The fourth cornerstone of our salvation

 

4.         Jesus Christ our Redemption

The fourth cornerstone of our salvation is Jesus Christ our redemption since it is only in Him we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of sins. We therefore are to give thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:12-14).

Redemption therefore, is not a onetime phenomenon as it is commonly believed, it is an ongoing process. The one time process with regards to redemption is that, “knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God” (Romans 6:9-10).

But the redemptive work is ongoing through the once and for all offering that can present the worshiper holy, perfect, and blameless in the presence of God. It is made absolutely clear that according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Now since no one can say that I have no sin, or have not sinned and furthermore, “If we claim to be without sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us, also, if we claim we have not sinned we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives, it is therefore imperative that there exist a continuous process of redemption by which sins can be forgiven (Hebrews 9:22: 1John 1: 8, 10).

And so we have received the consolation saying; “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1John 1: 9, 1John 2:1-2).

It is stated categorically; “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11).Therefore, the cup of the New Covenant which was instituted on the night before Jesus Christ was led to be crucified and became effective after His death, was part and parcel of the plan of the mystery hidden in ages in God.

For according to the scriptures, a testament is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. Therefore the cup of the new covenant of Christ’s blood became effective after His death and that was all part of God’s redemption plan for man.

The four corner stone of our spiritual structure therefore is, Jesus Christ the Creator, the Beloved Son of God coming in the flesh to experience life just like us, His death and resurrection paying the death penalty and giving man a new life, and His appointment as the Eternal High Priest, making intercessions on our behalf and giving us His flesh and blood as the food for God’s offering as the redemption price for our sins.

For thus it is written; “God is the source of our life in Jesus Christ whom He made our wisdom, our righteousness, and sanctification and redemption; therefore, as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord” (1Corinthians 1:30-31)

It is the lack of, and improper discernment of the body and blood of Jesus Christ that is the cause of the believer’s weakness, sickness and premature death. We should therefore learn how to build our spiritual house on the chief corner stone, in view of God’s mercy, to offer our bodies as living sacrifices (as priests), holy and pleasing to God, which is our spiritual act of worship.

Priests must be holy to their God, and must not profane the name of their God, because they present the offerings made to the Lord by fire, the food of their God, they are to be holy. Priests are holy to their God and should be regarded as holy, because they offer up the food of your God. Consider them holy, because I the Lord am holy – I who make you holy” (Leviticus 21:6-7).

Our admonition is to; “Come to Him, the living Stone, rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him. You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5).

People stumble because they disobey the message, which is also what we were destined for. For we have been admonished saying; “But you (the believer), are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once we were not a people, but now we are the people of God; once we had not received mercy, but now we have received mercy” (1Peter 2:5, 9).

All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ, who chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ in accordance with His pleasure and will, to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has given us in the one He loves, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment” (Ephesians 1:3-10).

I think the time has reached its fulfillment. Therefore as obedient children, let us not conform  ourselves to the evil desires we had when we lived in ignorance, but just as He who called us is holy, so let us be holy in all we do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” And the way one becomes holy is stated as follows; “Then Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram, and the bread that is in the basket, by the door of the tabernacle of meeting. They shall eat those things with which the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them; but an outsider shall not eat them, because they are holy” (Exodus 29:32-33),

Therefore, in our New Testament dispensation, it is by eating the bread which represents the broken body of Jesus Christ, drinking the wine which represents the shed blood of Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ Himself our High Priest sitting at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf is the means by which the atonement is being made so that sins are forgiven and one becomes holy.

This is the literal application of the saying, “I am the way, representing the body of Christ, the truth, who is Jesus Christ the Word of God our High Priest, and the life representing the blood of Jesus, that no one comes to the Father except through Me.”

This is endorsed by the apostle Paul who wrote; “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:19-22).

God has overlooked these times of ignorance, but now commands all men everywhere to repent. The question is, will you?

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

The third cornerstone of our salvation

 

3.         Jesus Christ our Sanctification

The third cornerstone of our salvation is Jesus Christ our sanctification which came as the result of His resurrection from the dead, and His appointment as High Priest who lives forever and has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.

Such a High Priest meets our need – one who is holy, blameless, pure, and set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Both righteousness and holiness (sanctification) is a state which has been conferred upon believers because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Hence we are admonished to “Put on the new man, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24).

