That Ye Would Walk Worthy Of God, Who Hath Called You Unto His Kingdom And Glory -- Part 1909

"If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained." (I Timothy 4:6)

"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (II Corinthians 4:6)

Apostle Paul often begins his epistles stating, "Grace unto you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." The word "and" between God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ has led to some confusion for believers, particularly in understanding that the Lord God is ONE!. That is, until one begins to understand that the same Spirit of God who overshadowed Mary so that she could bring forth a son -- the Holy Ghost -- is the same Jesus which, after He was taken up, He THROUGH the Holy Ghost gave commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen. (Luke 1:35; Acts 1:2-3) The Holy Ghost, the Comforter which will lead and guide us into all truth. (John 14:26; John 15:26)

We also know from the scriptures that up until God declared, "This day have I begotten Thee" -- the Holy Ghost was never mentioned. God was always referred to as a Spirit, or the Lord God, or the Spirit of the Lord. Also, it is important to note that God always used a name (often related to the circumstance of His people) throughout the Old Testament. This is significant to understand because in the new, the angel of the Lord has given us a new name -- the Name of JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21-23) And also, so that we who believe in Jesus by faith can have life THROUGH HIS NAME. (John 20:31)

But there is much more to understand herein. In "translated" versions of the Holy Bible, the Holy Ghost is mentioned 89 times in the New Testament and always as the Holy Ghost. It was the Holy Ghost who "appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:3-4; Joel 2:28-29) 

" ... and hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5:5)

In this context, we being to understand the Holy Ghost not only reflecting but also inclusive of the risen Christ. The changing of the guard, if you will, which is clearly understood from Hebrews 9:8, which states: "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." And this point (continued throughout this chapter) is further explained in verses 15-18, which states:

"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)

Therefore, the New Testament is not just the law (ordinances and sacrifices) plus a sprinkling of Jesus, but rather this new dispensation of grace -- these last days -- is ALL ABOUT JESUS, and His perfect sacrifice on a cross for our sins. His free gift of salvation extended at such a cost to Himself that even the scriptures tell us -- "for then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." (Hebrews 9:26)

"After the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared ..." (Titus 3:4-7) 

"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)

"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)

The Lord God Himself came forth as a mighty man. (Isaiah 42:13; Isaiah 9:6) Beside Me, there is no Saviour. "I, [even] I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no saviour. (Isaiah 43:11)

"Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside Me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside Me." (Isaiah 45:21)

"Yet I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but Me: for there is no Saviour beside Me." (Hosea 13:4)

"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) 

In the scriptures, this teaching is recognized as the "doctrine of Christ" and is one of the foundational teachings listed in Hebrews 6:1-2, which states:

"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit." (Hebrews 6:1-3)

Note herein, there is no mention of the trinity or a triad god, or the virgin mother as a queen of heaven, or of immaculate conception, or even (given the season that is upon us) that we are to celebrate/participate in Christ - Mass. As an aside, Mary and Joseph did go on to have other children, which is clearly stated in the scriptures. Again, as stated so often here in previous posts, Mary was a surrogate, and she herself rejoiced "in God my Saviour." (Luke 1:47) But I digress somewhat from the topic at hand. 

Continuing, note that after the resurrection of Jesus, the apostles came to know and understand that this same Jesus whom was crucified is BOTH Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36-38; Acts 1:2-3) The apostles recognized the risen Christ to be the same Rock that was Christ who followed the Israelites through the sea. (I Corinthians 10:1-4) The son of man is still Lord of the Sabbath. The first Adam, earthy, but the second Adam, the Lord from heaven. And all this, so that we could now have abundant life in His Name -- the Name of Jesus -- for He is not only the Father that overshadowed Mary but the same God that was in Christ also. (Matthew 1:21-23; Acts 3:16; John 20:31)

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the Word of reconciliation." (II Corinthians 5:19)

Jesus told us that "At that day ye shall know that I [am] in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you." (John 14:20; John 14:6-12) Thus, Jesus declares Himself the Holy Ghost that will come and dwell within, communing with us as we sojourn in this world. Remember, just prior to Jesus saying this, He had told His disciples that if they had seen Him -- Jesus -- they have seen the Father also. (John 14:6-12; John 10:30)

Herein then can we begin to understand why there is a significant distinction between the term Holy Spirit and Holy Ghost that must be recognized, because essentially, there is a difference. The new wine is not an addition to the old but the Lord doing a completely new thing. The dayspring from on high hath visited His people. 

If we reject the Holy Ghost, are we not (in some way) pushing aside the hefty price that was paid on the cross for our sins -- the shedding of His blood, the beatings, the mockery and condemnation that Jesus experienced so that we can have life? (Isaiah 53:1-12; John 19:1-42; Matthew 27:1-66; Isaiah 43:10; John 3:16; Acts 3:15)

"Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opens not His mouth.

He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation? for He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of My people was He stricken. And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death; because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth." (Isaiah 53:4-9)

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) And thus, by the same token, we need to abide in the doctrine of Christ, because as John points out in his second epistle, when we do we have both the Father and the Son. The Holy Ghost who will lead and guide us into all truth. His Name given to us in this dispensation is JESUS!

To this point, II John 1:9 is clear: "Whosoever transgresses and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son."

Again, after Jesus was taken up, He THROUGH the Holy Ghost gave commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, and He is doing the same for us this day, when we press in and desire more of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ in our heart, mind, soul, and with all our strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31) 

There is so much. more that could be said here but meditate upon these things. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth." (II Timothy 2:15) Don't just settle for worldly teachings, or the terminology adopted by the religious culture. Press into the Word which was with God and was God and willingly dwelt among us. (John 1:1-14)

In so doing, ask the Holy Ghost to lead and guide you into all truth, and similarly, to reveal the fullness of Himself and the Kingdom of God to you, so that you too can have life through His precious holy Name. 

"Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power: that the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." (II Thessalonians 1:11-12)

Let those with eyes to see, and ears to hear, both see and hear what the Word has to say to their hearts. Stand in the offering plate.

[PS: I recognize that many of the revisionist Bibles (modern day rewritten so-called Bibles) do not recognize any distinction between the Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit (having translated every NT scriptural reference from Holy Ghost to Holy Spirit so that we don't even suspect there may be a difference) Nevertheless I will suggest that if the scriptures you are now reading includes one of these new modern day versions, perhaps, this is a good time to find a Bible that has not been changed so often from the original text that the scriptures therein are no longer recognizable.]