IN CHRIST ONCE AGAIN part two

Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me. 21 He who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself overcame (was victorious) and sat down beside My Father on His throne. 22 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches).

We begin with this scripture spoken to one of the churches in Revelation. If you haven’t read my previous post, it might be a good idea if you read it first

He is speaking to believers. He is asking to come inside you. If you hear His voice and open your heart onto Him, He will share the Passover meal with you and you will enter into the new covenant with God Himself. Remember the Passover since Jesus no longer celebrates the passing over of the destroyer in Egypt. That was a shadow which was fulfilled by the breaking of His body and the shedding of His blood. He told us ‘Do this in remembrance of Me (from now on).

When His Spirit enters you- your spirit enters Him. You are ‘In Christ’ and He is in you. Since wherever you are, that is where He is, because you are in Him. Therefore you are ‘In Him’- seated at the right hand of the Father. You will have overcame. You will learn great things- things in His Spirit and not earthly things. Invisible things to those who are outside Him- but you will see and walk by faith in obedience to these things. For we walk by faith and not by sight.

No one can see that you are in Christ except God. You will have found the secret place of the most High and you dwell there. You can now claim Psalm 91 as your own. It will give you a glories safety and confidence in Him.

1 HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!
3 For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
4 [Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.
8 Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,
10 There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.
11 For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].
12 They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot.
14 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness—trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation. amp. bible

‘IN CHRIST’ONCE AGAIN

that they (you) may come to have all the abounding wealth and blessings of assured conviction of understanding, and that they may become progressively more intimately acquainted with and may know more definitely and accurately and thoroughly that mystic secret of God, [which is] Christ (the Anointed One).

Christ is God’s Secret, hidden from all until His resurrection. His death and resurrection opened a door for us into God’s very presence where by we are able to worship- and it is where God speaks to us and we have the possibility of Knowing and enjoying Fellowship with the Trinity where God shows us who they are. This is very important for we are told in the seventeenth chapter of the Gospel of John that ‘This IS eternal life, that they may Know the Father and Him who was sent’. Realize: that Jesus does’t say that we should know about Them, but that we should know them in a personal intimacy.

In Him all the treasures of divine wisdom and comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God and where all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden.

So, it is ‘in Christ’ where these treasures of God’s wisdom and the riches of spiritual knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden. That tells me that we also must be ‘in Christ’ to find these things. What can this possibility mean for you and I? 

Let’s begin by looking at The  gospel of John 6: 58

He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood dwells continually in Me, and I [in like manner dwell continually] in him.

Of course nobody can eat His body and drink His blood until after  His resurrection. 

He is saying that all who accept the breaking of His body and the shedding of His blood as the payment offered by God- which is the only requirement for us to enter  into the New Covenant with God- that that person will live continually in Him and He shall live continually in that person. Of course, eating His body and drinking His blood would become apparent after His death and resurrection- and probably was also  taught by Jesus during His ministry during the 40 days He showed Himself after He was raised. 

1Cor 6:17 But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him.

So, this must mean that the Spirit of Christ (also remember that  He is the Word which was in the beginning with God and Who also was God-and  He existed before time, or any universe.  He was the person made up of all the Father ever spoke.  He was and is a Spirit- In Him is Life.He is the one who put on flesh and dwelt among us. He is a Spirit being. As we are.

Since, like Him we are all spirit beings- it is in our spirit where our true identity is found-

So then, what am I trying to say? That if and when we are united with Him in  truth, our spirit is lost into His Spirit and we become the Spirit of Christ. He is in us and we are in Him. We find ourselves ‘In Christ’.

Let us take a look at one of the Churches out of the Book of revelation 

19 Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude]. [Prov. 3:12] 

He is telling us this because it’s true. We should never give up our Hope because of whatever is happening in your life- By faith- remember and believe what was said to you in the scripture above. It is telling you this because it’s true. We should never give up our Hope from God above.

The scripture below is where we will begin in our next blog-

Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me. 21 He who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself overcame (was victorious) and sat down beside My Father on His throne. 22 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches).

Praying that all is well-

 

 

 

 

 

A LOOK AT THE SERPENT IN THE WILDERNESS

And yet no one has ever gone up to heaven, but there is One Who has come down from heaven—the Son of Man [Himself], Who is (dwells, has His home) in heaven.  

And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert [on a pole], so must [so it is necessary that] the Son of Man be lifted up [on the cross], [Num. 21:9]  

In order that everyone who believes in Him [who cleaves to Him, trusts Him, and relies on Him] may not perish, but have eternal life and [actually] live forever!

This is a strange statement for Jesus to say, right in the middle of John 3 where Jesus says ‘For God so loved the world’ and so on. First, He tells us that He ‘Must’be lifted up in a way that this story in Num. 21:19 illustrates.

