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All scripture quotations are from the Authorized King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise
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THE
SECOND ADAM
Published by:
HANDS FOR JESUS, INC.
For additional copies of this book contact your local book store or write to:
HANDS FOR JESUS
P.O. BOX 18655
MILWAUKEE, WI 53218-0655
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Second printing
ISBN 1-891125-12-5
Copyright 1999 by Merle E. Koepke
All Rights Reserved
WHO IS
THE SECOND ADAM?
If you study the Bible, you will find that in the Old Testament He was speaking to Moses
while he stood before a burning bush, when He said, "I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and
unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to
them" (Ex. 6:3). He appeared to Abraham; in Genesis 17:1. It says, "And when Abram was ninety
years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God;
walk before me, and be thou perfect." All throughout the Old Testament He was called "the
LORD, or JEHOVAH," among many other names and titles.
In the New Testament He is called "Christ," the anointed One. These names identify the Son
of God in His deity, as LORD over this creation. Yet, in His humanity, the New Testament calls Him
"Jesus," which is a Greek name corresponding to the Hebrew name "Joshua
(Y@howshuwa`),actually meaning "Jehovah the Saviour." In Acts 2:36, Peter, speaking under the
anointing of the Holy Spirit said, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God
hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."
The names "LORD and Christ" pertain to the Son of God in His deity as the Creator of this
creation (John 1:3, Col. 1:16). The name "Jesus," pertains to His humanity as "Jehovah, the Savior."
The Second Adam is all of these, plus many others names and titles, such as "Jesus of
Nazareth, the alpha and the omega, the Branch, the Rock, the King of Kings, the LORD of Lords,
the Lamb of God, etc.)." Peter, speaking of Jesus' name, said under the anointing of the Holy Spirit
in Acts 4:12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
The whole world needs to know this "Second Adam," for His name is above all other names
(Phil. 2:9-12).
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES
In John 5:39, Jesus said, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." The Scriptures testify of Jesus. Many people have used the Scriptures for other purposes, and by it they have missed the purpose for which they are written. There are many statements that Jesus made in the Gospels that have been overlooked. Usually, because they are not using the Scriptures for the purpose in which they were written. The very purpose the Scriptures were written was to testify of Jesus:
(1) Who He is?
(2) Why He came into this world?
Before we search the Scriptures, we need to understand what the word "Scripture" means. If we were to look up the meaning of the word Scripture, we will find it means to write down, or record. We can better understand the word "Scripture" if we consider another word similar in meaning; the word "manuscript." The word Scripture and the word manuscript come from the word "script." A manuscript is a "complete detail" of all that is necessary to know concerning a particular subject.
The Scriptures contain the complete plan of God from the foundation of the world, that it might be fulfilled. We should not add anything to the Scriptures or take anything away from the Scriptures (Deu. 4:2, 12:32, Prov. 30:6, Rev. 22:19). God knew the end from the beginning and He recorded it all in the Scriptures. The Scriptures contain the "complete details of everything from the beginning to the end."
The Scriptures come before any prophecy, vision, dream, or supernatural encounter with God... Peter, speaking of his experience on the Holy mountain (Matt. 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36), said in 2 Peter 1:16-21:
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
As much as the spirits of this world try to get Christians to change the Scriptures, Jesus said, "the Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35).
As in the production of a movie, a manuscript is used to give all the details of everything that should take place during the making of a movie. There are three specific positions necessary to be filled by people before a movie can be made.
1. There must first be a producer, or some company which produces the movie.
A. There must be one person who signs the contracts as the head over the total operation.
B. The producer (and those connected with the producer) hire someone to write the manuscript, which gives all the details necessary to produce the movie.
C. The producer also hires a director, to direct every detail of everything that takes place in the production of the movie. He also hires the production manager, to manage all things pertaining to the production.
D. Once the manuscript is written and delivered to the director and production manager, all things are in the hands of the director.
2. The director is the second person in line.
A. The director directs all stages of the movie.
B. The director is in complete charge of all the actors.
C. There are times when the director is also the main actor in the movie itself.
D. The director must follow the manuscript in every detail, he cannot make changes as he goes (it must be done precisely "as it is written.")
3. The production manager is the third person.
A. The production manager makes sure every actor, and everything that is needed to produce the movie is there and ready when it is needed.
B. The production manager must follow the manuscript in every detail.
C. He must be on the scene at all times making sure everything is in its place for the director and the actors.
By this we see there are three major operations required to make a movie. The producer, the director, and the production manager.
Let's apply this concept to the Scriptures. In 1 John 5:7 it tells us, "... there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." These three are lined up according to responsibility and position. The Father is greater than the Son (John 12:49, 14:28). Jesus is the Son, He is also "the Word." He was "the Word" in the beginning (John 1:1,2), and He is still "the Word" (Rev. 19:13). The Holy Spirit is third; He always testifies of Jesus (John 15:26), and guides us in all truth (John 16:13), and He always glorifies Jesus (John 16:14,15).
God the Father is like the producer, He is the one responsible for the creation of things. Without God the Father there would be no creation at all. Just as in making a movie, if there were no producer there would be no movie. Once the Father had determined the course of this creation, He turned the complete details and responsibilities over to His Son "Jesus." In Matthew 11:27, Jesus said, "All things are delivered unto me of my Father..." John 3:35 it says, "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand." In explaining the position of Jesus to the Jews, Acts 2:36 says, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." Lord means "One of power and authority." Christ means "Anointed." God anointed Jesus "Who was LORD" with the Holy Spirit, making Him "Christ," the Anointed One.
Jesus is like the director. As LORD, He has always been and still is in complete control of everything that happens within this creation. He directs every action, and every detail "according to the will of God the Father." Everything that happens within this creation is dependent upon Jesus.
While on earth, in the flesh of man, Jesus followed the Scriptures one-hundred percent. He said in Matthew 5:18, "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." The Scriptures will not be fulfilled until this present heaven and earth pass away; until we have a new heavens and a new earth. Peter wrote of this time in 2 Peter 3:7-13. In verse 13 Peter wrote: "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13). For this cause, Jesus followed the Scriptures totally and completely, not changing one jot or one tittle. He fulfilled everything the Scriptures said He would fulfill. He spoke every word the Scriptures said He would speak. He did all things "precisely and accurately" according to the Scriptures.
The Holy Spirit is like the production manager. He does everything according to that which is written, which was settled in heaven from the foundation of the world. He is the "power" of God that brings all things to pass "according to the Word of God." He makes sure everyone does their part. Those who are called of God are anointed to do the work they are called to do. Those who are not called are not anointed. The Holy Spirit makes sure everything takes place at the right time and in the right location, according to the Scriptures.
The Scripture is very important to this whole creation. Jesus said, "...the Scripture cannot be broken." (John 10:35). Jesus was not just saying that in regards to who He was, and what the Scripture said about those who are called gods. Jesus included the complete Scriptures when He said they cannot be broken. Jesus submitted Himself to the Scriptures, "what was written," knowing the Scripture cannot be broken.
In Matthew 4, when Jesus was tempted by the devil He quoted the Scriptures. The devil could not stand against the Scripture. Matthew 4:3,4 says,
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Then in Matthew 4:5-7 the devil tempted Jesus quoting from Psalm 91. Verse 7 says, "Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." Then the devil tempted Jesus with all the kingdoms of this world. In verse 10 it says, "Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." Concerning other things in Jesus' life He mentioned the Scriptures many times. In Mark 9:12 it says, "And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought." In Luke 22:37 Jesus said, "For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end." In John 12:14,15 it says,
And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.
In John 15:25 Jesus said, "But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause." In Matthew 26:24, Jesus said, "The Son of man goeth as it is written of him. . ." In Matthew 26:31 it says, "Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad." After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples. It says in Luke 24:46 "And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day."
Jesus submitted Himself to the Scriptures, as "it is written" knowing that all things must come to pass according to the Scriptures. Hebrews 5:8 says, "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered." Jesus did not do His own will of the flesh, He did only the will of God the Father (John 5:30), which is written in the Scriptures. Jesus was totally obedient to that which was written in the Scriptures.
