The Book of Romans,  Part 13 – Shall We Continue in Sin?

[Study Aired September 19, 2023]

Rom 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 
Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 
Rom 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 
Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 
Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 
Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 
Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

In our last study we answered the question. What is sin?

Sin is rebellion, witchcraft and stubbornness.

1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Sin is looking down on others, pride, engaging in activities or actions that prepare the way for sinful behavior.

Proverbs 21:4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

Sin is knowing how to do good and doing the opposite.

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

Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Sin is transgressing the law, especially the law of Christ and all unrighteousness.

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

In the verses of today’s study Paul begins by posing a question: “ Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” He emphatically rejects this idea, stating, “God forbid!” As believers we are not to live in sin because we have died to sin through our union with Christ.

Joh 17:1-8 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

Paul reminds us of our baptism into Christ, symbolizing our identification with His death and resurrection. Just as Christ was raised from the dead, we are called to walk in newness of life.

Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Understanding that our old sinful nature (the “old man”) is being crucified with Christ, we should no longer serve sin. Those who have died with Christ are freed from the power of sin and are expected to live with Him.

Rom 8:1-4 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

Paul emphasizes that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will never die again, and death no longer has dominion over Him. In His death, He conquered sin once and for all, and in His resurrection, He lives for God.

1Co 15:12-22 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

We are called to consider ourselves dead to sin but alive to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore, sin should not reign in our mortal bodies, leading us to obey its sinful desires.

1Co 15:50-58 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 

Rather than yielding our members to unrighteousness, we are to present ourselves to God as instruments of righteousness, knowing that sin’s dominion over us is broken because we are under grace, not under the law.

Eph 2:1-10 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

Sin should no longer have dominion over us because we are united with Christ in His death and resurrection. We are called to live in the newness of life, empowered by God’s grace, and devoted to righteousness.

John expands this message in 1 John 3:

1Jn 3:1-10 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

This is the struggle between the new man and the old man. It will continue until the end when God is all in all.

1Co 15:24-28 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Let’s read our verses in Romans 6 again with all the above in mind.

Rom 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 
Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 
Rom 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 
Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 
Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 
Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 
Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

In this study, we explored the profound message of Romans 5:19-21 and Romans 6:1-14, delving into the nature of sin, grace, and our identity in Christ.

Romans 5:19-21 reminds us of the pivotal role of the two Adams: the disobedience of the first Adam brought sin and death into the world, while the obedience of the second Adam, Jesus Christ, brought righteousness and eternal life. We learned that the law entered to make sin more evident, but where sin abounded, God’s grace (chastening) overflowed. Grace reigns through righteousness, leading to eternal life in Jesus Christ.

Our previous study clarified that sin takes various forms, including rebellion, pride, disobedience, and transgressing God’s law. In contrast, righteousness is the result of living in accordance with God’s principles and commands.

Romans 6:1-14 builds upon these concepts. Paul asks whether believers should continue in sin to receive more grace, to which he emphatically responds with “God forbid.” He highlights that we have died to sin through our union with Christ and should not let it dominate our lives.

Paul uses the symbolism of baptism to illustrate our identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Just as Christ was raised from the dead, we are called to walk in newness of life.

The struggle between the “old man” (our former sinful nature) and the “new man” (our regenerated self in Christ) is discussed. We are encouraged to reckon ourselves dead to sin but alive to God through Jesus Christ.

Sin’s dominion over us is broken, and we are called to present ourselves as instruments of righteousness rather than unrighteousness. The passage emphasizes that we are not under the law but under grace, which means that sin should no longer have dominion over us.

Ultimately, this study highlights the transformative power of Christ’s obedience, grace, and the believer’s identification with His death and resurrection. It calls uss to live in the newness of life, empowered by God’s grace, and devoted to righteousness, all while recognizing the ongoing struggle between the old and new nature within us.

The Book of Joshua – Part 3: Israel Crosses the Jordan – Jos 3:1-17

[Study Aired March 5, 2023]

“The last shall be first, and the first last.”

It is glaringly obvious to the Body of Christ that the ‘natural precedes the spiritual’ when understanding anything in scripture, particularly the physical Promised Land as a shadow of Christ, the Elect’s inheritance.

Since Christ’s death on the cross to this day, and until the First Resurrection, the Elect of God is the last to cross their spiritual Jordan. The rest of immature Babylonian Christianity, and in their minds, jubilantly have already crossed.

Joh 6:44 No man [you, me or anyone else] can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw [Greek: helkuō, ‘drag’ against his will] him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

It is natural for mainstream Christianity to think it would mirror the Israelites’ mass crossing their figurative Jordan at Christ’s coming and entering eternal life. However, not knowing that the natural precedes the spiritual, nor understanding the spirit, blinds their understanding of the two resurrections.

For the Bride of Christ, we shall see in this study that the Priests bearing the Ark cross last, and represent her.

Jos 3:1 And Joshua rose early in the morning. And they moved from Shittim and came to Jordan, he and all the sons of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
Jos 3:2 And it happened after three days the officers went through the host.
Jos 3:3 And they commanded the people saying, When you see the ark of the covenant of Jehovah your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then you shall move from your place and go after it.
Jos 3:4 Yet keep a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, so that you may know the way by which you must go. For you have not passed this way before now.
Jos 3:5 And Joshua said to the people, Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow Jehovah will do wonders among you.
Jos 3:6 And Joshua spoke to the priests saying, Take up the ark of the covenant and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.
Jos 3:7 And Jehovah said to Joshua, Today, I will begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel so that they may know that I will be with you, as I was with Moses.
Jos 3:8 And you shall command the priests that carry the ark of the covenant, saying, When you have come to the brink of the water of Jordan, you shall stand still in Jordan.
Jos 3:9 And Joshua said to the sons of Israel, Come here and hear the Words of Jehovah your God. 
Jos 3:10 And Joshua said, By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and He will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 
Jos 3:11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passes over before you into Jordan.
Jos 3:12 And now take yourselves twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man. 
Jos 3:13 And it shall be, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that carry the ark of Jehovah, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above. And they shall stand all in a heap. 
Jos 3:14 And it happened, when the people moved from their tents to pass over Jordan, and as the priests carried the ark of the covenant before the people, 
Jos 3:15 and as those who bore the ark had come to Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bore the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (for Jordan overflows all its banks, all the time of harvest); 
Jos 3:16 that the waters which came down from above stopped and rose up all in a heap, very far from the city Adam that is beside Zaretan. And those that came down toward the sea of the plain, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over across from Jericho. 
Jos 3:17 And the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of Jehovah stood firm on dry ground in the middle of Jordan. And all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people had passed completely over Jordan. 

——–

Jos 3:1 And Joshua rose early in the morning. And they moved from Shittim and came to Jordan, he and all the sons of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.

Shittim is located east of the Jordan River and approximately 15 miles north of the Dead Sea. The Shittim wood is a particular type of Acacia that must have dominated the area’s landscape to be named, Shittim. The wood of the Ark of the Covenant was made of Shittim wood overlaid with pure gold. The origin of the name Shittim is H7850 and means to ‘scourge; pierce’. If the same Acacia at Shittim is common to most of continental Africa, it is noted for long thorns, among which are the tree leaves that animals, particularly Giraffes, love to forage. 

The type of plant, the thorns that the soldiers plaited for Jesus, is simply referred to as a “briar” and could be any type of thorny shrubbery (Joh 19:2), and one’s Western mindset goes immediately to an easily plaited blackberry-type briar. Yet, that crown of thorns could more likely be a Shittim “briar” from the young flexible branches of the Shittim Acacia, particularly since its name means to scourge and pierce.  Not only that, but the Ark of the Covenant (Exo 25:10) containing the word of God commanded the same scourging and piercing nature.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The Body of Christ individually, yet collectively lodged many years in Shittim on the figurative east bank of our Jordan River, unwittingly waiting for the command to pass over. We thought we had arrived in the Promised Land many years ago upon being baptised with water in Gentile Christianity. We never understood that we would have to rise early to fight battles where the piercing sword of our Lord’s word crowning our heads would never leave our house.