This passage in Numbers is a type and shadow of what the coming Christ must do. He must do it so that you and I, and  everyone else, who find themselves able to believe will live- in eternity. 

Let’s look at the passage in Numbers. 22 starting at verse 4-

4 And they journeyed from Mount Horab by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom, and the people became impatient (depressed, much discouraged), because [of the trials] of the way.
 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, neither is there any water, and we loathe this light (contemptible, unsubstantial) manna.

 Then the Lord sent fiery (burning) serpents among the people; and they bit the people, and many Israelites died. And the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord, that He may take away the serpents from us. So Moses prayed for the people.

And the Lord said to Moses, Make a fiery serpent [of bronze] and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it on a pole, and if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of bronze [attentively, expectantly, with a steady and absorbing gaze], he lived.

This is very simple.  The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people. The serpent is always a type of sin. It was sin that bit the people. Sin always leads to spiritual death. So it is our condition before we are born again. We were dead in our trespasses and sins.

Now, the Lord said, take a bronze pole and serpent of bronze (bronze is always judgement) on top of the pole and ‘lift it up.’ and as many as shall see the bronze serpent and ‘beholds’ (original word- means To see and understand) it shall live.

A Serpent made of judgement (Bronze) is lifted up. The very thing that is killing them is lifted up in judgement!

What does all of this have to do with Jesus?

2Cor 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

He became sin itself! He became the very thing that was killing us!

This is what caused Jesus to sweat blood in the garden. He didn’t fear the nails, or the beatings. He despised the cross because He knew that (like the passage in Numbers) He must become sin itself and be lifted up for all to see-and the Father would have to leave Him. Unbearable! But in incredible faith He did it. 

Have you seen and understood what happened on that cross for you, over two thousand years ago?

 

Peace, good will and safety to all-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN CHRIST

Let’s begin by looking at a scripture out of the book of Hebrews :

He did take hold of [the fallen] descendants of Abraham [to reach out to them a helping and delivering hand]. So it is evident that it was essential that He be made like His brethren in every respect, in order that He might become a merciful (sympathetic) and faithful High Priest in the things related to God

Especially, I want us to consider this statement:

‘it was essential that He be made like His brethren in every respect, ‘

So then, if He was made exactly like His brethren (that’s us!)- if we look at Him correctly- we will see ourselves.

Consider this:

‘The Lord is a Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom’ 2Corth 3:17

Christ is the ‘Word’ that was with God and was with God in the beginning. Nothing was created yet. No matter, no energy, no universe. Nothing existed at this point. Nothing with with to from a physical body with. The ‘Word’ that was God and was with God was Spirit. He was a person! In the beginning God created all things through this- and His- ‘Word’. Later this ‘Word’ would put on flesh and be created exactly like us. We also are a spirit and like Him we put on the flesh that like Him was formed in our mothers womb. He put on the flesh that was formed in Mary’s, His mother’s womb.When the ‘Word” was in the flesh His name was Jesus Christ. When He speaks, the ‘Word’ speaks. Christ and the Word are the same. See John 1:1 in the amp. Bible. Jesus Christ really means,  Jesus who is the Christ or Word.

When reading or considering scripture it will help us greatly to recall -that being born-again- we are a freed spirit. Moreover, the spirit that we  are (that is now immersed into the Spirit that is Christ) has it’s life in your present body of flesh.

‘For we have this treasure (Christ) in earthen vessels, that the power might be of God and not man’.

This then would describe Jesus (who was the Word- a Spirit) who lived in a body of flesh which was built by His mother Mary, as we are a spirit living in a fleshly body built by our mother.

The Spirit of Christ can be likened to an endless ocean whereas our spirit ilike a little glass of water. Our little ‘glass of water’ has been poured out into this ocean. Thus, we are now ‘In Christ’

 

We shalaitsee

later

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

God is always at work within us

I’ve skipped chapter seven, but i would like to try to explain the important points.

Paul uses the picture of marriage (under the law) to show that the married man and woman are bound to each other until death. But, if one should die, the other is free to remarry and not be an adulteress

In the same way we were married to the law. However, since we died with Christ we are free from the law and are able to be remarried- even to Him who rose from the dead. This is what happens when we are born again.

We are in Him, and He is in us. We are married to Christ. We are the bride. We are married to each other. Remember, we are a spirit living in a body as Christ is a Spirit who lives in a body and His name is Jesus.

Having said that,,, let us begin Romans eight- but remember when it says ‘in Christ’ it means it literally. 

1 THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus.

What a beautiful- free- gift from our Father. Free righteousness! and never ending. Just because you have been born again.

For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.

There was something waiting for you in Christ.  A better law, that works like gravity, it’s everywhere- there is nothing for you to do.The law of the Spirit of life. It cancels out the law of sin and death. If you should sin (all of us will) it no longer separates us from the presence of God. He will deal with our sin as He sees fit. But always in and with love, because you’re His child now. He will sometimes set you in circumstances that your flesh won’t like, but you will come to recognize the difference between your flesh and your spirit.  