Jesus did not break even one jot or one tittle of the Scripture, even though it cost Him His life on the Cross of Calvary. Jesus came into this world, according to the Scriptures, He lived on earth as the Son of Man, and died according to the Scriptures.
We must also find our part in the Scriptures and live according to the Scriptures in our lives. Not according to our will, but according as the LORD had set things from the beginning. All things were settled in heaven before Adam was formed. We were created by Jesus, and for Jesus (Col. 1:15,16), to His glory and the glory of God the Father.
Jesus is "the Word of God," and every creature is subject to Jesus. Satan, the demons, people, all creatures, even the elements of the earth, they are all subject to Jesus. He is the "...Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending..., which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty" (Rev. 1:8).
When we search the Scriptures we must do so with the intentions of getting to know Jesus, for who He is, and also finding our part in the Scriptures.
The Scriptures are given to us that:
(1) each one of us "individually" does what the Scriptures tell us we should do.
(2) we speak the words we are told to speak in the Scriptures.
(3) we act the way the Scriptures tell us we should act.
(4) all things are fulfilled in our lives "according to the Scriptures!"
We must not:
(1) add anything to the Scriptures, or take anything away from the Scriptures (Deu. 4:2, 12:32, Prov. 30:6, Rev. 22:19).
(2) do our own will of the flesh (John 5:30, 15:4,5, 17:18, 20:21).
We must:
(1) "Study to shew ourselves approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).
(2) enter in at the straight gate, "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matt. 7:14).
The best way to understand the Scriptures is to understand why they were written. The Scriptures are written for us. That we might know the love of God for those who love Him. That we might understand all the LORD has done for us. Within the Scriptures we will find many statements pertaining to us, such as the following:
...whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world... (Rev. 17:8).
...whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8).
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world... (Eph. 1:4).
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began (Titus 1:2).
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you (1 Peter 1:20).
In Isaiah 46:9,10 it says,
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
These and many other verses reveal that WE WERE INCLUDED in a plan of God laid out before the foundation of this world. Therefore, it is important to understand the Scriptures, to search them for the Truth that is revealed in them. For the Scriptures tell us in Ephesians 2:8-10,
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
We must always remember "we are saved by grace through faith," and not of ourselves... To see this more clearly, Ephesians 1:4, Titus 1:2, Rev. 13:8, 17:8, along with many others tell us that our names were already written in heaven from the foundation of the world. That is, "before we did anything good or anything bad," our names were already written in heaven. That is grace.... Not of our works, but of His will, His good pleasure, He begat us in Christ Jesus...
Is there anything we can add to what God has already done from the foundation of this world to make the plan of God more perfect? What can we do to improve upon that which God had already done from the foundation of the world?
Yet, we must understand "God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5). Therefore, pride could interfere with our future stand before the LORD on that last day...
Hebrews 9:27 tells us, "...it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Judgment will come sometime for everyone of us. We will all stand before Jesus on that day. Jesus said in John 12:47,48,
And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
If we judge ourselves in this life, and repent from anything that is not pleasing to God, our stand before the LORD on that last day will be a day of great joy. We will enter into eternity forever with the LORD.
If we do not judge ourselves and wait until that day before the LORD, pride could cause us problems we did
not expect. Many Christians seem to never want to hear anything that would indicate the possibility of them being in
a position of disobedience to the Word of God. They prefer to live like the rest of the world and still enter into heaven
on that last day. We need to Search the Scriptures for the truth, as it says in John 1:17, "For the law was given by
Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." Grace did not come alone, but Truth came with the grace.
JESUS
IN THE BEGINNING
In John 1:1-2 it tells us,
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.
We know this is speaking of Jesus, for in John 1:14 it tell us, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." Jesus was always called "the Word," and always will be called "the Word." In 1 John 5:7 it says, "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." In Revelation 19:13, speaking of Jesus, it says, "And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God."
If anyone does not believe these verses are speaking of Jesus, then they do not know Him for who He is. Throughout the Scriptures Jesus is known by over fifty different titles or names. They all apply to the same person, the One we know as Jesus Christ. Jesus, Himself revealed much of His past to us in the Gospels. In a prayer to the Father Jesus said, "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was" (John 17:5). What was Jesus speaking of as He reminded the Father of the glory He had with the Father before the world was? If we go over into Proverbs, Chapter 8 we will find that there is much revealed there concerning Jesus and the Father before and during the creation of this world. Proverb 8:1 starts out saying "Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?" Wisdom in this verse and throughout the eighth chapter is a person speaking (it is the person of the Son of God). Look at verse twelve, it starts out saying, "I wisdom dwell with prudence..." The word I and the word Wisdom together identify each other as the same person. The word "I" identifies the person who is speaking. Wisdom, in this Proverb is a person. Therefore, all throughout this chapter the word "I" and the word "Wisdom" are the same person Who is doing the speaking. Let us see the revelation of Jesus from the beginning when the Son was with the Father before the world was created.
In proverbs 8:11 it says, "For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it." Our LORD Jesus is better than anything this earth contains. He is better than silver or gold, rubies or pearls. The riches of this world cannot compare with Jesus, the Son of God. Looking at verses six through ten, it says, "Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things" (Prov. 8:6). When the LORD speaks, He speaks excellent things. In John 6:63, Jesus said, "...the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." When Jesus speaks to those who are His own, He speaks excellent things, the words He speaks are spirit and they produce life, not death. Jesus is for us, for all who will come to Him and receive Him as LORD. To His own, His words are spirit and they produce eternal life. Proverbs 8:7, says, "For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips." This has always been so with the LORD, He always speaks truth, for He is TRUTH Himself. In John 14:6, Jesus said, "...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." This statement is totally true according to the Scriptures. For 1 Timothy, 2:5 says, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." It is not possible for anyone to go to God the Father without first going through Jesus. Through Jesus is the only way we can contact the Father. He is a mediator between man and the Father. Without Jesus we can have no fellowship or relationship with God. Yet for those who are in Christ, they have direct access to the Father and the Holy Spirit because they are "in Christ."
Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE, and there is no other way, no other truth, and no eternal life without Jesus. Thereby, Proverbs 8:7 is speaking of the person of Jesus when it says, "...wickedness is an abomination to my lips." The devil is wicked, and wickedness is his way of doing things. Jesus and the devil are opposite of each other. Proverbs, chapter 8 continues telling us about the truth and righteousness of Jesus, and the words He speaks to those who love Him. Verse 8 and 9 says,
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
If our heart is right before God, all the words of Jesus are plain, and we will understand them. With understanding, we will find knowledge of Him and the total plan of God for our lives. The LORD is encouraging us in verse 10, by saying, "Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold." The instructions of the LORD are worth more than any thing this world has to offer. Silver and gold are precious in the sight of those who love the world, but the instructions of the LORD are worth much more to those who love Him.
The words of these verses in Proverbs are certainly the words of our LORD Jesus Christ. Look at verse fourteen, it says, "Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength." It is through Jesus, our mediator between us and God that right counsel and sound wisdom are received. From men, we only receive that which men can teach. But, from Jesus we receive the best that God has to offer mankind. There is no counsel or wisdom greater than that of the LORD. In Proverbs 8:15,16, it says,
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
All throughout the Scriptures we will find reference to the truth that the LORD sets up the kingdoms of this world, even the kingdoms of the heathen. Daniel was a prophet, therefore what Daniel spoke to king Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2:37,38 was a word from the LORD, inspired by the Holy Spirit. It says,
Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
Psalm 103:19 says, "The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all." In 2 Chronicles 20:6, King Jehoshaphat prayed, "And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?" In Romans 13:1 we are told, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." There are a number of other Scriptures that tell us the LORD is God over all the kingdoms of this earth and He giveth them unto whosoever He pleases. See Job 36:7, 2 Kings 19:15, Dan. 4:17,25,32. By all of this we can see that Wisdom, "the LORD Jesus Christ," is the one doing the speaking in Proverbs 8.
