The Promise of Freedom in Christ for all of Humanity, the end of Humanity as we know it, Now for a Promise of other Consequence

 Day 3.01

We have already revealed more than man's religions are able to or allowed to do. By way of Precious Promises of GOD'S Provision (to see this one must know their relationship in Christ, the very objective of this blog), the following are a portion of all things of GOD, "The I AM that I AM." Which we are about to look into after the following quotes: "By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises . . . And my GOD shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (2Peter 1:4 and Philippians 4:19)

Now for Titus 1 and what it states: 4 of 1-4 An apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of GOD in GOD'S elect, and the acknowledging of the Truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which GOD, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; That has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which is committed to me according to the commandment of GOD (the I AM) our Savior; To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, of GOD the Father and the ascended LORD Jesus Christ our Savior by being the I AM that I AM. 

Now for the history by way of examples in the OT and NT through the Holy Spirit's guidance, beginning in Genesis 12:1, 4-7; 17:2-5: Gen 12:1 of 1-3  Now the LORD had said to Abram, 'Get out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you:
and I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; And you shalt be a blessing: I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curse you: and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed'.....So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken to him; And Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; They went forth to go into the land of Canaan; And into the land of Canaan they came. Abram passed through the land to the place of Sichem, to the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. And the LORD appeared to Abram, and said, 'To your seed will I give this land: and there built he an altar to the LORD, Who appeared to him......'I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.' Abram fell on his face: and GOD talked with him, saying, 'As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall your name any more be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; For a father of many nations have I made you.'

Now for the introduction to the great I AM  of Genesis 17:1, 22:1, 35:11 When Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, 'I am the Almighty God; Walk before Me, and be perfect'.....It came to pass after these things, that GOD did tempt Abraham, and said to him, Abraham: and He said, 'Behold, I AM'.....And GOD said to him, 'I am God Almighty': be fruitful and multiply; For a nation and a company of nations shall be of you, and kings shall come out of you loins; And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to you I will give it, and to your seed after you will I give the land (this a position of rest)'. 

Jumping ahead to Exodus 13 where we find: Exo. 3:6, 14  Moreover GOD said, I am the GOD of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; For he was afraid to look upon GOD....And GOD said to Moses, 'I AM THAT I AM': and He said, 'Thus shall you say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you.' Within the context of Exodus through Leviticus there are many such references. Such as in Matthew 22:32 (Mark 12:26,13:6) 28:20 Jesus speaking: 'I am the God' of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living'....Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.' Amen.

For me the following is the most impressive of them all: Mark 14:62, John 7:29  And Jesus said, 'I am: and you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven'.... John7:29  'For I know Him: for I am from Him, He having sent Me.'

John 8:12, 16 Then spoke Jesus again to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world: he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.... And yet if I judge, My judgment is true: for I am not alone, for I and the Father that sent Me are One.'

The nail that releases it all is this in John 8:58  Jesus said to them, 'Verily, verily, I say to you, Before Abraham was, I am.' (Exodus 3:14 above listed; and that of Revelation 1:4, 8, 17, 4:8)

Now if I may do some background on this title using the ancient LXX and Strong's of a word meaning study. First Exodus 3:14 I AM (H1961) THAT (H834) I AM:(H1961)

Strongs #1961: AHLB#: 1097-M (V) 1097) Ee% (Ee% HH) ac: Breathe co: Breath ab: Exist: The pictograph e represents one who is looking at a great sight with his hands raised and taking a long breath. The pictograph e represents one who is looking at a great sight with his hands raised and taking a long breath. 