Of course, we know that the sword never leaving our spiritual house is a glorious thing which King David wasn’t spiritually given to appreciate. Upon his sin with Bathsheba:

2Sa 12:9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
2Sa 12:10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

Jos 3:2 And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host [the camp of Israel]; 
Jos 3:3 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. 

As we have understood for many years and seen in Part 2 of this study of Joshua, the third (Number 3) is the process of a particular matter. While the Israelites suffered the tribulation of forty years in the wilderness (Number 4 representing the whole of the matter), they were now required to wait three days on the east bank of the Jordan. For the more God-given astute Gentile Christians, adding 4+3=7 signifies their entry into their Promised Land of eternal life, where they erroneously believe, as demonstrated by the Israelites crossing the Jordan, all Christian believers are now saved.

It is the same pattern for the Elect of God today, only with Christ’s spirit within discerning His spirit since we will see an incredible significance that the Priests can only bear the Ark and be last to cross the Jordan.

The Elect of God see that the number 3 signifies the process of spiritual completion through judgment; to them, waiting to cross the Jordan is only the beginning of that process within each member. Having been given eyes that see and ears that hear to discern their Lord’s spirit and becoming perfected on their ”third day” before entering the First Resurrection on the Seventh Day, they are following Christ’s pattern of perfection before He returned to His former glory with the Father.

Luk 13:32 And he said unto them, [the Pharisees] Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. 
Luk 13:33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.

The nation of Israel was the growing, yet immature, old earthy Jerusalem being established in the wilderness and remains to this very day as the Great Whore, the Lord’s rejected wife. As such, the prophet Moses didn’t die outside of old Israel, effectively symbolized as a type of Jerusalem (Salem). In perfect parallel, the prophets of Christ, His Christs, die daily inside the same Old Jerusalem as they move into the heavenly Jerusalem being established within. 

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Jos 3:4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits [1 cubit = 18 inches] by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore. 

Interestingly, a space exists between Christ’s death and the First Resurrection of approximately two thousand years (two thousand cubits). In parallel, like physical Israel preparing to cross the physical Jordan, a mighty space exists between the anointed rejected wife and the anointed elected Bride of Christ. Only the Bride can know the way they must go since nobody other than the Lord’s Priests can or any person preceding them have ever passed this way since (“heretofore”) Adam.  

Num 4:15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.

The origin of the cubit measurement of distance means H517′ mother’. How fitting that the Bride of Christ, who is becoming our Lord’s wife, is the “mother of us all”, and nobody may come near her understanding of the Lord’s spirit. Yet for the moment, on the banks of the Jordan, the two women within the one woman, greater Israel, are oblivious to her inherent bondage, even while ecstatic at the prospect of possessing the physical Promised Land.

Gal 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 
Gal 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 
Gal 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 
Gal 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 
Gal 4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Jos 3:5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.

As we are accustomed to knowing, sanctifying ourselves means setting ourselves apart from our ways and devoting ourselves to the Lord for any occasion, and for this cause, the coming battle against Jericho. Today, the Bride has mighty spiritual strength by His faith for us to win our daily battles (1Sa 17:47, 1Jn 1:9, 1Pe 5:6-7). The Body of Christ has seen the wonders of Him in each joint of the Bride and is physically seen by the particular account of the Lord going before Israel against Jericho. In human history, this is the only generation (since the cross) led by the Bride of Christ ever to experience passing “this way” through Christ going spiritually before them. Through being in Christ, she is as He is, represented by the Priests being the only ones who can touch the Ark and not die, taking it up and passing over before the people of the entire world.

Jos 3:6 And Joshua spoke to the priests saying, Take up the ark of the covenant and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.
Jos 3:7 And Jehovah said to Joshua, Today, I will begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel so that they may know that I will be with you, as I was with Moses.

Although the ones who say that they are Jews do unknowingly lie about their spiritual orientation (Rev 2:9, Rev 3:9, Rom 2:28), for the moment, they are blind to Christ being magnified in their sight. It will only be after the First Resurrection that they will become disconcertedly aware that the Lord is primarily with that little flock represented by the Priests, as he was with Moses.

In Israel, Joshua and the Priests are magnified for the incipient separation of the two women; the rejected wife and the finally elected wife. Hence, both parties “pass over” the Jordan, unaware that the Priests and the main camp of Israel will become two women. The fact that Israel unwittingly crossed the Jordan at harvest time prophesies the future established little harvest and the main harvest of souls in two very different resurrections. 

Jos 3:8 And you shall command the priests that carry the ark of the covenant, saying, When you have come to the brink of the water of Jordan, you shall stand still in Jordan.

The significance of standing still on the bank of the raging spring water overflowing the banks of the Jordan (from H3381 – to go down, descend, march down, to be taken down) is to magnify the strength of God in the hearts of the people. To the natural mind, Wildebeest en-mass crossing the Masai Mara River in central Africa has more hope of survival.

There were tens of thousands of mothers with children burdened with clothing and possessions; helping the young men manage animals and carts looked like a catastrophe waiting to happen. What will the Body of Christ do in every likelihood in this age to be tested similarly and typified by a host of other preceding Saints having faced dire circumstances (Remember Daniel; Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego; Christ)? Of course, if the Lord wills, He will likewise conduct a physically safe passage even though our spiritual passage is assured.

Psa 27:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 

Psa 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. (See all of Psalm 27)

Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Jos 3:10 And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 

The Lord was teaching the children of Israel to believe in Him. It took a multitude of miracles in Egypt to the brink of the Jordan to teach a carnal nation that the Lord is true to his word, and now, with another series of miracles. A little upcoming win over Jericho would bolster Israel’s faith in her Lord to rout their land of more significant enemies.

For the Body of Christ, miracles are largely terminated. No hearts before or after Christ were converted by miracles.

Mat 16:1 The Pharisees and the Sadducees came to Him, tempting Him. And they asked Him that He would show them a sign from Heaven. 
Mat 16:2 He answered and said to them, When it is evening, you say, Fair weather; for the sky is red. 
Mat 16:3 And in the morning, Foul weather today; for the sky is red and gloomy. Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky, but you cannot see the signs of the times! 
Mat 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign. And there shall no sign be given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah. And He left them and went away.

Jos 3:11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passes over before you into Jordan. 

Stephen, like Christ, did many miracles before the people, yet the Pharisees and Christians still killed them both (Act 6:8). Nonetheless, endless physical miracles must precede the Body of Christ, and they, having not personally witnessed outward miracles, have no excuse to not believe spiritually. Hence, Christ, the covenant of all the earth, has passed over by His spirit and shown us the way to likewise save our brothers and sisters.

Jos 3:12 And now take yourselves twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man. 
Jos 3:13 And it shall be, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that carry the ark of Jehovah, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above. And they shall stand all in a heap.

The twelve sons of Jacob represent every person and nation on Earth and spiritually signify the ultimate salvation of every conception since Adam. It begins with the feet of Christ touching the mountains of the Lord, the Bride of Christ, and Him taking his Bride over her figurative Jordan into the First Resurrection. His feet touched the Mount of Olives two thousand years ago, and he cleaved the woman in two – the Old Jerusalem and the Heavenly Jerusalem.

That original rift was unwittingly created by Hagar, the Bond Woman, Old Covenant Israel, crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land leaving behind those who died in the wilderness. As we know, she continued her unfaithfulness to her Husband, and the process was again implemented spiritually at the cross; only this time for his very few faithful followers. 

Just as the Lord’s first wife was baptized crossing the Red Sea and sanctified crossing the raging Jordan, the Lord’s new Bride is baptized with fire as she crosses her spiritual Jordan in the duality of the Mount of Olives split in two with a gulf the Bond Woman cannot cross.

Zec 14:4 And His feet shall stand in that day on the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall divide from its middle, from the east and to the west, a very great valley. And half of the mountain shall move toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all [the twelve tribes symbolizing the entirety of humanity] will be made alive. 
1Co 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the first-fruit, and afterward they who are Christ’s at His coming.

“And it shall be, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that carry the ark of Jehovah, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above. And they shall stand all in a heap.”

For two thousand years, the sea of humanity has been cut off and stands in a heap, like the waters of the Jordan, while the Lord’s Elect cross into the First Resurrection. 

