The sacrifice of Jesus, as a Lamb, is far more superior to the Old Testament sacrifices of the blood of animals. And, we praise and glory in its penal and substitutionary benefits. Yet, there is more that He accomplished for us—particularly, that God now lives in man!
Everyone who repents and accepts Christ’s sacrifice is brought into the HOLY of HOLIES not into the outer court of the tabernacle. Hence, anyone who receives Christ is admitted into Heaven and if he or she were to die immediately after, Heaven will be their eternal home.
The outer court of the tabernacle had a fence made of thick fabric which separated the people and the priests who received their living sacrifices, to kill and present before God on their behalf since, they were not qualified to perform such a task. But, in the New Testament, all who believe in Christ, are commanded to kill their own sacrifice (mortify their flesh – minds) as members of the royal priesthood via Christ’s atonement and to present it as a living sacrifice Rom 12:1-2. What a great privilege! Glory to Immanuel! Matt 1:23. So, teaching that faith in Jesus Christ brings believers first into the outer court, then the holy place and eventually into the holiest place is erroneous and insulting to His sacrifice.
It is inevitably important that we recognize that being a babe in Christ does not indicate inferiority and being mature superiority. Both terms, are an indication of the level of understanding of what God has freely done and is doing in His new found dwelling place in the earth (Man). The word new, points to a new creation as Adam was new when God breathed into him 2 Cor 5:17. The better we understand it, the better we’re empowered and encouraged to expend our lives in worship to God and service to His creation.
In Hebrews 12:18-20, Paul, first clarified the truth that, believers in Christ are not brought into anything similar or close to the inferior experience of the people of old. Then, in Heb 12:22-24, he stated that, believers are brought right into the very presence of God because of the superior sacrifice of the blood of Jesus Christ. This, he said, is a good enough reason to heed God’s voice through the Holy Spirit to live in and for the gospel even with our blood (lives) if need be Heb 12:4.
Believers are in the holy of holies beholding God’s face in the face of Christ our High Priest who serves not at the outer court but in the most holy place 2 Cor 4:6. Therefore, the scriptures tells us, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him” (John 4:23, 24). To worship in Spirit and in truth means to worship in the holy of holies!
In the Old Testament, though the levitical priesthood was ordained by God, only the high priest had a foretaste of worshipping in the Spirit (HOLIEST PLACE). The rest of the priests knew nothing about worshipping in the Spirit because a curtain demarcated them from enjoying this glorious privilege! Only the high priest worshipped in spirit though through the law. But, when Christ died, he tore the curtain, replaced the law with the dimension of truth to the worship in the Spirit; hence all believers are to worship only in spirit and in truth (Grace-Christ) not law.
So, firstly, Christ’s sacrifice knocked down the fence holding back the people from even daring to enter the outer court. Secondly, He tore open the curtain that kept those inside the outer court and holy place from entering the most holy place Titus 2:11 NKJV. Thirdly, He replaced the law, brought in the reality (Truth) signified by the show-bread which was only a shadow. The combination of knocking down the fence, opening the curtain and making the showbread (Truth) a mirror in which all within the tabernacle can and must look into and eat, necessitated the statement in 2 Peter 1:3, 1 James 1:23.
The Spirit and Truth resides only in the most holy place but overflows freely to the holy place and the outer court. In the New Testament, God has given saints the privilege to serve Him in the three compartments which, in a sense is one. John 10:9 says, “…….will go in and out and find pasture”. In and out signifies free movement in God (most holy place, holy place and outer court) and in our self (spirit, soul and body). While God dwells in our spirit, He flows to overshadow our minds and work through our bodies. Nevertheless, God’s dwelling place in man is the spirit!
The reason for the movement is to gain pasture (life). For example, we move in the most holy place, holy place and outer court for the following reasons:
Outer Court (Our Body)
In the outer court, we do what can be called bodily exercise e.g., marrying and giving in marriage, buying and selling and we invite unbelievers to embrace the gospel (Jesus Christ) 1 Tim 4:8, Rom 12:1. This is part of the reason spirits (Angles) are not ordained to preach the gospel of Christ but we are! Nevertheless, without our outer court (body) we cannot preach the gospel. This is why preaching the gospel is what we MUST do now while we’re clothed with our mortal bodies and alive in the earth. Preach the gospel now beloved!
Holy Place (Our Mind)
In the holy place we fellowship with believers and that is where, we teach, reproof, correct and participate in training (practical exercise of our gifts) as part of His body which, makes any one a man or woman of God 2 Tim 3:16, 1 Cor 5:3-4, 12:4. The purpose is to be equipped (renewed in our minds) to do every good work which is to say, engage in the will and purposes of God on the earth Rom 12:2.
Holiest Place (Our Spirit)
In the most holy place, we fellowship with the Spirit of God alone in our private Acts 10:9, Matt 6:6. This type of worship will never end even after we are unclothed (sleep) temporarily to be clothed again at the right time with immortality. Truly, all who participate in this type of fellowship with Christ, will eventually be gathered together as one beautiful bride of the raised glorious King of kings and Lord of lords! Amen.
So, in Christ, we are free to engage life in all ramifications — marry and give in marriage, build houses, gain all the academic qualifications we need, go on holidays, eat, drink and enjoy as men with flesh and blood. Also, to make friends and share Christ with unbelievers at home and abroad. We have freedom in Christ to gather for fellowship as often as we choose, use our gifts and minds (the mind of Christ) to serve one another. We have free access and privilege to enter into personal divine communion with the Holy Spirit and Christ our Lord. All of this brings fulfilment to Luke 10:27, Eph 4:13.
Important Reminder
When in the holy of holies, we often need to be reminded that there are people outside of the outer court who need to be brought in and that earthly matters need to be attended to. For example, John the Apostle was caught up in the holy of holies (in the Spirit) but, if he did not return to participate in the outer court and holy place, we wouldn’t have had his letters and the encouragement it gives us today. Also, if God didn’t interrupt Peter with the strange dream, Cornelius would have carried on with philanthropic work and zeal without truth (Christ) which, does not make anyone part of Christ’ bride Acts 10:1-48, Eph 2:8, Acts 4:12.
When we’re in the holy place (gathering of believers), we need to remember that the brethren need to be encouraged by the gifts of the spirit in us and not leave it dormant. This is what the ministry gifts—Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Evangelists, Shepherds and the spiritual gifts was given to believers for in the church 2 Cor 8:4, Eph 4:11-12, 1 Cor 12:7-11.
When in the holiest place, one’s attention is wholly on the Lord. This is the reason the scriptures tell us, “that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). John the apostle was certainly referring to something beyond their being with Jesus physically. See verse 1, 2, 5 and particularly 6.
True fellowship starts with hearing and seeing — and the place we hear and see is in our spirit which, has been brought into the holiest place by Christ. This is how we arrive at the unity of the faith and the knowledge of Christ. Anyone who is not in Christ can agree with every doctrine but cannot come to the unity of faith (not union of faiths) and knowledge of Christ which is, participation in the light 1John 1:6. Every believer in their private communion participates in the holiest place, making it possible to see and hear from the Spirit through the Truth. Without the Truth, all the teaching and encouragement from the five-fold ministries and the spiritual gifts in the body will not culminate to maturity (true understanding and devotion to God).
The ministries and spiritual gifts in the body serve to enlighten and confirm what the Spirit says to individual believers through the word. This is why the Holy Spirit is the Teacher who speaks to all Christians at all times, everywhere and in every situation. If the ministries and spiritual gifts fail to function or exercise for whatever reasons, the Teacher never, never fails to. For example, when the disciples deserted Jesus, the Holy Spirit was still with Him and when all but the Philippian Church abandoned Paul, for a season or in the many times he was arrested and alone, the Comforter was always with him Deut 31:6, Heb 13:5.
Finally, Before Christ came, God’s people never worshiped together in Spirit and in Truth in the same place (God’s presence). The practice was that one man (the high priest) entered His presence on behalf of the others or the man of God, went up to the mountain (God’s presence) to receive His word for the people.
In all the multitudes of sacrifices made in the Old Testament none sprinkled clean the heart of man. But, the Divine conception, birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ did and more than that, it PATICULARLY BROUGHT the unique benefit of the presence of God in Man as never before except when He first created him. The failure to studiously examine the purpose of this aspect of Christ’s achievement for us has led to many wrong doctrines which undermine the riches we have in Christ that help us abide in Him. Sadly, it has shamefully led to a loss of power to live a dimension of live ordained freely for God’s people in this dispensation of grace 2 Cor 4:7.
The weight of the statement in verse 7 of 2 Corinthians chapter 4 can hardly be fully comprehended by any mortal man. Nevertheless, the graciousness of God in giving us His holy word and the Holy Spirit Who lives in us and guides us into an knowledge of His word helps us to understand the revealed mind of God in things pertaining to our salvation. So, each person who is in Christ carries an immeasurable blessing within him or herself and the gathering together of all who are in Christ constitute God’s house on the earth, a bride being adorned for her Husband.
Therefore, there is a ration for you and I to eat in Christ which affects our spirit, mind and body to experience God’s awesome grace that helps us live in and for God beyond our own human capacity and abilities Mark 10:27, Matt 19:10-11, Eph 5:32. May God help us to eat it and enjoy the abundant life Christ has already made available for us John 10:10b, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly”. Amen
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Ephesians 6:10.
For several weeks, these words kept ringing in my heart, so one day I decided to see what enlightenment the Lord had in store. It seems clear on reading from verse one to the end of the chapter that these are walking truths or instructions for our daily lives – a paragon by which our attitudes can be shaped or measured.
First, children are exhorted to obey parents, then wives to submit to husbands, then parents not to provoke their children, but treat them with love. James 1:20 says “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of GOD,” therefore; whatsoever is done in anger cannot produce fruit of righteousness. Masters, treat your slaves kindly; for us it would be employers treat your employees kindly. Slaves, be subject to your masters, or employees be subject to your employer, as unto Christ.
The marital status in our society has deteriorated tremendously from “love and cherish, honor and obey” to hate and ill-treat, disrespect and disregard. Children are rebellious, instead of being obedient to parents who gave them life; parents abuse instead of loving and nurturing their children. Masters or employers cheat and exploit servants and employees, while employees do not give full measure or faithful service – we could go on and on.
These manifestations, however, are signs of the times: the Word enjoins us to “…redeem the time for the days are evil.” See Ephesians 5:16.
People of God! It is time for the world to see that having Jesus Christ in our hearts makes a difference in every area of our lives. The Holy Spirit is willing and ready to guide every facet of our lives if we are willing to let go of our soulishness – using our own mind, emotions, will and desires instead of seeking the will of the Lord. We should desire to be guided by the Holy Spirit in all matters pertaining to our home, work and all other involvements. THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD and we are always under His watchful eye.
Verse 10, “Finally, my brethren, be STRONG…” When believers walk carelessly, they are robbed of the strength and authority that is within the Holy Spirit. “I give unto you power over all the power of the enemy.” This is conditional to obedience to the Spirit of Christ. If a battery has a leak, then it loses power. When Christians do things contrary to righteousness, they are submitting to another spirit which drains their power and divests them of their authority through the Holy Ghost, with little or no overcoming.
It is not enough to say “JESUS IS LORD.” We have to MAKE Him Lord and King over every detail of our daily lives. There are battles being waged in the heavenlies over us, and the people of God must have the victory. We are exercised first in small things. “If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?” Jeremiah 12:5.
Ephesians 6:1-9 seems to point out a few possible weaknesses in our everyday living and how to overcome them, so that we might “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.” It is a ***walk of the Spirit. The verses after 10 tell us how we can be STRONG and overcome, having the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith which quenches the fiery darts of the enemy, the breastplate of righteousness, the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, our loins girded with truth and our feet shod with the PREPARATION of the Gospel of peace.
The armour described above is not for lying down; it is for STANDING. It is not for sitting idly by; it is for fighting. It covers the head, the forehead, and the back of the neck – the helmet of salvation. The mind is protected by our salvation – He gives us the Spirit of a sound Mind.
The shield of faith is a defensive weapon to turn back the lightning bolts which the enemies sometime throw at us. Righteousness is a breastplate of the Spirit. That which misses the shield, and is not parried by the sword, is turned away by the breastplate. The sword is the only offensive weapon in our armory. The power of the spoken Word is far beyond what we can, at this time, imagine. The Word says that “He spoke” and it was done. The words of our mouth have the power of life and death. Let us keep the Word of God in our hearts and on our lips. Loins girded with truth will help us to stand upright, and feet shod with that special mixture or preparation of the Gospel of peace will help us not only to walk but to run the race with patience.
Be not afraid of the roaring of the lion, for the power of His might is greater than that of the roaring lion. Like Daniel, let us say “…my God whom I serve continually shall deliver me.”
NO WEAPON THAT IS FORMED AGAINST US SHALL PROSPER.
Every person that is born into this world has a bad tree (heart) because sin lies at its root. For this reason, no one person is better than any other Rom 3:23, Matt 12:33.
Also, everyone has got faith which can be placed in one’s self, a guru, some god or in Jesus Christ. Where we place our faith affects our hearts tremendously and it determines our immortal life!
Mankind is Trapped in Sin- What is the Way of Escape?
Free things (gifts) are usually despised but, the free gift of regeneration (salvation from sin) is actually paid for by Jesus. No one should carry-on in this life or depart from this world without tasting and enjoying the beauty of regeneration. It creates a beautiful landscape in one’s life!
But, the only remedy from this helpless predicament mankind finds itself in, is to place one’s faith in the sacrificial atonement of Christ on the cross and His resurrection. Accepting this, though deemed rhetoric by many, it changes the heart from bad to good. This change is commonly referred to as born again (regeneration) John 3:7, 1 Pet 1:3. While, regeneration is not visible to the human eyes, its action within the human spirit (heart) is more violent than any tsunami, earthquake or volcano ever known to man. Yet, like the burning bush in Exodus 3:2, it does not destroy man. It makes man to become God’s temple–God’s dwelling. Man becomes a place God is worshiped, a holy, safe and peaceful place that house His kingdom 1 Cor 6:19, 3:17, Luke 17:21 NKJV, Rom 14:17. This is the glory the presence of God creates in a regenerated person.
In all of human history, Jesus Christ is the only Man who has claimed, that He came into the world as a gift to die for the sin of man. Through faith, you can believe and be converted into Christ’ life (Christianity) and become a new creation with a completely new personality able to do amazing things because of the Spirit of God that comes to DWELL inside you 1 John 4:14.
Take a look at the following scriptures to see examples of what possibilities the Spirit can create in those converted to Christ:
1 Kings 18:24 Elijah could only have been filled with the Spirit of God, as one man, to face so many evil priests- boldness! Luke 10:19
Acts 3:6 Peter must have been filled with the Spirit of God to talk about having a name (Jesus) when alms was requested of him- power! Mark 16:17-18
Acts 7:59-60 Stephen was filled with the Spirit of God to ask for forgiveness for those who were sending him to an “early” grave- love, forgiving heart and no fear of death! 1 John 4:18.
Acts 16:24-25 Paul and Silas were filled with the Spirit of God to sing in prison instead of fearing for their lives and future- confidence! Heb 10:35
Acts 19:18-19 These new converts were filled with the Spirit of God to abandon their god of many years for a God they were just knowing –faith! Heb 11:6
Phil 3:8 Paul abandons all he had gained in his life for “just” the knowledge of Christ – knowing proper evaluation (what is necessary from what is expedient) 1 Cor 6:12
It is clear that the insanity of being filled in the spirit according to Rom 8:6, which results to (life and peace) is much more sane compared to the sanity in the flesh Gal 5:19-21, that leads to (death- eternal damnation ).
God’s gift of regeneration (change of man’s heart from bad to good) is never meant for us to compete with Him (God) in holiness, righteousness and goodness. Also, this rescue of a people from the kingdom of darkness into His kingdom of light (Christ Jesus) referenced as regeneration is for God’s glory, praise and purpose Col 1:13.
God’s purpose in rescuing a helpless, sin riddled and hell bound people to Himself does not include for them to compete among themselves about who is more holy, righteous and good 2 Cor 10:12.
On the backdrop of the above assertions, in becoming a believer (Christian), you will find it a pleasure to be eternally grateful for the penal and substutitionary atonement of Christ– which is to say, Christ satisfied the penalty of the law as required by God’s righteousness and justice and He underwent this penalty in the place of mankind INCLUDING YOU and I. This truth propels a believer or believers to; diligently seek the Saviour’s purpose in other to show forth His praise and glory while ceaselessly celebrating His gracious mercy and love. This is what those converted to Christ and engrafted into the royal priesthood are ordained to do all the days of their mortal lives and throughout eternity 1 Peter 2:9.
On these grounds, the invitation in 1 Peter 1:15-16 is not a call to compete with God in holiness.
1 Peter 1:14 explains verse 15 and 16, as it points to the type of invitation God is extending to His Children. It is important to note, this invitation is to those who are already His children and so, it is not an invitation to the catalogue of things that needs to be done to become God’s child Eph 2:8.
To become God’s child (a Christian), repentance from rejecting Christ Jesus to accepting Him and confessing Him as the Son of God and Messiah is all that is compulsorily required– including His atoning death and resurrection. Faith reposed IN JESUS CHRIST and CONFESSED, brings regeneration to a sinner. Those who receive salvation in Christ are commanded to be baptised by immersion in water as a shadow of the reality of being identified with His death and resurrection Rom 6:4.
Yes! Being a Christian has a yoke to it but it is an easy yoke which is momentary Matt 11:29 NLT, “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls”, 2 Cor 4:17.
My personal testimony regarding Christianity can be summed up like this; “… while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Tim 4:8).
The foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men 1 Cor 1:25. True great minds humble themselves before Jesus Christ!
May God bless you as you consider and believe in Jesus Christ like Sergius Paulus the proconsul of Paphos, the Samaritan woman and Nicodemus Acts 13:12, John 4:15-26, John 3:1-16.
Spirits clothed with immortal body do not and cannot repent, such is the situation with the devil and the fallen angels. They were created by God with the ability to do what they want. So, when they did evil it was their choice to do so deliberately. The devil and the fallen angels did not rebel against God and seek to rule man because they were deceived rather, they just chose to do what they did!
Adam deliberately joined Eve who was deceieved to sin against God 1 Tim2:14. But, Adam and Eve had a chance to repent because they were clothed with mortal body which made them human with spirit. Hence, the human body is not a curse but a blessing from the all wise and Almighty God. He knew man was going to fall but praise God he clothed man with the mortal flesh. The human spirit can only repent while in the mortal body—though it is weak, it serves its purpose in God’s scheme of things!
In Matt 26:41, Jesus said, “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”. Though the flesh is weak, it can receive help from the spirit through the exercise of faith Proverbs 18:14a “When the flesh is bruised, the spirit sustains it”. This is the reason God has gifted all mankind with faith to call on Him for redeemption through His Son Jesus Christ.
Man needs to be humble, wise and repose their God given faith in Jesus Christ!
It is when the spirit becomes unwilling that a major problem is at hand. Then, the body runs riot freely unchecked or unrestrained—this accounts for why man was dominated by the sin-nature and hence practices sinning.
How important it’s for mankind to remember that Eve and Adam’s sin happened because they failed to have faith in God and consequently in His instruction to them. It is only through the spirit in man that man communicates with God by faith and receives grace or power to bring the flesh to submission to God.
Proverbs 18:14 asked a rhetorical question, “a bruised spirit who can bear?” In other words, when the spirit fails to exercise faith in God, it’s crushed and wounded. And, when it suffers, the flesh cannot help it because faith can only be exercised to communicate with God by the spirit while in the body John 6:63, 1 Cor 7:19, Phil 3:3. This is the reason God has appointed to man a time on the earth to repent (receive a willing and submissive spirit) before death because once the spirit leaves the body, it cannot repent while unclothed 2 Peter 3:9, Heb 9:27.
While I am not a strong believer of the testimonies of those who say they died, had a conversation with Jesus, God or God’s angels and came back to life, I do not dismiss it either. Almost all of such testimonies I have heard gave a context which I consider dearly because of the scriptural tilt which is this; they had to come back to their body to repent and accept Jesus as Saviour and Lord.
After the resurrection of the dead, man will for the first time since God created man fellowship with God clothed with immortal body though still human 1 Cor 15:53. This glorious blessing is entered only through the gospel 2 Tim 1:10. This is mind boggling! All who truly have this hope, cannot be dissauded from pursuing well-doing, ceaseless gratitude, praise, worship and thanksgiving to Jesus Christ the only source to immortality Rom 2:7, Acts 4:12.
It is impossible to consider any soul that fails to take advantage of the privilege the gospel presents to mankind as wise, no matter the level of academic and material achievement or power that soul possesses.
If you have not taken advantage of Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection, which is meant for your salvation, I plead with you to seriously consider doing so today, even now! Consider these scriptures as you take steps to believe and confess Jesus for the salvation of your soul Isaiah 1:18, Luke 5:32, John 3:16, Rom 10:9-11.
In view of the great redemption we have in Christ and the priviledge of immortality, the scripture both exhorts and admonishes us thus; “Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ and … all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure” (1 Cor 1:7, 1 John 3:3 NLT).
The greatest authentication that a believer is still holding to the grace of God with the hope of Christ’s return is the believer’s pursuance of purity. This authentication is for the believer himself or herself because the pursuance of purity associated with looking on to Christ’s return is very personal and does not entail proving oneself to others. Only God discerns thoughts against every action man takes. I believe it’s on this platform that God advises his children to leave judgement (condemning) to Him.
Definitely, we can judge a wrong or evil deed by identifying it as wrong or evil and we must do so as part of godliness, but never are we called to judge another person’s motive.
In conclusion, John 4:24, is a call for us to keep our bodies subject to our spirit and not to let the body defile our spirits which is to say, present your body as a living sacrifice Rom 7:18, 12:1, 21.
God’s graciousness in Christ Jesus is to be accepted and received now while the dispensation of salvation is wide open to the gentiles and especially while we are still in our mortal bodies breathing air.
As saying goes, “Make haste while the sun shines” or, as an African adage puts it, “catch the black goat while there is day light, else, when the night falls, the dark colour of the goat makes it difficult to see clearly to catch it”.
May the love, peace and grace of God abound to you in every way.
Jesus was fully man while He was physically on the earth and the implications are worth considering closely. Being human he was clothed with mortal flesh and subject to weaknesses.
IMPLICATIONS
Limited in Knowledge
One of the major weakness humans have is the lack of infinite knowledge. This is a design of God and as such, it is a good thing because everything God has designed has a purpose in His plan for His glory and for the benefit of his creatures. It means that Jesus being fully man did not know everything except as it was revealed to Him by His Father, God. This amplifies Matthew 24:36.
Before His death, though the fullness of the GodHead dwelled in Jesus, His mortality was fully functional– a glorious mystery! So, it’s no surprise He did not know when the risen Christ Jesus would return for His bride in His full glory as God without His humanity. I pray this understanding may help us stop trying to be smarter than Jesus who is the only human that has operated in the full capacity of God as man. Nevertheless, Jesus gave God the glory due Him by accepting to leave the things God had chosen to keep for Himself. He trusted God completely as a faithful God who does all things for His (Jesus’) benefit though limited by His humanity.
Needed Faith
Faith is a wonderful gift from God to all humans because He knows the weakness our humanity places on us. This faith helps man to look up to the invisible to see and rely on the Creator- God. Hence, before Jesus’ death and resurrection, He had to look up to God consistently for all His needs and for victory over all difficulties, temptations and trials.
Subject to Temptation
All of humanity are subject to temptations from Satan, his cohorts and from self-will (power of the mind). Jesus was subject to temptation because He had the weakness of not knowing everything. This was the major reason His life was full of prayers and the word of God. He lived by “it is written” which is the same charge God gave to Adam and Eve and remains a standing order to us today till the end of time Matthew 4:4, 10.
Possibility of Falling
The fact that Jesus was consistently tempted and had needs made it an open possibility for Him to fall and fail if He looked away from God. He had emotions and desires which meant He loved people especially those close and in agreement with Him, like Peter and John. This was a very great temptation because He wanted to respect those people and live in good understanding with them but the fact that they could not always understand His good intentions and speech was a problem. For example, He at one time said to Peter “Get behind me, Satan” (Matthew 16:23). While today we know He was not referring to Peter, at that point in time, it would have been a shock to Peter and perhaps to those around him. Such words could have been a source of huge misunderstanding and quarrel.
Window of Repentance
God has given room to all humans to repent of their sin (Adamic nature that rejects God’s way- Jesus). And He calls His children to repent if they fall into sin — that window was also there for Jesus but praise God, He showed us that John was not bluffing when He wrote, “… That you may not sin” (1 John 2:1, Hebrews 4:15)
Option not to Repent
Everyone with the window of opportunity to repent also has the liberty not to repent if they so choose. Praise God Jesus did not need to repent– He set for us an example of perfection which, Paul the Apostle tells us, “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13, 2 NIV 2 Corinthians 3:18).
By faith, humanity can touch God, live beyond humanity and participate in God’s divine nature through God’s promises in Christ Jesus the One to whom all things are subject Hebrews 11:6, 2 Peter 1:4, Eph 1:21.
The world has not ended today and will not end today not because God wants to mock mere humans who refuse to humble themselves before His holy word that has been tested in the furnace (mysterious fire) and proved purer than fine gold but because He is desiring to give room for you and I to repent from our wicked ways and kiss His Son.
Kiss the Son of God O people and live! Psalm 2:12.
In another article, we will consider Jesus: Fully God.
The shield of faith is a defensive weapon to turn back the lightning bolts which the enemies sometime throw at us. Righteousness is a breastplate of the Spirit. That which misses the shield, and is not parried by the sword, is turned away by the breastplate. The sword is the only offensive weapon in our armory. The power of the spoken Word is far beyond what we can, at this time, imagine. The Word says that “He spoke” and it was done. The words of our mouth have the power of life and death. Let us keep the Word of God in our hearts and on our lips. Loins girded with truth will help us to stand upright, and feet shod with that special mixture or preparation of the Gospel of peace will help us not only to walk but to run the race with patience.
despised but, the free gift of regeneration (salvation from sin) is actually paid for by Jesus. No one should carry-on in this life or depart from this world without tasting and enjoying the beauty of regeneration. It creates a beautiful landscape in one’s life!
of a people from the kingdom of darkness into His kingdom of light (Christ Jesus) referenced as regeneration is for God’s glory, praise and purpose Col 1:13.
is not a curse but a blessing from the all wise and Almighty God. He knew man was going to fall but praise God he clothed man with the mortal flesh. The human spirit can only repent while in the mortal body—though it is weak, it serves its purpose in God’s scheme of things!