Monthly Archives: October 2023

Is This True?, Israel in Bible Prophecy

The Fullness of The Gentiles

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What does this mean?

(Note: I am interrupting the articles on Israel’s enemies to address this question. I will continue with the other series soon.)

The phrase “time/fullness of the Gentiles” appears three times in the Bible.  In time order, they are : Ezekiel 30:3, Luke 21:24, and Romans 11:25.  The difference in these passages is the use of “time of the Gentiles” by Ezekiel and Luke vs “fulness of the Gentiles” by Paul.

The Hebrew word for time found in Ezekiel is a noun (ʿēṯ), which means the time of the event.  Luke uses a similar identification of time as a noun (Kairos), meaning a measure of time. Instead of the time of the Gentiles, Paul uses the word “fullness” (also a noun), meaning ” filled-up or fulfilled.

Paul uses the word “fullness” several times, e.g., “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,” Galatians 4:4.  This would indicate the fulfillment of a prophecy concerning the birth of Jesus (Isaiah 7:14)

Why is this important?

All three writers are pointing forward to a future event. A time allotted for the Gentiles.  But the most important questions are “What is this work?” and “How does it fit into prophecy?”

Reading these passages in their immediate context (the verses before, those after, and the beginning of each Chapter) is important.  From there, we can see the time applications as prophecy.   We can easily discern in all three passages that it was future to them (Ezekiel, Jesus, and Paul). But, Is it the same event?  What is the event?

Let’s start with Jesus’ discussion with his disciples.

Jesus-Luke 21

 in Luke 21:5 (and Matthew 24:1), we can feel the pride of the disciples in showing off the temple.  They wanted Jesus to be just as proud.  But Jesus surprises them and tells them of the utter destruction of the temple that is to come:

“These things which you see—the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.” Luke 22:6

Matthew records it this way:

And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” Matthew 24: 2

With this context in mind, let’s read the passages regarding the time of the Gentiles as recorded in Luke 21 starting with verse 20:

20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles (ethnos-non-Jews-Gentiles) are fulfilled. Luke 21:20-24

Let’s list the key components of Jesus’ statement to His disciples to identify who the Gentiles are and their “time.”

  1. Armies will surround Jerusalem. Desolations are near
  2. A warning to “flee to the mountains”-depart. if you are away from the city (country), stay there!
  3. These days of vengeance, which are written (Ezekiel 30:3) are about to be fulfilled!
  4. There will be great distress for those in the city.
  5. The sword will kill those in the city. But some will be led captive to other cities.
  6. Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

This destruction and time of trouble for the Jewish people in Jerusalem would continue until the Gentiles fulfilled their work of destruction and trouble.

Jesus accurately predicted the destruction of Jerusalem, the temple, and the disbursement of the Jews to all other nations.  This is well documented in history as it happened in 70 AD when the Roman soldiers surrounded and seized the city, destroyed it along with the second temple (the one rebuilt after the Babylonian captivity), and the people inside it. 

Jesus, prediction can be found in Ezekiel 30: 1-4s:

The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:

“Wail, ‘Woe to the day!’

 For the day is near,

Even the day of the Lord is near;

It will be a day of clouds, the time of the Gentiles.

The sword shall come upon Egypt,

And great anguish shall be in Ethiopia,

When the slain fall in Egypt,

And they take away her wealth,

And her foundations are broken down.

Although the destruction in Ezekiel references Egypt, it is applied to Jerusalem as well as He uses similar words and phrases of the prophecy.

LukeEzekiel
Great distressGreat anguish
Fall by the edge of the swordSlain fall
Led awayTake away
Stones not upon another (Matthew)Foundations broken down
Times of the Gentiles fulfilledTime of the Gentiles

So, we can see that the time of the Gentiles is a destructive time in these two cases.  Therefore, it is likely that Paul in Romans 11:25 is describing the same thing as Jesus and Ezekiel.  The difference is that Paul gets more theological as it relates to the state of the Jewish people and argues that their rejection is not final.  But it appears Paul is pointing to the same event as Ezekiel and Jesus, i.e., the destruction of Jerusalem, a destructive event that was future to all three. Again, let’s read in its context starting at verse 11:

11 I say then, have they (Jews) stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!

13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

Notice that Paul talks about how their “fall” led to salvation for the Gentiles.  Those not of the Jewish faith began to see the gospel that was once preached to them, and they accepted it!  

Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. Acts 13:46

Paul then speaks of provoking the Jews (those who are my flesh) to save “some of them.” This clears up the idea that all Jews will be ultimately saved.  That teaching is not consistent with this passage or the plan of salvation.

With this in mind, let’s read Romans 11:25 within the context of the verses before and after it:

2 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved (*sōzō-delivered) , as it is written:

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,

And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;

27 For this is My covenant with them,

When I take away their sins.” Romans 11: 24-27

(the Greek word sōzō is properly translated as “delivered. “It fits with the “Deliverer” coming out of Zion, which is Jesus.  So from what we know, those whom Jesus delivers out of the coming destruction of Jerusalem will be spared the destruction-all of them.  Those who ignored the warning of Jesus to flee will not be delivered.

