And yet another scripture, Jesus tells how He came forth from the Father into the world, and that how once again, Jesus must leave the world and go to the Father -- from whence He came. (John 16:27-28)
To the casual reader of the scriptures, these verses read together can appear somewhat confusing. What we need to remember is that God is not the Author of confusion, and also, that our clarity and understanding comes when we seek Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. (I Corinthians 14:33; Mark 12:29-31; Deuteronomy 6:4) It is from this context, that when our hearts turn to Jesus as both our Lord God and Christ [Messiah], He opens the door to His wisdom and understanding. (Acts 2:36-47) This is why the Lord Jesus often said to the multitudes who followed Him, "Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." (Matthew 13:9, 43)
Our response to the Lord Jesus is a heart response. But there is more. When we who believe in Jesus by faith willingly shed from our lives the bondage and strangleholds of this world, the Lord Jesus fills us with His joy and peace, and His Spirit -- the Comforter, the Holy Ghost will lead and guide us into all truth. (John 14:26; John 15:26)
Please note, however, that His guidance is not done outside the Word. As we read in the first epistle of John -- "there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost and these three are One!" (I John 5:7)
The doctrine of Christ further clarifies this position, stating that he that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. (II John 1:9) The doctrine of Christ is foundational. (Hebrews 6:1-2) This is why Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6) For salvation to be true, we need to understand that our salvation came through the blood He shed on the cross. Without a perfect sacrifice, we could not have salvation.
Moreover, we are warned to "take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:28)
Thus, to that end, God prepared for Himself a body, wherein God could be in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself. (II Corinthians 5:19) God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) The Word made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory. (John 1:1-18) "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 of God our Saviour toward man appeared ..." (Titus 3:4-7)
This is why we need to understand that until the day that Jesus was taken up, after that He [Jesus] THROUGH the Holy Ghost gave commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen. (Acts 1:2-3) This is why Jesus had to leave (and we would see Him no more, as Jesus told His apostles) before the Holy Ghost could come. Jesus said, "Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more; but ye see Me: because I live, ye shall live also." (John 14:19)
Jesus said, " ... of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see Me no more." (John 16:10)
"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)
And, as Peter said on the day of Pentecost, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call." (Acts 2:36-47; Joel 2:28, 32)
It is for this reason that we who believe through Him -- "we both have access by One Spirit unto the Father." (Ephesians 2:18) If we recall, it was the Holy Ghost who overshadowed Mary so that she could bring forth a son. The angel said unto Mary, "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) His name called JESUS for "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David, and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His Kingdom there shall be no end." (Luke 1:30-34; Luke 2:52; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21-25; Luke 2:21)
For clarity, the Holy Ghost is translated 81 times from the Greek to the English in the New Testament. Many revised versions of the Bible have unilaterally changed the use of the Holy Ghost to Holy Spirit, without recognizing that the "doctrine of Christ" is an inherent understanding for believers living in this current dispensation of grace. Therefore, by suggesting that Holy Spirit should be used throughout the new testament as well, they have missed the clear turning point from the old to the new -- wherein the dayspring from on high hath visited His people. (Luke 1:78) That monumental moment in time when the Lord God Almighty said, "This day have I begotten Thee." (Psalm 2:7)
"I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto Me, "Thou [art] My Son; this day have I begotten thee." (Psalm 2:7) ""God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that He hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, "Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee." (Acts 13:33) "For unto which of the angels said He at any time, "Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son?" (Hebrews 1:5)
"I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto Me, "Thou [art] My Son; this day have I begotten thee." (Psalm 2:7) ""God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that He hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, "Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee." (Acts 13:33) "For unto which of the angels said He at any time, "Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son?" (Hebrews 1:5)
From the very beginning, the Spirit of the Lord God knew that He would have to bring forth a plan of salvation, through the death of a testator, if we His beloved creation was to experience salvation. He knew from the beginning that He Himself would have to become our Saviour. The Good Shepherd who would lay down His life for His enemies. (John 10:11-14)
Therefore, as the scriptures so clearly state, there had to come "this day." An appointed time. At this moment in time, wherein God would become to Him a Father, and "He shall be to Me a Son." In the Old Testament, the salvation plan was still in the bosom of the Spirit of the Lord God who moved across the face of the waters in Genesis. But when the angel of the Lord declared that from this point forward, peace and good will toward all men, there was a changing of the guard.
That holy thing which was to come forth from Mary would be called the Son of God, confirmed to be the Lord's Christ by Simeon in the temple. Elisabeth who was filled with the Holy Ghost asked Mary, "And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (Luke 1:41-43) Even Mary's spirit, by her own admission "hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." (Luke 1:47)
But as we know, the way into the holiest of all could not be made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing. (Hebrews 9:8, 14-18) Therefore, the appointed time for God robing Himself in sin-prone flesh (and yet without sin) had to be announced to the world, the angel proclaiming, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:14)
John puts it this way. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The SAME was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. 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 1:1-5)
John goes on to state that John the baptizer was not that man but rather the one sent in Malachi to bear witness of that Light -- the true Light which lights every man that comes into the world. "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. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on His Name!" (John 1:6-12)
Indeed, the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld HIS GLORY, the glory of the ONLY BEGOTTEN of the Father; full of grace and truth. (John 1:14; Revelation 19:13; Galatians 4:4; Hebrews 2:11; Colossians 2:9; Revelation 1:8; Isaiah 40:5; John 8:32; John 14; 6-12; John 18:37)
He is the Great I AM. The same Word that was God in the beginning, the same Spirit of the Lord God who moved across the face of the waters, is the same God who came forth as a Son, hiding His glory until after the death and resurrection of His humanity. This was His plan of salvation from the very beginning.
His Name in this current dispensation of grace is JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins ... Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23) But because we will see the humanity of God in Jesus no more, because the price of our salvation has been paid once and for all, we can know our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ in the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, the Spirit of the Lord God wherein He never leaves us, nor forsakes us. Our Heavenly Father who dwells within the hearts of those who believe.
Other scriptures, wherein the Father claimed to be the Almighty as well as the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the last, and wherein He also states His Name -- "I Jesus"?
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending," saith the Lord, "which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8)
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie. I JESUS have sent Mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star." (Revelation 22:13-16)
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending," saith the Lord, "which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8)
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie. I JESUS have sent Mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star." (Revelation 22:13-16)
This is why God who became our Saviour prophesied through Isaiah, saying, He "took upon Him the form of a servant" and that "My servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He." (Isaiah 43:10) When Jesus walked on this earth, He said the same, "If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins." (John 8:28; John 9:9) "Whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He" (Isaiah 43:10)
"But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant" (Philippians 2:7)
Through Jesus own confirmation of the scriptural prophesies from afore, we can be assured that God is not the Author of confusion. Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life." (John 6:51) I am the Light of this world. (John 8:12) Indeed, while the Jews murmured at His words, Jesus told those with ears to hear, "I am the Living Bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the Bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:51)
Not another god or a lesser god or one third of a god as the triad/triune/trinity folks will tell you but the ONE and ONLY GOD ALMIGHTY who loved us so much that He would take on the form of a man, a servant, a Son, in order that we might have life everlasting in Him. This is why Jesus said to His disciples, "If ye have seen Me, ye have seen the Father" and that "I and My Father are One!" (John 14:6-12; John 10:30; Isaiah 9:6) This also explains why "the only begotten of the Father" referring to the Father could say -- "I have manifested Thy Name unto the men which Thou gavest Me." (John 17:6)
Jesus said, "Father, glorify Thy Name" (John 12:28) Jesus said, "I have manifested Thy Name unto the men which Thou gavest Me" (John 17:6)
But what about the voice from heaven? Herein, those scriptures. Listen to the words and what is being said -- "Hear ye Him!" On the mount of transfiguration, the disciples lifted their eyes and saw no man, save Jesus only. (Matthew 17:5, 8) The same Jesus who Saul asked, "Who art Thou, Lord?" when the bright light shone around him on the road to Damascus. (Acts 9:5) Yes the voice is clear -- Hear ye Him!
" ... whom I have chosen; My beloved, in whom My soul is well pleased" (Matthew 12:18) "My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17) "My beloved, in whom My soul is well pleased" (Matthew 12:18) "whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He" (Isaiah 43:10) Jesus said, "Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am." (John 13:13)
In prophecy, the Lord of hosts said, "If then I be a Father, where is Mine honour? and if I be a Master, where is My fear?" (Malachi 1:6) There is only one Lord of hosts, and His love for His beloved creation led to tearing the veil from top to bottom, from heaven to earth. In My Name, Jesus told the children to receive Me. (Matthew 18:5)
Thus, as Jesus said, "O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was" is further clarified by apostle Paul to the saints in Ephesus, wherein he writes, "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (John 17:5; Ephesians 5:20)
Jesus said, "he that seeth Me seeth Him that sent Me" (John 12:45) Jesus is the visible image of the unseen God. (Hebrews 1:1-12) There is a reason Jesus told the Jews, "Ye are from beneath; I am from above; ye are of this world; I am not of this world." (John 8:23) Because the Son of man is Himself the Lord of glory. He is Himself God our Saviour, for whom we look, even now, for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of 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)
This is why Jesus said, "All mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine; and I am glorified in them. Holy Father, keep through Thine own Name those whom Thou hast given Me" (John 17:10-11) Jesus said, "I am one that bear witness of Myself, and the Father that sent Me" (John 8:18)
"Behold My Servant, whom I've chosen; My Beloved, in whom My soul is well pleased: I will put My Spirit upon Him and He shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive [quarrel], nor cry; neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, till He send forth judgment unto victory. And IN HIS NAME shall the Gentiles trust." (Matthew 12:5, 17-21; Isaiah 2:1-4; Matthew 3:17)
"To wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself ...." (II Corinthians 5:19) "In Him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily ..." (Colossians 2:9)
The acknowledging of the truth which God that cannot lie promised to us before the world began; "but hath in due times manifested His Word through preaching which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour." (Titus 1:1-3)
It is for this reason that the Holy Ghost is an accurate translation in the New Testament side, and not Holy Spirit as the revisionists proclaim, because in order to have salvation, we have to "hear ye Him" whom was given ALL power in heaven and in earth ... teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:18, 20)
"And being made perfect, He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him ..." (Hebrews 5:9)
In the last days, He will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh -- the Holy Ghost, wherein we who abide in the doctrine of Christ, hath both the Father and the Son. Yes, indeed, the Lord said, "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:19)
"Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them." (Isaiah 42:9) "... and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel." (Hebrews 12:24)
Don't let the modern day religious culture lead you astray from the truth that is in His Word. His love that has given us His seal. The Word of God is not bound.
"To wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself ...." (II Corinthians 5:19) "In Him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily ..." (Colossians 2:9)
The acknowledging of the truth which God that cannot lie promised to us before the world began; "but hath in due times manifested His Word through preaching which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour." (Titus 1:1-3)
It is for this reason that the Holy Ghost is an accurate translation in the New Testament side, and not Holy Spirit as the revisionists proclaim, because in order to have salvation, we have to "hear ye Him" whom was given ALL power in heaven and in earth ... teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:18, 20)
"And being made perfect, He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him ..." (Hebrews 5:9)
In the last days, He will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh -- the Holy Ghost, wherein we who abide in the doctrine of Christ, hath both the Father and the Son. Yes, indeed, the Lord said, "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:19)
"Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them." (Isaiah 42:9) "... and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel." (Hebrews 12:24)
Now, thou too "hast heard, see all this" -- will not ye declare It? The Lord hath said, "I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things ...." (Isaiah 48:6)
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 within us. (II Timothy 1:13-14)
Stand in the offering plate.
No comments:
Post a Comment