After which, and having been cut off, they rage in a torrent as Gog and Magog as they, too, rush into the Dead Sea, which symbolically is the Lake of Fire that will purify the great harvest in the Resurrection to Judgment.

Jos 3:14 And it happened, when the people moved from their tents to pass over Jordan, and as the priests carried the ark of the covenant before the people, 
Jos 3:15 and as those who bore the ark had come to Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bore the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (for Jordan overflows all its banks, all the time of harvest);
Jos 3:16 that the waters which came down from above stopped and rose up all in a heap, very far from the city Adam [‘red; first man’] that is beside Zaretan [‘their distress’]. And those that came down toward the sea of the plain, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over across from Jericho. 

The Bride of Christ carries Him, as Solomon was carried in his royal carriage on the shoulders of his ascribed ‘elect’. Carrying the Ark, she goes before her brothers and sisters of Gog and Magog, who number as the sand of the sea (Rev 20:8) who are pictorially heaped up waiting in turbulent distress and their order for salvation since Adam, having been completely cut off from the First Resurrection.  

Even though the entire nation of Israel, including the mixed multitude, are all symbolised going into the Promised Land, it signifies that the entire world of humanity will be saved upon the completion of the Eight Day. 

Isa 43:1 Now this is what the LORD says— He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!
Isa 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze. 
Isa 43:3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place. (BSB)

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

Jos 3:17 The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed over the dry ground, until the entire nation had crossed the Jordan. (BSB)

The Elect of God, the Priests, stand firm in their Lord’s word on the dry ground amid the Jordan, by the Lord’s power, holding back the water while their children, the “many called”, pass on the dry ground (Note: probably at a distance sustaining two thousand cubits, 3,000 feet or 1.33 miles to the Priest’s left since greater Israel has been distanced from the Ark) being the first to step into the physically Promised Land. The Priests shouldering Christ, the Ark, are the “few chosen” who are last to complete the crossing.

In speaking of the disgruntled laborers in the vineyard, greater Israel is the first laborers, and the Elect of God shouldering the Ark are the last,

Mat 20:14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 
Mat 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 
Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. 

The Priests representing the Elect of God come from behind the entirety of the world of greater Israel. Having been the last, the very few chosen become the first to represent the much later spiritual crossing of a figurative Jordan into the First Resurrection.

[Study Aired May 14, 2020]

Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 
Heb 1:4  Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 
Heb 1:5  For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? 
Heb 1:6  And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. 
Heb 1:7  And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. 
Heb 1:8  But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom 

Last week we looked at our opening verses to this study of Hebrews and were reminded of how “In the past God spoke to our people through the prophets. He spoke to them many times and in many different ways” [Heb 1:1 (ERV)], and how that was the type and shadow experience written for the elect “in these last days” of vs 2 to whom God “has spoken to us again through his Son” [Heb 1:2 (ERV )].

1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Why “many times and in many ways”? Why was the first not enough, or was it enough (2Ti 3:15) but only after we understand what that old wine was meant to do? What place does the new wine have (Mat 9:17)? New and old wine are those treasures spoken of in Matthew 13:52 and Hebrews 8:7). If we only see the old order of the law with the letter and are not given to see the spiritual intent behind the letter that kills, then it won’t profit us in any way. It will be just a history lesson (2Co 3:4-9, Joh 6:63, Eze 36:26, Col 1:27).

Mat 9:17  Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved [As opposed to being reserved unto judgment in the lake of fire (2Pe 2:9-10)].

2Pe 2:9  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations [“preserved“], and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
2Pe 2:10  But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government.

Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. [Rom 11:22 one is “preserved” and the other is “reserved“. In other words, we are preserved by acknowledging and recognizing the government God has given us right now within the body of Christ, and yes, if we are outwardly disrespectful to the governments of this world, such disrespect would be something that needs to be burned up and overcome.]

Mat 13:52  Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. [New and old things instruct us; new and old wine “both are preserved” meaning we are preserved by living by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, the sum of His word (Psa 119:160 ASV) so we can become vessels of honor fit for the Master’s use.]

2Ti 2:21  If a man therefore purge himself from these [“if thou continue in his goodness (Rom 2:4): otherwise thou also shalt be cut off” (Rom 11:22)], he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work [preserved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8)].
2Ti 2:22  Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2Ti 2:23  But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

2Co 3:4  And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
2Co 3:5  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; [Psa 118:27]
2Co 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
2Co 3:7  But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
2Co 3:8  How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? [The world will not be able to stedfastly behold the face of Christ and his Christ when the first resurrection occurs – meaning they will not be able to be converted during that age.]
2Co 3:9  For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Eze 36:26  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh [“but our sufficiency is of God” (2Co 3:5)], and I will give you an heart of flesh.

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known (Eze 36:26) what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

The order that was established in the old covenant that is especially described for us as those things which happen in and around the temple of God are the types and shadows given to us to know how to cleanse our heavens today through Christ and His Christ. This book of Hebrews is very much on point regarding that subject throughout its writings (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 [the body of Christ, the church (Col 1:24)] 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 [Eph 2:6-7]:

The bible is Christ-centric from cover to cover, and this section of Hebrews we are examining now (Heb 1:3-8) strongly establishes that fact and what it means for the kingship and priesthood into which God’s elect are maturing through Christ (2Pe 3:18). The fruit of that maturation process is accomplished being connected to the vine (Joh 15:5) as explained in the following verses.

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son 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, 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:
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.

The end result of our being connected to the vine, our hope of glory within (Col 1:27), is to have the “not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble” (1Co 1:26) return with Christ “with the clouds” (Rev 1:7, Heb 12:1), the army with the King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev 19:7-18).  Those kings and priests, the army with the King of kings and Lord of lords, His Body, are the new creation who were granted to continue in the truth (Joh 8:31-32). We are being cleansed through Christ to become mature sons who were chastened and scourged in this age of much tribulation (Act 14:22) as we “testify in the Lord” (Eph 4:17) in the vine where this is all happening within our heavens where that testimony is being laid up (Php 2:13, Heb 9:23, Exo 16:33-34).

Right after this section we looked at in Ephesians 4:13-16, verses that declare the end from the beginning, we read what we must experience in order to be with the Lord when He returns on that day to rule and reign the nations of this world in Ephesians 4:17-32. These are the events cleansing the temple of God, which we are today (1Co 3:16) that bring order into the house of God today and make it possible for us to be used to establish that order in the earth during the symbolic thousand-year reign that will culminate in the ‘great white throne judgment’.

Eph 4:17  This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Eph 4:18  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Eph 4:19  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Eph 4:20  But ye have not so learned Christ;
Eph 4:21  If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Eph 4:22  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph 4:23  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Eph 4:25  Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Eph 4:26  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Eph 4:27  Neither give place to the devil.
Eph 4:28  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Eph 4:29  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Eph 4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Eph 4:31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

After we have had all the nations brought into subjection within us, we won’t glory in men knowing that all things are ours and for the body’s sake (2Co 4:15, Eph 2:7). We are coming to see that everything in the temple is ours for the express purpose of one day ministering to those who will come after us and be judged in the lake of fire, which is the second resurrection, even as we minister to one another today (1Co 3:16, 1Co 3:21, 1Co 6:3, Rev 20:6).

This section of Hebrews gives us great encouragement as it reveals the promise in a very detailed way of how Christ will be the author and finisher of His inheritance, the elect, the kings and the priests who will experience Christ’s strength which will be made perfect through our weakness (2Co 12:8-10). That strength being formed within us through Christ makes it possible for us to one day to be a part of “the armies in heaven [that] followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean”, as “all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven [are bade to] come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God” (Rev 19:13-18).

God has given Israel ‘good’ kings and ‘bad’ kings throughout the ages, and we know this is all type and shadow leadership reminding us that only Christ can be Christ, and it takes God’s spirit, His anointing upon us, to properly rule over the nations within first so that ultimately we can be blessed to rule and reign under Christ as those unprofitable servants who have been blessed to be made ready and come up on mount Zion as saviours (Oba 1:21) to do this ruling and reigning which will establish His kingdom that shall know no end of peace.

Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

God so loves the world that He gives Christ and His Christ (Joh 3:16) to be the vehicle He will use to bring about the “all in all” spoken of in 1Corinthians 15:28. Unto us “a child is born” happens every time someone is dragged to Christ (Joh 6:44) and “born again”, as we all must be in order to enter into the kingdom of God.

