Created Soulish Adam Sin and the Sovereign Design of God, Part 2

[Study Aired May 15, 2026]

Introduction

In Part 1, we established the framework Scripture itself supplies. Sin is not primarily a legal catalogue — it is the soulish nature falling short, by its very constitution, of the spiritual mark that is the glory of God. Adam was formed as the first stage of God’s two-stage ordering: soulish first, spiritual afterward, exactly as 1 Corinthians 15:46 governs. Genesis 3, read through the lens of Hebrews 12 and the first gospel announcement of Genesis 3:15, is not the rupture of a perfect plan but the beginning of the developmental process the plan always required — a Father drawing His child to give account, clothing the marred clay, and continuing to form it. That foundation established, Paul’s argument in Romans 5 builds the superstructure. He takes the same arc traced in Genesis — one man, one act, one consequence — and establishes its full theological scope: the all condemned through the first Adam is the same pas as the all justified through the Last, and where sin abounded, grace did not merely match it. Grace super-abounded beyond measure. We turn now to that framework, and from it to the sovereignty that ordained the whole process from before the foundation of the world, and finally to what it means for all the clay to stand before the Potter whose hand never once released it.

The Falling Short and Its Occasion: Romans 5:12–21

Paul’s argument in Romans 5:12-21 is the most extended treatment in all of Scripture of the relationship between Adam’s act and Christ’s redemption. It must be examined fully.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).

The critical Greek word is eiserchomai (G1525) — translated “entered.” This is movement language: something came in from one place into another. Sin entered the world through Adam — he was the doorway, the occasion, the first manifestation. The language describes entrance, not origination. That sin was already present before Adam’s act gave it occasion is established not by etymology but by what Paul says next.

Paul clarifies the relationship between the soulish condition and transgressive act in verse 13: “For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.” The Greek ellogeo (G1677) — imputed — means to charge to an account, to formally reckon against someone. The first law given was not at Sinai. It was Genesis 2:17: “of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it.” This was Adam’s law. Before that commandment existed — between Adam’s creation in Genesis 2:7 and the giving of the prohibition in Genesis 2:17 — the falling short was already present, but sin had no law to transgress against and could not be formally imputed.

Paul confirms the same pattern in Romans 7:7-8: “I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence.” Sin took occasion by the commandment. The commandment did not create sin — it revealed what was already present. Sin used the commandment as the occasion for manifestation. This is precisely the pattern of Genesis 2-3: the commandment “you shall not eat” gave the latent falling short its occasion to manifest as transgression. Sin is both missing the mark — hamartano (G264), the created insufficiency present from the beginning — and transgression of the law — parabasis (G3847), the active crossing of a known boundary. The shortfall is the root. The transgression is the fruit. The root was present from creation. The commandment gave it occasion to produce the fruit.

The timeline therefore runs in three stages. From Genesis 2:7 to Genesis 2:17: the soulish condition present, no law, sin dead — not yet imputable. From Genesis 2:17 to Genesis 3:6: law given, sin now has an occasion, the gap between the earthy and the spiritual has a standard to transgress against formally. At Genesis 3:6: transgression occurs, the soulish condition manifests as an act, and sin enters the world through the doorway Adam opened (Romans 5:12). Paul then extends the same principle forward — the pattern repeats from Adam to Sinai, and from Sinai onward.

Now Paul builds the structural parallel that governs the rest of Romans 5:12-21:

“Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Romans 5:18-19).

The Greek construction is precise. Verse 18 uses pas (G3956) in both directions: unto all men to condemnation; unto all men unto justification of life. Same word. Same construction. Same scope. Paul does not use a qualifier in one direction that he withholds in the other. The all condemned through Adam is identical to the all justified through Christ.

First Corinthians 15:22 confirms the symmetry: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” The pas (G3956) who die in Adam equals the pas (G3956) made alive in Christ. Romans 11:32 seals it: “For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.” The all shut up equals the all shown mercy.

Paul adds one more element in verse 20 that cannot be passed over: “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” The Greek huperperisseuо (G5248) — grace super-abounded, overflowed beyond measure. Paul deliberately uses a compound word to assert that grace exceeded sin in magnitude. The restoration does not merely match the condemnation. It exceeds it.

Romans 5:12-21 establishes four things: sin was latent before the commandment revealed it; the commandment gave sin its occasion for manifestation; the scope of restoration equals the scope of condemnation — all is all; and grace super-abounds over sin in magnitude.

The Marring in the Potter’s Hand: God’s Sovereign Working

No passage cuts more directly to the heart of this matter than Romans 11:32: “For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.” The Greek sugkleio (G4788) — translated “concluded” in the KJV — means to shut up together, to enclose, to imprison. It is the same word Paul uses in Galatians 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.” In both passages Paul employs the active aorist: God shut all up. This is not passive permission. This is active sovereign enclosure. And in both cases, the enclosure serves a purpose set before it was executed: that the promise might be given, that mercy might be shown.

The arrangement of this enclosure reaches back to the very beginning. Creation itself was subjected to vanity — not by happenstance, not by an enemy’s interference, but “by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope” (Romans 8:20). Some have read “him who subjected” as referring to Adam, but the consistent witness of Isaiah 45:7 — “I the LORD do all these things” — and the active divine agency throughout Romans 8:18-25 establishes God as the One who subjected. The subjection is His. The hope embedded in the subjection is His. The liberation that follows is His: “the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:21). The bondage was ordained; the liberty was ordained; the movement between them was ordained.

Isaiah 45:7 establishes this with a boldness that demands attention: “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil (bara ra): I the LORD do all these things.” The Hebrew is unambiguous. God uses the verb bara (H1254) — the same word as in Genesis 1:1 — to describe His creation of ra (H7451), the evil and adversity that constitutes the conditions in which the soulish nature manifests its falling short. God takes direct credit. Amos 3:6 echoes this: “shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?” Lamentations 3:38 presses the same point: “Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?” The distinction Scripture maintains is between God creating the conditions of ra (H7451) and God tempting anyone toward moral evil — which James 1:13-14 explicitly denies. Both truths stand. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”

Jeremiah 18:1-6 gives us the image that holds the whole working together. The potter forms the clay, and the vessel is marred — not outside the potter’s hand, but in it: “the vessel that he was making of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it” (Jeremiah 18:4). The Hebrew verb for marred is shachath (H7843) — to mar, ruin, corrupt within the forming process. The LORD then applies the image directly: “O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand.” The marring is within the forming. The remaking is the Potter’s pleasure. And Isaiah declares the scope: “we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand” (Isaiah 64:8). All the clay. Every human being is the Maker’s work.

Genesis 1:31 must therefore be read through the lens that Isaiah 46:9-10 provides. God declares “the end from the beginning” — His evaluation of creation is not a snapshot of a pristine moment before things went wrong. It is the sovereign evaluation of the entire arc from the perspective of the One who sets the end before the beginning exists. The very goodness of that declaration encompasses the soulish nature as the appointed first stage, the marring in the Potter’s hand, the entrance of sin as the first manifestation of the falling short, the redemption through the Last Adam, and the transformation of all the clay into spirit. God looked at that whole working and declared it “very good.” The very goodness is not the absence of the shortfall. The very goodness encompasses the missing of the mark, because that missing serves the counsel God purposes as very good.

Giving an Account: The Potter’s Clay Before the Potter

Scripture’s actual language for what all humans do before God is precise: they give an account. Romans 14:12: “So then each one of us shall give account (logos didomi) of himself to God.” The Greek is logos (G3056) — account, and didomi (G1325) — shall give. First Peter 4:5 confirms the universal scope: “who shall give account (apodidomi logos) to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead” — apodidomi (G591), logos (G3056). Matthew 12:36 extends it to every person: “every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account (logos apodidomi) thereof in the day of judgment” — logos (G3056), apodidomi (G591). Three witnesses. Every person. The giving of account means to report, to disclose, to present the ledger of one’s life before God.

This is not the philosophical category of moral accountability with its assumptions of autonomous agency and independent moral standing. Hebrews 4:13 clarifies the nature of the accounting: “all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” — the Greek is pros hon hemin ho logos (G3056) — the account is to God who already knows all things. The accounting is the laying open of what God already knows. It is disclosure within a relationship, not a verdict on autonomous moral agents.

If we are clay in the Maker’s hand — if the marring happened in His hand, if God created the ra (H7451) in which the soulish nature manifests its falling short — then the accounting before God is the clay being brought before the One forming it to have the work examined. The Potter already knows the clay. The accounting reveals to the clay what was always known to Him. This is paideia (G3809) — the chastening of the Father’s children — not a courtroom verdict on beings who acted in independence from Him. And Hebrews 12:11 names where that chastening is headed: “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” The chastening yields fruit. The seed falls into the ground, the Potter’s forming works through the clay, and the fruit of righteousness emerges — exactly the harvest John 12:24 promised from the beginning. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”

Conclusion

Scripture traces a single, coherent, sovereign working from the first breath breathed into dust to the life-giving spirit that raises the dead in a moment. God made Adam soulish by intent — the seed, the earthy first, the natural that must precede the spiritual. He subjected that nature to vanity in hope (Romans 8:20). He shut all up in disobedience that mercy might be shown to all (Romans 11:32). He embedded redemption inside the first consequence (Genesis 3:15). And He ordained a Last Adam whose obedience would accomplish for all what the first Adam’s transgression brought upon all (Romans 5:18-19). Every element of the arc was set before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8, Ephesians 1:4). None of it was improvised.

Adam was created a sinner. Not because God made him morally corrupt — James 1:13 stands firm — but because the soulish nature falls short, by its very constitution, of the spiritual mark that is the glory of God. The arrow was earthy; the target is spirit; and the distance between them was appointed by the Archer Himself. The creature was not blameworthy for that distance. The marring was in the Potter’s hand. The blame attached only when the law gave the falling short its occasion for transgression — and even then, where sin abounded, grace super-abounded beyond measure (Romans 5:20).

Christ as the Last Adam is the plan’s destination and the Potter’s masterwork. He is the life-giving spirit who brings all the clay to the form the Potter always intended. He is the seed that fell into the ground and died and brought forth much fruit. He is the One in whom we shall all be changed — in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye — from the earthy to the heavenly, from the soulish to the spiritual, from the first Adam to the image of the Last.

“But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.” (1 Corinthians 15:35-38).

He was not God’s remedy for a broken plan. He was the plan before the plan began.

The Spiritual Significance of the Holy Days, Part 3

The Days of Unleavened Bread:  The second step toward our salvation

[Study Aired August 31, 2025]

Exo 12:15  Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
Exo 12:16  And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.
Exo 12:17  And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.
Exo 12:18  In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.
Exo 12:19  Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
Exo 12:20  Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.

The emphasis in Leviticus is on “a sheaf of the firstfruits”:

Lev 23:9  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Lev 23:10  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits [typifying Christ] of your harvest unto the priest:
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. [Typifying Christ]
Lev 23:13  And the meat [meal] 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 23:14  And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

Both the “he lamb” and the “sheaf of the firstfruits” typify our Lord who gave Himself to redeem us. While ‘unleavened bread’ is not specifically mentioned, no leaven is specified as part of this wave sheaf offering:

Lev 23:13  And the meat [meal] offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil [no leavening], 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.

Our last study demonstrated that acknowledging our part in the death of our Savior is the spiritual significance of the Passover, which is the first holy day in the law of Moses. We are admonished against observing the “days, months, times, and years” of the law of Moses, just as we are informed that Christ is our Passover, and we no longer need the blood of bulls and goats which cannot cleanse us of our sins:

Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements [The law of Moses, vs 1-5], whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Gal 4:10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Gal 4:11  I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

Heb 9:1  Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
Heb 9:2  For there was a [worldly] tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
Heb 9:3  And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
Heb 9:4  Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
Heb 9:5  And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
Heb 9:6  Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
Heb 9:7  But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
Heb 9:8  The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
Heb 9:9  Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
Heb 9:10  Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

Christ is now our redemption:

Heb 9:11  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this [physical] building;
Heb 9:12  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Nevertheless, the gospel of Christ establishes the fact that these holy days were given to Israel for our admonition.

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 [G165: ‘aion’, ages] are come.

There is a lot of spiritual admonition for us in this second festival, the days of unleavened bread.

Christ told His disciples to “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Saducees”:

Mat 16:5  And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
Mat 16:6  Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Mat 16:7  And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
Mat 16:8  Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
Mat 16:9  Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
Mat 16:10  Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
Mat 16:11  How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning [physical] bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
Mat 16:12  Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

The Lord was signifying the doctrine of the Pharisees and the Sadducees with the symbol of ‘leavened bread.’ He did not use the symbol of a stone or a serpent because neither of those are of any nourishment to anyone, but bread can and does nourish and physically feed us just as the doctrine of Christ spiritually nourishes and feeds us.

Luk 11:11  If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

It is not mere coincidence that Christ fed the multitudes twice with ‘loaves and fishes’, signifying His doctrine.

We are also informed that ‘a little leaven leavens the whole lump’:

1Co 5:6  Your glorying [in your tolerance of fornication in your midst, vrs 1] is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
1Co 5:7  Purge out therefore the old leaven [of self-righteous malice and wickedness, vs 8], that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1Co 5:8  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
1Co 5:9  I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators [G4205: ‘pornos’]:
1Co 5:10  Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
1Co 5:11  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
1Co 5:12  For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

The leavening of this Corinthian fornicator would ‘leaven’ the whole church of Corinth if the Corinthians refused to “purge [him] out.” The ‘leavening’ of the churches of Babylon is also called fornication:

Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication [G4202: ‘porneia’ her ‘leavening’]:

Paul associates leavening with “the leaven of malice and wickedness” while contrasting the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees with “the unleavened bread of sincerity and Truth.”

