Zec 13:1-9  “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David”

[Study Aired August 24, 2023]

The exact expression “in that day” is used twenty times in the book of Zechariah (KJV) and the ‘day’ it is speaking of is the day of the Lord, the day when judgment comes upon us. Knowing that judgment has come upon the house of God first (1Pe 4:17) tells us that every single one of those twenty verses has an inward application for God’s elect today (Mat 4:4). There is also a dispensational application which will unfold during the thousand-year reign and ultimately in the great white throne judgment for the rest of the world. 

It is because of what God has and will accomplish in the lives of His children in this life that they will then be able to minister to the rest of the world in the ages to come, showing the same mercy that God has shown unto His kind of first fruits in this life (Rom 11:30-32). 

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

It is the joyous burden of the word of the Lord that we are given to bear today, the suffering we go through for our obedience to God’s commandments that will make it possible for us to serve the world in the next age, to the glory of God (2Ti 2:12).

2Ti 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

What we have to do today is believe and acknowledge these verses (1Pe 5:8-11, Php 1:6, Rom 11:30-32), which tell us that we are going through a process which can only be accomplished by the faith of Christ within us making it possible for us to believe, which is what it means to do the work of God (Joh 6:28-29). As God’s believing children we have to have that faith of Christ tried within us (1Pe 1:7) in order to become disciples indeed, and that is what the lifelong process of abiding and continuing in God’s word (Joh 8:31-32) by the grace through faith gift of God (Eph 2:8) will do for us in day of the Lord, or “in that day“.

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: [Luk 22:31]
1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, [Luk 22:32] knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 
1Pe 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
1Pe 5:11  To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it [Php 2:12-13] until the day of Jesus Christ: [first resurrection]

Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Here are the three times we will see this expression “in that day” used in chapter thirteen of Zechariah, all centered around the judgment that will take place in the world “in that day” and the resulting effect this judgment will have on society, which will not produce the conversion that will happen in God’s elect who are being judged today, “in that day” (1Pe 4:17).

Zec 13:1  In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

Zec 13:2  And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.

Zec 13:4  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive: 

Here are the verses for this study:

Zec 13:1  In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. 
Zec 13:2  And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.
Zec 13:3  And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth. 
Zec 13:4  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive: 
Zec 13:5  But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth. 
Zec 13:6  And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. 
Zec 13:7  Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. 
Zec 13:8  And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. 
Zec 13:9  And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God. 

——

Zec 13:1  In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. 
Zec 13:2  And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.

The “house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem” is part of those four groups that represent the whole of humanity, which we looked at in our last study found in Zechariah 12:12-13.

Zec 12:12  And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;
Zec 12:13  The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;

The “fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness” are the words of God which will be used to reveal the sins of the world and take away the uncleanness of the world [wood, hay and stubble at first] via the body of Christ where the manifest knowledge of Christ will be made known through the church (Eph 3:10). 

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,

The church will have within them the fountain or rivers of living waters that are flowing forth to accomplish God’s purpose for the nations (Rev 22:1-2).

Rev 22:1  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. [Rev 3:12, Rev 3:21, Rev 22:3, Rev 14:3, Rev 16:17]

Rev 22:2  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. [Rev 13:11-18]

Rev 13:11  And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Rev 13:12  And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. [Rev 22:2] 
Rev 13:13  And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Rev 13:14  And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Rev 13:15  And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Rev 13:16  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 
Rev 13:17  And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 
Rev 13:18  Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

The sanctification process (Joh 17:17) the elect go through in this life is the time that we receive those “living waters” as we’re washed by the word of God in which we labor (Joh 7:38, Heb 10:22, Eph 5:26, Rev 19:7-8). 

Joh 7:38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

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.

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

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 [Eph 2:8] that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

The house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem represent the religious world of Babylon today more than any other category of those four mentioned in (Zec 12:12-13), and it is in Babylon, where we learn that every unclean bird  (Rev 18:2-3) representing false doctrines that are the idols in the land [the land representing our bodies] of humanity, that they will have this happen to them: “And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.

