"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calls you, who also will do." (I Thessalonians 5:23-24)
In the beginning of all things, and even before the creation of man, there was a condition in which all things existed, and wherein also, everything that was made was obedient to God. This included angels who were also obedient to God. Indeed, everything that was created looked upward, praising the Lord God Almighty in all things. This must have been a very blessed time -- (which may explain why the Garden of Eden is likened to paradise) -- somewhat similar to experiencing the pastoral hills in a scenic countryside after a long hard week at work.
But as we understand from the scriptural record, there then came a time when angels rebelled against the governance/government of God. In Isaiah 14:12 specifically, satan is identified as Lucifer -- son of the morning. In substance, the Word says concerning him, "Wast thou not pure and holy UNTIL pride was found in your heart?"
What we are witnessing then is that pride was the condition that generated the inward desire to be separated from God, and also, to rebel against Him. And this is what we see again in the Garden of Eden -- when Adam's pride made him exalt his own will over and above God's Word. It is in this context that we as descendants of Adam have inherited sin -- that same trait instinctively -- to pursue our own desires rather than the Lord of hosts who loved us enough to shed His precious blood on the cross of Calvary. And as a consequence, through this instinctive desire, we walk into misty conceptions concerning the real ways of God.
For clarity, note that scripture states on this side of the cross, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
This "all" includes each and every one of us -- and because of the equalizing that took place as a consequence of Jesus' death and resurrection, now includes both Jew and Gentile, male and female. There is no difference between them. All must believe/repent of their sins and follow Jesus, and adhere to the commandments that He (after the day He was taken up) THROUGH the Holy Ghost gave to His apostles. (Acts 1:2-3; Acts 2:1-47)
But the scripture does not stop with "all have sinned" but continues on stating that for those who believe in Jesus by faith, and have subsequently been water baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus as per Acts 2:36-38, we are "justified by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; whom 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 3:24-25)
It is in this context that as humans -- admittedly, we have very little understanding of the actual nature or substance of God. In fact, Jesus alludes to this when speaking to His disciples about entering into the Kingdom of God -- that "with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:21-26)
This is why the scriptures are important -- because we can know that God is Spirit and similarly understand from Hebrews -- "God, at sundry times and in diverse manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets." And that, in this current dispensation of grace, [considered the fullness of times] God "hath in these last days spoken unto us by [His] Son, whom He hath appointed Heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds, who being the brightness of [His] glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high ..." (Hebrews 1-3)
One heir -- JESUS -- and we are to follow Him. (Matthew 19:21)
But I have digressed somewhat. Note that the Word tells us that God breathed into Adam the breath of life, and that it was at this point that man became a living soul. Indeed, out of love, God made man in His own image. (Genesis 1:27) And this same God made man of the substance of the earth. (Genesis 2:7)
Thus, God did not only create man in form but God breathed into man from His own being. Think about this for a minute. God Almighty who spans the heavens and the earth in His Majesty, with the earth presented as akin to His footstool, breathed into man that heavenly materiality of which God consists. In fact, God breathed Himself into man. And because of this, it can be said that man (as a result) became a composition of heavenly substance.
"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom He had formed." (Genesis 2:7-8)
"And so it is written: The first man Adam was made a living soul ..." (I Corinthians 15:45)
In this context, it becomes evident that Adam was the 'created' son of God. He was pure in all aspects, and thus, God would (and did) fellowship with him in the Garden. As the scriptures state, God walked in the cool of the afternoon with Adam. Yes, God Himself walked with Adam and talked with Adam. What this proves is that there was a time when there was perfect fellowship between God and Adam. Note that at this time, Adam was a sinless man, and as such Adam could look right into the face of God. And neither at this time did Adam's eyes or spirit draw back.
Even more importantly, the purity of God did not startle him, Why? Because he -- Adam was the original man. And we -- as a consequence -- are God's beloved creation -- man having been made from the dust of the earth and then breathed into him the breath of God, giving him life. So, in light of God's magnitude in the beginning, why then is it so difficult for us to believe that the first man was earthly, but the second Adam was the Lord from heaven?
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned; (for until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law -- nevertheless, death reigned from heaven from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of Him that was to come ..." (Romans 5:12-14)
In this same context then, why is it that we struggle comprehending that the ONE TRUE LIVING LORD ALMIGHTY GOD AND FATHER CREATED ALL THINGS BY HIMSELF AND FOR HIMSELF? Or that HE MADE ALL THINGS For HIS very OWN pleasure BY SPEAKING ALL THINGS into EXISTENCE?
And that because of His kindness and love for His beloved creation, HE RECONCILED ALL THINGS Unto HIMSELF, BY [HIS] Son; the man Christ Jesus born of a virgin woman; IN WHOM HE was manifest [revealed] IN THE FLESH. (Titus 3:4-7)
All the fullness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in Christ Jesus. (Colossians 2:9; I Timothy 3:16)) Or, as the scriptures clearly state, God was RECONCILING the world back unto HIMSELF.
THE POWER AND AUTHORITY THAT WAS GIVEN IS THE ONE AND ONLY HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD WHO IS THE FATHER HIMSELF. His Name is JESUS, and He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21-23; Acts 4:12)
Thus, seek ye the Lord while He may still be found. Look unto the Lord who is the God of our salvation. Search the scriptures for His wisdom and knowledge. Stand in the offering plate.