Joh 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 

It is Christ who purged our sins, not as a substitutionary sacrifice which did everything on the cross for us (Col 1:24), but rather if we look at the words “purged our sins” more closely against the sum of God’s word, we will see this is an ongoing process made possible by our being sanctified by the blood of Christ (Joh 17:17) as we are led to repentance and give an accounting of our sins.

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: [KJV]

                I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and do fill up the things lacking of the tribulations of the Christ in my flesh for his body, which is the assembly, [YLT]

                Now, am I rejoicing in the sufferings on your behalf, and am filling up the things that lack of the tribulations of the Christ, in my flesh, in behalf of his body, which is the assembly, [Rotherham]

Yes, Christ did purge all our sins at that moment by His being obedient unto death (Joh 15:13, Rom 5:8) and made us acceptable through Him (Eph 1:6), but there was something “lacking” in that sacrifice that our Father would give Christ the power to accomplish within us “upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged^{G4160 [G5671 = Aorist]} [“making”] ^G2512 [“a washing, cleansing, ablution “] our sins“.

Our fellowship is based on that suffering of Christ as we eat His body and drink His blood by continuing in the words of eternal life (1Co 10:16, Joh 8:31-32), being a joint that is supplying love through an obedience formed through suffering as we are ground to powder under the stone, Jesus Christ (Heb 5:8, Mat 21:44). Christ in us can help us confess our faults to one another (Jas 5:16) and point us back to our Lord covering a multitude of sins through fervent love in this age (1Pe 4:8) in the church as we look to Christ in each other to extend that mercy and to cover each other’s transgressions (Eph 4:32). This is the only acceptable sacrifice that can cover all that confession God makes manifest in the lives of those whom He is dragging to Christ (Joh 6:44, Act 9:5) for that express purpose (Rom 2:4).

The idol which Israel of old made of the serpent of brass (2Ki 18:4), representing the forgiving of sins that comes to us through our head and to our body as we look to Christ (Joh 3:14-16, Eph 2:6, 1Jn 4:17), reminds us of the idolatrous way in which we have come to think that Christ’s sacrifice was something to be idolized for its ability to cause us to be once saved always saved, which is the mantra of Christianity today. We know in fact that it those who endure until the end who will be saved (Num 21:9, 2Ki 18:4, Mat 24:13).

Christ has now “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” so we can be sure these verses are being fulfilled in those who are being given the power to overcome in this life through Him (Rom 5:10, Php 4:13).

Rom 5:9  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath [‘His wrath is his judgement’] through him.
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 [How? Col 1:24]

This verse in Romans clearly shows us the two parts of the sacrifice needed to cleanse the body of Christ but also to prepare us to be part of that kingship and priesthood that will be used to reconcile the rest of humanity (Rom 5:10, Lev 14:6-7, Lev 16:21-22).

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.

[So much for the false doctrine of the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ that excludes our need to fill up what is behind of His afflictions in this life and endure until the end so “we shall be saved by his life.“]

Lev 14:6  As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:
Lev 14:7  And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.

Lev 16:21  And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
Lev 16:22  And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

We must be crushed or ground like fine flour in order to be used by God to rule and reign under Christ, as symbolized in these verses in Leviticus (Christ – Lev 23:11-13 – and His Christ – Lev 23:15-17). Then we can feed the masses with the bread of life that will be cast upon the many waters during the symbolic thousand-year reign and come back in many days in the lake of fire (Ecc 11:1, Isa 55:11). These verses below explain the preparation the bride must go through in order to be made ready to do the work that God has set before us (Rev 19:7).

Lev 23:11  And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.
Lev 23:12  And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD.
Lev 23:13  And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.

Lev 23:15  And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:
Lev 23:16  Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.
Lev 23:17  Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD.

Heb 1:4  Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 

Christ’s name is connected to the idea that He is the chief cornerstone of the building and the anointed saviour of all mankind (Act 4:11-12). He is the “head of the corner” who holds up all those other angels who represent the elect who will join Christ in saving the world as part of that kingship and priesthood at which we have been looking (Oba 1:21).>

Act 4:11  This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Act 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Christ has obtained a “more excellent name than they“, and yet we share in that inheritance with Christ of being saviors if we suffer with him today (2Ti 2:12, Rom 8:17). We are called God’s sons (1Jn 3:1) and understand that by His power and strength, manifested in His love that is shed abroad in our hearts as those sons (Rom 5:5) who are overcoming the world by the gift of faith given to us (1Jn 5:4), that we can now love not our own lives and overcome through Christ with the same spirit God gave Christ without measure (Joh 3:34) to accomplish the work of becoming our high priest in heaven who was “made so much better than the angels“. This is the spirit working in the heavens of God’s elect which Christ promised would make it possible that not one would be taken out of our Father’s hands who were predestined to be there from the foundation of the world (Joh 15:20, Rom 8:35-37, Joh 18:9, Eph 1:3-4, Joh 10:28-29).

Joh 15:20  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

[Christ is encouraging us to see that he knows our frame (“The servant is not greater than his lord“), but regardless our Lord will give us power to overcome whatever persecutions we must endure for the kingdom’s sake.]

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Joh 18:9  That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

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:

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.

Heb 1:5  For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? 

It is He who is above the angels of whom God the Father said, “Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.”  Christ (Joh 17:5, Mar 12:25), who is the Word (Joh 1:1), became the only one who was ever physically born in the flesh as a begotten son of God (Joh 3:16). Christ had preeminence in that regard (Col 1:18), and the elect of God have the honor of being judged first in this age having been begotten with the holy spirit at an appointed time though not at birth as Christ was (Eph 1:14).

When the scripture says, “I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son,” we are being shown that Christ was not a son until He divested Himself of the power He had as the word and became flesh (Php 2:7, 1Jn 3:8). Prior to that time, He was the word of God and “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature” (Col 1:15-17). Again the preeminence of Christ being shown as the reality that he was created first and given the power to create the rest of the angels “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him” and he is called “the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God” (Rev 3:14).

Col 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Rev 3:14  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 

Heb 1:6  And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. 
Heb 1:7  And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. [Psa 104:4]
Heb 1:8  But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom 

These last three verses shed some light on the elect’s kingship and priesthood Christ is fashioning within us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Php 2:18).

Because he is our high priest, we can worship our Father “in spirit and in truth” as we go to Him through Christ, who is the mediator who has made it possible for us to be accepted by God (Joh 4:23, 1Ti 2:5, Eph 1:6).

Christ is the one being spoken of as “the firstbegotten into the world” whom the angels worship, and as the head of the church (Col 1:18) He is bringing in the rest of those first begotten first fruits who come after Him (Eph 3:10, Jas 1:18). So, we see the connecting context of “his ministers” who are made “a flame of fire” and “his angels spirits” for the purpose of helping each other in this age bring about what verse thirteen says in Ephesians 4, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph 4:11-16).

Psa 104:1  Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. 
Psa 104:2  Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: [Whose heavens? (Heb 9:23-24)]
Psa 104:3  Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: [Which clouds? (Heb 2:1)] who walketh upon the wings of the wind [Whose wings? (Exo 25:18-20)]:
Psa 104:4  Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: 
Psa 104:5  Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

The last section of our study says “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom” and is indeed speaking of Christ, but we also share in having “a sceptre of righteousness” which is an expression that speaks of authority to rule within the kingdom of God.

Psa 82:1  A Psalm of Asaph. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
Psa 82:2  How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
Psa 82:3  Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Psa 82:4  Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
Psa 82:5  They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
Psa 82:6  I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
Psa 82:7  But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
Psa 82:8  Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.

We are ruling that kingdom today within when we die daily and keep ourselves under subjection (1Co 9:27), and if we are granted to endure until the end, then we will be among those who were blessed to hold fast to their crown, which is another symbol of rulership like the “sceptre of righteousness” which reveals who it is God has made ready and approved to be those kings and priests in God’s kingdom (Rev 3:11-12).