For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh (the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice],

I want you realize one very important thing, and then read the above scripture again. He condemned sin! not you!

Sin entered the world by one man, Adam. It came in (sin) like an incurable infection throughout all generations. You and sin are two different things. You are not a physical body. You are spirit. Remember. God cursed the serpent saying ‘You shall eat dust all the days of your life’. Our body is made of dust of the earth. That is the realm of Satan. 

So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit].

For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit. Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].

[That is] because the mind of the flesh [with its carnal thoughts and purposes] is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God’s Law; indeed it cannot. So then those who are living the life of the flesh [catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature] cannot please or satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him. But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the [Holy] Spirit of God [really] dwells within you [directs and controls you].

But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God]. But if Christ lives in you, [then although] your [natural] body is dead by reason of sin and guilt, the spirit is alive because of [the] righteousness [that He imputes to you]. And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you.

So then, brethren, we are debtors, but not to the flesh [we are not obligated to our carnal nature], to live [a life ruled by the standards set up by the dictates] of the flesh. For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God. And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory. 

[But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us!

For [even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God’s sons to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship]. For the creation (nature) was subjected to frailty (to futility, condemned to frustration), not because of some intentional fault on its part, but by the will of Him Who so subjected it—[yet] with the hope That nature (creation) itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and corruption [and gain an entrance] into the glorious freedom of God’s children.

Well, I believe we’ve got enough to think  about till next time- pray all of you are  ioyful-until next time stay kool.

ROMANS SIX BAPTISED INTO CHRIST

1 WHAT SHALL we say [to all this]? Are we to remain in sin in order that God’s grace (favor and mercy) may multiply and overflow? Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?

In chapter five we were shown how God’s grace kept us safe inspite of our sin and it’s growing strength. But now we are asked if we should continue in sin so that grace may abound. He answers his own question by saying

‘How can we who died to sin live in it any longer, Well, when did we die to sin? 

Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

Here we have the idea presented to us that we can be ‘immersed’ (the literal meaning of ‘baptismo’  the original Greek word rendered baptized in most English translations of the bible. Try substituting immersed for baptize or baptized every time you see baptize or baptized in scripture. You will soon begin to get a more accurate visualization of what’s really being said.

So, the sentence is more accurately read ‘Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been immersed (soaked) into Christ Jesus were immersed (as well as soaked) into His death?’

The idea that God intended to combine Christ and His believer was first suggested to me in the Gospel of John chapter six verse fifty six: Quoting Jesus:

“He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood dwells continually in Me, and I [in like manner dwell continually] in him.”

Now, no one expects Jesus to climb into your body and you to climb into His Body

In order to understand this correctly we need to realize some things about who we are. Most importantly we need to understand that we are not a natural people having a spiritual experience- Rather- We are a spiritual people having a natural experience.

Let me say that again: We are not a natural people having a spiritual experience. We are a Spiritual people having a natural experience.

Consider this scripture:

So it is evident that it was essential that He be made like His brethren in every respect, in order that He might become a merciful (sympathetic) and faithful High Priest in the things related to God, to make atonement and propitiation for the people’s sins. Heb 2:17 amp

So it is evident that it was essential that He be made like His brethren in every respect, 

He was made like His brethren (that’s you and I) in every respect. 

Just as He was a Spiritual being who was born to a natural mother who built a natural body for Him- like Him the essence of who we are is not in our natural nature. We also put on flesh (provided and built by our mother) to cause us to be able to relate through our five senses to the created universe around us.

Like Jesus our true nature lies in our spirit. Jesus was the true Word of God (a Spirit) before anything was created (Jn 1:1) and whose father on earth was God Himself. Thereby the fallen nature of Adam which is passed on through the father was not passed on to Jesus. 

Our spirit was born dead as it was completely locked in the death of our flesh inherited from Adam. The moment we became born again God quickened our spirit with the indwelling of the Spirit of Christ in our spirit. At the same time our spirit joined the Spirit of Christ until now we are seated with Him at the right hand of the Father.

This granted us a new nature. Most of our life is now involved in the death of our Adamic flesh so that the new life of our spirit can be King.

Consider this scripture

17 But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him. 1st Corth 6:17

Since we are in Christ and Christ is in us, all that He experienced we also experienced- (I want you to simply read the following scriptures – you’ll  understand- )

We were buried therefore with Him by the baptism (immersion) into His death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious [power] of the Father, so we too might [habitually] live and behave in newness of life. 

For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be one with Him in sharing His resurrection by a new life lived for God.  

We know that our old unrenewed self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin. For when a man dies, he is freed loosed, delivered from the power of sin among men. 

Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,

Because we know that Christ (the Anointed One), being once raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has power over Him.