The goal of those of us who are seeking to know that unleavened mind of Christ is to put out all leaven, the symbol of ‘malice and wickedness’, all of the false doctrines of Babylon out of our house, and according to the New Testament, you and I are both the individual and corporate “house of God, which is the church”:

1Ti 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Heb 10:21  And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

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

The Lord will judge whether we are putting any and all  ‘leaven’ out of our spiritual house, and if He finds that we are not doing so, we will be “cut of from” His people:

Exo 12:15  Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.

The severity of this infraction is repeated in verse 19:

Exo 12:19  Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.

In cleansing the physical temple of His day, Christ signified how He feels about “the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” He will purge out all false lying doctrines and the “malice and wickedness” of both overt and covert secret sins in our lives which are His true temple:

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Paul exhorted the Corinthian church to “purge out therefore the old leaven”:

1Co 5:7  Purge out therefore the old leaven [of self-righteous “malice and wickedness”, vs 8], that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1Co 5:8  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Christ’s body and His blood both signify His unleavened doctrines. The days of unleavened bread are seven to signify that the purging of sin includes our complete time in service to Christ while we are in the vessels of clay and on this earth.

Exo 12:16  And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.

Christ is the beginning of the days of unleavened bread in our lives, and He is the end of the days of unleavened bread in our lives. These seven days signify our complete struggle against our old man with his lying false doctrine and his weaknesses and passions of his flesh. The convocations of the Lord’s people at both the beginning and the end of the seven days of unleavened bread signify the unity and the singleness of mind of those who come together in obedience to our Lord’s words:

Heb 10:23  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Heb 10:24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling [“holy convocation”] of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

What is the spiritual significance of… “no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you?”

Every holy day and every weekly sabbath were to be work free. Being free from labor in the Lord’s service signifies our deliverance from the captivity and the slavery to our own works. When we acknowledge that it is our sins which put Christ on the cross, at that point we begin to put sin out of our lives, and with Christ in us we begin to have the dominion over the sins of our flesh. That is the meaning of being made free from the captivity to sin.

Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Christ came to set the captives free and to give rest to those who were weary of the burden of sin, their own works, to which they were enslaved. “No manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you”, means that we are now free to do what is necessary to feed ourselves… “that may be done of you.” In Christ we are no longer fed of our own works but of what He does in us. That is what the rest of the first and last day of the feast of unleavened bread signifies. That is why Paul exhorts us:

Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore [on the first and last days of unleavened bread and on every other sabbath] to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Our salvation is “His workmanship” (Eph 2:10) and “He performs the thing that is ordained for me” (Job 23:14). We are to “cease from our own works” (Heb 4:10), and acknowledge that “we are His workmanship”:

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of [our] works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The way Christ kept these two sabbaths at the beginning and end of the days of unleavened bread, and the way He kept all the other sabbaths which were ordained in the law of Moses was by ceasing from His own works and doing the works of His Father instead:

Joh 5:13  And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
Joh 5:14  Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
Joh 5:15  The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
Joh 5:16  And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
Joh 5:17  But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
Joh 5:18  Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

Christ  had ‘ceased from His own works” and was doing only His Father’s works (vs 17). In so doing, “He… had broken the [outward] sabbath.”

The Truth of our salvation is that it is Christ who causes us to come out of Egypt and out of Babylon under duress. No one comes out of Babylon without first being brought to their wits’ end (Psa 107:27).

Exo 12:39  And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.

Psa 107:25  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.

It is the Lord Himself who performs what He has ordained for us, and it is He who completes the purging of sin from our lives:

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

Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

The feast of unleavened bread immediately follows the Passover for the very purpose of admonishing us to immediately begin putting sin out of our own lives and out of our fellowship and replace that corrupting ‘leaven’ with the incorruptible “unleavened bread of sincerity and Truth.”

Christ’s sacrifice of His life was not to die in our stead, as the leavened bread of the false doctrine of “substitutionary atonement”, a false doctrine of the modern day Pharisees and the Sadducees of today teaches. Christ did not die in our stead, so we do not need to die to our old man. Rather, through His death He is given of His Father to take up His abode within us and live His life of “dying daily” (1Co 15:31) within us. If Christ had not died to His flesh, He would not have been able to live within His scattered ‘body’ all around the world:

Joh 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away [Physically die]: for if I go not away, the Comforter [G3875: ‘parakletos’, Christ, (1Jo 2:1)] will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

1Jn 2:1  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate [G3875: ‘parakletos’] with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Yes, the personal pronoun ‘he’ is used to refer to “the holy spirit of God”, by whom Christ was conceived in Mary’s womb:

Eph 4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Mat 1:18  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

If Mary were pregnant “of the holy spirit” that makes the holy spirit His Father. Obviously Christ’s Father used His spirit to simply say the Word, and Mary was impregnated “of the holy spirit… of God… the Father… of Christ.” Here is Luke’s version of how Mary became pregnant by “the holy spirit of God”:

Luk 1:35  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of [the holy spirit of ] God [The Father of Christ].

By using the personal pronoun, ‘He’ to refer to “the holy spirit of God” (Eph 4:30), Christ is telling us very plainly that it is through His Father’s spirit, which the Father has now given to Him, that He, Christ, can now take up His abode within us.

Joh 16:14  He [the holy  spirit] shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Joh 16:15  All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Christ claims the comforter, the ‘parakletos’, is His because His Father has given it to Him, and now He can give His Father’s spirit, the ‘parakletos’ to whomever He chooses:

Personifying His Father’s spirit to explain how He can come to us, does not make His Father’s spirit “a separate and co-equal part of the Godhead”, as the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees of today teaches. If that were the case, then ‘sin’ is therefore a separate and co-equal part of the great red dragon because Christ when talking to Cain personifies sin by using the personal pronouns, ‘him’ and ‘he’:

Gen 4:6  And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

The phrase “another comforter” does not insinuate another person. What “another comforter” means is that Christ’s disciples would no longer need to see Him in a body of flesh and blood. Rather it is He, Christ, who would not leave them comfortless. He would come to them through “the holy spirit of God.”

Joh 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he [Christ, through His Father’s spirit] may abide with you for ever;
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 [Christ right there with them in the flesh], and shall be in you.
Joh 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

So much of the leaven of the modern day Pharisees and Sadducees is founded upon the false doctrine which teaches that the “holy spirit of God” is a separate person in the Godhead. Without that false doctrine there could be no triune man with an unscriptural ‘immortal soul’ which will supposedly burn in literal flames of literal fire for all eternity simply because He used his fabled ‘free will’ to choose to go to hell for all eternity instead of choosing to be obedient to God.

No one reading all these words of our Lord speaking about how He will use the spirit of His Father, which His Father gave to Him, to come to His disciples after His crucifixion and live within them… No one without the false ‘trinity’ colored glasses would fail to understand that it is Christ who, through His Father’s spirit “will come to us… take up His abode within us and not leave us comfortless.”

Joh 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

The false doctrine of a trinitarian God is the false foundation upon which the false doctrine of a triune man is founded. It is circular reasoning which proclaims that “the holy spirit of God” (Eph 4:30) is a separate and co-equal part of the Godhead. It is upon that lie that it is deduced that mankind, being in God’s image, must also be a triune being consisting of flesh and blood, an immortal soul, and a spirit. Never mind the fact that we are plainly told “the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Eze 18:4, 20) and that the “wages of sin is death” not immortality, which ‘immortality’ is “put  on” only at the time of the resurrection of the dead. Mankind is not a triune being with an immortal soul which cannot die:

Eze 18:4  Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die [no mention of eternal fire].

Eze 18:20  The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

1Co 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
1Co 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed [Future tense],
1Co 15:52  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.
1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality [“At the last trump”].
1Co 15:54  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.
1Co 15:55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The false doctrines of a triune God, a triune man with an immortal soul which a supposed loving heavenly Father will torment in eternal flames of literal fire for all eternity are one and all but a few modern examples of “the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees” which must be purged out of our hearts and minds and replaced with the good news of a truly loving and patient and merciful heavenly Father “who will have all  men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the Truth”:

1Ti 2:4  Who will [Does this say that He merely desires? See Job below] have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Job 23:13  But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
Job 23:14  For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him. [So much for both the leaven of the false doctrines of free will and an immortal soul in eternal hell fire]

1Ti 4:10  For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially [Not exclusively] of those that believe.
1Ti 4:11  These things command and teach.

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

1Jn 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

The apostle Paul agrees with Peter and John:

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
1Co 15:24 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.
1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1Co 15:27 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.
1Co 15:28 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.

Here we have, in very plain language, a sequence of events which reveals the fact that God will, in Christ, save for Himself “all in Adam.” We are told that it will be accomplished in a certain, God-ordained order which will culminate with God being “all in all.”

The Passover is the beginning of the fulfilling of that goal of God becoming “all in all.” The days of unleavened bread are the next step in that process:

Exo 12:17  And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.
Exo 12:18  In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.
Exo 12:19  Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
Exo 12:20  Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.

“The first month” signifies the beginning of our calling. The fourteenth day of the first month demonstrates that the Lord prepares our hearts to acknowledge the work He is doing in us.

We do not begin eating unleavened bread on the very first day of our calling. Remember what we were told earlier in this 12^th chapter:

Exo 12:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,
Exo 12:2  This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
Exo 12:3  Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:

Israel’s time in the wilderness signifies our own time in Babylon. Israel crossed the Jordan and prepared to conquer the giants in the land on the exact same day they were commanded to prepare the sacrificial lamb for the Passover forty years earlier:

Jos 4:19  And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.

It was at Gilgal that all the Israelites who had been born during the forty years in the wilderness were circumcised. Circumcision, like the seven days of unleavened bread, is just another way of signifying putting sin out of our lives:

Col 2:10  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Col 2:11  In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

Christ is both our seven days of unleavened bread, and He is our circumcision without hands. He is preparing us by each step we take to give up our lives in His service:

1Ch 29:18  O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:

Psa 10:17  LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

The symbol of the next step in the Lord’s plan for mankind is the feast of Pentecost which we will consider in our next study:

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.
Lev 23:18  And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD.
Lev 23:19  Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings.
Lev 23:20  And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the LORD for the priest.
Lev 23:21  And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.
Lev 23:22  And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.

[The next section of this study series can be found here.

Exiles in the Bible: Born into Exile

[Study Aired October 17, 2024]

6: Characters in the bible who typify the spiritual zeal and Godly strength needed from Him to endure through the exile and come out of it, typifying how God’s elect will go onto perfection through Christ.

Chapter eleven of Hebrews gives us a very bright snapshot of what typifies the faith of Christ that is given to His people in order to break free from the sin of self righteousness, taking us out of exile. We must be given power to miraculously put off our flesh, and so boasting is excluded by the law of faith (Rom 3:27), as the Lord works in us both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure, which is to give us the kingdom (Luk 12:32), becoming persuaded (Heb 11:13) that we have been apprehended by Christ (Php 3:12-14) and are bound to the altar (Psa 118:27) by God’s grace and the faith of Christ (Eph 2:8), and that nothing can separate us from the love of God toward us (Rom 8:35-39).

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.
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Php 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The first verse in Hebrews eleven sets the stage for all the typical events of overcoming (1Pe 1:12, 1Co 10:11) that are going to be discussed, and what we are told is this:

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

It is not seen but it is hoped for, and this statement typifies for us the hope of glory within us, the spirit of God that bears witness that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Col 1:27, Rom 8:16 , Col 3:3 , Gal 4:9).

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

Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.[“the hope of glory within us”]

Gal 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

These stories in Hebrews chapter eleven are typical of the life of Christ within the few called and chosen (Mat 22:14) in this age, whose lives are greater than John the Baptist’s life simply because it is Christ’s life in us now that makes our lives of great value to our Father (Mat 11:11 , Mat 10:29-31):

Mat 11:11  Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Gal 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Mat 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father [“two” being a witness that Christ’s sparrows cannot be destroyed spiritually, our life and death are in His hands, our soul and our body (Rom 14:8)].
Mat 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Mat 10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows (Mat 22:14).

As we reflect on some of the verses in this eleventh chapter, let’s consider how the faith given in each different situation typifies for God’s elect today how we can become more than conquerors through him who loved us, as we come out of spiritual exile through the faith of Christ (Rom 8:37, Eph 2:8).

Heb 11:2  For by it the elders obtained a good report.

The elders, by God’s grace in this age, will obtain a good report that can only be accomplished through Christ, and that report is described for us in these verses (1Ti 3:2-9):

1Ti 3:2  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1Ti 3:3  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1Ti 3:4  One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
1Ti 3:5  (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
1Ti 3:6  Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
1Ti 3:7  Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
1Ti 3:8  Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
1Ti 3:9  Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.(1Jn 2:1, 1Jn 4:4)

1Jn 3:21  Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
1Jn 3:22  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1Jn 3:23  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1Jn 3:24  And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.(Col 1:27, Rom 8:29, Rom 8:16, 1Jn 4:5-7).

Heb 11:3  Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

What does the typical language of this third verse mean for God’s elect today? The ‘worlds that are framed by the word of God’ is not only the physical world and universe being discussed, but infinitely more importantly, they represent the “things which are seen [that] were not made of things which do appear“, and were created so that we can compare spiritual with spiritual using the physical worlds that God framed for our sakes (1Co 2:13).