M) Eie% (Eie% HYH) ac: Exist co: Breath ab: ?
V) Eie% (Eie% HYH) - Exist: To exist or have breath. That which exists has breath. In Hebrew thought the breath is the character of someone or something. Just as a man has character, so do objects. [A generic verb with a wide application meaning to exist or be] [freq. 74] (vf: Paal, Niphal) |kjv: was, come to pass, came, been, happened, become, pertained, better for you| {str: 1961} 

Strongs #834: AHLB#: 1480-C (N) (1480) Rs% (Rs% ShR) ac: Tie co: Cord ab: ?: The pictograph s is a picture of the teeth representing pressure, the r is a picture of the head representing the top or beginning. Combined these mean "press the beginning". Ropes and cords were usually made of bark strips such as from the cedar or from the sinew (tendon) of an animal. The rope is made by twisting two fibers together. A single fiber is attached to a fixed point (top), and the two ends of the fiber are brought together. One fiber is twisted in a clockwise direction and wrapped over the other fiber in counter clockwise direction. The second fiber is then twisted in clockwise direction then wrapped around the first fiber in a counter clockwise direction. The process is repeated through the length of the rope. The twisting of the fibers in opposite directions causes the fibers to lock (press) onto each other making a stronger rope. The rope is used to tightly secure or support something, such as a load to a cart or the poles of the tent. 

C) Rsa% (Rsa% AShR) ac: ? co: Straight ab: ?: A cord pulled tight is straight. 

Nm) Rsa% (Rsa% A-ShR) - I. Happy: One who is happy is one whose life is lived straightly. II. Which: Or who, what or that. As a rope attaches two objects together, this word links the action of the sentence to the one doing the action. [The short form "s" is used as a prefix meaning "who" or "which"] [freq. 156] |kjv: blessed, happy, which, wherewith, because, when, soon, as, that, until much, whosoever, whom, whose| {str: 834, 835} 

Now for the Strong's Greek using John 8:58: Before (G4250) Abraham [G11] was, [G1096] I (G1473) am.(G1510) 

G4250: Adverb from G4253; prior, sooner: (G4253: means, A primary preposition; “fore”, that is, in front of, prior to)

G1473: A primary pronoun of the first person, “I” (only expressed when emphatic): - I, me. 

G1510: First person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist (used only when emphatic)

 Jesus Christ as I AM: That our LORD by this expression asserted His divinity and eternal existence, as the great I AM, appears evident from the use of the present tense, instead of the past tense, from its being in answer to the Jews, who inquired whether He had seen Abraham, and from its being thus understood by the multitude, who were exasperated at it to such a degree that they took up stones to stone Him. The ancient Jews not only believed that the Messiah was superior to and LORD of all the patriarchs, and even of angels, but that His celestial nature existed within GOD (this seen in Genesis 1:1 as I have stated elsewhere in this blog) from Whom it emanated, before the creation, and that the creation was effected by His ministry. 

Now for Revelation passages beginning at: Heb. 13:8; Rev. 1:11, 17-18,  and 2:8.

I do hope and pray that this will help in clearing the air of our understanding.

The Promise of Freedom in Christ for all of Humanity, the end of Humanity as we know it, Now for a Promise of other Consequence

 Day 3

Today's post saddens me but I must share it as it is a Promise of greatest of Consequences as stated earlier we have in past posting covered all of the promises be they of warning or of benefit of Grace's activation within the dynamics of our restored spiritual life, described in Day 1 through 11 of The Truth that sets Humanity Free from the snare of Legalism as pushed by man's Religion and it's accompanying Religious forms (of August 4th through the 14th) this being SIN. And under this heading as well by recapping the important parts, as being one within Christ as Christ ones and thereby one in Jesus as well. Today, is revealed the warning that no one can deny or disavowal. As it was spoken by the "I am that I am," Who spoke to Moses in this fashion as we shall discover. Now for what Titus reveals in the following: of Titus 1:2 of 1-4 An apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of GOD'S elect, and the acknowledging of the Truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which GOD, that cannot lie (cannot deny, speak a falsehood of Himself in us), promised before the world began (this is Genesis 1:26-28, verified in Lev. 14:11 and the Psalms as shared already); But having in due times manifested His word through preaching, which is committed to me according to the commandment of GOD our Savior; To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from GOD the Father and the LORD Jesus Christ our Savior.

