[Study Aired April 22, 2021]

Heb 12:18  For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 
Heb 12:19  And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: 
Heb 12:20  (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: 
Heb 12:21  And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 
Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 
Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Heb 12:25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 
Heb 12:26  Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 
Heb 12:27  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 
Heb 12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 
Heb 12:29  For our God is a consuming fire.

This section of God’s word explains for us that our natural man cannot endure God’s word, and yet our hope is that we are being dragged to the “consuming fire” which our Father and His word are (Heb 12:29, Jer 23:29).

We can “with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, [be] are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2Co 3:18). That changing and going from glory go glory is the exact opposite of practically all that is written in these first few verses (Heb 12:18-21), which change is needful and necessary in order for us to “come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel” found in the following three verses of Hebrews 12:22-24.

“That speaketh better things than that of Abel” is another way of telling us that God has “provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect” of Hebrews 11:40. Abel’s death is a type of Christ’s life which was sacrificed for us, but His being the only life that can and will redeem all of mankind in time (Eph 1:7). It was Abel’s sacrifice that was accepted of God and not Cain’s (Gen 4:5), and if we are receiving God’s kingdom today, which is within us, it can only be received one way and that is by the grace through faith found through Jesus Christ, the favour or ‘charis‘ God shows to His elect. This is why it is written “wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace^G5485, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (2Co 5:21). That grace through faith, which is needed in order to be saved (Eph 2:8), was represented in type and shadow by the obedient spirit of Abel who brought before God an offering that was acceptable (Gen 4:5). God accepted it because it was upon a burnt offering, meaning upon the sacrifice of Christ through whom we are accepted (Eph 1:6).

This article by Mike goes into great detail to explain to us what the difference was between these two offerings of Cain and Abel and why one was accepted and the other not.

The Sacrifices of Cain Versus Abel

Though our flesh is so afraid to come toward God that is actually what God will accomplish by bringing us to Him as He drags us to Christ (Joh 6:44, Joh 21:18) in order that we may become “just men made perfect” through “the blood of the sprinkling” which represents Christ’s blood shed for our sins (Heb 9:12, 1Pe 1:14-20). Christ’s blood is symbolic of God’s word which Christ was sent to mediate within our new covenant heavens. In like manner we, too, are being ‘sent’ today as we judge all matters in the church today and resist the Adamic blood that has all that is in the world within it (1Jn 2:16). The promise is extended to also be sent, just as He was to us, to administer or mediate that same judgment on the rest of God’s creation in the lake of fire at the great white throne judgement (Joh 20:21).

By the spirit of God working within the church (Col 1:24) that quickens us in our endeavour to resist sinful flesh unto the shedding of blood, grace teaches us to forsake ungodliness and worldly lusts so we can ascend up that mountain as a new man, in Christ. Even as our old man is being destroyed by the brightness of His coming whom we meet, we press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ (Rev 20:10, 1Co 2:15, Tit 2:12, Php 3:14).

1Co 2:15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1Co 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Heb 12:18  For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 

As I said in the introduction, these events that seemed so terrible to the flesh of the ancient Israelites typify the blessing or favour that the Israel of God (Gal 6:16) must endure in this age if we are going to inherit the kingdom of God (Act 14:22).

Gal 6:16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

God’s goodness is toward the Israel of God to whom He is showing mercy by leading us to repentance as He drags us to Christ, who is represented by the mount which is where the “blackness, and darkness, and tempest” is met. That blackness represents the judgment that we must endure in order to see Christ for who He really is (2Th 2:8, 2Co 3:18, 1Co 13:12).

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

2Co 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

It takes the word of God, the consuming fiery relationship we have with our Father and Christ, “that burned with fire” (1Pe 4:12) in order to destroy the “blackness, and darkness, and tempest“, which is the perception Israel of old had of God, and as such they were afraid to come to God for fear of what would happen to them. “These things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (Mat 25:24, Eze 14:4, 1Co 10:11), who have learned that we should come “boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” This is happening day by day as we die daily (Heb 4:16, 1Co 15:31). Moses, who typifies Christ, is the one who was permitted to touch “the mount that might be touched” and “and so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake.” This is another parable for us revealing how Christ spent His days when He was on this earth, and how we should be doing the same thing if we are as He is in this life (Heb 5:7, 1Jn 4:17).

Mat 25:24  Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

Eze 14:4  Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

God’s elect are told that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God and must go through this process of being dragged to God, who is a consuming fire “acceptably with reverence and godly fear“.

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Heb 12:19  And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

What should be painfully obvious to those who are being dragged to Christ is that we should want to be judged or hear and give thanks that “the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words“, represented by the seals and trumpets and vials of the book of Revelation, are being poured out upon our old man who is being granted to enter into the temple of God in this age (Rev 11:15-18, Rev 15:8).