All the exiles typify for us physical events that tell us something spiritual (Rom 1:20). If Christ is in our ‘world’ within (Col 1:27), then that spirit is there for the express purpose of building the temple or house of God that we are “things which are seen [that] were not made of things which do appear” (Psa 127:1 , Heb 11:27). This phrase is a physical representation of what God is doing spiritually within the bride via Christ: “the worlds were framed by the word 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 [using the physical].

Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Psa 127:1  A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Heb 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

Heb 11:4  By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

Had Abel not been given this gift of faith, he would not have been able, in type and shadow, to present his life a living sacrifice to God. Having the gift of faith to offer a more excellent sacrifice reminds us that our lives are only acceptable unto God through the faith of Christ that gives us the ability to reflect his righteousness that testifies of his workmanship in us. With the faith of Christ within us we learn that our lives are predestined to bring forth fruit (Joh 15:16, Eph 1:4), and the words “he [Abel] being dead yet speaketh” typifies for us today, as God’s children, that we are dead to sin yet alive in Christ (Rom 6:11), who speaks through each joint that supplies in love (Eph 4:16). This power that God gives his children is what gives us victory to come out of the exile that we all must first go into.

Joh 15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

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:

Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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.

Heb 11:5  By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

When our ways please God we will not see death, which is what the wages of sin brings to us. We are “not found” because we are ‘translated’ by God, telling us that we are hidden in Christ (Col 3:3) and the world cannot perceive the work that God is doing in His people who He is giving power to come out of her my people, come out of spiritual exile. We overcome by being baptized into Christ’s death (Rom 6:3) which is the only way that we can please God as we are accepted through Christ only. We cannot be “translated”, or moved by the power of God’s spirit from a place of exile without the “testimony” where we are glorifying God in all our thoughts and actions. We ‘please God’ therefore, because of the pleasing work that He is doing in us through Christ (Php 2:12-13).

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

With the faith of Christ, we can believe that God is ever present and a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. Conversely, without that faith, we cannot see or hear spiritually the words of God or have the desire to continue in the truth that will set us free (Joh 8:31-32) from the bondage and exile that sin wants to constantly keep us captive to (Gen 4:7).

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

Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Heb 11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

This verse tells us so much regarding the attitude that God’s elect are to have today in order to escape the exile, the bondage to sin that the whole world lies in today, being deceived of the devil (1Jn 5:19, 2Co 4:4).

1Jn 5:19  And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

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

It is with the faith of Christ that we can heed the admonitions of God today and, “being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear” as God works in us (Heb 11:1). What this tells us is that we are being saved by hope, the hope of glory within, “things not seen as yet” (Col 1:27), enduring in seeing him who is invisible (Heb 11:27) as we’re given the power to move with fear and trembling (Php 2:12-13) ‘to the preparing of the ark’, which ‘ark’ is a symbol of the church, which is the body of Christ, the bride of Christ who are promised will be made ready (Rev 19:7).

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

Heb 11:27  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

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

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Heb 11:8  By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Heb 11:9  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Here are more great verses that demonstrate how we are to come out of exile in order to receive our inheritance (Heb 11:8), and it is the typical faith of Abraham that represents the key to our overcoming in this life which happens by the faith of Christ whose faith (Eph 2:8, Rom 3:27) alone can give us the power to quench all the fiery darts of the adversary (Eph 6:16) making it possible for us to be led of the spirit of God (Rom 8:14) and “go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance“. That place is “Jerusalem above” that we go to (Eph 2:6, Gal 4:26), a ‘country’ we continue to seek and strive to enter into, through obedience (Heb 11:14), and if we are granted to continue to die daily, we ultimately will be led to the fullness of that inheritance, which will be found in the first resurrection (Act 5:32, Rev 20:6).

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

Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

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

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

We are going out into this new country with the attitude that it is entirely up to God whether we will prosper, and so the comment regarding Abraham’s “not knowing whither he went“, reminds us that we don’t know what is on the morrow (Jas 4:13-15, Php 2:12-13) yet we are told that through the faith of Christ we can have absolute confidence in what God has promised us as the generation who has no confidence in the flesh (Php 3:3 , Heb 10:35).

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

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

Php 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Heb 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

The promise land that ‘Abraham sojourned in by faith’ represents how we sojourn in this life in bodies that are likened unto tabernacles (temporal dwelling places), and ‘being heirs of the same promise as Isaac and Jacob’ remind us that in order to inherit the fullness of this inheritance, it will be accomplished through judgement, represented by the number ‘three’ or the three men Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who are typical heirs of the same promise.

The city we are seeking as the body of Christ is one that we know is being built by God (Heb 10:11, Psa 127:1), and so we know our labours are not in vain and that God will reward those who lose their life in pursuit of this new life (Mat 16:25), this new city, that will have a sure foundation that is built upon the rock, Jesus Christ (Mat 16:18).

Heb 11:10  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Psa 127:1  A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Heb 11:11  Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

Being a child in a womb is a form of exile until we are delivered (Rev 12:5, Luk 2:6-7), and Sara, who represents the church, was given supernatural strength “to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age“, typifying for God’s elect how God does this miraculous work of deliverance within those who are the weak of the world who make up the church, whose hope is in Christ. Because of the faith of Christ we are able to judge “him faithful who had promised“, being convinced by God’s grace and faith (Eph 2:8) that He who has begun a good work in us will finish it through Christ (Php 1:6, 1Jn 3:3). It takes the faith of Christ and the strength of Christ within us to be Sara to one another, joints that edify and supply in love what we each need in order to grow unto maturation. Christ is performing this work of faith through each of us and for one another, is what this powerful section of scripture is reminding us.

Rev 12:5  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

Luk 2:6  And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
Luk 2:7  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Php 1:6 having this same confidence, that He Who undertakes a good work among you, will be performing it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (CLV)

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

Heb 11:12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

This verse talks about the inheritance of the saints, and we are Christ’s inheritance and Christ is our inheritance, but the world also is our inheritance “as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable” (Gal 4:26-28).

Gal 4:26 Yet the Jerusalem above is free, who is mother of us all.”
Gal 4:27 For it is written, “Be glad, barren one, who art not bringing forth! Burst forth and implore, thou who art not travailing! For many are the children of the desolate, Rather than of her who has the husband.”
Gal 4:28 Now you, brethren, as Isaac, are children of promise.” (CLV)

An ‘exile’ can be likened unto the birthing process (being delivered) and ‘God has called his son out of Egypt’ applies to both Christ and his Christ as these verses demonstrate, showing us that salvation is a process that comes about through a growth process that is accompanied with much tribulation, just like the maturation process of a child in a mothers womb (Hos 11:1, Mat 2:13-15, Act 14:22). There are other examples of typical exiles in the book of Hebrews, but I’ll stop at verse twelve.

Hos 11:1  When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

Mat 2:13  And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
Mat 2:14  When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
Mat 2:15  And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

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

Next week, Lord willing, we will continue with what will be our last section of this mini study on “Exiles in the Bible”.  The focus will be on Christ’s own examples of preaching to the captives, and what that means for God’s elect today as we continue in the truth, the exceedingly great and precious promises (2Pet 1:4) that we learn from our Lord through the church (Eph 3:10) that we pray that we will be granted to continue in, setting us free from these bodies of death (Joh 8:31-32 , Rom 7:24-25).

Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

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

Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

“The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies” – Isa 28:17

[Study Aired July 13, 2024]

The Book of Joel appears to have been written somewhere between 520 to 200 BCE, before the destruction of the first Temple and after the exile of the Northern Kingdom of Israel during wicked King Manasseh’s reign (2 Ki 21).

Joel conveys the same uncomplicated theme and indictment of sin, judgment, chastisement, and forgiveness leading to salvation, as was portrayed in our recent study of Hosea and reiterated in the other so-called ‘minor prophets’ and, indeed, the entire Bible. However, complications to the simplicity of God’s word assuredly arise when the ‘Beast’ we are (Ecc 3:18 – ‘man is but a beast’ 2 Pet 2:12) typically hides from his indicting conscience. The path of inevitable guilt for disobedience to our Lord’s commands innately activates a sense of psychological nudity that is profoundly spiritually embedded in our genes, the spirit in man (Job 32:8). The lamentable yet God-given progression of sin is to excuse ourselves and accuse some other entity for the entire saga is first and classically typified by Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit (Gen 3:1-24).

The Bride of Christ alone among Babylonian/Gentile Christianity (inclusive of the rest of humanity figuratively outside the Camp of Israel) is given to see the ‘vision’ brightly seen in the opening verse of Joel 1, that she, too, was the whore, Gomer, symbolically the Lord’s first wife. Her Lord has given her, the “little flock” (Luke 12:32) Church, the greater portion of His spirit to understand and keep all His commandments progressively. From that standpoint, she vivaciously sees from whence she has come through the sequence of the lust of the eyes and flesh that inevitably result in the most catastrophic sin of all, that of pride. When the inner trumpet blasts the warning of lust and is dismissed, hiding from the sin innately and insidiously follows. Pride is instantly in lockstep with hiding since, if the sin is discovered, the humiliation is exacerbated seemingly beyond endurance and covering lies are now used to hide and consolidate the original sin further. The pride is now “joined hand in hand” with lies to maintain its status and has become so deeply rooted that it seems impossible to break free without ironically desiring death to escape the humiliation.

Pro 16:5  Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

Eze 18:24  But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

Rom 2:12  For as many [All of humanity!] as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law [First, physical Israel, and then the spiritual Israel of God, the Bride] shall be judged by the law;
Rom 2:13  (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 
Rom 2:14  For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15  Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
Rom 2:16  In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. 

Jer 3:13  Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.
Jer 3:14  Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion [The Heavenly Jerusalem above]: 

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world [Things directly contradicting God’s word, and, or innocuous things idolised], neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 
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.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever [It all is vanity and chasing the wind of diverse and evil spirits, that cannot be contained to be eternally enjoyed. (Ecc 1:14, Ecc 2:10-11)]. 

Psa 10:2  The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. 

We all are that man of sin (2Th 2:1-4) who is most wicked in his pride since it is pride that stops us from going to Christ to acknowledge the sin and thus doubly amplifies the original sin of illicit lust! Subsequently, we become dreadfully “the poor” in our Lord’s spirit and are taken by our own devices of evil imaginations through self-righteousness.

Joel 1:1-12

Joe 1:1  The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. 
Joe 1:2  Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? 
Joe 1:3  Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. 
Joe 1:4  That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten. 
Joe 1:5  Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth. 
Joe 1:6  For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion. 
Joe 1:7  He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.
Joe 1:8  Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.
Joe 1:9  The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests, the LORD’S ministers, mourn. 
Joe 1:10  The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth. 
Joe 1:11  Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.
Joe 1:12  The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.

Now, and in the Book of Joel, the Bride is given to enthusiastically advance and consolidate her understanding of her disappearing harlot ways through her Lord’s ravishing word.

Significations:

Joe 1:1  The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.

Joel’s father was Pethuel (H6602), which means ‘vision of God’, and ‘to be spacious, be open, be wide’, and profoundly states God’s nature that Joel envisioned as the ‘spaciously unadulterated’ indictments of sin, judgement, chastisement, and forgiveness leading to salvation. However, carnal Israel was utterly frustrated through blindness (Isa 42:18-25), having never received lasting spiritual peace through unity with her Lord to bring salvation. She, now understood as predominantly Babylonian Christianity, remains in that God-given vexation of the spirit to this day and into the coming Resurrection to Judgement. However, for a very small “little flock”, the Lord has and still is dragging out of Babylon within, is being given eyes that see the mysteries in and through Christ, her “deliverer.”

Rom 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in [at the end of the One-Thousand Year reign with the rod of iron]. 
Rom 11:26  And so all Israel [symbolic of the entirety of mankind] shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: [Please see all of Romans 11:25-36]

An Invasion of Locusts

Joe 1:2  Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?
Joe 1:3  Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. 
Joe 1:4  That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten. 

The answer to Joel 1:2 is a resounding, “Yes.” Old Israel, to this day in Babylonian Christianity, has been given major blindness and deafness that only chastisement will break the pride of her power only by Christ’s strength. The terminology “blindness in part” used in Rom 11:25 suggests minimal blindness and deafness and belies the reality of total blindness and deafness during all the days of their fathers.

The only “old men,” meaning Israel’s prophets and sanctified teachers, paradoxically who do hear those verses’ significations is the Bride of Christ, who is the only one unified with her Husband given to see and hear all positive and negative meanings of the ‘inhabitants of her land’ within her. She has keenly observed all spiritual signs from Genesis 1 to Revelations 22, the endlessly repeated pattern of rebellion, chastisement, and physical salvation resulting from the plagues of locusts, cankerworms, and caterpillars in knowing their spiritual equivalence. She is that ‘other generation’ in verse 3 and the second “army” in Song of Solomon 6:13 who alone is given to understand spiritual significations.

The following verse of Son 6:13 is Solomon’s tortured mind trying to understand the Shulamite by inwardly searching his mind; he says,

Son 6:13  Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies.

 The ‘first army’ of the two is Manasseh (the elder) and Ephraim (the younger), depicted in the book of Hosea and other biblical locations solely as Ephraim, representing them both as greater Israel.

1Co 1:22  For the Jews [symbolic of spiritual understanding] require a [an outward physical] sign, and the Greeks [symbolising the world] seek after wisdom:

The world’s peer-reviewed logic and ‘scientific methodology’ that, if honestly used, is the genuinely very best man has outside of Christ to gain truth progressively, but, like Artificial intelligence, can never discover the eternal spiritual realities. Hence, both Jews (Manasseh and Ephraim) and Greeks, as one, represent the world and are utterly deaf and blind to Christ.