The Importance of God's "Unpopular" Promises:

Jesus is speaking: 'Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; For if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins. (John 8:24)

Generally when speaking, GOD'S promises they are of the "popular"kind with many people. When most of the LORD'S promises are read or taught, people are delighted. "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.....Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.....Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." (John 8:36; Mat. 11:28; and Mat. 4:19). It is Promises like these that are so often received with favor, because they are so encouraging. They embraced approval, because they are so comforting. On the other hand, some of GOD'S promises are definitely edifying while others are "unpopular" with certain segments of humanity. This type of promise is scorned and rejected, because of its convicting or sobering character. Nevertheless, these promises that are not always well-received have great importance in GOD'S plan.

One such promise is given by two-fold in our present verse. "You will die in your sins...you will die in your sins." In a tolerant world that wants to deny the reality of sin and its consequences, this is an unpopular promise. Yet, the promise is true nonetheless. The Sin of denial or disavowal brings spiritual death. These the produce of Genesis 2's warning to Genesis 3's actions. From the beginning, this has been the case. "And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, 'Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die' " (Gen. in 2:16-17 then put into play in Gen. 3, from that time until Jesus came to bring correction as in a change of course and after Him). This truth is restated by the prophets of Israel. "The soul who sins shall die" (Ezekiel in 18:20 ). It is also repeated by the apostles in the early church. "For the wages of sin is death" (Rom. in 6:23). Since everyone has sinned (by inheritance or by actions and of word of mouth), this warning by promise Jesus gave applies to us all who haven't volatility accepted the I am that I am within themselves. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. in 3:23). The disciples now apostles were obligated to rehears the old warnings with that of Jesus'.

To escape the inevitable consequences of sin's denial factor (this also seen in Gen. 3), one must trust Jesus as the promised, divine Savior. "If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." This statement ("I am He") hints of Jesus' deity (of Genesis 1:1, as well as ours as seen in 1:26-28 and Lev. 17:11). Shortly thereafter, He openly declares that He is GOD, the Son. "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM" (John 8:58). Here, Jesus applies to Himself the same name that He GOD revealed to Moses. "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you' " (Exodus 3:14). Thus, this important promise by Jesus warns that only our trusting His faithfulness in us and we in Him that is true as the divine Savior will deliver a person from the certain consequences of sin.

LORD Jesus, I thank You for this important warning given by promise. I am delighted to have yielded to Your truth and certainty. By my accepting Your offer to abide in You and You in me, and the yoke of learning of You, and the offering up of myself as a living sacrifice as my reasonable service by which a renewed mind is acquired, I rejoice that my sins are forgiven, extinguished. Use me to pass on this promise to others who need to respond to it, as I abide in Your name, Christ Jesus, the abiding Amen.

The Promise of Freedom in Christ for all of Humanity

 Day 2

More on the Promise of Freedom in Christ:

Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed... How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation. (John 8:36 and Hebrews 2:3)

By the promises of GOD, our true spiritual liberation and is made available in Jesus Christ. "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." If this saving work of the LORD is neglected there is no rescue, no redemption from the devastating consequences of sin's grip of self will, self works....as under the Mosaic Law. "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation." From what is salvation made available? Numbers 14 and Genesis 12 give us a clue. First Abram who became Abraham after he heard the voice of the LORD, which told him to leave his father's idolatrous house, this spoken of in Romans 4, Galatians 3:29, and Hebrews 2:16, 6:13, 11:8. Then we have the acknowledgement of a "different spirit" being within Caleb and Joshua in Numbers 14: 24 and 28. As we previously noted, this delivering Grace of GOD is so great that it not only provides a rescue "from," but it also supplies a rescue "unto."

This great salvation (of Heb. 2:3; G4991, means to rescue, to heal, place into safety), which is experienced by coming to Jesus in humble faith (the taking up of our cross daily, in Luke 9:23, or accepting His yoke of learning of Him, in Matthew 11:29-30), these include a setting free from innate (originating in or derived from the mind or constituted from the intellect rather than from the spirit)   sin to imputed righteousness. "For He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of GOD in Him" (2Cor. 5:21). This great salvation is Christ, Christ is deliverance from the kingdom of darkness (the worlds corrupted systems of religion that caused the flood of Noah and more) unto the kingdom of light (the Body of Christ). "Giving thanks to the Father Who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated (G3197 to exchange ) us into the kingdom of the Son of His love" (Colossians 1:12-13). This great salvation also includes liberation from enmity (corrupted mindsets) toward God into friendship with God. "When we were enemies we were reconciled (turned from enemies into friends) through the death of His Son" (Col. 1:21). This great salvation also includes deliverance from alienation from God (this the standard message of the worlds religions) unto completed union with Him. "And you, who once were alienated... For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection" (Col. 1:21 and Rom. 6:5). This great salvation also includes liberation from our own weakness into God's mighty power. "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then, the "I am" is strong" (2Cor. 12:9-10). Lastly, this great salvation includes a rescuing from a self-produced life to Christ living in us. "I have been crucified with Christ; It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Gal. 2:20).