Rev 18:2  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 
Rev 18:3  For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

Ridding all the religious temples of mankind of “the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird” is like ‘the sweeping of the house clean’ in this parable of Christ in Matthew 12:43-44, and then when Satan is loosed for a season at the end of the symbolic period of time known as the thousand year reign (Rev 20:7-8), “Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation” (Mat 12:45). 

The “seven other spirits more wicked than himself” represents the complete bondage the world will come under via the god of this world, who will once again dominate the hearts and minds of society (Rev 13:12) to accomplish what God has ordained to happen at the end of the thousand-year reign (Rev 20:7-8, Eph 1:11). 

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.

The contrast is drawn in God’s word between God’s elect, who are granted to overcome Satan, and the world that cannot make war with the beast in (Rev 12:7-11, Rev 13:4). Satan is overcome by the blood of the lamb, the very same blood or words [fountains of living water that are given] that fill the world during the thousand-year reign (Hab 2:14) of Christ and His saints but is rejected by humanity (Jer 17:13).

Rev 12:7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 
Rev 12:8  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
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. 
Rev 12:11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Rev 12:12  Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

Jer 17:13  O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.

Zec 13:3  And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth. 

If we are not begotten of God or born again (Joh  1:10-13, Joh 3:1-4) and try to “yet prophesy” in our flesh, the consequence of such actions will bring forth lies bringing about spiritual death. This verse shows us how an unconverted mind cannot leave his or her father and mother and be joined unto the Lord unless he dies (Joh 12:24), which is what must happen if we are to be born again and go on to become heirs of the kingdom of God (Joh 3:5-7, Eph 5:30-32, Gal 4:1-5). 

Joh 1:13  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. [which is the same as saying John 3:3; the opposite of this verse (Joh 1:13) would be “And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live“ you shall not be born again but shall die spiritually.]

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

Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 
Eph 5:31  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Gal 4:1  Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2  But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 
Gal 4:3  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 
Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

It’s “his father and his mother that begat him” who “shall thrust him through when he prophesieth” expressing what happens to the world during the thousand-year reign when they reject the true mother, Jerusalem above, the mother of us all [the church] (Gal 4:26) and Jesus Christ, our Father, by trying to enter into Babylon again, like Nicodemus eluded to when he asked Christ “can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb [Babylon a second time], and be born?” to which Christ replied “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again“; by coming out of Babylon not by trying to conform to it again. Christ is the only one who can stop this carnal tendency to try to reform God’s words, and the only way that can happen is to be “born again” (Joh 3:4-7, Rom 12:1-2).

Joh 3:4  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
Joh 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 
Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Rom 12:1  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. 
Rom 12:2  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.

Zec 13:4  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough^H8181 garment to deceive:
Zec 13:5  But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth. 
Zec 13:6  And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. 

The “then he shall answer” part of this verse (Zec 13:6) is when the Lord and His Christ (Rev 11:15) begin to answer the world who He is and who the body of Christ is, and what prompts this question of the world “And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands?” is a parable revealing the world does not understand the communion of the saints described in 1 Corinthians 10:16 which is connected to the wounds in Christ’s body and the lives of the elect who have filled “up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church” (Col 1:24, Eph 5:30).

1Co 10:16  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 

Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 
Eph 5:31  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh [“this is a great mystery” hidden from the world].

The world, like ourselves in our appointed time, will be ashamed of the interpretation we had of Christ expressed as “his vision, when he hath prophesied.” It is by God’s grace Christ begins to show us His wounds to our yet doubting hearts (Joh 20:27) which need to come to understand the extent of His love for us and how utterly lacking in faith we are until Christ prays for us to have it given to us of the Father (Luk 22:32, Jas 1:17). This relationship with the world during the symbolic time period of a thousand years brings about the healing of that first beast, but it is not intended to convert the nations and give them the enduring faith of Christ, which is granted first to the elect as a kind of first fruits (Joh 20:27, 1Co 10:16, Jas 1:18).

Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Jas 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 
Jas 1:18  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth [Joh 1:13], that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Although the world “shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth” and will not wear a “rough^H8181 garment” which represents the garment of Babylon that has fallen, the leprous adamic covering of their hearts will still not be converted, which is evidenced by the question “What are these wounds in thine hands?“.

H8181  śê‛âr / śa‛ar

– BDB:
hair
hair (of animals, man)
hair (of garment made of hair)

– Origin: from H8175 in the sense of dishevelling
– Strong’s: (The second form used in Isa_7:20); from H8175 in the sense of dishevelling;
hair (as if tossed or bristling): – hair (-y) X rough.  Total KJV Occurrences: 28 

hair, 22
 Lev_13:3; Lev_13:4; Lev_13:10; Lev_13:20; Lev_13:25; Lev_13:26; Lev_13:30; Lev_13:31; Lev_13:32; Lev_13:36; Lev_13:37; Lev_14:8; Lev_14:9; Num_6:5; Num_6:18; Jdg_16:22; 2Sa_14:26; Ezr_9:3; Son_4:1; Son_6:5; Isa_7:20; Eze_16:7 

hairs, 1
Lev_13:21

hairy, 3
Gen_25:25;  2Ki_1:8 ; Psa_68:21 

rough, 1
Zec_13:4

Deu 4:28  And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.

Rev 9:20  And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: 
Rev 9:21  Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

The world at that time will say “I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth“, which is an acknowledgement at this point that they are yet carnal beasts who have been taking care of Christ’s other fold (Joh 10:16), and have not been the shepherds who had been taking care of Christ’s little flock, His remnant (Rom 11:5, Mat 22:14), who are in this age being saved by grace through faith (Luk 12:32, Eph 2:8). God’s elect are called out of “the house of my friends” (Psa 88:18) in order to be partakers of His sufferings in this age (1Co 10:16, Col 1:24). 

Joh 10:16  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 

Psa 88:18  Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.

Zec 13:7  Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. 

On one hand, this verse is a prophecy of the time when Christ was on the earth and all the disciples forsook Him (Mar 14:50), “smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.” This verse also applies to Christ and His body who Satan comes up against at the end of the time of their rulership on earth (Rev 20:4-5). They will then witness Satan, who is God’s sword (Psa 17:13), come up against them and against humanity who will be compelled by Satan’s influence to come up against the camp of the saints “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts.” That attempt at smiting the chief shepherd, Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will fail (1Pe 5:4, Rev 19:16) and cause the world to be scattered or put “apart” as we saw in last week’s verses (Zec 12:12-14) which spoke of the great white throne judgment, or lake of fire, that will follow this event of the world coming up against the camp of the saints. This verse can also be applied to the judgment that comes upon the ‘shepherds of Babylon’ who are being judged: “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts.” This is the ‘other fold’ that will be brought into the Truth in God’s perfect time (Joh 10:7-18). Great and small will be judged as we are told, “and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones” (2Ch 36:18), referring to the judgment coming upon all the world in the second resurrection. God demonstrates by these events and prophesies that He alone forms the light and darkness, making peace and creating evil, “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. ” (Isa 45:7).

2Ch 36:18  And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon.

Joh 10:16  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Zec 13:8  And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. 
Zec 13:9  And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God. 

How God will “turn mine hand upon the little ones” of (Zec 13:7) will be accomplished by the elect in the great white throne judgment and that process of working with humanity, judging them with a rod of iron during the thousand-year reign, is also represented by the thought that God will “bring the third part through the fire” (1Co 6:3).