Rev 3:11  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Next week, Lord willing, we will look at the last six verses of our study on the first chapter of Hebrews:

Heb 1:9  Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Heb 1:10  And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
Heb 1:11  They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
Heb 1:12  And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
Heb 1:13  But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Heb 1:14  Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

I don’t think Jesus is correcting the Law of Moses when he said ‘You have heard that it was said love your neighbors and hate your enemies.’ The OT law commanded them to live at peace with their neighbors under Abraham’s covenant, the father of our faith. I think Jesus is correcting Essene’s teaching.

N____

Hi N____,

Thank you for your comments. I know that it is hard to comprehend how God could tell Israel to do something and that something is only temporary and is actually carnal. But so it is with not just ‘Love your enemies’ versus,…

Deu 20:16 But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

Deu 20:16 is not the teachings of the Essenes. Neither were any of the teachings of the law that Christ contradicted in His sermon on the mount, of which I will give but one more example:

Mat 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Mat 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Mat 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
Mat 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Mat 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

It is not my goal to make you see what God has blinded you to. But I think that even you must concede that what Christ is quoting is Moses. Not the ‘Essenes.’

Exo 21:24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
Exo 21:25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

Read the entire paper on ‘The Law of Moses Versus The Law of The Spirit’, then if you still have a question please feel free to ask it. “The law is : established… to bring us to Christ.”

Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Luk 5:36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.

Mike

Video Links

Job 15:28 And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps.
Job 15:29 He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth.
Job 15:30 He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away.
Job 15:31 Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.
Job 15:32 It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green.
Job 15:33 He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive.
Job 15:34 For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.
Job 15:35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.

Introduction

This is the second attempt of Eliphaz to show Job that he is a ‘sinner above all who are in Jerusalem’ so to speak. The Truth is that Eliphaz is speaking of himself as he condemns Job, and the Truth is that he, as the type of each of us, will be judged out of ‘his own mouth’.

Luk 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
Luk 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luk 19:22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

We do well to be merciful in our dealings with our friends and foes. In doing so we are being merciful to ourselves.

Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

“With what judgment you judge, you shall be judged” is what Christ meant when He tells us “Judge not, that ye be not judged”.

Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

So Mat 7:1 does not contradict any of these verses of scripture:

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.

Christ is our example, and we too, are come into this world to judge it within ourselves and within the church which is His body (Col 1:24).

1Co 5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
1Co 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
1Co 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

“Them that are without” are the “man” of these verses:

1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1Co 2:16 For who [ what “natural man” (vs 14)] hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

“We have the mind of Christ”, and again we are come into our world to judge that world within ourselves and within the body which is His church.
But before Christ comes to us and judges the world within us, we are all first Job, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who are all condemning and damning everyone but themselves. Of course the fact is that Eliphaz is actually judging himself because he and we will all be judged with the judgment with which we judge others.
Here is Eliphaz’s judgment of Job. This is what we bring upon ourselves when we apply God’s word to others but not to ourselves:

Job 15:28 And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps.
Job 15:29 He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth.
Job 15:30 He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away.

There it is “By the breath of his mouth shall he go away… Out of thine own mouth will I judge you… you wicked and slothful servant”.

Mat 25:26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
Luk 19:22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

“He dwells in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabits, which are ready to become heaps” is the perfect description of the apparently prosperous cities of Sodom and of that city which is “spiritually called Sodom… where also our Lord was crucified”. These ‘cities’ simply do not look the least bit threatened to our natural man.
When Lot told his own sons- in- law that all they had ever worked for was “ready to become heaps… he seemed as one that mocked to his sons- in- law”.

Gen 19:14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

Lot’s sons- in- law did not believe that Sodom was a doomed city. Neither does our natural man believe that spiritual Sodom, our well established position in Babylon, is a doomed city within us. Nevertheless, both are but types and shadows of our old man, “the first man Adam” within us all. The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A. D. was merely a type and a shadow of the destruction of that same ‘spiritual Sodom’ which has always been the murderer of God’s witnesses within His own people:

Rev 11:8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Let’s not deny that we crucified our own Savior, and that it was our own sins for which He died.

Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

“He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth” is just a condensation of these verses of scripture which all of mankind must “live by” (Mat 4:4) in his own time:

Rev 18:8 Therefore shall her [ Babylon, spiritual Sodom and Egypt within us] plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
Rev 18:9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
Rev 18:10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
Rev 18:11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
Rev 18:12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
Rev 18:13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
Rev 18:14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
Rev 18:15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
Rev 18:16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
Rev 18:17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
Rev 18:18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
Rev 18:19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

“He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth.” Yet the world of our old man, the first man Adam, all seems so very permanent until the day of judgment arrives and Babylon is destroyed ‘in one hour’.
“He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches…” tells us that our old man “cannot inherit the kingdom of God” and cannot inherit the blessings of God’s firstborn Son.

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

We do not inherit those blessings because we chose not to do so, rather we choose not to do so simply because we, as that old man, are corruption which “cannot… see, cannot hear… cannot inherit, [ and] cannot receive” the incorruptible, fiery words of Christ.

Joh 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
Joh 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Not even worldly sorrow will make our “first man Adam” capable of receiving the blessings of the realm of the spirit.

Heb 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
Heb 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

So our old man is doomed, and we, in these clay vessels, are “dying daily, [ being] crucified with Christ, [ and] mortifying our members” to our last physical breath.

Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

“For vanity shall be his recompense” is the simple Truth concerning the reward and the future of our old man.

Job 15:31 Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.

It cannot be otherwise, simply because our flesh and our “old man”, typified by Egypt’s Pharaoh, were created for the very purpose of being destroyed.

Rom 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose [ to be destroyed] have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
1Co 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Our “old man” is ruled by our flesh, and he “cannot enter the kingdom of God… He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches…”

Job 15:32 It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green.

This “flame” is the same flame we see throughout scripture:

Deu 33:2 And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.

It is the Truth of God’s Words which devour our old man and all of his ways:

Jer 5:14 Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

While it is generally true that a godless life is not conducive to a long physical life, and godly living leads to a longer physical life, that principle is especially true in realm of the spirit. He that has the power of death, along with all his messengers and angels, is doomed to destruction from the realm of the spirit.

Psa 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Psa 55:23 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.
Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Our “old man” is, by nature, the son of “him that had the power of death, that is, the devil”.

Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

God’s wrath is upon all unbelievers who are all the sons of their “father the devil”. As such they “shall not see life”. This is how we all begin our journey toward becoming sons of God.

Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Continuing with His symbolism of mankind as a tree and as a grape vine, we are told:

Job 15:33 He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive.

The message for all who have been given eyes to see it, is that our old man cannot bring forth anything that would serve to nourish our new man, “the last man Adam”.

1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

Our “first man is of the earth, earthy, and is of his “father the devil”. He has no idea it is so, but all who are in Babylon are of “the congregation of the hypocrites”, and are blaspheming the name of our God by the abominable doctrines. The “fire” again is nothing less than the truth of God’s Words which will devour and “consume the tabernacles of bribery”.

Job 15:34 For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.

There are few men who think of themselves as an evil blight upon the lives of their fellowmen. Until we are forced to see the beast that faces us in the mirror every morning, the most natural thing in the world is to see ourselves and our associates as good men and women who have never done anything worthy of the judgment we all must endure:

Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 18:7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

Hypocrites seldom see themselves as such and convince themselves that their hypocrisy is a blessing upon their victims. We have all believed the lies of the adversary while thinking we were diligent stewards of the Lord’s spiritual gold and silver and His doctrine.

2Co 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

No man yet has just naturally refused the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil as it was offered him at the hand of “that old serpent the devil” who has been doing this job since the garden of Eden. It is only natural to prefer the tree of the knowledge of good and evil over a tree which has no form or comeliness that we should desire it.
So Eliphaz ends this attempt at putting all sin off on Job with these words:

Job 15:35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.

Christ is also symbolized by a tree. Of course, He is the tree we reject as we “conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity…” Here is why we will always just naturally prefer the tree of the knowledge of good and evil over the tree of life, which is Christ.

Isa 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
Joh 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Next week, if the Lord wills we will continue to see just how hard it is for any of us to see ourselves as the man of sin, who is restraining the work of God in our lives. Job 16 is Job’s defense of his old man, against his own Creator, and against the flesh of others who are just as self- righteous as he is.