Now look at Proverbs 8:17-21, which says,
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
Without question those that have understanding of the Scripture know this is the LORD, the Son of God that is doing the speaking. We know the love of the LORD, how He has shown us His love all throughout the Scriptures, especially in the Gospels where He healed everyone that came to Him of every sickness or disease. He never asked them any questions concerning their sins, or their past. He loved them and healed them all. He laid His life down on the cross for our sakes. He took our sins and iniquities upon Himself, and shed His blood for our redemption (1 John 2:2). He did all He could for us, that we might have life and have it abundantly. Now look what He says in Proverbs 8:22-24,
The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
Who is the LORD in verse 22? It must be God the Father, for it is Wisdom, the Son of God, doing the speaking. We know the Father possessed the Son in the beginning, for He came forth from the Father. In John 8:42, Jesus said "...for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me." In John 5:20 Jesus said, "For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth..." Proverbs 8 tells us of many of the things the Father did before the world was. The Son was with the Father, learning how to do things as the Father does them. Proverbs 8:26,27 says,
While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth.
In verses 30,31 Wisdom (Jesus) says,
Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
By this we can see what Jesus was speaking of in John 17:5. There was a glory that the Son of God had with the Father before the world was created. This is the glory Jesus was speaking of in His prayer to the Father the night He was betrayed, before His death and resurrection. The LORD, "called Wisdom" in Proverbs 8 was with God the Father before the world was created. He continued to be with Him all throughout the creation of this world.
These Scriptures reveal the relationship of the Father and the Son from the beginning. Jesus was His Father's
delight even before the world was created. Therefore, John 3:35 tells us, "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given
all things into his hand." Right from the beginning, Jesus was placed in control of all things pertaining to this
creation. Jesus is still in control today, for God hath exalted His name above every name... (Phil. 2:9-11).
JESUS
THE CREATOR
Who created the world, God the Father or God the Son? Many have not understood the Scriptures, mainly because of the teachings of others. Look at what it says in John 1:10, "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not." This is talking about Jesus, when He was living and ministering to the Jews. Here He was, walking the land in a human body of flesh and bones. Yet, the whole world was made by Him years before He came in the flesh as the Son of Man. Many know Jesus today as Savior, but how many know Him as LORD?
Following Jesus' death and resurrection, Peter speaking under the anointing said to the Jews in Acts 2:36, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." The Jews did not know that God had made the same person we know as JESUS, both LORD and Christ. Today many know Jesus as Christ, and call Him Lord; but still do not know Him as the LORD of this creation. The word LORD means, "someone of great power and authority." From the beginning of this creation, Jesus always had great power and authority.
Jesus is the Son of God. He was with the Father from the beginning (John 1:1-2,14). By the beginning we mean from before the world was. God was always His Father, and as the Son of God He learned all things from His Father. In John 5:19,20 Jesus said,
...Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
We see from the Scriptures, that John 3:35 is speaking of Jesus from the beginning of this creation, God the Father had given all things pertaining to this creation into the hands of His Son. With all things in His hands, Jesus is LORD over this creation.
Colossians 1:16 tells us that "...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." Then John 1:3 says, "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." Hebrews 1:2 says, "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." Romans 11:36 says, "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."
This helps us to understand who it was that created the world and all things concerned with this world. The same Jesus we know as LORD, created all things. They were created by Him, for Him (Col. 1:16) and through Him (Rom. 11:36). That is, God the Father and the Holy Spirit worked through Jesus in the creation of all things. Jesus did not create all things by Himself, but all things were created by Him and through Him. Jesus is the Creator, the One God used to create all things.
When the Bible speaks of all things, that includes the angels, the universe, and all the inhabitants upon the earth. That also includes Adam, and all mankind. Some may wonder, where does it say that? When we understand the Scriptures tell us all things were created by Him, we must look then and see where it talks about the creation of man. In Genesis 2:7, it says, "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Here the Scriptures are calling Jesus, "the LORD God." We know He is LORD, and we know He is God, therefore it is only right that He be called "the LORD God." Now let us look other places where it talks about the LORD God and the creation of man. In Jeremiah 27:5, it says, "I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground..." We know it was the LORD doing the speaking through Jeremiah, for it tells us that in verse four. In Isaiah 42:5 it says, "Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens...he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein." Here it tells us the LORD gave breath to all people and a spirit to all who walk on the earth. In Isaiah 45:12 it says, "I have made the earth, and created man upon it..." We know it was the LORD speaking for it tells us that in verse eleven. In Zechariah 12:1 it says, "...saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him." Here we see the LORD formed the spirit of man within him.
"The LORD," the One we know as Jesus Christ created all things, including man in the beginning. Man is a created being; where as, the LORD is the creator of all things. Jesus formed man of the dust of the ground, breathed the breath of life into him, and man become a living soul.
Adam was not spiritual like Jesus, for 1 Corinthians 15:46 says, "Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual." The word natural pertains to man as a living creature; a living soul with flesh and bones, formed of the dust of the ground. The word "natural" in the Greek is "psuchikos," meaning "a human being controlled by a living soul." This is what man was in the beginning. He was formed of the dust of the ground and received a living soul by the breath of the LORD.
Jesus spoke about you and I as Adam's descendants in John 3:6,7, saying,
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."
Adam was not spiritual, he was of the flesh. Jesus came in the flesh, but He was spiritual. Jesus created man and all things that exist within this universe. For us to come into relationship with Jesus and inherit eternal life we must be born of the Spirit. For "flesh is flesh and spirit is spirit;" these are not the same, therefore "we must be born again." This new birth in the spirit makes us one spirit with the LORD (1 Cor. 6:17).
The important thing we need to understand is that Jesus is the Creator of this universe and all that exist within it. When we get to know Jesus as the Creator, and look to Him as our LORD we will come into a fellowship and relationship with God that can keep us unto everlasting life with Him. On this earth we daily face the devil and his demons. Yet, knowing who we are in Christ, and knowing Jesus as the creator of all things, we can have confidence in what He tells us. We must learn to rely upon Him and His ability to do all things in our lives that is necessary for us to obtain that which is promised. In Matthew 7:24, Jesus said, "...whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man..." Jesus is called "Wisdom" in Proverbs 8:12. Those who do what He says are wise.
To Abraham the LORD said, "Is any thing too hard for the LORD?..." Jeremiah prayed to the LORD saying, "Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee" (Jer. 32:17). Then in Jeremiah 32:27 it says, "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?" Our LORD JESUS CHRIST, who created all things wants His people to know, "There is nothing too hard for the LORD!" Christians need to get to know JESUS, not just as Savior, but also as LORD, and the Creator of all things.
For those who do not know Him as LORD and Savior, "you must be born again..." (John 3:6,7). If you have not received JESUS CHRIST as LORD, and become born again, you can right NOW! Say a prayer from your heart like the following, and receive Him as your LORD and Savior.
LORD Jesus, I know that You are the Son of God, who came into this world that we might be saved from the wrath to come. I know You died on the Cross, and that God raised You from the dead to be my LORD and Savior.
From my heart, LORD Jesus, I receive You now as my LORD and Savior! Forgive me of my past sins, and open my understanding to know the truth and to live for You all the days of my life.
I receive You now, as my LORD and Savior. I purpose in my heart to do Your will as long as I live. Please
help me to accomplish that. Thank You, LORD Jesus, for answering my prayer! Amen.
For those who do not believe that JESUS is the Creator of this universe look at what it says in John 1:10, "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not." Now that doesn't mean that God the Father and the Holy Spirit were not involved in the creation, for it says, "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him" (1 Cor. 8:6). Colossians 1:17 says, "And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." Ephesians 3:9 says, "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ."
Hebrews 1:1,2 tells us,
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
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 1:10 says, "And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands." Hebrews 2:10 says, "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." Revelation 3:14 says, "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God." Revelation 4:11 says, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Revelation 10:6 says, "And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer."
Summing all these New Testament Scriptures together we can see that God the Father and the Holy Spirit have made this same Jesus, "LORD," right from the beginning. JESUS, as LORD, created all things. All things were created "by Him and for Him" (Col. 1:16). Without Jesus "nothing was created that was created" (John 1:3). This same Jesus came into the world as a man, the Son of man, born of a woman. As it says in John 1:10, "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not." Today the world needs to know Him for who He really is, for He is LORD!
The Old Testament prophets and writers of the Psalms spoke of Jesus. Nehemiah 9:6 says, "Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee." The prophet that wrote Psalm 102:25 said, "Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands." Psalm 136 says,
To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever (Psalm 136:5-9).
