Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.1Thes.5:24,

But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.2Thes.3:3,

GOD IS FAITHFUL--GOD KEEPS HIS COVENANTS-- APOSTLES CONCEPTS OF THE COVENANTS

Of all the chosen of God, and anointed of His Spirit to be His witnesses, Paul is the one to place the most emphasis on the Resurrection to the Newness of Life, and the process God has followed in order to bestow His Grace so freely on all mankind. This, God has done through covenant promises, made and kept. When it comes to the fulfillment of His covenant promises, God is impartial. They are for all who believe, and they include something for everyone. It is Paul according to the wisdom, and knowledge given to him, that God uses to unveil in depth, the wisdom and the mystery of true Life. Paul's simplicity of it is astounding to the natural mind of man.

Col. 1:25-29, "Of this Gospel I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, that I might fully carry out the preaching of the Word of God, that is the Mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you the hope of glory; And we proclaim Him admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom. that we may present every man complete in Christ. And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His Power, which mightily works within me." Rom. 11: 13-14, "But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles,inasmuch as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if somehow I might move to Jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them."

Peter also recognizes and confirms this, and writes 2Peter, 3:15-16, "And regard the patience of our Lord to be Salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction."

Paul's insight illuminates him as well as us, to the under-standing that the grace of God has prevailed from the beginning, and was not an after thought, but according to a predetermined purpose. Grace through faith is the determining factor, as it was spelled out to Abraham. Four-hundred and thirty years after the promise was made to Abraham, the covenant of Law came in alongside the covenant of promise, and it didn't change a thing. The covenant of promise superseded all others. The covenant of Law simply spelled out the manner of life God had meant for mankind to have lived all along, it showed him where he failed, and then pointed him down the pathway of life until Messiah, the Savior, would come and make mankind acceptable unto God the Father. Heb. 7: 18-19, "For on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness, and uselessness, (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God."

The Law therefore had a special purpose of its own and was for a specified period of time. Heb. 8:13, "When He said, 'A new covenant,' he made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear." The covenant of promise was everlasting. It embodied promises for both the children of Abraham, for generation to come here on earth, as well as the Messianic hope, which part was all inclusive, for all nations of the earth, Jew and Gentile.

The covenant of Law was to rule in the affairs of the twelve tribes, as well as all who aligned themselves with them,(proselytes), and submitted to all rights and ceremonies, symbolic of a Heart faith. Just as Abraham believed, and had received the sign, a seal of his faith that he had before receiving the sign. The Law as given to Moses, was to rule in the affairs of Israel, over the physical, natural and material, persons and property, or possess-ions. The Law would show them that transgressions of it, was not just a mistake, but a deliberate transgression of God's Law, His prescription for their lives. The Law condemned man for his failure, and pronounced the judgment of death. This prescription for life and death was to govern every area of their conduct until Messiah came. Gal. 3: 19, "Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through Angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed should come, to whom the promise had been made." Heb 9: 5-14, "The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed, while the outer tabernacle is still standing; Which is a symbol for the time then present, according to which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed, until a reformation. But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God."

Since sin and death had entered the human race through one man, Adam, it was necessary for righteousness and life to return through a man. 1Cor. 15: 20-23, "But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruit of those who are asleep. For since by man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. But each in his own order; Christ the first fruit, after that those who are Christ at His coming."

In order for all of this to happen, there was of necessity, ' A Man,' made like unto His brethren. Heb. 2: 14-18, "Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is the devil; and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in all things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which he has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted."

He lived out this perfect life to the fullest. Under judgment of the Law, in our behalf, He died to sin,( the Power of it ) and conquered death. New and Eternal Life, could now be bestowed on all who would receive Him as their New Source of life. Now a change of Law had taken place as well as a change of priesthood to minister it. The Law of The Spirit of Life, had now set free, all who would receive Him, (the One who had set them free from the law of sin and death), as their own source of Life and as a mediator, to plead their case before a Holy God. The old Law of external enactment's, had been superseded, (replaced), by a New and Greater Law, one that would be ministered from within, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