The Promise of Freedom in Christ for all of Humanity

 Day 1

We have revealed the way into the promised Rest of GOD in Christ and through Christ as found in Jesus Himself as we are. Now look again at John 8:36 where we have this: "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."

There is a host of things that we have acquired freedom from, some are man's fraudulent forms of religion of which there are nearly 1500 in total all being called snares and traps within the context of scripture. The Mosaic Law of flesh works is another as it's only end is shame and condemnation, a burden that no one can escape, no one. So how does this a play look with me at what Jesus said just before our passage of concern in John 8:33-35: They (the Jewish leaders) answered Him, "We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how say You, "You shall be made free?" Jesus answered them, "Verily, verily (of a great truth), I say to you, Whosoever committees sin is the servant (slave) of sin. And it's servant abides not in the house for ever: but the Son abides forever."  

So from this we can gather that to live a life in Grace is to have and possess living and abiding in His faith and faithfulness as untainted ones, as in the promises of GOD. Remember 1Peter's thought of 1:4? Which states this beginning at verse 3: "Blessed be the GOD and Father of ourselves and the LORD Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled (undefined), and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of GOD through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." Then we have this in 2Peter 1:4 beginning at verse 2: "Grace and peace be multiplied in you through the knowledge of GOD, and of Jesus our LORD,
according as His divine power having given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness (the redemption of our origin and design, identity's oneness, having been if you will rebooted, the default settings restored this allowing us to fully participate in the Life, Love and Light of our design.), through the knowledge of Him that has called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given us exceedingly great and precious promises: that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."  

Our spiritual freedom of promised in Christ this theme repeats itself throughout scripture. Now to verify this lets turn to John 5:24 beginning at verse 19 through 27 where we have this: Then answered Jesus saying to them (the priests, the false propagandists of the Jews), 'Verily, verily, I say to you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He saw the Father do: for what things soever He does, these also does the Son likewise. For the Father loves the Son, and showed Him all things that Himself does: and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises up the dead, and quickens them; Even so the Son quickens whom He will. For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son: That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which has sent Him. Verily, verily, I say to you, He that hears My word (voice), and believes Him that sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; But is passed from death to life. Verily, verily, I say to you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of GOD: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father has life in Himself; So has He given to the Son to have life in Himself; And has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man.' Those who come to Christ are rescued from the fear and condemnation of hell.

Turn to Romans 5 beginning at verse 17 where we find this: For if by one man's offense death reigned by one (this explained in verse 13-16); Much more they which receive abundance of Grace and of the gift of righteousness (our restored innocence of our origin) shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; Even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men to justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous (G1342, equitable (in character or act); by implication innocent, holy). Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, Grace does much more abound: That as sin having reigned in death, even so might Grace reigns through righteousness to eternal life in Jesus Christ our LORD. 

Do we have space for one more? Lets look at Matthew 23:33 where we find this beginning at verse 29: Jesus is speaking: 'Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build (filled) the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous, and say, "If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets." Wherefore you are witnesses to yourselves, that you are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill you up then the measure of your fathers. You serpents, a generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell?'

Now here's the good news for those who leave behind the bankruptcy of vain human resources for the richness of abundant spiritual treasures, this in 1Peter 1:3 beginning at verse 2: To the Elect according to the foreknowledge of GOD the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, to obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you, and peace, be multiplied. Blessed be the GOD and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you are kept by the power of GOD through His faith to salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein we greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, we are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your trust in His faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found in praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, we love; In Whom, though now we see Him not, yet believing, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:as having Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (Rom. 7:18 and Eph. 1:3)

John 8:58  Jesus said to them, 'Verily, verily, I say to you, Before Abraham was, I am.'