Job 16:1 Then Job answered and said,
Job 16:2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
Job 16:3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?
Job 16:4 I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.
Job 16:5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.
Job 16:6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?
Job 16:7 But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.
Job 16:8 And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.
Job 16:9 He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
Job 16:10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.
Job 16:11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

NOTES OF THE REVIEW OF MIKE’S STUDY ON JOB 15:28-35

Introduction:

This book of Job brilliantly displays the paradoxical drama of physical life. Behind the most beautiful poetry ever spoken and written down for us, is the deepest and darkest trial of a man called Job. Things are really not what they seem outwardly:

1Sa 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
2Co 10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.

In our study today Eliphaz is continuing his own wise (‘outward appearance’) counsel and turning the heat up on Job. Job’s pain (after his physical losses) is being increased by those who see themselves as comforters and advisors, whom Job rightly calls “miserable comforters”:

Job 16:1 Then Job answered and said,
Job 16:2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

Eliphaz sees Job’s situation as proof of God’s punishment for sin in Job’s life. But as Mike pointed out in his introduction today, Eliphaz could not see he is judging himself because he was guilty of the same sin Job is guilty of – self- righteousness:

Mat 7:2 Forwith what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

The (bad) first man Adam we see in others is actually a perfect reflection of our own (bad) first man Adam, and it is only in the day of the Lord (the revelation of Jesus Christ) that our inward eyes are opened to see this truth and then we stop judging others before the time:

1Co 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

Verse 28:
Job 15:28 And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps.
Comparing spiritual with spiritual:

2Co 8:12-15 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
Dan 9:23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.
1Co 12:23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
Pro 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

A short summary of the discussion on verse 28:

Human nature wants to elevate itself when its enemies suffer. The inward cities (haughty thoughts / strongholds) of the carnal mind cannot but look down on others who are not as “blessed” as us in the flesh. But only with the mind of Christ we can see how desolate and temporary the “blessings” of this earth is. It is then that those with abundance reach out to those ‘we think’ are ‘less honourable’ with words and deeds ‘fitly spoken’ to bestow upon them ‘abundant honour’.
Naturally we think we must be self- sufficient and independent, but now we are learning (through tough trials) that we cannot make it without Christ (or His body). If Eliphaz, Zophar, Bildad and Job (and all in the flesh) could just see that working together makes life more bearable. But the inherent selfishness and self- righteousness in all of humanity restricts or prevents the truth to bring that liberation.

Verse 29:
Job 15:29 He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth.
Comparing spiritual with spiritual:

Ecc 1:13 (CLV) I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it.
Job 3:6 As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.
Job 7:3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
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.

A short summary of the discussion of verse 29:

Flesh (and blood) shall never see perfection in this earthly life which king Solomon called ‘an experience of evil’. Trials and tribulations always have the appearance of “eternity” and bring deep darkness andmiseryon us (Job’s number of the months in ‘darkness’ and ‘wearisome nights’). But all of this physical life is ‘even a vapour’ and that truth is tremendously helpful.

Verse 30:
Job 15:30 He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away.
Comparing spiritual with spiritual:

Rev 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Lev 11:13 And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,
Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Rev 4:6-8 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

A short summary of the discussion of verse 30:

The wicked man is always in spiritual darkness. But even when we are at our appointed time in the wilderness, God ‘nourishes’ us. But the time will come for all who are weary and faint to be lifted up to be ‘in the midst’ and ’round about the throne’ of God. We must all eat the abominations of false doctrines before we are given eyes to see ‘within’, ‘behind’ and ‘before’ (is, was and will be).

Verse 31:
Job 15:31 Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.
Comparing spiritual with spiritual:

Mat 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Ecc 1:3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
Pro 30:8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

A short summary of the discussion of verse 31:

God gives mankind aseason of vanity (no profit). The best of the flesh and the natural mind can produce is ‘dung’ to the spiritual mind. Flesh is the necessary “scaffolding” for our new spiritual dwelling and the scaffolding must be broken down. What a moment to look forward to at the first resurrection!

Verse 32:
Job 15:32 It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green.
Comparing spiritual with spiritual:

Pro 2:22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
Ecc 7:16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
Ecc 7:17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
Pro 6:15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
Pro 29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
Dan 7:2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.

A short summary of the discussion of verse 32:

To Eliphaz it is obvious that a godless life does not bring about a long prosperous physical life. But the time of the wicked man’s death is also after the counsel of God’s will. God controls the times and boundaries of all things, even that of the earthly (‘wicked’) man which the natural mind cannot accept. He cannotacceptthat he is like a tree that is cut off ‘before his time’ – this means his selfish expectations will never be fully accomplished or fulfilled.
‘The wicked man of sin trusts in vanity and interprets time, especially when bad things happen, as either too soon or too late. The natural mind will never agree with God’s timing. Flesh cannot see, neither accept its own foolishness. All flesh will be destroyed and its ‘branch’ (offspring) shall never be green.

Verse 33:
Job 15:33 He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive.
Comparing spiritual with spiritual:

1Th 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2Pe 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

A short summary of the discussion of verse 33:

“Unripe” again refers to theunfulfilledcondition of flesh which will never be satisfied (coming to perfection/ maturity). The carnal mind seeks after earthly knowledge, but it will never ‘come to the knowledge of truth’ of spiritual things. Only the mind of Christ can “handle” the Truth.

Verse 34:
Job 15:34 For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.
Comparing spiritual with spiritual:

Gen 11:30 But Sarai was barren; she had no child.
Gen 25:21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
Gen 29:31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
Joh 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
Luk 2:51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
Luk 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

A short summary of the discussion of verse 34:

Eliphaz explains that it is only a hypocrite who makes a public claim to innocence when all these bad things happen to him. But Eliphaz could not see his own desolation, neither could he see why the judgement of God come first on His elect (favourite wife).
All the favourite wives of physical Israel’s patriarchs were all barren at first. Our first condition in ‘the congregation [ gathering] of hypocrites’ is barrenness and desolation, but few are given the eyes to see that.
God’s fire (flaming sword / His Word) truly consumes the tabernacles of all flesh, even the flesh of Jesus. Jesus in the flesh was subjected to a process of spiritual growth as He increased in wisdom and stature since His natural birth. He was given the spirit ‘ by measure’ as was needed at specific times and He overcame temptation in every situation to be the spotless Lamb of God. It is through the destruction of the carnal mind through the flaming sword, that we are given the ability to ‘keep the way of the tree of life’.

Job 15:35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.

Comparing spiritual with spiritual:

Php 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Php 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

A short summary of the discussion of verse 35:

Pride and lusts are in our “world” (resides in the flesh and the natural/ carnal mind), but needs enticement (temptation from the tempter). When this temptation is heeded to, the lusts conceive and bring forth sin (transgressions) which ends in death. Jesus was given the same flesh as ours, and was tempted in the same way we are, but never succumbed to temptation. Jesus never transgressed any of God’s commandments, and he is truly our spotless Saviour. His indwelling in us (His Word/ His spirit in our hearts) ‘succour’ us being tempted all the time, and brings to us this same ability to overcome!

Hi Mike,

I have been having some discussions with my bible study group and I can’t agree with their explanation of these verses.

1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, [ and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

They explain that these verses, particularly verse 3, identify the Catholic church as the mother of the apostate church (and the protestants its daughters) because they forbid their clergy to marry and they command their members to abstain from meats during the lenten season. When I first heard this explanation it actually made a lot of sense to me, until of course God took my blindness to this verse:

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life

What I get from this verse is that these seducing spirits and doctrines of devils will indeed forbid us to marry and command us to abstain from meat, but spiritually rather than physically. I think the marriage that is mentioned in 1Ti 4:3 is this:…

Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

… and the meat that we abstain from when we heed to these doctrines is this:

1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
Joh 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

Please comment on this understanding that I have of 1Ti 4:3. As always I am open for any correction that you have if I misunderstood the verse.