It's at this juncture that we are shown the truth of what Jesus, so strongly emphasized, and is so vividly portrayed by Paul and the others. "The flesh profits nothing", neither does the product of the work of man's hands. All one has to do is look at society, and the civilizations that have come and gone. None of which have contributed to mankind being brought to an intimate relationship with the God, who is the source of all Life. The destruction of the earth at the time of the flood stands as a signal of warning. Archeologist, in a quest to gain knowledge of their culture and what it was that caused their demise, are now excavating the destruction sites of Sodom and Gomorrah, Babylon, Beth-Shean, thought to be one of the oldest, continuously inhabited cities in the whole region, plus every other location of supposedly significant cultural value, that has been built over the centuries. All to what end? Only to find out that of all the adverse circumstances and conditions, that have plagued mankind over the centuries; reveal that man is his own worst enemy.

David the great king of Israel, was building great cities, and beautiful houses for himself and decided that God should have a beautiful house in which to dwell. God told him that He was content to dwell in tents, among His people, wherever they dwelt. Symbolic of His dwelling in the tent, ( house, tabernacle, temple), all were signifying His dwelling in a human body, in the Person of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and then to dwell in the bodies of believers, after the day of Pentecost, when He came back in the Person of the Holy Spirit.

But God submitted to David's desires, and allowed his son Solomon to build Him a temple, which would be His temporary dwelling, in the midst of His people until the dispersion to Babylon, when Ezekiel saw the manifest presence of God leave the city and return to heaven. Jesus came and manifest God in a fleshly body. This great city, Jerusalem, and its Temple and buildings became the splendor and pride of Israel, and was the center of their attention, but they soon forgot who it was, who dwelt there. All of their attention, affection and feelings of security, were placed in the city , it's walls, and the temple. However they forgot the One who had caused it all to become a reality. And so God allowed all to be destroyed, just as all these other cities on the face of the earth, very graphically illustrating, and showing that importance was not to be placed on material things, or the work of man's hands, even though they were all built, according to man's thinking, for God. He gave them seventy years, while in captivity in Babylon to learn the lesson. His first stipulation to them had been, and now should have been learned the hard way, "You shall have no other god's before Me."

God allowed them to come back and inhabit the land and the city, and rebuild once again, but still their attention was not on their God, who was making everything happen for them, but on themselves and their own supposed self importance. They never realized that all their history was preparation for the coming Redeemer. Jesus very plainly alluded to the fact that the earthly temple was only a depiction of Him, and His work of redemption. John,2:18-21. As a nation they neither recognized Him, nor under-stood His teaching, that their whole purpose for being was, to be an instrument, a channel through which God's Son could be brought into the world, to save the world from it's own self imposed destruction. And also that they were the instrument thorough which God would teach the rest of the world of mankind their need, and His Way of Reconciliation. Again, their attention was on themselves and their own prestige. God allowed everything of the material that they took so much pride in, to once again be destroyed, and burned by the Romans. Even His Sons, earthly Temple,(His body), was destroyed, that He might bring forth from the dead, a whole New Resurrected Temple in which to dwell for eternity, among His people, here on earth.

But as a nation they neither recognized Him, nor understood His teaching, and so the blind eyes, of all mankind, except for the remnant of true believers, rejected God once again, and consequently His Word as Well.

The Apostles all pick up this under-lying truth. The earthly city Jerusalem and her children are in bondage until now and only the heavenly Jerusalem, and Her children are free. Paul very vividly and boldly, identifies the believer as being seated there in the heavenly, celestial city, "In Christ", and therefore one of her children. Gal. 4:21-5:1, "Tell me, you who want to be under the Law, do you not listen to the Law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bond-woman and one by the free woman. But the son of the bond-woman was born according to the flesh, and the son of the free woman through the promise. This contains an allegory; for these two women are two covenants, one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. For it is written, "Rejoice barren woman who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in labor; for more are the children of the desolate then the one who has a husband.' And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of the promise. But as at that time, He who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. But what does the Scripture say? Cast out the bond-woman and her son, for the son of the bond-woman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman? So then, brethren, we are not children of a bond-woman, but of a free woman. It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery."

Also consider in this same context, Col. 2: 20-21, and Col 3: 1-4, " If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why as if you were still living in the world do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, do not handle, do not taste, do not touch? If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ, in God. When Christ who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory."