1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

God’s remnant will have had “two parts therein shall be cut off and die” within us by the work of Christ, our hope of glory within today (Col 1:27), Who leads us to repentance as we are baptized into Christ’s death, dying daily (1Co 15:31), “and will refine them as silver is refined” (Rom 2:4). He is the true witness [2] in our heavens causing us to decrease (Rev 3:14), so that the third part can go on to perfection the third day by having our faith tried as gold is tried “and will try them as gold is tried” (Luk 13:32, Rev 3:18). There will be a refining process as well during the reign of Christ and His saints, but again no conversion. Our brothers in the world will suffer in a typical manner as those who are mentioned in the book of Hebrews (Heb 11:35), striving to attain to a better resurrection; ‘better’ in the sense that they will receive fewer stripes (1Pe 5:9, Luk 12:47-49).

Heb 11:35  Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Luk 12:47  And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
Luk 12:48  But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Luk 12:49  I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

God’s words of eternal life will be tried first in the body of Christ (1Pe 1:7) who will then be a fountain of life to this dying world during the thousand-year reign, and a fountain of life as well during the great white throne judgment. The statement, “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David” – is something that happens “in that day” for every man in his appointed order (1Co 15:23-26). The one event that is common to all men is judgment which comes by hearing the word of God that has to be tried (Rom 10:17). God’s elect are blessed to have that word tried first as a kind of first fruits (1Pe 4:12), who will anticipate the rest of God’s creation being saved “yet so as by fire“, meaning the word will convict the heart of mankind [hearts will be softened (Eze 36:26)] in the great white throne judgment because it will no longer be just a baptism of water, but a baptism of spirit as well that will save the world “yet so as by fire” (1Co 15:22, 1Co 3:14-15, Joh 3:5).

Joh 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Zec 13:9 (b) …they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

[Study Aired January 5, 2021]

Mar 10:13-15 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, (and ye be converted (Mat 18:3)), he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them and departed thence. 

There are two types of children in the scriptures. The child of the devil and the child of the God.

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

1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you (the new man), than he that is in the world (the old man).

In this study we will see who these children are and their differences and what must take place to enter the kingdom of God. We all begin as a child of the devil, but in the end we all end as a child of God. Lord willing, we are striving daily to enter the kingdom of heaven. In order to enter the kingdom of heaven we must be converted and be given the ability to become as little children.

Mat 18:1-3 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

Who is your father?

1Jn 3:8  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. 

Have you sinned?

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

Again, who is your father?

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

Have you lusted?

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world (within everyone, their old man), 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 [the father the devil].

“He was a murderer from the beginning”.  Are you a murderer?

1Jn 3:15  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life [i.e. you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven] abiding in him.

The above verses show us that everyone is first of their father, the devil. We follow him completely, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind.

Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air [your father the devil], 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. 

How can you know if you are a child of God?

1Jn 3:9  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.

Psa 82:6  I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 

We are all sinners, yet we are told we are children of God. How do we go from being a child of the devil to being a child of God? Here is our answer.

Joh 3:1-7 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old [the old man]? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh [first man Adam]; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit [second man Christ]. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Paul tells us the same thing in the following verses.

1Co 15:44-49 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy [born as the first man Adam a sinner], we shall also bear the image of the heavenly [born again as the second man Christ].

This process is all in earnest in this age, but we are given the faith that our Lord will finish the work that has begun.

Eph 1:3-14 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 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:  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 

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

(ESV)  for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 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.

What is the process of being born^G1080 again^G509? Here is the Strong’s definition of being born again. This is in the aorist tense.

Born G1080
γεννάω
gennaō
ghen-nah’-o
From a variation of G1085; to procreate (properly of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively to regenerate: – bear, beget, be born, bring forth, conceive, be delivered of, gender, make, spring.

Again G509
ἄνωθεν
anōthen
an’-o-then
From G507; from above; by analogy from the first; by implication anew: – from above, again, from the beginning (very first), the top.

Born again means “of the Father from the first”. Can this be confirmed by the scriptures?

1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 

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

Mat 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. 

