When we approach the scriptures from the perspective of "give us this day our daily bread" we will come to know and understand the good news gospel of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ -- wherein, as Jesus stated when we would see Him no more, the Holy Ghost -- the Comforter will come and abide within those who believe -- and lead and guide us into all truth. (Matthew 6:11-15; Luke 11:3; John 16:16; John 14:19; Matthew 26:11; II Timothy 2:15; Titus 3:4-7; John 14:26; John 15:26; Acts 1:2-3)
Jesus said, "Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are Mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall shew it unto you." (John 16:13-15)
And through His Word, we are sanctified, for Thy Word is truth. (John 17:17)
Thus, we can understand why Jesus said we will see Him no more. (John 16:16; John 14:19) Because after He was taken up, He [Christ Jesus] THROUGH the Holy Ghost would give commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen. (Acts 1:2-3) This is why the disciples (120 in the upper room) had to tarry in Jerusalem -- waiting for the promise from the Father -- until they received the power from on high. (Acts 1:12-26)
Just prior to returning from whence He came, Jesus had told His disciples, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
This is what we witness on the day of Pentecost, when Peter standing with the eleven, told those from every city that this same Jesus whom ye have crucified is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36-38) Jesus is the Word made flesh. (John 1:1-18) Jesus is God manifest in the flesh, the Lord coming forth as a mighty man. (I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 42:13)
"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)
After the kindness and love, God our Saviour toward man appeared. (Titus 3:4-7) As prophesied in Isaiah, God willingly clothed Himself in sin-prone flesh (yet without sin) so that He could save us from our sins. The greatest love story ever told, and yet, the deceiver - satan -- has succeeded in rewriting that one and same salvation message, separating and dividing God's love into a triad god message, rather than the same Lord God who created us in the beginning, loving us enough as His beloved, to shed His precious holy blood.
If we take this thought one step further, what kind of a God would you serve if He sent a Son instead of Himself as a Son to shed blood on a cross for us? Is this the character of a God you would want to serve? From a human perspective, would you send your child, knowing that that child would die a merciless death? Of course you would not. Nevertheless, this is the prevailing teaching within the man-made religious culture today, even though the Word clearly tells us otherwise.
Still, the Word of God is truth, and we are sanctified by His truth. And within the pages wherein, "Lo, behold, the volume of the book is written of Me!" the salvation message is consistent and clear. That is, God Himself became our Saviour, shedding His precious holy blood on a cross so that you and I might have abundant life in Him.
When there was no other way to redeem His people, He prepared for Himself a body for sacrifice. 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 ..." (Hebrews 9:8) The mystery that was held from the beginning of the world -- in the bosom of the Father until the fullness of time. The mystery of godliness.
"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)
But if He had revealed Himself, when He walked with man on this earth, we would worship Him for the wrong reasons. There is a perfect example of this when Jesus fed the five thousand. The people came back the next day because their bellies were hungry. It is in this context that Jesus hid His glory from those who would not leave everything behind to follow Him.
What did these see in Jesus, that these willingly forsook their lives for Him? Gave up their all in all to follow Christ Jesus? Of course, that is a study in itself. What is important for us to understand is that when the Holy Ghost overshadowed Mary so that she could bring forth a son -- that "holy thing" within -- He gave us a Name whereby we must be saved in this current dispensation of grace. (Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:18-23; Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9; Ephesians 3:2)
His Name is JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)
Throughout the Old Testament, God had a Name whereby the people knew Him. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that God had a Name specific to this current dispensation of grace. The apostles who walked with Jesus on earth knew His Name. So did Saul, when Jesus met him on the road to Damascus. Therein, Saul asks, "Who art Thou, Lord?" Jesus told Saul, "I am Jesus, whom thou persecutes ..." (Acts 9:5)
Yes, JESUS is the ONLY NAME WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED! (Acts 4:12)
Still, even though Jesus hid His glory from the multitudes, He did tell His disciples who He was. In fact, Jesus told them, "I and My Father are One!" (John 10:30) Jesus told Philip, "If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him." (John 14:7) And when Thomas put his hands in Jesus' side, when Jesus appeared to the disciples before being taken up, Thomas referred to Jesus as "my Lord and my God!" (John 20:28)
This is the only way that Jesus could say, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." (John 14:6) Or that, if you believe in Me, ye shall have eternal life. Because Jesus is the only Mediator between God and man. Note however, that in most cases in our human relationships, a mediator would mean a third person, there is an exception to that rule when it comes to God, because God is One. (Galatians 3:20; Ephesians 4:5-6; Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31) He is excepted, which did put all things under His feet.
"The last enemy [that] shall be destroyed is death. For He hath put all things under His feet. But when He saith, all things are put under [Him, it is] manifest that He is excepted, which did put all things under Him. And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all." (I Corinthians 15:26-28)
It is for this reason that we who have a little strength as members of the body of Christ church (wherein Jesus is the Head) are instructed in these last days to keep His Word and not to deny His Name. (Revelation 3:8-9)
So much to learn and yet, we should understand, that Jesus is the Bread of Life, the Living Word wherein we can drink and never thirst again. Therefore, I encourage you to read and study His Word, beginning in the new testament, so that you can experience the life you were intended to live right from the beginning, communing with the same God who created you and place His purpose in your heart, whilst you were still in your mother's womb.
Be strengthened in His knowledge and wisdom. Stand in the offering plate.
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