Behold the Lamb of God - Part 892

"Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but He reveals His secret unto His servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7)

Under the old covenant, God revealed His secret(s) unto His servants the prophets. This includes revealing His purposes and determinate counsel which would never have been known (or expected) if the Lord God had not revealed what He willed to do through the prophets.  In this former dispensation (known as the old testament), His servants (or more specifically, prophets) were considered holy men of God -- those who feared the Lord -- who even in the worst of occasions, would proclaim God's will to the people. As such, there was never a time when the people were not warned of the things which were to come.

For example, God revealed to Noah his need to build an ark so that when the world would be flooded because of sin, both he and his family would be saved. Similarly, God revealed to Abraham the destruction of cities Sodom and Gomorrah because of their transgressions against God. 

"And the Lord said, "Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?" -- seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him." (Genesis 18:17-33) 

God also shared with Jeremiah the seventy years of captivity that the Jews would endure in Babylon and then to Isaiah their deliverance. In other words, everything that God would do (under the old covenant) was proclaimed through His servants/prophets so that the people in this dispensation could repent of their ways and turn to the Lord.

"And the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name -- and they shall be mine," saith the Lord of hosts, "in that day when I make up my jewels and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serves him." (Malachi 3:16-17)

It is here that we come to the Lord's servant John the Baptist preaching to the people in the wilderness of Judaea, saying, "Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 3:1-2) 

"For this is He that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias (Isaiah), saying; "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS -- PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD. MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT." (Matthew 3:3; Isaiah 40:3; Luke 1:76) 

As we continue reading, we see that John delivers an even stronger message to the Pharisees and Sadducees as they came to watch those being baptized in the Jordan, confessing their sins. John said, 

"O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance; and think not to say within yourselves .... "We have Abraham our father" for I say unto you, "that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." 

"And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees; therefore every tree which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He that comes after me is mightier than I -- whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire -- whose [winnowing] fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge his floor and gather His wheat into the garner but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (Matthew 3:4-12; Mark 1:18; Acts 1:4-5; Joel 2:28)

Herein, John is referring to the mystery that was decided before the world was shaped and who was about to be manifest for all the world to behold. That is, the Lamb of God.

"And to make ALL men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ; to the intent that now unto 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." (Ephesians 3:9-11)

In the old covenant, "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by prophets, and has in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" until "Thou hast put all things in subjection under His feet." (Hebrews 1:1-14; Hebrews 2:8)

This is why Jesus said, "For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was anything kept secret, but that it should come abroad." (Mark 4:22) "Even the mystery which has been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints." (Colossians 1:26)

The mystery of godliness that was decided from the very beginning of the world -- and had been revealed to His loyal servants and prophets in the old covenant so that these could prophesy of that which was still to come, had finally come to fruition, bringing forth His glory to all nations. 

"Of which salvation the prophets have enquired, and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you; searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand of the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow ... unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, which things the angels desire to look into." (I Peter 1:10-12)

In these last days, God reveals Himself to the world as a Son. 

"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God ... the same was in the beginning with God -- all things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made -- and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1:1-14)

John confirmed Jesus to be the Saviour when he wrote: "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him ... behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. " (John 1:15-36)

"In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins; who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature --- for by Him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth ... and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist." (Colossians 1:12-26)

"God with us." (Matthew 1:23) "And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (I Timothy 3:16)

Thus, the greatest love story ever told began -- a new testament -- whereby we could become heirs and joint heirs with Him when we believe in our Lord God and Saviour with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God, for ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry "Abba, Father." The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit -- that we are the children of God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8:1-39)

This is why when Jesus died, the veil was ripped from top to bottom. Our Lord God and Father willingly became our Saviour so that we as His friends and not servants could experience His love, His grace and His mercy. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him, and He will show them His covenant." (Psalm 25:14)

"Henceforth, I call you not servants; for the servant knows not what his lord does, but I have called you friends -- for all things that I have heard of My Father, I have made known unto you." (John 15:15)

Therefore, in this current dispensation of grace, God reveals Himself (and the mysteries of the good news gospel) through His Word -- Jesus the Christ. 

Jesus said, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14:26; Luke 24:48-49; I Corinthians 2:13)

Jesus is the only mediator between God and man. (I Timothy 2:5) Therefore, we no longer have to rely on another to teach us, because as believers who seek His righteousness, Jesus lives within. And when we are baptized in His name (Acts 2:38-42), we receive His power and authority. 

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received -- how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was buried and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures, and that He was seen of Cephas, and of the twelve; after that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, He was seen of James; then of all the apostles, and last of all, He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time." (I Corinthians 15:1-9)

After this, no man saw Jesus again in this world. This is why there are no longer prophets or priests, or any other intermediary who can stand between us and our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ ... because He Himself (who knew no sin) became the propitiation for our sins on the cross. 

This also explains why "we also have a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man -- but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (II Peter 1:19-21) 

It is the same today, except that God reveals Himself to us (both individually and as a collective) through His Spirit that leads and guides us into all truth. This is why we study the Word to show ourselves approved. "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the Word of life -- (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested unto us;) that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you ..." (I John 1:1-3)

As you ponder these spiritual matters further, read the Word so that you will grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and praise both now and forever. Let him that hath ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.