1Co 1:23  But we [The Bride] preach Christ crucified [in spirit], unto the Jews a stumblingblock [since Christ is spiritually perceived and is not clearly stated by the letter in the Law of Moses, and thus cannot be understood], and unto the Greeks foolishness [Unstable, esoteric stupidity];

Greeks represent Gentiles. The Jews, meaning Manasseh and Ephriam, because of their dependence on the physical laws of Moses, are lumped in with the Gentiles as the same with the world. The tribal world cannot agree with one another to this day and, in fact, is becoming more violently contentious with every man’s hand against his neighbour.

Rom 2:5  But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 
Rom 2:6  Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 
Rom 2:7  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Rom 2:8  But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Rom 2:9  Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; [Gentile H1672 = a Greek either by nationality, whether a native of the mainland or of the Greek islands or colonies. G1671 Greece = unstable: the miry one [the world/mankind made of miry clay].
Rom 2:10  But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the [Spiritual] Jew first, and also to the Gentile [the world becoming God in the Lake of Fire]:
Rom 2:11  For there is no respect of persons with God [… thankfully!]. 

Zec 14:13  And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them [Jew and Gentile, the world of humanity]; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise against the hand of his neighbour.

It is only the Bride of Christ who is given to ‘tell her children’, meaning, to see from Israel’s endless loop of disobedience, chastisement and salvation against her sins within that the spiritual palmerworms, cankerworms, and caterpillars will consume the last morsel of green until all that is left is her “black” desolate landscape negatively and Shulamite-like positivity. The palmerworm, cankerworm and caterpillar are the progressive stages of development of the locust and are the same. Joel 1:4 reads as if there are three different geniuses of insects coming from each worm. However, they all represent the development of the locust.

Joe 1:4  That which the palmerworm [H1501: locust] hath left hath the locust [H697: locust] eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm [H3218: young locust] eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller [H2625: locust H2628 – 1. (Qal) to consume, finish off, bring to an end] eaten.

The world of Gentile Jewry and Greeks disregards the King of King’s immutable truth and thus has no righteous king and multitude of counsel; rather, Satan is their father of lies who devours the truth and enslaves them by their multitude of idols directed by defiant women who represent Babylon’s churches and rule the laity with their imagined Christ, “another Jesus” as described in 2Co 11:4.

Pro 30:27  The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; 

Nah 3:13 -17 Behold, thy people in the midst of thee are women: the gates of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies: the fire shall devour thy bars. 
Nah 3:14  Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strong holds: go into clay, and tread the morter, make strong the brickkiln. 
Nah 3:15  There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the cankerworm: make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts. 
Nah 3:16  Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and flieth away. 
Nah 3:17  Thy crowned are as the locusts, and thy captains as the great grasshoppers, which camp in the hedges in the cold day [when Christ’s commands are dismissed in the blackness of the night], but when the sun ariseth [Christ’s word is preached] they flee away, and their place is not known where they are. [Flying high in the heavens carried by the spiritual wind to find another landing place to infect lies]

Scorpions and serpents are false doctrines that give us lies within. They are as numerous as 200,000,000 locusts, with the lies of stings in their tails.

Rev 9:1  And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 
Rev 9:2  And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
Rev 9:3  And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth [mankind]: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 

Rev 9:7  And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
Rev 9:8  And they had hair as the hair of women [40,000 plus Babylonian churches], and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
Rev 9:9  And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. 
Rev 9:10  And they [the locusts] had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. 
Rev 9:11  And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon [Satan].

Notice again the Jew/Hebrew association with the Gentile Greek ethnicity, additionally substantiating that Satan rules the world from Adam to the beginning of the One-Thousand Year reign with the rod of iron by Christ and His Christs.

Stepping down to:

Rev 9:16  And the number of the army [enigmatically the first “army” of the “two” in the Son 6:13 residing within while in Babylon] of the horsemen [locusts] were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them [200,000,000]. 

Isa 28:17  Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters [God’s fiery word] shall overflow the hiding place [Drown them in the Lake of Fire while they yet live].

(For a more thorough understanding of “locusts”, please see this link and scroll down to Rev 9 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/studies/ )

Joe 1:5  Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth. 

Wine represents God’s spiritual word, and wine drinkers are our former Babylonian selves, revelling in the doctrines of the world, unconscious of the spiritual cloud causing darkness. They have not progressed in understanding Christ’s New Covenant doctrine of spiritual understanding and are thus unwittingly cut off and enslaved when Moses read.

Isa 5:8  Woe unto them that join house to house [likened to “join[ing] in hand” with lies Isa 5:8], that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! 
Isa 5:9  In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant. 
Isa 5:10  Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah. 
Isa 5:11  Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! 
Isa 5:12  And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands. 
Isa 5:13  Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst [For this cause, the locusts have eaten up the truth, leaving only lies]. 

The drunkards and wine bibbers are our Babylonian former selves dancing to our happy-clappy music of falsely believing that they are saved without chastising grace and are blind to the reality that they remain at Sinai enslaved by Moses’ laws while imagining that they are Christ’s elected symbolic Jews (Rev 2:9). 

2Co 3:6  [It is Christ, the Bride’s husband,] 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 [And since the cross, is superseded by the new wine]: 
2Co 3:8  How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 
2Co 3:9  For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 
2Co 3:10  For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
2Co 3:11  For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 
2Co 3:12  Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech [Only because the spirit of God has given us understanding]:
2Co 3:13  And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 
2Co 3:14  But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
2Co 3:15  But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
2Co 3:16  Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 
2Co 3:17  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 
2Co 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Joe 1:6  For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion. 
Joe 1:7  He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white [skin, de-barked].

That strong, innumerable nation with the teeth of a lion is Gog, and Magog represents the 200.000.000 locust lies seen in the previous scripture, Revelation 9:6, following the One-Thousand Years. The fire that comes down from heaven at the end of One-Thousand Years represents God’s fiery word, figuratively consuming all of mankind until his flesh is black, with the horrific visual of cracked black skin exposing cooked ‘white’ flesh beneath just as the bark from the fig and vine branches is made white (apparently the flesh of man cooks white like roast pork)

Rev 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 
Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea [all of humanity alive at that time, yet, representing the all from Adam to that point in time ever to exist]. 
Rev 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

The pure virgin word of God clothes the Bride of Christ in dazzling white. When God’s fiery, all-consuming word is “eaten”, it has the distinct effect of making us initially symbolically yet factually spiritually white.

Dan 7:9  I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 

Isa 1:18  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 
Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 

Joe 1:8  Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth. 

That verse reminds us of Jephthah’s daughter, whom the Bride of Christ directly represents, temporarily weeping upon the mountains of the Lord for the denied physical fulfilment in marriage and children. Although Jephthah’s daughter grieved her virginity until her death, the Bride of Christ she represents today glorifies her Lord for her symbolic virginity, knowing full well that she was formally characterised as the whore, Gomer.

Jdg 11:36  And she [Jephthah’s daughter] said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD [a vow to sacrifice a pure offering in the first that comes forth from his house], do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon. 
Jdg 11:37  And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months [a witness with many representations. Jew/Greek. Elder serving she, the younger, etc.], that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows [The little flock, the joints of the Bride]. 
Jdg 11:38  And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains. 
Jdg 11:39  And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father [for us, Christ], who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel, 
Jdg 11:40  That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year. 

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

Rev 6:9  And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain [The virgin Bride of Christ] for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 
Rev 6:10  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 

Hence, Jephthah’s daughter, the Bride of Christ, no longer laments her youth virginity since she is betrothed to Christ. However, temporarily, for humanity, the spiritual reality of the New Covenant marriage to the Lamb of God is dried up.

Joe 1:9  The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests, the LORD’S ministers, mourn. 
Joe 1:10  The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth. 
Joe 1:11  Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen [The incipient Elect seeing her former ways]; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished. 

The harvest of the field perished at the beginning of the One-Thousand Years when all who are given to be the Bride, have gone into the wedding supper. Outside remain the symbolic dogs like Esau, who rejected the Lord’s word. They, being alive at the end of the One Thousand Year rule, will wither away by God’s fiery word coming down from heaven and making their flesh burn (Rev 20:7) being made white carried forward into the Lake of Fire until they are literally pure white like Christ and his Wife. 

Mat 22:11  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 
Mat 22:12  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Mat 22:13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 
Mat 22:14  For many are called, but few are chosen.

Joe 1:12  The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men. 

However, even now, before the OTY reign, the world languishes fruitless since “the” Christ, the “joy” in Babylonian Jews and Greeks, is made nothing since their understanding of his Law remains physically understood and thus devoids them of understanding.

Rom 3:31  Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the [spiritual] law. 

Dan 12:9  And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Dan 12:10  Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. 

Ecc 9:2  All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

That “time of the end” is today, ever since the Cross, and understood only by Christ’s Bride being made white. Her brother and sisters in the world, portrayed as Jews and Greeks, will be made white in the Lake of Fire.

Next week, Lord willing, we will see the next step of “Repentance” that follows chastising fire.

May the Lord hasten that day in the Bride, inclusive of the Jew and Greek.

Conscience – An Insensible Conscience, Part 7

[Study Aired November 25, 2023]

As similarly stated in Part 6 of this Conscience series, by the time we get through all seventeen parts, we should have all nuances of conscience etched in our hearts for instant recall of the still small voice behind saying, “This is the way, walk you in it” (Isa 30:15-21). Subsequently, the many subtleties of an evil conscience overlap, and now also with our study on “An Insensible Conscience”.

The expression “insensible”, by its prefix ‘in’, means not or no and means being insensitive, unconscious, numb, impervious, unaffected or dead, and for this cause becoming unaffected by sin once acknowledged and forgiven. It is the positive meaning and mostly for this study’s purpose, it is our practised good conscience that becomes impervious to being manipulated by the many nuances of an evil conscience, and we subsequently are blessed with a peaceful conscience.

Heb 10:1  For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
Heb 10:2  For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience [Insensibility] of sins.
Heb 10:3  But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 
Heb 10:4  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

The Elect of God, by ‘instantly’ choosing good over an evil conscience, knows that it is not his strength that carries the glory of righteousness, but Christ’s strength, since of ourselves, we are incapable of overcoming anything without the holy spirit. The process is that we see the evil approaching and resist the devil by submission and acknowledgement of Christ’s strength by instantly asking the Lord for his power and workmanship to not enact a particular sin. We can’t overpower Satan, and as some so-called charismatic Christian denominations say, “We’re gonna twist ole Satan’s tail tonight” with their services that are a contemporary version of Jezebel’s priests of Baal cutting themselves mythically forcing Baal to submit to their requests (1Ki 18:19-40). 

In fact, Christ and Satan (by association) laugh at the absurdity (Psa 37:9-15). Being told to “resist the devil” implies their power and will is the impetus of change; we cannot resist anything without Christ. Our God-given action is to immediately ask our Father in heaven, in Christ’s name, to put the sin out of our life ~ that is the act of resisting the Devil. Being told to “resist the Devil” is another parable enabling strong delusion for the spiritually barren.

Jas 4:7  Therefore submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
 Jas 4:8  Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners; and purify your hearts [resultant good conscience], double-minded ones. 

Our Lord is making for himself a Wife with a single-minded focus on His ways; a beautiful woman who sees Him as the ‘prize’ as opposed to her former Queen Vashti self, manipulating her husband and all around her to vainly assure her statehood and glory above her husband. The irony is that when a Godly wife glorifies her husband as in the Lord, she becomes the recipient of all her desires, inclusive of the highest honour. In the Elect’s case, she becomes Christ’s Wife.

Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is [in this case, oneself], there will your heart be also. 
Mat 6:22  The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 
Mat 6:23  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 
Mat 6:24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon [the treasure of self-righteousness].

Our forebearers in Old Israel and their ponderous journey for our ensamples are twofold. First, to create the sons of God as numerous as the stars of heaven, and second, to tediously grind every man ever to exist to powder (Mat 21:24) to guarantee that we will seek to be free from these bodies of decaying flesh and demand only Christ’s spirit; to shudder at the thought of looking back to lust for some delusionary nirvana of so-called ‘perfect flesh’ with its regalia. As such, we will intensely desire, to the soles of our feet, to have “no more conscience of sins” (Heb 10:2).

Old Israel and we, since we are highly corruptible flesh prone continuously to sin, need to be reminded constantly to be watchful for its treachery. It is only after falling seventy times seven (Mat 18:22) and coming back to Christ for innumerable forgiveness that we become weary of the flesh and spew out the evil conscience. We cry to be free, to be ‘insensible’ to evil by a practised good conscience and abiding peace.

Heb 8:10  “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My Laws into their mind and write them in their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 
Heb 8:11  And they shall not each man teach his neighbor, and each man his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest. 
Heb 8:12  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more.” 
Heb 8:13  In that He says, A new covenant, He has made the first one old. Now that which decays and becomes old is ready to vanish away.

When we are sanctified, that is set apart for Christ, and some aspect of impurity vanishes, we become ‘insensible’ to its whereabouts, and when our Lord likewise remembers our impurity no more, we are at one with Him and the Father.

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through Your truth. Your Word is truth.
Joh 17:18  As You have sent Me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world. 
Joh 17:19  And I sanctify Myself for their sakes, so that they also might be sanctified in truth. [When Christ returned to his former glory, he was divested of corruptible flesh and automatically became ‘insensible’ to an evil conscience]
Joh 17:20  And I do not pray for these alone, but for those also who shall believe on Me through their word, 
Joh 17:21  that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.
Joh 17:22  And I have given them the glory [the same pure spirit nature] which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are one, 
Joh 17:23  I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know [through Christ and his Christs] that You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me. 

