If we "hear ye Him" and are water baptized in His precious name -- the Name of Jesus, we shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 17:5; Luke 9:35; Acts 2:36-38; John 4:24; John 14:6; John 5:24)
Jesus then is the promise for us in this generation that was prophesied from afore. And we see this in Hebrews 11, when those having obtained a good report through faith had not received the promise; "God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." (Hebrews 11:39-40)
Before the cross, the prophets and the psalmist both declare God's resolution to come forth as a mighty man. (Isaiah 42:13; Isaiah 9:6) Both prophesied of the wondrous redemption by our Lord Jesus Christ. As the promised Messiah, He was prophesied to be set apart as a Mediator and High Priest.
On the new testament side: "Wherefore when He comes into the world, He saith, "Sacrifice and offering Thou would not, but a body hast Thou prepared Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin, Thou hast had no pleasure." Then said I, "Lo, I come in the volume of the book, it is written of Me,) to do Thy will, O God ... He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (Hebrews 10:5-10)
This same message earlier confirmed by the psalmist, who wrote: "Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not desire; mine ears hast Thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast Thou not required. Then said I, "Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of Me. I delight to do Thy will, O my God; yea, Thy law is within my heart. I have preached righteousness in the great congregation; lo, I have not refrained my lips. O Lord, Thou know. I have not hid Thy righteousness in my heart. I have declared Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation. I have not concealed Thy loving kindness and Thy truth from the great congregation." (Psalm 40:6-10)
When the Word is spoken, we can expect to see a confirmation, because God is not the Author of confusion. He orchestrated His plan of salvation in such as way that no one could be without excuse. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6)
But not everyone accepted Jesus, and we can see how this grieved apostle Paul. In Romans 9, for example, Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God which He had promised afore by His prophets in the holy scriptures is writing to all that be in Rome, the beloved of God, called to be saints. And by extension, to us in this current generation -- including those who are afar off in the distance. (Acts 2:36-39)
As a comparison, Paul opened with a similar thought when he wrote to the saints in Corinth. That is, Paul writes: "I call God for a record upon my soul .... not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy; for by faith ye stand." (II Corinthians 1:23-24)
In writing, Paul is sharing the truth with us -- "as a helper" in our faith, wherein we can be joyful, regardless of the circumstances in which we find ourselves in. Paul is sharing his insights in the same fashion in Romans 9, from the standpoint of helping us to understand the inclusiveness of God's perfect plan of salvation -- offered to one and all -- all flesh in this day and age.
"But the Word of the Lord endures for ever. And this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you." (I Peter 1:24-25)
But as we read in the scriptures, not everyone accepted Jesus as the King of kings -- God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16; Matthew 1:21-23) Not everyone accepted Jesus as the prophesied I AM.
Paul opens by stating: "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: who are Israelite's; to whom pertains the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the Law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen." (Romans 9:1-5)
As we see Paul never gave up on God's original call to His people. Indeed, his heart was heavy and note "continually sorrowful" that his own kinsmen rejected Jesus -- who is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) These rejected the guideposts in prophecy and the psalms that repeatedly pointed to Jesus -- and foretold of that great day when the Lamb of God would walk among us.
"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)
In other words, His own rejected the promised Lamb of God as their Lord God and Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7)
"Ye are the children of the prophets and of the [old/first] covenant made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, "And in thy Seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up His Son [Servant] Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away everyone of you from his iniquities." (Acts 3:25-26)
And to Moses, "A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto Me; Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you." (Acts 3:22-23; Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Exodus 32:32; Exodus 4:22; Psalm 147:19; ; Hebrews 9:1-6)
"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 ... and for this cause, He is the Mediator of the new testament!" (Hebrews 9:8-18)
" ... and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ [came], who is over all God blessed forever, Amen." (Romans 9:5; Luke 1:34-35; Luke 3:23; Jeremiah 23:6)
But Paul did not give up. He wrote:
"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved, for I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God ... for Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believes." (Romans 10:1-4)
Herein, Paul is pointing to the new "Israel of God" emerging within the new testament -- whereby in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." (Galatians 6:14-16)
"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." (I Corinthians 12:27)
Paul opens by stating: "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: who are Israelite's; to whom pertains the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the Law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen." (Romans 9:1-5)
As we see Paul never gave up on God's original call to His people. Indeed, his heart was heavy and note "continually sorrowful" that his own kinsmen rejected Jesus -- who is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) These rejected the guideposts in prophecy and the psalms that repeatedly pointed to Jesus -- and foretold of that great day when the Lamb of God would walk among us.