The Truth that sets Humanity Free from the snare of Legalism as pushed by man's Religion and it's accompaning Religious forms, this being SIN.

Day 11

We are looking into our ability to enter GOD'S promised Rest as Jesus is the Way, the Life and Love that opened it and paved the way into it for us. Pardon me for taking a short cut to the subject matter of today for I have again chosen to take from Pastor Hoekstra's works. I will as the Spirit leads me edit this as needed. I might note that in Gen. 1:1 is found the identity of Elohiym in the following Strong's numbering system: H410, H430 and H433, This explained in 1John 5:4, in 7 of 5-12 we find the power, authority and right of GOD established, this the law of GOD, which is His Grace at work.

Coming to the Lord for Edifying Grace:

Coming to Jesus as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men (men's religious systems), but chosen by GOD a precious commodity, we also, are living stones (the petros of Peter in Mat. 16:18), are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to GOD through Jesus Christ. (1Peter 2:4-5)

Our coming to Jesus habitually (by way of the personal taking up of our cross) for the grace that we need daily is at the heart of growing in His Grace. The closing verses of our Day 10's meditation provide a profound example of this personal relational emphasis in the Christian life. The spiritual impact in view there is edification: "being built up." As we saw earlier, GOD'S Grace is to be the edifying resource for our lives. "And now, brethren, I commend you to GOD our Father and to the word of His Grace, which is able to build you up" (Acts 20:32). Now, we will look at the relational path that GOD has designed for accessing this edifying grace.

Jesus is likened here to "a living stone." He is solid and reliable, like a rock. Yet, a rock is lifeless, insensitive, unresponsive. Jesus is a "living stone." Jesus is alive, tender, lovingly responsive. The LORD wants to build us up to be like Himself (solid and stable, yet loving and caring filled with His mercies). The LORD'S way (Isaiah 48:17, Joshua 23:14; John 14:6) to build us up "as living stones" is to call us to an ongoing process of coming to Himself: "Coming to Him as to a living stone... you also, as living stones, are being built up." In order to practically grow "as living stones," we must be coming to the one who already is innately intimately one with us, what He wants us to become. He alone can provide what is needed in our lives.

How do we come to Jesus in this manner? Again, it is a matter of our eternal and abiding relationship that relates to Him. When we get into the word of GOD, we are not merely looking for more biblical information. Jesus is the one we are to be seeking. When we are praying, we are not merely "saying our prayers." Jesus is the one in whose name we are praying and whose Will and work we are seeking. When we are worshiping, we are not merely singing songs, we are singing to the LORD Himself. When we are going forth in ministry, we are not merely carrying out a valid task. We are looking to the LORD for enablement, while desiring to please and honor Him.

The more we come to Jesus in this way, to that extent His edifying Grace will be building us up "a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Father GOD through Jesus Christ."  Day by day in Grace, by Pastor Bob Hoekstra

I had it in mind to list the referenced passages in the last few posting, so here goes:

Matthew 16:18 of 13-20  When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, 'Whom do men say that I the Son of man is?'  And they said, "Some say that You are John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets."  He said to them, 'But whom say you that I am?' And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living GOD." And Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed art you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but My Father which is in heaven. And I say also to you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock (revelation, a piece, a chip off of the bigger rock*) I will build my church; And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.' Then charged He His disciples that they should tell no man that He was Jesus the Christ. (*This rock relates to the "Rock of Ages." (Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a GOD of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He....2Samuel 22:3  The God of my rock; in Him will I trust: He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior; You save me from violence...Psalm 18:2  The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; My GOD, my strength, in whom I will trust; My buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower....Psalm 28:1  A Psalm of David. Unto You will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if You be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.)

Isaiah 48:16-17  'Come near to Me, hear this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; From before time that it was, there am I: and now the LORD GOD, and His Spirit, has sent me. Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD God which teaches you to profit, which leads you by the way that you should go.' 