For by the death He died, He died to sin [ending His relation to it] once for all; and the life that He lives, He is living to God [in unbroken fellowship with Him].

Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God [living in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus.

Let not sin therefore rule as king in your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies, to make you yield to its cravings and be subject to its lusts and evil passions.

Do not continue offering or yielding your bodily members and faculties to sin as instruments (tools) of wickedness. But offer and yield yourselves to God as though you have been raised from the dead to perpetual life, and your bodily members and faculties to God, presenting them as implements of righteousness.

For you ARE the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Just behave as who you have become- The righteousness of God ‘in Christ Jesus’

For sin shall not [any longer] exert dominion over you, since now you are not under Law [as slaves], but under grace [as subjects of God’s favor and mercy].
What then [are we to conclude]?

Shall we sin because we live not under Law but under God’s favor and mercy?

Certainly not!

Do you not know that if you continually surrender yourselves to anyone to do his will, you are the slaves of him whom you obey, whether that be to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience which leads to righteousness (right doing and right standing with God)?

But thank God, though you were once slaves of sin, you have become obedient with all your heart to the standard of teaching in which you were instructed and to which you were committed.

And having been set free from sin, you have become the servants of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in thought, purpose, and action). 

I am speaking in familiar human terms because of your natural limitations. For as you yielded your bodily members and faculties as servants to impurity and ever increasing lawlessness, so now yield your bodily members and faculties once for all as servants to righteousness right being and doing which leads to sanctification.

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.

But then what benefit (return) did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? [None] for the end of those things is death.

But now since you have been set free from sin and have become the slaves of God, you have your present reward in holiness and its end is eternal life.

For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord. 

ROMANS FIVE PART TWO

This is the second and last part of Romans 5. Paul is giving us a view through God’s eye of what has happened to get mankind into the situation we find ourselves in. And the way out.

Therefore, as sin came into the world through one man, and death as the result of sin, so death spread to all men, [no one being able to stop it or to escape its power] because all men sinned., sin entered the world  

Because of the fall of Adam, sin entered the world and as a result of sin, death. A death (like an infection) spread till it infected all men, and all men were powerless to stop it or escape it’s power. And because all men sinned, sin and death were in the world. We were all infected with sin in the womb. And death became every man’s destiny.

[To be sure] sin was in the world before ever the Law was given, but sin is not charged to men’s account where there is no law [to transgress]. Yet death held sway from Adam to Moses [the Lawgiver], even over those who did not themselves transgress [a positive command] as Adam did. Adam was a type (prefigure) of the One Who was to come.

This all occurred long before the law was given. In fact, during the period between Adam and Moses, no law existed. And men are not charged with any transgression of any sin where there is no law to transgress. And since no law was broken, no sin existed. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses even over those who did not transgress as Adam did. _Adam is a true type and prefigure of Christ who was always to come. (We may get into this before this post is finished).

But God’s free gift is not at all to be compared to the trespass [His grace is out of all proportion to the fall of man]. For if many died through one man’s falling away (his lapse, his offense), much more profusely did God’s grace and the free gift [that comes] through the undeserved favor for us from the one Man Jesus Christ abound and overflow to and for [the benefit of] many. Nor is the free gift at all to be compared to the effect of that one [man’s] sin.

It is evident that God;s free gift of Righteousness through Christ Jesus is way out of proportion to the fall of man. For if many died through the one man falling away, much more profusely did God’s grace and the free gift that comes through the undeserved favor of the one man Jesus Christ abound and overflow to and for the benefit of many, The free gift in is not to be compared to the effect of that one man’s sin.

For the sentence [following the trespass] of one [man] brought condemnation, whereas the free gift [following] many transgressions brings justification (an act of righteousness). For if because of one man’s trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, Much more surely will those who receive [God’s] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

For all of us were sentenced to death because of the sin of the one man Adam, but the free gift following our many transgressions brought justification (an act of righteousness). For just as by one man’s disobedience (failing to hear, heedlessness, and carelessness) the many were constituted sinners, so by one Man’s obedience the many will be constituted righteous (made acceptable to God, brought into right standing with Him) reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

Well then, as one man’s trespass [one man’s false step and falling away led] to condemnation for all men, so one Man’s act of righteousness [leads] to acquittal and right standing with God and life for all men. For just as by one man’s disobedience (failing to hear, heedlessness, and carelessness) the many were constituted sinners, so by one Man’s obedience the many will be constituted righteous (made acceptable to God, brought into right standing with Him).

But then Law came in, [only] to expand and increase the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting opposition]. But where sin increased and abounded, grace (God’s unmerited favor) has surpassed it and increased the more and superabounded,

The purpose and reason for the law was only to make what was sin more apparent. God’s grace and unmerited favor abounded as sin increased and has surpassed the presence of sin until grace superabounded.