The key scripture of Heb 10:2 and us being purged of an evil conscience and therefore becoming insensible to evil is in the Aorist Tense; thus, we are being purged. Once we have the authentic spiritual mindset to have vanished all nuances of an evil conscience, we become insensible; we forget what is behind us and push forward to greater unity in Christ and the Father.

Heb 10:1  For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

… meaning that while we are in these bodies of sinful flesh, we will never be entirely free of sin. We are being made perfect even as the man Jesus was made perfect to be Christ.

Heb 10:2  For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had [G2192, G5721] no more conscience of sins. 

Jesus, once purged of His corruptible body, was made impossible to return to sin. However, and for us remaining in these bodies of decaying flesh, we are always prone to sin even while we are forgiven and righteousness is attributed to us regardless of a random sin since the Lord knows our purged hearts. “Once we are purged, [we] should have had no more conscience of sins”, but in all fleshy likelihood, we are cursed with weak flesh that is highly likely to return to our vomit and retain consciousness of repeated sin.

The glorious state is to be given to be entirely free of the consciousness of sin, and our conscience thus being/becoming “insensible” to the current sin in question. It is the same state of insensibility to sin. Christ and the Father exist, yet while man exists, we are a vexation to the spirit.

A significant purpose of the sacrificial Laws of Moses offered year after year was to ponderously etch in the hearts of our forebearers the Lord’s plan of salvation and, most importantly, that our works to attain righteousness can never be gained by the sweating of our hard work since we in the New Covenant are our Lord’s workmanship (Eph 2:10).

The outcome of Hebrews 10:1-18 is in verse 18,

Heb 10:18  Now where remission [G859] of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 

Remission G859 –  Definition: 1. release from bondage or imprisonment 2. forgiveness or pardon of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty.

From G863 – 1. to send away a. to bid going away or depart of a husband divorcing his wife.

In other words, upon acknowledging our sins and being forgiven, sin isn’t attributed to our lives even while still in sinful flesh. We are pardoned and released from the bondage of the physical ordinances of the Law we now live spiritually. For this study’s purpose, it means that our conscience becomes “insensible” to that particular sin ~ no more conscience [Insensibility] of sins – Heb 10:2. We are released from marriage in the death of our old wife (Jezebel; Vashti; harlots and Old Jerusalem) of sin ruling our hearts.

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 
Rom 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 
Rom 3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation [reconciliation; atonement] through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past [now insensible], through the forbearance of God; 

Of course, and as seen in a previous part of this series, a “seared conscience” is the most damning version of being insensible to our conscience since we are then impervious to sin. We run the risk of having no more remission for that sin since we stubbornly refuse to address that sin, and it is likely an idol of the heart. Of course, no being has a greater ‘seared conscience’ than Satan, our unwitting first father. He is the epitome of self-righteousness, stubbornness and ALL conceptions of evil.

Eze 14:1  And some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me. 
Eze 14:2  And the Word of Jehovah came to me, saying, 
Eze 14:3  Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put the stumbling-block of their iniquity before their face. Should I at all be inquired of by them? 

Eze 14:5  so that I may capture the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are estranged from Me by their idols, all of them.

All of the Elect of God at some time have an experience or several adventures of estrangement from God by idols of the heart.

Eze 14:6  Therefore say to the house of Israel, So says the Lord Jehovah: Repent and turn from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations. [Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you] 

Eze 14:4  Therefore speak to them, and say to them, So says the Lord Jehovah: Every man of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts the stumbling-block of his iniquity before his face, and comes to the prophet; I Jehovah will answer him in it by the host of his idols; 

Why?

Eze 14:5  so that I may capture the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are estranged from Me by their idols, all of them.
Eze 14:6  Therefore say to the house of Israel, So says the Lord Jehovah: Repent and turn from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
Eze 14:7  For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger who lives in Israel, who separates himself from Me and sets up his idols in his heart, and puts the stumbling-block of his iniquity before his face, and comes to a prophet to ask of him concerning Me; I Jehovah will answer him Myself. 
Eze 14:8  And I will set My face against that man, and I will make him desolate for a sign and for proverbs [an example to the Church]. And I will cut him off from the midst of My people; and you shall know that I am Jehovah. 
Eze 14:9  And the prophet, if he is deceived, and he speaks a word, I Jehovah have deceived that prophet. And I will stretch out My hand on him and will destroy him in the midst of My people Israel. 
Eze 14:10  And they shall bear their iniquity. As the iniquity of the inquirer, so the iniquity of the prophet shall be. 
Eze 14:11  So that the house of Israel [The Bride of Christ] may never again go astray from Me, nor be defiled again with all their transgressions, but they are to Me My people, and I will be to them for God, says the Lord Jehovah. 

Previous studies in this series have reflected that our brother Cain is a classic foil for us of not joyously receiving correction (Gen 4:13). Cain saw his sin, and his attitude is endemic to us all by looking for ways to ” accuse [and] excuse” (Rom 2:15) our way out of acknowledging our sin. Like Cain, our unrepentant hearts cause us to be a “fugitive”, always imagining we are “hiding” from God and unwittingly causing us to be “vagabonds” and always beset by our greatest enemy, which is sin.

Heb 10:26  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 
Heb 10:27  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries [within].

Rev 16:10  And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
Rev 16:11  And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. 

Pro 16:5  Every one that is proud in heart [unyielding to acknowledge sin] is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. 
Pro 16:6  By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. 
Pro 16:7  When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies [our forgiven sins] to be at peace with him. 

Rom 3:9  What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 
Rom 3:10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 
Rom 3:12  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 
Rom 3:13  Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 
Rom 3:14  Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Rom 3:15  Their feet are swift to shed blood: 
Rom 3:16  Destruction and misery are in their ways: 
Rom 3:17  And the way of peace have they not known:
Rom 3:18  There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Rom 3:19  Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Rom 3:20  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Of course, as we are advancing spiritually, Babylonian Christianity remains immutably blind to the way of peace. It is undeniably and exponentially evident today that every man’s hand is at war against his neighbour. The West, the paragon of formally imagined Christian virtue, is being answered according to the idol of their hearts, and that idol is their utter insensibility to the knowledge of sin by God’s Law. Every man does what is right in his own eyes, even if he or she wants to identify as a cat or an adult baby literally in nappies (diaper), in a cot sucking on a bottle of milk making loathsomely ‘cute’ baby sounds. Cast God’s laws aside, and anything goes, and how dare anyone question that person’s non-binary identity!

The covert purpose of these absurdities to which the world is utterly blind is Satan’s vain hope to make the Body of Christ insensible to a Godly conscience and be swept away by its great flood of lies. Satan’s frustrations for not having his own will he knows will equally be frustrated in knowing the good outcome the Lord has designed for the “remnant” of the First Woman who brought forth Christ, the “man child”.

Rev 12:13  And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman [Gentile Christianity] which brought forth the man child.
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.

Even though the growth of Christianity since Christ has been turbulent and violent, it grew massively into the largest religious denomination the world has ever seen. Her growth in the heat of the day was an immense benefit to her younger sister, the Bride of Christ.

Rev 12:15  And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
Rev 12:16  And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 
Rev 12:17  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. 

The world is in a seemingly headlong rush to oblivion, and the following verses outwardly are their depiction when the Commandments of God are jeered. Of course, as we read these verses, as always apply them spiritually to ourselves.

Isa 33:7  See, the men of war are sorrowing outside the town: those who came looking for peace are weeping bitterly.
Isa 33:8  The highways are waste, no man is journeying there: the agreement is broken, he has made sport of the towns, he has no thought for man. (See all of 2Ti 3:1-9).
Isa 33:9  The earth is sorrowing and wasting away; Lebanon is put to shame and has become waste; Sharon is like the Arabah; and in Bashan and Carmel the leaves are falling. 
Isa 33:10  Now will I come forward, says the Lord; now will I be lifted up; now will my power be seen. 
Isa 33:11  Your designs will be without profit, and their effect will be nothing: you will be burned up by the fire of my breath.
Isa 33:12  And the peoples will be like the burning of chalk: as thorns cut down, which are burned in the fire. 
Isa 33:13  Give ear, you who are far off, to what I have done: see my power, you who are near. 
Isa 33:14  The sinners in Zion are full of fear; the haters of God are shaking with wonder. Who among us may keep his place before the burning fire? who among us may see the eternal burnings?

Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Since Christ is our perfect sacrifice, He has cleaned out the old leaven and the physical Laws with the works of the flesh that once contaminated our consciences. We are, by His power, becoming spiritually clean as the Father has always existed with no conscience of sin, “… because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience [insensibility] of sins.” – Heb 10:2. 

The Bride of Christ is the first and remnant sinners in Zion who are given to see their insensibility to their seared consciences and now shake in fear and are humiliated for having been haters of God. They shake positively in awe and a shift in wonder for the marvellous works the Lord is labouring in their lives (Joh 5:17  But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work). They are the ones who are first to become positively insensible to an evil conscience since he has placed his stamp on their foreheads (Deu 6:8) as his very own people as the First Fruits faithfully following Christ, him being the beginning of the creation of God.

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;

Lord willing, we, too, will endure to be in lockstep with Christ, the first of the first fruits, continuing the creation of God until our brothers remaining in Babylon finish their solemn assembly and re-creation in the fiery furnace on the Eighth Day (2 Ch 7:9).

[Study Aired November 13, 2023]

Num 27:1  Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah. 
Num 27:2  And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, 
Num 27:3  Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons. 
Num 27:4  Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father. 
Num 27:5  And Moses brought their cause before the LORD. 
Num 27:6  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Num 27:7  The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them. 
Num 27:8  And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter. 
Num 27:9  And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren.
Num 27:10  And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father’s brethren. 
Num 27:11  And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses. 
Num 27:12  And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel. 
Num 27:13  And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered. 
Num 27:14  For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. 
Num 27:15  And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying, 
Num 27:16  Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 
Num 27:17  Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd. 
Num 27:18  And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; 
Num 27:19  And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. 
Num 27:20  And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. 
Num 27:21  And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation. 
Num 27:22  And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: 
Num 27:23  And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses. 

Introduction

Today’s study continues with the issue of inheritance. Specifically, it deals with a peculiar situation where a man dies having no son but has daughters.  The chapter also focuses on the death of Moses with Joshua confirmed as the new leader. As we are aware, the letter kills, but it is the spirit that gives life. Our study today will therefore focus on the spiritual implication of the events which occurred in this chapter.

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.

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.

As indicated in the previous study, the promise of an inheritance or reward is dependent on our being able to possess the land, that is, to overcome the flesh. The reward system of the Lord is a key issue in the word of the Lord as it serves as the driving force for our work here on earth. Our Lord Jesus was motivated by the joy that was set before Him. Being with the Father and knowing the glory He left to become a man, He was motivated by what He had seen.

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

As He is, so are we. We are also motivated by what the Lord has shown to us about the glory to be revealed in the fullness of time. Our walk here on this earth is therefore based on the premise that our Lord is a rewarder of them who seek Him diligently.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 

Rev 22:12  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

This promise of reward weighed heavily on Peter’s mind when he asked the Lord the following:

Mat 19:27  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
Mat 19:28  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Mat 19:29  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

In the Book of Revelation chapters 2 and 3, we are given more details of what our inheritance or reward entails. Some of these are as follows:

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. 

Rev 2:11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. 

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Rev 2:28  And I will give him the morning star. 

Rev 3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

In this study, we are given to know more about the surety of the inheritance or reward awaiting the Lord’s children in the fullness of time. The study also reveals to us that it is after the law of Moses has run its course in our lives we encounter Christ. This is symbolized by the death of Moses and the appointment of Joshua as Moses’ replacement.

The Daughter of Zelophehad Shall Receive an Inheritance

Num 27:1  Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.

Zelophehad means firstborn. From the scriptures, we know that the Lord is the firstborn of creation. What this implies is that Zelophehad symbolized our Lord Jesus Christ.

Col 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

What we need to understand is that during the Lord’s life here on earth, He did not convert anybody and therefore died without having sons. However, after His death, the church was born when the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples to endow them with power on the day of Pentecost. Therefore, we can say that at the Lord’s death, He left us the church of the firstborn. The five daughters of Zelophehad therefore represent the church. Being five daughters means that the church is born by grace through faith which is the significance of the number five.

Luk 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

The names of the daughters of Zelophehad reveal to us the process the church goes through to become mature to receive an inheritance. The first daughter’s name Mahlah means ‘disease.’ We start our walk with the Lord as a diseased person. That is, we were burdened by sin. The second daughter’s name is “Noah” which means rest or relief. It is when Christ comes to us that we begin to experience relief or rest in Him. The third daughter’s name is “Hoglah” which means a partridge, a kind of bird. It is when we find rest in Him that we are likened to a bird that has escaped from the snare of the fowler.

Psa 124:6  Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth!
Psa 124:7  We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped!
Psa 124:8  Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

The fourth daughter of Zelophehad is called “Milcah” which means “Queen.” Since the Lord is the king of Kings, being His bride means we are queens. The fifth daughter is called “Tirzah” which means “Delight.” On that day that we shall sit on thrones with our Lord Jesus Christ, that will be a delight!!

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Num 27:2  And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
Num 27:3  Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons. 