As living stones we are integrated into the cornerstone of holiness (sanctification) by “God the Father who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before Him.” This spiritual state has to be perfected by cleansing one’s self from all defilement of body and spirit, andperfecting holiness in the fear of God.

This necessitates our separation from everything that defiles as we have been duly admonished saying; “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For, we are the temple of the living God.”

As God has said, “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people. Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

Jesus Christ, the cornerstone of our sanctification has called His people out of the world, and prayed to the Father on their behalf saying; “I have given them Your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. As you sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify Myself, that they too may be truly sanctified” (John 17:14-19).

It is also by the authority of Jesus Christ our sanctification that Paul issued a letter to the church saying; “I have written to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people – not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler, with such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? God will judge those outside: Expel the wicked man from among you” (1 Corinthians 5:9-13).

A messenger of Christ our sanctification has issued a warning saying; “Come out of her, My people so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues"(Revelation 18:4).

I therefore beg to ask the question, how could the church of God , the body of Christ be regarded as a sanctuary for sinners? When, "This is what the LORD spoke, saying: ' By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified" (Leviticus 10:3).

And since the Lord must be regarded as holy, when appearing before Him, worshipers also must be as obedient children, not conforming themselves to the former lusts, as in their ignorance; but as He who called them is holy, they also be holy in all their conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy"  (1 Peter 1;1-16).

The crux of the matter is, light has absolutely no fellowship with darkness as we have been duly admonished saying: "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1: 5-7).

And it is by the breaking of bread that believers, as a holy, sanctified and a people set aside by the Lord come to have fellowship with one another and with the Father and the Son. For we have again been admonished saying; "The bread which we break, is it not the communion  (fellowship) of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread" (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).

Truly, these times of ignorance God has overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent. The choice is yours, let each be fully convinced in his / own mind.

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

The cornerstone of our righteousness

 

2.         Jesus Christ Our Righteousness

The second cornerstone of our salvation is Jesus Christ our righteousness. His death fulfilled the righteous requirements of the law, by paying the penalty of sin in full, which is death, and conferred His righteousness to all those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness, and will reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ .

As the result of this one act of righteousness, justification which brings life, came for all men. As the scripture clearly states; “But now, the righteousness of God apart from law has been made known, to which the law and the prophet testify. This righteousness from God; comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 5: 17-19; 3: 21-22).

This righteousness has not only been imputed, but has to be practiced as well, because we have been admonished saying; “you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.’ And, “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (Romans 6:18; 1 John 3:7-8)

This act of righteousness is the only righteous act that can produce holiness, because, all of man’s righteousness is as filthy rags before God, it is also the righteous act which when practice differentiates the children of God from the children of the devil as we have been duly admonished saying; “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:10).

 As clearly stated, “As the result of one man’s act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:18-19).

This act of righteousness which imputed righteousness and brought life to all men, is the offering of the body and blood of Jesus Christ for the penalty of sin in man`s stead and an offering to the Father as a sweet smelling aroma which satisfies His will.

Righteousness has been attained on this basis from the very inception of humanity beginning with Abel. Immediately after we are given the two signs which differentiate the children of God from the children of the devil it is stated, “ For thus is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, and not be like Cain who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brothers righteous” (1John.3:11-12).

So then, why did God regard Abel’s offering even commended him as being a righteous man and disregarded the offering made by Cain? How did Abel attain righteousness? This is what we learn from the scriptures; “In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the first fruit of the ground, and Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord has regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard.” We are further told that, “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, by faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings” (Genesis 4: 3-5; Hebrews 11:4).

The reason why Abel’s offering was accepted, and Cain’s not accepted is because Abel offered to the Lord the sacrifice, the sweet aroma which satisfies His will, one which depicts the best one can offer for man’s redemption. For the life of all flesh is in the blood; and God has given it to us upon the altar to make atonement for our souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.

The Lord instructed the priests saying, “You must not redeem the first born of an ox, a sheep or a goat; they are holy. Sprinkle their blood on the altar and burn their fat as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.” Again the Lord said to them; “The priests shall burn them (the fat) on the altar as food, and offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the Lord’s. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. You must not eat any fat or any blood” (Numbers18:17; Leviticus 16-17).

The sprinkling of blood and the burning of the fat of clean animals which were offered by Abel and also the Levites the priests were a type, that foreshadowed the real sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the best and only sacrifice that can fulfill the Father’s will in presenting the worshiper holy and blameless before Him.  It is this secret mystery that was hidden for ages in God who created all things; that through the church His manifold wisdom might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.