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. [Think of the present application of this verse.]
Rev 11:16  And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
Rev 11:17  Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
Rev 11:18  And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. [Rev 11:2]

Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Cain intreated God as his punishment was too much to endure (Gen 4:13) seeing he was thinking with his fleshly mind, as we all do until we don’t, and it could not feel any other way for Cain who represents our old man being judged, which judgment is always grievous for our old man (Heb 12:11). It is through our actions that we tell God “that the word should not be spoken to them [us] any more“, and so we forsake the assembling of ourselves to our own spiritual hurt, or stop labouring in the word which is the only way we can be washed of that mark of the beast (Heb 10:25 – “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest” – Heb 4:11, Joh 6:27, 2Ti 2:15, Act 17:11, Eph 5:26).

Gen 4:13  And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Cain is us in type, and we have that mark of Cain (Gen 4:15), or the mark of the beast on us (666 – Rev 13:17) that can only be removed by being dragged to Christ and being given eyes to see and ears to hear so that we can be reinstated with our Father and Christ, coming to know them through that judgment (Joh 17:3) which does away with the mark of the beast. It is because of that judgment of God, which cleanses the temple of God which we are, that we can then overcome the torment and fear of going up on the mount from whence we look for our salvation.

No man can destroy the mark of the beast that God gives his elect to identify on all men. “And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him”, meaning no one can make war with the beastly marked man and destroy him. However, if God is working with us, the good news is that Christ can make and will make war with the beast whether in this age or in that which is to come, and in so doing He removes the mark and in time saves all mankind in the process (1Jn 4:17-18, Psa 121:1, Rev 13:4, Rev 5:5, Rev 14:9-10).

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
1Jn 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Rev 13:5  And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

God’s elect lie dead in the street for three days which represents the time that we are trodden under foot by the gentiles without, so that the gentile within can be destroyed (Rev 1:17, Rev 11:9). We don’t judge the world, or measure the world to that standard of relationship that we have in Christ but rather recognize that all things are for our sakes (2Co 4:15) including how God uses the world to tread His people under foot for “forty and two months” by those outside of the body who we are not to judge (Rev 11:2, 1Co 5:12). What we do judge are those things which are within the temple which we are (Rev 11:1).

Rev 5:5  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Rev 14:9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

Heb 12:20  (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
Heb 12:21  And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) 

What a spectacle is being described here! Nevertheless, this is only the type and shadow of a far greater event taking place in the lives of those who are being given to “endure that which was commanded” as God destroys everything that breathes within us. If “so much as a beast touch the mountain“, meaning if my fleshly foot prints, my walk, my opinion starts to traverse up that mountain, you can be sure that part of me will “be stoned” or “thrust through with a dart“, showing us the positive example of a dart as opposed to the fiery darts of Satan that all get quenched by the faith of Christ (Eph 6:16). The stone also is represented positively here, as opposed to the self-righteous stones the Pharisees wanted to throw at the adulterous woman (Joh 8:7). So it is a terrible sight to see a beast destroyed by a stone, that stone representing the judgment of God which comes through Christ, and “Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake” as did the congregation when Ananias and Sapphira were killed (Act 5:1-11, Luk 12:5) that God caused to bring about a healthy fear “upon all the church”.

Act 5:11  And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

Luk 12:5  But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

These next two verses describe the hope of our salvation by being blessed to “come unto mount Sion” where we are judged today (1Pe 4:17) so that in time we can be among those saviours who come up on mount Sion to judge the mount of Esau (Oba 1:21). This mount Sion is where we see the “city of the living God” and go boldly before the throne,  represented by this “city of the living God” where we are being raised (Eph 2:6) and are approaching “acceptably with reverence and godly fear“, acknowledging God’s sovereign hand in all things, knowing that we are where we are and where we will be solely by the grace of God. Therefore, what is written in James 4:15-17 is what must be in our hearts when we enter into “the city of the living God“.

Jas 4:13  Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Jas 4:14  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Jas 4:15  For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live [Heb 6:3], and do this, or that.
Jas 4:16  But now ye rejoice in your boastings [Rom 3:27]: all such rejoicing is evil.

(Saying you have free moral agency and can say and do what you want independently of God is the evil being spoken of here.)

Jas 4:17  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

That city to which we are coming is also described as “the heavenly Jerusalem” where there are gathered” an innumerable company of angels“. Jerusalem above is the mother of us all (Gal 4:26) and the city above that the “innumerable company of angels” are subject unto, the church [“the mother of us all“]. The body of Christ (Col 1:24) is where “God the Judge of all” is perfecting His love within “the spirits of just men made perfect” to His glory and honour today.

[Eph 5:21 – Just men and woman are made perfect “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing” through obedience to God’s commandments which we learn to keep as we are received through a chastening and scourging process (Eph 5:22-32, Heb 12:6).]