Oh how the truth of God needs to get through to mankind!

Every thing of this world and everything in this creation is under the indictment of sin and death, and counts for nothing as far as attributing to man's being acceptable to a Holy, Righteous, Sovereign, Living, God. Only that which is produced as a response to the Word of God, and brought to life, by the Spirit of the Living God, all as a result of the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, is acceptable. The all inclusive, conclusion, of it is, His Instituting, and validating His New Covenant, under which all has been bequeathed to Him as Heir of God's creation, and of which all true believers are made joint heirs with Him.

One of the most misquoted and misapplied portions of Scripture is, 1Cor. 3: 6-23, "I planted and Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master-builder I have laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one that is laid, which is Christ Jesus. . Now if any man builds upon, THE, foundation, with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man work. If any mans work which he has built upon it remains, he will be receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in You? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become foolish that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness." "The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that they are useless. So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos, or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God."

Consider this dear friend, not only did God make the covenant promise, but He took an oath to confirm the validity of His promise. Can your hardened heart conceive of the fact, that God wanted so badly for mankind to believe Him, in what he was doing and revealing, that He swore an oath on His own Name and Word to reinforce the promise. The New Covenant in Jesus blood is the witness to the fulfillment, and the Resurrection is God's declaration to the fact that here is the Son of God with power, to achieve for mankind, that which mankind couldn't do for himself. Think of the blindness and audacity of man when he doesn't understand, and he just puts his own meaning or reasoning to it, or devises some other way that might seem right to him. But God said there is only one way, and that is through the, Door, Christ Jesus. All of these other ways are what make up all the cults, sects, diversities, among all the world religions. And none of these sects; place mankind, and God, in an intimate, living relationship, where mans conscience is free from doubt and guilt, or shame. I repeat, the Apostle John admonishes, 1John 3:23-4:4, "And this is the commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. And the one who keeps His commandment abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit which He has given us. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God; every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. You are from God little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world."

Only the Spirit confessing the whole truth of the Gospel message is from God, for "Salvation is of the Jew", and "there is Salvation in no other name under heaven, given among men."

Every so called minister, or so called teacher of any so called religion, that does not proclaim Jesus as, the Gift of Life from God to a lost world, in the words of Paul, "Let him be accursed!" Gal. 1: 8-9. "But even though we, or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed."

Some will say, even as men have always said when objecting to God's method , isn't it a little extreme to be-labor the point so much? All of this repetition of God gets so tiresome, our lives are just a daily repetition. As we have said earlier, if we follow His prescribed Way, we learn. God has recognized that the only way He can get through to mankind, is through repeatedly calling man's attention to the opposing ways of life, God's way, and man's way.

Consider the way He chose to teach Israel. His way with the world is no different, and our careless ways are not different either. In fact the Gentile world is worse than theirs ever was, for we have the truth before our eyes in recorded living reality. They only had it in pictures, types and shadows.

God's instructions to Israel were, "Talk about the Way of God when you rise up, when you sit down, when you are walking along the way. Write them on your foreheads,(phylactery), on your hands, and armband, always have them before you, so you don't become blinded by the lives and ways, and glitter of the people around you. Rehearse them continually, here a little, there a little, never let them out of your consciousness. Teach them to one another, and to your offspring of this way of life, and the manner it had been received. And forever keep reminded, from, "Whom" it came. Do this generation after generation.

Isaiah, 28: 9-14, "To whom would he teach knowledge? And to whom would He interpret the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just taken from the breast? For He says, ' order on order, order on order, line upon line, line upon line, a little here a little there,' indeed He will speak to His people, through stammering lips and a foreign tongue. He who said to them, 'Here is rest, give rest to the weary. And here is repose.' But they would not listen. So the word of the Lord to them will be, Order on order, order on order, Line on line, line on line, a little here, a little there," that they may go and stumble backward, be broken, snared, and taken captive. Therefore hear the word of the Lord, O' scoffers, who rule this people who are in Jerusalem."( or the world.)