This secret mystery was according to the eternal purpose which God has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confidence of access through our faith in Him. Therefore, the practical act of righteousness which distinguishes the children of God from the children of the devil is faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ which is demonstrated by partaking of the bread and wine. For it is written: “For as often as you eats this bread, and drinks this cup you proclaim (demonstrate) the Lord’s death until he comes.”

It is this act of righteousness that the children of God have become enslaved to for having been set free from sin. They are enslaved to this act of righteousness because God requires that this offering, the food for His offerings, His sweet smelling aroma be offered to Him at their appointed time. In fact God set aside specific times for His children to come together before Him, specifically to offer to Him His offering.

For thus says the Lord; “These are the Lord’s appointed feasts, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing offerings made to the Lord by fire – the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day. These offerings are besides or in addition to those of the Lord’s Sabbaths and in addition to your gifts and whatever you have vowed and all the freewill offerings you give to the Lord” (Leviticus 23:37-38; Numbers chapter 28 and 29).

It is this act of righteousness that when practice produces holiness, and ultimately everlasting life. It is this same act of righteousness that when practice, one becomes righteous even as Christ is righteous and so the admonition is, “For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life” (Romans 6:19-22).

The same way Abel was commended as being a righteous man because he offered the Lord the offering which was pleasing to Him, in like manner, righteousness is attained by faith in offering the Lord His offering, His food for His offerings, His pleasing aroma at their appointed time.

The children of God are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, in order that they may declare the praises of Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. They are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. They come to Mount Zion (the Church) and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in joyful assembly, and to the assembly of the first born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a Judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better things than that of Abel” (Hebrews 12:22-24).

This act of righteousness is to become slaves of God as priests, to offer to Him His food for His offerings at its appointed time, and having become slaves to God, the benefit we reap leads to holiness, and the end result is everlasting life.

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

The four-cornerstone of our salvation

 

Jesus Christ the Chief Cornerstone

Christianity is undoubtedly portrayed in scriptures as a construction work, were each individual has been given a solid foundation on which to build his/her eternal destiny.

The apostle Paul alluded to this perception by stating; “According to the grace of God given to me like a skilled master builder, I laid a foundation and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1Corinthians 3:10-11).

In another instance Paul described believers as, “Members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and Christ Himself being the corner stone in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom believers also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22).

The apostle Peter echoed similar sentiments by urging all believers to, “Come to Christ, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God’s sight chosen and precious; and like living stones built yourselves into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1Peter 2:4-5).

The job description of those who are called is clear with absolutely no ambiguity, and there is only one hope for this calling, and the reward is based on how we pursue that hope. It is only if the work which any man has built on this foundation survives, that he will receives a reward, because the quality of every man’s work will be revealed by fire, and will test every man’s work of what sort it is.

Every structure is supported and joined together by the cornerstone, and in constructing the spiritual house one must assure him/herself that as living stone he/she is properly integrated, amalgamated, and well supported by the four corner stones of the spiritual temple, if not the slightest turbulence can cause a rift between the stones and the cornerstone.

The four cornerstones of the spiritual temple on which we are integrated and amalgamated, in order to build our own spiritual structure are:

1.      Jesus Christ our Wisdom and Power

Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our wisdom and power because according to the apostle Paul, “We do however speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing; No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.’

“None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written; “no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him, but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit” (1Corinthians 2:6-9).

What exactly is that secret wisdom and power of God which he destined for our glory?

The secret wisdom and power of God which he destined for our glory is, Jesus Christ who because the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death, so he yielded his life for atonement for sin, and open the life gate that all may go in.

According to the apostle Paul “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written; “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise: the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

He then posed the following questions; “Where is the wise man? Where is the Scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolishness the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world did not know God through wisdom: it pleased God through the foolishness of what we preach, to save those who believe.”

How exactly do we preach the message of the cross, which is to those who are perishing foolishness, and to those who are being saved the power of God?

To preach the message of the cross is not just a verbal exercise, it involves a demonstration of the message of the cross. The secret mystery which was revealed to the apostle Paul is this; “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me. For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1Corinthians 11:23-26).

The apostle Paul said; “Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1Corinthians 1:18-25).

We are integrated into this corner stone in view of God’s mercy, by offering our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God as priests in order to offer to the Lord His food for His offerings at their appointed times which is our spiritual act of worship.