Dispensationalism and Replacement Theory

This passage in Romans 11: 25 has been used out of context to connect it to the final end-time events.  True, it was an end-time event for those remaining in Jerusalem.  However, It is often connected with the dispensationalism theory that separates the  Jewish Nation and the Christian church of believers.  Unlike the Replacement Theory and Dispensationalism.  Jesus breaks down the wall between the Jewish believer and the Gentile believer.  These two, together, are true Israel (yiśrā’ēl); God prevails!

For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.” Ephesians 2: 14-16

Paul further drives this point home with statements like this:

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

..there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Colossians 3:11

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. Romans 2:28-29

The Dispensationalists believing in the pre-tribulation (the rapture of the church before the Great Tribulation) propose that the “time of the Gentiles” refers to that period when the temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt in Jerusalem at the site currently occupied by the Muslim Masque.  The enemies of Jerusalem will surround Jerusalem, and Jesus will come down and touch the Mount of Olives and deliver Israel from their enemies.  This story is fictionalized by writers like Hal Lindsey (The Late Great Planet Earth) and Tim Lehaye (Left Behind series).

According to this theory, this will occur during the 7-year tribulation.   However, the Bible gives no indication of the time of trouble lasting seven years in the Bible.  The seven years comes from a misinterpretation of the 70-week prophecy of Daniel 9.  For a fairer and more Biblical interpretation of this prophecy, please click here:  7 Years of Tribulation-Biblical?

Conclusion:

The Fullness of the Gentiles or Time of the Gentiles within the context of the passages of the three writers, the prediction of Jesus, and the historical record refers to the seizure and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD and has nothing to do with the dispensationalists attempt to force it to mean something else that would fit into the pre-tribulation or the unbiblical 7-year tribulation period. 

This period of destruction was a prophecy to the three writers, but it is history to us.  This happens often in scripture.  Daniel 2 is a good example of the rise and fall of Babylon, Medio-Persia, Greek, Roman, and the eventual ten divisions of Rome into modern Europe. Also, passages like Zachariah 12 and other OT prophets promise deliverance for Israel from enemies, but it is within the time period for which it was written and the enemy that controls them.  When reading the Old Testament prophets about rebuilding the temple or the city, it is always in the context of the second temple after Babylon had destroyed Solomon’s temple.  There is no mention of a third temple in the Bible.

On that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David (second temple), which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old; Amos 9:11

Artaxerxes wrote the decree in 457 BC for the Jews to return and rebuild their city, including the second temple (See Ezra 7: 11-28), after Babylon had destroyed the first temple 70 years earlier.

Israel’s enemies are the Christian’s enemies.  It goes beyond nations and buildings to include spiritual wickedness.  Here is the real enemy, and the real Deliverer is Jesus the Christ for all, both Jewish and Gentile believers.  We are all one in Christ and not separate in His eyes.                                                                                                                            

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

Israel in Bible Prophecy

The Enemies of Israel-Part 2

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Also, the Glory of Israel will not lie nor change His mind; for He is not a man, that He would change His mind.” 1 Samuel 15:29

The Seeds of War, Hatred, and Covetousness

The object of most wars is land on earth, aka “land grab,” It is a desire to have something in someone else’s possession and take it by force (covetousness). But the fuel that most often drives it is selfishness and hatred. Enemies are created this way, wars erupt, and the death of the adversary is the goal.

But, the unexplainable beginning of covetousness begetting war started with the enemy of all mankind.

The Enemy of All Mankind

“You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity (immoral, wickedness) was found in you.” Ezekiel 28:15

“But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north.” Isaiah 14:13 NASB

The mystery of iniquity bore a desire to take God’s throne, which created hatred. This iniquity led to the first war.  It was fought in heaven:

And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So, the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Revelation 12: 7-9 (NKJV)

Satan lost the war and was cast to this earth with one-third of the angels, but the hatred for God continued.  Anything belonging to God, particularly His people, became the object of Satan’s great wrath.  He knows his end.  He is like a roaring lion looking to mar the image of God in mankind.  Deception and lies are His most effective weapons to set his base scheme in motion.  John, in the book of Revelation, describes him as the one who deceives the whole world (Revelation. 12:9)

He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature because he is a liar and the father of lies.  John 8:44

This we will keep in mind as we move forward.

In the Beginning, Satan Gains A Victory on Earth

He used his weapon of deception and a lie that seemed to offer an improvement for Adam and Eve in an already blessed life.  The father of lies was able to plant a seed of mistrust for God by creating doubt and covetousness in God’s simple statement.  He told a lie followed by a truth.  This unholy mixture would become his most effective weapon.

Doubt by using a question: “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” Genesis 3: 1b (NASB)

The woman met this doubt with the exact words of God.

“From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’”

Genesis 3:2-3 (NASB)

It was a simple restriction of God, preparing the first couple for the verbal attack of a serpent.  Satan contradicted God,

The Lie:  “You certainly will not die!

The Truth: For God knows that on the day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will become like God, knowing good and evil.”

Genesis 3:4-5

God declares a condition: obey and live.  God would repeat this simple rule of life many times to the people of Israel and to all who claimed to be His followers (Deuteronomy 4: 1; 20:30; Jeremiah 38: 20). Break the condition, and death would follow. Satan says, no, you won’t.  God is keeping something back from you…. something better than your current environment. So, covetousness, believing a lie, and disobedience brought sin upon all mankind.  It will be this same deadly trio of sins that will bring an end to planet Earth as we know it. 