Joshua 23:14-15a of 13-16 reveals who is the Judge of the snared of man's religions: 'Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; For they shall be snares and traps set for you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land of promised rest which the LORD your God has given you. For, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you; All are come to pass in you, and not one thing has failed thereof. Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until I have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you by way of promise. When you have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; Then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land which He has given unto you.'

John 14:6 of 1-7 Jesus is speaking here: 'Let not your heart be troubled: you believe GOD, believe also Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself (no time limit imposed here); that where I am, there you may be also (Eph. 1:10, 20, 2:6, 3:10, 15, Col. 1:16, 20.) And where I go you know, and the way you know. Thomas saith to Him, "Lord, we know not where You go; And how can we know the way?" Jesus said him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by Me. If you had known Me, you should have known My Father also: and from henceforth you shall know Him, and have seen Him.'

Now for the added passages as the zeal of the LORD often over takes me:

Ephesians 1:10, 20, 2:6, 3:10 and 15

Ephesians 1:9-10  Having made known to us the mystery of His Will, according to His good pleasure which He had purposed in Himself: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; Even in Him: In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who works all things after the counsel of His own Will: That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trust in Christ. 

Ephesians1:20 of 15-23  Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the LORD Jesus, and love for all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the GOD of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; That you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and having put all things under His feet, and given Him to be the head over all things to the Church, which is His Body, Christ, the fullness of Him that fills all in All. 

Ephesians 2:6 of 1-10 And you has He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past we walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience (this being man's many religious forms and systems of deception and bewilderment among us): Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; And were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But GOD, Who is rich in mercy, for His great Love wherewith He loves us, even when we were dead (unknowing) in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace we are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His Grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by His Grace are we saved through His faith; That not of yourselves: it is the gift of GOD: Not of the Mosaic Law of self works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which GOD had before ordained (predestinated, this being before the earth's foundation was established, Gen. 1:26-28) that we should walk in them. 

Ephesians 3:10, and 15 of 3:1-13, 14-4:6  For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, if you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of GOD which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation He made known to me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, to this I can say dido!) Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed in His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same Body, and partakers of His promises in Christ by our gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the Grace of GOD given to me by the effectual working of His power. To me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this Grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in GOD (Deu. 29:29), Who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of GOD, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our LORD: In Whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him. Wherefore I desire that you faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. 

Ephesians 3:14-4:6  For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our resurrected and ascended LORD Jesus Christ, Of Whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named (identified), that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man (restored within us); That Christ may dwell in your hearts (Lev. 17:11) by His faith; That we, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that we might be filled with all the fullness of GOD. Now to Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. The living an abiding Amen. I therefore, the prisoner of the LORD, beseech you that you walk (live) worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace. There is one Body, and one Spirit, even as we are called in one hope of our calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One GOD and Father of us all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Now for Colossians 1:16, 20 of 15-20, 21-23 Now for The Preeminence of Christ:
Col 1:15-20, 21  Who is the image (found in Gen. 1:26-28)of the invisible (found in Lev. 17:14) GOD, the firstborn of every creature: For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. He is the head of the Body, His Church: Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; That in all things He now having the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell;  And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things to in Himself; For by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 

Colossians 1:21-23  You, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works (of a man's religion), yet now having been His, He has reconciled in the Body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight: If you'll continue in His faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven. 

1John 5:4, 7 of 5-12 For whatsoever is born of GOD overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, His faith placed in us.....Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; Not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that bears witness, because the Spirit is Truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of GOD is greater: for this is the witness of GOD which He has testified of His Son. He that believe the Son of GOD has this witness in himself: he that believes not GOD has made himself a liar; Because he believes not the record that GOD gave of His Son. And this is the record, that GOD has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that has the Son has His Life; and he that has not the Son of GOD has not the redeemed life. (And I might add has no salvation.)

The Truth that sets Humanity Free from the snare of Legalism as pushed by man's Religion and it's accompaning Religious forms, this being SIN.