Notice the fulfillment of the Word, even in smallest excerpts of details. John 18:4-6, "Jesus said to them, "Whom do you seek?' They answered Him, 'Jesus the Nazarene.' He said to them, 'I Am He.' And Judas also who was betraying him was standing with them. When therefore He said to them, "I Am He' they drew back, and fell to the ground." Study carefully the Forty-eighth and forty-ninth chapters of Isaiah.

One last glimpse at the steadfastness of Jesus as He fulfilled His purpose under the Law. There was a precept under the Law that Satan used in one last ditch effort before Jesus went to the cross. In Lev. 5: 1, "Now if a person sins, after he hears a public adjuration to testify, when he is a witness, whether he has seen or otherwise known, if he does not tell it, then he will bear his guilt."

False witnesses were testifying, bearing false testimony against Him. Matt. 26:62-66, " And the high priest stood up and said to Him, 'So you make no answer?' What is it that these men are testifying against you?' But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, 'I adjure you by the Living God, that you tell us whether You are the Christ, the son of God.' Jesus said to him, 'You have said it yourself, never-the-less I will tell you, here after you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming in the clouds of Heaven.' the high priest tore his robes."

The answer Jesus gave was sufficient for anyone who knew the Scriptures, and it fulfilled the requirements of the oath Jesus had been sworn to. No one has ever lived in such a regal manner, and died in such a manner. It is for this reason that the Apostles, including Paul, gave testimony to the fact that, "He is worthy to be believed", and all who have ever truly believed in Him, upon receiving Him as their Life, have testified as well.

The Word of God in all its splendor and magnitude, is like a prism, or a many faceted diamond. The light emanating from its many facets, cannot be taken in all at once, but rather has to be absorbed by coming back to admire it over and over, till it becomes fixed in the minds eye, to be carried there forever.

Without this approach to the truth of God as it is revealed in all of its incomprehensible splendor in Jesus Christ, one cannot apprehend the true meaning of life. Neither can one know it by any other means. The truth of Life is only Spirit of God illuminated and Spiritually discerned, as it is manifest in Jesus Christ.

Under the dispensation of Law the Israelites (Jews), were required to show obedience to a structure of precepts that regulated their life through external means, accomplished through appropriating the ability by faith from their God, who dwelt in their midst, always available to them, through the high priest, and their offerings of faith. This Jesus did fully and completely, and unequivocally when He offered Himself.

Under the New Covenant, it is obedience to the faith as it is in Jesus. Faith which brings the realization, and the awareness of a new inner law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. The power to live the life, comes with the life. The Holy Spirit when recognized, believed in, and yielded to, produces the Life of God the Son, in the believer. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit don't need regulating by outward stipulations. God is the Life. The potential for the fullness of God is for everybody, but is only realized by the few. The rest seemingly, believe intellectually, but deprive themselves of the full benefits of the inheritance by not accepting all of Him and the fullness of His Life.

The grace of God, through faith, is what makes the accomplishment of it all a living reality. God, through His unspeakable gift of life, supplies the authority (the new dynamic), and doesn't require a lot of pledges and sacrifices. He took care of it all at the cross.

GOd IS FAITHFUL!

Every promise and every commitment God has ever made, He has kept. This can be verified by observing the history of the world and recorded affairs of mankind. If mankind would study world history in the light of the Biblical accounts of it, and would study sociology in the light of Biblical revelation, all of societies ill's, and its cures, the answers to life's dilemmas would be apparent. Man has always tried to separate the creation from the Creator. As a result, he has always come up with the wrong answers, for the simple reason that he begins his study from the wrong premise. The theory of evolution is nothing more than a way to eliminate God from His position as creator; and Sovereign over all; and then to keep the knowledge of God out of man's consciousness. There never has been any validity to the theory. Likewise, the big bang theory. What better way of keeping mankind from regaining a God consciousness, than by denying Him completely.

In the days when philosophical inquiry had reached its zenith and men at the center of world power in the Mediterranean region were so taken up with their quest for new thought, Paul the Apostle came into the region proclaiming the good news of a new life, and a new manner of receiving it: The Faith way. When they heard him,they thought he was propagating something new in philosophy, and they requested to hear more of what he had to say. His answer to them is as follows. Acts., 17: 21-31, "And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since he himself gives to all life and breath and all things; and He made from one every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not very far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are his offspring.' Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the, NATURE OF DEITY, is like gold, or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. Therefore having overlooked the time of ignorance, God is now declaring to men, that all everywhere should repent, because he has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead."