The daughters of Zelophehad told Moses and Eleazer that their father did not have sons and was not part of those who rebelled against Moses and Aaron. However, he died in his own sin. The statement “he died in his own sin” must be interrogated. According to Strong, the statement can mean sin or the punishment for sin. Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB) also affirms that the statement could also mean ‘punishment for sin’ as shown below:

H2399
חטא
chêṭ’
BDB Definition:
1) sin
1a) sin
1b) guilt for sin
1c) punishment for sin

As we indicated, Zelophehad symbolizes the Lord Jesus Christ. As shown in verse 4, Zelophehad not rebelling against Moses and Aaron symbolizes the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ never rebelled against God, who is symbolized by Moses and Aaron. As explained, Zelophehad dying in his own sin means that our Lord Jesus Christ died as a result of the punishment of sin, as the sins of the whole world were laid on Him. As indicated, Zelophehad having no sons implies that while Jesus was here on earth, he did not convert anybody.

Luk 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 
Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Num 27:4  Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father.
Num 27:5  And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.

The daughters of Zelophehad petitioned Moses and Eleazer to consider giving them an inheritance since it was not the fault of their father for not having sons but only daughters. At Christ’s death, He gave birth to the church, which is represented by the five daughters. However, before He died, not any of the disciples was converted to become a son.

One good thing about Moses is that he consulted the Lord in everything. When this matter was brought before him by the daughters of Zelophehad, he did not use his own discretion to judge the matter. As the Lord’s elect, we need to depend wholly on the Lord for guidance and not rely on our own understanding.

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 
Pro 3:7  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Num 27:6  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Num 27:7  The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them. 
Num 27:8  And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter. 
Num 27:9  And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren.
Num 27:10  And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father’s brethren.
Num 27:11  And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses.

The bride of Christ or the church of the firstborn, represented by the daughters of Zelophehad, shall surely be rewarded with an inheritance. Verses 9 to 11 all say the same thing but in different perspectives. We, His elect, are Jesus’ brethren, His sons and at the same time, His kinsmen that are next to Him of His family and therefore are destined to receive an inheritance. 

Heb 2:11  For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Heb 2:12  Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

The time the church of the firstborn shall receive an inheritance is when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. That is at the time of the first resurrection.

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

The Death of Moses

Num 27:12  And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel. 
Num 27:13  And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.
Num 27:14  For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

Abarim means “regions beyond.” It represents a mountain or range of mountains on the east of the Jordan, in the land of Moab, opposite to Jericho. Mount Nebo where Moses died is part of this range. This means that it is while we are at Babylon, operating under the law of Moses that the Lord started to open our eyes to see. That is when we started seeing more clearly what our inheritance is all about. In verse 13, it is after Moses has seen the land that he was to die. This implies that it is when we begin to see by faith the glory to be revealed that we die to the law, as the law has finished its work in our lives.

Heb 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

The law, together with its ordinances, all died within us in faith as we embraced by faith the joy that is set before us. In verse 14, the death of Moses was because he rebelled against the commandment of the Lord. As a result, he could not honor the Lord as holy at the water of Meribah. What this signifies is that through the law, we cannot honor the Lord as holy, and therefore, the law must be done away with (die) to give way to the law of the Spirit of life which sets us free from the law of sin and death (the law of Moses).

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 
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.

It is insightful to note that Meribah means ‘contention.’ The water of Meribah therefore means the water of contention. The law of the Spirit of life, which Jesus came to proclaim (symbolized by the water at Meribah), will always be in contention with the law of Moses, which brings condemnation.

Num 27:15  And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying,
Num 27:16  Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 
Num 27:17  Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

Physically, the death of Moses left a vacuum, and without another person to lead the Lord’s people, they were going to be like sheep without a shepherd. That situation is described in the Book of Judges, where every man did what was right in his own eyes as there was no king in Israel during the time of the judges.

Jdg 21:25  In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Spiritually, when the law of sin and death is done away with, as we begin our journey of faith, there is the need for another law to be in place to guide the Lord’s elect, lest they falter. This new law is the law of the Spirit of life which sets us free from the law of sin and death. Our lives in Babylon were characterized by being led by the law of sin and death. Since we were helpless as far as the flesh was concerned, we lived according to the flesh which brought condemnation. It is when faith came that this law of sin and death was done away with, and we began our journey based on the law of the Spirit of life which Jesus started teaching in Matthew chapter 5 (the sermon on the mount).

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. 
Gal 3:26  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 

Rom 8:12  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 
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.
Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Num 27:18  And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; 
Num 27:19  And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.

The name Joshua means ‘the Lord is salvation.’ It is insightful to note that the name Nun, the father of Joshua means ‘perpetuity.’ We know that it is only God the Father who can be described as perpetuity. That is the same as the accolade “ancient of days.”

Psa 90:1  A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. 
Psa 90:2  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting (perpetuity), thou art God. 

Dan 7:13  I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 
Dan 7:14  And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

We can therefore say that Joshua spiritually represents the Lord Jesus Christ. The doing away with the law of Moses or the law of sin and death is the beginning of our walk by faith in Christ Jesus. In other words, we start to operate under a new law of the Spirit which sets us free from the law of Moses. Operating under the law of the Spirit of life is the same as being in Christ. In verse 18, Joshua being a man in whom is the spirit is another way of saying that this new law in Christ is of the spirit.

In verse 19, being set before Eleazer the Priest and all the congregation to be given the charge of leading the people of Israel signifies our Lord in His role as both a High Priest and a leader of the people.

Heb 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 
Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Num 27:20  And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. 
Num 27:21  And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

In verse 20, the Lord asked Moses to put some of his honor on Moses so that all the congregation may be obedient to him. In this case, Moses represents God who had put some of His honor on Jesus. This scenario is depicted clearly in the case of Joseph on whom Pharoah put some of his honor when he made him ruler of Egypt.

Gen 41:41  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
Gen 41:42  And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 
Gen 41:43  And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.

As we are aware, all these things which are written are for our sakes to let us know that the Lord has put His honor on His elect, although in this life, we are not honored before the people. However, in the fullness of time, all humanity, represented in verse 20 by the children of Israel, may be obedient to us. 

Joh 5:23  That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

In verse 21, Eleazer the Priest shall ask for counsel for Joshua using the judgment of the Urim before the Lord. Jesus, represented here by Joshua, is endowed with the spirit of wisdom and revelation as He is filled with the Holy Spirit by God to guide Him in leading His people.

Isa 11:1  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 
Isa 11:2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; 
Isa 11:3  And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 

In our case, the Lord has also given us the Spirit which intercedes on our behalf to lead us to His will in our lives.

Rom 8:26  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Rom 8:27  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

The fact that at Joshua’s word, the people of Israel shall go out, and at his word, they shall come in is another way of saying that it is the Lord’s word which sustains all things.

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;

Num 27:22  And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: 
Num 27:23  And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

One significant lesson we need to pay attention to about Moses is that he always did what the Lord commanded him to do.  That is why the word of the Lord bears testimony to the fact that Moses was faithful in all his house. In verses 22 and 23, Moses here represents God, and Joshua symbolizes our Lord Jesus Christ who was anointed mightily by our Father God and was faithful over His own house; whose house we are.

Heb 3:1  Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Heb 3:2  Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. 
Heb 3:3  For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. 
Heb 3:4  For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
Heb 3:5  And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; 
Heb 3:6  But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

May we also be counted faithful even as we follow Christ. Amen!!

The Book of Romans, Part 17 – Life in the Spirit

[Study Aired October 31, 2023]

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 
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. 
Rom 8:3 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: 
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 
Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

In our previous study, we examined Romans 7:17-25 and how it is beautifully complemented by 1 Corinthians 15:50-58. Let’s break down the key points for clarity:

Limitations of Our Physical Nature: The passage “Flesh and Blood Cannot Inherit the Kingdom” highlight the inherent limitations of our mortal bodies when it comes to inheriting God’s kingdom. It underscores that our earthly nature, tainted by sin, falls short of the perfection required for God’s kingdom.

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Transformation through Christ: “Transformation and Victory through Christ” describes a future moment when we as believers will experience a profound change, receiving incorruptible and immortal bodies. This transformation symbolizes the victory over sin and death that Christ made possible through his resurrection.

Sin as the Root Cause: “The Sting of Death is Sin” echoes the themes of Romans 7:17-25, emphasizing that sin is the root of the problem. The passage also recognizes the role of the law in highlighting and intensifying this dynamic.

Triumph through Jesus Christ: The section on “Victory through Jesus Christ” concludes with an expression of triumph and gratitude to God for granting victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ. This aligns with the message of hope and redemption in Romans 7 and assures us that our efforts in the Lord are not in vain.

In summary, Romans 7:17-25 delves into our struggle with sin, acknowledging the ongoing inner conflict. It emphasizes the need for Christ’s intervention to overcome our sinful nature. In contrast, 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 underlines our belief in the transformative power of Christ and the ultimate victory over sin and death. It assures us of a future transformation and eternal life in God’s kingdom. Collectively, these passages offer a comprehensive view of our journey, contrasting the enduring struggle with sin with the victory and hope that faith in Christ ultimately results.

The contrast outlined here is crucial in our Christian journey. It’s about the choice we make between following a worldly, fleshly mindset that leads to negative outcomes like death, and adopting a spiritual perspective that brings us life and inner peace. We’re going to explore the significance of being guided by the Spirit, grasp the opposition of the carnal mind to God, and embrace the transformative influence of the Spirit in our lives. This chapter sheds light on the path to a life filled with the Spirit of God and the promise of resurrection. It’s a life characterized by spiritual growth and freedom.

Romans 8 paints a vivid contrast between life in the flesh and life in the Spirit, revealing the remarkable liberty from the law of sin and death that comes through Christ. It elucidates how Christ’s redemptive work has fulfilled what the law could not, condemning sin in the flesh and enabling believers to live according to the righteousness of the law.

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 

Transformation through Christ: “Transformation and Victory through Christ” describes a future moment when we as believers will experience a profound change, receiving incorruptible and immortal bodies. This transformation symbolizes the victory over sin and death that Christ made possible through his resurrection.

Sin as the Root Cause: “The Sting of Death is Sin” echoes the themes of Romans 7:17-25, emphasizing that sin is the root of the problem. The passage also recognizes the role of the law in highlighting and intensifying this dynamic.

Triumph through Jesus Christ: The section on “Victory through Jesus Christ” concludes with an expression of triumph and gratitude to God for granting victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ. This aligns with the message of hope and redemption in Romans 7 and assures us that our efforts in the Lord are not in vain.

In summary, Romans 7:17-25 delves into our struggle with sin, acknowledging the ongoing inner conflict. It emphasizes the need for Christ’s intervention to overcome our sinful nature. In contrast, 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 underlines our belief in the transformative power of Christ and the ultimate victory over sin and death. It assures us of a future transformation and eternal life in God’s kingdom. Collectively, these passages offer a comprehensive view of our journey, contrasting the enduring struggle with sin with the victory and hope from which faith in Christ ultimately results.

As we continue into Romans Chapter 8, we embark on a profound exploration of the transformative power of life in the Spirit. The passage begins with a resounding declaration that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, provided they walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8 paints a vivid contrast between life in the flesh and life in the Spirit, revealing the remarkable liberty from the law of sin and death that comes through Christ. It elucidates how Christ’s redemptive work has fulfilled what the law could not, condemning sin in the flesh and enabling believers to live according to the righteousness of the law.

The contrast outlined here is crucial in our Christian journey. It’s about the choice we make between following a worldly, fleshly mindset that leads to negative outcomes like death, and adopting a spiritual perspective that brings us life and inner peace. We’re going to explore the significance of being guided by the Spirit, grasp the opposition of the carnal mind to God, and embrace the transformative influence of the Spirit in our lives. This chapter sheds light on the path to a life filled with the Spirit of God and the promise of resurrection. It’s a life characterized by spiritual growth and freedom.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

What a profound declaration we find in Romans 8:1! It unequivocally states that for those who are in Christ Jesus and walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit, there is no condemnation. In other words, there is no judgment, blame, or punishment awaiting us in the lake of fire. This verse reveals a truth that should bring immense comfort to us as believers. We are free from the shackles of condemnation through our faith in Christ.

Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Romans 8:33-34 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Colossians 2:13-14 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.

Hebrews 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

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

Verse 2 of Romans 8 explains a powerful principle. The “law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” has granted believers freedom from the “law of sin and death.” This freedom means that the spiritual principles of life in Christ have overridden the consequences of sin and death. It is a liberation that every believer should deeply appreciate.

John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

2 Corinthians 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.

Romans 8:3 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.

Verse 3 holds a critical revelation. The law, hindered by man’s weakness, couldn’t accomplish what was needed. So, God, in His infinite wisdom, sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh. Christ’s mission was to condemn sin in the flesh, to deal with its root cause. It is through His sacrifice that sin’s power is broken, setting the stage for the righteousness of the law to be fulfilled in us.

Romans 7:24-25 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.

Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.

Hebrews 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Verse 4 underscores the profound aim of Christ’s mission. The righteousness of the law, through His sacrifice, is realized in us. This realization is dependent on a fundamental condition: that we live not according to our sinful nature but according to the Spirit. It serves as a reminder that our alignment with the Spirit is indispensable for achieving this fulfillment.

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

2 Corinthians 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.

Ezekiel 36:26-27 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, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Romans 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

These verses collectively support the idea that fulfillment of the righteousness of the law is achieved through Christ’s work and the shift from living according to the flesh to walking in the Spirit.

Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

This verse sets a clear demarcation between those who live in the flesh and those who walk in the Spirit. Those who prioritize the flesh are consumed with its desires, while those led by the Spirit focus on spiritual matters. It is a reminder that our thoughts and actions align with our predominant nature, whether carnal or spiritual.

Galatians 5:19-23 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies… But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.