"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)
In other words, His own rejected the promised Lamb of God as their Lord God and Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7)
"Ye are the children of the prophets and of the [old/first] covenant made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, "And in thy Seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up His Son [Servant] Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away everyone of you from his iniquities." (Acts 3:25-26)
And to Moses, "A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto Me; Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you." (Acts 3:22-23; Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Exodus 32:32; Exodus 4:22; Psalm 147:19; ; Hebrews 9:1-6)
"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 ... and for this cause, He is the Mediator of the new testament!" (Hebrews 9:8-18)
" ... and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ [came], who is over all God blessed forever, Amen." (Romans 9:5; Luke 1:34-35; Luke 3:23; Jeremiah 23:6)
But Paul did not give up. He wrote:
"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved, for I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God ... for Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believes." (Romans 10:1-4)
Herein, Paul is pointing to the new "Israel of God" emerging within the new testament -- whereby in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." (Galatians 6:14-16)
"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." (I Corinthians 12:27)
"And He is the Head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] He might have the preeminence." (Colossians 1:18)
In this, Paul displayed some hope. He writes:
"Not as though the Word of God hath taken none effect, for they are not all Israel, which are of Israel. Neither because they are the Seed of Abraham are they all children but, in Isaac shall Thy Seed be called. That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted for the Seed. For this is the Word of promise ..." (Romans 9:6-9)
In Galatians, Paul takes this point one step further.
"Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, "In thee shall all nations be blessed" (Galatians 3:8-9)
How did this all come about?
"For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bond maid, the other by a free woman. But he who was of the bond woman was born after the flesh; but he of the free woman was by promise. Which things are an allegory; for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which genders to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all."
For it is written, "Rejoice thou barren that bear not; break forth and cry, thou that travail not; for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband." Now we brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless, what saith the scripture?
"Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman." So then, brethren were are not the children of the bondwoman but of the free." (Galatians 4:22-31; Genesis 16:15; Genesis 18:10-14; Genesis 21:2, 9-10; Hebrews 11:11; Deuteronomy 33:2; Isaiah 2:2; Isaiah 54:1; Galatians 3:8, 22, 29; Acts 3:25; Galatians 5:11; John 8:35)
This is why we are instructed to stand fast in the liberty wherewith we are in Christ. "Looking unto Jesus, the Author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself ..." (Hebrews 12:2-3)
But in spite of "so great a cloud of witnesses" these still did not believe, and as Jesus said, "If ye believe not that I AM [He], ye shall die in your sins." (John 8:24)
But I digress. Paul continues to detail and confirm Jesus as the prophesied promise.
FOR THIS IS THE WORD OF PROMISE --"At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son." (Romans 9:9; Genesis 18:10-14)
"And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calls). It was said unto her, "The elder shall serve the younger." As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated." (Romans 9:9-13; Genesis 25:21; Romans 4:17; Romans 8:28; Genesis 25:23)
This is why we have so very much to be thankful for, that if we shall confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we shall be saved. "For with the heart man believes unto righteousness: and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, "Whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed." For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the SAME LORD over all is rich unto all that call upon Him." (Romans 10:9-13)
"Therefore, it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the Law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of all. (As it is written, "I have made thee a father of many nations) before Him whom he believed, [even] God who quickens the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they were, who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, "So shall thy seed be."
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb; he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in the faith, giving glory to God, and being fully persuaded that what He had promised, He was able to perform. And therefore, "it was imputed to Him for righteousness." (Galatians 3:16-25)
What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For He saith to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shews mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, "Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew My power in thee, and that My name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore, hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardens.
Thou wilt say then unto me, "Why doth He yet find fault? For who hath resisted His will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, "Why hast thou made me thus?" Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew His wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom He hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
As He saith also in Osee, "I will call them My people, which were not My people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, "Ye are not My people; there shall they be called the children of the living God."
Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved. For He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. And as Esaias said before, "Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a Seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the Law of righteousness, hath not attained to the Law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the Law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone;
As it is written, "Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed." (Romans 9:1-33)
The Seed that was to come forth as a mighty man was not another G/god or a lesser G/god as some suggest. (Isaiah 42:13; Isaiah 9:6) Indeed, this Seed was the One and Only God who created us in the beginning. In God does dwell pure humanity. Just like the scriptures state -- Adam and Eve were intended originally to be a visible created form in the image of God. Unfortunately, the devil showed up and caused a detour in the original plan.
But the good news is that the hiccup in the plan (devised by satan) was not an unknown to God. How do we know this? For it is written that JESUS - the Lamb slain before the foundation of the earth - would at an appointed time be manifest in the flesh purposely to destroy the work of the devil.
"The first man is of the earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven." (I Corinthians 15:47)
The Lord Himself coming forth as a mighty man. (Isaiah 42:13)
"Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection of the dead, by whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for HIS NAME. Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ." (Romans 1:1-6)
"Who God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. To declare, [I say] at this time His righteousness; that He might be just and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus." (Romans 3:25-26)
This is why Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6)
Because as Jesus also said, "I and My Father are One." (John 10:30)
Thus, just as God is not three distinct and separate persons, neither are you and I. We are spirit beings veiled in flesh, born as male or female from two seeds. These two seeds are thus knit together in one individual - a spiritual individual who during his or her lifetime is capable of manifesting their individuality in three expressive ways - as a son/daughter, as a father/mother and as a spirit/friend. You see - you never were three persons and cannot be misconstrued as three individuals. More important to this discussion, we are created in the image of God!
"In the beginning, God ..." (Genesis 1:1)
Still, as we know from the scriptures, even the Jews knew the prophesies and psalms found within the Old Testament. Jesus acknowledged that they had the scriptures. Repeatedly, Jesus quoted the scriptures to the Jews saying many times, "Have you not read?" And, similarly, "It is written." And yet it often seems that the Bible is the most misunderstood book in all the world simply because the natural man does not understand or comprehend the things of God. Even the chosen apostles had to have their understanding opened by Jesus for they were also at the time without understanding.
Nevertheless, throughout the ages, there have been those who have flocked to hear and see Jesus expressed His Word with such authority and wisdom. Why? Because there are those who understand that the life of God was manifested in the flesh so that we might be saved.
The question is this. Are you being deceived? You do not have to be. Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Holy Ghost whose SEED was conceived into the womb of a willing surrogate named Mary who herself expressed that her spirit rejoiced in God her Saviour.
There is only ONE GOD and only one Mediator between God and man. That ONE Mediator being none other than the One known as the Son [or servant] in the scriptures. His Name is JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21-23)
This call includes those who have for far too long rejected Jesus as their Lord God and Saviour. Don't delay any longer, for today -- if you harden not your heart -- is the day of salvation. Stand in the offering plate.
"Not as though the Word of God hath taken none effect, for they are not all Israel, which are of Israel. Neither because they are the Seed of Abraham are they all children but, in Isaac shall Thy Seed be called. That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted for the Seed. For this is the Word of promise ..." (Romans 9:6-9)
In Galatians, Paul takes this point one step further.
"Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, "In thee shall all nations be blessed" (Galatians 3:8-9)
How did this all come about?
"For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bond maid, the other by a free woman. But he who was of the bond woman was born after the flesh; but he of the free woman was by promise. Which things are an allegory; for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which genders to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all."
For it is written, "Rejoice thou barren that bear not; break forth and cry, thou that travail not; for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband." Now we brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless, what saith the scripture?
"Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman." So then, brethren were are not the children of the bondwoman but of the free." (Galatians 4:22-31; Genesis 16:15; Genesis 18:10-14; Genesis 21:2, 9-10; Hebrews 11:11; Deuteronomy 33:2; Isaiah 2:2; Isaiah 54:1; Galatians 3:8, 22, 29; Acts 3:25; Galatians 5:11; John 8:35)
This is why we are instructed to stand fast in the liberty wherewith we are in Christ. "Looking unto Jesus, the Author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself ..." (Hebrews 12:2-3)
But in spite of "so great a cloud of witnesses" these still did not believe, and as Jesus said, "If ye believe not that I AM [He], ye shall die in your sins." (John 8:24)
But I digress. Paul continues to detail and confirm Jesus as the prophesied promise.
