I was with them, I kept them in Your name, which You have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming (returning) to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word (Logos, this is Christ), and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word (Logos, Christ) is truth. As You sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth."


Ephesians 5:25-33 "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loves the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by (a place of rest) the washing of water with the word (rhema, a negative, naught or dispute), so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be Holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of His Body. "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband."