The horrendous sin of irreverence (part two)

Truly, these times of ignorance God has overlooked and now commands all men everywhere to repent. Whether one claims to be an ardent, zealous seventh day Sabbath keeper or, an ardent, zealous Pentecostal Sunday worshiper the crux of the matter is this, “For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live” (1Corinthians 8:5-6).

Now the reality is, it is the one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we all live and categorically stated; “I and My Father are One” And, “that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him” (John 10:30; 5:23).

The apostle John also expressed a similar sentiment saying; “Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also” (1John 2:23).

And so the crux of the matter is, when one is honored both are being honored and likewise, when one is dishonored both are dishonored and so, when the Lord who created the heavens, the earth, the seas and all that are in them said to us, “You shall keep (observe) My Sabbaths (plural) and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD.” And as the Son of Man Jesus again said to us; “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath" (Leviticus 19: 3, 30; 26:2; Mark 2: 27-28).

The Sabbaths (plural) therefore is a sign that gives reverence, honor and glory to the Lord as being the One and only true God. For this is what the Lord said; “Surely My Sabbaths (plural) you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you” (Exodus 31:13-14).

And to the prophet Ezekiel the Lord said; “Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths (plural), to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.” I am the LORD your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; hallow My Sabbaths, (plural) and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God” (Ezekiel 20:12, 19-20).

The Sabbaths therefore, is a perpetual sign between God and His people throughout their generations and since there is neither Jew or Greek for we are all one in Christ Jesus this is therefore applicable to all and in addition to this Gentiles are admonished to glorify God together with His people (Ephesians 2:14-18; Galatians 3:28.Romans 15:10).

So I beg to ask the question, why is the Lord not revered and honored on His Sabbaths? Why do some observe the weekly Sabbath and not the annual Sabbaths? And why do some for example observe Pentecost and not the weekly Sabbath and the other annual festivals?

When each Sabbath whether weekly or annually is a commemoration, a remembrance and perpetuation of what the Lord did for humanity on that particular day or occasion?  

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

The horrendous sin of irreverence

The horrendous sin of irreverence

The Lord has assigned to His Ministers the responsibility to; "Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God” Isaiah 58:1-2).

The sad thing is that the majority of us professing Christians are guilty of committing the horrendous act of irreverence whether wittingly or unwittingly and the Lord’s annual Feast of Pentecost is a clear illustration and demonstration of this horrendous act of irreverence.

In principle, irreverence is the expression of the lack of due regards and respect to the authority and character of the Supreme Being and the Feast of Pentecost is one festival that exposes the lack of awe, respect and reverence that we all who profess to be believers in Jesus Christ have for the Most High.

For example, how can one who is very passionate and diligent in observing the seventh day weekly Sabbath shows absolutely no regards for the observance of the festival of Pentecost? And how can one who is very passionate and diligent in observing the Feast of Pentecost shows absolutely no regards for the seventh day weekly Sabbath? Something must be definitely wrong and we all need to truly examine our individual stance in this situation.

For we have been duly instructed 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).

So let us begin our self-examination by first and foremost asking our self the question what is a Feast and the rationale for observing it?

A feast or festival is a day or period of time set aside to celebrate, commemorate and perpetuate a specific event that took place on this specific day or period of time. And so, with regards to the Lord’s festivals this is what the Lord said; “‘the feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.” And, “‘these are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times” (Leviticus 23: 2, 4).

What can be derived from these two passages of scriptures is that, the Lord has ordained specific days as His feast days which He has set aside as days for holy convocation and they are to be proclaimed (declare officially and publicly) at their appointed time.

Now the crux and the reality of the matter is that, every ordained festival of the Lord gives honor and glory to Him for what He did for humanity on that particular day. Let us take for example the seventh day weekly Sabbath and the Feast of Pentecost,

The seventh day weekly Sabbath commemorates and expresses gratitude to God for His creation as we have been duly instructed saying “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:11).

The Feast of Pentecost on the other hand commemorates and gives honor and glory to God for giving us His Holy Spirit. For we have been duly instructed saying; “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).

The Feast of Pentecost did not originate with the New Testament; it is one of the ordained Feasts of the Lord known as the Feast of Weeks, Please note carefully that the disciples were all with one accord in one place observing the Feast when they became filed with the Holy Spirit,

And so, I beg to ask the question again, why are some believers so convicted and passionate in observing the seventh day weekly Sabbath and turning a blind eye to the observance of Pentecost? And in the same token why do some believers express such passion and conviction in the observance of Pentecost and turning a blind eye to the observance of the seventh day weekly Sabbath?

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To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

 

Are we appreciative of the mystery of God's wisdom?

The appreciation of God`s mystery

My humble question to all who claimed to believe in Jesus Christ is, are we truly appreciative of the mystery of God's will which was hidden from men of other ages but has now been revealed to His saints?  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" (1 Corinthians 2:8)!

I believe that we need to show more of our appreciation of this mystery by being Obedient to the faith, and fulfilling the purpose for which it was intended. In rendering his benediction the apostle Paul said; “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began, but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith – to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

Because of the apostle Paul’s deep understanding of this mystery he wrote; “For this reason, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:14-21).

One cannot do anything to reimburse God for the amazing grace He has lavished upon us, we can only show our appreciation, and express our gratitude to Him by His mercies, to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to Him, which is our reasonable act of worship.

But how can sinful mortal man presents himself holy and acceptable to God? The only way this can be accomplished is by fulfilling our role as priests of the New Covenant. Because as priests our duty is to be holy to our God, because we offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and the bread of our God; therefore it is imperative that we be holy.

We are to be as obedient children not conforming ourselves to the former lusts, as in our ignorance; but as He who called us is holy; we also are to be holy in all our conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

We should appreciate the fact that, we were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold from our aimless conduct received by tradition from our fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for us who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that our faith and hope are in God.

Believers must understand and learn to appreciate this mystery. To the Jews it is a stumbling stone, to the Gentiles it is foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame."

Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone, and "A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

Most people can rattle by heart the scriptures found in John 3:16 which reads; “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” But do we truly know what exactly must we believe concerning Jesus Christ in order not to perish, and have everlasting life?

Jesus said quite emphatically; “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life.” If we truly believe this statement, how are we to express this belief?

Again Jesus said categorically, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." (John 6: 47, 48, 51).

Therefore, the secret mystery which was hidden from men of other ages, but has now been revealed to the saints is how Jesus Christ would give up Himself as the living bread from heaven, so that one can eat of it and not die.

The sad thing is that, most people are stumbling at the stumbling stone, the rock of offence, because they are disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. Jesus said quite emphatically; “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him" (John 6:27).

So what is that food which the Son of Man has given us, which endures to Everlasting life? The question is, are we feeding on it? This is what Jesus said; “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven --- not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever" (John 6:57-58)

So are we truly appreciative of this mystery? Are we fulfilling the purpose for which it was intended? Remember, “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

The Lord's work of salvation involves much more than His death and resurrection. It includes also the giving of His flesh to eat, and His blood to drink, which is the mystery of the ages, as exclaimed by the Jews who said' “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?" This also includes Jesus Himself who is our High Priest, seated at the right hand of the Father to make intercessions of our behalf.

Failure to comprehend and properly apply this mystery is the root cause of problems to many believers and so we have been admonished saying; "Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep" (1 Corinthians 11:27-30).

Truly, these times of ignorance God has overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent:  

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

 

The Glorious Everlasting life (part three)

While eternal life is a gift, everlasting life however is a reward for righteous living, which leads to holiness, and at the end one reaps the reward of everlasting life or the immortality of the body. For it is written; “Now that you have been set free from sin, and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is everlasting life.” Whereas eternal life is a free gift, for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:22-23).

Everlasting life however, is not a gift but rather a reward for we have been warned saying; “Do not be deceived; God cannot be mocked, a man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature will reap destruction (corruption), and the one who sows to please the Spirit, will from the Spirit reap everlasting life” (Galatians 6:7-8).

