A couple of points here. First, we are witnessing an example of how to become a flow through for the Lord Jesus. In I Thessalonians 2:13, this is described in the following manner. That is, "for this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received [welcomed] the Word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which effectually works also in you that believe." (I Thessalonians 2:13)
"Thy Word is truth." (John 17:17)
Second, it is important to note how Paul introduces our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ in His epistles. The introduction(s) herein may be somewhat confusing for those who do not (yet) understand that God is not the author of confusion. Or that because of His love and kindness, God willingly became our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7)
Indeed, this is the hope which is laid up for us in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the Word of the truth of the gospel; which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and brings forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard [of it], and knew the grace of God in truth ... as ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. (Colossians 1:5-8)
Before continuing, let's break these scriptures down. According to John's gospel, in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and was God .. and the SAME was in the beginning with God. Not another or He as the religious culture suggests but the same was in the beginning with God. 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)
When Jesus prayed, He said, "And now, O Father, glorify Thou with Me, with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was. I have manifested Thy Name unto the men which Thou gave Me out of the world; Thine they were, and Thou gavest them Me, and they have kept Thy Word." (John 17:5-6)
This same Word that was God in the beginning was -- at the appointed time -- made flesh, and dwelt among us so that we could behold His glory -- the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-14)
What we are seeing is Jesus, the visible image of the invisible God. The humanity of God. The fullness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in Him. (Colossians 2:9; Colossians 1:19) Even though He was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, He was crowned with glory and honour, so that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
"For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings --- FOR BOTH HE THAT SANCTIFIES AND THEY WHO ARE SANCTIFIED ARE ALL OF ONE; FOR WHICH CAUSE HE IS NOT ASHAMED TO CALL THEM BRETHREN; saying, "I will declare Thy Name unto My brethren in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee." (Hebrews 2:9-12)
And again, "I will put My trust in Him." And again, "Behold I and the children which God hath given Me. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, HE ALSO HIMSELF LIKEWISE TOOK PART OF THE SAME; THAT THROUGH DEATH HE MIGHT DESTROY him that had the power of death; that is the devil, AND DELIVER THEM WHO THROUGH FEAR OF DEATH WERE ALL THEIR LIFETIME SUBJECT TO BONDAGE; FOR VERILY HE TOOK NOT ON HIM THE NATURE OF ANGELS, BUT HE TOOK ON HIM THE SEED OF ABRAHAM." (Hebrews 2:13-16)
Yes, Jesus is God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16)
Yes, Jesus -- the brightness of 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; being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent Name than they. (Hebrews 1:4; Philemon 2:9-10)
Yes, Jesus 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; I Corinthians 1:7; Colossians 3:4; Isaiah 53:10-12; Galatians 1:4; Hebrews 9:14; Ezekiel 37:23)
"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 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.For a testament is of force after men are dead; otherwise, it is of no strength at all while the testator lives. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood." (Hebrews 9:15-18; Romans 3:25; Hebrews 3:1; Galatians 3:15)
He who knew no sin took on a sin-prone flesh (yet without sin) because of His love. He paid the purchase price for our sin in full -- once and for all. The mystery that was hid in the bosom of the Father from the beginning of the world. And in fact, the greatest love story ever told, that the Shepherd would shed His precious blood for His sheep, even while they were still His enemies.
"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulness;
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of His dear Son: in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.
For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. 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.
if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven ... according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the Word of God; even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints." (Colossians 1:12-29)
There is much more to learn, but for this moment, dwell on what the Lord has to say to us on this day. Let the King of kings and Lord of lords establish your hearts, umblameable in holiness. Be strengthened according to His glorious power unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulness, giving thanks unto the Father who has delivered us from the power of darkness. Stand in the offering plate.
No comments:
Post a Comment