So that, [just] as sin has reigned in death, [so] grace (His unearned and undeserved favor) might reign also through righteousness (right standing with God) which issues in eternal life through Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) our Lord.

God’s love for us has made sure tha just as sin reigned in death His free grace might reign in us which issues in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We are truly blessed and all praise belongs to God, our Father, and His Son Jesus Christ

ROMANS FIVE

My last post on Romans 5 was published by accident (I hadn’t finished it). Here is the correct post.

This is beautiful-

1 THEREFORE, SINCE we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith,

One of the hardest things for a believer who has been born again to get is the concept that God has declared every born again believer righteous (in complete right standing with God} without works at all required. This is one of Satans main places of attack. He will send thoughts into your mind of self condemnation making the believe feel very insecure at times. This will come with much pressure designed to force the believer to feel he must do something, or perhaps sacrifice something or another. The believer must keep in mind that this righteous from God is totality free and any attempt to add to it by your own efforts will let God know that you haven’t understood and negate it. No matter what throws into your mind or otherwise is designed to divert you from truth and should be ignored. Confess to God what you were thinking and ask for forgiveness as quick as possible. It will help you to quote out loud to yourself ‘I am the righteousness of Christ’ as many times a day as you can manage untill you convince yourself to have faith. You will get much opposition. Believing you have obtained the righteousness of Jesus is a believer’s first step-

let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

This righteous which is yours for free has reconciled you back to God. And we have a peace now that is ours with God for us to live in. To hold and to enjoy through Jesus Christ our  Lord. He is on your side now so thank Him often, no matter what circumstances you find yourself in. Do what you should do but then turn it all (your circumstances) over to God who is now your Father. Talk to Him about everything and He will let you know what He wants. But mostly, just sit back and watch Him work out what you need.

Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God. John 10:9; John 14:6; 1Cor 15:1; Eph 2:18; Eph 3:12; Heb 3:6; Heb 10:19;

Through Jesus we have our access by faith into God’s grace, that is, God’s freely given favor in which we firmly and safely stand. Let us live a life of rejoicing now with our hope in experiencing and enjoying the glory of God. Ask Him for His favor every morning with thanksgiving.

Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and4 tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of ] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.

Let us be full of joy now with triumph in troubles and suffer with joy because we are aware that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance with fortitude brings and develops mature character with approved faith and tried integrity. This sort of character produces habitual joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. Remember, all things are now from Him, so tell Him you trust Him often, no matter what. Don’t fret- you are in a love that will take you years to begin to understand. But, you can count on it- but keep your faith up.

While we were yet in weakness [powerless to help ourselves], at the fitting time Christ died for (in behalf of) the ungodly.  Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a noble and lovable and generous benefactor someone might even dare to die. But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.

Yes! This actually happened… for you! So take Him up on His love for you. It’s amazing!

Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God) by Christ’s blood, how much more [certain is it that] we shall be saved by Him from the indignation and wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more [certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin’s dominion) through His [resurrection] life. Not only so, but we also rejoice and exultingly glory in God [in His love and perfection] through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have now received and enjoy [our] reconciliation.  

It is impossible for me to say enough about His love. He will keep all His promises. You will be filled with joy when you realize-

 

I will finish this chapter next- and soon- God bless everyone with His love.

 

HEBREWS 13 Living In God

After all this writer has had to say to us in this book, his last chapter starts off with advice for the serious Christian. By all means, if you’re not born again get that taken care of as soon as possible!

 

1 LET LOVE for your fellow believers continue and be a fixed practice with you [never let it fail]. Do not forget or neglect or refuse to extend hospitality to strangers [in the brotherhood—being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for through it some have entertained angels without knowing it.

‘LET LOVE for your fellow believers continue’– Notice the writer is not trying to get them to love. He’s assuming that they already know and possess love because it’s given when these folks became born again. He simply wants it to ‘continue’. It makes me wonder when I consider the modern day church. Seems like love is rare and isn’t displayed very much in the congregations. Something is wrong. Sundays are not the day to look for it either. It’s when we are out of church that the truth really shows.  Examine yourselves as to whether or not you are walking in love. God is love, and we glorify Him when our lives reflect His nature in our relationships and attitudes towards each other.

We are also warned not to neglect being friendly, cordial, and gracious. We are told to let these things be a fixed practice towards our brotherhood. We are not to forget or refuse to extend hospitality to strangers, who are born again, for through it some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Remember those who are in prison as if you were their fellow prisoner, and those who are ill-treated, since you also are liable to bodily sufferings.

Somewhere Jesus said that you were visiting Him when you visited Christians who were in jail. I suppose it’s still true. Someone who is reading this knows that this was meant for you to hear.

Let marriage be held in honor (esteemed worthy, precious, of great price, and especially dear) in all things. And thus let the marriage bed be undefiled (kept undishonored); for God will judge and punish the unchaste [all guilty of sexual vice] and adulterous.