Indeed, the first couple began to experience a knowledge of both good and evil (Genesis 3:22).  A line that has been blurred in today’s society.  Evil is called good, and good is called evil (Isaiah 5:20). 

God Had A Plan Ahead of Time

God, in His grace and mercy, had a plan “from the foundation of the world.” (Ephesians 1:4). God could not change his words to fit the situation.  Death came upon them.  They would eventually die. 

The seed of doubt, covetousness, and disobedience had been planted and nurtured through the enemy of mankind to the whole world, resulting in an entire world of wars and rumors of wars.  Satan wanted to control God’s creation and to take it from the one who cast him to the earth.

But God initiated his plan of grace, mercy, and forgiveness on the very day mankind fell into sin.   First, He clothed Adam and Eve by slaying an innocent animal and making garments from its skin and fur (Genesis 3:21).  A simple metaphor for the plan of salvation is the slaying of a blameless animal to provide a covering for the shame and nakedness of the sinful couple. Then, God pronounced a curse upon the earth.  This curse would provide a safeguard against utter destruction and give daily purpose. 

Next, He tells them of the war that would begin and last to the end, with God being victorious over all the lies and evil.

And I will make enemies.

Of you (Satan) and the woman(Her offspring)

And of your offspring (Satan’s followers) and her Descendant (A Promised Redeemer-Messiah);

He (Descendant) shall bruise you (Satan) on the head (Deadly wound),

And you (Satan) shall bruise Him (Descendant) on the heel.” (Injury only) Genesis 3:15

In this first prophecy, the couple began looking for this “Descendant” who would engage the Serpent and restore the broken relationship between God and mankind. 

Through the offspring of the woman, a Messiah would come who would deliver a deadly wound to the head of the enemy after receiving a recoverable injury to the Descendant’s heal.  Israel is still looking for this Messiah.

The First of Many Conflicts For Mankind

The first war or enemy was between two brothers, Cain and Abel.  A Godless world sought their own desires and became so wicked that even their thoughts were wicked all the time.

Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. Genesis 6:5

Only Noah and his family were loyal to God and escaped the destruction of the earth by water.

After the flood, and from a surviving son (Shem), God would raise up a people of promise through faithful Abram.  Abram (Abraham), enemies would begin to rise up, spurred on by covetousness, lies, and disobedience to the one true God.

Next time, we will explore the birth of the nation of Israel and her first enemy.  Many more would follow, often the result of Israel’s own failure to believe and trust their Creator.  But God’s mercy and patience would find a way…

Israel in Bible Prophecy

ENEMIES OF ISRAEL-PART 1

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Introduction

The latest attack on Israel and the explosion of hatred by their nearest enemies, a terrorist Islamic group known as Hamas, suddenly and without warning attacked and slaughtered innocent children, women, and men of all ages, supposedly in the name of Allah. Many would agree their so-called god is a tyrant of the worst kind, likely used as an excuse by abject evil men to set a fire of hatred, murder, injury, rape, and mayhem on innocent Jewish people of all ages. Now, the fire of destruction is raining down on their heads while innocent Palestinian citizens are used as human shields and suffer because of the extreme Islamic terrorists’ evil agenda.

The nations of the earth hold their breath as Iran (suspected sponsor and overseer of the attack), other Muslim nations, China, and Russia look on with vested interest. United States naval ships are positioned to protect Israel and keep others out of the fight.

Confusing to many Americans (religious or not) is the Antisemitic protests endorsing the attack on Israel.  They have received significant news coverage across America! They are extreme left factions who have wormed their way into high government positions and have refused to comment on the atrocities, thereby endorsing the attack. A few have endorsed the campaign of hatred.  Hopefully, their political careers will be destroyed.   How shameful to endorse such hatred and brutality in a country built on acceptance of all races and cultures.

The latest atrocities are so horrendous that it is hard to describe, but I must mention the heartless beheading of babies who will never experience a life of sounds, tastes, sights, or feelings of love and warmth on this Earth. 

The surviving families’ lives were forever crippled on the morning of the Shabbat, October 7, 2023, while celebrating Shemini Atzeret, a time of re-reading the Torah and renewal of their relationship with God—a period of rededication disfigured by evil godless men.

It has led many to question why God allowed this, but it is nothing new for Israel; Eighty-two years ago, the Nazi regime, under the direction of a madman named Hitler, tried to extinguish the Jewish people and any nation that would get in his way. Millions were taken from their homes and left to die in Nazi camps or sent to the gas chambers.

Those who harbor such antisemitic feelings go back well before the holocaust of World War II.

The Meaning of Anti-Semitism

“The term anti-Semitism was coined in 1879 by the German agitator Wilhelm Marr to designate the anti-Jewish campaigns underway in central Europe at that time. Nazi anti-Semitism, which culminated in the Holocaust, had a racist dimension in that it targeted Jews because of their supposed biological characteristics—even those who had themselves converted to other religions or whose parents were converts.”-Brittanica Encyclopedia.

At the core of anti-Semitism is a hatred that predates Moses. 