Joh 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Joh 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. 

Joh 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

Everything is of the Father and by Christ. First, we are of the father the devil, then we are converted, born again of the Father through Christ.

Hos 10:1-3 Israel [being of their father the devil] is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images. Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images. For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us? 

Joh 15:1-17 I [Christ] am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 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. If a man abide not in me (the children of the devil), he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 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. These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Now that you are born again of the Father by Christ and no longer a son of the devil you are no longer of the world. Your mind is being renewed and a new path has been chosen for you.

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 [being born again] of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Hello Mike,

When the bible says: A New heart and a new spirit will he give, does it refer to a new human spirit or it refers to the spirit of Christ.

I heard somebody “when we are ‘born again’, our spirit is perfect, it is our soul that needs to be transformed, through a renewing of our mind, then eventually the body.”

What can you say about this, Mike?

M____

Hi M____,

Thank you for your question. You ask:

When the bible says: A New heart and a new spirit will he give, does it refer to a new human spirit or it refers to the spirit of Christ.

The word ‘human’ is the same as the word ”man’ or, as it is in the Hebrew ‘adám’.

Gen 2:7  And the LORD God formed man [Hebrew: adám] of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man [Hebrew: adám] became a living soul.
Gen 2:8  And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man [Hebrew: adám] whom he had formed.

God gave ‘Adam’ a spirit, but it was the spirit of man, and it makes mankind by physical birth “of [their] father the devil”:

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

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

In the New Testament this “spirit in man” is contrasted with the “spirit of God”:

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.

But the understanding of the natural man, “the spirit of man”, is not the understanding of the spiritual man who has been given “the spirit of God”. That is what the very next verses reveal:

Job 32:8  But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
Job 32:9  Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. 

Paul verifies that point in the very next verses of 1 Corinthians 2:

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

So when you ask:

When the bible says: A New heart and a new spirit will he give, does it refer to a new human spirit or it refers to the spirit of Christ.” [Emphasis mine]

“A new human spirit” is not a Biblical concept, and it is not “a pattern of sound words”. “A new human spirit”, Biblically, is a contradiction of words. This is called an oxymoron. It is the same as saying ‘a new old man’. You cannot be “the new man” and still be “the old man”. Here is how Christ explained the new birth to Nicodemus:

Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh [“carnal mind[ed]”; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit [spiritually minded].

The birth of “the new man” comes only through the death of “the old man” who is a “brute beast [who was] made to be destroyed”:

Joh 12:24  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.
Joh 12:25  He that loveth his life [his “old man”] shall lose it; and he that hateth his life [his “old man”] in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

2Pe 2:12  But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

What John 3:6 means is that we either think in spiritual terms, or we think in terms of the flesh. But just as we grow and mature physically, in physical stature and in physical knowledge, so do we slowly grow in spiritual stature and in spiritual knowledge. This process continues within us until we draw our last physical breath:

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:

So we are still in natural bodies, but we have an entirely new spirit within these natural bodies and that new spirit is “renewed day by day”.

2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels [“Christ in you the hope of glory”, Col 1:27], that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

2Co 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

Eph 4:23  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

Col 1:25  Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Col 1:26  Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
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:  [“in earthen vessels”, 2Co 4:7]

Col 3:10  And have put on the new man, which is renewed [“day by day”] in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 

It is our increased “knowledge of [Christ]” which makes us to be “renewed… day by day… after… His… image”, and that is the very definition of “life eternal”:

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

When someone tells you…

“…when we are ‘born again’, our spirit is perfect, it is our soul that needs to be transformed, through a renewing of our mind, then eventually the body”

…that person is obviously unaware that a physical ‘soul’ is made of dust, and that the spirit in that soul is the “spirit of man” which is a carnal-minded spirit, and “the carnal mind is enmity against God”.

Gen 2:7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man [Hebrew, adam] became a living soul.

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.