Eph 5:21  Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Not only do we come to learn to follow and to be subject to Christ within each other, we also come to learn that “Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel” is constantly wakeful over those who have been reconciled by His death and are now being saved by His life within us (Jer 1:12, Rom 5:10). Not everyone is being saved in this age because not everyone has His life within them (Rom 8:9). As was mentioned earlier, “that speaketh better things than that of Abel“ is another way of telling us that God has “provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect” of Hebrews 11:40. Abel’s death could not redeem Cain, but the death of Christ, and our dying daily with Christ in us, will ultimately lead to the redemption of all of God’s creation (1Jn 2:2, 1Ti 4:10, 1Co 15:22).

Jer 1:12  Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Heb 12:25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 

At first in our relationship with Christ we are very naive, and if God permits (Heb 6:1-3), we go beyond that stage of lacking judgment and wisdom as immature carnal babes in Christ (nepios), and come to see the absolute loving terms that Christ has set out for each of those who has been predestined from the foundation of the world to endure unto the end to become mature sons (uihos). We stop sinning by the grace of God as we are corrected and witness our faith maturing through the fiery experiences He gives us (1Pe 4:12, 1Pe 1:7, 1Pe 4:1). We then stop casting His words behind us and saying, “Lord, Lord” and not doing the things He asks of us (Psa 50:17, Luk 6:46).

This verse of Hebrews reminds us that we must continue to examine our hearts to be sure that you and I “see that ye refuse not him that speaketh…from heaven” by turning “away from him“. Putting these four verses side by side shows us what must happen in order to have this hope fulfilled within us that Christ is working within the body of Christ both to will and to do of His good pleasure: (1Jn 1:7, 1Jn 3:3, Col 1:27, Php 1:12-13).

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Php 1:12-13  But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;  so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

Israel’s hearts were hardened to remind us that our hearts have to be softened through much tribulation in order to be obedient to God (1Co 10:11) while we spend the rest of our sojourning on this earth calling “on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work” as we “pass the time of your sojourning here in fear” (1Pe 1:17).

The natural state of Israel, who refused “him that spake on earth”, is written to simply remind us we can easily lose that fear of God if we are not giving diligence “to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2Pe 1:10). Again we see God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb 11:6) as described in this section of God’s word depicting the things we should do so that “ye shall never fall”. That fall is what happens when “we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven“, and conversely, if we continue to “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Php 3:14), we will see and understand this mystery unfolding in our lives as we die daily, carrying our cross. This is what happens when we read, hear and keep the sayings of the prophesy: “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (2Pe 2:1-9, Mat 13:16, Rev 1:3).

Heb 12:26  Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
Heb 12:27  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

We have more contrast in these verses, demonstrating what happens within those who are blessed to truly hear the voice of the true Shepherd in this age (Joh 10:27-29).

Joh 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

God has “hath promised” that the work He has started within the body of Christ is going to be finished, and the natural shaking of the earth (“whose voice then shook the earth“) typifies for us that, not only is God going to burn up the wood, hay and stubble of our earthly sensual hearts (1Co 3:12), but also if we are His children in this age, He will purify the heavenly things themselves spoken of in Hebrews 9:23, referred to as  “but also heaven” whose foundation is made up of purified gold, silver and precious stones (Mat 21:42-44, 1Pe 2:8).

1Co 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

Heb 9:23  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
Heb 9:24  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

Mat 21:42  Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Mat 21:43  Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
Mat 21:44  And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

1Pe 2:8  And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

The symbolism spoken of in Hebrews 12:27 “signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain“. It describes for us the natural events that precede the spiritual (1Co 15:46), and it is the “as of things that are made” that must fall away, seeing flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1Co 15:50). Our suffering as the body of Christ is purposely working together “for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28). Our heavens are being washed, sanctified and justified” in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God”, which is how the carnal mind is destroyed. In other words, those things that are shaken are done away within us so “that those things which cannot be shaken may remain” (Rom 8:22-23, 1Co 6:11, Rom 8:30-32, Rom 5:10-11).

1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

Rom 8:22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now [“as of things that are made“].
Rom 8:23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

[God’s elect experience the “as of things that are made” part of this verse (Heb 12:27) along with the world. However, we are blessed to have our heavens purified through Christ’s judgment upon us today so that “those things which cannot be shaken may remain“. What cannot be shaken is our hope of glory within who is the author and finisher of our faith, Jesus Christ (Col 1:27)]

1Co 6:11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Rom 8:30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Rom 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Rom 5:11  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Heb 12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Heb 12:29  For our God is a consuming fire.