The church has been given the responsibility to make known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places the manifold wisdom of God, which for ages past was kept hidden in God. The apostle Paul clarified this by saying; “To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things;

This mystery the apostle Paul said, “Was according to the eternal purpose which God has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confidence of access through our faith in him” (Ephesians 3:8-12).  

The apostle Paul endorsed the source of our boldness and confidence to the Father by saying; “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the most holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:19-22).

This is a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

The worship of God must be in truth

    True worship must be in truth

Worshiping the Lord in truth is paramount because Jesus Himself stated clearly, “You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." Truth in every sense of the word refers to the entirety of God`s word and as Jesus plainly stated in His prayer to the Father “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 4:22-24; Psalms 119:160; John 17:19).

Therefore, any form of worship that is not ordained or supported by the word of God is futile, hence the reason why the Lord said, “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?" Says the LORD." I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats. When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies --- I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood” (Isaiah 1:11-15).

Unfortunately, not too many of us are well established, rooted and built up in Christ and established in the faith, we are easily tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine, despite the fact that we have been forewarned saying; “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8).

Regardless of how dynamic or charismatic a speaker may be, or how elegant is the presentation and the ovation one receives, the crux of the matter is, unless it is in accordance to the prescribed laws of God it is all in vain, because the crux and the root cause of the matter is that of worship which must be in truth.

The worship of God which is the expression of our love, gratitude and thanksgiving to Him is the main objective of our existence and the greatest challenge we face in life is how and to whom this love, respect, gratitude and adoration is expressed. It is not that God is in any contest with anyone, but there is a being that is in competition with God whose quest and desire is to be worshiped just as God is worshiped.

Remember, when Jesus Christ was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, he took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And the devil said to Jesus, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve." (Matthew 4:8-10).

This quest and desire of Satan to be worshiped just as God is worshiped began long before God created man in His image and likeness and gave them dominion over the earth, for we have been duly informed of the fall of Lucifer, stating; “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ' I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars (angels) of God: I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.”  Jesus confirmed the fall of Satan by saying; “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Isaiah 14:12-14; Luke 10:18).

Satan`s quest and desire to be worshiped just as God is worshiped was orchestrated because of his original perfection in beauty and wisdom, for thus says the Lord God: “You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created.”

 “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you. By the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of God; and I destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones.”

“Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom it for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings that they might gaze at you. You defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of your iniquities, by the iniquity of your trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you, and I turned you to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all who saw you” (Ezekiel 28:12-18).

Therefore, when time, day, occasions and protocols are associated with worship, they all have to be in accordance and in agreement with the stipulated laws which governs the particular subject because, the Lord`s appointed time inclusive of day, occasions and protocols are all memorials to give glory and honor to the Lord for what was done and when it was done on behalf of humanity and to express our gratitude and appreciation to the Lord.

Therefore, when the focus and the rationale for a particular time, day or occasion to worship is altered substituted or blatantly rejected for another time, day or occasion this signifies that the substitute or what is altered is far superior than the original and systematically the credit, the praise, the honor, and the glory is diverted from the originator to the one who transforms it and that is definitely vain worship and a provocation to jealousy.

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Avoid vain worship

·         The Eighth Day

In accordance to Jewish law and tradition the eight day is associated with a time of cleansing, dedication, circumcision and a time to offer the Lord an offering. The Eighth Day which follows the Feast of Tabernacles fulfills all the spiritual aspects of the Eighth Day. It is the day the Lord was dedicated, circumcised, and cleansed the guilt of every nation and joined them with the commonwealth of Israel as we have been duly admonished saying; “And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb” (Luke 2:21).

One should also take into consideration the power that is associated with the name that was given to Him on the eight day of His birth which states; “Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” ( Philippians 2:9-11).

That day also represents the day on which Gentiles who were considered as strangers and foreigners to the commonwealth of Israel were brought to God as we have been duly instructed saying; “Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh --- who are called Un-circumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands ---that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:11-13).

Remember, circumcision is the sign of the everlasting covenant that God made with Abraham when God said to him: "As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.

He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant” (Genesis 17:9-13).

The middle wall of division between the Jews and the Gentiles was broken down by the blood of circumcision of Jesus Christ as we have been duly admonished saying; “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace” (Ephesians 2:14-15).

And through the blood of the cross Jesus Christ reconciled both Jews and Gentiles to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father” Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:16-19).