God holds marriage in very high esteem. So be very careful to hold it in high esteem yourself. Don’t let yourself get trapped into adultery, run away from that temptation. It is one of Satan’s top tricks to try and stop you from for filling a strong calling on your life.

You may remember when Abraham told his wife,Sarah, to say she was his sister when they found themselves in someone else’s kingdom. There was no law at that time and sin is not imputed where there is no law. In spite of that fact even the king got very nervous and fearful when he discovered Abraham had lied about Sarah. He had come close to taking Sarah as a wife but realized in time his kingdom would be cursed by God if he had. How close to God’s heart must marriage be- if even this foreign king was so frightened at how close he had come to offending this unknown God of Abraham by committing adultery with Sarah. So God has told us and we had better listen.

Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support.

When you were born again, God placed the seeds of a noble character in you. Like a Father gives a son. Your job is to let Him perfect in you all He’s given. Resist the love of money- walk away from it. Neither allow greed, and things of the world put a demand on your heart. Find satisfaction in your present situation and circumstance. God Himself has said that- He will not in any way fail you- nor give you up- nor leave you without support.

 

[I will] not,                                                                      and again

[I will] not,                                                                      and again

[I will] not                                                                        and again 

in any degree leave you helpless                             moreover

nor forsake                                                                       moreover

nor let [you] down ( relax My hold on you)!      once more 

                                                                                           Assuredly not!  

So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?

How many times must God say it to us before we remember? Trust Him at His word. Relax. This tribulation comes for His words sake.

Remember your leaders and superiors in authority [for it was they] who brought to you the Word of God. Observe attentively and consider their manner of living (the outcome of their well-spent lives)

Keep your leaders and superiors in authority over you close to your hearts. For they have been busy passing what they have learned from the word to you. If you see a need where you can help them somehow, help them without hesitation with whatever they need. Watch them and the way they handle the various problems life can bring into the life they find themselves presently in. They are there for you to learn.

and imitate their faith ( their conviction that God exists and is the Creator and Ruler of all things, the Provider and Bestower of eternal salvation through Christ, and their leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness). Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages). Do not be carried about by different and varied and alien teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established and ennobled and strengthened by means of grace (God’s favor and spiritual blessing) and not [to be devoted to] foods [rules of diet and ritualistic meals], which bring no [spiritual] benefit or profit to those who observe them.

Imitate the faith of your leaders and how they trust the concept that God exists and that His promises are real and His gospel is true and worthy of total faith. He never changes so make sure you stay close to Him always with complete trust. Strive to stay in His grace and His love in your heart. Do not let yourself wander away by placing your hope in outward rituals which have no use or profit. 

We have an altar from which those who serve and worship in the tabernacle have no right to eat. For when the blood of animals is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin, the victims’ bodies are burned outside the limits of the camp. Therefore Jesus also suffered and died outside the [city’s] gate in order that He might purify and consecrate the people through [the shedding of] His own blood and set them apart as holy [for God]. Let us then go forth [from all that would prevent us] to Him outside the camp [at Calvary], bearing the contempt and abuse and shame with Him.

The above is a description that is very profitable for all of us to read often, because in spite of whatever we find ourselves in, concerning this world, everything written above is the true reality- even though we can’t see it. But we walk by faith and not by sight for the just shall live by faith. The older we get ‘in God’ the more this is God’s will for us. So in some ways it gets harder as we go unless our heart reacts with overcoming faith. The greater your calling the more this is true. So trust God and realize your faith will win.

For here we have no permanent city, but we are looking for the one which is to come.

Remember, we are waiting for a city and a life that is to come.

Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.

Cultivate an attitude of gratefulness, talk to Him often and praise Him all with thankfulness. Remember most of what God paid for on His Cross can’t be seen except for your attitude and behavior. I would suggest you start every day by talking, praising and listening to Him. Get as intimate as you are able to with Him. You can ask anything you want to. Work on believing and take the time to have a believing state of mind before you talk.  

Do not forget or neglect to do kindness and good, to be generous and distribute and contribute to the needy [of the church as embodiment and proof of fellowship], for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

The only thing you have to glorify this Great God whom you are beginning to know, the only way to speak the truth of His existence and His love to the world around you is the way you live your life. Your attitude toward the people you relate too. Learn to be kind and good and generous. We all know someone in our church who are needy. Find at least one and help them with their need. If you can do it secretly all the better.  

Obey your spiritual leaders and submit to them [continually recognizing their authority over you], for they are constantly keeping watch over your souls and guarding your spiritual welfare, as men who will have to render an account [of their trust]. [Do your part to] let them do this with gladness and not with sighing and groaning, for that would not be profitable to you [either].

Give the respect to your leaders that they deserve and don’t allow yourself to be rebellious. Never speak against them or anybody for that matter, a person who sows strife is offending to God.