Your brother in Christ,
V____

Hi V____,

I am very impressed with the ability the holy spirit has given you to see with spiritual eyes. You are exactly right. The ‘marriage’ is to Christ and the ‘meat’ is Christ’s doctrines. As always the harlot and her daughters compare physical with physical and think they are comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But God has given you eyes to see and ears to hear.
I see nothing at all wrong with the spiritual insights God has given you on these verses in Timothy. I am pleased to see that God is bringing you out of Babylon and is giving you the eyes to see what is indeed taking place.
Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Y____ wrote:

Hello Mike, again thanks for all you do and your precious time .

Just reading Exodus and reading theses verses (Exo 13:9 ) some connection came to mind with Revelation  .

It seems to me that Exodus does shed some light on Revelation too, like you expressed in some of your writings…

When you have time, could you tell me if you see a correlation in essence between those two verses.
I appreciate any insight on this.

Your brother in Christ

 Y____

Exo 13:9 And this will be for a sign to you on your hand and for a mark on your brow, so that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth: for with a strong hand the Lord took you out of Egypt….

Exo 13:16 And this will be for a sign on your hand and for a mark on your brow: for by the strength of his hand the Lord took us out of Egypt.

then in revelation we also have

Rev 22:4 And they will see his face; and his name will be marked their brows. (Mark of god )

Rev 13:16 And he gives to all, small and great, the poor and those who have wealth, the free and those who are not free, a mark on their right hand or on their brows

Rev 14:9 And a third angel came after them, saying with a loud voice, If any man gives worship to the beast and his image, and has his mark on his brow or on his hand

What could be the connection of the mark of exodus and the mark of the beast .

If there is a connection indeed could it be that the mark of the 10 commandments are similar with the mark of the BEAST since they are not the mark of a saved man (mark of God)?

But how and why  I don’t think to have a clear understanding …

Don’t want to over spiritualize either .  

Y____

Hi Y____,
Thank you for your question.
You ask if there is any correlation between the scriptures in Exodus which mention ‘the right hand and the forehead and the scriptures in Revelation which mention the right hand and the forehead?
Here are the scriptures you list:

Exo 13:9 And this will be for a sign to you on your hand and for a mark on your brow, so that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth: for with a strong hand the Lord took you out of Egypt….
Exo 13:16 And this will be for a sign on your hand and for a mark on your brow: for by the strength of his hand the Lord took us out of Egypt. then in revelation we also have
Rev 22:4 And they will see his face; and his name will be marked their brows. (Mark of god )Rev 13:16 And he gives to all, small and great, the poor and those who have wealth, the free and those who are not free, a mark on their right hand or on their brows
Rev 14:9 And a third angel came after them, saying with a loud voice, If any man gives worship to the beast and his image, and has his mark on his brow or on his hand

The answer is unequivocally, yes there is a connection! The only way you can possibly understand these symbols in Revelation is to do what you have done here. Anything else is mere speculation.
Here are Christ’s own words in regards to how we are to approach His Word:

Mat 13:52  Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

What you have just been told is that “Every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven…” uses the Old Testament to explain the New Testament.
Please notice that I said “explain,” because the New Testament is the spiritual reality of the spiritual types found in the Old Testament. That is what is meant by this mysterious verse of God’s Word:

1Co 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

“The holy spirit teaches [ by] comparing spiritual [ types[ with spiritual [ realities].” There are also other verses in this same chapter and in Deuteronomy which tell us that the holy days and the sabbaths were “signs in your right hand and as frontlets between your eyes:

Exo 13:16  And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes : for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.

But all of God’s commandments to Israel were classed as a sign between Him and His people, in their hand and in their foreheads:

Deu 6:1  Now these [ are] the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do [ them] in the land whither ye go to possess it:
Deu 6:2  That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
Deu 6:3  Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do [ it]; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.
Deu 6:4  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [ is] one LORD:
Deu 6:5  And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Deu 6:6  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
Deu 6:7  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Deu 6:8  And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes .
Deu 11:18  Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand , that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.

So the holy spirit teaches us that the law of Moses is a type of the law of Jesus Christ. Read The Law of Moses Versus The Law of The Spirit for an in- depth study on this subject. There are many types which are not to be taken physically and are to be forsaken completely. Like offering a physical lamb and hating your physical enemy. A physical lamb is no longer needed as a sacrifice of that which it typified, but there are times when the physical type continues as a necessary way of life in God’s elect. The ten commandments make this point very well. While they one and all have a primarily spiritual type in view, we yet live out these commandments “as also saith the law.” While this may seem confusing to some spiritual babes in Christ, it is very clear cut to the mind of the spirit. This is not something which is or can be taught in a seminary, and this is why:

1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

“Spiritual discernment” is something that comes with faith in the Word of God. It is a gift that you are either given or you are “not given.”

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. [ to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven]

God has not empowered you or me to give anyone faith in His Word. If a person believes God’s Word cannot be trusted, there is nothing I can do to help that person. To him “it has not been given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God.”
But God has given you faith in His Word. Thank God for the spiritual vision and sight you have been given. There are so many today to who cannot see the things of the spirit simply because of Christ’s declaration, “To them it is not given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God.”
You also say:
“[ I] don’t want to over spiritualize either . :)”
About the only way you can ‘over spiritualize’ is to use the spirit as an occasion to the flesh. We certainly never want to be guilty of thinking that a spiritual interpretation makes our lives easier in the flesh. That is a very common mistake which is made by spiritual babes who simply cannot see the depth of this Truth:

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Christ’s “name” is not the utterance of the name ‘Jesus Christ.’ Rather His ‘name,’ like His ‘mark,’ is associated with obedience to his doctrines. It is incorruptible obedience to His doctrines which brings upon us the hatred of all men:

Luk 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

I hope this has encouraged you to continue asking God to show you the spirit of ” every word which proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Your brother in the Christ,
Mike

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Everyone seems to understand that Christ fulfilled the prophecies of Himself but no one seems to be able to get a handle on the fact that He is also our sabbath, and through the death in His flesh he has also fulfilled the ‘law which is made for an unrighteous man.’

1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

Christ, of course, was a ‘righteous man.’ And yet He came in flesh which ‘cannot inherit the kingdom of God.’

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Adam was from the creators hand made flesh. Now what is it that we are told of flesh?:

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

According to this and all of scripture flesh and blood are corruptible. That is why Eve lusted after the fruit on that tree before she ever touched the tree. Eating of the fruit was not the first sin committed by Eve. Eating of that fruit was the result of the sin that Eve committed because she was mere corruptible flesh and blood. Eve committed the sin of covetousness and lust before she ever touched the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Eve had no real hope of doing otherwise under the circumstances. She, as we all are was operating under an unrelenting “law.”

Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

That is why David could say of his mother, of whom we have no record of immorality:

Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Adam could say this same thing of his shaping and conception. What we fail to understand is that flesh, being corruptible, in scriptural terms IS sin. That is what is meant by:

Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Being “made of a woman,” is what made Christ to be “made to be sin for us.”

2Co 5:21 For he hath made him [ to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The words “to be” are not in the original Greek. Christ was simply “made sin” by virtue of being “born of a woman.” That part was accomplished at His conception, long before He was put on the cross.
So what does Heb 5:7 mean when it is translated as “through death?” It would say “to him [ God] who was able to save him [ Jesus] through death…” Why would Jesus need to be saved through death?” Christ’s “flesh and blood can no more inherit the kingdom of God than can our flesh and blood.” That is one reason why we are told:

2Co 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more [ after the flesh].
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The flesh was created, like the ugly scaffolding of a beautiful building, to be taken down and never seen again.

I don’t think Jesus is correcting the Law of Moses when he said ‘You have heard that it was said love your neighbors and hate your enemies.’ The OT law commanded them to live at peace with their neighbors under Abraham’s covenant, the father of our faith. I think Jesus is correcting Essene’s teaching.

N____

Hi N____,

Thank you for your comments. I know that it is hard to comprehend how God could tell Israel to do something and that something is only temporary and is actually carnal. But so it is with not just ‘Love your enemies’ versus,…

Deu 20:16 But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

Deut. 20:16 is not the teachings of the Essenes. Neither were any of the teachings of the law that Christ contradicted in His sermon on the mount, of which I will give but one more example:

Mat 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Mat 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Mat 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
Mat 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Mat 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

It is not my goal to make you see what God has blinded you to. But I think that even you must concede that what Christ is quoting is Moses. Not the ‘Essenes.’