Pillars that are strong and deeply rooted in God’s temple (Mat 7:24-25) have become that way through a process of having our old man consumed by the “consuming fire” which is God (Heb 12:29). Those pillars are represented by a house that experiences much tribulation (Act 14:22), explained with these words: “And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” (Mat 7:25)

We must do the prep work in order to endure through the fiery trials of this life as we are promised, which is expressed in the preceding verse (Mat 7:24). That simply describes for us how we must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling knowing it is God who is working in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Php 2:12-13). “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.”

When we receive the kingdom within, we must go through a process of learning to hear the word of God described in these parables in the gospel of Matthew chapter 13, that starts off by Christ saying “Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower“(Mat 13:18-53). Just prior to that statement, Christ draws a parallel with those who are going to be blessed to hear and understand all these parables which were written (Mat 13:16), to keep the world in darkness and not understanding the truth (Mar 4:11-12) by saying “For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.” (Mat 13:17)

We must serve God “acceptably with reverence and godly fear“, and that is a process which takes our whole lifetime, described with these words of Christ: “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, (Rev 1:3) and bring forth fruit with patience.”  In order to overcome and be made ready as the bride of Christ (Luk 12:5, 1Pe 4:12, 1Pe 4:17, Rev 19:7), we need to possess our souls patiently as we bring forth the fruit God has ordained for us to bring forth from the foundation of the world. The end result of that fruit is to “be holy and without blame before him in love” (Luk 21:19, Eph 1:4-5, 1Co 1:8-10).

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

1Co 1:8  Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 1:9  God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

As these parables of Christ show us, it is by reading, hearing and keeping the word of God that we demonstrate and witness to others that we are serving “God acceptably with reverence and godly fear“. It is in that service of laying down our lives for each other that His love will be perfected in us. The world will learn who His true disciples are, as we go through the “consuming fire” which is God together (Dan 3:25). We are blessed to know (Joh 17:3) and be dragged to our Lord today (Joh 6:44) so that our old man can be destroyed and the new man perfected through “a consuming fire” that Christ is in the midst of us.

Dan 3:25  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Heb 9:1 Part 1 – “Christ Being Come an High Priest of Good Things to Come”

[Study Aired November 26, 2020]

Heb 9:1  Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. 

The statement “Christ being come an high priest of good things to come” in verse 11 of Hebrews chapter 9 (Heb 9:11) is contrasted with the first ten verses of Hebrews chapter 9 which speak of the “ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary” that were all found within the temple or tabernacle God ordained and established for our sakes (2Co 4:15) to help us understand what He is doing within the temple which we are today (1Co 3:16).

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

As we compare “spiritual things with spiritual” (1Co 2:13), using the physical tabernacle and all the “ordinances of divine service” within that tabernacle, what God is doing today in His workmanship which we are (Eph 2:10) should become brighter, giving us the vision and hope of those things He has promised to finish in us through Christ (Php 1:6) to whom we look as our high priest (Heb 12:2) who is the “minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man” (Heb 8:2).

1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth;

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Heb 8:2  A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

We are abiding in Christ’s body, which is the temple (Col 1:24), where we “consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself” knowing that as the body of Christ we can fill up what is behind of His afflictions “for his body’s sake, which is the church” as we endure, through Christ (Php 4:13), being hated of all men for His name’s sake (Mat 10:22). This endurance is only possible as we nourish and supply what each of us needs, (Eph 4:16) bearing each other’s burdens and so fulfilling the law of Christ (Gal 6:2).

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

The new commandment God has given His church is a spiritual law in our members, His love being shed abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5) that makes it possible for us to abide in His truth (Joh 8:31-32) which is witnessed in our obedience to His commandments (Joh 14:15). Our discipleship, our love toward one another, is expressed through that obedience (Act 5:32, Joh 13:35).

Rom 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Joh 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Act 5:32  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Joh 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

The “ordinances of divine service” in the temple of old is a type and shadow of that discipleship and explains to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear (Mat 13:16) how we are nourished at the altar, which is the cross and the place where our Lord strengthens us and provides all that we need in order to fulfill our Father’s will “in earth, as it is in heaven” (Php 1:29, Mat 6:10).

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Php 1:29  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Mat 6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

If we don’t labour for that meat which does not perish, we would “be wearied and faint in your minds” of Hebrews 12:3, but if we know that our labour is not in vain and that Christ is working in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure, then we should rejoice and again I say rejoice (Php 4:4, Rom 8:16) as we go about our Father’s business working out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Heb 11:6-7), knowing that those labours are building up the temple of God and making us stronger and ready to face whatever the future holds (Php 2:12-13, Eph 6:11-12, Heb 4:11). This building up of the temple is all being accomplished through Christ (Psa 127:1) and is the reason we point each other to this statement: “Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle (Col 1:24), not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building”.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Heb 11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil [Mat 24:24, Mat 16:17-18].
Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Heb 9:1  Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service^G2999, and a worldly sanctuary.

