" ... according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledging of the truth, which is after godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; but hath in due times manifested His Word through preaching ... which is committed unto me [Paul] according to the commandment of God our Saviour." (Titus 1:1-2)
We who are rooted in Christ Jesus by faith and continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine know that His witness is true. (Acts 2:36-47) For the life was manifested, as the apostles have both heard and declared, that we might have fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, under the instruction and guidance of the Holy Ghost -- the Comforter -- wherein, after Jesus was taken up, He THROUGH the Holy Ghost gave commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen. (Acts 1:2-3)
And "whoso keeps His Word, in him verily is the love of God perfected; hereby know we are in Him." (I John 2:5) It is in this context that we are sanctified by truth -- for Thy Word is truth. (John 17:17)
Why is this important? Because these things wrote the apostles unto us, that our joy may be full. (I John 1:4) Indeed, Jesus told His disciples, those who believed on Him and continued in His commandments, "These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." (John 15:11) But there is more.
To this end, and throughout the new testament, Jesus is revealed unto us as both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) We see this same Jesus -- identified in places as the Son of man -- also identified as the Lord of glory; the Lord of the sabbath. (Matthew 25:31; Mark 2:28) The first Adam earthly, but the second, the Lord from heaven. The only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords. (I Timothy 6:15) The great I AM. (John 8:58) The living God. The Word made flesh and dwelt among us so that we could behold His glory. (John 1:1-14)
" ... of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:13-14)
This new testament commandment recognized in the scriptures as the doctrine of Christ -- the doctrine of the Lord -- but sadly, rarely spoken of in the modern day traditions of men. (II John 2:9; Hebrews 6:1-2; I Timothy 6:11-12) The doctrine which is according to godliness. (I Timothy 6:3; II Timothy 1:13-14; Titus 1:1-3) The mystery which was held in the bosom of the Father from the foundation of the world, until He said unto Him, "Thou art My Son, today have I begotten Thee!" (Hebrews 5:5; Psalm 2:7; Hebrews 1:5; John 8:54-58) The doctrine of the Lord that left some astonished -- as the scriptures attest. (Acts 13:12)
That is, "without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: that 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)
"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)
An extension of the first commandment which states, "Hear O Israel, the Lord thy God is One Lord ..." -- to now (in these last times) when this same God, after His love and kindness, willingly became our Saviour, reconciling us unto Himself after His own counsel. (Titus 3:4-7; Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31)
As John wrote in his epistle: "Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the Word which ye have heard from the beginning, A new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in Him and in you; because the darkness is past, and the true Light now shines." (I John 2:7-8) Who is this Light?
We know from the words Jesus spoke, "I am the Light of the world: he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)
And again, Jesus said, "As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world." (John 9:5)
"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world ..." (Philippians 2:15)
"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world ..." (Philippians 2:15)
Yes, the life that was manifested, and witnessed/handled by the apostles is a commandment to be understood -- the Godhead in all fullness for us to behold. One God who suffered from the beginning of time, knowing that He had to become our Saviour. Now we know that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation. for you and I. His precious holy blood having paid the price for our sins.
"As also in all [His] epistles, speaking in them of these things in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they] do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." (II Peter 3:15-16)
So, again, what is the doctrine of godliness? Clearly stated, "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)
"And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect."(Galatians 3:17)
"This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not know the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." (I John 1:7)
This explains why the apostles who walked with Jesus daily could declare (after He was risen from the dead) -- that which was from the very beginning -- because these had heard, and these had seen with their own 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 shew unto you the Father and was manifested unto us; that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and [with] His Son Jesus Christ."
This day have I begotten Thee ... so that by Jesus, every man, woman, and child can receive forgiveness of sins, knowing that Jesus indeed was the prophesied Emmanuel of the old testament, which, being interpreted is, "God with us." (Matthew 1:21-23)
And because He decidedly paid the ultimate price on that cross, our hearts desire to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever, amen." (II Peter 3:18)
Stand in the offering plate.
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