Keep praying for us, for we are convinced that we have a good (clear) conscience, that we want to walk uprightly and live a noble life, acting honorably and in complete honesty in all things. And I beg of you [to pray for us] the more earnestly, in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Let us all pray for each other, especially considering the direction this world is taking.

Now may the God of peace [Who is the Author and the Giver of peace], Who brought again from among the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood [that sealed, ratified] the everlasting agreement (covenant, testament),

Strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; [while He Himself] works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages of the ages). Amen (so be it).
I call on you, brethren, to listen patiently and bear with this message of exhortation and admonition and encouragement, for I have written to you briefly. Notice that our brother Timothy has been released [from prison]. If he comes here soon, I will see you along with him.
Give our greetings to all of your spiritual leaders and to all of the saints (God’s consecrated believers). The Italian Christians send you their greetings [also].

Grace (God’s favor and spiritual blessing) be with you all. Amen (so be it).

HEBREWS 12 Suffering

 

 

 

I opened this post by saying that it was obviously written to the Hebrews- Born Again Hebrews. Written around A.D.57 it was a bad time for the church of Jesus Christ in many ways. The Romans who had conquered The Holy Lands had setup a puppet government who had been harassing the Christian faith in general. Also, and maybe worst of all, these converted Jews had been ostracized by their old Hebrew friends.because of their faith in Christ. It took an extremely courageous heart to walk away from a religion that was a deep part of your life since your earliest memories. On top of all that, unconverted Jews had infiltrated the church and were telling these Hebrews that their rejection of their  Jewish faith was the cause (God was mad at them) which explained their troubled minds and the troubled lives. All would alright again when they left Jesus. The writer of Hebrews is writing to these churches (to be read out loud to the entire congregations) in order to put these Hebrews back on a sense of stability.

Continuing where we left off- 

1 THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

They have reached a point with God where it is now necessary for them to get serious about their walk with Jesus. He is their high priest who (after He cleansed us and took care of our sin) sat down at the right hand of the Father. Jesus has lived among us, experienced the same temptations we have and certainly knows what it means to suffer. He is always waiting for us to come freely to His throne of grace and listen to what goes on in our lives and offer whatever we need. We really lack nothing except perhaps faith. 

Since, (in the last chapter of Hebrews) we have been shown the power of faith in the lives of such a group of people, who accomplished great things because of the faith they possessed. These Hebrews need to lay aside all their unnecessary weight and the sin they still play around with along with every distraction and look at Jesus. There is no reason for these Hebrews to be lacking in faith. Having a faith in what Jesus has accomplished for them will remove the fear and anxiety the hardships they face bring. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. Remember the man in the Gospels somewhere that when Jesus asked him ‘Do you believe?’ The man replied, ‘I believe but help thou my unbelief’ Can he accomplish that for you?

Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds. You have not yet struggled and fought agonizingly against sin, nor have you yet resisted and withstood to the point of pouring out your [own] blood.

Comparing their suffering to that of Jesus, he points out that Jesus paid a much higher price for their salvation than they are for their problems with life. Consider these things in order to not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in their minds. They have not yet struggled and fought agonizing against sin, nor have they yet resisted and withstood to the point of pouring out their own blood.

And have you [completely] forgotten the divine word of appeal and encouragement in which you are reasoned with and addressed as sons? My son, do not think lightly or scorn to submit to the correction and discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage and give up and faint when you are reproved or corrected by Him; For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes. You must submit to and endure [correction] for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons.

And have you [completely] forgotten the divine word of appeal and encouragement in which you are reasoned with and addressed as sons?  These people had been given a word as sons not to take correction and discipline lightly or scorn to submit to it. Nor lose courage and give up and faint when they are reproved or corrected by Him.

For the Lod corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes. You must understand and submit to and endure [correction] for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons

For what son is there whom his father does not [thus] train and correct and discipline? Now if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all [of God’s children] share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons [at all]. Moreover, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we yielded [to them] and respected [them for training us]. Shall we not much more cheerfully submit to the Father of spirits and so [truly] live? For [our earthly fathers] disciplined us for only a short period of time and chastised us as seemed proper and good to them; but He disciplines us for our certain good, that we may become sharers in His own holiness.

We all realize that our fathers dealt with us pretty severely at times, and we all know we probably deserved it. Looking back, most of us would admit that they did the right thing and ultimately kept us out of a lot of trouble. God is the same way except He is perfect and never makes a mistake- and does it for our own good. 

For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness—in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God].

When one of God’s children is disciplined by God it never feels good or right while it’s happening. If you are the one God is dealing with right now, no matter who you are in your own sight you will feel grievous and painful- but wait, and when God is finished, afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness—in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God].