 Day 10

The lifting of the veil from our eyes is paramount herein as I share the following shared by another more intelligent in the matters of the Grace of GOD at work within us all this highlighted by the use of ("....") as I pick up on Romans 8:1-10 where our true original identity is established without hypocrisy:

Coming to the LORD for Grace:

"Jesus asked and said: 'Come to Me . . . and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me... and you will find rest for your souls.' (Matthew 11:28-29)

Our previous meditations on Jesus promising spiritual rest provides an excellent opportunity to reflect again upon the relational aspect of living by the Grace of GOD. GOD'S Grace does not abound toward us by means of some religious procedure. His grace flows into our lives as we live in a developing relationship with Him. This is essential for our understanding, since it is "the grace of our LORD Jesus Christ" (2Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich.) this we are to be experiencing in abundance, as promised us.

It is in coming to the LORD, in relationship with the LORD, that we find His Grace at work in our lives. 'Come to Me...Take My yoke... learn from Me.' When we first come to Jesus in humble dependence, we find His Grace to forgive us of our our inherited sin, often diluted sin and guilt pushed upon us by a man's religion. When we yoke up with Him, walking intimately with Him each day, we find His Grace to rescue us from religious, fleshly strivings of hyprocy's falsehoods.

This pattern of coming to the LORD is prevalent in the scriptures. As Isaiah wrote of it concerning salvation. "Look to Me, and be saved (H3467, to succor, give releaf), all you ends of the earth! For I am GOD, and there is no other... Surely in the LORD I have righteousness and strength. To Him men shall come" (Isaiah 45:22, 24). Isaiah also declared that spiritual refreshment and life from GOD would be available by simply coming to the Lord Jesus. "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters... Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live (have newness of Life)" (Isa. 55:1-3). Of course, Jesus restated this profound invitation concerning Himself. 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes Me, as the Scripture have said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' (John 7:37-38).

The Apostle Peter wrote of another significant issue for which we come to Jesus. "Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men (man's religion based on flesh workings), but chosen by GOD and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to GOD through Jesus Christ" (1Pet. 2:4-5). If we are going to access the Grace that edifies our lives, we must consistently be coming to Jesus Christ, the Father's chosen and precious cornerstone."

Day by day by grace: Pastor Bob Hoekstra

Jesus restored to us our unknown identity (masked, covered over behind a veil of deception, in Gen. 3) and union within Himself this making all of Humanity Christ Ones; Romans 8:1-10 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the Mosaic Law of sin and death. For what that Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, GOD sending His own Son in the likeness (Gen. 1:26-28) of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the New law of Life, Light and Love, might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; But they that are after do mine the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; But to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against GOD: for it is not subject to the law of GOD, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please GOD. For we are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of GOD dwells in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; For the Spirit is Life because of righteousness. For if the Spirit of Him (ie..GOD) that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead will also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you. 

I shall leave it here for you to decide for yourselves. I do wish that you would accept the "yoke of learn of Him." As I have!

The Truth that sets Humanity Free from the snare of Legalism as pushed by man's Religion and it's accompaning Religious forms, this being SIN.

Day 9

We are looking into our call to Rest in GOD in Christ as being of the Resurrection from the dead. With that said lets look at a few things that Jesus stated as commandments beginning in John where we find the following as they describe the commandments of the LORD Jesus, but first a look at 2Peter 1:

2Peter 1:1-2, 3-11 An apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of GOD and our Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and Peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of GOD, and of Jesus our LORD. 

Confirm Your Calling and Election:

According as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that has called us to glory and virtue:  Whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption (2Pet. 2:1-3, 4-16, 17-22) that is in the world through lust. And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; And to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; And to temperance patience; And to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; And to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our LORD Jesus Christ. For they that lack these things are blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sin of unbelief. Wherefore the rather, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall backward: For an entrance has been opened for ministry for you abundantly in the everlasting kingdom of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Now for the Words of Jesus:

John 12:46  'I am come a light in the world, that whosoever believes Me should not abide in darkness.'
John 14:16  'I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide within you for ever;'
John 15:4, 6, 7, 10  'Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; No more can you, except you abide in Me......"If" a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, that withers; And men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.... "If" you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done for you....."If" you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love; Even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love.'