When anyone tells you, “our spirit is perfect”, that person does not understand that we must “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior… be renewed day by day… in the spirit of [our] mind”, and “be changed into that same image [of Christ] from glory to glory”.

2Co 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter [the natural mind], but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

2Co 3:17  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [from the natural, “carnal mind”]. 
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.

Paul goes on to tell us how we are to think on this matter:

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.

“The body is dead”, simply does not agree with:

“…when we are ‘born again’, our spirit is perfect, it is our soul that needs to be transformed, through a renewing of our mind, then eventually the body.”

If the physical body could be perfected, we would not be told “the body is dead”, and if “the spirit is perfect” then there would be no need to be “renewed day by day”. There would be no need to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior…” If “our spirit [were] perfect” then Christ would not have said this of Himself:

Luk 13:32  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

Being in a body of sinful flesh precludes perfection. That is why not even the flesh and blood of Christ could inherit the kingdom of God:

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

“The third day” is the resurrection from the dead, and it is only then that anyone, Christ included, will be perfected. “Then eventually the [physical] body” is heresy of the first degree. If ‘the body’ could be perfected then flesh and blood could inherit the kingdom of God. But the Truth tells us “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God…”

We are not to think of ourselves as living in bodies of flesh and blood, even though we are still struggling against such bodies. We are to think of ourselves as dead with Christ and risen with Him “in newness of life”:

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

So this is how we are to think of our physical bodies:

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

I hope all these scriptures have helped you to see there is no such thing as being perfected, either spiritually or physically, while still in a body of flesh and blood (Luk 13:32 and 1Co 15:50). Just as important, I hope you can see and know that God has, by physical birth, placed nothing within our flesh which is good or worthy of entering the kingdom of God:

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.

We are to acknowledge that we are still “in the flesh”, and it is only by “dying daily” to the mind of our “old man” and having our “minds… renewed day by day” that we have “Christ liv[ing] in [us].

It is all a work that God is doing within those few in whom He dwells, and this is what we are told of what He is doing:

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

Your brother in the Christ who will finish the good work He has started in you.

Mike

A____ wrote:
Hello Mike, I pray you and your family are doing well. I have a question about the Spirit that descended like a dove. Is this the “Holy Spirit”?  And is John saying he saw the Spirit? I have been asked this question by someone, and I am not ready with an answer. Can you please help me discern these scriptures? I am hoping to be in Salisbury, Lord willing. I do love the fellowship of the conferences. Our group in Indiana is still getting together every couple of weeks, and we have had several good discussions. I am looking forward to your response. May God bless you and your family.

Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Mar 1:10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
Mar 1:11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Luk 3:22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
Joh 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
Joh 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 

Love in Christ,

A____

Hi A____,
It is good to hear from you. I am glad that you are getting together there in Indiana, and I am really looking forward to seeing you again in Salisbury. Let me take this opportunity to thank you once again for your servant’s attitude you showed in Hamlin. It is such a blessing to actually ‘see’ Christ in a brother.
The answer to your question is, yes, the holy spirit, actually descended in bodily form as a dove and lit on Christ. Every verse you reference makes that very clear.
I am supposing that you are wondering how that is possible if Jesus is the holy spirit. Well, if I am correct in my surmising, the answer to that is that Christ is NOT the holy spirit. The holy spirit is not a person. When the scriptures tell us that Christ was born “of the holy spirit” we are not being told that the holy spirit, a person, had sex with Mary. What we are being told is this:

(Mat 1:20 KJV)  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Everything God does is “of the holy spirit.” Hebrews tells us that “the things that are seen are made (not of nothing, but) of things which do not appear:”

(Heb 11:3 KJV)  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.

We are not told that God came down as an angel and had sex with Mary. Instead the words are “that which is conceived in her is of the holy ghost [ Greek – spirit]. Mary’s conception of Christ, just “as Isaac” by Sarah, [ Gal. 4:28] was a miracle. It was “by promise” so as to make it very clear that the flesh was not involved in this conception. That is the whole point of telling us:

(Gal 4:28 KJV)  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

Contrary to what our flesh wants us to believe, “heirs according to the promise” has nothing to do with the flesh:

 (Gal 3:29 KJV)  And if ye be] Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

“The promise” of Isaac’s birth was a miracle which involved the flesh as a type of a miracle involving our hearts and minds. The real promise behind the shadow of Isaac’s supernatural physical  birth to parents who were beyond child bearing age, was the promise of God’s spirit doing in us exactly what it did to the baby in Mary’s womb. Christ was born of the spirit from his mother’s womb, to become the only person ever to be so born:  “that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.”
What you and I are given after being crushed and humbled is what Christ was given from His mother’s womb.

(Joh 3:34 KJV)  For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

And yet Christ still lived in a body of Adamic flesh which came to him via his mother. So it was through her that he was “the seed of the woman” who was “taken out of Adam.” If Christ were not the same flesh as you and me, then He was not really be the “seed of the woman… the mother of all living:”  It was through Mary that Christ, as being in Adam, became sin.

(Gen 3:20 KJV)  And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

So Christ is both “of the holy ghost” and “the seed of the woman.” This is as basic as Christianity gets and we believe this on faith which is given to us just as is this spirit which also “begets us in Christ.” Christ’s physical begettal of the holy ghost is a type and a shadow of our spiritual begettal of the holy ghost.
How then, can Christ be the holy ghost? Again, I repeat, He is not the holy spirit. He Himself answers this question:

(Joh 16:13 KJV)  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
(Joh 16:14 KJV)  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew [ it] unto you.
(Joh 16:15 KJV)  All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Just as the Pharaoh gave Joseph all his kingdom to rule, so can Christ say “all things the Father has are mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of mine…” The holy spirit, “the spirit of Truth which is the comforter,” is God’s spirit “of which are all things.” Here are two sections of scripture which make this clear, Roman 11 and 1Co 11:

(Rom 11:36 KJV)  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

(1Co 11:8 KJV)  For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
(1Co 11:12 KJV)  For as the woman [ is] of the man, even so [ is] the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

As we can both attest, being born of the holy spirit does not mean that we do not “learn from the things that we suffer.” 
In summary, Christ was born “of the holy spirit” which “came over Mary” and also “appeared in bodily form as a dove” at Christ’s baptism as a witness to John. Look at the context of that statement by John about God giving His spirit without measure to Christ:

(Joh 3:28 KJV)  Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
(Joh 3:29 KJV)  He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
(Joh 3:30 KJV)  He must increase, but I [ must] decrease.
(Joh 3:31 KJV)  He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
(Joh 3:32 KJV)  And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
(Joh 3:33 KJV)  He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
(Joh 3:34 KJV)  For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure [ unto him].
(Joh 3:35 KJV)  The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

“The Father loves the Son, and has given all things (including the holy spirit) into His hands.” Now Christ can truly say that the holy spirit, the advocate, the spirit of Truth which is the comforter, “is mine.”  “Therefore I said, He shall take of mine and show it to you.”
Christ can now give the holy spirit to whom He will, simply because he wills to give it only to those to whom His Father wills:

(Luk 10:22 KJV)  All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

I hope this makes it clear that Christ is not the holy spirit, that the holy spirit is not a person and that the holy spirit is the medium through which the Father creates all things in heaven and in earth:

(Heb 11:3 KJV)  Through faith we understand that the worlds [ Greek – aions – the life times of all mankind] were framed by the word of God [ by Christ] so that things which are seen [ The entire physical creation and every man ever born of Adam] were not made of things which do appear [ but were made of the holy spirit].

If I have missed your question please let me know.
Mike

Hi Mike!

I have a question regarding the future resurrection.

It is my understanding that you teach that in the resurrection, only our SOUL is revived and NOT our mortal bodies. Is this what you believe? If so, how do you explain the following passage?