So then, brace up and reinvigorate and set right your slackened and weakened and drooping hands and strengthen your feeble and palsied and tottering knees, And cut through and make firm and plain and smooth, straight paths for your feet [yes, make them safe and upright and happy paths that go in the right direction], so that the lame and halting [limbs] may not be put out of joint, but rather may be cured. Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord. Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God’s grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing), in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it—

Wake up! cut through and make plain and smooth, straight paths for your feet [yes, make them safe and upright and happy paths that go in the right direction], so that the lame and halting [limbs] may not be put out of joint, but rather may be cured. Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord. Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God’s grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing), in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it—

See too it that absolutely no one takes their situation to mean that God’s grace has departed from their life. If you let this happen a root of bitterness will spring up and contaminate many and defile many. Anyway, the truth is: God’s grace has not departed or changed in any way towards any of His children. Make sure the church is grounded in God’s love.  

That no one may become guilty of sexual vice, or become a profane (godless and sacrilegious) person as Esau did, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you understand that later on, when he wanted [to regain title to] his inheritance of the blessing, he was rejected (disqualified and set aside), for he could find no opportunity to repair by repentance [what he had done, no chance to recall the choice he had made], although he sought for it carefully with [bitter] tears.

Do not let anyone become so discouraged as to resort to some form of sexual vice or become a profane- godless and sacrilegious person becoming as Esau did. And later finding no room for repentance, although he sought it carefully with bitter tears. 

For you have not come [as did the Israelites in the wilderness] to a [material] mountain that can be touched, [a mountain] that is ablaze with fire, and to gloom and darkness and a raging storm, And to the blast of a trumpet and a voice whose words make the listeners beg that nothing more be said to them. For they could not bear the command that was given: If even a wild animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death. In fact, so awful and terrifying was the [phenomenal] sight that Moses said, I am terrified (aghast and trembling with fear).

How terrifying Gid coming down Mount Sinai must have  been. filled with gloom and darkness and a raging storm. Even Moses was trembling and aghast with fear. A blast of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the listeners yhat nothing more be said to them. The mountain itself was ablaze with fire and even if a wild animal should touch the mountain it should be stoned.

In order for us to get some understanding in what follows, we’ll need a little basic spiritual explanation.

First thing I want you to see is that we are spiritual beings. Like Jesus, we are a spirit that put on flesh in order to walk on the earth. When we became born again, our spirit (which was us, however, we were born dead in our spirit and therefore we were dead since we are an uncreated spirit in a created body made of the dust of the ground. Christ is also a Spirit. When He put on flesh (as we did) He became the man Jesus (who was the) Christ. He died on the cross and was resurrected so that our spirit may become alive as His was. His Spirit came to live in us, and our spirit became alive in Him. When He sat down at the right hand of the Father, so did we since we are now ‘in Christ. Being ‘in Christ’ takes a lot of maturity to be aware of. We also ‘Walk by faith and not by sight’ so  here are heavenly things that are already ours because we are in Christ yet we can’t se them. 

But rather, you have come to Mount Zion, even to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless multitudes of angels in festal gathering,

Instead of coming to an earthly mountain we, being spiritual, in the spirit came to a spiritual mountain called Mount Zion and to God’s city, the Heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless multitudes of angels in festal gathering.

And to the church (assembly) of the Firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to the God Who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous

We  have also come to the church of the firstborn who are registered as citizens in heaven, and to the God who is Judge of all, and to the spirits (this all occurs while we walk in our body on the earth- this is happening to our spirit who is in the Spirit of Christ- His Spirit is also in us- on the earth) of the redeemed in heaven. (Our spirit was made righteous during our new birth). Who have been made perfect, and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks of mercy, a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel, which cried out for vengeance.As we’re told below

(the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect, And to Jesus, the Mediator (Go-between, Agent) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks [of mercy], a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for vengeance].

So see to it that you do not reject Him or refuse to listen to and heed Him Who is speaking [to you now]. For if they [the Israelites] did not escape when they refused to listen and heed Him Who warned and divinely instructed them [here] on earth [revealing with heavenly warnings His will], how much less shall we escape if we reject  and turn our backs on Him Who cautions and admonishes [us] from heaven? Then [at Mount Sinai] His voice shook the earth, but now He has given a promise:

He has been talking and warning you right now and maybe for quite a while. Do not refuse Him or turn our backs to Him when He cautions us or admonishes us. For if Israel did not escape when they refused Him here on earth, how much less shall we escape. His voice shook the earth at Mount Sinai, but now He has  promised-

Yet once more I will shake and make tremble not only the earth but also the [starry] heavens. Now this expression, Yet once more, indicates the final removal and transformation of all [that can be] shaken—that is, of that which has been created—in order that what cannot be shaken may remain and continue. Let us therefore, receiving a kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious care and godly fear

and awe; For our God [is indeed] a consuming fire.

Strong words to end up this chapter.

God bless you- chapter 13 next<!–

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