A Hated Ethnicity

No ethnicity and culture of human beings are hated more than the Jewish people. Their ancient lineage has felt little peace compared to the thousands of years of captivity and atrocious persecution.  Why are they so hated?  Their enemies could verbalize many reasons, but what are these excuses based on?

 The purpose of this series is to look back at ancient records in scripture known today as the Tanak, also identified as the Old Testament by Christians, to figure out the “Why?” question and how it affects us today.  These 40 writers recorded the history of their patriarch Abraham and the conflict between his original three sons (Ishmael, Isaac, and Esau).

But the seed for hatred began long before the promises of God to Abraham.  Here, we will find hatred taking root and growing in the Middle East. Genesis to Malichi is primarily the story of Israel, but it affects us all, especially Christians.

The followers of Christ see themselves as an extension or grafted-in-vine, sharing the wisdom of God, His love, His mercy, and hopefully His guidance in maneuvering through a sin-filled planet.

Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 1 Corinthians 10:11

And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, Romans 11:17

A Tie Between Christianity and Israel

Jews and Christians worship the same God, Jehovah, and read from the Tanak (Old Testament).  The split comes over Jesus’s Messiahship and divinity as a Godhead constituent.

There is a connection between Christianity and Israel theologically and in the sharing of massive persecutions from the past.  The Christians’ persecution started in the 1st century and ran through the Dark Ages before becoming watered down, requiring a Reformation.   But Israel has experienced persecution from the time of Abraham.  The umbilical cord from ancient Israel leaves the born-again Christian with deep empathy for the Jewish people.  These ties will be explored as we review the long history of the people of God.

It appears that the pinnacle of prophecy will come as a joining of literal Israel and Spiritual Israel to become victors over the greatest of all enemies, Satan himself…The father of death and lies.

Prophecies of Persecution

Prophecies of persecution and wars that are now history provide the platform for forecasts yet to be filled as written in the Torah and from Jesus Christ and His Apostles in the New Testament.  Learning from the past gives us a better vision for the future.   

The future for Israel is prophesied in the Tanak and the New Testament, but with varying interpretations. Nevertheless, the prophecies, both good and bad, came with conditions.  This truth is the foundation for accurate interpretation and good exergies.   An example of a condition is found in the book of 2 Chronicles.  Both Jews and Christians acknowledge this promise.

“if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

The passage begins with the word “if,” putting it in a conditional state.  The “if” requires humbleness, prayer, searching, and turning away from wickedness to reap the promise. Will the promise be fulfilled if the conditions are not met? Of course not. However, as we will see, there are unconditional promises as well, e.g., the promise to never destroy the earth by flood again.

In the coming weeks, we will explore what God said about Jerusalem and the people of Israel. Questions raised by Paul about spiritual Israel and literal Israel will be reviewed.

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. Romans 2: 28-29

What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God (Scriptures). Romans 3: 1-2

I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.  Romans 11:1

If you want to get a jump on this series, request a free book called The Fall and Rise of Jerusalem. Leave a comment, and I will get in touch with you about how to get the book to you.

Born Again, Faith, The Gospel, What is God Like?

The Letter Kills, but the Spirit Gives Life

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Overview

“…who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3:6

This passage is confusing to many, including myself, until I applied the law of context and noncontradiction.  (See article on Context Matters.).  To start, let’s list the keywords: 

ministers,

new covenant,

letter,

kills,

and life. 

Our main questions should center around the deadly “letter.”  Whatever it is.  It kills or takes life.  The questions are simple also:

  1. What does the letter refer to?
  2. What does it kill?
  3. Why is the Spirit the direct opposite of the letter, i.e., life?
  4. Is the letter killing me, or do I have life in the Spirit?

If we can understand Paul’s statement in the context of the story of redemption, we will know what to avoid. Even better, it will lead us to the Spirit which gives life.  Sometimes, it is less about avoidance of something and more about acceptance of a truth that may make us uncomfortable at first.

Immediate Context-

The immediate context (the preceding verses) sets up this metaphoric statement by Paul to the Corinthian church.  The reason for his council is described in the previous two verses (v. 4, 5).

And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,

2 Corinthians 3: 4-5

The key thought here is trust through Christ and sufficiency from God, not ourselves.  This is the pre-thought before he discloses that the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.  Trust in Christ eliminates self-sufficiency.

Self-Sufficiency

It seems that this church had a “self-sufficiency” problem.  The answer to this dilemma is simple enough: “Our sufficiency is from God.”  Understanding the sufficiency of God through Christ is a critical and unique teaching of Christianity.  It is the difference between life and death. The difference between true and false. This truth is important as we move through this reasoning regarding the letter of the law and the death it causes.

Another passage by Paul to the church in Rome addresses the same issue as the Corinthians.  It appears that the believers at Rome have understood and responded.

But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

Romans 7:6

The keywords here are strikingly similar to the ones addressed to Corinth.  The following words in parentheses are the Corinthian words,

Serve (minister),

Newness of the Spirit (new covenant),

Oldness of the letter (letter that kills).

Paul talks as if the Romans had learned the truth.  He mentions “being delivered” from the law by dying to what held them.  What held them?  Self Sufficiency.  It kills faith in Christ. 

Slain by the Law or By Sin?

So, we can conclude that Paul’s theology has not changed between churches.  It is, therefore, a universal pitfall that we can relate to:  The letter of the law kills, and we need to be delivered from it to serve in the newness of the Spirit (i.e., the New Covenant).

I had been told that this letter of the law (that we need to die to) is the ceremonial and priestly law that ended at the cross, but if we stay in context, we see a different law:

Immediately after Romans 7:6, Paul asks a clarifying rhetorical question in verse 7. It lets us know that the Ten Commandments are the object of his discourse.

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”

Since “You shall not covet” is one of the ten commandments, it is safe to surmise that the context is about the moral law of God. 

For the next few verses, 7-11, Paul expands on how he was alive without the law.  This would indicate he did not know or understand the law and felt no conviction about his sin, but when he came to this written knowledge of sin, he realized that he was a dead man because of sin that was disclosed by the law. He came to a realization and conviction that it was a sin to covet, and therefore, he saw only death before him because of the sin, not the law.  To make his point, he ends with this statement that sounds like the opposite of his disparagement of the letter of the law.

Therefore, the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.

Romans 7:12

So that which was holy, just, and good made him aware of the penalty of sin. The sin, not the law, slew him.  The law was good for him.  It opened his eyes to sin and its penalty.

Has then what is good (the law) become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.

Romans 7: 13

He became aware that he was an exceedingly sinful person by a knowledge of the written law, i.e., the Ten Commandments.

The law lets us know what sin is in God’s eyes.  God gave the law to Moses written by His own finger on stone! 

Whosoever commits sin transgress also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law.

1 John 3:4

Purpose of the Law

All would agree obedience to the law, without Christ, does not make us righteous. In fact, it makes us unrighteous because of our attempt at self-sufficiency.  The law’s main purpose is to establish what sin is and point out our need for a Savior:

Therefore, by the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:20

To make this precept even more robust, Paul says in the previous chapter,

For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Romans 2: 13

So, doing the law is important; it is part of justification!

Now I ask this question:  What is it that we have died to and were held by?  Obedience to the law? How are we delivered from the Law? 

The answer seems obvious. It was not the law but the attempt to obey without Christ, to become self-sufficient.

Let me make an important Biblical assertion: Living through the Spirit doesn’t give license to break, nor provide, the impulse to break the letter of the law.  The other extreme is equally true:  Obeying the law without Christ does not bring about righteousness.  So, what is Paul telling us about the letter of the law?  It appears to be a life and death statement (Letter kills, Spirit gives life). 

We have to die to the idea that we can obey the law to the letter and the Spirit without Christ.

Righteousness by Works

When we use obedience through our self-sufficiency as a way to add to what God has already done for our salvation, we are on the wrong path that leads straight to legalism.   This is hard to accept for those who think of self-produced good deeds and works as an addition to what God has already done through His mercy, love, and forgiveness. Things like repetitive prayers and prayer beads will tend to replace simple trust in Christ. Making up personal rules about how to be holy also replaces simple trust and sufficiency in Christ.

 It is only by the grace and love of God that we are in a position to be saved.  To make this even easier, it is a gift from God Himself.  This is the basis for our redemption, the Grace and Love of God.  Without it, we would all be lost. It is given to us without any work on our part.  Redemption from sin and salvation from eternal death is something we did not initiate.  Our Holy God did not make a list of good deeds and works that had to be completed before acceptance. Instead, He asks for something harder:  Belief and trust.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2: 8-10

A man in his shop builds a beautiful piece of furniture.  It is his workmanship…the product of his doing.  He shapes the wood, sands it down, and applies the paint.   Can the piece of furniture do anything to add to this workmanship?  We are His workmanship in the area of good works.  We are to walk (live in them) …not create them (good works).  With Christ, this situation is more spiritually natural and less tiring than working on producing good works on our own.

The Work of Faith

The platform for being saved by the grace of God has another vital component- faith or trusting in God’s plan, i.e., His incarnation, His life, His death, and His resurrection, His gift of the Spirit, His mediation, and His return again.  It is all about Him! Without any one of these, we would be lost. All of these components have their basis and start with the grace and love of God.

And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty, and your faith is also empty…And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!

1 Cor. 15: 14, 17

Some might say, “See, faith is something I have to “work” on.”  Is it something you “work on,” or is it something you exercise from the start?

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

1 John 5:4

Being born of God overcomes the world.  With this new birth comes faith in Christ. It is a package deal. He gives a measure of faith to all who come into the world.  It lies dormant until a choice is made to use it and let God change them.  It is certain that faith can grow.  But, remember, a very small amount of faith (mustard seed) can move mountains.  The amount of faith is less important for salvation as it is to use what little you may have.

Works are Fruit, Not as a Method for Salvation

James, the brother of Jesus, understood clearly that works that include obedience are the fruit of salvation, not the method or addition to salvation.  A person who has truly been born again and in love with their Savior will respond with obedience and good works.  They will live by the workmanship of Christ…good works.

 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

James 2: 18-20

It is James’ way of saying, “lip service proves nothing.”  The proof of your faith is in the pudding itself, i.e., “works.” I can say all day long that I have saving faith, but if my actions prove otherwise, my faith is dead or not real.

So, where do we focus?  On becoming a wonderful worker for God or a wonderful lover and truster of God?  Do we concentrate on doing good works to be accepted by God, or do we respond out of a new spiritual heart that loves God and loves our neighbor?

The Letter is Important. Why does it Kill?

The direct commands of God are important, but not the way you may think.

Let me give a couple of examples and then apply some common sense.

Example:  Jesus described two cases where the Spirit of the law was explained.  He used the two commandments about adultery (seventh) and murder (sixth).

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 

Matthew 5: 27-28,

Again, it would seem that Jesus is dismissing, minimizing, or contradicting the specific commandment about adultery (letter of the law), which is having sex with someone who is not my wife.  Instead, He expands the law to include the thoughts (heart).  It is not merely looking at the woman (or a man) but mulling it over and creating lust (strong sexual desire) in the thoughts and perhaps playing it out in the mind to plan a rendezvous.

There is no need to complete the act to commit adultery; It has already been done in the heart. We have broken the seventh commandment.  In such a case, we need forgiveness from Christ even if we didn’t actually sleep with the woman or man.  We may actually need a new heart if this urge is uncontrollable and repetitive.

Here is where spiritual common sense comes into play.  What if I told my wife that from now on, I was going to live by the Spirit and not by the letter?  Consequently, I plan to have sex with as many women as I please because the letter (the literal words of the law) kills, but the Spirit gives life.  I think that reasoning would lead to not just a killing by the letter but murder by my wife! 😊 This leads to the next expansion of the law by Jesus: Murder 

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.”

Matthew 5: 21-22

Again, Jesus seems to dismiss the letter or literal words of the command to focus only on the Spirit of the law, But in effect, He is magnifying or expanding the letter of the law…a direct fulfillment of an ancient prophecy about Jesus:

The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honorable. Isaiah 42: 21

Committing murder by the letter of the law, i.e., taking someone’s life, is not negated by the Spirit of the law, which is anger without a purpose or reason.  So, it would not make sense to say, “I can murder as long as I don’t hate the person.”  Letter VS Spirit. 

How do I know that each letter of the law is important?  Before Jesus expanded on these two commandments, he made sure his audience understood that He did not come to destroy the Law (letter) or the Prophets.

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5: 17-20

Jesus’ “fulfilling the law and the Prophets” does not do away with the letter of the law.  In fact, He makes reference to the details of the letter (that He has no intention of destroying). Like a microscope, he zooms in on the details of the Ten-Commandment law.  He references the importance of every letter and mark:  Jot (smallest letter) and tittle (the smallest stroke of the smallest Hebrew letter).  It is like Jesus is saying He isn’t going to change even the dot on top of our smallest letter. “i.” Yet, as humans, we want to rewrite the Ten Commandments to fit our own lifestyle and then teach others to break His law. This is the spirit of the anti-Christ. We are putting ourselves in the place of Christ and contradicting his plain word.  It is not just one commandment; it is all of them!

Righteousness by the law-The Cart before the Horse

Until all is fulfilled, the law and the prophets remain.  All has not been fulfilled yet. Many prophecies about the Second Coming remain unfulfilled.  Jesus’ keeping the law perfectly (jot and tittle) does not give us the green light to break any of the commandments.  We can’t say,

“I don’t have to keep the law; Jesus did it for me.” 

Try to explain that to my wife or those I love if I lie, steal, covet, or live an adulterous life, etc.    But we can never reach righteousness by our own efforts by gritting our teeth and working hard to become a good law keeper.  We must not get the cart before the horse. 

Too many Christians get hung up on that last part of the passage:

For I say to you that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

 V. 20

They think Jesus is saying obedience to the smallest letter and the smallest stroke will create more righteousness and ensure acceptance by the Lord.  Did the scribes and Pharisees have righteousness?  Yes!  In their own eyes, manufactured by strict observance of the law, but in reality, they did not have the righteousness that comes from faith in Jesus.  Now, keep in mind faith does not negate obedience to the law.  Paul said it very clearly in Romans 3:

Therefore by the deeds of the law, no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.:

Romans 3:20

Can it be any clearer?  That commandment keeping and deeds of the law will not justify anyone in God’s sight.  Thanks be to God for the atoning sacrifice of God!  Paul explains further:

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.

Romans 3: 21-22

Did you catch that?  The righteousness of God is apart from the law.  It is not connected!  This should have been good news for those Scribes, Pharisees, and religious people who were trying to obtain righteousness and acceptance of God through the meticulous, to-the-letter keeping of the law.  The righteousness of God cannot be obtained that way. Further, we are all sinners with a human heart that lusts and hates without cause.  Generations of evil and sin influence our hearts.

“Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

Roman 3:28

This does not contradict James, who said works (deeds of the law) are evidence of faith.  To say it very simply, Paul describes the soil for salvation (grace through faith); James describes the result (or fruit) of salvation (i.e., works).  One is the method of salvation (gospel), and the other is the results of salvation or the gospel.

That should be settled in the heart of every follower of Christ.  To make sure we understand about the law, Paul exclaims.

Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

Romans 3:31

Conclusion Part 1

The attempt to obey the letter kills the relationship with Jesus. However, living in the Spirit will give life to your Jesus Journey. We must die to self-sufficiency in our obedience to the law as a way to obtain righteousness or to gain acceptance with God.  Obedience and good works come spiritually naturally with a new heart and new motives of love toward a holy God who saved us by His unmerited favor towards us.  This kind of salvation is real and spills over to those around us. Instead of pushing people away with legalistic requirements, they pull them to Jesus by their love.

We are thankful for His mercy and love, and we respond accordingly.  By doing this, we obtain life through the spirit rather than death by working on obedience or perfection instead of trusting Jesus.

Take a moment to study these two illustrations.

In “1 Me” I relate to God by the law.

In “2 Me” I relate to the law through God. 

The “1 Me” starts with the law to build a relationship with God. I think that obedience improves my relationship with God.  But my vision of God can be blurred by the obligations God set forth in the Ten Commandments or any other of His commands.  It will lead me to be religious and to live by the letter and not the Spirit.

On the other hand, The “2 Me” knows God first. I see the law through a relationship with God.  I have experienced a loving God who has forgiven my sins, and my desire is to follow Him.  I keep God’s law because I love Him.  It is a response of love and not obligation.  My focus is on Him and Him alone. The more personal associations I have with Him and observe how He works in my life and others, the more I love Him.   I can then clearly see that righteousness by faith works through love.  I have a new heart that seeks to carry out the will of God because of love, not obligation, religiosity, or to gain favor with God.   The law is not negated.  It is established in the heart.  I respond out of love for Christ.

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

John 14: 15

“…showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”

 Exodus 20:6

Now, let’s look at another chart to close:

Above the blue horizontal lines is Salvation. Below it is the opposite (lost or unsaved). We are lost either at birth or at the age where we can respond to the Holy Spirit. The act of infant baptism accomplishes nothing toward salvation. The destiny of these innocent babies, baptized or not, only God knows, but this I know: The character of God is merciful, loving, and forgiving. He looks to save, not condemn.

At the point where we respond by choice, then repent, and turn to Jesus for forgiveness, we are born again and have salvation. The Holy Spirit will testify to this new birth. Our upward journey with Christ begins. We want to be more like Christ. If we let him, He alone will mold us into His image for His sake, not ours. So even if we die without the molding complete (Christ’s likeness), we are still saved from eternal death. This journey towards Christ’s likeness is called sanctification or the upward call. This we will discuss next time. It is important because there is an enemy that wants to take the Jesus experience away from you and to leave Him. This is why Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6: 10-18). We are in a battle and “press on” even in the bad times.

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3: 12-14

Faith, Reasons to Believe, The Gospel, What is God Like?

The Murder of Jesus-Part 2-Is Jesus God?

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(Disclaimer, again):  I have never read Bill O’Riley’s book called Killing Jesus. The following thoughts came from my own personal study. Any similarities are purely coincidental.)

I am using the word “murder” because it is different than “killing”.  Killing can be an accident or defensive.  Murder is intentional with malice. Further, the word “murder” in this article is used symbolically to demonstrate how Jesus and His message are denigrated in our society, including in some churches.

__________

Last time, we looked at how the religious leaders of Jesus’ day belittled and denigrated Jesus’ words, teachings, and example.  They sought to murder Him because he cut across their traditions and man-made rules about the Sabbath.  Their hatred was so strong for Him that they sought how they might destroy Him!

They also did not know Jesus.  They claimed that only God could forgive sins.  They were right about that but wrong about who He was.  In their midst stood Immanuel (God with us)!  Their religiosity blinded them.  Indeed, Jesus could forgive sins because He is God, a member of the eternal Godhead. 

There is nothing new under the sun.  Today, the same two topics of the Sabbath and the divinity of Jesus are constantly called into question even though the Bible is clear on these two topics.  They are twisted and degraded, which leads to the murder of Jesus (symbolically).  So, as we walk on holy ground approaching this topic of divinity, let us consider the importance of understanding the nature of Christ.

Sometimes, someone else can so clearly express the truth better than me.  Rarely do I rely on someone else’s writings, but in this case, I make an exception.  A small book written in the 19th century by E. J. Waggoner, Christ, and His Righteousness, follows the scripture closely and fairly to come to a Biblical conclusion about the nature of Christ.  While some of the following are his words, mine are interspersed as the Spirit leads me. But, the most important words are the words from God Himself as found in both the Old and New Testaments.

The ultimate goal is to understand the depth of the sacrifice of Christ,

who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

Philippians 2:6

If we fall short in our understanding of Christ’s nature, we may attempt to murder Him by minimizing the story of redemption.  Let’s begin with the basic question:

IS CHRIST GOD?

In many places in the Bible, Christ is called God.  The Psalmist says:

“The mighty God (Elohim), even the Lord [Jehovah], hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people. Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice. And the heavens shall declare His righteousness; for God is judge Himself.”

Ps. 50:1-6.

It should be clear that this passage refers to the 2nd coming of Christ by two declarations from God’s word:

First, all judgment is given to Christ by God the Father.

Last time, we saw where the Jews sought to kill Jesus, broke their traditions of Sabbath observance, and He made himself equal with God.  He did this by forgiving the paralytic’s sins, and in John 5, Jesus claimed that He and God were equal:

“Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.”