Rom 8:11 Now if the spirit of Him Who rouses Jesus out from among the dead is mak ing its home in you, He Who rouses Christ Jesus out from among the dead will also be vivifying YOUR MORTAL BODIES[ Just like God resurrected CHRIST’S MORTAL BODY] because of His spirit making its home in you

We know that the NATURAL BODY of Jesus was resurrected as well as His soul. Does this not prove that the resurrection is of the NATURAL BODY along with our soul? Does it not state that God will QUICKEN our MORTAL BODIES? Does Paul not tell us that THIS CORRUPTIBLE (Mortal BODY) must PUT ON incorruption?

If our literal NATURAL BODY is not resurrected, then how can “ this MORTAL put on immortality” if our mortal body is not resurrected at all? It doesn’t say that “this SOUL or CONSCIOUSNESS” must put on incorruption, it says our MORTAL BODY must put on incorruption, does it not?

What is your take on this?

Sincerely,

J____

Hi J____,

You ask:

If our literal NATURAL BODY is not resurrected, then how can “ this MORTAL put on immortality” if our mortal body is not resurrected at all? It doesn’t say that “this SOUL or CONSCIOUSNESS” must put on incorruption, it says our MORTAL BODY must put on incorruption, does it not?

Yes, it does say “This mortal must put on immortality.” Here is that verse:

1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

What those words mean is a mystery to those who are “of the earth.” They simply cannot relinquish the flesh and the “natural body.”

It doesn’t matter what I teach. But when we point to God’s Word, that is worthy of your consideration. Here is what God’s word says. If you can’t receive these words, I can’t be of any help to you. Here is what “this mortal must put on immortality,” means:

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

Those are God’s word’s. I dare not add to or take away from them. “Flesh and blood [“our literal NATURAL BODY is not resurrected”] cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

Now I know how hard it is to accept the fact that we actually have to give up this corruptible flesh. I too, used to try to point to that hole- filled body that Christ showed to His faithless apostles as ‘scriptural proof’ that we would all be given “spiritual bodies of flesh.”

“A spirit has not flesh and bone as you see I have.” I too, thought that this was a scripture which proved that if flesh and blood could not inherit the kingdom of God, then at least flesh and bone could. What utter foolishness! That whole story of how Christ had to show His desecrated body still bearing the holes of the spear and nails had nothing to do with proving that we would be given a body of “flesh and bone.” The exact opposite is true:

Joh 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
Joh 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Joh 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Do you insist on a natural body? Thomas did. But what is the truth of God’s Word? You say “If our literal NATURAL BODY is not resurrected, then how can “ this MORTAL put on immortality?” Are we resurrected with a “natural body?:

1Co 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

Now what does “it is raised a spiritual body” mean? Does it mean it is raised a spiritual, natural body? No, “there is a natural body and there is a spiritual body.” But can’t it be both at the same time? Why don’t we let Christ answer that for us:

Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Sorry, I dare not add to or take away from those words. This mortal puts on immortal only by giving up “that which is born of the flesh”, which is flesh and putting on that which is born of the spirit, which is spirit.

No, I do not teach that our flesh will be raised at the resurrection. I can only agree with Christ “that which is born of the spirit is spirit” and with God’s word that “the soul that sinneth it shall 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.
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.

Read Where Does Our Spirit Go At Death? in Archive 12. It may help you to understand what is meant by the word ‘soul.’

So what does this spiritual body look like to a mortal man? More bad news for those who love this flesh.

Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Like our Father, we will be invisible to the natural eyes. Yet we are told “blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”

Here is what it all boils down to:

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.

At this moment you seem to be right there with Nicodemus. Christ explained it all to him, and the very next verse gives us the response that you, Nicodemus and the entire orthodox Christian word asks:

Joh 3:9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

I pray that God will give you eyes to see the “hidden… things of the spirit.”

1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

Mike