In this first verse it is very informative to notice how the word “divine service^G2999” is used in other verses, particularly in John 16:2 and Romans 9:4.

G2999 latreia
Total KJV Occurrences: 6
service, 5
Joh_16:2, Rom_9:4, Heb_9:1 (2), Heb_9:6
divine, 1
Heb_9:1

The service^G2999 of God can have both a negative and positive viewpoint, and yet as with all of the promises of God and all the service that we render unto Him, whether it is under strong delusion (Act 4:27-28) or with the clear mind of Christ, they are still all working out “for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” in the end (2Co 1:20, Rom 8:28).

2Co 1:20  For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

When the time is appointed for God’s elect to be put out of the synagogue, there are those who believe they are doing Godly service by carrying out these actions, which we do in our appointed time when we rejected Christ and put Him out of our midst because of our spiritual blindness (Psa 14:3, Psa 53:3, Rom 3:10).

For those who are called and chosen in this life (Mat 22:14), we are told “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service^G2999“. The positive end result of this service is expressed with the story of the blind man who was healed and put out of the synagogue, where he then met Christ who had a very pointed question for him (Joh 9:35, Joh 9:1-39).

Joh 9:1  And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
Joh 9:2  And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Joh 9:3  Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
Joh 9:4  I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
Joh 9:5  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
Joh 9:6  When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
Joh 9:7  And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
Joh 9:8  The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
Joh 9:9  Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.
Joh 9:10  Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?
Joh 9:11  He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.
Joh 9:12  Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.
Joh 9:13  They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.
Joh 9:14  And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
Joh 9:15  Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
Joh 9:16  Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
Joh 9:17  They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
Joh 9:18  But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.
Joh 9:19  And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?
Joh 9:20  His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:
Joh 9:21  But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.
Joh 9:22  These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.
Joh 9:23  Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.
Joh 9:24  Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
Joh 9:25  He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
Joh 9:26  Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?
Joh 9:27  He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?
Joh 9:28  Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples.
Joh 9:29  We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.
Joh 9:30  The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
Joh 9:31  Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
Joh 9:32  Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
Joh 9:33  If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
Joh 9:34  They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
Joh 9:35  Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? [Joh 6:28-29, Jas 2:19, 1Jn 5:4, Joh 8:31, Joh 8:44]
Joh 9:36  He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
Joh 9:37  And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
Joh 9:38  And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
Joh 9:39  And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

This story in John 9 typifies our coming out of Babylon and the need for us to be healed from spiritual blindness (Joh 9:39, 1Pe 4:17). Spiritual healing comes through judgment that occurs once we are able to receive God’s word that is sent to us (Psa 107:20). We come to see that we have been spiritually blind and are now coming out of the strongholds under which Babylon had us. Through the grace and faith God gives us, we begin to see how that blindness has always overtaken the whole world (2Co 4:4), including the religious world of Babylon out of which we have been called (2Co 6:17). Christ meets us with our newly opened eyes and asks the question in John 9:35: “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?” because there is a lifetime of overcoming in front of us that is going to be accomplished by believing “on the Son of God”. That belief in the truth motivates us to labour for the meat that will not perish (Joh 6:27).

Joh 9:39  And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

Joh 6:27  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

That blindness continues to this day in the synagogues of this world where there are blind guides leading the blind, and both are falling into the ditch (Mat 23:24, Mat 15:14, Mat 16:6). Christ had compassion on this one specific man for our sakes (Joh 9:1-39, Joh 6:44), so we see with this one story how a man was dragged out of “a worldly sanctuary” that represents the churches of this world today where there is no stay of bread or water (Isa 3:1) and was healed by the only One who can heal our eyes spiritually so we can understand the truth (Joh 9:32, Luk 8:10). This statement in John 9:32 is still true in the body of Christ. Even greater works than these physical healings Christ did are predestined to happen as Christ works in us both to will and do of our Father’s good pleasure, which is to bring spiritual healing to the eyes and ears of those whom the Father drags to us (Joh 14:12, Joh 6:44).

The verses which lead up to Paul mentioning the service of his fellow Israelites (Rom 9:1-4) reveal the desire that should be within each of us for all our fellow kinsman in Adamic flesh. We know that in their appointed time they will come to know the truth (1Co 15:23). Moses expressed this same sentiment in this verse (Num 11:29):

Rom 9:1  I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
Rom 9:2  That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
Rom 9:3  For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
Rom 9:4  Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

Num 11:29  And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!

Paul longed for his fellow Israelites “to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service^G2999 of God, and the promises” to know what he knew by grace through faith. However, not only his fellow kinsman but all the world, represented by the seven churches of Asia, would “be turned away from me” (2Ti 1:15). Those churches represent the “worldly sanctuary” as well, in not being able to spiritually see and eat at the table which the Lord has exclusively given to very few in this life (Heb 13:10, Luk 10:24).

Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

Luk 10:24  For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

There is a divine order in Babylon as people live and move and have their being in Christ (Act 17:28) just as there is order in the court section of the temple that we are not to measure (Rev 11:2). That service that is rendered through the unbelieving who are typified by Levi who are joined unto us is for our sakes, and they serve us in their unbelief (Rom 11:32) and remind us of the incredible miracle of our calling and the need to never take it for granted, neglect it, or become highminded or conceited as though we had anything to do with our eyes and ears having been opened (Rom 11:11-22). We are to remember these words as God’s elect and see our calling as a work of God’s hands: “Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service^G2999, and a worldly sanctuary“, never spitting on it or looking down on anyone, knowing that God has each and everyone of us exactly where we are, to His glory.

Rom 11:11  I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
Rom 11:12  Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
Rom 11:13  For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Rom 11:14  If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
Rom 11:15  For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
Rom 11:16  For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
Rom 11:17  And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
Rom 11:18  Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Rom 11:19  Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Rom 11:20  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Rom 11:22  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Next week, Lord willing, we will look into a few of the various physical items in the tabernacle of old so we may learn what those various parts of the temple mean for Christ’s body today. The story of the blind man being healed really encapsulates what we want to learn from our Lord as He draws us out of the shadows or “patterns of things in the heavens” so that our heavens can be purified with “the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these” (Heb 9:23-24)

Heb 9:23  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
Heb 9:24  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

(Key verses: Gen 25:19-21)

The scriptures call Abraham “the father of us all” and in that Abraham is a type of our heavenly Father who inspires us to seek Him through the faith of Jesus and obediently follow in His righteousness, which comes through that faith (Rom 3:22; Rom 4:12; Rom 9:7-8):

Rom 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.

Isa 51:1 Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.
Isa 51:2 Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

Through Abraham, this type of fatherhood is explained to us so we can understand the way our heavenly Father cares for all in the generation of the first Adam, but especially for His elect:

1Ti 4:9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

Like Abraham, we are called to separate from our fleshly kindred and to labor and suffer reproach as we learn about His all-important spiritual inheritance, which is given to God’s spiritual sons “who first trusted in Christ”:

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Abraham’s life of faith and his sojourning in Canaan reflects our own spiritual experiences and journeys to take possession of the spirit life in Christ. Spiritual sonship is also typified in Abraham’s offspring through Isaac (Rom 9:7):

Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Heb 11:18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

Spiritual sonship is a foundational theme in the book of Genesis, and it is the major purpose of God with all mankind in the generation of the first Adam (Gen 2:4). Through the lives of Isaac and his offspring, the essence and dynamics of spiritual sonship is further developed for us, as this theme is also more detailed in the sum of God’s Word. Isaac is a type of Jesus, in this sense, as Jesus’ relationship with His Father is pictured through the relationship between Abraham and Isaac. In Jesus, the beloved Son of God, all will be accepted eventually as spiritual sons of God at the appointed time (1Co 15:22; Col 1:13; 2Pe 1:17; 1Jn 4:14-15; 1Jn 5:9-11):

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.

Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.

God is in the process of forming spiritual sons who will be according to the spiritual image of His Son Jesus Christ. The reason for the creation of this temporary evil carnal eon is to humble us and prepare all in the first Adam to become spiritual sons of God (Ecc 1:13). This is the desire or will of God, and He will succeed 100% through this strange work of His which few are given to understand in this age (Isa 28:21; Isa 55:8-11; Isa 46:10). The first Adam is an important part of this process of becoming sons of God, and no-one will know Jesus in spirit unless they can see the first Adam and his function in them (Joh 3:3-6; 2Th 2:3-4):

Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become [Greek aorist tense indicating a process] the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

We also need to see Jesus fulfilling both these positions, as the son of man and the son of God, as He declared that He is indeed the first and the last (Rev 1:11; Rev 1:17; Rev 22:13). The Father has established in Jesus the double portion which is the rulership in the generation of the physical Adam and rulership in the generation of the spiritual Adam, which are also the two eons through which Jesus will make spiritual sons to the glory of the Father (Eph 1:10; Php 2:9-11; Joh 1:1-4; 1Co 15:22-28; Heb 1:5-9). For this reason God appointed Jesus to be worshiped as such by all in this creation (Heb 1:6-7). However, this creation is subjected to corruption from the hand of the Creator from the beginning, while Jesus was given incorruption (the fullness of God’s spirit):

Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption [Greek: “uihothesia”], to wit, the redemption of our body.

