The prophets of older times endeavoured to confirm a date for when the Spirit of Christ - God’s spiritual humanity - would come to pass, particularly in relation to the sufferings of the Christ (humanity of God) and the glory (outpouring of God’s Spirit) which would follow after the crucifixion of the Christ! (God’s sinless body)
The prophets knew that JESUS would become a Lamb slain because the plan of salvation - Jesus being slain - was constructed prior to the very foundation of the earth ever being established. God had at different times and in various manners spoken to those individuals who were our forefathers. However, in this last dispensation of time - the New Testament - the Spirit of God in these last days has spoken to us by and in and through His Son. This happened when God who is Spirit stepped forth out of Himself in fashion as a visible spiritual Son.
Yes, the same God who is Spirit is the Alpha and Omega (the beginning and the ending) of all. This explains why no man knows the mind of the Lord and no one has been His Counselor. Whatever the Spirit of God determines shall surely come to pass. In this context, God is constantly revealing Himself like a scroll, being rolled out gradually down through the ages like a play with many scenes unfolding.
Therefore, God alone orchestrates the hidden plan whereby even the angels are participants. Note here that the angels too remain in the dark as to the mysterious workings of the Lord. God who is Spirit decides (when counselling with Himself) that He is going to create a visible world, a world in creation that will in visible created form be an exact visible image of the invisible world.
In other words, God who is Spirit came forth of Himself in visible form as a Son. He brought forth His only begotten, the mystery that was held in His bosom from the beginning of time. The same God who is invisible comes forth -- made flesh and thus, visible, appearing as a Son. (John 1:1-18) God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) The beginning of the creation of God being that God the invisible would reveal Himself in created form in these last days.
Note that I say "created form" -- not created. John says -- "made flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:14) He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. (John 1:10-11) The Lord coming forth as a mighty man. (Isaiah 42:13; Isaiah 9:6) The Word that was with God and was God made flesh. Because of His kindness, God became our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7)
In all things then, God must have the pre-eminence. This is why the commandments state that we shall have no other gods before Him. That beside Almighty God, there is no other. One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism.
And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that [Jesus] had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?" And Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is One Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." There is none other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:28-31; Deuteronomy 6:4)
This is why we give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which ye have to all the saints.
"For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the Word of the truth of the gospel, which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringing forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of, and knew the grace of God in truth ... that y might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God -- strengthened with His might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulness, giving thank unto the Father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated into the kingdom of His dear Son 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." (Colossians 1:1-15)
For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether 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 ... AND HE IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH." (Colossians 1:16-18)
Stand in the offering plate.
For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether 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 ... AND HE IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH." (Colossians 1:16-18)
Stand in the offering plate.
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