Okay, now for the rest of GOD found in Matthew 11:25-27, 28-30 and remember that much of this is hidden within the first passage of Genesis 1:1 and is explained by John in 1John 5 and I have endeavored to declare.....

Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest

Matthe'w 11:25-27,28-30  At that time Jesus answered and said, 'I thank You, O Father, LORD of heaven and earth, because You have hid (Deu. 29:29) these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things are delivered to Me of My Father: and no man knows the Son, but the Father; Neither know any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him. 

Come to Me, all that labor and are heavy laden (by the worlds description of religion, Gen. 3:15), and I will give you rest. Take My yoke (hidden in Genesis 1:1's H410, H430, H433 of Elohiym) upon you, and learn (this also part of Gen. 1:1) of Me; For I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.'  

Before I go any farther lets look at 1John 5 to see what John shared there:

Overcoming the World:

1John 5:1-5  Whosoever believes Jesus is the Christ is born of GOD: and every one that loves Him is begotten of love, belong's to Him that also is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of GOD, when we love GOD, and keep His commandments (those listed above in John 15). For this is the love of GOD, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous (as in under the weight of the Mosaic Law of condemnation, relaying on flesh works and obedience to them that do so). For whatsoever is born ('of a different spirit',,,ie. as was Caleb and Joshua of Numbers 14:24, 'have follow Me faithfully.') of GOD overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcome the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes Jesus is the Son of GOD?

The Testimony Concerning the Son of God:

1John 5:6-12  This is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; Not by water only, but by water and blood (this the legal and authorized enter into the world through the womb of woman). And it is the Spirit that bearers witness, because the Spirit is Truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one (Elohiym as in Gen. 1:1). And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, the water, the blood: these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of GOD is greater: for this is the witness of GOD which He has testified of His Son. He that believes the Son of GOD has the witness in himself: he that believes not GOD has made Him a liar; Because he believes not the record that GOD gave of His Son. And this is the record, that GOD has given us eternal life, and this life is His Son. He that has the Son has life; And he that has not the Son of GOD has not life. 

That You May Know:

1John 5:13-20, 21  These things have I written to you that believe the Son of GOD; That you may know that you have eternal life, and that you believe the Son of GOD. And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to Their Will, They hear us: And if we know that They hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Them. If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and They shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. For all unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. We know that whosoever is born of GOD sins not; For he is begotten of GOD and keeps himself, and that wicked one touches him not. And we know that we are of GOD, and the whole world lies in wickedness.  And we know that the Son of GOD is come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true GOD, and eternal life. 

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. 

So we are looking at "I will give you rest" and "you will find rest for your souls." These promises supplement well the earlier studies on GOD'S promises, of which we have studied these in some depth some time back in this blog and now GOD'S rest. The first promise pertains to our justification and spiritual birth, while the second pertains to our sanctification and spiritual growth.

The first promise addresses those who are struggling under the burden of guilt and condemnation administered under the height of sin's guilt and shame by the Mosaic Law: "all who labor and are heavily laden." This being the point where everyone begins their earthly trek. This is where Isaiah's message of Isaiah 53:6 comes in "All are like sheep have gone astray (lacking the knowledge of their identity and origin); We have turned, everyone, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity (H5771 of H5753 means to turn away, to hide, This in Gen. 3) of us all." For all who come to Jesus in humble humility receive forgiveness. The promise of "rest" is fulfilled.

The second promise is addressed to those who have found the initial rest of forgiveness, but their soul is restless. For they are still struggling under the false conception of burden, trying to produce what is freely given, not having yet realized their own efforts of trying through the fleshly resources....ie, church of man's religious forms. "Are you so foolish? Have you begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? (Gal. 3:3) They yearn for a rescue from the crushing load of walking according to the flesh. "Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Rom. 7:24)

Jesus provides the answer in Mat. 11:26-30, which allows us to take part in the benefits of this promise, we must be "yoked to the LORD for our learning of Him." This yoke is not like that of beginning yoked to an ox. For His yoke is easy and His burden is light. As we learn of HIM! This walk is a communion of an abiding relationship of Love unfeigned within the LORD and this second promise is then fulfilled. And remember that this is also hidden in Gen. 1, where our origin and identity began.