In the beginning of all things, and even before the creation of man, there was a condition in which all things existed, and wherein also, everything that was made was obedient to God. This included angels who were also obedient to God. Indeed, everything that was created looked upward, praising the Lord God Almighty in all things. This must have been a very blessed time -- (which may explain why the Garden of Eden is likened to paradise) -- somewhat similar to experiencing the pastoral hills in a scenic countryside after a long hard week at work.
But as we understand from the scriptural record, there then came a time when angels rebelled against the governance/government of God. In Isaiah 14:12 specifically, satan is identified as Lucifer -- son of the morning. In substance, the Word says concerning him, "Wast thou not pure and holy UNTIL pride was found in your heart?"
What we are witnessing then is that pride was the condition that generated the inward desire to be separated from God, and also, to rebel against Him. And this is what we see again in the Garden of Eden -- when Adam's pride made him exalt his own will over and above God's Word. It is in this context that we as descendants of Adam have inherited sin -- that same trait instinctively -- to pursue our own desires rather than the Lord of hosts who loved us enough to shed His precious blood on the cross of Calvary. And as a consequence, through this instinctive desire, we walk into misty conceptions concerning the real ways of God.
For clarity, note that scripture states on this side of the cross, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
This "all" includes each and every one of us -- and because of the equalizing that took place as a consequence of Jesus' death and resurrection, now includes both Jew and Gentile, male and female. There is no difference between them. All must believe/repent of their sins and follow Jesus, and adhere to the commandments that He (after the day He was taken up) THROUGH the Holy Ghost gave to His apostles. (Acts 1:2-3; Acts 2:1-47)
But the scripture does not stop with "all have sinned" but continues on stating that for those who believe in Jesus by faith, and have subsequently been water baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus as per Acts 2:36-38, we are "justified by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; whom 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 3:24-25)
It is in this context that as humans -- admittedly, we have very little understanding of the actual nature or substance of God. In fact, Jesus alludes to this when speaking to His disciples about entering into the Kingdom of God -- that "with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:21-26)
This is why the scriptures are important -- because we can know that God is Spirit and similarly understand from Hebrews -- "God, at sundry times and in diverse manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets." And that, in this current dispensation of grace, [considered the fullness of times] God "hath in these last days spoken unto us by [His] Son, whom He hath appointed Heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds, who being the brightness of [His] glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high ..." (Hebrews 1-3)
One heir -- JESUS -- and we are to follow Him. (Matthew 19:21)
But I have digressed somewhat. Note that the Word tells us that God breathed into Adam the breath of life, and that it was at this point that man became a living soul. Indeed, out of love, God made man in His own image. (Genesis 1:27) And this same God made man of the substance of the earth. (Genesis 2:7)
Thus, God did not only create man in form but God breathed into man from His own being. Think about this for a minute. God Almighty who spans the heavens and the earth in His Majesty, with the earth presented as akin to His footstool, breathed into man that heavenly materiality of which God consists. In fact, God breathed Himself into man. And because of this, it can be said that man (as a result) became a composition of heavenly substance.
"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom He had formed." (Genesis 2:7-8)
"And so it is written: The first man Adam was made a living soul ..." (I Corinthians 15:45)
In this context, it becomes evident that Adam was the 'created' son of God. He was pure in all aspects, and thus, God would (and did) fellowship with him in the Garden. As the scriptures state, God walked in the cool of the afternoon with Adam. Yes, God Himself walked with Adam and talked with Adam. What this proves is that there was a time when there was perfect fellowship between God and Adam. Note that at this time, Adam was a sinless man, and as such Adam could look right into the face of God. And neither at this time did Adam's eyes or spirit draw back.
Even more importantly, the purity of God did not startle him, Why? Because he -- Adam was the original man. And we -- as a consequence -- are God's beloved creation -- man having been made from the dust of the earth and then breathed into him the breath of God, giving him life. So, in light of God's magnitude in the beginning, why then is it so difficult for us to believe that the first man was earthly, but the second Adam was the Lord from heaven?
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned; (for until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law -- nevertheless, death reigned from heaven from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of Him that was to come ..." (Romans 5:12-14)
In this same context then, why is it that we struggle comprehending that the ONE TRUE LIVING LORD ALMIGHTY GOD AND FATHER CREATED ALL THINGS BY HIMSELF AND FOR HIMSELF? Or that HE MADE ALL THINGS For HIS very OWN pleasure BY SPEAKING ALL THINGS into EXISTENCE?
And that because of His kindness and love for His beloved creation, HE RECONCILED ALL THINGS Unto HIMSELF, BY [HIS] Son; the man Christ Jesus born of a virgin woman; IN WHOM HE was manifest [revealed] IN THE FLESH. (Titus 3:4-7)
All the fullness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in Christ Jesus. (Colossians 2:9; I Timothy 3:16)) Or, as the scriptures clearly state, God was RECONCILING the world back unto HIMSELF.
THE POWER AND AUTHORITY THAT WAS GIVEN IS THE ONE AND ONLY HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD WHO IS THE FATHER HIMSELF. His Name is JESUS, and He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21-23; Acts 4:12)
Thus, seek ye the Lord while He may still be found. Look unto the Lord who is the God of our salvation. Search the scriptures for His wisdom and knowledge. Stand in the offering plate.
No comments:
Post a Comment