Paul attributes Sovereignty, Deity, and Rulership of Heaven and earth to this God, unknown to them. They were worshiping in ignorance, not having any idea who He was or what He was, or where He was. Neither can He be served by the work of men's hands, for He is possessor of everything, 'For the earth is the Lord's and everything in it'. He is the sustaining power that supplies the dynamic by which everything is maintained. He attributes the origin of man to have come from one, (Adam), immediately casting out all thought of evolution. He also equates the rise and fall of people and nations, as having their beginning and ending directly related to knowledge of Him. The extermination of their continued existence was whether they ignored the knowledge of Him when given, and set up a government, ruled by men who ignored, "Him", and set themselves up as god's while worshiping all forms of false god's. The prime example is Israel. It was a nation, raised up by God for His own special purpose, and was exalted to the height of glory. So was David and Solomon, yet they allowed such ungodly practices to come in and take control. Geologist and Archaeologist have spent years and millions of dollars uncovering and analyzing their finds, trying to figure out the cause of one civilization after another to rise and fall and pass off into oblivion. Each one, depending upon the one you talk to at the moment, will have a different reason. Israel, however is the only one whose identity will once again be restored as a nation under God, with its original purpose and identity being intact. The purpose and heritage as a nation is an eternal one assigned to them by God. Regardless of what man does or doesn't do, God's purpose for them and His creation will not be thwarted. All mankind's eternal destiny resides in God's hands. He has left adequate evidence and witnesses to this fact through out the world, but most importantly in the land of Israel, that lies at the heart of the earth, and the people of Israel. He has provided salvation for the world through Israel, in the Person of the anointed One, God's Messiah.

All one has to do is read and believe the account of the promises and blessings which would come on the basis of their obedience to the faith (quality of faith), same as their forefathers, and the obedience to God's prescribe way of life. All were spelled out under the Law on one hand, and on the other hand the judgments, the curses that would result from disobedience to the faith and the rejection to obedience to His way of life for them. Even a cursory reading of the Bible, if it is read according to God's prescribed way of faith, will make one realize, everything has happened up until now, just as God has said it would. Why shouldn't everything else yet remaining of the promises, be fulfilled also? Mankind's concept of the fulfillment of the blessings and the judgments of God are so distorted that he doesn't see God's faithfulness and his own unfaithfulness. Therefore, he makes excuses for himself and his failures, while blaming God for keeping His Word just as He declared He would. Just as Paul had declared to the Athenians, God has over-looked the ignorance of man, but is declaring to all men every-where to turn from their own ways, their own self-sufficiency, their own endeavor to establish a relationship with God through their own distorted reasoning. He directs them to turn to the One, Whom, He, God, had designated to be the judge of both the living and the dead. And this judgment is to be a judgment in righteousness. Take note, it's very important to see the difference, it will be His evaluation of Righteousness, as He is offered, and when received, made unto to the believer, our very own righteousness from God. Just as Abraham and the rest of the Patriarchs, had righteousness put to their account, to draw upon and have it credited to them. So Jesus Christ the righteous One is given to us. He is God's Scepter extended to all, and the Substance, of our acceptance into His presence.

This is the message that all of His commissioned ones were given to take to the world. Matt. 28: 18-20, "And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go you therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you, and Lo, I Am with you always, even to the end of the age."

2Cor. 5: 19, "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and has committed unto us the Word of reconciliation." ver. 21, he made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."

The proof of His Person and Power, is in the resurrection, designating him as the only righteous One, therefore death had no power to hold Him, therefore capable of being raised from the dead. He is the only One worthy of such honor. Righteousness which is required of man by God, can be found in no one else. Matt. 5: 20, "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness surpass the righteousness of scribes and the Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven." Heb. 12:14,"Pursue after peace with all men, and after the Sanctification, (Righteousness, Holiness), without which no one will see the Lord."

This is the test: "In whose righteousness will mankind endeavor to stand before the Lord in that day"? The day that God has assigned, as the day, when men will be judged in righteousness, by the Only righteousness One. The choice is being held out during this age of grace, and its man's to receive or reject, in the Person of Jesus Christ. Each person must decide for themselves.

The benefits, of the accomplishments, of Jesus in behalf of all mankind is, potentially made possible, to all who will receive Him by faith. Therefore, the possibility becomes the actuality to every person who truly believes. God the Holy Spirit makes the finished and complete work of redemption and reconciliation, a living reality, by uniting the believer with God in Jesus Christ. The believer is now set apart (sanctified), from His or her old identity with the race of sinful man, to oneness of relationship and identification with the risen Lord of Life, Jesus 'Christ. Heb. 2: 10-11, "For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory , to perfect the author of their salvation through suffering. For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren."

Up until the events of the death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and the giving, and receiving, of the Holy Spirit, Salvation, redemption, reconciliation, and deliverance from all condemnation, and bondage to the natural realm of life, were only potentially a possibility for mankind. Since then the possible, has become the Reality. Now the True Believers Faith has real Substance to it. The Substance is a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ. Heb. 3: 14, " For we have become partakes of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end." Heb. 12: 1-3, Now Faith is the assurance (substance) of things hoped for, the conviction (evidence) of things not seen. For by it (faith) the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds (ages) were prepared (framed) by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made of things which are visible." A whole new life in a whole new realm( sphere, Spiritual) has begun and will continue throughout eternity.

The totality of these events having taken place, become the most cohesive, unifying, bonding agents ever to come into this world of dissension and chaos. On the other hand, they are the most divisive and troublesome of anything proposed in the world in any age. Matt. 10: 32-40, "Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My father who is in heaven. But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and a man's enemies will be the members of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take up his own cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life shall lose it and he who has lost his life for My sake, shall find it. He who receives you, receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."

Let us hear Paul as he explains how after receiving Him as Lord and the Christ (Messiah) of God on the Damascus road, He came to know Him as his ever present source of life. 2Cor. 2:14-17, "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifest through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, and to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? For we are not like many, peddling the Word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God."

It never was and never will be God's intention to bring peace to this sin engulfed world, while it is still under the dominion of the spirit of evil, being administered by the god of this world. There is only one way of peace and one peace maker, and if mankind won't accept Him willingly, then He will come in judgement when His time is, as Paul expressed it. He has appointed a day when he will judge the world for refusing God's peace and Christ's Righteousness. Now in this age of grace, He gives peace to the one who receives Him. It is individual now, in that day it will become national as well as universal. Col. 1: 19-20, "For it was the Fathers good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace by the blood of His cross; through Him, I say. whether things in earth or things in heaven." Eph. 2: 14-15a, "For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, (Jew and Gentile) and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity," Rom. 4: 25-5: 2a, "Him who was delivered up because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand." Phil. 4: 6-7, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

But this same Person, becomes the most troubling person the unbeliever will ever encounter, if they continue to reject Him, and choose to try and be reconciled to God any other way, or to have peace any other way. Observe, as you read your Bible, how the Israelites lived at peace, and prospered and were victorious over those who would attack them against God's will, as long as they were united by faith under the guidance of God's chosen leader, and the leader remained faithful. Observe how quickly they were defeated, and even were divided, when they became preoccupied with their own self-will and self-importance, and their own reasoning prevailed. They soon became separated from one another, and separated from their God and His blessing.

The prime example of the separation, the Word of God brings about is illustrated throughout the word. It is seen in the call of Abraham and his descendants. When God called Abraham, he was soon separated from his former way of life, and his fathers house, and his country, all in accordance with the word of God that came to him. He then lived a separated life unto God and His leading, for the rest of his life. When his descendants had grown to great multitude in Egypt, they were separated from Egypt, separated from the land of their sojourning and separated unto God and unto a new land and a new life. They were separated from all other people for all time, with a new identity, as Israelites. Princes of God and Children of God. They have been kept distinct from all other people of the world by the hand of God upon them from that day until today. They were the only people to have been given a name and identity by God until the church was born. The separated position they were to hold in God's sight is spoken of by Jesus as being, "Sanctified Holy." The True Believer is separated from all the rest of the race of humanity, sanctified, set apart , in Jesus Christ. 1Cor. 1:30.

