Who Is the Image of the Invisible God, The Firstborn of Every Creature? - Part 1158

"Having therefore, brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus --- by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, His flesh." (Hebrews 10:19-20)

"The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all WAS NOT YET MADE MANIFEST while as the first tabernacle was yet standing." (Hebrews 9:8)

We live in an age where access to the scriptures is virtually unlimited and yet too often we receive our gospel from those around us -- our peers and leaders within the modern day religious culture -- instead of searching His Word for ourselves. It is no wonder we remain in a state of confusion. This needs to change.  Each and every one of us needs to open the scriptures and study what we believe for ourselves, accepting that the Word (which is truth) truly sanctifies us. (John 17:17) Sanctified through the blood that Jesus shed on the cross, and through His body broken for us. (I Peter 3:15; Hebrews 10:12-14; I Corinthians 1:2)

Why is this important? Because it appears that even with the abundance of knowledge available to us in this day and age, there are still believers in Jesus by faith with very little understanding of the most basic gospel truths. A perfect example is the difference between the "covenant of ordinances of divine service and a worldly sanctuary" and the new testament which was paid with blood -- "by the sacrifice of Himself." (Hebrews 9:26)

Almighty God Himself took on a sin-prone flesh so that we who were afar might know His love and mercy firsthand. "God manifest in the flesh." (I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6)

Therefore, if the Word of God is true and the infallible Word of God (as we observe in many religious statements of faith), we need to believe also that the scriptures are indeed the Word of God. The same Word that was in the beginning with God was God. The same Word which willingly became flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory) so that we could be clothed in His righteousness. (John 1-18)

"One Lord, One faith, One baptism. One God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all." (Ephesians 4:4-5)

"And for this cause, He is the Mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament [is] of the power after men are dead; otherwise, it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood." (Hebrews 9:15-18)

"Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness; that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." (Romans 3:25)

"And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself, by Him ... in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight if you continue in the faith ..." (Colossians 1:20-21)

The mystery that was hid in the bosom of the Father from the beginning of the world.

"Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is NONE other name under heaven given whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) None other name! And just to make the "name" perfectly clear, let's read the account and context of this scriptural passage so that we are not persuaded to believe "another gospel." (Galatians 1:8-9)

Reading from Acts 4:

And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead, and they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day, for it was  now eventide. Howbeit, many of them which heard the Word believed, and the number of the men was about five thousand.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers and elders and scribes, and Annas the high priest, and Caiphas and John and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?"

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, "Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel. If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man,,by what means he is made whole -- be it known unto you all and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by Him doth this man stand here before you whole." (Acts 4:1-10)

"THIS IS THE STONE WHICH WAS SET AT NOUGHT OF YOU BUILDERS, WHICH IS BECOME THE HEAD OF THE CORNER. NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER, FOR THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED." (Acts 4:11-12)

What was the reaction of the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees, when they saw the boldness of Peter and John? Since they perceived them to be "unlearned and ignorant men" they marveled. But what else? These wannabe accusers could say nothing against it because there in the midst was the man which was healed standing with them.

This is why believers can trust the Word of God to be true. JESUS -- the ONLY name given under heaven in this dispensation of grace whereby we MUST be saved. (Acts 4:12)

Moreover, as we read here, the apostles knew in whom they had found salvation. Because when they were freed and commanded through threatening them that they neither speak or teach  henceforth to no man in this name -- the name of Jesus -- what did the apostles do?

"But Peter and John answered and said unto them, "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge thee. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:19)

So when they had further threatened the [apostles], they let them go finding nothing how they might punish them because of the people, for all [men] glorified God for that which was done. For the man was about forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed. And being let go, they went to their own company and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, "Lord, Thou art God, which hast made heaven and earth and the sea and all that in them is ..."

Let's read that again.

"And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, "LORD, THOU ART GOD, WHICH HAST MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IN THEM IS." (Acts 4:24)

"Who by the mouth of Thy servant David hast said, "Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The Kings of the earth stood up and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against His Christ."

"For of a truth against Thy holy child Jesus, whom Thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel  were gathered together. For to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done, and now Lord, behold their threatenings and grant unto Thy servants that with all boldness they may speak Thy Word -- by stretching forth Thine hand to heal, and that the signs and wonders may be done BY THE NAME OF THY HOLY CHILD JESUS." (Acts 4:27-30)

And when they prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and they spake the Word of God with boldness." (Acts 4:1-31)

Who did they preach? What was the name? The authority?

The precious name of Jesus. The one and only God and Father of all. The King of kings and Lord of lords. Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

Like the apostles, we need to know in whom we serve because (as Jesus said) -- He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. "No man cometh to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6)

We need as well to be shaken and filled with the Holy Ghost so that we too can proclaim the Word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31) So that our heart's desire (like the apostles) is that we "cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:20)

"Having therefore, brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus --- by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, His flesh." (Hebrews 10:19-20)

Is it right to hearken unto men more than unto God? The apostles said it right -- "Judge ye." (Acts 4:19)  But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord God Almighty, who loved us enough to shed His precious holy blood on the cross so that we might have life more abundantly. Precious be His name!

JESUS -- the image of the invisible God. The firstborn of every creature.

Study the scriptures to show thyself approved unto God, as a workman doth. Stand in the offering plate!