It is those who believe in Jesus Christ as the begotten Son of God, the resurrection and the life and who walks as Jesus Christ walked that should not perish but have everlasting life. The truth of the matter is, Christ became the Begotten Son of God at the resurrection when He was; “Declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness” (Romans 1:4).

As God alone, Christ could not have saved humanity, because as God He cannot die. As man alone He could not save us either, for He could have only saved Himself. He had to be both God and man.

As the Son of Man, Jesus Christ was made lower that the angels for the suffering of death. As the Begotten Son of God, He is crowned with glory and honor. “For to which of the angels did God ever say; ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You? And again, ‘I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son? But when He again brings the first born [from mortal to immortal] into the world, He says; let the angels of God worship Him” (Hebrews 1:5-6).

The Son of Man became the Begotten Son of God by the quality of life He lived as the Son of Man. This life is indicative of how His followers ought to live because, He came to set us an example that we should follow His steps and, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1Peter 2:21; 1John 2:6).

Jesus Christ is the only Begotten Son of the Father, but became the first born [from mortal to immortal] among many brethren who will receive the adoption as sons. And so we are told that, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted (Romans 8:29; Hebrews1:6, 2:10, 17, 18; Galatians 4:4-5).

Everlasting life therefore, is the immortality of the human body which will differ from one degree of glory to another, as there is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

The life that Jesus Christ lived, which we ought to follow in order to receive everlasting life is a life of Holiness [separation from sin]: for we are admonished saying; “Be holy for I am holy.” Loving righteousness, which is to be obedient to His word, for, “He who practices righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous:” Hating lawlessness, meaning hating being disobedient to the laws of God.

Being humble as we are duly admonished saying; “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:5-8)!

Being completely dependent upon the Father, as Jesus said; I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself.” And, “By Myself I can do nothing:” Allowing one`s self to be led by the Holy Spirit, because it is those who are led by the Spirit that are the sons of God (John 5:19, 30.John 14:10; Romans 8: 11, 14).

Letting love being the motivating factor for all His works; as it is written; “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him: In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the Day of Judgment, because in this world we are like Him” (John 3:16; 1John 4:16-17; 21; John 14:15).

• Being an over-comer: because, it is those who overcome will He grant to sit with Him on His throne, even as He Himself overcame, and sat down with His Father on His throne (Hebrews 2:8; 4:15; Revelation 3:21).

This is the criterion for everlasting life, the redemption and immortality of the body, which is our eternal inheritance, which unfortunately some will forfeit? For, it is written; “Each one’s work will become manifest; for the day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on Christ [eternal life] endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself [spirit man] will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1Corinthians 3:13-15).

The structure we are building is developing the nature [character] of Jesus Christ. Hence, the degree of glory is dependent on how much we have measured up to the stature and fullness of Christ: For as we behold His glory, we are being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (Ephesians 4:13; 2Corinthians 3:18; 4:10-11; Galatians 4:19; Ephesians 3:19).

Receiving the free gift of eternal life, and being saved is not the ultimatum, in addition to these one has to seek honor, glory, and immortality? (Romans 2:7).

The choice is yours, you have been informed.

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  Love in Jesus’ Name

Lucius Joseph

Eternal Salvation

Eternal Salvation

The life which mankind has standing in Christ after His death and resurrection is spiritual and eternal. But when one believes and receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, he receives the right or authority to become a child of God, an adopted son. He is then translated from the kingdom of darkness, into the kingdom of the Son of God’s love. At the point of acceptance, and translation from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light, the individual receives eternal salvation. Christ gives them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of His hand (John1:12; Colossians1:13; John 10:28-29).

Eternal Salvation is to believe and accept what transpired on the cross. It is to believe in Jesus Christ as the Beloved Son of God who divested Himself of His divinity to become the Son of Man, so that, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15; Romans 10:8-13).

Those who choose to believe Jesus Christ and receive Him have been born again, “Not of blood [human life], nor of the will of the flesh [human passion and desires], nor of the will of man [one’s determination], but of God” (John1:12-13).