Psalm 146 says,
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever: (Psalm 146:5,6).
Isaiah 42:5 says, "Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:" Isaiah 44:24 says, "Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself." Isaiah 45:12 says, "I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded." This surely seems to be the same person we know as Jesus Christ, our LORD and Savior.
Isaiah 45:18 says, "For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else." Isaiah 48:13 says, "Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together." Jeremiah 27:5 says, "I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me." Jeremiah 32:17 says, "Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:" Jeremiah 32:27 says, "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?" Jeremiah 51:15 says, "He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding." Zechariah 12:1 says, "The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him."
Jesus is revealed just as plain in the Old Testament as He is in the New Testament. Luke wrote in Acts "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands." (Acts 17:24). Where does He dwell? For those who know Him personally, He should be dwelling in them, for Acts 17:28a says, "For in him we live, and move, and have our being..."
There are many people in the world today that have heard about JESUS, but how many of them really know Him for who He really is? All of this creation came "by and through Jesus" in obedience to God the Father. Therefore, John 3:35 says, "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand." God the Father placed this creation in the hands of Jesus. Jesus did not create all things by Himself, for He said, "...Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise" (John 5:19) If anyone teaches it was "JESUS ONLY," they are in great error... For Jesus Himself made it very clear, He could do nothing without the Father. The power that Jesus has, He received from His Father. In John 10:17,18, Jesus said,
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
To the Jews, Jesus said, "...If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me..." (John 8:54). In John 14:28, Jesus said to His disciples, "Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I." In John 16:28, Jesus said, "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father."
Jesus also made reference to the Holy Spirit. In John 14:26, Jesus said, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." In John 15:26, Jesus said, "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me." In John 16:13-15, 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.
To His disciples, the same day Jesus rose from the dead, it says,
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost (John 20:21,22).
We must keep all things is order, not changing any part of the Word of God, not adding to it, nor taking away from it. God created the world and all that is in it by His Son, JESUS CHRIST. Then, His Son, JESUS, came in the flesh, born of a woman... As the Son of Man, Jesus defeated the devil on the Cross of Calvary. Now, His name is above every name, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. Philippians 2:5-11 says,
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Let us forever, bow our knees to JESUS and confess Him as LORD of all.... Never forgetting, God is His Father and the Holy Spirit is our Helper, Comforter, Teacher, and Guide in this life... God created all things through Jesus Christ. For Him and by Him were all things created... He is LORD! He created you and I. He formed us in our mothers womb (Isa. 44:24). He gave us breath (Isa. 42:5). And formed our spirit within us (Zec. 12:1). We were created by Him and for Him (Col. 1:16).
Let us forever glorify His Name above all names.... His name is JESUS.... His name is LORD....
JESUS
THE DIRECTOR
As in making a movie, sometimes the director of the movie is also the main actor. We see Jesus as the director and main Character throughout the Bible. Being that Jesus was "the Word" in the beginning (John 1:1), and still is "the Word of God" (1 John 5:7, Heb. 13:8), we should start at the beginning and there we will see when it was that God had made this same Jesus LORD whereby, He became the director of all things within this creation. We see in Genesis 2:7, it says, "And the LORD (Y@hovah) God (Elohiym) formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." By this we can see that Jesus, called "the LORD God," One member of the Godhead (Elohiym), created man. Therefore, we could say along with Colossians 1:15-17, that we "were created by Him and for Him." For, we were all descendants of the first Adam.
Some may ask, how do you know it was this same Jesus spoken of in the Gospels and in Acts 2:36? It seems God had the translators of the Bible translate the Hebrew word "Y@hovah" to LORD 6,511 times in the Old Testament, making it simple for people to understand. And we can verify it by the Word of God throughout the Scriptures, that this is the same person of the Godhead that we know as JESUS CHRIST. Yes, many religious leaders and wise men will oppose this simple knowledge, yet God will reveal it to those who are seeking to know the truth.
As we search the Scriptures we will find a simple explanation: God had chosen to make this same "Jesus Christ of the New Testament," LORD over all the works of God on this earth, even over the spirits in the heavens. The word LORD means "someone having great power, and authority; ruler; master." God did not make Jesus LORD over God the Father, but LORD over this creation, which includes the earth and the heavens above the earth. God the Father is still the God of all creation, and Jesus said Himself, "...my Father is greater than I" (John 14:28).
We see Jesus as LORD (Y@hovah) in Exodus 6:1-8. Notice; it is the LORD doing the speaking, therefore the word "I" implies the LORD, Himself. It says,
1) Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I (the LORD) will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.
2) And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD:
3) And I (the LORD) appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
4) And I (the LORD) have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their descendants wherein they were strangers.
5) And I (the LORD) have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I (the LORD) have remembered my covenant.
6) Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I (the LORD) will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I (the LORD) will rid you out of their bondage, and I (the LORD) will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:
7) And I (the LORD) will take you to me for a people, and I (the LORD) will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
8) And I (the LORD) will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I (the LORD) did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.
Looking at verse three we see something interesting about that verse. It says, "And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them." The person who did the speaking said His name is JEHOVAH! He didn't say His name was God the Father, and He didn't say His name was the Holy Spirit. He said, His name was JEHOVAH!
Who is this person doing the speaking that said "I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob?" Remember, the word "I" identifies the person that is doing the speaking to Moses. The statement implies that the One doing the speaking is the One who appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In Exodus 6:1,2 it tells us,
"Then the LORD (Y@hovah) said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I (the LORD) will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.
And God (Elohiym) spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD (Y@hovah):"
Keeping in mind that the Hebrew word "Y@hovah" means, "'the existing One.' It is said to be the proper name of the One true God." Being the proper name of the One true God, "the existing One," it tells us that Y@hovah existed from the beginning. John 1:1-3,14, also tells us that Jesus was with God from the beginning. We must also keep in mind that the Hebrew word "Elohiym" translated God in verse two is the plural form of "El." That means "Elohiym" is three persons of the Godhead in One. John 1:1 tells us "...the Word was with God and the Word was God." In 1 John 5:7, it says, "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." Therefore, that which was "the Word" in the beginning, and was manifested in the flesh as JESUS, was with God in the beginning. There is another thing of importance to keep in mind when determining who it is talking about when the word "God (Elohiym)" is used in the Hebrew, or the word "God (Theos)" is used in the Greek; that is, anytime any One of the three make a statement it is as effective as if God the Father Himself said it. There is no disagreement between the three persons of the Godhead; they all agree in One. Yet, they each are different, insomuch as they each have a different position, a different function, and a different purpose within the Godhead. The term "Elohiym or Theos," could (at any time) apply to anyone of the three persons of the Godhead. Therefore, the distinction as to which One is doing the speaking is determined by what purpose is being fulfilled?
So, the Hebrew word "Elohiym" in Exodus 6:2 only states that the One doing the speaking "is a part of the triune Godhead," but not the complete Godhead Himself, for there are three that make up the complete Godhead. Therefore, in Exodus 6:2 it explains that the individual person of the triune God doing the speaking is "the LORD (Y@hovah)." From Exodus 6:3 on through 6:8, this same person of the Godhead (Y@hovah) is identified by the word "I." In identifying Who it is that is doing the speaking we should take into account the statement made by the one speaking, which says, "I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob..." (Ex. 6:3).
Who appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? It couldn't be God the Father for it says in John 1:18, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." That would mean that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had not seen God the Father or God the Holy Spirit. In other words, all three persons of the Godhead did not appear to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Yet, we know that according to Exodus 6:3, the One doing the speaking did appear to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; therefore, in John 1:18 it is not speaking of Jesus as God, but of the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Let us look at what Jesus said in John 5:37, "And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape" (John 5:37). In John 6:46, Jesus said, "Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father." The Amplified Bible says, "Which does not imply that any one has seen the Father -- not that any one has ever seen Him -- except He [Who was with the Father] Who comes from God. He [alone] has seen the Father." This is a second time that Jesus said, no one has seen the Father. In 1 John 4:12 it says, "No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us." We know many have seen Jesus, therefore, the word "God" must apply to the Father and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is very possible that no one else has actually seen God the Father. If this is so, then it would not have been God the Father that appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It must have been another person of the Godhead (Elohiym). That person must be JEHOVAH (Y@hovah), as it is stated in Exodus, 6:3, for "the name" of the One doing the speaking is "JEHOVAH (Y@hovah)."