John 5:18

Jesus’ answer to them showed the closeness of the work of Jesus and God the Father (verses 19-20). It is logical that if Jesus didn’t think He was equal with God, He would have said so.  Instead, He refers back to the Psalmist Asaph’s description of Jesus (God) being given all judgment (Psalm 50: 4-6).  His response to the Jews probably surprised and infuriated them because He is showing the power given to Him by the Father:

For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

John 5: 22-23

Is it not clear that honoring Jesus honors the Father, also?  More on that later.

Secondly, the description of the Psalmist Asaph matches Paull and Peter’s New Testament description of the second coming of Christ.  Asaph refers to God (Elohim) whose coming is destructive and is the time to gather His people.  Jesus fulfills this prophecy.  Elohim is the same name used at the beginning of Genesis…” In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” and over 2,400 times elsewhere in the Old Testament.  This simple comparative chart should help us see the connection between Psalm 50 and the New Testament.  This is just one of many connections between the God of the Old Testament and Jesus’ divinity in the New Testament.

Psalm 50New Testament
Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; A fire shall devour before Him, And it shall be very tempestuous (like a storm) all around Him. V.3“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with *a shout, (1 Thess 4:16).” “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be [burned up. 2 Peter 3: 10
The Saints shall be gathered together….God is judge Himself.And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His [saints) from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.  Matthew 24: 31, “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” 1 Thess 4: 17

*Note: This shout will be the voice of the Son of God, which will be heard by all that are in their graves and which will cause them to come forth. John 5:28, 29.

A prophecy of Isaiah makes it certain that Jesus would be called (among other descriptive names) “the mighty God, the everlasting Father.”

“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, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”

 Isa. 9:6.

These are not simply the words of Isaiah; they are the words of the Spirit of God. God has, in direct address to the Son, called Him by the same title.

In Ps. 45:6, we read these words:

“Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; the scepter of Thy kingdom is a right scepter.”

The casual reader might take this to be simply the Psalmist’s description of praise to God, but when we turn to the New Testament, we find that it is much more. We find that God the Father is the speaker and that He is addressing the Son, calling Him God. (See Heb. 1:1-8).

But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.

Hebrews 1: 8

Christ is the “express image” of the Father’s person. Heb. 1:3. As the Son of the self-existent God, He has by nature all the attributes of Deity. It is true that there are many sons of God, but Christ is the “only begotten Son of God,” and therefore, the Son of God is, in a sense, that which no other being ever was or ever can be.

The angels are sons of God, as was Adam (Job 38:7; Luke 3:38), by creation; Christians are the sons of God by adoption (Rom. 8:14, 15); but Christ is the Son of God by association with the Father.

When Philip said to Jesus,

“Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father”

John 14:8, 9.

This is as emphatic a statement as when He said,

“I and My Father are one.”

John 10:30.

So truly was Christ God, even when here among men, that when asked to exhibit the Father, He could say, Behold Me. And this brings to mind the statement that when the Father brought the First-begotten into the world, He said,

“And let all the Christ And His Righteousness. angels of God worship Him.”

Heb. 1:6.

It was not simply when Christ was sharing the glory of the Father before the world that He was entitled to homage, but when He came as a Babe in Bethlehem, even then, all the angels of God were commanded to adore Him.

The Jews did not misunderstand Christ’s teaching concerning Himself. When He declared that He was one with the Father, the Jews took up stones to stone Him, and when He asked them for which of His good works they sought to stone Him, they replied:

” For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”

John 10:33.

If He had been what they regarded Him, a mere man, His words would indeed have been blasphemy, but He was God. The object of Christ in coming to earth was to reveal God to men so that they might come to Him. Thus, the apostle Paul says that.

“God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself”

2 Cor. 5:19

In John, we read that the Word, which was God, was “made flesh.” John 1:1,14.

In the same connection, it is stated,

” No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. (or made Him known).

John 1:18.

Note the expression, “the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father.” He has His abode there, and He is there as a part of the Godhead, as surely when on earth as when in heaven. The use of the present tense implies continued existence. It presents the same idea that is contained in the statement of Jesus to the Jews (John 8:58),

“Before Abraham was, I am.”

John 8:58

And this again shows His identity with the One who appeared to Moses in the burning bush, who declared His name to be “I AM THAT I AM.” And, finally, we have the inspired words of the apostle Paul concerning Jesus Christ, that

“it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell.”

Col. 1:19

What this fullness is, which dwells in Christ, we learn from the next chapter, where we are told that.

” For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;”

Col. 2:9.

This is the most absolute and unequivocal testimony to the fact that Christ possesses by nature all the attributes of Divinity.

Conclusion:

The sacrifice of God the Father and Jesus, who are so intimately associated by their existence and purpose. The plan of the Father and Jesus made Jesus’ sacrifice far exceed the mere blood of bulls and goats.  Those poor animals who knew not of their pending death must have kicked and squirmed as they felt the blade of the knife on their tender throats and felt the life go slowly out of their consciences.

But Jesus willingly laid down His life in cooperation with the Father,

Therefore, My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

John 10: 17-18

Let us stand in awe and respond with love for God and the value of sinful mankind that our Creator would die for the created. 

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?” Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?  For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11: 33-36

Next time, we will consider Jesus as our Creator.