Exo 21:24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
Exo 21:25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

Read the entire paper on ‘The Law of Moses Versus The Law of The Spirit’, then if you still have a question please feel free to ask it. “The law is : established… to bring us to Christ.”

Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Luk 5:36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.

Mike

Dear Mike,

Thank you very much for your well presented and uplifting message. The word of God flows and harmonizes when seen in the light of God’s purpose and will. God is indeed sovereign in all things.

It took me many days to go through your message, and I took many notes for myself. I was blessed by it, and it opened my eyes to many things. I have been looking through the website, and my whole view of God’s will and the bible has expanded.

I have some questions that I hope you don’t mind answering.

1. Do you know of any other bible references of God allowing divorce for abusive reasons besides 1Co 7:15? You had another one from the old testament, but I couldn’t quite see it.
2. I still don’t see the difference between fornication and adultery. Wouldn’t a woman (a wife) be stoned if she played the harlot according to the old testament law?
3. Are you talking about two different things when you talk about the law and when you talk about the old covenant. I understand it as the old covenant is the 10 commandments and the law is the 10 commandments plus all the other ordinances. Is this correct?
4. How do you know that “he [ Adam] would have died if he had never eaten of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” I thought it was eating from that fruit that produced death.
5. What does Heb 5:7 mean when it is translated as “through death?” It would say “to him [ God] who was able to save him [ Jesus] through death…” Why would Jesus need to be saved through death?
6. How does one know he/ she has God’s new spiritual law written on their heart and mind? There are so many things in this world that go against us. I feel that I am carnal in my reactions and feelings toward those that do nasty things to me. I don’t feel very loving to the guy who cuts me off on the highway, believe me. There are circumstances in my life I hate, people I would gladly do without. I get angry with my husband when I don’t get my way or if others do things against me. So is it a progressive thing? Do we just get better and better? More and more loving? How do you love people you don’t even like? I know you’re supposed to but it doesn’t come easily.

Anyway, thank you again. I would mention that I really liked the way you equated the tree of the knowledge of good and evil with the law, and the tree of life with Christ. It’s like a puzzle that fits together. You obviously did a lot of research and spent a lot of time on this message, and I for one appreciate it.

Yours truly in Christ,

U_____

Hi U_____,

Thank you for your kind words and your questions. I truly believe that a proper understanding of the law of God is the single most difficult thing for Christians to grasp. Mat 5:17 is one of the most misunderstood scriptures in all of the Bible.

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Every one seems to understand that Christ fulfilled the prophecies about Himself, but no one seems to be able to get a handle on the fact that He is also our sabbath, and through the death in His flesh he has also fulfilled the ‘law which is made for an unrighteous man.’

1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

Christ was a ‘righteous man of course.’ And yet He came in human flesh which ‘cannot inherit the kingdom of God.’

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Knowing and understanding this should answer both your questions #4 and #5: first #4:

4. How do you know that “he [ Adam] would have died if he had never eaten of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” I thought it was eating from that fruit that produced death.”

Adam was from the creator’s hand made flesh. Now what is it that we are told about flesh?:

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

According to this and all of scripture, flesh and blood are corruptible. That is why Eve lusted after the fruit on that tree before she ever touched the tree. Eating of the fruit was not the first sin committed by Eve. Eating of that fruit was the result of the sin that Eve committed because she was mere corruptible flesh and blood. Eve committed the sin of covetousness and lust before she ever touched the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Eve had no real hope of doing otherwise under the circumstances. She was operating under an unrelenting “law” as we all are.

Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

That is why David could say of his mother, of whom we have no record of immorality:

Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Adam could say this same thing of his shaping and conception. What we fail to understand is that flesh, being corruptible, in scriptural terms IS sin. That is what is meant by…:

Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Being “made of a woman” is what made Christ to be “made to be sin for us.”

2Co 5:21 For he hath made him [ to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The words “to be” are not in the original Greek. Christ was simply “made sin” by virtue of being “born of a woman.” That part was accomplished at His conception, long before He was put on the cross.

Be sure to read The Law of The Offerings, by Andrew Jukes if you can find it for a much deeper understanding of the difference between a ‘sin offering,’ and a ‘transgression offering.’ The sin offering was for what we ARE – sinful flesh. The transgression offering was for what we DO. I personally consider these offerings to be the view of Christ as God wants us to view Him. It is therefore one of the best books I have ever read. Again, be sure to read this book.

What does Heb 5:7 mean when it is translated as “through death?” It would say “to him [ God] who was able to save him [ Jesus] through death…” Why would Jesus need to be saved through death?”

Christ’s “flesh and blood can no more inherit the kingdom of God than our flesh and blood” can. That is one reason why we are told:

2Co 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more [ after the flesh].
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The flesh was created, like the ugly scaffolding of a beautiful building, to be taken down and never seen again.

Your first question is:

1. Do you know of any other bible references of God allowing divorce for abusive reasons besides 1Co 7:15? You had another one from the old testament, but I couldn’t quite see it.

The old covenant is full of instruction to put away your wife” if you find some uncleanness in her” (Deu 24:1).

Deu 24:1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give [ it] in her hand, and send her out of his house.
Deu 24:2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s [ wife].

This “some uncleanness” was neither fornication nor adultery. The penalty for either of those offenses was death. This is simply more of the ‘you find no delight in her’ of Deu 21:14:

Deu 21:14 And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.

That same thought is contained in the words “she find no favor in his eyes.” The “some uncleanness” could have been as simple as not keeping a clean house, being a poor cook or being a slovenly person.

While I for one do not believe that a woman is expected to remain in an abusive relationship, I still believe that far too many couples are too quick to “break asunder that which God hath joined together.” Parents need to be far more aware of what their pride and self- centeredness does to their children. What needs to be emphasized first and foremost is:

Mal 2:16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

But while the first part of this verse is true, and it is first and foremost, the last part is also true:

Mal 2:15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

The law of Moses was only “for the lawless” (1Ti 1:9). The Lord Himself was not bound to that law because He was not ‘lawless’ and He certainly had no “hardness of heart”

Mat 19:8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives [“because you have no delight in her”]: but from the beginning it was not so.

Here is your 2nd question:

2. I still don’t see the difference between fornication and adultery. Wouldn’t a woman (a wife) be stoned if she played the harlot according to the old testament law?

That is right, the law of Moses REQUIRED stoning for these offenses. That is just one more example of how Christ broke and taught against the law of Moses. Why didn’t Christ say “where is the man? Bring him here, too, and let’s get this stoning under way.” That is exactly what the law of Moses called for:

Deu 22:22 If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.

I challenge any ‘minister of God’ to show me the words “neither do I condemn thee,” anywhere in the law of Moses! I have made this challenge many times, and it is still unanswered and always will be.

Your third question was:

3. Are you talking about two different things when you talk about the law and when you talk about the old covenant. I understand it as the old covenant is the 10 commandments and the law is the 10 commandments plus all the other ordinances. Is this correct?

In the interest of time I am going to ask you to read Christ and Torah. After reading this letter, if you still have a question please let me know. I would encourage you to also read The Heir and The Servant, and Christ and The Law.

Now for your last question:

6. How do you know you have God’s new spiritual law written on your heart and mind? There are so many things in this world that go against us. I feel that I am carnal in my reactions and feelings toward those that do nasty things to me. I don’t feel very loving to the guy who cuts me off on the highway, believe me. There are circumstances in my life I hate, people I would gladly do without. I get angry with my husband when I don’t get my way or if others do things against me. So is it a progressive thing? Do we just get better and better? More and more loving? How do you love people you don’t even like? I know you’re supposed to but it doesn’t come easily.

In answer to this question I will refer you to The Seven Steps To Salvation. Yes, U_____, salvation is not something anyone presently possesses. The scriptural truth from all the writers of the new testament is “he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”

Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

On this same subject I would encourage you to read Is It Possible To Lead A Sinless Life and Who Is The Beast?

The single most comprehensive thing I have written on spiritual maturity is Strong Delusion. The desire to stay spiritually immature is the very essence of ‘strong delusion.’

Do not become discouraged if you are still struggling. This is our calling until the day we die.

Remember the very definition of ‘eternal life’ involves a process:

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

In His service,

Mike