FOR THIS IS THE WORD OF PROMISE --"At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son." (Romans 9:9; Genesis 18:10-14)
"And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calls). It was said unto her, "The elder shall serve the younger." As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated." (Romans 9:9-13; Genesis 25:21; Romans 4:17; Romans 8:28; Genesis 25:23)
This is why we have so very much to be thankful for, that if we shall confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we shall be saved. "For with the heart man believes unto righteousness: and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, "Whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed." For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the SAME LORD over all is rich unto all that call upon Him." (Romans 10:9-13)
"Therefore, it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the Law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of all. (As it is written, "I have made thee a father of many nations) before Him whom he believed, [even] God who quickens the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they were, who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, "So shall thy seed be."
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb; he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in the faith, giving glory to God, and being fully persuaded that what He had promised, He was able to perform. And therefore, "it was imputed to Him for righteousness." (Galatians 3:16-25)
What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For He saith to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shews mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, "Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew My power in thee, and that My name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore, hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardens.
Thou wilt say then unto me, "Why doth He yet find fault? For who hath resisted His will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, "Why hast thou made me thus?" Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew His wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom He hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
As He saith also in Osee, "I will call them My people, which were not My people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, "Ye are not My people; there shall they be called the children of the living God."
Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved. For He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. And as Esaias said before, "Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a Seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the Law of righteousness, hath not attained to the Law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the Law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone;
As it is written, "Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed." (Romans 9:1-33)
The Seed that was to come forth as a mighty man was not another G/god or a lesser G/god as some suggest. (Isaiah 42:13; Isaiah 9:6) Indeed, this Seed was the One and Only God who created us in the beginning. In God does dwell pure humanity. Just like the scriptures state -- Adam and Eve were intended originally to be a visible created form in the image of God. Unfortunately, the devil showed up and caused a detour in the original plan.
But the good news is that the hiccup in the plan (devised by satan) was not an unknown to God. How do we know this? For it is written that JESUS - the Lamb slain before the foundation of the earth - would at an appointed time be manifest in the flesh purposely to destroy the work of the devil.
"The first man is of the earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven." (I Corinthians 15:47)
The Lord Himself coming forth as a mighty man. (Isaiah 42:13)
"Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection of the dead, by whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for HIS NAME. Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ." (Romans 1:1-6)
"Who God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. To declare, [I say] at this time His righteousness; that He might be just and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus." (Romans 3:25-26)
This is why Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6)
Because as Jesus also said, "I and My Father are One." (John 10:30)
Thus, just as God is not three distinct and separate persons, neither are you and I. We are spirit beings veiled in flesh, born as male or female from two seeds. These two seeds are thus knit together in one individual - a spiritual individual who during his or her lifetime is capable of manifesting their individuality in three expressive ways - as a son/daughter, as a father/mother and as a spirit/friend. You see - you never were three persons and cannot be misconstrued as three individuals. More important to this discussion, we are created in the image of God!
"In the beginning, God ..." (Genesis 1:1)
Still, as we know from the scriptures, even the Jews knew the prophesies and psalms found within the Old Testament. Jesus acknowledged that they had the scriptures. Repeatedly, Jesus quoted the scriptures to the Jews saying many times, "Have you not read?" And, similarly, "It is written." And yet it often seems that the Bible is the most misunderstood book in all the world simply because the natural man does not understand or comprehend the things of God. Even the chosen apostles had to have their understanding opened by Jesus for they were also at the time without understanding.
Nevertheless, throughout the ages, there have been those who have flocked to hear and see Jesus expressed His Word with such authority and wisdom. Why? Because there are those who understand that the life of God was manifested in the flesh so that we might be saved.
The question is this. Are you being deceived? You do not have to be. Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Holy Ghost whose SEED was conceived into the womb of a willing surrogate named Mary who herself expressed that her spirit rejoiced in God her Saviour.
There is only ONE GOD and only one Mediator between God and man. That ONE Mediator being none other than the One known as the Son [or servant] in the scriptures. His Name is JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21-23)
This call includes those who have for far too long rejected Jesus as their Lord God and Saviour. Don't delay any longer, for today -- if you harden not your heart -- is the day of salvation. Stand in the offering plate.
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