Romans 8:13-14 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. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

This verse presents a stark contrast between a carnal mindset and a spiritual one. To be preoccupied with the carnal mind leads to death, not just physical but especially spiritual death. Conversely, to be spiritually minded brings life and peace. It highlights the profound impact our mindset has on our well-being and present mindset.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

John 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.

Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

This verse unveils a profound spiritual reality. The carnal mind is not merely neutral; it is actively hostile to God. It doesn’t willingly submit to God’s law, and in fact, it cannot do so. This enmity between the carnal mind and God’s ways is a stark reminder of the deep spiritual divide that Christ’s work seeks to bridge.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

1 Corinthians 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.

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Ephesians 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.

Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

This verse underscores a fundamental truth. Those who are entrenched in the flesh, consumed by their carnal nature, cannot please God. The stark contrast between the flesh and the spirit reveals the necessity of spiritual transformation to find favor in God’s sight.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

1 Corinthians 10:5-6 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

1 Thessalonians 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.

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

In this profound verse, Paul delineates the distinction between those who walk in the flesh and those who walk in the Spirit. It is a pivotal moment in the passage, emphasizing that believers, indwelt by the Spirit of God, belong to Christ. The presence of the Spirit within us is a defining mark of our identity as His. It signifies the transformative work that has taken place, turning us away from the dominion of the flesh and toward a life led by the Spirit. To be “none of His” underscores the significance of the Spirit’s indwelling in the our life as a believer, marking us as a true member of Christ’s body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Romans 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Here, the apostle Paul unveils a profound truth: Christ’s divine indwelling has a profound impact on our existence. Our old self, symbolized by “the body”, is considered dead because of sin. It is a recognition of our former state of separation from God due to sin’s influence. However, the presence of the Spirit within us is a testament to the life-giving righteousness that Christ’s sacrifice has provided. It’s a transformation from a state of spiritual death to one of life, where we now walk in the righteousness and holiness of Christ.

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

Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

In this climactic verse, Paul illuminates the astounding work of the Spirit within us. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, signifying the ultimate victory over death and sin, now resides in us. This indwelling Spirit has the power to bring life even within our mortal bodies. It is a testament to the transformative and life-giving work of the Spirit. As believers, we anticipate the promise of resurrection, not just in the future but as a current reality in our lives, all because of the Spirit’s presence within us.

1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Ezekiel 37:14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.

In these verses, we witness the transformative power of the indwelling Spirit, marking us as Christ’s own, bringing life to our mortal bodies, and assuring us of the hope of resurrection. It is a profound revelation of the Spirit’s work in our lives, pointing to the ultimate victory in Christ.

In this powerful passage of Romans 8:1-11, Paul draws a clear line between those who walk in the flesh and those who walk in the spirit. The verse boldly proclaims that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, provided they do not yield to the flesh but walk by the spirit. It is a declaration of the freedom from sin’s guilt and penalty believers in Christ now possess.

Paul further emphasizes the profound role of the spirit that not only liberates believers from the law of sin and death, but also fulfills the righteousness of the law within them. The spirit is the transformative agent, leading believers to a life governed by God’s desires rather than the carnal mind. It is a journey from death to life, from enmity with God to a harmonious relationship with Him.

John 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (NASB)

The Book of Romans, Part 16 – Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me

[Study Aired October 24, 2023]

Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 
Rom 7:8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 
Rom 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Rom 7:10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 
Rom 7:11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 
Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 
Rom 7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. 
Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 
Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 
Rom 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 
Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 

Our previous study on Romans 7:1-6 serves as a foundation for understanding the broader context of Romans 7:7-25. That study established important concepts related to our relationship with the law and the transition from the old covenant to the new covenant through Christ. Here’s how it relates to Romans 7:7-25.

In both passages, Paul uses analogies to convey spiritual truths. In Romans 7:1-6, he employs the analogy of marriage to explain the change in our relationship with the law. In Romans 7:7-25, Paul uses the concept of the law to illustrate the inner struggles and conflicts we experience as believers.

The earlier passage (Rom 7:1-6) emphasizes the freedom which believers have from the Mosaic law through Christ’s death and resurrection. This freedom from the law is a recurring theme throughout Romans 7, as it’s foundational to understanding the inner struggles Paul describes in Romans 7:7-25.

In both passages, the role of the law is explored. In Romans 7:1-6, the law is presented as a restrictive force that can lead to sin and death. In Romans 7:7-25, Paul further unpacks the relationship between the law and sin, demonstrating how the law can highlight sin in our lives and create inner conflicts.

This study emphasizes the idea of being spiritually minded and understanding the deeper spiritual truths behind the law. This perspective is crucial in connecting it to Romans 7:7-25. In these verses, Paul describes the inner struggles and conflicts he faced as a believer, which are universal experiences for all mankind trying to live according to their spiritual beliefs as we become the new man.

Both passages underline the transition from the old covenant, represented by the Mosaic law, to the new covenant in Christ. Romans 7:1-6 explains how believers are “married” to Christ, while Romans 7:7-25 explores the inner transformation and the ongoing struggle to live according to the new law of Christ.

Overall, these passages together provide a comprehensive perspective on the relationship between believers and the law, the freedom found in Christ, and the ongoing spiritual journey involving struggles and inner conflicts. They emphasize the need for a deep understanding of the spirit of the law and the importance of being spiritually minded as we navigate our faith and our relationship with God.

Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 
Rom 7:8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

Paul here is trying to explain that the law serves as a compass, helping us recognize what is right and wrong. It’s a way of understanding our actions and desires. In this way, it can be seen as a helpful guide for our spiritual journey.

Exo 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.

Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

2Pe 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children.

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.

These verses speak to the nature of sin, how it arises through desires (concupiscence), and its destructive consequences. They shed light on the spiritual struggles we face in dealing with sinful desires and temptations.

Rom 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 
Rom 7:10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 
Rom 7:11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 

Paul’s words illustrate the inner conflict we all experience when trying to adhere to the law and beliefs. He’s expressing how the introduction of the law confronted him with his own imperfections and the difficulties he faced in following it.

Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 
Rom 7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. 

Paul is essentially saying that the intention behind the law is to guide us toward goodness and righteousness. However, our inner struggles and shortcomings make it clear where we, of ourselves, cannot perform that which is good.

Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 
Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 
Rom 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 
Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Paul’s words convey the universal struggle between our ideals and our actions. This is a reminder that it’s common to grapple with our internal conflicts, and it’s essential to approach ourselves with compassion and understanding during these times.

Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

The above verses highlight the ongoing struggle between our ideals and our actions, reflecting our experience of wrestling with internal conflicts, temptations, and our own desires.

Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 

Paul expresses his desire to do good and his frustration with the constant presence of sin. He acknowledges the inner battle and ultimately expresses gratitude for the hope provided by Jesus Christ.

Paul’s journey, as described here, illustrates mankind’s experience of grappling with our inner conflicts and carnality. It highlights the importance of finding hope and support in our faith and beliefs when facing these challenges.

These verses from Romans serve as a reminder of the commonality of these struggles and the need for compassion, both for us and others, as we navigate them. We all desire to do good. This is impossible without Christ. We can do nothing of ourselves.

Mat 19:23-26 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 

Christ is the only one that can deliver us from this body of death.

Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Returning to Romans 7:17,

Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 

In this verse, Paul is addressing the tension between his inner desire to do what is right and his acknowledgment of the presence of sin within him. He’s essentially saying that the sins he commits are not a reflection of his new man. Instead, they are the result of the sinful nature that dwells within him.

Paul makes a clear distinction between his new man, the “I,” and the presence of sin within him. He is asserting that the sins he commits are not a reflection of his new man. He’s effectively separating his identity from the sinful actions he’s describing.

By stating that “sin dwelleth in me,” Paul is acknowledging the ongoing presence of a sinful nature within him. Despite being saved through faith in Christ, we still grapple with the remnants of our sinful nature.

This verse underscores the inner conflict experienced by us as believers. Paul’s words resonate with those who find ourselves torn between a genuine desire to do what is right, as guided by our faith, and our struggle with the influence of sin. It highlights mankind’s experience of wrestling with inner conflicts, temptations, and moral imperfections.

While Paul acknowledges the struggle, it’s also important to note that his acknowledgment of the presence of sin within him does not lead to condemnation. The context of Romans 7 is a prelude to the victory and hope that is found in Jesus Christ, as emphasized throughout the New Testament. In this context, Paul is laying the groundwork for the message of salvation and redemption through faith in Christ.

Ultimately, Romans 7:17 captures the essence of our inner spiritual conflict that we face. It’s a recognition of the tension between our innate desire to do good and the presence of sin within us. This verse sets the stage for the message of hope and redemption, highlighting the central role of faith in Christ in finding victory over this internal struggle.

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.

Conscience – The Inner Voice of Accusing and Excusing – “… and Jesus Cried”. (Rom 2:15, Luke 19:41-44 ) Part 1

Study Aired October 14, 2023

Conscience

[ kon-shuhns ]
See synonyms for: conscience, conscienceless on Thesaurus.com
noun

1. the inner sense of what is right or wrong in one’s conduct or motives, impelling one toward right action:to follow the dictates of conscience.
2. the complex of ethical and moral principles that controls or inhibits the actions or thoughts of an individual.

1. an inhibiting sense of what is prudent:I’d eat another piece of pie but my conscience would bother me.

Synonyms [some] for Conscience:

• • Scruples
  • Morals
  • Compunction
  • Mind
  • Ethics

• Inner Voice

• • Morality
  • Principles
  • Shame

• Awareness

• Spiritual being.

(All synonyms we will soon see match E-Sword’s equivalences.)

From my earliest memories and all the way until physically backed-up disciplines changed to verbal corrections, I got the first withering taste of an evil conscience at about age eight. Prior to that time of my conscience being pricked, the normal parental chastisements were taken in my stride. I was the middle child with an elder sister and a younger brother. It seemed that we didn’t get too many straps across the backside or legs to pull us into gear since the three of us were mostly convinced of change by an eye-to-eye reprimand. We mostly never repeated an offense to require further disciplinary action. 

However, at about age eight, I got the first real taste of consciously concealing and lying, and I got the utterly foreign emotion of crushing devastation. My insides felt like lead. 

You see, I loved anything that flew with inherent purpose: model aircraft and gliders and their real equivalents, along with birds and rockets. Following school one afternoon, while waiting for my bus to leave, I was mesmerized by a teacher on the oval throwing a boomerang quite some distance, and to my amazement, its perfect return to be caught midair with the teacher barely adjusting his step.

Soon after, upon visiting my uncle and aunt’s farm for a family lunch, I saw on a boomerang on the cabinet of their home. In the company of my brother and still younger cousin, and with my conscience dismissing me otherwise for not asking my aunt, I took that flying marvel outside for my sibling’s lesson in aeronautics, fully intending to return it unnoticed to its place. With the imagined sound of distant didgeridoos, I took a classic aboriginal stance and confidently hurled that device with all my might. A kitchen cutting board would have flown with more elegance; it immediately flap-flopped and crashed, breaking a ‘wing’. It was not aerodynamic, but my aunt’s son, the cousin, told me that it was an expensive and treasured display given to his mother by a friend. The looks in my brother’s and cousin’s eyes added to my devastation as I quietly returned the boomerang to its place on the cabinet fitted back together as one piece. 

I agonized for hours in silence, my conscience wanting to tell my aunt of my humiliation and yet my lying and hiding seemed less confronting. Later in the day, I eventually did come clean and told her with barely restrained gulping. She airily dismissed the affair and told me that it wasn’t of great value but a cheap souvenir from Central Australia. Nonetheless, my conscience for being shifty haunted me for years as I relived the devastation of an evil conscience. 

I understood for the first time from Presbyterian Sunday School (the Worldwide Church of God being too far to attend in those early days) the similar devastation Adam and Eve must have felt for disobeying God, their parent. They, too, tried to hide the imagined origin of their iniquity and themselves. The occasion was a God-designed spiritually inherent phenomenon that emerged to identify the humiliation of sin by weirdly pinpointing our pudenda as the origin of the entire affair and is only seen in clarity with spiritual eyes. My nakedness was not hidden in my pants but an accusing spirit that most disturbingly attempted to excuse for peace ~ and didn’t.

For the children that we are, if Adam and Eve’s sin weren’t so serious for all of humanity, their account and mine are quite comical. The reality is that this is precisely what humanity does; it trivializes sins with a wink and nudge and makes a mockery of God’s commands. Universally, in the family, church and government, the foundation of decent society, lies are downplayed, and good conscience is seared. Seared skin forms a callus that resists pain upon subsequent burning, particularly for one’s mind with the Lord’s word. The result is humanity becomes more the spiritually dumb, brute beast he is.

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;

Ecc 8:10  And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.
Ecc 8:11  Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

Lackadaisical chastenings insidiously grow layers of a toughened conscience.

Ecc 8:12  Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: 
Ecc 8:13  But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God. 

Seen above in Ecclesiastes 8:12-13 are both the positive and negative dynamics of a good and evil conscience. The result of good conscience provides the peace of the Lord’s ‘light yoke’ by him judging himself by accusing (judging himself) his conscience, for him to go forth to build his life more richly in the Lord’s word. Everyone detests being accused by others, yet being given the gift of judging oneself is a massive step in spiritual development.

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

As understandably pretentious as it sounds, nobody outside the Body of Christ can effectively instruct the Lord’s Christs. They can inspire truthful concepts overwhelmingly only discerned by the Lord’s own, yet the non-spiritual man will, at best, vaguely see in spirit and truth and likely regress to uphold his own righteousness. Without the Lord adding to his spirit to connect with His spirit within, it is impossible for the embryonic called ones to grow in spirit (1Co 13:12, 1Co 2:12-26). 

