Ye Men of Galilee, Why Stand Ye Gazing Up Into Heaven? - Part 1499

"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)

"Until the day in which He [Jesus] was taken up, after that He [Jesus] through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen; to whom He shewed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible roofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God." (Acts 1:2)

"Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." (Acts 2:36)

Sadly, the false modern day religious culture errs in its understanding of the Godhead and/or the doctrine of Christ. (Hebrews 6:1-2) In part, these rely on the long standing traditions of men, but there is also a determination of sorts to highlight a few verses to support their belief in a false tri-une God. In so doing, far too many are being led astray, unaware of how far the Lord God would go to redeem us because of His abundant love for His beloved creation.

As background, the Levitical sacrifices of the old covenant were intended to teach men about sin and the cost of forgiveness. Therein, there was ordinances and sacrifices intended to cover the sins of the people. In the new testament, God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory, "whom we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ." (Colossians 1:27-29)

Between the two, a contrast emerges between the ordinances of old and the shadow of the heavenly things to come. (Hebrews 8:5) The Holy Ghost this signifying that the way into the holiness of all was not yet made manifest while as the first tabernacle was yet standing, which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices that could not make him that did the sacrifice perfect, as pertaining to the conscience. (Hebrews 9:1-13)

"But Christ being come as high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of the building, neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us." (Hebrews 9:11-18)

"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." (Hebrews 9:15-19)

Who is the He spoken of here? God Almighty coming forth as a mighty man. (Isaiah 42:13; Isaiah 9:6) God offered Himself, becoming the perfect sacrifice once at the end of the ages for the purpose of putting away sin once and for all.

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation." (Hebrews 9:24-26).

"After the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared ..." (Titus 3:4-7)

This is why Jesus said, "If ye don't believe that I am He, ye will die in your sins." (John 8:24)

Because if we reject the Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ, and His sacrifice on the cross, we deny the goodness and mercy and love of the Lord. We reject His plan of salvation that He Himself personally delivered so that we might be saved. Thus, as a believer, we need to seek the Lord of glory through His Word (so that the Spirit and the Word agree -- John 3), so that we do not stumble (too!) when it comes to understanding who Jesus was, and how He before the foundation of the world had decided in this last time to become as one of us in the world.

"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)

And, as Isaiah had prophesied afore "I was found of them that sought Me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after Me." But to Israel He saith, "All day long I have stretched forth My hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people." (Romans 10:20-21; Isaiah 65:1-2)

Does this mean that God has cast away His people which He foreknew? Of course not. Even now in this present time, there is a remnant according to the election of grace, and if by grace, then it is no more of works; otherwise, grace is no more grace." (Romans 11:1-6)

But because of the fall of Israel and their refusal to accept Jesus as both Lord and Christ, salvation is come unto us -- the Gentiles. (Acts 2:36)

"For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief. Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief that He might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and His ways past finding out!

For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been His counsellor? Or who hath first given to Him and it shall be recompensed unto Him again? For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things; to whom be glory forever, Amen." (Romans 11:30-36)

One Lord who personally delivered His plan of salvation so that you and I could experience His love in our hearts. His glory shining in our hearts. His peace and joy that surpasses all human understanding.

"And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ ... that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." (Galatians 3:17-22)

The Word that was with God and was God in the beginning was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. The SAME was in the beginning with God. Not another G/god as the false trinity doctrine teaches. The same ONE Lord who created us in the beginning -- He prepared Himself a body - so that He could become the perfect sacrifice for you and I. (John 1:1-2, 14; Ephesians 4:5-6; Hebrews 10:5-7)

"Wherefore when He cometh 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." (Hebrews 10:5-7)

"But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased Him, and to every seed His own body." (I Corinthians 15:38)

"For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are complete in Him which is the Head of all principality and power." (Colossians 2:9-10)

"All things were made by Him and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not." (John 1:1-4)

How do we know? When the stone was rolled away from the tomb, the angel of the Lord descended from heaven to announce that the Jesus they/we seek which was crucified is no longer in the tomb. "Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here for He is risen, as He said, "Come, see the place where the Lord lay" and go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead: and, behold, He goes before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him: lo, I have told you." (Matthew 28:1-7)

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, and let Him reveal to you the mystery that was held in the bosom of the Father from the beginning of the world. The mystery of God becoming our Saviour so that we might have life in Him. Don't let the cornerstone become your stumbling block and stop believing that the traditions of men supersedes the Word of God.

Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes unto the Father but by Me. If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also; and from henceforth ye know Him and have seen Him."

Stand in the offering plate.