The Hebrew word Y@hovah is used in the Old Testament approximately 6,519 times. Out of these times it is translated LORD approximately 6,511 times. It depends upon what the subject is each time it is translated LORD, who it is speaking of? We must study each account carefully to determine which person of the Godhead the name Jehovah (Y@hovah) applies to. We must not forget that when the word "God" is used alone, without the word LORD, it could be speaking of the Holy Spirit.
I believe the name "JEHOVAH" in Exodus 6:3 applies to Our LORD, JESUS, CHRIST; the One person of the Godhead that God had made both LORD and CHRIST (Acts 2:36). Looking back at Exodus 6:3-8 we need to consider the following: We can see that the person of the Godhead that did the talking to Moses said,
1) He is the One who appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
2) He is the One who made the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob for the land of Israel.
3) He is the One who heard the groaning of the children of Israel in Egypt.
4) He is the One who would bring the children out from the burdens of the Egyptians.
5) He is the One who would be to them "a God" (Elohiym), and they shall know that He is the LORD (Y@hovah) their God (Elohiym).
By this He is saying, "not the LORD (Y@hovah) alone, but the complete Godhead would be involved in this deliverance from the Egyptians." Therefore, (Elohiym), the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit would all be involved in the deliverance. Yet, the covenant is made "by Him and through Him" (Col. 1:15-17).
1) He is the beginning and the end of the covenant.
2) He is the One who made the covenant with Abraham and his seed after him (Gen. 17:7, Gal. 3:17).
3) He is the One who sealed the covenant (Luke 22:20).
4) He is the One who fulfilled the covenant (1 Peter 3:18, Heb. 13:20).
5) He is Alpha, and Omega, the beginning and the ending (Rev. 1:8).
With this in mind we could come to a much better understanding of the Scriptures themselves, and a much better understanding of Who our LORD JESUS CHRIST really is. It is not "JESUS ONLY," but it is JESUS, with the Father and the Holy Spirit that is in control of all things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. We must get to know Him for who He really is; the creator, the deliverer, the justifier, the sanctifier, the perfecter of our faith, "the One who can make us perfect before the Father." For "Without Him we can do nothing" (John 15:5). But "with Him nothing is impossible," in heaven, on earth, and under the earth (Gen. 18:14).
In Acts 7:2-4 Stephen said,
...Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
Then in Genesis 12:1-3 it tells us of the LORD making a promise to Abram,
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
In Genesis 12:7 it says, "And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him." Who was it that appeared to Abram? It says it was "the LORD." This same Son of God that created all things, appeared to Abram and promised that He would give the land of Canaan to his seed. How could the LORD make such a promise to a man by the name of Abram? Simply, because He is the LORD of this creation, all things were given into His hand by God the Father. His words are just, righteous, true, and they stand forever...
In Exodus 6:3, the LORD said, He is the One who made the covenant with Abraham. In Genesis 15:18, it says, "In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I (the LORD) given this land...," and He identifies the land in the covenant.
Then in Genesis 17:1 it says, "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect." It is interesting to notice that the LORD God, the creator of the earth came down from heaven and appeared to Abram, making a covenant with him and his seed after him. It is also interesting to notice that in that covenant, the LORD also included all who will call upon His name, Hebrews and Gentiles alike. In Genesis 17:7,8 the LORD said,
And I (the LORD) will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
And I (the LORD) will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I (the LORD) will be their God.
Verse eight mentions the covenant for the land of Israel, which the LORD gave to the children of Israel (Not the same covenant as the "seed" of Abraham mentioned also in Galatians 3:17). This covenant of land was for the descendants of Jacob "Israel" only, for an everlasting. This covenant, the LORD also reestablished with Isaac (Gen. 26:2-5) and with Jacob (Gen. 48:3,4). Therefore the land of Israel still belongs to the children of Israel today.
But there is something important about Genesis 17:7, for in it the LORD made a covenant with the Gentiles. For He did say "...I (the LORD) will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee."
Notice the part of the covenant the LORD made with Abraham that pertains to the Gentiles is the part where He said, "...to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee." He did not say He is going "to give the Gentiles land, or worldly possessions." He said "to be a God to the Gentiles."
Galatians 3:16 says, "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." Therefore, the LORD made a covenant with the Gentiles before He came in the flesh as JESUS, the Son of God, the Son of Man. This covenant that the LORD made with Abraham was an everlasting covenant that "the LORD God Almighty, Himself" would fulfill for all the seed of Abraham.
Now, let us add Galatians 3:17 to the above, which says, "And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect." Notice, the covenant with Gentiles "was confirmed before of God in Christ," meaning that it was the LORD Jesus Christ that made the covenant, and God confirmed it. Jesus had not yet come in the flesh, but the covenant was confirmed in Christ Jesus already in Genesis 3:17).
So here we see Jesus, the Son of God, the Creator of all things making a covenant that included Himself (Christ, which means "the Anointed One"). By this Jesus made the covenant with Abraham, a covenant that needed to be sealed by the blood of both man and God. For both parties making a covenant must put their seal to it to make a covenant effective. Therefore, the person of the Godhead we know as Jesus, was at the time of Abraham known as "the LORD God almighty;" (today, we know Him as "Christ," being the same person, LORD and Jesus, He sealed the covenant for both God and man on the cross of Calvary. This Jesus did for you and I, if we will receive Him as LORD, and continue in Him for all eternity.
Who are the seed of Abraham? Look at Galatians 3:29, which says, "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Therefore, this same covenant that was made with Abraham is still in effect, and the LORD JESUS CHRIST is still fulfilling that covenant. Galatians 3:17 says, "And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect." This means, any covenant made after this could not change this covenant. This covenant the LORD made with Abraham in Genesis 17 is not altogether the same covenant He made in Genesis 15:18-21. The Covenant in Genesis 15:18-21 was for the possession of the land of Canaan.
Galatians 3:14 says, "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." This tells us there was a blessing of Abraham that should come upon the Gentiles. That blessing is "the promise of the Spirit through faith." Some have added an "s" after to the word "blessing," in Galatians 3:14 to teach their theory of worldly possessions. By this they walk after the flesh and not after the Spirit, and say it is ok to walk after the flesh. This is contrary to Romans 8:1-8 Galatians 5:17, Colossians 3:1-3, 1 John 2:15,16, Revelation 3:17, etc. The Gentiles were not promised any specific land as the children of Israel were promised. But the Gentiles were promised "the blessing of the Holy Spirit..." Ephesians 1:3 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." Our blessings are "spiritual blessings" in heavenly places, not worldly possessions.
This covenant the LORD God made with Abraham and the Gentiles is an everlasting covenant and will continue on into eternity for all who are in Christ. Yet this covenant with the Gentiles is not for land, or worldly possessions; but, "that He would be a God to those who receive Him as LORD!" Also, we have the promise of the Holy Spirit to all who will receive Him.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
(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 7:38-39).
The Holy Spirit should become our Helper, Guide, Comforter, and Teacher. He is the anointing within us,
"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but
as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall
abide in him" (1 John 2:27).
JESUS
DOING THE WILL OF THE FATHER
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden, the LORD "full of grace and mercy," did not destroy them. Yet, because He is God, and cannot pervert judgment, He first promised them salvation from their sins. The LORD said in Genesis 3:15, "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Then He removed them from the Garden of Eden "to keep the way of the tree of life." Genesis 3:23,24 says,
Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
The LORD give mankind an opportunity to repent and turn back to Him as their LORD and Savior. Job 34:10-12 says,
Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
Some have gone astray, listening to a wrong spirit and they believe that grace takes the place of obedience. This is not true according to the Word of God, and the words of Jesus Christ Himself. In 2 Chronicles 16:9 it says, "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.." In 1 Samuel 16:7 it says, "But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."
Because that God is Love (1 John 4:7), yet He will not pervert judgment, the LORD found Enoch. It tells us in Genesis 5:21-24,
And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:
And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Hebrews 11:5,6 speaks about Enoch. It says,
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
God is love, yet He will not pervert judgment, therefore about six hundred and sixty-nine years after the LORD received Enoch all flesh was destroyed by a flood. Only Noah, his wife, his sons, and their wives were saved. Genesis 6:5-7 says,
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
Judgment does come to those who will not harken to the Word of God, that which has gone forth throughout the ages and is recorded in the Bible. Yet, there is grace for those who seek Him and desire to do His will. Genesis 6:8 says, "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD." Hebrews 11:7 says, "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." It takes faith in our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and the grace of God for us to be saved. Yet, grace does not take the place of obedience. If we have faith, we will also obey the LORD.
It was the LORD that brought the flood upon the earth at the time of Noah. It was not the devil as some may teach. In Genesis 6:7, it says, "...the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth..." The word "I" pertains to the one doing the speaking. The devil did not do the speaking, the LORD did the speaking. Does the LORD LIE? Not according to the Scriptures.
Why would the LORD destroy man, whom He made? When the LORD created man, He created him for one purpose; that is. "to do the will of God the Father" (Matt. 7:21), and enter into eternal life with God. When people of their own free will choose to follow the devil, and do things contrary to the will of God the Father they are of no value to the LORD nor to God the Father.
The whole Bible reveals the plan of God for all of mankind. The plan of God and the will of God are the same thing. His plan and His will include that "at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that He is LORD!" Philippians 2:9-11 says,
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Those who do the will of God the Father will enter into the kingdom of Heaven with the Father and the Son. But those who do not will spend eternity with the devil for ever and ever. In Matthew 7:21, Jesus said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."
Why did the flood come upon the earth at the time of Noah? Genesis 6:5 says, "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." As far as God was concerned, there was no hope for those whose heart was only evil continually...
Noah lived three hundred and fifty years after the flood (Gen. 9:28). Even while Noah was still living, Nimrod led the people to building the tower of Babel. Genesis 11:4 says, "And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." It was not the name of the LORD that they wanted to exalt, but themselves. Genesis 11:5-8 says,
And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
Even while Noah was still living, Abraham was born and lived in Ur, a city on the Euphrates river, just northwest of where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers meet. The LORD spoke to Abraham, while he lived in Ur and said, "...Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee" (Gen. 12:1). First Abraham moved with his Father and others to Haran. There his father died and Abraham left with his wife Sarah and his nephew Lot to journey into the land of Canaan.
In the land of Canaan, the LORD himself came down and spoke to Abraham, and made a covenant with Abraham and his seed after him. We know it was the LORD, for He said so Himself. In John 8, Jesus spoke of Abraham, saying,
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad (John 8:56).
...Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am (John 8:58).
In Exodus 6:3, the LORD said, "And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them."
In Genesis 17:1,2 it says,
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
In Genesis 17:7, the LORD made a covenant with Abraham which spoke of the New Covenant which we have today. Galatians 3:16 explains that this covenant was for the body of Christ.
In Genesis 18:1 it says, "And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day." In Genesis 18:13,14 it says,
And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
We know it was the LORD, for the Word of God says so, and God cannot lie... There was another covenant made with Abraham in Genesis 15:18-21. There the LORD made a covenant with Abraham and the children of Israel for the possession of the land of Canaan, for an everlasting covenant. This possession of land for the children of Israel is a type and shadow of the promise of an heavenly possessions for those in Christ who do the will of God the Father. The promises of material things to the Children of Israel are a type and shadow of the promises of spiritual things to the body of Christ.
Satan has caused many Christians to seek the things of this world, the material things; thereby getting their eyes off the kingdom of God onto the kingdoms of this world. In Colossians 3:1-3 it tells us,
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
In 1 John 2:15,16 it tells us,
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
By this, Christians are led astray from the will of God to the will of men. One of the greatest deceptions in the body of Christ today is the seeking the things of this world.
The LORD is still LORD over this creation, and the LORD will do His pleasure. Those who do His will, will inherit the promises of the New Covenant. In the ages to come, after this life is over, God will reward those who are faithful to His plan and His will. Ephesians 2:7 tells us, "That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."
Jesus, the Son of God came into the world as the Last Adam, the Second man, the Son of Man. He was born of a woman; Mary, a virgin espoused to Joseph. The angel Gabriel spoke to Mary in Luke 1:35,37 it says,
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....
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
The angel had said unto Mary in Luke 1:31-33,
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
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 for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Philippians 2:6-8 says,
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
According to all that He had spoken through the prophets, and in the Psalms, Jesus lived as a Man, the second Adam, the Son of God in the flesh. Jesus obeyed all the commandments He had given to man in the Old Testament. He obeyed them, and also fulfilled them for those who were under the law.
While Jesus lived as the Son of Man, He taught us many things concerning Himself, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit. In John 5:19 it says, "Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." Jesus knew who He was from the beginning and remembered the things that He had seen the Father do before the world was. Jesus knew that as the Son of Man He could do nothing. But according to all that His Father had taught Him, that He could do according to that which was written in the Word. In John 5:20 He said, "For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel." Everything Jesus did was according to that which the Father had given Him to do. In John 6:38 Jesus said, "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." Obedience to the Father was the most important thing in Jesus' life. He learned obedience from His Father, even before the world was.
Because Jesus knew He was, "the Son of God," He was obedient to the Father in everything He did. Because of His knowing who He was, and His obedience to the Father, He had complete confidence in the fulfillment of His purpose for coming into the world as the Son of Man. In John 6:27 Jesus said, "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed." What does He mean, "...for him hath God the Father sealed"? Does that mean Jesus could not have failed? Does that mean that the temptations were not real temptations? No. That means that because Jesus was obedient unto the Father in all things, the Father gave Him the Holy Spirit and power to do everything that He came to do.
Just as we, who have received the gift of the Holy Spirit since we believed, we also are sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30 says to us, "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Does that mean we cannot fail to obtain the inheritance promised to us? No, that means if we will harken unto the voice of the LORD the way Jesus harkened to the will of the Father the seal upon us will not be broken. If anyone breaks the seal wherewith they are sealed, and puts the LORD to open shame it could become impossible for them to repent. Hebrews 6:4-6 says,
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Jesus did not do His own will of the flesh, but only the will of God the Father, whereby He was sealed by God because of His obedience. Some may say, now your talking about works...! They do not understand that Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
Those who love the LORD their God do good works which we are ordained to do from the beginning. We are told that "the just shall live by faith." Yet James 2:20 says, "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" These works are not the works of man, but God working through man to do His will and His pleasure. Remember what Jesus said in John 14:10, "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." In 2 Corinthians 5:19 it say, "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." We have been given "...the word of reconciliation," that God can work through us to reconcile the world unto Himself. The good works must be "God working through us" to do His will, not our will of the flesh, but His will of the Spirit. This Jesus did, and by it He was sealed by God.
Jesus was obedient to God the Father and the Holy Spirit in everything He did. In John 5:30, Jesus said, "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." In John 8:38 Jesus said, "I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father." In John 8:40 Jesus said, "But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham." In John 12:49,50 Jesus said,
For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
Because that Jesus did the will of the Father, and completed that which the Father had sent Him into the world to do, Philippians 2:9-11 says,
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus, the Son of God, who created all things, came into the world as the Son of Man, and sealed the covenant He made with Abraham and His seed with His own blood on the cross of Calvary. Whereby, Colossians 2:14,15 says,
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
By which 1 Peter 3:18 says, "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit." Then Hebrews 13:20 says, "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant." After being put death in the flesh...God brought Jesus back from the dead through the blood of the everlasting covenant. His blood has been shed for all who will receive Him and obey His voice...
From that time forth, He has sent the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter, Guide, Helper, and Teacher. In John 16:13-15, 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.
In John 16:7 Jesus had said, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." Then after His resurrection, it tells us,
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost (John 20:19-22).
Yet forty days later, to these very same disciples in Acts 1:4-5, it says,
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
On the same day that Jesus rose from the dead the disciples received the Holy Spirit. Yet, they still were lacking something very important, that is the power of the anointing. Therefore, Jesus said to them in Acts 1:8, "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." It is this power, "the anointing of the Holy Spirit" that Jesus is working through today, completing all that He began to do from the creation of this world.