The worldly concept of adoption is not expressing the scriptural viewpoint of sonship (Greek: “uihothesia”), as this word “adoption” also causes much confusion. We are not taken into a foster parent’s house in the process of becoming sons of God. We are taken from our original state of corruption in the fleshly house of darkness of the first Adam, as per God’s design, into the house of Light of our heavenly Father. Spiritual sonship is not our first estate but the end result of a process of being born again in Christ, the Son of God:

Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

This position of sonship in God’s kingdom is what the faith of Christ works now in those whom the Father chose before the foundation of the world to receive this spiritual sonship first:

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children [Greek: “uihothesia”] by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.

According to Dr. James Strong’s explanation of this Greek word “uihothesia”, it is formed from two concepts being “uihos” (meaning “a son”) and a derivative of “tithēmi”, which is a ‘prolonged form’ for the Greek word for God, namely “theō” or “theos”. “Tithēmi” therefore has to do with the positioning or placing of a person by God in His spiritual family or kingdom (Joh 6:44). We naturally have no place in that spiritual kingdom (1Co 15:50). Here we have a verse to clearly express what is meant by “uihos” and then also what the concept of “uihothesia” scripturally implies:

Rev 12:5 And she [the woman connected to the earth/wilderness] brought forth a man child [Greek: “uihos”], who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

This man child is the “uihos” who is given rulership and authority over all nations, as this man child initially refers to Jesus Christ. This “uihothesia” is therefore those who have been given a higher authority in Christ, who is the mature son (the “uihos”) of the Father because He was given the fullness of God’s spirit from His creation (Joh 3:34; Col 1:19; Col 2:9). The “uihothesia” are those elected by God to be the first to be seated with Christ in God’s kingdom as the mature sons of God. This is the positon of those who have the mind of Christ and have been given dominion over sin, even while in a fleshly body (Rom 6:14):

Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

This all links with the inheritance in type which God promised Abraham, even through Isaac, the son “by promise”:

Gal 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Gal 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

“…by promise” is the only way anyone will receive the spiritual inheritance from the Father in this life. Spirit life is now given in downpayment through the faith of Christ, but it is already exceeding anything in this physical creation (Luk 24:49; Act 1:4; Act 2:33; Eph 1:13-14; Gal 3:14). God only works through faith, and this is a hard lesson for all of us to learn who become so attached to physical solutions and “the arm of flesh”, as our natural instinct is always aligned to what mankind supplies (2Ch 32:7-8).

Jer 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

Abraham was the man of faith and was given two sons initially – the firstborn was Ishmael, who was born of a concubine named Hagar, who was a slave from Egypt in his household. Ishmael was about fourteen years old when Isaac was born, revealing to us that the fleshly offspring is first on the scene and matures much quicker than the spiritual offspring – this is why this physical connection is so strong in us (Gen 17:21; Gen 17:24-25; Gen 21:5). Isaac was the offspring “by promise” through Sarah, the “free woman”. Abraham, like all of us, was attached to the flesh and wanted Ishmael to live before God (Gen 17:18):

Gen 21:12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad [Ishmael], and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

Ishmael and his offspring in us are also seen in the way Christ first comes to us in fleshly form (2Co 5:16; Gal 4:25). Many indeed receive Christ in His fleshly ministry, but very few are given to receive Him in His spiritual ministry in this age:

Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

The “many” are referred to as babes in Christ as they are inspired by the fleshly blessings they receive in Christ, and these are still their primary concern:

1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes [Greek: “nepios”] in Christ.

The focus of the “nepios” is also on causing divisions and strife through fleshly comparisons, among other problems the struggle with, as some in the Corinthian church:

1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

The spiritual Christ is not yet formed in these “little children” who still attached themselves to the weak and beggarly elements of the world:

Gal 4:19 My little children [Greek: “teknion”] of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.

God inspired the “uihos” to travail in birth with these little children in showing patience and much physical affection (this is what “teknion” means) until the spiritual Christ is formed in them. The spiritual inheritance of God rests now on the “uihos” in Christ who are clearly distinguished from others as these verses clearly indicate:

Rev 12:5 And she [the woman connected to the earth/wilderness] brought forth a man child [Greek: “uihos”], who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child [Greek: “teknon”] was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children [Greek: “teknon”] of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children [Greek: “teknon”], then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

The Greek word “teknon” relates very closely with the “uihos” as God’s offspring who He is elevating to a deeper and higher understanding of spiritual things in Christ, which is also referred to as being seated in heaven – having the mind of Christ (Eph 2:6; 1Co 2:16). Many find these different stages of spiritual growth offensive, as if there is a carnal hierarchy at work, which is not true. The “uihos” is called to “reasonable service” to others, which is quite the opposite to what the worldly concept of elevation is (Rom 12:1). Service in the kingdom of God is to give your life in ministry to others through the inspirational work of Christ:

Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mat 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Spirit life will eventually be given to all in the generation of the first Adam, but now it is only reserved for those whom God humbles to take up their cross and bear His reproach “without the camp” (Heb 13:13). Humility comes only through fiery trials in order to be glorified together with Him in service to others:

Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Those who can receive chastening and judgment on their sins and transgressions are brought to glory through those sufferings, and that is how we see God’s face in glory – “mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth” (Exo 33:17-20; Col 3:1-5). Only these humbled sons of God can receive correction because of the teachable spirit of Christ in them:

Heb 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children [Greek: “uihos”], My son [Greek: “uihos”], despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son [Greek: “uihos”], whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons [Greek: “uihos”], for what son [Greek: “uihos”] is he whom the father chasteneth not?

