Be Strong In The Grace That Is In Christ Jesus, And The Same Commit Thou To Faithful Men To Teach Others Also - Part 1834

"Hold fast the form of sound words .... in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus, that good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwells in us." (II Timothy 1:13-14)

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind ... Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me [Paul] His prisoner, but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God: who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began ... but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, whereunto I [Paul] am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep this which I have committed unto Him against that day ..." (II Timothy 1:7-12)

Herein, Paul is speaking as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy. He opens this second epistle with the words, "Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord." (II Timothy 1:1) To those who struggle with understanding the Godhead/the mystery of godliness (as described in I Timothy 3:16), the word "and" between "God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord" can cause confusion. In fact, for some, these words might point to God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord as two separate entities, rather than God is One, and that He Himself (after His kindness and love toward men) became our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7)

For clarity, let's note I Timothy 3:16 so that everyone is aware of who God is, and how much He loved His beloved creation to become as one of us, and shed His precious holy blood on a cross, as the perfect sacrifice, paying the ultimate price for our sins once and for all. That is, "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)

"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)

This is the mystery that was held in the bosom of the Father from the very beginning, up until the very day wherein He said (in reference to the man Christ Jesus -- His humanity dwelling among us), "This day have I begotten Thee." (Psalms 2:7; Hebrews 1:4-5; Psalm 89:27; Romans 8:29; Deuteronomy 32:43)

"Hear ye Him ..." (Matthew 17:5)

For God so loved the world that He gave His only "begotten" Son so that whosoever BELIEVES IN HIM should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

"Who is gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him ..." ( I Peter 3:22; Psalms 110:1; Romans 8:38)

"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 [also/similarily] the justifier of him which believes in Jesus." (Romans 3:25-26)

The love of God was in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39) Indeed, God was in Christ, the fullness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in Him. (Colossians 2:9)

"To wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself ..." (II Corinthians 5:19)

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory and blessing, and every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, herd I saying, "Blessing and honour and glory and power, be unto Him that sits upon the throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever ... and the four and twenty elders fell down and WORSHIPPED HIM that lives for ever and ever." (Revelation 5:11-14; Philemon 2:10; I Chronicles 29:11; Revelation 4:2-3; Revelation 6:16; Revelation 20:11)

"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." (Revelation 4:8; Isaiah 6:2-3; Revelation 1:8)

The "unfeigned faith" as Paul calls Timothy's love toward the Lord God Almighty, that as a consequence, only the truth of the gospel would be taught. No other doctrine but sound doctrine according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God -- the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the ONLY wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever, amen. (I Timothy 1:17; Psalm 10:16; Hebrews 11:27; Romans 16:27; I Chronicles 29:11)

The doctrine of Christ -- the great mystery that was decided right from the beginning of the world, but only fulfilled in these last days -- for all the world to behold the miracle that happened when the Holy Ghost overshadowed Mary so that she could bring forth a son, that would save His people from their sins. (II John 1:9; Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6)

Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us. (Matthew 1:23) In this current dispensation of grace, we see "the everlasting God (made known to all nations for the obedience of faith) through Jesus Christ. "To God only wise, [be] glory through Jesus Christ for ever, amen." (Romans 16:26-27)

From Hebrews, we learn that Jesus is the visible image of the unseen God, whom He 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. (Hebrews 1: 1-3) The Word that was with God and was God was made flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:1-14) God Himself willingly became our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7)

The difficulty that some have is in explaining the word "and." Why would apostle Paul make such a big deal about separating (in scripture) God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord? The answer is simple. Because it was not until the ushering in of the new testament, the appointed time that the Holy Ghost signified that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest while as the first tabernacle was yet standing. (Hebrews 9:8) If you will, there had to be a changing of the guard in order for the Lord to do "a new thing" wherein "the dayspring from on high would visit His people." (Luke 1:78; Isaiah 43:19)

Throughout the Old Testament, we see God as Spirit, as in the beginning when the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2) We see this same One God honoured in the first commandment -- "Hear O Israel, the Lord thy God is One Lord." (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31) In fact, God always referred to Himself as a Spirit that is holy in the old, and depending on the circumstance, was identified by a specific Name. We see this often in David the psalmists' writings.

For example, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance. The Lord looks from heaven; He beholds all the sons of men. From the place of His habitation He looks upon all the inhabitants of the earth. He fashions their hearts alike; He considers all their works ... Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord: He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His Holy Name. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in Thee." (Psalm 33:12-22)

This one Lord God does not change in the new testament. The scripture still declares -- "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all." (Ephesians 4:5-6) 

But you ask -- how can this be when apostle Paul separates God the Father from the Son Christ Jesus in his written epistles? Moreover, why is the man Christ Jesus referenced as a Son? These are very good questions. What we need to remember is that our life, our salvation, our redemption is in the Son, because without that "perfect sacrifice" made willingly on the cross, we cannot have life eternal. As the scripture repeatedly points out, this life can only be found in the Son ... "he that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:11-12) 

But John does not stop there. John explains what he means when he wrote, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the Name of the Son of God." (I John 5:13)

We are to believe on His Name. We are to be water baptized in His Name, the same name given by the angel of the Lord. (Matthew 1:18-23) The Name which the apostles were forbidden to teach and preach. The same Name which provides healing and restoration and well being to those in the hedges. Still, after Jesus was taken up, He [Jesus] THROUGH the Holy Ghost gave commandments unto the apostles whom He [Jesus] had chosen. (Acts 1:2-3) 