So essentially, what it means to worship God in spirit, it is by not making for oneself a carved image, or the likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth, we are not to bow down to them nor serve them; And, having the right intent and purpose for observing what we are observing in honor of God.

The crux of the matter is, no one should be forced, coerced or intimidated to worship the Lord, this is something one has to do of his/her own volition, for we have been duly admonished saying: “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it” (Romans 14:5-6).

It is imperative however to note that, “the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24).

Therefore, even though no imposition is placed on anyone to observe the days the Lord has instituted to be observed in His honor. The Lord is however seeking for the true worshipers to worship Him and since the Lord describes Himself as a jealous God don’t we think that, by disregarding or blatantly rejecting the days which the Lord has ordained to honor Him as Lord and instead placing so much attention to the days and occasions instituted by man and even our own personal celebrations, are we not provoking the Lord to jealousy?

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

The error of vain worship

·         The Feast of Tabernacles

The spiritual intent or the rationale for observing this festival is to worship the King of kings and the Lord of hosts a title that was assigned to Jesus Christ from His birth, because the prophet Isaiah prophesied of the arrival of the King of kings by saying; “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.”

“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

 As the scripture clearly shows the kingship of Jesus Christ began from the time of His birth because when the wise men from the East came to Jerusalem they said; "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him” (Matthew 2:2).

Appearing before Pilate Jesus was asked; “Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:37).

The Feast of Tabernacles as one can clearly see is intertwined and associated with the honoring and worshiping  of the King of kings and Lord of hosts, for thus it is written: “And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain. If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles” (Zechariah 14:16-19).

Therefore, without any shadow of doubt one can see clearly that, the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles and the worship of the King of kings and the Lord of hosts are synonymous. When one celebrates the Feast of Tabernacles they are in effect worshiping the King of kings and Lord of hosts, and to honor and worship the King of kings and Lord of hosts one does that by observing and celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles.

I therefore beg to ask the question, why have we who professed to be believers in Jesus Christ disdain and blatantly reject this festival and instead, observing the pagan festival of Christmas to honor the birth of Jesus Christ? Is this not worshiping God in vain and provoking Him to jealousy?

The feast of Tabernacles therefore commemorates the arrival of Jesus Christ the King of kings and the Lord of hosts to the earth. The day the Word became flesh and tabernacle  among us and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

This festival also foreshadows the millennial reign of Jesus Christ when He will establish His kingdom on earth.

God has overlooked these times of ignorance but now commands all men everywhere to repent.

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Are we guilty of vain worship

 

·         The Feast of Pentecost

The spiritual intent of this appointed time is to commemorate and to celebrate the day the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples as clearly stated, “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4).

It is very important to note that, the disciples of Jesus Christ were observing this festival because it states clearly that, “when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” This festival always falls on a Sunday because, it is ordained to be celebrated fifty days after the Feast of First Fruits which is the Sunday that follows the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the day He ascended to the Father after His resurrection and so we have been admonished saying; “And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD” (Leviticus 23:15-16).

This is a clear indication to prove that the disciples were observing the Feast of First Fruits and the Feast of Pentecost before the Holy Spirit descended upon them and therefore, there is absolutely no justification for anyone to alter the seventh day Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday and trying to justify it by saying that Jesus Christ resurrected on a Sunday which is absolutely false or because the disciples received the Holy Spirit on a Sunday because these two festivals are part and parcel of the annual festivals which God ordained and instructed Hispeople saying, “These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times” (Leviticus 23:4).

History shows that the apostle Paul who became converted years after the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost observed the Feast of Pentecost, for Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost” (Acts 20:16).

Let me repeat myself again and say that, observing the Lord´s festivals has absolutely nothing to do with one´s salvation which is a free gift from God. For it is by grace we have been saved through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. What I am referring to is a matter of worship, whether we are worshiping the Lord according to His commandments, or whether we are worshiping Him according to the customs and traditions of men which ultimately are vain and futile.

·         Feast of Trumpets

The spiritual intent of this festival is first and foremost to commemorate the beginning of a new month and systematically a day to present an offering to the Lord, but it is more than just a New Moon celebration because the Lord instructed Moses saying; "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD" (Leviticus 23:23-25).

This festival serves as an alarm, a warning to God’s people alerting them of the other up-coming festivals during the seventh month and an opportunity for the leaders to, "Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up their voice like a trumpet and tell God´s people of their transgressions warning and preparing them to return to their Savior.

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

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