It is, by grace we have all been saved through faith and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast. Eternal life is Jesus Christ, who is also the substance of faith, He is God’s gift to all mankind, and in whom we all stand.

Eternal Life therefore constitutes two things:

• Eternal existence of the spirit:

• Eternal salvation of the spirit

Everlasting Life however is different from both the eternal existence of the spirit, and the eternal salvation of the spirit. It is the everlasting existence of the human body, which has a beginning and would have naturally ended, for it is appointed unto man once to die, but it will be made to live forever. In contrast, eternal life has eternally existed, and will continue to exist forever. Eternal death is not the cessation of life as with physical death, but it is separation from God.

Everlasting life however, is the immortality of the human body which Christ alluded to by saying, “Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is of born of water [flesh] and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).

In order for anyone to inherit the kingdom of God, the mortal must put on immortality, and the corruptible must put on incorruptibility, because Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God: nor does corruption inherit in-corruption” (1 Corinthians 15: 50-53; Romans 8:11, 23).

Everlasting life or immortality is guaranteed only to those who, not only believe in Jesus Christ as the Beloved Son of God, Who became the Son of Man and died for the sins of man, but who also believes in Jesus Christ as the Begotten Son of God Who became our resurrection and the life.

To be continued

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Lucius Joseph

 

What is Everlasting life?

The Glorious Everlasting Life

What is Everlasting life? Is it the same as eternal life? It is rather quite unfortunate that not too many people know the difference between the two. The reason for that it is because man does not know his/her true identity. I remembered when I first published this article in 2008, which I was informed was discussed on AOL "America on line", one individual commented on my blog saying; "Lucius, you will one day say that the Holy Spirit and the Holy Ghost are not the same." This is a clear indication on how some of us are lack of knowledge and do not understand our duality and being a new creation.

The crux of the matter is that, man is a spirit being imprisoned in a physical body. Since the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ the last Adam, the Spirit Man from heaven, mankind is no more regarded according to the flesh. “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:14-17).

The sad thing is that many of us do not know our true identity. This may not be the best physical analogy to use but, it might be simple enough to help us understand our true identity. Let me use the analogy of a horse mating with a donkey, the offspring of a horse mating with a donkey will neither be a horse nor a donkey, but a new breed called a mule.

This is typical to what happened to humanity at the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, humanity was buried with Him, and at His resurrection humanity became a new creation, a spirit being begotten of the last Adam, the life-giving Spirit Who is the resurrection and the life; and Who gives life to everyone who comes into the world.

Before the advent of Jesus Christ the last Adam, humanity was dead in trespasses and sins, but was made alive together with Christ, and made to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, who gives to all life, breath, and all things, so that they should seek the Lord in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; “For in Him we live and move and have our being [existence]. We are therefore both the offspring of the first Adam, the man of dust and also the offspring of the last Adam the Spirit Man from heaven (Acts 17:28-29).

The same way mankind inherited the sinful nature of the first Adam in his flesh, he also has inherited the nature of the Last Adam [Jesus Christ] in his spirit. For it is written; “As through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one man’s righteous act the free gift [eternal life - Jesus Christ] came to all men, resulting in justification of life.” And, “As by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners: so also by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:17-19).

The irony of truth is, the first man was of the earth, made of dust and as was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust and therefore, dust we are and to dust we shall return. But the second Man is the Lord from heaven, and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

Mankind received the gift of eternal life at the resurrection of Jesus Christ, when they were begotten by Him, and this gives everyone the equal opportunity to see the kingdom of God, but this new life will not necessarily grant anyone entry into the kingdom of God, because the complete cycle is, Christ is in the Father, mankind is in Christ, but mankind has to choose on his own volition to have Christ in them, unless Christ is in us there is no hope, for Christ in us is the hope of glory. This is where our educational system has failed us, they are focusing mainly of the life of the physical man and ignoring the more important aspect of man`s life which is the life in the spirit.