Notice that in Acts 1:8, Jesus said, "after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." Jesus was not talking about only being filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus was still talking about being baptize with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4,5). Upon you indicates "submersion in the Holy Spirit." Submersion is baptism, baptized in the Holy Spirit.
In Acts 2:4, the disciples were "filled with the Holy Spirit." They were also "Baptized in the Holy Spirit," at the same time. In Acts 10:45, the Holy Spirit was poured out "on" the Gentiles, and they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God." For Peter said in Acts 11:15,16, the Holy Spirit "fell on" those of the house of Cornelius, just as it fell "on them" at the beginning (the day of Pentecost). "Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost."
The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is "upon a person," being filled with the Holy Spirit is "inside a person." The disciples, on Pentecost day received both, "the baptism" and "were filled" with the Holy Spirit at the same time.
Jesus began by creating all things, "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" (Col. 1:16). Now He is finishing His work by the power of the Holy Spirit, bringing all who come and remain obedient unto death into an everlasting habitation with Him and the Father.
For those who are living today, it is important that we understand who Jesus is, and how He is fulfilling all
things according to the will of God. In Philippians 2:13 it says, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and
to do of his good pleasure." It cannot be us doing the will of God, for that is works of the flesh. Of ourselves we can
do nothing (John 15:5). It can only be God working in us to do His good pleasure. It is not something we do, but us
yielding to Him that He can do His good pleasure through us. We must die to ourselves, before He can work efficiently
through us. Jesus said of Himself, "I can of mine own self do nothing..." (John 5:30). To Philip in John 14, Jesus said,
it is the Father in Him that does the works. That is the way all things of God are accomplished on this earth, God
Himself, working through man, doing His good pleasure.
JESUS IS
THE WORD OF GOD
In John 1:1,2 it says,
In the beginning was the Word (Logos), and the Word (Logos) was with God, and the Word (Logos) was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
It is important to understand the meaning of the Greek Word "logos." History tells us, A Greek philosopher named Heraclitus first used the term Logos around 600 B.C. to designate the divine reason or plan which coordinates a changing universe.
"Logos," means, "a word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea what someone has said; a word; the sayings of God, etc."
Using this information let us see what it means in Scripture, and how Jesus could be the Word (Logos) of God. The "logos" is that which is uttered by a living voice. There are two types of voices in the creation, living voices and dead voices; that is, there is the voice of God and the voice of the devil. In God there is life "Zoe" (John 1:4), in the devil there is death (thanatos) (Rev. 20:13).
When living words are spoken by someone, it is the same is if God Himself spoke the words. When dead words are spoken by someone it is the same as if the devil himself spoke the words. In John 6:63, Jesus said, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words (rhema) that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." Jesus spoke words of life to His disciples, they were "rhema." "Rhema" means, "that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken, word, etc."
In Matthew 16:23 it says, "But he (Jesus) turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." The words came out of Peter's mouth, but they were dead words, (contrary to the Word of God, therefore the source of the words was the devil).
Revelation 20:13 says, "And the sea gave up the dead (nekros) which were in it; and death (thanatos) and hell delivered up the dead (nekros) which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works."
The meaning of the Greek word "nekros" is,
(1) one that has breathed his last, lifeless deceased, departed, one whose soul is in Hades, destitute of life, without life, inanimate.
(2) (Sometimes called) spiritually dead, destitute of a life that recognizes and is devoted to God.
The meaning of the Greek word "thanatos" is, "the death of the body; that separation (whether natural or violent) of the soul and the body by which the life on earth is ended, with the implied idea of future misery in hell."
The source of the works that produce death is the devil. Those who follow him will spend eternity with him in hell.
The source of all (Zoe) life is God the Father, this same (Zoe) life is given unto mankind by Jesus, the Word of God. The Word of God manifests in the flesh of human beings. John 1:14 tells us, "And the Word (Logos) was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." How did the "Logos" become flesh?
In Luke 1:26-38 it tells us of the appearance of the angel Gabriel to Mary. Luke 1:30,31, says,
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
The angel "Gabriel" is a true and faithful servant of God. The words spoken by Gabriel were "living words," words spoken by a living voice. When Gabriel spoke these words to Mary, they were living words, coming from the LORD, "the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the ending of all things" (Rev. 1:8). We could say, a seed was planted in the mind of Mary, thoughts began to come to Mary concerning the words spoken by the angel. The LORD started a good work in Mary (Philip. 1:6), that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.... When these thoughts began to work in Mary's mind, the LORD, through the voice of the angel added confidence to Mary by explaining, "...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). Faith arose in Mary, and she said, "...Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her" (Luke 1:38). This whole process was started by the LORD using the angel Gabriel to speak the living word of God to Mary. The Holy Spirit giving Mary the faith to believe, and Mary accepting the Word of the LORD. Through this, the process began and Mary became pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Word of God come to Mary through Gabriel. Mary was chosen by the LORD. He chose her, she did not choose Him (John 15:16). The LORD began the good work in Mary: "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philip. 1:6). The LORD continued that good work in Mary until Jesus was born (Rev. 1:8). This is "Logos & and rhema" working together for the purpose of bringing to pass "that which is written."
John 1:1,2 is speaking of Jesus. He was with God in the beginning. He was also God in the beginning. He never stopped being the Word of God. In 1 John 5:7 it says, "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." In Revelation 19:13 it says, "And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God." In Hebrews 13:8 it says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." Jesus never stopped being the Word of God, He is the same as He was in the Old Testament, in the New Testament, and in heaven today.
As Children of God, we need knowledge from the Scriptures that will teach us "God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever..." Just because there are two testaments in our Bibles, and there are a number of covenants in the Old Testament and one covenant in the New Testament, that does not mean those who lived during the time of the Old Testament were not treated justly by God. It doesn't mean we who are living under the New Testament have privileges that they did not have. From Genesis through Revelation, the Bible teaches one message, "The just shall live by faith,... we are saved by grace through faith, not of works"!
Our faith must be in the Word of God, which is Jesus, Himself. He is the Word of God, and by faith in Him, and in His name we will be saved. Jesus is the Word of God that has gone into (and came into) this world that those who believe on Him shall be saved.
When Christians try to change the Word of God (that which is written), they are in fact saying, God is not acceptable in the form He presents Himself, therefore they want to make Him unto their own liking. The created is trying to change the Creator.... Let us not fall into that trap of the devil. The serpent fell into that trap of the devil and caused Eve to fall into the same trap. And so on down the line. Even today multitudes are trying to make God to be what they want Him to be, rather than accept Him as God, and LORD over their lives.
Jesus is "the Word of God." All things are placed into His hands, and under His control by God the Father (John 3:35). All judgment is left up to Jesus. Jesus said in John 5:22, "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son." While in the flesh as the Son of Man, Jesus said in John 12:47,48,
And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Jesus is the One who will judge the world on the last day. He is the Word of God which has gone into this world. The Word of God that has gone into this world will judge us on the last day.
Mankind must judge themselves according to the Word of God which has gone into this world.
(1) By the Word of God which has gone into this world we can receive life or death.
(2) By the Word of God which has gone into this world we can receive blessings or cursings.
(3) By the Word of God which has gone into this world, we can follow Jesus or we can follow the devil.
The choice is ours. It's up to each individual as to what they will do about the Word of God which has gone into this world. In John 3:16, it says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." How do you believe in Jesus? You believe the words that He spoke... In John 6:63, Jesus said, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." The words Jesus speaks are for the very purpose of bringing eternal life to those who will believe. John 3:17 says, "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." Jesus came to save, not to condemn. Jesus does not speak words to condemn, man condemns himself by not believing the words Jesus spoke. John 3:18 says, "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." Jesus is the Word of God. Those who do not believe the Word of God condemn themselves, because they do not believe the Word of God that came to save them.
God is not unjust, neither will He pervert judgment (Job 34:12). Abel was saved by grace through faith, because of grace on God's part and believing on Abel's part (Heb. 11:4). Though he was put to death in the flesh, he lives forever in the spirit. Enoch was saved by grace through faith, he still lives today, he never saw death (Heb. 11:5). Noah was saved by grace through faith. Man's part is believing, God's part is grace. Therefore, "...by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Eph. 2:8).