This is how we will all access our inheritance in the spirit when we are ready to receive it:

Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

It is only when our heavens are opened through the baptism of fiery trials that we are enabled to see spiritual things, as testified in Christ after His baptism, and then the Father is only pleased with the mature sons:

Luk 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
Luk 3:22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son [Greek: “uihos”]; in thee I am well pleased.

Isaac is revealed in scripture as the beloved son of Abraham who displayed obedience and submission. Even when his father wanted to sacrifice him, there was no resistance:

Gen 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
Gen 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
Gen 22:9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

Isaac was “brought as a lamb to the slaughter” as a type of Christ being the Lamb of God showing mature sonship in accepting the Father’s will and His fiery judgment above his own will and desire (Isa 53:7; Mat 26:39; Mat 26:42; Mat 26:44). This judgment is on the household of Christ now, and it is the place of pressure and tribulations where all the mature disciples will follow Jesus, as this will be “according to custom” of Jesus (1Pe 4:17; 1Jn 4:17):

Luk 22:39 And going out, according to His custom, He went to the Mount of Olives. And His disciples also followed Him.
Luk 22:40 And when He was at the place, He said to them, Pray that you do not enter into temptation.
Luk 22:41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw. And He kneeled down and prayed,
Luk 22:42 saying, Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.

Even when Abraham was prepared to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God’s commandment, God has given Abraham the faith that Isaac will be raised from the dead (Heb 11:17-19):

Gen 22:15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
Gen 22:16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
Gen 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
Gen 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Although the context of a land was part of God’s covenant with Abraham, the inseparable promise of sonship through whom the whole earth will be blessed is tying it all together. God repeated this promise of sonship directly to Isaac after Abraham’s death:

Gen 26:2 And the LORD appeared unto him [Isaac], and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:
Gen 26:3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;
Gen 26:4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
Gen 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

Isaac is reminded of Abraham’s obedience to the commandments of God and how God will fulfill this promise of numerous offspring through Isaac. God ordained that the faith of Christ, our spiritual Father, will be the way to please God, and through this faith of Christ sonship matures (Heb 11:6). This sonship is what Isaac brings to us in type as we read about his life in the scriptures. Isaac married Rebekah when he was at the age of forty (Gen 25:19-20). But Rebekah was like her mother-in-law, Sarah, barren initially:

Gen 25:21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him….

Isaac “intreated the Lord” for twenty years in prayer and did not seek a quick way out. His focus was on the Giver of life, and he learned from His father that consulting with flesh is not the way God wants His true sons to go. Those who are sons of God are led by His spirit, which are His words – they do not think or go beyond “that which is written” (1Co 4:6). Like Isaac, they obey God and accept His will in all things:

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons [Greek: “uihos”] of God.

Isaac learned that faith waits and is patient, even as love is the obeying and doing of God’s Word, not just the hearing (1Jn 5:2-3):

1Jn 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

1Co 13:4 Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1Co 13:5 doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil;
1Co 13:6 rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth;
1Co 13:7 beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

A “uihos” spirit is the spirit of love and of the knowledge of Christ and the Father who will take us out of being childish and encouraging us to progress to spiritual maturity being able to handle the truth of judgment on flesh and the losing of all in this life (Mat 10:38-39):

Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son [Greek: “uihos”] of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children [Greek: “nēpios”] tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Spiritual maturity is marked by the love of Christ through the spirit of sonship which is poured in our hearts by the spirit of the Father (Rom 5:5; Rom 8:23; 1Jn 5:1-3):

Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption [Greek: “uihothesia”], whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

In Christ alone we have been made the “adoption of sons” even as we are waiting for the release or redemption from this body of flesh:

Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption [Greek: “uihos”], to wit, the redemption of our body.

Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive [Greek aorist tense=process] the adoption of sons [Greek: “uihothesia”].
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons [Greek: uihos”], God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son [Greek: “uihos”] into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

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Detailed studies and emails relating to these foundational themes in Scripture are available on the iswasandwillbe.com website, including these topics and links:

The Benefits of The First Resurrection
Do Babes in Christ Have The Spirit of God?
Begotten and Born
The Meaning of Love Your Enemies