This is why believers who abide in "the doctrine of Christ" have both the Father and the Son, because we willingly receive the "Holy Ghost" in our hearts. (Romans 6:1-2) Jesus THROUGH the Holy Ghost. Not a separate being (or second or third person, as the religious establishment falsely proclaims), but as Jesus told His disciples before the cross, "I and My Father are One!" (John 10:30) 

"If ye have seen Me, ye have seen the Father." (John 14:6-12) This is why Jesus could say, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6) Because unless we acknowledge what God willingly did on the cross, when He robed Himself in flesh and dwelt among us as a Son, and behold His glory, we cannot see the Kingdom of God. (John 1:14)

Further to this point, and most notable, God did not become our heavenly Father until Mary was found with child of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 1:18) "For that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost, and she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His Name JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:18-20) As Luke (the beloved physician) describes the fetus in the womb -- a holy thing! 

"And the angel answered and said unto her, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35) 

"And he called His Name JESUS." (Matthew 1:25) 

In the Old Testament, God was always referred to as the h/Holy Spirit or the Spirit of God, or the Spirit of the Lord God. Only in the new do we see specific references to the Holy Ghost emerging, wherein the promise of the Comforter is given to those who believe in Him. This explains why -- in order for the Comforter to come -- Jesus had to first depart. To this point, Jesus said, "I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world sees Me no more, but ye see Me, because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I [am] in My Father and ye in Me, and I in you ... he that hath My commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves Me; and he that loves Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him." (John 14:18-21; John 10:30, 38; John 14:11; I John 2:5; John 16:16, 22) 

We see the same revelation in Jesus' baptism. John writes, "And I knew Him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, "Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizes with the Holy Ghost." (John 1:33)

And again, in another place, "But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: FOR THE HOLY GHOST WAS NOT YET GIVEN; because that Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:39)

Remember when Jesus said unto Mary? "Touch Me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father, but go to My brethren and say unto them, "I ascend unto My Father, and your Father, and to My God and your God." (John 20:17)

Shortly after, Jesus breathes on these same disciples, saying unto them, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost" because by now, the disciples understood who Jesus was. (John 20:23) That is, all except for Thomas called Didymus (a.k.a doubting Thomas) because he was not in attendance when the other disciples saw the resurrected Lord appear to them. 

But as we know from the scriptures, Jesus later appeared to Thomas (after eight days) and said to him, "Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side and be not faithless but believing." And Thomas did so and answered and said unto Jesus, "my Lord and my God." (John 20:24-28)

"... these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through His Name." (John 20:31; Luke 1:4; I John 5:13; Luke 2:11; John 3:15-16; John 5:24) 

You see, when we understand that Jesus is both the Son of man and the Lord of glory, that Jesus is both Lord and Christ, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of the living, then we also understand that He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. (Acts 2:36; Genesis 1:1; Revelation 1:8; Mark 12:26, 29-30) 

The first Adam earthly but the second Adam the Lord from heaven.

Therefore, when Jesus taught in the temple, He could ask the question, "How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David? For David himself said by the Holy Ghost -- "The Lord said to My Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand, till I make Thine enemies Thy footstool." David therefore himself calling Him Lord; and whence is He then His son?" (Mark 12:35-37) The same example from Luke -- "David therefore calls Him Lord, how is He then His son?" (Luke 20:41-44)

And, as David scribed, "The Lord said unto my Lord, "Sit Thou at My right hand until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool." (Psalm 110:1)

"... which He had promised afore by His prophets in the holy scriptures concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; by whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations for His Name, among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ." (Romans 1:2-6) 

As Peter (standing with the eleven) said when he spoke freely to the people from all tribes on the day of Pentecost, the patriarch David being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit on His throne, "He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ ... this Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but He saith Himself, "The Lord said unto My Lord, sit Thou on My right hand, until I make Thy foes Thy footstool. 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 2:25-36)

"Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain; whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death; because it was not possible that He should be holden of it." (Acts 2:22-24; John 3:2, 5-6; Luke 22:22; Acts 5:30; Romans 8:11)

"The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and His Word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me ..." (II Samuel 23:2; Ephesians 1:19-23; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:13; Acts 2:29-31; Romans 9:4-5) 

" ... and of whom concerning the flesh Christ [came], who is over all God blessed for ever." (Romans 9:5; Luke 1:34-35; Luke 3:23)

Thus, now, our lives as believers is with Christ in God, and when Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4) Then we will be given a new Name wherein to worship our Lord God and Saviour, the One and Only blessed Potentate. who loved us so much that He would endure the humiliation of a cross for you and I. (I Timothy 6:15) 

And thus when the Holy Ghost saith, "Thou art My beloved Son; in Thee am I will pleased," we should be listening because this day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. This day, as the Lord God hath said, "have I begotten Thee." 

Jesus told us, "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." (John 16:13)

This is why when we need to repent of our sin, and be water baptized in the precious Name of the Lord Jesus Christ ... so that we shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, because we believed on Him who was sent to bring us salvation, even before the world was formed. (Acts 2:38)

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." (Romans 15:13)

"Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: to God only wise, [be] glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen." (Romans 16:25-27)

The Holy Ghost being the mystery that was from the beginning of the world. God with us, and now God in our hearts, when we believe. And like Mary, our soul can magnify the Lord and rejoice in God our Saviour. (Luke 1:46-47)

Yes, the Lord our God is one Lord. Praise be unto His holy Name.

Stand in the offering plate.