To be continued

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

 

The mystery of the wisdom of God (part seven)

1.      Jesus Christ took on flesh in order to set us an example that we should follow His steps

The seventh reason why Jesus Christ took on flesh was to set us an example that we should follow His steps for we have been duly admonished saying; "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness --- by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls" (1Peter 2:21-25).

We have been further admonished saying; "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 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 2:5-11).

It is by following the example of Jesus Christ that we are able to grow from one level of glory to another and allowing the nature of Jesus Christ to be formed in us.as we have been duly instructed saying; “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 4:19).

The question therefore is, since we are to imitate the life of Jesus Christ and while Jesus Christ was on earth He taught His disciples saying; “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” He also said to a multitude who followed Him; “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head" (Matthew 6:25; 8:20; Luke 9:58).

The apostle Paul also made some profound remarks saying; “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1Timothy 6: 6-10).

So then, why is the most popular and accepted form of religious teaching in our modern day is that of the prosperity gospel?

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With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

 

The mystery of the wisdom of God (part six)

1.       Jesus Christ took on flesh in order to institute the New Covenant

The sixth reason why Jesus Christ took on flesh was to institute the terms of the New Covenant, and so we have been admonished saying; "And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance" (Hebrews 9:15).

We are told that, "where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator for a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives" (Hebrews 9:16-17).

Therefore, the new covenant which Jesus Christ instituted  was, when He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." This new covenant became effective after His death.

Remember, before the Lord instituted this new covenant on one occasion He said; "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world" (John 6:47-51).

On hearing this, the Jews quarreled among themselves saying; "How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?" This saying also caused many of His disciples to retrieve and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom we shall go? You have the words of eternal life" (John 6:52, 66-68).

Now instead of making any apologies Jesus reiterated His statement by saying; “Truly, truly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you; he who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is (real) food indeed, and My blood is (real) drink indeed: he who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me’ (John 6:53-57).

If anyone had any misgivings as to how one could eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drinks His blood, Jesus continued by saying; “This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.” Signifying that the way one can eat His flesh is by eating the bread which represents His body.

There is therefore no ambiguity as to how one can eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood and the rationale for this new covenant is simply the new and living way by which one can draw near to the Father which is made possible only by the three that bear witness on earth: which are, the Spirit, who is Jesus Christ our High Priest, the water (flesh), represented by the unleavened bread, and the blood represented by the wine and these three agree as one.

The apostle Paul could not have put it more simple than this when he wrote; “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living which He opened for us through His flesh, and since we have a great High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Remember, Jesus Christ said unequivocally, “I am the way [the flesh], the truth [the Spirit-The Lord our eternal High Priest], and the life [the blood- for the life of every creature is in the blood]; no one comes to the Father but by Me” (John 14:6).

Another component of this new covenant is having the laws of God placed in the mind and written on the heart . For thus says the Lord; “This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people" (Jeremiah 31:31; Hebrews 8:10; 10:16).

And the rationale for having the law placed in the mind and written on the heart it is for us to be always remember and be mindful  of it and to love and cherished it.

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To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

 

The mystery of the wisdom of God (part 5)

 

5.  Jesus Christ took on flesh in order to become a Faithful and Merciful High Priest.

The fifth reason why Jesus Christ took on flesh was for Him to become a faithful and merciful High Priest and so we have been duly admonished saying: "Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.: For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted" (Hebrews 2:17-18).

And the Lord said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all: And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool" (Hebrews 10:9-13).

But now, with the reformation we are told that, "Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:11-14).

In order for one to have any fellowship or connection with the Father it can only be through Jesus Christ because, “there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time:” And hence the reason why Jesus quite unequivocally said; “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (1Timothy 2:5-6; John 14:6).

So how then can we have fellowship with the Father through the One and only Mediator Jesus Christ? Well, according to the apostle John; “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” (1John 1:5-7).

The apostle Paul also made it abundantly clear as to how can we have access to the throne of grace when he 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. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10: 19-23).

It is through the partaking of the body and blood of Jesus Christ and having Jesus Christ as our High Priest officiating and interceding on our behalf that we have access to the throne of grace and have fellowship with the Father and with one another.

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To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph