Call No Man on Earth Father

Re: Matthew 12:48-50

[Study Aired August 2, 2026]

Many people have a question regarding Christ’s words in Matthew 12:48-50. I will back up to verse 46 to get the context:

Mat 12:46  While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
Mat 12:47  Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
Mat 12:48  But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
Mat 12:49  And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
Mat 12:50  For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Christ here has informed us that if we “do the will of [His] Father” we are “[His] brother, and sister, and mother.” Christ did not mention us as His Father because His Father is “the holy spirit of God” and only “His mother and His brethren stood without desiring to speak to Him.”

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

So Christ’s Father is not mentioned here in Mattew 12:49-50. Add this to that fact and many, myself included, have taught that it is a sin to ever refer to any man as a father other than one’s physical father:

Mat 23:9  And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

There are two  other statements of our Lord which are not meant to be taken literally, and “call no man on earth father” is one such statement.

“Judge Not”

In Matthew 7:1 Christ tells us:

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

This is one very abused verse of scripture which many carnal Christians use to justify avoiding hard, necessary decisions which must be made and enforced within the body of Christ to keep the whole lump from becoming leavened with sin. Here is what Paul told the Corinthian church which was tolerating fornication in their midst:

1Co 5:1  It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.
1Co 5:2  And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
1Co 5:3  For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
1Co 5:4  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Co 5:5  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1Co 5:6  Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

In the next chapter Paul chides the church at Corinth for suing each other instead of going before the church elders with their differences:

1Co 6:5  I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

Right there in Matthew 7 Christ Himself, after telling us “Judge not that you be not judged”, makes this statement:

Mat 7:15  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

How can we possibly “beware of false prophets” if we do not judge them “by their fruits”?

“Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents”

Another statement of our Lord which is not to be taken literally is that the man who was born blind and his parents had never sinned:

Joh 9:1  And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
Joh 9:2  And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Joh 9:3  Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Is Christ really telling us “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents” ever? There are His words! Of course the “sum of God’s Word” (Psa 119:160, ACV) state very clearly:

Psa 14:2  The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
Psa 14:3  They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Paul repeats this fact in the New Testament:

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.

Had the man who was born blind ever sinned? Has His parents sinned? Of course, they had. Paul bookends this discussion in this same chapter with this inspired Truth:

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

The Bible Means What It Means, Not What It Says

Let’s look at what these two apparent contradictions have in common. In the case of “Judge not that ye be not judged”, Christ was merely making the point that we must be merciful in judgment because we will be judged with the judgment we mete out. We are reminded also that “mercy rejoiceths against judgment”:

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

Jas 2:13  For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Matthew 7:2 is the very next verse, and it explains what Christ meant by ‘Judge not that ye be not judged”.

In the case of the man born blind and his parents not sinning, the point Christ was making is that the Lord had predestined that man to be born blind.

Indeed, it was the holy spirit which inspired the apostle Paul to call Timothy his ‘son’ six different times in his epistles:

Paul refers to Timothy as his “son” (teknon) six times in 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and 1 Corinthians.

Here are those six times which AI provided me when I asked, How many times did Paul call Timothy his son?

“Based on the provided search context, Paul refers to Timothy as his “son” or “child” six times in the letters of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and 1 Corinthians.

1 Timothy 1:2: “my true son in the faith”
1 Timothy 1:18: “my son”
2 Timothy 1:2: “my dear son”
2 Timothy 2:1: “my son”
1 Corinthians 4:17: “my beloved sons” (addressing the whole church, but citing Timothy as his son in the Lord in vs 14-15 context)
Philippians 2:22: “as a son with [his] father” (describing Timothy’s service to Paul)” (End Quote)

The Greek word translated as ‘son’ in each of these verses is ‘teknon‘ which simply means ‘a child’. Look at the first entry. It is typical of the others:

1Ti 1:2  Unto Timothy, my own son [G5043: ‘teknon‘, child male or female] in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

Now look at the definition of the Greek word translated ‘my own’, G1103,:

– Original: γνήσιος
– Transliteration: Gnesios
– Phonetic: gnay’-see-os
– Definition:
1. legitimately born, not spurious
2. true, genuine, sincere
– Origin: from the same as G1077
– TDNT entry: 13:07,1
– Part(s) of speech: Adjective

– Strong’s: From the same as G1077; legitimate (of birth) that is genuine: – own sincerity true.
Total KJV Occurrences: 4
• own, 2
1Ti_1:2; Tit_1:4

• sincerity, 1
2Co_8:8

• true, 1
Php_4:3

Timothy was ‘legitimately and genuinely’ born into Christ through Paul’s ministry. Paul goes on in his epistles to Timothy and others to refer to Titus and Onesimus as his ‘sons’ who he has begotten in Christ:

Tit 1:4  To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Phm 1:10  I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten [G1080: gennao’] in my bonds:

As I recall in a previous discussion, I pointed out that the word ‘man’ in “call no man your father on earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven” refers only to men who have no part in fathering the Lord’s children, and are seeking their own glory.

Mat 23:5  But all their [“Scribes and Pharisees, vs 2] works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
Mat 23:6  And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
Mat 23:7  And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
Mat 23:8  But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
Mat 23:9  And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Mat 23:10  Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
Mat 23:11  But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
Mat 23:12  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

The Greek word translated as ‘master’ in verses 8 and 10 is G2519, ‘kathegetes‘. It is defined as a “a guide… a leader… a teacher“, and it is equated in the context as being a ‘Rabbi’:

Mat 23:8  But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master [G2519: ‘kathagetes’], even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

‘Kathagetes’ is a contraction of the Greek preposition G2596,  ‘kata’ and the Greek verb, G2233, ‘hegeomai’, to lead, to go before, to be a leader.

– Original: καθηγητής

– Transliteration: Kathegetes

– Phonetic: kath-ayg-ay-tace’

– Definition:

a guide
a master, teacher

– Origin: from a compound of G2596 and G2233

– TDNT entry: None

– Part(s) of speech: Noun Masculine

– Strong’s: From a compound of G2596 and G2233; a guide that is (figuratively) a teacher: – master.

Is Christ actually telling us we are not to have leaders? Of course not!  Such is also the case with telling us not to judge and telling us the man born blind and his parents had not sinned.

We are all aware that the holy spirit tells us that God Himself has placed teachers in the church:

1Co 12:28  And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

The word translated as ‘teacher’ here in 1 Corinthians 12:28 is ‘didaskalos.’ Nevertheless, both ‘didaskalos’ and ‘kathegetes’ both mean ‘teacher’, and Christ said we are not to call any man our ‘kathagetes’, ‘master’, or ‘teacher’.

So what is the difference between these two words, ‘kathagetes’ and ‘didaskalos’? Here is how AI answers that question:

“The primary difference lies in their connotation of authority and their specific usage in the New Testament. Didaskalos is a general, widely used term for an instructor or master, often associated with the role of teaching within the church to build up the body of believers, similar to the Hebrew Rabbi.  In contrast, Kathegetes carries a stronger nuance of leadership, guidance, and authority, appearing specifically in Matthew 23:8-10 where Jesus warns against seeking such honorific titles for oneself.

“While both words can be translated as “teacher” or “master” in English, Kathegetes is linked to the concepts of lord, master, and overseer, emphasizing the authority of the guide. Didaskalos, however, focuses on the function of instruction and is used extensively in the epistles to describe roles like apostles, prophets, and pastors who serve the community rather than lord it over them. The distinction highlights a theological contrast between self-exalting authority (Kathegetes) and humble, service-oriented instruction (Didaskalos).” (End Quote, emphasis mine)

That difference is not detected when you translate both words simply as ‘teacher’. No one would dare deny that 1 Corinthians 12:28 declares that “God has set… teachers… in the church.” What God has not placed in the church is teachers who think they have dominion over our faith, and Paul was well aware of this difference:

2Co 1:23  Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
2Co 1:24  Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

Paul lets us know that we have no dominion over each other such as Rabbis and ‘kathegetes’ exerted over those in their charge. Nevertheless, as a spiritual ‘father’ and a teacher, a ‘didaskalos’, he sets them and us the example which he expects them and each of us to follow.

There are no chapter breaks in the original Greek manuscripts, and the narrative continues in the very next verse of scripture:

2Co 2:1  But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
2Co 2:2  For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
2Co 2:3  And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
2Co 2:4  For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. 

What Paul is referring to is what he had to deal with in the first epistles to this church at Corinth. In the fifth chapter of the first epistle of Corinthians Paul expressed his dismay at the fact that he had heard that the whole church was taking pride in their own tolerance of fornication in their midst:

1Co 5:1  It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.
1Co 5:2  And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

These Corinthians were proud of their tolerance of sin in their midst! Being loving and fatherly does not make one weak and stupid. “We that are strong… receive them that are weak in the faith”, but we do not swap our meat for their herbs, nor the fact that we esteem every day alike for their observance of days, months, times, and years, and esteeming one day above another (Rom 14 and 15 and Gal 4:9-10). Neither are we to tolerate fornication among ourselves.

Nevertheless, we do bear with the weak in faith and acknowledge that “whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” What that means is that we bear with those who are still weak in the faith and give them the time that is needed to mature spiritually.

That is the difference between ‘kathagetes’ and ‘didaskalos’. ‘Kathagetes’ is teaching as an authoritarian, and ‘didaskalos’ is teaching as “a helper of your joy.” That is the same message the Lord is delivering to us when He tells us to “call no man on earth Father…” No verse of scripture stands on its own. Every verse must have at least one or two witnesses. That is why we are told “the sum of Thy Word is Truth”:

2Pe 1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

The CLV is a better translation of this verse:

2Pe 1:20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture at all is becoming its own explanation.

Psa 119:160  The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.

These principles apply to Matthew 23:8-10 just as much as the rest of scripture, and the rest of the New Testament sees Paul, Peter, and John, one and all, claiming to have begotten children in Christ, and referring to themselves as the ‘gennao’ of those children whom they have begotten.

We have already seen Paul tell us that he had begotten his son Timothy. He also tells us that he had begotten Onesimus:

Phm 1:10  I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, Onesimus, (NET)

Here is the King James Version of this verse:

Phm 1:10  I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten [G1080: ‘gennao‘] in my bonds:

The NET is a better translation because it applies the meaning of ‘gennao’, meaning ‘to father’.

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.

Total KJV occurrences: 97

It is true, according to AI, that the Greek word ‘gennao’ is used four times in relation to women:

“Specific Instances of Women and gennao

Conception/Begetting: In Matthew 1:20, the verb is used in the passive voice to describe that which was conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit (“the child conceived in her”).

Giving Birth: The verb is used to describe women giving birth in the following passages:

Luke 1:13: Regarding John the Baptist, it says his father will rejoice “when he is born” (or gives birth to him).
Luke 1:57: “Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered; and she brought forth a son.”
Luke 23:29: Jesus refers to women who will say, “Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts which never nursed” (literally: “which never gave birth”).

John 16:21: Jesus compares the disciples’ sorrow to a woman in childbirth who, when she is delivered [G1080, ‘Gennao’], remembers the anguish no longer because of the joy that a child is born into the world. ” (End Quote)

Nevertheless, ‘gennao’ appears 84 times in the New Testament, and 80 of those 84 instances refer to men begetting sons.

The verses which lay this question to rest as to whether we can refer to those who bring us to Christ as our ‘father’ are:

1Co 4:15  For though ye have ten thousand instructors [G3807: ‘paidagogos‘, “schoolmaster”  in Christ], yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I [as your spiritual father] have begotten you through the gospel.

Php 2:22  But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.

Paul was not hesitant to make those statements because he was not seeking to be “called… father.” He was simply pointing out that he had been used by the Lord to father Timothy, Titus, Onesimus and many others in the faith.

Paul, inspired by the holy spirit, did not understand Matthew 23:8-10 to literally mean “call no man on earth father.” It is clear to anyone who does not have an idol of his heart that the sum of God’s Word uses this Greek word ‘pater’ to refer to the apostle Paul as the spiritual ‘pater’ of the Corinthian church; Timothy, Onesimus, Titus and others. What Christ meant, as the contrast between the words translated as ‘teacher’ in 1 Corinthians 12, ‘didaskalos’ and the word ‘kathegetes’ in Matthew 23:10 demonstrate, is that we are not to think that anyone on earth is our ultimate authority or our ultimate ‘Father’. No man on earth has any dominion over our faith. The sum of the Word of God is always the first and only authority of our heavenly Father.

I will conclude with the NET version of 1 Corinthians 4:15:

1Co 4:15  For though you may have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, because I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

While it is true that Christ did not include the word ‘father’ (Greek ‘pater’ in Matthew 12:50), He did inspire Paul to claim to be the ‘father’ of those who came to Christ through his ministry, and he called himself the ‘father’ (Greek “pater”) of the church of Corinth, and the father with whom Timothy was working in service to the Lord. That was the consensus of the elders.

I hope this helps us to see clearly that we need never apologize to anyone for displaying gratitude for what one’s spiritual ‘father’ in Christ has done to bring us to know Christ and His Father.

Your ‘pater’  with whom you labor in the Lord’s service, Mike

]]> https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/the-evil-function-of-the-doctrine-of-the-trinity-part-3/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-evil-function-of-the-doctrine-of-the-trinity-part-3 Sun, 07 Jun 2026 04:54:47 +0000 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=36292 [Click here for part 2.]

The Evil Function of The Doctrine of The Trinity – Part 3

[Study Aired June 7, 2026]

We paused our last study quoting this inspired verse of scripture:

Joh 4:24  God is Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

I left off the indefinite article ‘a’ because it does not appear in the original Greek. God is not “A” spirit. God IS SPIRIT. It is in His spirit that all things in heaven and on earth live and move and have their being:

Act 17:28  For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

God did not create the universe out of nothing. All things consist in His spirit:

Heb 11:3  Through faith we understand that the worlds [G165: ages] were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

It has been the ‘good pleasure’ of the Father to give all that He has to the Son.

1Co 15:27  For he [the Father] hath put all things under his [the Son’s] feet. But when he [the Father] saith all things are put under him [the Son], it is manifest that he [the Father] is excepted, which did put all things under him.
1Co 15:28  And when all things shall be subdued unto him [the Son], then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him [the Father] that put all things under him, that God [the Father] may be all in all.

This “all things under His feet” is cited from Psalms :

Psa 8:6  Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

Paul, without explanation, applies this verse of the Psalms to Christ, but read this verse in its context:

Psa 8:4  What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man [H120, ‘adam’], that thou visitest him?
Psa 8:5  For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Psa 8:6  Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

Paul takes a verse of scripture that talks of “man”, ‘adam’, and applies it to Christ. All the writers of the New Testament do this without explanation. To understand this principle used by every writer of the New Testament read ‘Rightly Dividing  The Word.’

https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/rightly-dividing-the-word/

You said that you had understood me to say that Christ is the holy spirit. I did not say “Christ is the Holy Spirit,” as you say. I quote 1 John 2:1, which says Christ is the ‘Parakleetos.’  I do not say that. John says that. All I do is point that out. Here is what I did say:

“If the Holy Ghost, the hagios pneuma, “which is the Comforter” (Joh 14:26), the parakleetos, is really Christ in us, then there should be a scripture that calls Christ the parakleetos. It so happens that there is just such a scripture. You would never know it by simply reading your King James Bible, or for that matter, using your Strong’s concordance which is keyed to our King James English. If one uses Strong’s, searching the English word, ‘comforter’, one will see the four places where parakleetos appears in John chapters 14, 15 and 16:

Joh 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter [G3875: ‘parakletos], that he may abide with you for ever;

Joh 14:26  But the Comforter [G3875: ‘parakletos], which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Joh 15:26  But when the Comforter [G3875: ‘parakletos] is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Joh 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter [G3875: ‘parakletos] will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

These scriptures certainly reveal the parakleetos “is the holy spirit” (Joh 14:26), as we have shown. These verses do not say that the parakletos is Jesus Christ. You would need to use an Englishman’s Greek Concordance (Wigram’s) or America’s Online Bible to find the only other appearance of this Greek word in all of the scriptures. It’s not translated Comforter there. This inconsistency in translation has kept the Truth of how Christ lives within us hidden from many for the past two millennia. Remember as you read this that, according to John 14:26, The Comforter (parakleetos )…is the Holy Ghost… The scripture before us is the First Epistle of John, chapter two verse one. “My little children, these things I write unto you that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate (parakleetos – not even capitalized here in the KJV) with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous: There it is once again stated straight out. “Jesus Christ the righteous” is the parakleetos, “the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost” (Joh 14:26).” (End Quote)

I can see how the first sentence of this paragraph could be construed to say that I said that Christ is the Holy Spirit. To do so is the same thing as accusing Christ of claiming to be God the Father just because He claimed to be the Son of God and therefore “equal with God”. Christ’s ‘equality’ with God is signified by Joseph’s ‘equality’ with Pharaoh. All Egypt, signifying all the world, was required to bow the knee to Joseph, as if he were Pharaoh:

Gen 41:39  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
Gen 41:40  Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
Gen 41:41  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

That is exactly what our “one God the Father, of whom are all things” has done with Christ:

Col 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Col 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Col 1:19  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

I point out in the Trinity article that Christ never claimed to be the son of the Holy Spirit in spite of the fact that we are told that he was conceived “of the Holy Spirit.”

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.

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 God.

The reason Christ never claimed to be the son of the holy spirit is because of what this next verse reveals:

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

The holy spirit is not a person. It is “the holy spirit of God… the Father of whom are all things”:

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.

You will hear very few sermons which include this verse of scripture simply because it denies the false doctrine of a triune Godhead. It doesn’t even mention the ‘holy spirit’.

You make this statement below:

“I understand this [‘man’ being a triune being] to mean that man because of his likeness to God, could commune with God. Man’s soul in the likeness of God generated a life that was as God’s Life. This seems correct to me because man’s soul is constantly generating or giving forth a birth of some life. Now this life is either good or evil depending on the state of his soul; whether it be good or evil. (So it seems to me) Now let’s consider what happened to the state of his soul after the fall, according to [William] Law.” (End Quote)

Paul tells us what ‘man’s soul’ generates:

Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

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.

Adam was not created as “a quickening [Greek: ‘life giving’] spirit”. Christ tells us that if He does not die, the holy spirit cannot come:

Joh 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

There it is. The first Adam was made a living soul, but the last Adam was made a ‘quickening spirit’. According to this formula, a ‘living soul’ is nothing more than “the body of this death.” “Dying thou dost die” (Gen 2:17 Young’s Literal Translation).

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.

Paul tells us that the church at Corinth was:

1Co 1:2   … sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

Yet in his next breath he tells us that they are “yet carnal.”

1Co 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

In four verses Paul tells these Corinthian Christians that they are carnal four times. What does he tell us about being carnally minded?

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

Christ, on the other hand, is the ‘tree of life:’

Joh 1:4  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Adam never partook of the ‘tree of life,’ and yet the self-contradicting doctrine of the ‘fall of man’ teaches us that Adam already possessed eternal life and an immortal soul, and then because of another false doctrine called ‘free moral agency,’ Adam, who we are told could have obeyed God ‘of his own free will,’ chose instead to rebel against God and eat of the forbidden fruit. Such doctrine would have you to believe that because God asked Adam “Where are you?” that God did this because He didn’t have a clue where Adam was.

Of course this was not the case. God knew exactly where Adam was. The fact that God told Adam not to eat of the forbidden fruit does not mean that He did not know what Adam was going to do. He did know exactly what Adam was going to do. He had already prepared the sacrifice for the sin that He already knew Adam was about to commit.

God even knew exactly how many hairs were on Adam’s head. While every minister claiming to speak for Christ admits to this scriptural fact, they deny that He would ever dare to know what thoughts were in that head. What utter foolishness! God is not telling us that He knows how many hairs are on our heads so that we will know that He knows how many hairs are on our heads. He tells us this fact so that we will be aware of His omniscience of all things, especially the thoughts in our heads:

Psa 94:11  The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

Psa 139:2  Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
Psa 139:3  Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
Psa 139:4  For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, [Even] the days that were ordained [for me], When as yet there was none of them. (ASV)

Pro 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man [man’s thoughts], and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

Mat 12:25  And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

How does God know that the thoughts of man are vanity?

Rom 8:20  For the creature was made [right from the hand of the Creator] subject to vanity, not willingly [not by choice], but by reason of him [God, not by Adam’s fabled ‘free will’] who subjected the same in hope.

Anyone who knows that something evil is about to happen and does nothing to prevent that evil, is as responsible for that evil as the person who commits the evil. But God not only doesn’t prevent the evil, He creates it!

Isa 45:6  That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
Isa 45:7  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Eph 1:9  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10  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:
Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Notice the similarities between what Joseph tells his brothers about their evil deed against him, and what Paul tells us here about the “mystery of [God’s] will” in Ephesians 1:10-11.

Gen. 50:20  But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Eph 1:10  That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things [meaning all men] in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

You ask this question:

“I also cannot see how Christ, the Son of God, if a created being, is able to dwell in all his creatures. All creation was created in and through Christ, and all creation must have Christ in it if it is to have any glory or perfection. I hope you believe that I have no intention of arguing with you or anyone; I merely want to know what the truth is, and I feel that William Law has explained the nature of the Trinity better than anyone I have ever read. For a better and more in-depth understanding of what I have referred to, you can look up these two books of William Law’s on the internet and see whether you agree or disagree with him.” (End Quote)

I will conclude this study with these two verses where Christ promised that He would never leave nor forsake us:

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you I, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

In our next study we will see how it is possible for Christ to keep that promise.

[Click here for part 4.]

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“Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things” Part 2

(Pro 23:17-35)

[Study Aired January 1, 2026]

The last verse of last week’s study with Proverbs 23 (Pro 23:16) is the title for this 2-part study, which reads, “Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things”. The preceding verses (Pro 23:1-15) explain the only way we can come to be a people who bring God’s reins to rejoice as a result of our speaking right things.

God’s deliverance from the drunken stupor that Babylon has the whole world under spoken of in (Rev 18:3) can only come about by drinking “the wine of the fierceness of his wrath” spoken of in (Rev 16:19). I was grateful to be reading these studies from Mike that helped me see the deeper meaning behind many of the verses in this 23rd chapter of proverbs.

The links are here:

https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/rev-181-4-babylon-the-great-is-fallen/

https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/rev-185-9-god-has-remembered-her-iniquities-part-1/

It is because of God’s deliverance, his mercy toward his children via His judgments [seals, trumpets, and vials], that these things can be so, and that mercy is expressed with those verses we looked at last week (especially Pro 23:13-16), reminding us that the sword shall not depart from the house (2Sa 12:10) of those who are being redeemed in this life (Psa 107:2, Isa 51:11).

This second part of Proverbs 23 has a very similar message and warning to not partake of the delicacies (Rev 18:3) or deceitful meat of Babylon (Pro 20:17). In the first study, the focus was more so on the food which represents the false doctrines of Babylon, and now in this section there is a warning about becoming drunken on the wine of Babylon. Whatever physical effects of gluttony, either food or drink, in both cases we are being warned to put a knife to our throat (Pro 23:2-3), meaning the word of God, and beseech God that we die to these lusts which separate us from the will of God being fulfilled in our lives (Gal 2:20, Tit 2:12-13).

Tit 2:12  TeachingG3811 (Heb 12:6) us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;(Mat 19:27-28)

Pro 23:17  Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
Pro 23:18  For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

This is our hope and prayer for each other that we have no envy of this dying world (Rom 13:11-14, Eph 5:29-30) and that we continually move forward as Christ did, moving with fear (Noah a type of Christ and His Christ Heb 11:7) and who was heard in that he feared God (Heb 5:7).

Rom 13:11  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Rom 13:12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Rom 13:13  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
Rom 13:14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Christ’s example and Christ in us is what motivates us and gives us the vision we need to believe that “surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off”. When our sights are set on the author and finisher of our faith, we will be given vision so that we do not perish and our “expectation” will remain bright, with our eyes set on the joy set before us (Heb 12:1-4, Rom 12:1, Pro 29:18, Act 7:56, Joh 17:3, Joh 20:21, Joh 3:17).

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, (Heb 10:36, Luk 21:19, Mat 5:37)
Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Heb 12:4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

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.

Pro 23:19  Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
Pro 23:20  Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
Pro 23:21  For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

If God will grant us to be dragged to Christ (Joh 6:44), it will take us away from the spiritual “winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh”. If God is working with us in this age, He will bring us to see that we are ‘the man’ who initially is a spiritual “drunkard and the glutton” who has “come to poverty”, which is all symbolized with the prodigal son (Luk 15:13-16) whose spiritual condition is like that of a drunkard and glutton, spending all that he has on riotous living, but does comes to see that he has no righteousness of himself and defines himself for what we all truly are without Christ in our lives: “drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags” (Luk 15:17). Such a realization does not come without the plagues of God being poured out upon us, which is what the story of the prodigal son reminds us (Rev 15:8).

Luk 15:13  And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country [Babylonian captivity], and there wasted his substance with riotous living. [“For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty”]
Luk 15:14  And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. [Isa 3:1]
Luk 15:15  And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
Luk 15:16  And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.[Isa 3:1]

Pro 23:22  Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise^H936 not thy mother when she is old^H2204.

The previous verses (Pro 23:19-21) spoke of what we become with the poverty that comes with not hearkening to our Father (“Hear thou, my son”), and this verse 22 speaks of the means we have been given to not stray from that righteous path (Psa 37:23-27).

Psa 37:23  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Psa 37:24  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
Psa 37:25  I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Psa 37:26  He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
Psa 37:27  Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

God’s elect are begotten of our Father in heaven (Joh 3:3) and we are told to not despise our mother when she is old, “Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old”, which is speaking of the one true church, that we have been grafted into, by the grace of God (Eph 2:8, Rom 11:17-20). Abraham’s wife Sarah, and Elisabeth, John the baptist’s mother, are a witness we have been given to understanding a little more fully what this verse is telling us (Gen 18:11-14, Luk 1:7-25).

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 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:[We are born again for this purpose of dying daily so we can see the kingdom of God within by God’s grace (Luk 17:10, Php 2:12-13)]

Gen 18:11  Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
Gen 18:12  Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
Gen 18:13  And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
Gen 18:14  Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

Luk 1:5  There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
Luk 1:6  And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
Luk 1:7  And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
…Luk 1:13  But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
Luk 1:14  And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
Luk 1:15  For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
Luk 1:16  And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
…Luk 1:24  And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
Luk 1:25  Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

despise H936 bûz booz  A primitive root; to disrespect: – contemn, despise, X utterly.

old H2204 zâqên  zaw-kane’  A primitive root; to be old: – aged man, be (wax) old (man).

Sarah and Elisabeth, as a type of the elect, are promised “a son”, and that God will “take away [our] reproach”. In other words, those who endure to the end to be in that blessed and holy first resurrection, will be the wife of Christ and mother of the nations (Gen 17:16, Rev 11:15). Our reproach in this age will be taken away (1Ti 4:10).

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

Pro 23:23  Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

The investment, “buy the truth” is our whole life, as a living sacrifice in Christ (Rom 12:1, Col 1:27) that holds fast to the words of life, and “sells it not” for its immeasurable value (1Th 5:21, Pro 7:1-5).

1Th 5:21  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Pro 7:1  My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
Pro 7:2  Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
Pro 7:3  Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
Pro 7:4  Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
Pro 7:5  That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

Christ is our wisdom (1Co 1:30-31), and the one who instructs us and gives us understanding so that we can overcome and endure to the end, not leaning unto our own understanding (Pro 3:5-7).

1Co 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1Co 1:31  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

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.

Pro 23:24  The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
Pro 23:25  Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.

Our Father in heaven “shall greatly rejoice” in the sons and daughters that he has begotten through Christ and it is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom of God in this age (Luk 12:32). Our “father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice” is also speaking of our mother Jerusalem above, the church of the living God, the mother of us all (Gal 4:26). We rejoice in knowing that we are called to bear each other’s burdens (Col 1:24) as disciples of Christ (Gal 6:2).

Pro 23:26  My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
Pro 23:27  For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
Pro 23:28  She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.
Pro 23:29  Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
Pro 23:30  They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
Pro 23:31  Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
Pro 23:32  At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

The only way we can avoid all that is written here in (Pro 23:27-32) is to be blessed in this life to be dragged to Christ (Joh 6:44) and given a broken and contrite heart from God (Isa 66:2) that will be able to fulfill this command, “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways”. This is the narrow way God’s elect are called unto and able to obtain through Christ who is our hope of glory within (Col 1:27).

The serpent does initially bite us, and we are stung by the adder, but if we are His children we will overcome the wicked one (1Co 15:55-57, Rom 7:24-25, Num 21:8, Joh 3:14, 1Jn 2:13).

1Co 15:55  O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?
1Co 15:56  The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law:
1Co 15:57  but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

1Jn 2:13  I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

The chastening which every son must receive in this life if we are going to overcome (Php 1:29) is what makes it possible for us to cease from sinning (Heb 12:6, 1Pe 4:1-2), and in so doing we are no longer seduced by Babylon, the world, and all that is in it, typified by “a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit”. Sin and the lies of Babylon are at the door of our hearts that want to rule over us. Here again Babylon is likened unto a harlot, “She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men”(Mat 24:12).

Mat 24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

The signs, or the corrupt fruit of the tree of one who is a servant to sin (Joh 8:34), or the lying doctrines of Babylon, is expressed in this manner, “Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?”. The wine of Babylon in other words, does not cheer the heart, but rather brings woe or distress, with the condemning myriad of lies that initially darken the sun in our heavens (Rev 9:2, Rev 9:12)

Rev 9:2  And he opened the pit of the abyss; and there went up 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 9:12  One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

It brings sorrow, contention [striving, controversy, debate] because of the lies that do not bring healing but leave us with gaping “wounds” and “redness of eyes” that have not been anointed with the true ointment of God’s words (Rev 3:18).

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and that the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.

God’s word on the other hand brings liberty and reveals that there is no condemnation in Christ, because it is the true bread and the true wine (Rom 8:1, Rom 8:33, Joh 6:55, Joh 6:32)

Joh 6:55  For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

Joh 6:32  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
Joh 6:33  For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

It is “They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine” who think by their labouring long at the wine, at the word of God that we initially can only wrap around the idols of our heart, that we will obtain the righteousness of Christ.

Mixed wine is wine that is watered down with no faith (Heb 4:2), and that’s what we do when we apply our carnal interpretation of what God’s word is saying by wrapping his word around the idol of our hearts (Eze 14:4, 2Pe 2:19). Unbeknownst to ourselves we are joined unto a harlot at that point (1Co 6:16), and in agreement with her false proclamations of liberty.

2Pe 2:19  promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage.

1Co 6:15  Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
1Co 6:16  What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

Pro 23:33  Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

Our ability to discern matters correctly when we partake of too much wine or mixed wine, is being directly correlated with what will happen to us spiritually if our attention is drawn away from the body of Christ and onto one of the harlot churches of this deceived and spiritually drunk world, “Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things”. Christ therefore admonishes us in these verses (Mat 24:42-51):

Mat 24:42  Watch therefore: for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh.
Mat 24:43  But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through.
Mat 24:44  Therefore be ye also ready; for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Mat 24:45  Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath set over his household, to give them their food in due season?
Mat 24:46  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Mat 24:47  Verily I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath.
Mat 24:48  But if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord tarrieth; (Heb 10:36, Luk 21:19)
Mat 24:49  and shall begin to beat his fellow-servants, and shall eat and drink with the drunken; (Heb 12:15-16)
Mat 24:50  the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not, [our expectation (Pro 23:17-18) should be to know that “he that shall come will come, and will not tarry” (Heb 10:37)]
Mat 24:51  and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

The likelihood of maturing in the Lord by going back into the world, or back into Babylon, which is what Demas, Crescens, Titus, Phygellus and Hermogenes did (2Ti 4:10, 2Ti 1:15) is impossible (Isa 3:1). All of these heretical actions of Demas, Crescens, Titus, Phygellus and Hermogenes reveal that they were not of us (1Jn 2:19, 2Pe 2:21, Heb 10:28-29), and they were sacrificed to admonish us to remain vigilant and sober against our adversary who we can overcome through the faith of Christ (1Pe 5:8-9, Luk 22:31-32).

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

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:(1Jn 5:4) and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. [Christ was telling Simon trials are coming that would have destroyed him spiritually, the main trial being his denial of Christ, but as God’s elect he would be preserved through that denial and on Pentecost receive the holy spirit, “when thou art converted”, that would then make it possible for him to “strengthen thy brethren”]

Pro 23:34  Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
Pro 23:35  They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

These verses show us the problem is a hardened heart that manifests because of the deceitfulness of sin (Heb 3:13-14), which causes us to lie “down in the midst of the sea” or “upon the top of a mast”, the sea being the world we are to come out of, and the mast representing the puffed up and elevated carnal mind (that is still in the sea) that cannot inherit the kingdom of God. With such a perverse spirit within us, we can be judged all day, “They have stricken me”, and still not see that we are blind, and wretched and miserable and poor, “I was not sick” (Rev 3:18). We can be beaten with many stripes in this life and not grow spiritually from that experience, “they have beaten me, and I felt it not”, and then we awake in the second resurrection, “I will seek it yet again”, by telling the Lord ‘haven’t I done many wonderful works’, not knowing that I am yet deceived and being found with my own righteousnesses right in front of Christ (Mat 7:22, Php 3:9).

Heb 3:13  but exhort one another day by day, (Heb 10:25) so long as it is called To-day; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin:
Heb 3:14  for we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end: (Php 3:3)

Proverb 23 ends off with the sorry state we will find ourselves in if God does not convict us in this age to forsake ungodliness and worldly lusts as He leads us unto repentance, via the chastening and scourging that must be fully accomplished in this age if we are to be received as sons of God (Tit 2:12-13, Rom 2:4, Heb 12:6).

All the verses we’ve looked at today are written to admonish us to be sober and diligent (1Co 10:11, 1Pe 5:6-8) with our life in Christ, and to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, as if it depended on us, knowing that it is Christ who is working in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Php 2:12-13).

1Pe 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

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.

If that is in fact what God is doing in our lives, then we are very special to Him because of the life Christ in us (Mat 22:14, 1Pe 2:9, Luk 12:32, Rom 11:5, Mat 10:31, Psa 27:4), who is our hope of glory who makes it possible for us to be received in this age, and able to speak right things, therefore God “shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things”(Pro 23:16, Heb 6:9).

Heb 6:9  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

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

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

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

Rom 11:4  But what saith the answer of God unto him [Elias]? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
Rom 11:5  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Mat 10:31  Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Psa 27:4  One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

AMEN!

The Spiritual Significance of Numbers – The Number One

 [Study Aired December 28, 2025]

With very little controversy, the number one in Hebrew and Greek is acknowledged as signifying unity. It also signifies preeminence in time, power and position. It does the same in many other languages. Its prime significance therefore is of God Himself who is the “one God the Father, of whom are all things.”

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

Deu 6:4  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

Paul’s doctrine, and the doctrine of Christ Himself, is that the “one God, the Father” is greater than the son:

Joh 14:28  Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father:  for my Father is greater than I.

Referring to this verse, I asked Google how Christ could be equal with His Father and yet say His Father is greater than He? This was the Babylonian answer Google gave me:

 “Jesus says, “the Father is greater than I” (John 14:28). The Lord also admits that he does not know the time or the hour, only the Father does (Matt 24:36). Christ elsewhere says that he came “not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38). In the garden, Jesus prays “not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

“These verses—and others like them—might jar us. After all, we believe in Christ’s divinity. But Jesus himself says he is less than the Father. How should we understand his words?

“Historically, some understood these verses to mean that the Father is naturally greater than the Son of God. In 357 a Council of pastors in Sirmium even concluded, “the Father is greater, and the Son subordinated to the Father together with all things which the Father has subordinated to Him.”

“Yet something feels off here. Jesus says the Father is greater than he is, true. Yet we worship Christ as God, and God cannot be less than or greater than God. What is going on here?

“The solution to this problem is found in the Bible itself. What Christians have learned and what the Bible teaches is that Christ is less than the Father in his humanity but equal to God in his divinity. Since Christ is divine and human, certain Bible verses highlight his divinity and others his humanity.” (End Quote)

“Christ is less than the Father in his humanity but equal to God in his divinity” is the doctrine of both Protestants and Catholics. Yet 1 Corinthians was written many years after Christ had resumed His divinity, and here we have Paul telling us the “one Lord Jesus Christ” is not the “one God of whom are all things.” Rather, Paul’s doctrine is the same as Christ’s doctrine… “My Father is greater than I [and] by Him (by Christ, through Christ) were all things made.”

Joh 1:3  All things were made by [G1223: dia, through] him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:3 here agrees with Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 8:6:

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 [G1223: ‘dia’, through] whom are all things, and we by [G1223, ‘dia’ through] him.

This doctrine teaches that “all things are of God… the Father”, [and] ‘all things are through (G1223: ‘dia’] Christ.

The Greek word translated as ‘of’ in 1Co 8:6 is ‘ek’ G1537. This is how Strong defines this Greek word ‘ek’:

G1537
ἐκ, ἐξ
ek    ex
ek, ex

A primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence motion or action proceeds), from, out (of place, time or cause; literally or figuratively; direct or remote): – after, among, X are, at betwixt (-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for (-th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, . . . ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with (-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.

Total KJV occurrences: 917

Paul consistently refers to God as “the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”:

2Co 11:31  The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

This is all long after Christ has resumed His divinity. Paul never once refers to Christ as the God of the Father.

All of Paul’s epistles were written long after Christ had ascended to heaven and had resumed the divinity He had with the Father before He “emptied Himself and took on the form of a servant.”

Php 2:7  but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; (ASV)

Yet Paul repeatedly refers to the Father as “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Rom 15:6  That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Col 1:3  We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

Peter also considered the Father to be the God of Christ long after Christ had resumed His divinity:

1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Christ and His Father, who are of one mind, never once in all of scripture refer to Christ as the God of the Father.  Christ even refers to Himself as “the beginning of the Creation of God… the Father of whom are all things.”

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;

This verse accords with this doctrine of Colossians 1 where we are told that the Father created Christ as “the firstborn of every creature” and then “by Him were all things created.”

Col 1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Col 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Christ is “the firstborn of every creature… the beginning of the creation of God… the image of the invisible God by whom all things were created.”

Of whom is Christ and of whom are all things? Who is the ultimate cause of “all things?”

Col 1:19  For it pleased the [one God the] Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

The word ‘of’ in 1 Corinthians 8:6 is not ‘dia’, which is defined as “by or through.” Rather, the word translated ‘of’ is the Greek word ‘ek’, which is defined as “A primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence motion or action proceeds).” It is the “one God the Father, of whom are all things” and it is the “one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things.

Christ’s doctrine is that we are to be one with Him as He is one with His Father:

Joh 17:11  And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

Christ repeats this desire just a few verses later:

Joh 17:22  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

That is how “”The Lord our God is one Lord.” We are even told that the Godhead is understood “by the things that are made”, followed by the statement that “the head of Christ is God”:

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:

1Co 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Again, this epistle was written years after Christ had resumed His divinity with His Head, His Father.

Yet we are told that Christ “made Himself equal with God”, and He “thought it not robbery to be equal with God.”

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.

Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

How is it possible for Christ’s Father to be “greater than [Christ]” (Joh 14:28), to be “Christ’s God and Father” (2Co 11:31), and His head (1Co 11:3), and still be “equal with God” (Php 2:6)?

The answer to this apparent dilemma is found in the story of Joseph and his relationship to Pharaoh in the book of Genesis. This is how the Father is greater than Christ while Christ can also make Himself equal with God:

Gen 41:40  Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
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.
Gen 41:44  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.

“He made him ruler” means that Pharaoh made Joseph equal with Himself  over all the land of Egypt. “Only in the throne was Pharaoh greater than Joseph.” So it is with Christ and His Father. His Father has made Him equal to Himself and ruler over all this world. Only in the throne is the Father greater than Christ.

God the Father is one in every sense of the word. He is first before all things. There cannot be two firsts, and the Father is first in order:

Gen 1:1  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Psa 90:2  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

Isa 44:6  Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Nothing is right which refuses to acknowledge that God is first and that He is the Creator of all things. All the studies and documentaries of men which begin with the lie of evolution without the hand of God are all wrong, and when your premise is wrong, your conclusion will also be a wrong conclusion.

The “one God, the Father” is first in wisdom, and His wisdom is wiser than men’s wisdom:

1Co 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

The nature of Christ’s wisdom, which is the wisdom of His Father is revealed in us through humility and His chastening grace, both of which are foolishness to the natural man:

1Co 1:23  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1Co 1:24  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
1Co 1:25  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

There is no foolishness nor weakness in God, but what men consider to be His foolishness is wiser than men, and what men consider to be His weakness is stronger than men.

The Father is certainly first in power:

Isa 40:15  Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.

Isa 40:17  All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity

Christ is preeminent only “because it pleases the Father” for Him to be so:

Col 1:19  For it pleased the [one God the] Father that in him [in Christ] should all fulness dwell;

The ‘oneness’ of God is expressed through how Christ is at one with His Father in everything. Christ tells us that He could do nothing but what His Father wanted:

Joh 5:19  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Christ came and set us an example to follow in His steps:

Joh 13:15  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

1Pe 2:21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Christ’s mind was a perfect reflection of His Father’s mind, and that is what He wants us to be. More than anything Christ wants us to be of one mind with Himself and His Father. That was His parting prayer to His Father for us as we quoted earlier in discussing the difference between the words , ‘ek, of, and the word, ‘dia’, through. Christ’s parting prayer for us was that we would all be of one mind as He and His Father are of one mind:

Joh 17:11  And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

Joh 17:22  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

This singleness of mind is emphasized by His disciples whose inspired writings make up the New Testament. This desire to be as much like Christ as possible is belittled by men as not being able to think for oneself. Those who do achieve this one mind of Christ are disparagingly labeled ‘a cult.’

Nevertheless, this is doctrine of Christ, and it is the doctrine of all who will follow Him:

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that [1] ye all speak the same thing, and that [2] there be no divisions among you; but that [3] ye be perfectly joined together [4] in the same mind and [5] in the same judgment.

This unity, this oneness of mind, was so important that it is urged upon us time after time.

Php 2:1  If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Php 2:2  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Rom 12:15  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Rom 12:16  Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Php 3:16  Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Php 4:2  I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

The apostle Peter was of the same mind as the apostle Paul on this point:

1Pe 3:8  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

Having the ‘one mind’ of Christ necessitates that we have compassion, love, patience, and pity for each other.

In scripture those in Christ are referred to as both a family and a body:

Eph 3:14  For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Eph 3:15  Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

1Co 12:12  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1Co 12:13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1Co 12:14  For the body is not one member, but many.

We are a many-membered ‘family’, and we are a many-membered ‘body’, but we are in Christ “one body”, and we are one family. No family can remain a united family without honoring and obeying the father who is the head of the family. A family with two heads is not a properly functioning family. The neck cannot turn the head unless the head tells it to do so. Our bodies could not function if the various members were being directed by more than one head. The thousands of denominations of men will quote all these verses about being of the same mind and being of the same  judgment and being perfectly joined together in the same spirit. They will even agree that we are admonished to reject heresy and put heretics out of our fellowship, and yet they will not acknowledge that their conflicting doctrines are heresies being spread in the churches by heretics.

If you want to teach that “Jerusalem which now is” is not under bondage and is indeed the son of the freewoman, while I agree with the apostle Paul’s words of Galatian 4 that “Jerusalem which now is is in bondage” and is spiritually the son of the bondwoman, the ecumenical mind is unwilling to tolerate such direct contradictions of their false doctrine that physical Israel is still God’s chosen people.

Ecumenical churches will tolerate differences like worshiping Mary as the mother of God, considering the Pope’s proclamations as equal to scripture, infant baptisms etc., but they will not tolerate teaching that God is the head of Christ (1Co 11:3) , and modern Israel is the son of Hagar (Gal 4:24-25).

Neither will the ecumenical mind tolerate you or me believing that “there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things and besides this ‘one God, the Father’ there is also one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things.”

Mind you, some ecumenical ministers will even tell you that ‘Jerusalem which now is’ does not need to believe in Christ to be saved, yet if you or I refuse to agree with those ministers that ‘To us there is one God in three persons, or one God in two persons”, and if we want to agree with the apostle Paul that there is but “one God the Father, of whom are all things, then you and I are labeled a heretic who must be ostracized. That is exactly what is prophesied would happen to all who refused to compromise the inspired words of scripture:

2Ti 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Fortunately for all of us the unity and cohesion of the family of God and the body of Christ does not depend upon any of us. All those who have Christ’s mind recognize His voice, and those who have His mind will flee from strangers who are bringing “another gospel”.

Joh 10:1  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
Joh 10:2  But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
Joh 10:3  To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
Joh 10:4  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

Joh 10:5  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the number one signifies the Father and the unity that is in Him and His Son.

One signifies that which is all powerful, all knowing and is present everywhere at all times.

One signifies the Truth because there is but one Truth, and that One Truth is Christ:

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The number one signifies the one mind of the family of God and the body of Christ. These words were penned by the apostle Paul, but they were inspired by “the holy spirit of God” to let us know what we can do to please Him:

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions [denominations of men] among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Php 2:1  If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Php 2:2  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Php 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Our unity in the one Truth of one mind of Christ is what fulfills His joy.

]]> https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/what-christ-revealed-about-his-father/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-christ-revealed-about-his-father Tue, 12 Aug 2025 22:54:16 +0000 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=33839 Audio Download

What Christ Revealed About His Father

[Study Aired August 12, 2025]

Introduction

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth… No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (John 1:14, 18). The apostle John’s testimony captures the supreme purpose of Christ’s incarnation—to declare the Father completely, drawing back the veil to show Him fully. This declaration means to lead out completely, to explain fully—Christ didn’t merely teach about the Father but made Him known through His very being. This divine revelation had been prophetically anticipated: “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD… And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:3-5). What Isaiah foresaw found perfect fulfillment in Christ’s ministry, as John the Baptist prepared the way for the ultimate revelation of God’s character through His Son.

The Son’s purpose was not self-revelation but the manifestation of the Father’s character in truth and spirit. “God is Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). To see Christ was to see the Father, for He is “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). As David prophetically declared, “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:7-8), words the writer of Hebrews applies directly to Christ (Hebrews 10:7).

This revelation was transformational. As Paul writes, “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” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

The Perfect Mirror: Christ’s Complete Dependence

Christ’s relationship with the Father was one of absolute dependence and perfect unity. “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do” (John 5:19). The Greek word for “nothing” here is οὐδέν (ouden, G3762), meaning “not even one thing”—emphasizing complete dependence upon the Father’s initiative. This was not limitation but love; not weakness but willing submission to reveal the Father’s heart.

This dependence finds its typological foundation in the Old Testament relationship between Adam and Eve. Just as Eve was formed from Adam’s substance yet remained distinct, so Christ shares the Father’s nature while maintaining His distinct personality. Paul confirms this when he calls Christ “the last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45).

When Christ healed the sick, He manifested the Father’s compassion. When He cleansed the temple, He displayed the Father’s holiness. When He wept over Jerusalem, He expressed the Father’s grief. As Isaiah prophesied, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek” (Isaiah 61:1-2). Christ read these words in the synagogue at Nazareth and declared their fulfillment in Him, revealing the Father’s heart for restoration and freedom: “And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears” (Luke 4:18-21).

The Father’s Voice and Works Through the Son

Christ consistently emphasized that His teaching originated with the Father: “My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me” (John 7:16). He declared plainly, “The word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me” (John 14:24). This fulfilled the ancient promise: “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him” (Deuteronomy 18:18).

Where the prophets spoke partial words from God, Christ became the complete Word of God. As Hebrews explains, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person” (Hebrews 1:1-3).

When Philip requested, “Lord, shew us the Father” (John 14:8), Jesus responded: “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father… the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works” (John 14:9-10). These “works” encompassed far more than physical miracles; they were signs of the Father’s spiritual labor in redemption. Every miracle revealed deeper spiritual reality about the Father’s character.

The Father’s works through Christ had been foreshadowed throughout Scripture. When Moses struck the rock and water flowed (Numbers 20:11), it prefigured how the Father would provide spiritual water through the smitten Christ: “that Rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4). When Elijah raised the widow’s son (1 Kings 17:17-24), it pointed to the Father’s power over death that would be demonstrated through Christ’s resurrections and ultimately His own victory over the grave. The feeding of five thousand echoed how He fed Israel with manna (Exodus 16), yet Christ explained the deeper meaning: “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger” (John 6:35). The physical bread pointed to the spiritual sustenance that the Father provides through His Son.

Christ challenged His hearers to recognize this perfect unity: “If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him” (John 10:37-38). As He declared, “I can of mine own self do nothing… because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father” (John 5:30).

The Father’s Character Unveiled Through Parables and Teachings

Christ’s parables consistently portrayed the Father’s character with stunning clarity. Through the prodigal son account (Luke 15:11-32), Christ reveals the Father’s eager forgiveness toward the repentant. When the wayward son declares, “Father, I have sinned” (Luke 15:18-19), Christ shows us the Father’s heart through the father’s response: “But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).

Through this parable, Christ reveals the Father’s proactive love—running to meet every repentant sinner just as the earthly father ran to his son. The elder brother’s reaction allows Christ to demonstrate the Father’s patient correction of our misconceptions: “Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine” (Luke 15:31-32).

In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ points to the Father’s providential care: “Behold the fowls of the air… yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” (Matthew 6:26). Through this teaching, Christ reveals that the Father knows our needs before we ask—“your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him” (Matthew 6:8)—yet delights in our prayers. Christ shows us that the Father’s provision becomes a means of drawing us into deeper relationship.

Christ also unveiled the Father’s righteous judgment through the parable of the unmerciful servant. The king’s forgiveness of an enormous debt (Matthew 18:27), followed by judgment when the servant refuses mercy to others (Matthew 18:34-35), reveals through Christ how the Father’s mercy flows from His righteous character, and those who receive it must reflect it.

Progressive Revelation: From Types to Ultimate Reality

The Father’s revelation through Christ represents the culmination of progressive unveiling that began in Eden. Looking back through Christ’s lens, we see the Father’s provision when God clothed Adam and Eve after their sin (Genesis 3:21), His righteousness in the Abel-Cain account (Genesis 4:3-5), and His redemptive purpose in calling Abraham to bless all nations through his seed (Genesis 12:3). These early acts pointed forward to their complete fulfillment in Christ.

Christ reveals that each patriarch experienced foreshadowings of the Father’s character: Abraham’s covenant relationship prefigured the Father as covenant-keeper (Genesis 15:7), Isaac’s experiences pointed to His unchanging nature (Genesis 26:2), Jacob’s transformation foreshadowed His transforming power (Genesis 32:28), and Joseph’s trials demonstrated His sovereign control over circumstances for good (Genesis 50:20). Moses received the most complete Old Testament glimpse: “The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty” (Exodus 34:6-7)—finding perfect embodiment in Christ, as John testified when he declared the Word became flesh among us.

Through Christ, we understand that the prophets provided glimpses of His coming revelation of the Father. Isaiah saw the Suffering Servant revealing the Father’s redemptive heart (Isaiah 53:4), Jeremiah prophesied the new covenant showing the Father’s transforming grace (Jeremiah 31:31-34), Ezekiel envisioned dry bones living as the Father’s life-giving power (Ezekiel 37), and Daniel saw the Son of Man displaying the Father’s eternal kingdom (Daniel 7:13). The principle of “precept upon precept, line upon line” (Isaiah 28:10) governed this progressive revelation, preparing His people for the Father’s complete manifestation in Christ.

The Ultimate Revelation: Cross, Resurrection, and Continuing Work

The supreme revelation came through the Son’s obedience unto death. Jesus declared, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4). The cross reveals the Father’s character uniquely—His justice (sin must be punished), His love (He provides the sacrifice), His wisdom (turning Satan’s victory into defeat), and His power (raising the dead).

Paul writes, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The word “commendeth” (συνίστημι, synistemi, G4921) means to demonstrate conclusively. Through the resurrection, the Father confirmed His testimony about His Son and revealed His character as God of life (Acts 2:32-33). “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.”

Even in suffering, Christ continued revealing the Father’s heart: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). This prayer reveals the Father’s heart toward ignorant sinners—not vindictive anger but merciful intercession. It shows that the Father’s default response to human failure is not punishment but forgiveness for those who know not what they do.

The Father’s revelation didn’t end with the ascension. Through the holy spirit, Christ continues revealing the Father’s character through His body, the church: “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular” (1 Corinthians 12:27). John writes, ” Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). The same spirit that enabled Christ now dwells in us, transforming us.

Paul reveals the church has become the Father’s dwelling place: “In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22). Just as Christ was the perfect temple revealing the Father’s presence, the church corporately serves as the Father’s temple today. This means that our unity, love, and service to one another become ways of revealing the Father’s character to the world. Jesus prayed, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:21). Our unity becomes revelation of the Father-Son unity, convincing the world of God’s love.

From Natural to Spiritual Understanding

The revelation of the Father through Christ requires spiritual discernment to perceive. Paul explains: “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” (1 Corinthians 2:14). This is why Christ said, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15).

Those who witnessed Christ’s ministry with natural eyes saw a remarkable teacher. Those with spiritual discernment see the Father Himself at work. This understanding develops through consistent meditation on God’s Word and fellowship with His spirit. As we compare spiritual with spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:13), we see deeper connections between Old Testament types and New Testament realities.

The process requires humility and dependence on the holy spirit. As Jesus taught, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes” (Matthew 11:25). The Father’s revelation comes to the humble, not the self-sufficient.

Conclusion

Everything Christ said, did, and suffered served as perfect revelation of the Father’s nature, will, and purpose. He manifested the Father’s compassion, holiness, justice, and sovereignty in living reality. To behold Christ is to behold the Father’s mind made flesh: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

This revelation is progressive, comprehensive, and transformative. It continues today through the holy spirit’s work in Christ’s body. The Father’s revelation through Christ establishes the pattern for spiritual understanding—depending not on natural wisdom but on spiritual discernment.

The ultimate purpose extends beyond individual enlightenment to all of mankind being restored. The Son’s mission continues until He delivers the kingdom to the Father, “that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28). The promise remains: “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). In this revelation, we find eternal life itself: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3).

The Father’s glory was made manifest in Christ, and through Christ, continues to be revealed in all who walk in His light. This is our blessed hope—not merely intellectual understanding, but experiential knowledge through His Son, reflecting His character to a world that desperately needs to see His glory.

Rev 12:1-6 Part 2, The Woman and The Manchild – The Heir With Christ

[Study Aired Dec 6, 2024]

We paused our last study after demonstrating that “the manchild” brought forth by the woman who fled into the wilderness from the face of the dragon is the same as the son of the freewoman of Galatians 4, who is also a “joint heir with Christ” in the coming kingdom of God which will bear rule over all the kingdoms of this world:

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.

We continue with the goal of demonstrating that being an heir with Christ refers only to the inheritance of the kingdom during the thousand-year reign, with the subsequent added blessing of “judging angels” at the great white throne judgment which follows that inherited kingdom reign.

Our Savior is “the heir” of the throne of King David, the king of Israel, and in Him we, too, are “heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ of that kingdom rulershship, if we suffer with Him”.

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.

It is this suffering with Him “that we may be glorified together” with Him, which this seventh trumpet is all about. It is dying with Christ daily, as God’s wrath is being poured out upon our sinful flesh, until the day that we give up on this life and are “crucified with him”.

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.

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

Col 3:6  For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Col 3:7  In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

1Pe 4:3  For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

None of which is meant to imply we have the fullness of the spirit while we are still in corruptible flesh and blood, but it all does imply that if we are suffering with Christ, we have “ceased from sin” in the sense “sin no longer has dominion over us”, and we are not now “abiding in wrath”.

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

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

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.

The inference is that being ‘under the law’ signifies the fact that sin still dominates our lives, and we are not yet under grace.

Who is this “great red dragon”?

Rev 12:3  And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

This verse confirms Christ’s statement that we are all first “of our father the devil.” Here is who we are in the next chapter:

Rev 13:1  And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

Truly we are first “of [our] father the devil, with our seven heads and our ten horns and the name of blasphemy upon those seven heads, even though we profess Christ:

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Joh 8:33  They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Joh 8:34  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Joh 8:35  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Joh 8:37  I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
Joh 8:38  I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

You Are of Your Father the Devil

Joh 8:39  They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
Joh 8:40  But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
Joh 8:41  Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
Joh 8:42  Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
Joh 8:43  Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye [“Jews which believe on Me”, Vs 30] cannot hear my word.
Joh 8:44  Ye [“Jews which believe on Me”, vs 30] 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.

This “great red dragon” is none other than “that old serpent the devil, and Satan”, as we are told in this very chapter.

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.

As is the case throughout scripture, there are many symbols which all signify the same thing. “The dream is one” we are told about Pharaoh’s dreams of cows and corn, both of which were speaking of one thing, a period of abundance followed by an impending famine. Likewise this “great red dragon” is “that old serpent… our [first] father the devil.” He has always been on the same page with our first mother, the bondwoman.

Gen 3:1  Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

As blasphemous and evil as is this old serpent, the devil, he is an integral part of this revelation of Jesus Christ within us.

Why just a third part of the stars of heaven?

Rev 12:4  And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

“A third part of the stars of heaven” has nothing to do with the percentage of the stars of heaven. What it is telling us, as is always the case when we encounter the number ‘three’, is the process of judgment being carried out as we “keep the things written… in the words of this prophecy” (Rev 1:3, Rev 22:7).

We have covered the dragon “standing before the woman… to devour her child as soon as it was born” in our discussion of verse two. We saw the shadow of this in the story of Joseph, and we can also see its shadow in the story of Cain and Abel.

Gen 4:1  And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
Gen 4:2  And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Gen 4:3  And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
Gen 4:4  And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Gen 4:5  But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
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.
Gen 4:8  And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Gen 4:9  And the LORD said unto Cain, Where [is] Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: [Am] I my brother’s keeper?
Gen 4:10  And he said, What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.
Gen 4:11  And now [art] thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;

Cain, as Adam’s first son, typifies our first Adam, as “a man from the Lord.” Being a tiller of the ground, his offering is “of the fruit of the ground” and not a blood offering “of the firstlings of the flock.” Thus Cain’s offering typifies our efforts to improve this doomed world apart from the blood of Christ. In killing his brother who was favored by the Lord, Cain demonstrates that he is truly “of his father the devil… a murderer from the beginning.”

Who “rules the nations”?

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.

It is generally understood that this manchild is the church and not Christ Himself. What is certainly not generally understood, is the degree to which Christ identifies with you and me as being He himself. We have already seen how He calls us by His own titles. He tells us that He is the light of the world and then He tells us ”ye are the light of the world.”

Joh 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

We are told that Christ is the bread from heaven, and we are told that we are one loaf.

Joh 6:35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

1Co 10:17  For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

As Christ suffered for the church, we, too, are expected to do the same.

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

Young’s Literal Translation, has the article ‘the’ before the word ‘Christ’, as we see in the King James elsewhere, as the holy spirit refers to us as “the Christ.”

Col 1:24  I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and do fill up the things lacking of the tribulations of the Christ in my flesh for his body, which is the assembly, (YLT)

Act 4:26  The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

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.

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.

Here, in no uncertain terms, is this manchild who is to rule all nations with a rod of iron:

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.

That is this manchild. It is “he that overcomes and keeps Christ’s works unto the end.” That is no small task, but it is possible “through Christ.”

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

Christ considers this manchild to be “as He [Himself] is in this world”.

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

How are we “caught up to God and to His throne”?

If we really are this manchild, then we should be able to demonstrate that we, too, are “caught up to God and to His throne as soon as we are born” of Christ. Is there any such verse of scripture? As a matter of fact there is just such a verse of scripture, which, along with this verse here in Revelation 12, confirms the truth of this statement that the dragon is intent upon devouring this manchild “as soon as he is born.” Here is this truth as it is inspired to be revealed to us:

Eph 2:6 and He raised us up together and seated us together in the heavenlies [or heavenly realms] in Christ Jesus, (ALT)

Here is Rotherham’s version of this verse:

Eph 2:6 And raised us up together, and seated us together in the heavenlies, in Christ: (REV)

As is always the case, we are “in the wilderness” before we are “caught up to God and to His throne”.

What takes place while we are “in the wilderness”?

Rev 12:6  And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Our “resurrection in newness of life” is our birth out of this woman, and it is at this point that the great red dragon stands poised to devour us. It is at this same point that we, in Christ, are “caught up to God and to His throne” while our mother goes into the wilderness to be nourished by God, just as rebellious Israel was nourished of God in the wilderness for forty years as she rebelled against him “ten times”.

Num 14:22  Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;

With what are we nourish while we are being tried in the wilderness? We are nourished with a “bread from heaven” which does not impart life and which is “not the true bread from heaven”.

Exo 16:4  Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

However, this “bread from heaven, even though it is from “the Lord”, is “not the true bread” which will give us life.

Joh 6:31  Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
Joh 6:32  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
Joh 6:33  For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Joh 6:34  Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
Joh 6:35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

While we are in the wilderness we think we are eating “bread from heaven”. After all, the Lord Himself said it was so. But it was “Not… the true bread from heaven”, and it could not give life.

Why does the dragon have seven crowns on seven heads while the beast has ten crowns on ten horns?

This is a detail we need to understand, so the first thing we need to do is to establish what the spiritual significance of the two words ‘horns’ and ’10’ are. What does the word ‘horns’ signify in scripture? What does the number ’10’ signify in scripture? To answer these questions we must, as always, remember that Christ is “the Word” of God (Joh 1:1), and “The words I speak to you are spirit” (Joh 6:63), meaning they are not seen or heard by anyone without the spirit of God.

Those who are given that spirit are given to see and hear “the things of the spirit”, which are foolishness to the natural man who cannot understand spiritual matters and who does not know that all scripture is spiritual in nature.

1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
1Co 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
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:
1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
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 this entire book of Revelation is being taught us by the holy spirit which “teaches comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” It concerns “the things freely given us of God… which the natural man cannot receive or know because they are foolishness to him.”

What do ‘horns’ signify spiritually? Their positive spiritual meaning is the strength and power of the spirit of God. Notice how this relates to the Lamb Himself and to His elect:

Rev 5:6  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

We will pause here having demonstrated that both the beast and the Lamb are presented to us with “seven horns”, and we will resume our study by demonstrating the spiritual significance of the words ‘seven’ and ‘horns’.

Gospels In Harmony – The Final Appeal to Unbelievers – Part 1

Matt 26:1-2, Luke 21:37-38, John 12:22-50

[Study Aired September 28, 2021]

Mat 26:1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,
Mat 26:2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

Luk 21:37 And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.
Luk 21:38 And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

Joh 12:20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
Joh 12:21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
Joh 12:22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
Joh 12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
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 shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
Joh 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Joh 12:27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
Joh 12:28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
Joh 12:29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
Joh 12:30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
Joh 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
Joh 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Joh 12:33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
Joh 12:34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
Joh 12:35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
Joh 12:36a While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. 
Joh 12:37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
Joh 12:38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
Joh 12:39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
Joh 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
Joh 12:41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
Joh 12:42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
Joh 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Joh 12:44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
Joh 12:45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
Joh 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
Joh 12:47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
Joh 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Joh 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
Joh 12:50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

Joh 12:36b These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

Our last several studies Christ spoke many parables to His disciples. The disciples could not understand them, though they thought they did at times, because they had not received the holy spirit. Every parable was spoken to hide the message of God, contrary to what is taught by the churches today, until the spirit is given to those Christ chooses to understand. In this study He tells His last parables before he is taken into custody.

Mat 13:10-17 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Luk 18:31-34 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

Keep in mind Christ said this to all His disciples, including Judas, who we will see in future studies betrays Christ. So being a disciple is not enough to understand the parables. What else must you be in order to understand the parables?

Psa 31:23-24 O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

Luk 6:46-49 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Joh 14:15-18 If ye love me, keep my commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Jas 1:19-27 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Here are the first verses of today’s study.

Mat 26:1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,
Mat 26:2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

Luk 21:37 And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.

Christ ends His discussion with the disciples by telling them, “The Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.” At this time they were still thinking Christ was there to conquer the world and begin the kingdom of God on earth. As we will see in future studies,this is not the case and all the disciples will betray and deny him. Here is Peter’s denial of Christ, but all the disciples denied him.

Mat 26:69-75 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

Continuing with our verses.

Luk 21:38 And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

Joh 12:20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
Joh 12:21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
Joh 12:22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.

The people still are desiring to hear the teaching of Christ, and even those outside of the Jewish community want to hear and call for him. Christ answers them, once again, with parables.

Joh 12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
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.

The corn of wheat represents the mind of the old man. Through the death of the old man and his doctrines much fruit is brought forth. The death of the old man brings forth the fruit of the spirit. This is how the Son of man is glorified.

Gal 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.

Eph 5:9-10 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Again Christ says the same thing in different sayings.

Joh 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
Joh 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

By dying to the carnal mind we are given the ability to serve Christ and receive honor from the Father, Christ’s God and our God.

Joh 12:27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

Christ knew what was to come over the next few days, and His soul was troubled, but he would not deny the Father’s will as His disciples are being caused to do. This is the difference between Christ and us. Christ came in the sinful flesh but sinned not.

Heb 4:14-16 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. 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. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

The best we are given to do is to stop walking after the flesh and, as we all know, this is impossible for men to do, and it is Christ in us, Who is without sin, Who is causing us to have a new walk in the spirit.

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 [the elect] 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.

We as His body are filling up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ, which gives us the ability to understand the hidden mysteries of God.

Col 1:24-27 Who [Paul and the elect] now rejoice in my [our] sufferings for you [Christ and His Christ], and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ [our head and master] in my [our] flesh [old man] for his body’s sake, which is the church: Whereof I [we, the elect] am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me [us] for you [and all in the ages to come], to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles [the Greeks (Joh 12:20)]; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I [we] also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me [the elect] mightily.

Continuing our verses, He calls out to the Father.

Joh 12:28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
Joh 12:29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.

The Father has glorified His name through Christ and is doing it again through the elect, the body of Christ, the church. We hear this same saying in our heavens if you have ears to hear. Christ now explains the voice:

Joh 12:30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
Joh 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
Joh 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Joh 12:33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.

Just as Christ is “lifted up from the earth” so must all men in order to enter into the kingdom, but every man in his proper order. We are told this from the very beginning, but only the elect understand this mystery.

Gen 2:17 Yet from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you are not to be eating from it, for in the day you eat from it, to die shall you be dying.

Mankind does not understand that in order to gain life, one must eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and die. Christ also did the same by entering into the flesh. The people ask Him the next question because of their lack of understanding, and we all ask this question.

Joh 12:34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?

Here is what is said in the law.

2Sa 7:13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will sta- blish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

Psa 72:7 In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abun dance of peace so long as the moon endureth.

Psa 72:17-19 His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.

Psa 89:36 His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.

Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Eze 37:24-25 And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.

Dan 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

Dan 7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

Mic 4:7 And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.

That is what the disciples and all those that were seeking the coming of Christ expected to take place. Their problem is the eyes and ears they are using to discern the scriptures are seeing and hearing with carnal minds. Christ, on the other hand, is giving a message that can only be seen and heard by the spirit.

This ends part one of this study. Here are the verses for our next study.

Joh 12:35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
Joh 12:36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
Joh 12:37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
Joh 12:38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
Joh 12:39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
Joh 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
Joh 12:41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
Joh 12:42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
Joh 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Joh 12:44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
Joh 12:45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
Joh 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
Joh 12:47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
Joh 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Joh 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
Joh 12:50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

“Love is a Consuming Fire” – Part 3

[Study Aired August 15, 2021]

As I sit writing these words, I find myself pressing the keys while pondering how it is I arrived at this moment. What I mean is that I had planned to only have a part 1 of “Love is a Consuming Fire”, but here I sit writing part 3 many more weeks later than I had planned. As with all things under the sun, there is nothing new, and this plan of mine in my head was nothing more than steps I would take if other things had fallen in place. The Lord had already worked it all out that I would indeed be typing the word, “word”, at that very moment. My next thought is, “Why?? Why plan? Why go about my day treating it as if it were going to be like all the rest of the preceding days?”

We all have today ONLY, and we aren’t even promised that the next breath will come. So, why plan?

Why do anything at all if God is in control and He is going to do whatever it is He is doing so that we can see what is being done?

Why?

I hope this study will help you to see what it is that answers this question for me, and maybe you can use the same Source for you and your “why’s”.

Our last few studies have used Psalms to illustrate various points, so I am going to keep the same form and start with Psalms 51 to help answer this simple one word question of “why”.

Psa 51:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Psa 51:2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Psa 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Psa 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

In these first five verses of Psalms 51, and when coupling these verses with ‘the sum of thy word is Truth’, we learn two very important universal Truths in the word of God (among other things).

We see that David admits his trespass, and he also tells us that we are shaped in iniquity. That is a big and hard pill to swallow once you actually accept it for what it is.

No matter our planning, from the first breath we take we are already formed in iniquity. That’s right brothers and sisters, you are ‘shapened in iniquity’ by DESIGN so that you WILL SIN without the Lord ALSO STEPPING IN to show you it is He Who keeps you from trespassing against Him.

How is it that we expect to escape this judgment that happened before we were ever born? We cannot escape this. Jesus Christ Himself could not escape the judgment that comes to the very thing God created; flesh that is sin and a heart that permits and justifies it to trespass against the Lord.

Why?

Well, we first must learn hard lessons in order to teach them to others, though experience is always the best teacher. What a teacher does is help someone learn how to deal with something that will come along later, depending on the object of the teaching. If I teach math, it’s because you will use that math for a math problem later.

The Lord could just create these knowledgeable creatures to KNOW good and evil from jump street, so why doesn’t He do that?

Psa 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Psa 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psa 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Psa 51:9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Psa 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

It’s a hard thing to fall into the hands of a loving Father. Good parents will teach their children the lessons which need to be learned now so that they can be applied later when the lesson is turned into real life.

Our heavenly Father is no different, except that His lessons are always perfect in purpose, perfect in will and perfect in execution, whereas we earthly parents struggle mightily.

King David tells us that we are shapened in iniquity and in sin his MOTHER conceived him. Is David’s mom being picked on in scripture? Why isn’t the dad mentioned? The dad wasn’t involved in this sinful conception?

Obviously, aside from Jesus, physical dads are involved, so why is it recorded in scripture that the MOTHER conceives in SIN?

Let us seek the Truth to understand the answer.

God desires Truth in the inward parts. We know the Truth is Jesus. What then are the inward parts? I know I want Jesus there too! Also, what is the hidden part? I have sooooo mannnyyyyy questions!

Psa 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

The inward parts are NOT the same as the hidden part. We need to know the difference and how we use this to our spiritual benefit.

H2910 ṭûchâh
Total KJV Occurrences: 2
inward, 2 Job_38:36, Psa_51:6

The word used for “inward parts” is H2910, and it is found in only two parts of scripture, as you can see. Notice our connection to Job 38:36 and Psalms 51. Do you want answers to the question of “why”? Let the Lord start to answer us as He answers Job.

Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Job 38:2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Job 38:3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
Job 38:4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Job 38:5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
Job 38:6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Job 38:8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
Job 38:9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
Job 38:10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
Job 38:11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
Job 38:12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
Job 38:13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
Job 38:14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment. And the common verse connecting these chapters together:

Job 38:34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
Job 38:35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
Job 38:36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
Job 38:37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,

This line of questioning goes on for several chapters as the Lord has His own questions for Job. Several chapters later we see that the Lord gives pause for Job to attempt to answer some of the Lord’s questions, and Job gets a bit condemning sayeth the Lord:

Job 40:1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
Job 40:2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
Job 40:3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
Job 40:4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
Job 40:5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.
Job 40:6 Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Job 40:7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
Job 40:8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
Job 40:9 Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

After the Lord again reminds Job of his condemnation of the Lord by simply thinking He, Job, had a better way to do things, and then we finally get an honest reply out of Job:

Job 42:1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
Job 42:3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
Job 42:4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
Job 42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Oh, that spiritual insight and sight is something to contend with indeed; except, that spiritual sight did not just happen. It came when the Lord built up Job enough in life that Job thought it good and well to stay in his righteous attitude even though his life was falling apart all around him. Job had to be put through some stuff before he could be given this sight. Now that we see the connection of inward parts being connected to Job, we know it is only the Lord who controls access to the inward parts. What about the hidden part?

Psa 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

H5640 sâtham / śâtham
Total KJV Occurrences: 14
stopped, 6 Gen_26:15, Gen_26:18, 2Ki_3:25, 2Ch_32:4, 2Ch_32:30, Neh_4:7
shut, 2 Dan_8:26, Dan_12:4 stop, 2 2Ki_3:19, 2Ch_32:3
closed, 1 Dan_12:9
hidden, 1 Psa_51:6
secret, 1 Eze_28:3
shutteth, 1 Lam_3:8

Remember when I stated the inward parts are not the HIDDEN part? There are two times that H5640 “saw-tham” is used, but most of the time the word means “stopped” or “stop”. Here are a few examples:

Gen 26:15 For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.

This is Isaac here wanting to “un-stop” the “stopped” wells that had been filled with dirt. They had been filled WITH EARTH.

Gen 26:15 For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.
Gen 26:16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.
Gen 26:17 And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.
Gen 26:18 And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.
Gen 26:19 And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.

The Lord tells us that He can bring forth springs of living water, but the well from which it comes IS NOT ACTIVELY PRODUCING WATER if the Lord needs to bring forth water from it.

Joh 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

Jesus just wants back what is His. We have literally nothing to offer. What can we give to God? What sacrifice can we make? Can I sacrifice my own life for God? Can I dedicate myself to Him? I have NOTHING to offer God, yet when I meet Him at the “well of water”, He asks me FOR SOMETHING TO DRINK. He wants what comes forth from the WELL that was STOPPED but then filled with LIVING WATER as the EARTH is REMOVED. Low points are usually really good spots to dig for water. Valleys are pretty low. Isaac’s servants dug in a valley and found a well, but it wasn’t without strife.

Gen 26:20 And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.
Gen 26:21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.
Gen 26:22 And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.
Gen 26:23 And he went up from thence to Beersheba.

It took a process of three tries before they dug a well they did not have to strive for afterwards. It takes a long process for the digging to happen, the earth to be removed so that the Lord can make room in our hidden heart for water to fill it. It isn’t because the Lord can’t do it instantaneously, but just like with all of the creation He tells Job about, His will is manifest BY WAY OF looking around at His creation and marveling. The problem is, our EYES ARE BLINDED and we CANNOT SEE… just like Job. Until we do.

Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Psa 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

We do not have a clean heart. We must have one created in us, but we think all we do is pure when we justify our actions. What strikes me is the free spirit with which David asks to be upheld. The only time this word is used in all of the bible is right here in verse 12.

H5082 nedı̂ybâh
Total KJV Occurrences: 1
soul, 1 Job_30:15

Strong’s concordance has the English word “free” listed in the actual verse, but when you use e-Sword you see that it is listed as “soul”. Huh? What? Okay, so when I look at the word in more depth it all makes sense.

H5082 nedı̂ybâh
ned-ee-baw’
Feminine of H5081; properly nobility, that is, reputation: – soul. Total KJV occurrences: 2

That’s a little better but still confusing.

H5082 is the feminine version of H5081. H5081 nâdı̂yb
BDB Definition: 1) inclined, willing, noble, generous (adjective) 1a) incited, inclined, willing 1b) noble, princely (in rank) 1c) noble (in mind and character) 2) noble one (noun masculine) Part of Speech: see above in Definition A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H5068

This is one of those times when you know that translating from one language to another can lose a little bit of the original intent of the word or phrase. This word means noble as in prince or also it infers WILL. In other words, a servant’s will does not supersede the will of the master. The “prince’s/noble’s will” is noble in mind and character.

H5081 nâdı̂yb
Total KJV Occurrences: 28
princes, 10 1Sa_2:8, Job_12:21, Job_34:18, Psa_47:9, Psa_107:40, Psa_118:8-9 (3), Psa_146:3, Pro_17:26
liberal, 4 Isa_32:5, Isa_32:8 (3)
nobles, 4 Num_21:18, Psa_83:11, Pro_8:16, Isa_13:2
prince, 4 Job_21:28, Pro_17:7, Pro_25:6-7 (2)
willing, 3 Exo_35:5, Exo_35:22, 1Ch_28:21
free, 2 2Ch_29:31, Psa_51:12
prince’s, 1 Son_7:1

The root of the feminine and masculine of these words is H5068: H5068 nâdab naw-dab’ A primitive root; to impel; hence to volunteer (as a soldier), to present spontaneously: – offer freely, be (give, make, offer self) willing (-ly). Total KJV occurrences: 17

H5068 nâdab Total KJV Occurrences: 17
willingly, 13 Jdg_5:2 (2), Jdg_5:9, 1Ch_29:6, 1Ch_29:9 (2), 1Ch_29:14, 1Ch_29:17 (2), 2Ch_17:16, Ezr_1:6, Ezr_3:5, Ezr_7:16
willing, 3 Exo_35:21, Exo_35:29, 1Ch_29:5
offered, 1 Ezr_3:5 (2)

Therefore, the root of this word is “WILLING” and that is probably why the translators chose “free”.

To WILL something is to be FREE to DO SO.

That is why we always say, “Lord willing” or the “Lord’s WILL BE DONE”.

The answer to the questions of “why” are all the same. The Lord willed it. His will is ultimate and all knowing, whereas our collective human wills are ALL CONTROLLED. I understand how grating that is to our flesh. I know how it rubs like sand on the skin. Until the Lord re-digs the wells that were once open and filled with water, then the hidden part cannot be filled with water. What is the purpose of it all then? Well, since you have asked for drink, I will give you sup. When you have water, you can help others, for that is why they are at the well, too. Except, the well is LIFE and they HAVE NONE. They, and we alike, are DEAD MEN WALKING. I don’t care what you do with your life, your time, your wants and desires. Vanity of vanities, it is all vanity!

Ask anyone on their LITERAL death bed. They will tell you what’s up. That’s a funny thought considering we are the ones supposedly dying daily; therefore, we should have the “what’s up” to give to others like the person on their physical death bed.

Psa 51:13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Psa 51:14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
Psa 51:15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
Psa 51:16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Psa 51:18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Psa 51:19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Lips of thanksgiving. The sacrifice of thanksgiving. When you are found, as a lost sheep, and keep wandering away from the flock becoming lost, your Shepherd will find you. There will be a time when your salvation will be to break your legs to keep you from becoming lost again. You will ask why. The Lord will answer.

Psa 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

Next study, we will be doing Part 4 of this series, which I believe will be the last part of this series. It will be a summation of the things mentioned in the first three parts, coupled with knowing what it is to TEACH the WAY to all who come to the well as the noble princes we are all being raised up to be spiritually. Give unto us a princely heart, oh Lord!

Mat 22:41-46, Mar 12:35-37, Luk 20:41-44

[Study Aired July 29, 2021]

Mat 22:41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
Mat 22:42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.
Mat 22:43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
Mat 22:44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Mat 22:45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
Mat 22:46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

Mar 12:35 And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?
Mar 12:36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Mar 12:37 David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.

Luk 20:41 And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David’s son?
Luk 20:42 And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Luk 20:43 Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Luk 20:44 David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?

This part of the Gospel is a transitional point. Up to now Christ has been answering the questions presented by the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and others trying to catch Christ in His words. In His typical form, Christ asks them a question they are unable to answer. Below is the Psalm Christ is quoting.

Psa 110:1-7 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.

Tony has a study on this Psalm, and here is the link: Psa 110:1-7 Sit at my Right Hand   If you have not heard this study, I suggest you do. Here is part of the study covering Christ’s question.

“Psa 110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool^{H1916 H7272}.

As we have seen, unless we are granted to “Sit thou at my right hand” there will be no true overcoming in this age, or said another way, “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.”

The words “The LORD said unto my Lord” in this verse represents those who have this high calling in the LORD (1Pe 2:9) that is on the backs of those who are not the weak of the world (Luk 10:24, Mat 11:11, 1Co 1:26). They are not given to see what the LORD has prepared for those who love him, those who will be lords of our great LORD (1Co 2:9, Rom 8:28, Rev 19:16).

1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

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

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.

1Co 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

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

Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

We are being prepared by Christ to see God the Father. In order to do this, we must have our enemies be made our footstool. Following are two FAQ’s from the website which explain the answer of Christ’s question.

Who Did King David Call Lord?

God bless you, Mike!

I have just read what you have written about no man having seen the Father in O.T. In Luk 1:32 Jesus is called the Son of the Highest or Most High! HYPSISTOU in Greek, which in Septuagint translates ELYON in Hebrew. Melchizedek was priest of ELYON (Gen 14:18-24). In Daniel 7:17-27 we find that the saints of ELYON shall take the Kingdom and possess the Kingdom for OLAMA. WAED OLAM OLAMIA, which I believe is for the age and beyond to the age of ages. Are these saints the Melchizedek priesthood? In Mat 11:27 “NEITHER KNOWETH ANY MAN THE FATHER, SAVE THE SON, AND HE TO WHOMSOEVER THE SON WILL REVEAL HIM”!!! Does this mean that the Father’s Name is MOST HIGH in English, ELYON in Hebrew and HYPSISTOS in Greek and a lot of revelation about our Father is hidden in the Scriptures about the Most High or Highest?

Thanks,
G____

Hi G____,

Thank you for your encouraging words. You ask:

Does this mean that the Father’s Name is MOST HIGH in English, ELYON in Hebrew and HYPSISTOS in Greek and a lot of revelation about our Father is hidden in the scriptures about the Most High or Highest?

The answer to that question is, “no” because the Father is revealed only through Jesus. This really is clearly stated in this verse:

Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

“Of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, Christ has been given a name that is above every name.”

No one can come to God but by Jesus.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Those words are true. No one can, ever has or ever will, come to the Father but by Christ. He is called “the mighty God”, the everlasting Father, and He is also called “the Almighty”. However, these names are all Christ, and He came to reveal to us who the Father is. No one was aware that God had a son, or that it was really the Son with whom they had been dealing in the Old Testament, calling Him Yahweh, and thinking that Yahweh was Christ’s Father, instead of realizing that ‘Yahweh was really Christ Himself. This has to be so because, “No man comes to the Father but by Christ”, and Christ is our ‘Father’.

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

This “Almighty” is not speaking of the heavenly Father of Christ. It is speaking of the same ‘I am’ of Revelation 1:18:

Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

When Christ quoted Psalm 110:1, “The Yahweh said unto my Adon, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool”, Christ is telling us that ‘Adon’ is King David, and King David is calling Christ, Yahweh.

Psa 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Mat 22:41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
Mat 22:42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, [The Son] of David.
Mat 22:43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
Mat 22:44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Mat 22:45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
Mat 22:46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any [man] from that day forth ask him any more.

In the New Testament Greek, both times the word ‘lord’ is used it is the Greek word ‘kurios’ translated variously in the King James as Lord, God, master and sir. However, in Psalms the first ‘Lord’ is Yahweh, and ‘Yahweh’ is always translated in all capitals in the King James Version, while the second ‘Lord’ is Adon.

Christ tells us that one of these is King David speaking, and it is evident that King David is not Yahweh. So Adon is King David, and King David is calling Christ, ‘Yahweh’.

That accords with the fact that Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses and many others in the Old Testament, either heard Yahweh’s voice, and several, like Abraham and Moses, even saw Yahweh’s form.

Gen 18:1 And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
Gen 18:2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw [them], he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
Gen 18:13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

Here we have “the LORD”, the Hebrew in both of these verses is ‘Yahweh’, both “appearing to Abraham” and “speaking unto Abraham”. The same thing is true of Moses many years later:

Exo 6:10 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Exo 6:11 Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.

Exo 33:18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
Exo 33:19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
Exo 33:20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face [in His glory]: for there shall no man see me [“in My glory], and live.
Exo 33:21 And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:
Exo 33:22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:
Exo 33:23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen [in my glory].

So both Abraham and Moses, and others, saw Yahweh and heard His voice. But concerning His Father Christ tells us this:

Joh 5:37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.

It is obvious that the ‘Yahweh’ of the Old Testament was not the father but was Christ all along, speaking for and appearing for His Father whom Christ came to reveal only to those He chose to do so.

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.

It is only through Christ that anyone can hope to ever see the Father. That is what Christ Himself taught.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

No one before Christ had ever heard the voice of the Father or seen His form. Here is the really good news! Here is life eternal. It is in the very next verse:

Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Joh 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Joh 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father?

“Seeing the Father” is now no longer a physical matter. It is now a spiritual matter, and our ‘eyes and ears’ are both now a spiritual matter. I hope this all helps you to see that Christ is the Yahweh of the Old Testament who King David called Lord.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

In What Way is Christ God?

Hi Mike,

This was posted by a person on [a bible forum], what do you make of it? It seems the person replying to the quote believes the kingdom will never be given back to the Father.

“The Kingdom will be handed over to God when our spiritual husband and brother and king, subjects all enemies to it so that they might be subjects OF it.”
WRONG

The LORD said to My Lord, set thee at my Right hand till I make thy enemies thy footstool.
Who is The LORD and who is My Lord (That David spoke of in Psalms)??
Can anyone find a second witness to the Corinthian verse that implies Jesus Christ is subduing all things and then handing it over to the Father???
Can’t be done, because the Corinthian verse is the only witness that gives this convoluted conclusion. Think on the Psalms verse, and God willing it will open your eyes.

Thanks brother,
D____

Hi D____,

Thank you for your question.

If one thinks the word of God is convoluted, then why study it? If on the other hand, one thinks that people’s understanding of God’s Word is “convoluted” and without a “second witness” then that one needs to give the proper understanding of the verse in question or else just confess what they are making obvious; that they do not think God’s Word is infallible. A post like this would not be given the light of day on iswasandwillbe.com. If this man were seeking to know what 1Corinthians 15:20 is saying, or if he were even trying to explain it, then such an attitude would be honored. Speaking of God’s word as if the apostle Paul himself was speaking “convoluted” doctrine contrary to Psalms tells me that this writer does not believe that “the sum or thy word is truth,” which also happens to be in Psalms:

Psa 119:160 The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting. (ISV)

The need for a second witness is a good point. If you don’t even believe that the apostle Paul is an inspired writer and don’t even see the need to explain 1Corinthians 15:20, then you will not be given time or space on IWWB.

One ‘second witness’ for 1 Corinthians 15:20 is the very scripture this man quotes to show it has no second witness:

Psa 110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

This is way over the head of ‘Peacetroll,’ but there is something in the New Testament which is called “the Christ” of Christ. Look at these few verses:

Act 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

The apostle Peter spoke these words to the Jews in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. Now consider this verse, just a couple of chapters later after the chief priests had begun persecuting the church at Jerusalem:

Act 4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

This word ‘Christ’ means simply ‘anointed.’ All priests are ‘anointed’ to be of service for God to His people. Now here is what Christ tells us about who we are to Him:

Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

“As My Father hath sent me SO send I you.” What did the Father send Christ to do? He sent Him to die for His own children. And what has Christ sent us to do? He sent us to lay down our lives for our brothers:

Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

This is not speaking of taking a bullet for a friend. It could well include that, but it is far broader in its application than that. We must “present [our] bodies a living sacrifice…”

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.

Like Christ, we, too, as the christ of Christ, are sent “AS His Father hath sent Him” to present our bodies a living sacrifice…” for our brothers. Here now is how we do that, and this is what ‘Peacetroll’ is totally unaware of as he teaches that Christ is both the Son and the Father:

Col 1:24 Now, am I rejoicing in the sufferings on your behalf, and am filling up the things that lack of the tribulations of the Christ, in my flesh, in behalf of his body, which is the assembly, (REV)

‘The tribulations which are lacking of THE Christ’ are fulfilled in us as we present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice by laying down our lives for our friends. Those are the tribulations of THE christ of our Lord Jesus Christ, but THE christ will rule and reign the kingdoms of this world with our Lord Jesus Christ:

Rev 11:15 And, the seventh messenger, sounded; and there came to be loud voices in heaven, saying – The kingdom of the world, hath become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign unto the ages of ages. (REV)

So it takes Christ to fill His Father just as we fill Christ:

Eph 1:3 Blessed, be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing, in the heavenlies, in Christ,

Eph 1:9 making known to us the sacred secret of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him,
Eph 1:10 For an administration of the fulness of the seasons, to reunite for himself (under one head) the all things in the Christ, the things upon the heavens, and the things upon the earth, in him: (REV)

This is probably not for the eyes of ‘Peacetroll,’ but verse ten is definitely another ‘second witness’ to the so-called ‘convoluted’ words of 1 Corinthians 15:28:

1Co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him [the Lord and His Christ], then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God [the Father] may be all in all.

Both verses are saying virtually the same thing for those with eyes to see and ears to hear. Here again is another verse which makes this same point just a few verses later in Ephesians 1:

Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Christ’s “inheritance… [is] in the saints.”

Eph 1:22 And [the Father] hath put all [things] under his [Christ’s] feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

The church, Christ’s body, is “the fulness of Him [Christ] that fills all in all [His Father].” Here is how Christ put all of this at an earlier time:

Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I [am] in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Joh 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

I hope this gives you a better idea of who is “His christ… THE christ” of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of His Father:

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

The story of Eve coming out from Adam is the story of Christ coming out from His creator, the Father of Jesus Christ.

Mat 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

According to Christ Himself, He is God in the same sense that “ye are gods.”

Joh 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Joh 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
Joh 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Joh 10:36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

Christ would have had no point to be made if He were saying that He Himself were the Father. That would be like saying ‘Ye are the Father,’ and neither we nor He is the Father, but we are gods, just as Christ was pointing out that He is a God.

So “the Lord says unto my lord sit thou at my right hand until I have made thy enemies thy footstool” applies to “THE Christ” who has been sent by Christ just as His Father sent Him. Besides this, too, is another witness to that Truth:

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

Mike

[The next study in the Gospels in Harmony series is here.]

Psa 121:1   Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 
Psa 121:2  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 
Psa 121:3  He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 
Psa 121:4  Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 

This is another “Song of degrees^H4609” which points us to Christ who is the One our Father directs to give the increase in our lives (1Co 3:6-7, Joh 3:30, Col 1:27-29, Mat 23:12, Joh 14:6-7, Eph 2:18).

H4609

Feminine of H4608; elevation, that is, the act (literally a journey to a higher place, figuratively a thought arising), or (concretely) the condition (literally a step or grade mark, figuratively a superiority of station); specifically a climactic progression (in certain Psalms): – things that come up, (high) degree, deal, go up, stair, step, story.

H4608

From H5927; an elevation, that is, (concretely) acclivity or platform; abstractly (the relation or state) a rise or (figuratively) priority: – ascent, before, chiefest, cliff, that goeth up, going up, hill, mounting up, stairs.

1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1Co 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Joh 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

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 [increase], the hope of glory: [glory-obedience]
Col 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: (Jerm22:29)
Col 1:29  Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. [saying exactly the same thing as Php 2:12-13 which has the added detail “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”

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.

Mat 23:12  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. [He must increase, but I must decrease]

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 
Joh 14:7  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Eph 2:18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

This particular Psalm has a hope-filled message which confirms in old covenant language what Christ is doing today for His bride, the little flock or remnant (2Co 11:2, Luk 12:32, Rom 11:5) who have been set aside as a living sacrifice to “lift up [our] mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my [our] help“; a help that God continually gives (Heb 13:6 , Psa 54:4)  the few (Mat 22:14) who were categorized as “they that feared the LORD spake often one to another” (Mal 3:16-18, Php 2:12).

2Co 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 

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

Rom 11:5  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 

Heb 13:6  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Mal 3:16  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: [Php 2:12-13] and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. 

In this study we will look at how the judgment upon the elect (1Pe 4:17) preserves God’s children, and how it is in God’s hands to reserve us unto that day of judgment which is a little and by little process (Deu 7:22) that unfolds in the lives of those who are going on to perfection in this age, as opposed to the majority of mankind who will be reserved for a latter judgment in the lake of fire (2Pe 2:4-9, 2Pe 3:7). 

If the Lord has determined to judge us in this age and make us ready so we can be among those who attain to the first resurrection, it will happen by our heeding the admonitions He gives us which tell us to not be complacent in this life (Php 3:14, Mat 20:23). If we are “accounted worthy” (Luk 20:34-35),  it will be because we have been blessed to examine ourselves throughout this life having been dragged to Christ through whom we are accepted and able to (Joh 6:44, Rom 2:4-6, Eph 1:6) give an accounting of our life today in Him (1Pe 4:17).

We can judge ourselves first (Eph 1:12) simply by virtue of the fact that “he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” – (2Co 13:5, 1Co 11:31, 1Co 9:24, 1Co 9:27, Rom 1:26-32, Php 1:6). Christ has to work everything within us, including the heeding of admonitions as well as giving an accounting, from a heart that has been softened (Isa 66:2) and does not therefore despise “the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance” (Rom 2:4). This contrast of those who heed and those who don’t is given to us in type and shadow in these verses of Peter (2Pe 2:4-9), and it drives home the point that God is the Sovereign cause behind all of the physical and spiritual creation (Eph 1:11, Rom 9:20-23).

2Pe 2:4  For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 
2Pe 2:5  And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 
2Pe 2:6  And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample ([self]?G5263 G5263) unto those that after should live ungodly;
2Pe 2:7  And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked [2Ti 2:16]:
2Pe 2:8  (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing [Mat 13:16-17], vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds) [Eze 9:4, 2Ti 2:19].

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 
Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. 

Eze 9:4  And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. 

2Ti 2:19  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 

Rom 9:20  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 
Rom 9:21  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 
Rom 9:22  What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 
Rom 9:23  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 

2Pe 2:9  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: (The 9th verse describes the withholding that occurs in every life until the man of perdition is destroyed by the brightness of His coming 2Th 2:8-9)

2Pe 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Luk 20:34  And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: 
Luk 20:35  But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:[speaking of the 1st resurrection]

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? 
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: 

Heb 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 

Heb 3:8  Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 
Heb 3:9  When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 
Heb 3:10  Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. 
Heb 3:11  So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) 
Heb 3:12  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 
Heb 3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 
Heb 3:14  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; [Psa 107:2]

2Co 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

1Co 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.[In a latter great white throne judgment or lake of fire] 

1Co 9:24  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. [how we run… 1Jn4:17, Heb 4:16] 

1Co 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

As mentioned before, there is a process or “Song of degrees” God’s elect are coming to know as the Lord matures us and teaches us how to bring our bodies “into subjection” to Christ in each other, and convicts us that it is on the backs of others’ unbelief that we are being saved, as we see Him make His strength perfect through the weak of the world, the unnatural branch that is blessed to be first to be grafted into the body of Christ or brought “into subjection” and called His bride who has made herself ready (Rom 11:15-23, Rev 19:7).

Rom 11:15  For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 
Rom 11:16  For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 
Rom 11:17  And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 
Rom 11:18  Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 

Among God’s elect is where we are by the grace and faith of God who causes the blindness of the world through Satan (2Co 4:4) and opens our eyes through Christ the root or vine through whom we do all things and are supported. Boasting against the branches would not be supporting Christ’s purpose or bearing the root, neither would it be acknowledging His sovereignty that supports all things or through whom all things consist “but the root thee” (Php 2:13, Rom 3:27, Joh 15:5, Col 1:17).

Rom 11:19  Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 
Rom 11:20  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off (CAUSED 2Co_4:4), and thou standest by faith (CAUSED Rom 3:27). Be not highminded, but fear: 
Rom 11:21  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 
Rom 11:22  Behold therefore the goodness (CAUSED Rom_3:27) and severity (CAUSED 2Co 4:4) of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness (Rom 2:4): otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.