Nonetheless, it rains on the just and the unjust alike. The unrighteous with a seared conscience who seemingly escapes chastisement likewise goes forth to richly live unrighteously, witless or minimally with uncertainty that his judgment is far off in the future. Like Esau, excused by his conscience, he dismisses his inheritance for the pleasure of satisfying his temporary physical hunger for maybe a miserable fifteen minutes as opposed to the unutterable eternal richness in a Husband. If we, as Esau, had listened to his accusing conscience, he would have realised he was utterly deluded in prolonging his earthly days by short-term pain in lieu of mental torture in the Lake of Fire that will seem an eternity, an unwanted prolonging of days. Quickly acknowledging one’s sin is always the least torturous option.

Gen 3:6  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Likewise, I saw that the boomerang was good for flying and a chance to demonstrate my knowledge of flight and be wise to my siblings. As the elder of the party, I unwittingly and unconsciously to my brother and cousin, incited shiftiness and lying in them that no doubt reinforced that inherent nature for a little more hardening of their hearts for their later experiences (A little leaven leavens the entire lump – Gal 5:9).

Gen 3:7  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

Bam! There you go with that verse and the first case for humanity, the demonstration of an accusing conscience: Adam and Eve. “They knew that they were naked.” Their leaden, accusing conscience didn’t let up there. They very soon heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden and causing a malignancy of excusing evil by vainly hiding and then blaming.

Gen 3:8  And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 
Gen 3:9  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 
Gen 3:10  And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 

The nature of the Beast we are, and out of fear, is to hide the sin that causes us to mortifyingly feel naked and vainly mitigate humiliation. Exposed nakedness results in a genetic, God-created, alarming and impulsive emotion to cover up, to cover the “sin of nakedness” being learned by these two young nudies. Now, all sorts of marital accusations and justifications bent their ‘spiritual genetics’ for mankind’s torturous journey and ultimate rulership over sin.

Gen 3:11  And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

A sperm cell entering an egg instantly, as seen under an electron microscope, generates a flash of light energy, initiating new life. So, too, does an evil or righteous spirit. Eve’s conscience, entertained by the Serpent and with a God-blinded conscience, inherently desired to expand her (poetically speaking) highly receptive blank-page-mind capacity for knowledge. Her conscience lit up with a different spirit to her Lord’s to know good and evil. She was so excited she had to show Adam her newly acquired brilliance, and he, as do all besotted husbands, did eat. Then, the Lord unchained their conscience to accuse them of disobeying their parents (Christ and His Father). Their accusing and excusing game made them aware of a new and devastating emotion of conscience for mankind to use and abuse all the way into the Eighth Day of an analogical eight thousand years of re-creation.

Gen 3:12  And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. [… continuing accusations and excuses…]
Gen 3:13  And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The Serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

At this point, we will study the meaning of “conscience” – G4893.

Conscience
G4893.
Original: συνείδησις
– Transliteration: suneidesis
– Phonetic: soon-i’-day-sis
– Definition: 

1. the consciousness of anything 
2. the soul [spirit] as distinguishing between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter, commending one, condemning the other 
3. the conscience 

– Origin: from a prolonged form of G4894
– TDNT entry: 21:58,1
– Part(s) of speech: Noun Feminine 
– Strong’s: From a prolonged form of G4894; co-perception that is moral consciousness: – conscience. 

Total KJV Occurrences: 32 

• conscience, 31 [times]
• sake, 3 [times]

G4894.
Original: συνείδω
– Transliteration: suneido
– Phonetic: soon-i’-do
– Definition: 

1. to see (have seen) together with others 
2. 2. to see (have seen) in one’s mind with one’s self 
3. to understand, perceive, comprehend,
4. to know with another 
5. to know in one’s mind or with one’s self, to be conscious of 

– Origin: from G4862 and G1492
– TDNT entry: 7:898,*
– Part(s) of speech: Verb 
– Strong’s: From G4862 and G1492; to see completely; used (like its primary) only in two past tenses respectively meaning to understand or become aware and to be conscious or (clandestinely) informed of: – consider know be privy be ware of,

Total KJV Occurrences: 4

• Considered (1)
• Know ((1)
• Privy (1)

Of the thirty-one occurrences “conscience” is spoken in scriptures, its origin is from those expressions in Greek: 4983 ‘to be aware, to consciously know the spirit of truth or error.’

Adam and Eve set mankind on the path to knowing the difference between a good and evil conscience by obedience or disobedience to His word. Regardless of the upcoming ‘endless’ experiences of committing different crimes, they now inherently have their consciences righteously or unrighteously accusing or excusing them since they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A fullness of evil experiences was now set to exponentially assail the conscience of mankind. It all is an essential element in the beginning of re-creating a New Adam straight out of the gates of Eden.

Regardless of not knowing God’s laws, even the heathen know the difference between good and evil. All they have to experience is someone doing to them what inherently (instigated by Adam’s sin) outrages them if the same was done to them. Their conscience accuses or excuses them righteously or, for their own selfish welfare, excuses them and almost always impulsively hides in shame and self-righteousness.

1Jn 4:6  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Rom 7:6  But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. 

We are being made aware of the spirit of a good conscience by the Law.

Rom 7:7  What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 

Since Adam, the Lord is building a temporary temple within each of us to be destroyed ~ wryly, the original ‘strawman’ the Lord constructs and destroys by His will as the Master Potter to do as He pleases for our learning.

Our conscience, therefore, causes us to be aware of many underlying states of awareness of spirit that accuse us for subsequent and joyful compliance to the commands of Christ or, in contrast, the Beast within excuses us. Satan is the brilliant construct of God, epitomizing His nemeses, to bring about man’s awareness of his evil conscience since Satan is our God-designed second and preferred father from Eden (Joh 8:44). He is the arch-accuser, inspiring excuses, teaching his children a more relished way of interacting. The Serpent consummates us with his evil spirit that so easily connects with decaying flesh. He is a tool created specifically for our re-creating in our Lord’s perfection.

Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 
Rev 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

The Lord’s little flock are gladly being accused right now and, by our Lord’s sanctification, made to acknowledge their sins, thus excusing righteously.

Isa 1:17  Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 
Isa 1:18  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 
Isa 1:19  If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 
Isa 1:20  But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. 

Rom 2:1  Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 
Rom 2:2  But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them [most eminently, us!] which commit such things. 
Rom 2:3  And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? [NO, we don’t! We welcome judgment.]
Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? [… and a good conscience]
Rom 2:5  But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath [through excuses] against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 
Rom 2:6  Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Rom 2:7  To them who by patient continuance in well doing [their conscience not condemning them] seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 
Rom 2:8  But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, [… an evil conscience that brings…]
Rom 2:9  Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the [spiritual] Jew first, and also of the Gentile [coming along after];
Rom 2:10  But glory, honour, and peace [via a good conscience], to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 
Rom 2:11  For there is no respect of persons with God. 
Rom 2:12  For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 
Rom 2:13  (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 
Rom 2:14  For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15  Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
Rom 2:16  In the day when God shall judge the secrets [their conscience; their inner heart] of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. 

At this point, and a temporary break in Romans 2, I wish to introduce our brother Saul of Tarsus and his good conscience, even while breathing murderous threats against the Lord’s budding Elect. Saul was a devout Jew whose piety and passion for the Old Covenant Lord was peerless. His passion for the Law of Moses was founded in its outward administration, and he did it with all his murderous might with a near-perfect conscience.

Act 9:1  And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 
Act 9:2  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem [for a jolly decent and most satisfying stoning of these miserable heretical Christians!]
Act 9:3  And as he [Saul] journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 
Act 9:4  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 
Act 9:5  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks [G2759 – 1. A sting]. 

You see, even Saul, who had the Law of Moses soundly in his heart with a good conscience, experienced the dichotomy of something neglecting that conscience. Already, at some undisclosed time, the holy spirit began to “prick” his conscience and create an awareness of an evil conscience wanting to rip apart all that he had studiously learned at the feet of Gamaliel.

Act 22:1  Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence [in good conscience!] which I make now unto you.
Act 22:2  (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,) 
Act 22:3  I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
Act 22:4  And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. [It is not a long shot to reason that he also killed children as the Law required in its “perfect manner of the law of the fathers;” (1Sa 15:3)]

Similarly to Job, Saul kept the Law nearly perfectly and, in doing so, had a clear conscience before God. Nonetheless, following his conversion and being renamed Paul, he no doubt felt dreadful remorse because of the pricks caused by the new creation within, his spiritual conscience (conversely, a formally physically perceived conscience is justified as absolving physically and thus excusing and innocent). Upon looking back in his mind and seeing the pitiful, anguished faces of those men, women and children he stoned connecting pleading eyes with his, he must have surely had a Peter-like stab in his heart similar to Peter’s account of his eyes connecting with Jesus’s eyes on the balcony and before Jesus’ death. Paul killed Christians in good conscience, unaware that Christ, the Lord of both the Old and New Covenants, had made a seismic change in how the Law was now to be kept.

2Ti 1:1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 
2Ti 1:2  To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 
2Ti 1:3  I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 
2Ti 1:4  Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; 
2Ti 1:5  When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith [an unfeigned faith cannot be manifested without a good conscience] that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. 
2Ti 1:6  Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 
2Ti 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind [… that is, a good conscience of living righteously]
2Ti 1:8  Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 

Nobody can be ashamed of a mind whose underpinning can only be a good conscience.

Returning to…

Act 7:58  And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
Act 7:59  And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 
Act 7:60  And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Steven got the God-given earth-shattering understanding of Christ’s teachings; it was so conscientiously understood that it eclipsed the brutal stoning by his brethren.

Rom 2:17  Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, 
Rom 2:18  And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; 

That epiphany is what caused Steven to call out to God to not lay the charge of his murder against his brethren. Steven’s conscience connected with the Lord’s spirit and saw the excellence of the New Covenant to be kept spiritually. No doubt Paul’s later reflections further stabbed him in his heart upon recalling Steven’s powerful cry.

Jesus Christ, being God made in sinful flesh, epitomized every nuance of awareness for right and wrong since He created the mindful response termed “conscience.” Christ was painfully aware that the pinnacle of His creation in mankind which He designed to be a grievous sinning ‘machine’ constantly pricked his awareness to sin. Jesus thus felt dreadfully aware of what He created for purposeful destruction and man’s horrendous brutality towards his fellow man, particularly what was to imminently befall Jerusalem under Roman siege. He knew that mothers would be compelled to eat their own children rather than starve, and their children’s suffering increased their anguish for a harrowingly inevitable end. Jesus’ righteous conscience weighed heavily on Him for the extraordinary end-time event and outcome that His poor suffering ‘children’ of humanity didn’t yet understand. His following words are rich in good conscience ~ an agonizing principled awareness in every sentence: 

Isa 54:7  For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. 
Isa 54:8  In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

Luk 19:41  And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 
Luk 19:42  Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
Luk 19:43  For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
Luk 19:44  And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou [by design] knewest not the time of thy visitation. 

Conclusion

It is the spirit of God, His very essence of being, a micro-dose inseminated in man, that differentiates man from the beasts of the field who have no conscience. The spirit in man, and most imminently the Elect of God, gives them alone the capacity to rightly pursue a good accusing conscience that doesn’t excuse, hide or blame.

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart [the conscience of good and evil] concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. [Beasts with a conscience!]
Ecc 3:19  For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 
Ecc 3:20  All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. 
Ecc 3:21  Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? 
Ecc 3:22  Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him? 

Man’s “portion” without much of God’s spirit is to painfully learn through the evil experience of decaying flesh his utter incapacity to sustain spiritual growth in good conscience and not default to an evil conscience.

Job 32:8  But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. 

Pro 20:27  The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts [conscience] of the belly. 

1Co 2:11  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

As seen in the “Worship” study, predatory wolves have no conscience in eating their prey alive. Yet, the positive side of wolves eating their prey in the morning and feeding their ‘young’ of the Church in the evening is a hard saying for a Gentile Christian to perceive, particularly being thrown “alive” into the Lake of Fire that requires spiritual conscience to know its merciful meaning as “food” for the Elect.

The conscience in Adam and Eve was pricked by their inner voice, accusing them of wrong and classically hiding and subsequently excusing and blaming. The only “law” they knew was not to touch or look upon the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. It wasn’t a sin to see (“look upon”) where the tree was located; the looking upon it terminology indicated the spirit of lusting for the yet-to-experience evil consciousness in disobeying their God by entertaining the amplification of lust to eventuate the conscienceless act. That act boomeranged the devastating new emotion of an evil conscience and its trimmings of hiding, accusing, blaming and lying. Adam and Eve, in witless duty, placed mankind on the steel rails of always contending the knowledge of God to judge good and evil through their conscience, only without a greater portion of the holy spirit, to frustratingly default to an evil conscience.

Through God’s spirit in all mankind, Jews, spiritual Jews and Gentiles alike inherently know right from wrong. It is only given to the Lord’s Elect to worship in spirit and truth, having been given by God the spiritual keys to brightly connect with their Lord His consummative plan for them and mankind. Their brothers in Babylon have long overcome their frustration of not being able to contend their sins since they haven’t been given significantly more of God’s spirit. It is thus easier to believe that Christ did it all on the cross so that they do not have to die and are saved now ~ to them, it’s all just too hard to understand; it’s much easier to believe in Substitutional Theology.

Heb 10:21  And having an high priest over the house of God; 
Heb 10:22  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled [cleansed] from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 
Heb 10:23  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 

Next week, Lord willing, we shall look at many universal personal experiences of good and evil consciences.

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.