All the way through the Old Testament men were saved by grace through faith; grace given by God and faith applied to the Word of God, which is Jesus Himself. Faith in Jesus, Who is the Word of God always manifests in the flesh. Faith will cause the Word of God to manifest in our flesh.... Salvation is by grace through faith in JESUS, "The Word of God."
If man tries to change the Word of God they are in fact trying to change God... God will not change and cannot be changed... Only man believes he can change the Word of God to suit his purpose, those who believe that, are believing unto their own condemnation. For the Word of God says, "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son" (1 John 5:10). The record that God gave of His Son is "the written Word." The Word of God recorded in the Bible is the record God gave of His Son. That which is written is called the Scriptures. Jesus said, "the Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:38). He that does not believe "the written Word" condemns himself, because he did not believe the Word of God.
Abraham believed God and is still alive today. Maybe, not in the flesh but in eternity. Jesus said,
But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living (Matt. 22:31-32).
Romans 4:3 says, "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." Galatians 3:28,29 says,
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Everyone that was saved in the Old Testament was saved by grace through faith. Everyone that will enter into eternal life will be saved by grace through faith. Those who deny the Word of God, cannot be saved. Those who deny the Word of God deny Jesus. He is the Word of God. He is from Genesis through Revelation.
All things were created by the Word of God.... Hebrews 11:3 says, "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." Jesus is the Word of God. Colossians 1:16 says, "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." The Father and the Holy Spirit always work through the Word of God, through Jesus... In John 14:10 Jesus said, "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." The Father was in Jesus, doing the works. Working through Jesus to do His good pleasure. In 2 Corinthians 5:19 it says, "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." God the Father and the Holy Spirit were in the Anointed One, which is Jesus, the Word of God. They, the Father and the Holy Spirit were reconciling the world unto the Father by and through the Anointing.
It is the Anointing (Christ/Christos) that does the work. The Anointing (Christ) always works through the Word. Jesus is the Word, the Anointing works through Him.
Everything that God does on this earth is done through the Word, which is Jesus, the Son of God. Anything that is done outside of the Word of God is not of God, it is other spirits of this world working through the flesh of mankind... False manifestations of spiritual nature are not of God. They come outside of the Word of God. They manifest to deceive and draw people away from the Word of God... Their end is destruction in the lake of fire... Those who follow them will go where they go...
When the Word of God and the Spirit of God come together, manifestations occur, signs and wonders follow... But it must be the Word of God and the Spirit of God working together, not other spirits, not spirits working without the Word of God, or outside of the Word of God.
The word "Christ" (Christos) means "Anointed or Anointing." When the Anointing operates with the Word of God, then God is doing the works. It is not man, it is God working through people... Romans 1:16 says, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." The gospel of Christ is "the good news of the Anointed or Anointing." The Anointing is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who is saved. It is the Anointing that does the work. Jesus said, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:44). Without the Anointing no one can be saved. The Anointing is the power of God that brings salvation, God the Holy Spirit working through the Word of God, which is Jesus, which is working through His body on earth. His body is those who are His own... They belong to Him, they serve Him, and the Spirit of God works through them. They are the body of Christ (the body of the Anointed).
The Anointing does the works. Jesus said to His disciples in John 20:21, "...Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." How did the Father send Jesus? The Father and the Holy Spirit were in Jesus doing the works. The Father was always "in Jesus," He and the Father are One (John 10:30). Jesus was always the Son of God, He was always One with the Father.
The Anointing did not come upon Jesus until He was about thirty years old. After He came up out of the water following His baptism by John the Baptist the Holy Spirit came upon Him and He was anointed with the Holy Spirit and power (Matt. 3:16, Acts 10:38). Once Jesus was Anointed with the Holy Spirit He had the power to do miracles. It was not Jesus that did the miracles, it was the Father and the Holy Spirit in Jesus that did the works.
When Jesus breathed upon His disciples in John 20:22, He said to them "receive ye the Holy Ghost..." Without the Holy Spirit they could not do the works that Jesus did. Yet, they did not receive the power to do the works until the Holy Spirit came upon them in Acts 2:4. After they were baptized with the Holy Spirit the power of God was upon them to do the works. The power is the Anointing (Christ/Christos). The Father and the Word and the Holy Spirit always work together, they are One (1 John 5:7).
Jesus is the Word of God...(John 1:1,2). The life of the flesh is in the blood (Lev. 17:11). The life (Zoe) of God is in the Word (Logos). God lives by His Word (Logos).... The Word of God comes from the Father, He (the Word) was with the Father in the beginning. He (the Word) is the Way the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). He (the Word) is the light of men (John 1:4). He (the Word) came to give us Life (Zoe) and that we might have that life abundantly (John 10:10). We live by the Word of God (Deu. 8:3, Matt. 4:4, Luke 4:4).
"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever" (1 Peter 1:23). Those who are born again should live by the Word of God. Jesus said, "As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me" (John 6:57). Jesus, as a man, the Son of Man, lived by the life of the Father. "God is Spirit..." (John 4:24). The Spirit of God lives by the Word of God. The life of God (which is Spirit), lives by the Word of God.
As we eat of the Word of God, we are eating the life of God into our lives. As we live by the Word of God, the Word manifests in our lives. Our eternal life is maintained by the Word of God. We live according to the Word of God, we speak the Word of God and our eternal life is maintained by the Word of God.
God cannot fail... His Word cannot fail... As we live by the Word of God according to the Word of God we
cannot fail... We will spend eternity with God forever and ever; if we live by the Word of God. The Word of God is
Spirit, and it is life (John 6:63).
THE BLOOD OF JESUS
The blood of Jesus was not the same as the blood of Adam. Adam's blood came from the elements of the earth when Adam was formed of the dust of the ground. Everyone born "of the flesh" (John 3:6), was born of the bloodline of Adam. Acts 17:26 says, "And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth..." Thereby, everyone, including Eve were of the bloodline of Adam (except Jesus, He was not born "of the flesh," but rather "in the flesh").
Leviticus 17:11 says, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood..." The "life of the flesh," which is "in the blood" of every individual, comes from the male. The blood itself and the flesh of every individual comes from the female. When Jesus came into this world, born of a woman; He did not come of "the bloodline" of the male. His "life of the flesh," which was "in His blood" came by the Holy Spirit. Mary's pregnancy was not of man, but of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35).
It is important to understand the blood of people and the blood of Jesus. When Adam was created, he was perfect in the way he was created, the day he was created. It tells us, "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Gen. 2:7). Every physical part of Adam was of the dust of the ground. His complete body, including the blood was of the dust of the ground. His living soul and his spirit came from the LORD; when He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Adam did not become a living spirit, as some teach without knowledge. Adam became a living soul, with a spirit.
When Jesus came into this world as the Son of Man, He was a living Spirit, and He gives to those who believe on Him a new spirit. This was prophesied by the LORD in Ezekiel. "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh" (Eze. 36:26). Notice, "...a new spirit within you..." That means you are not the spirit, but the spirit is in you... You are still a living soul, and you have a spirit (a new spirit after you are born again of the Spirit). In 1 Corinthians 15:45-47 it says,
And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
Adam was earthly, and Jesus was heavenly... Adam was formed of this earth, and Jesus came down from heaven; was born in the flesh, and became a Man, "The Second Adam." Jesus said in John 3:13, "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven..." (John 3:13). Adam did not come down from heaven, therefore as a living soul he could not go up to heaven. He first had to be born again of the Spirit, before he could go up to heaven. A new spirit would have to be put in Adam, before he could go up to heaven. For Adam was not heavenly, he was earthly, of this earth (1 Cor. 15:47).
But what about sin? Didn't Adam sin in the garden of Eden? Yes, He did sin in the garden of Eden and because Adam was the one man by which people receive their life of the flesh, which is "in the blood;" sin and death passed upon all mankind (through the bloodline from Adam on). Romans 5:12 says, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."
Adam did not die the day he ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil as some teach without knowledge. The Bible makes that very clear, from Genesis through Revelation. Sin and death passed upon Adam, and onto everyone born of the bloodline of Adam. Man's physical body became "mortal" meaning, "having death resident in it, in the process of dying, and will eventually die (if God does not