At that time a new identity was given to a new group of people made up of both Jew and Gentile, known as people of,"The Way", and "Believers in Jesus Christ", and that was then shortened to "Christians, or, "Christos, little Christ's". This group of people, along with the Jews, are the only people to bear the distinction of people separated from the world unto the living God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and yet remain in the world, keeping the race of mankind reminded of the purpose of the God, Who keeps His promises. Each, however have been unfaithful to God and His leading and teaching, for neither have received the entire fullness of all of God's blessings , but have in part tried to substitute their own works to make up for the weakness of their faith in not appropriating their entire inheritance in His promise. Jesus admonishes the churches in the, Letter, entitled, Revelation, "You have left your first Love." It is evident from the history of both that they have neglected to pay close attention to the plain teaching of their God and Savior, in following the direction He has prescribed for them. God is not a God of confusion, but mankind has allowed much confusion to prevail throughout the body by putting his own interpretation to the plain message of the, Life of God in Jesus Christ. Each group have left their first love, not that either loved Him first, but the greatness of His Love and the fact that He took the initiative in manifesting it first, is very evident for all to see and comprehend if they just will. It isn't that He has failed at any time, its just that mankind's failure keeps revealing itself. It isn't that He has withheld anything from either, so nothing is there to hinder, except man's own determination to try and interject his own self will and blind reasoning. The failure lies with all who profess to believe, but do not appropriate everything of the provisions for life that was given so freely for all to receive, and is administered by the Holy Spirit.

It seems evident, that the Israelites as well as the Gentile, who have accepted the call to come out and be separate, haven't come with the conviction that they are under the judgment of death. They don't have the consciousness that they are in bondage to a nature of sinful tendencies. And they fail to realize just how much these tendencies control their every thought and action. These tendencies can only be over come by submitting to the death of Jesus, who died to sin, that the true believer might be set free in the resurrection to New life, His Life. The Biblical teaching, that all mankind are constituted sinners right from birth by the sinful nature we all inherit from our forefather, Adam, has been lost to the church doctrine. The misguided teaching, that there's a little good in every one of us and all we have to do is just nurture it and cultivate it and we can become Christ like, which is nothing more than another lie of the enemy of man's souls. And this deceit is another way of keeping mankind trapped and in his power, while being deceived into thinking he is living for God. They don't have the conviction that they are constituted sinners and therefore bound by this sinful nature and consequently dead in trespasses and sins, and the only escape is to be resurrected to Newness of Life in Jesus Christ.

However the work of the Holy Spirit, who has been in the world since the day of Pentecost, and has been the indwelling presence of Jesus Christ the Son and God the Father, in the body of the Believers, hasn't been recognized in His true identity. Like God the Father and God the Son, He has not been recognized, but has been exchanged for what ever man has made Him out to be in his own blind reasoning. He is a real Spiritual Being, a Person in His own right, and it is His task to bring about the consciousness and conviction of sin, righteousness, or lack of it among men, because Jesus is the only righteous one. And Jesus has returned to the Father, to complete His work as Great High Priest, a work of intercession, while the Holy Spirit is endeavoring to direct mankind's thinking to his need of a Savior. John, 16: 7-15, "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper, (Paraclete, Holy Spirit), shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to You. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you no longer behold Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. I have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the Truth, for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will disclose to you what is to come. He shall glorify Me; For He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said, that He takes of Mine, and will disclose it to You."

As this realization comes upon every person, because God is faithful; every person must be honest before God's convicting influence, and acknowledge that God is true, and the need that He shows every one they have, is fulfilled by faith in Jesus Christ, as their own personal gift from a Loving Heavenly Father. It is in Him that mankind finds the power of deliverance, (Salvation), from every thing that he cannot find deliverance from, through any other source.

The New Source is Jesus Christ. When received by faith, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, He supplies all that the believer appropriates from Him by faith. Heb. 5: 7-9, "In the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to Him who was able to save Him,(out),from death, and He was heard because of His piety,(Righteousness), although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered and having been made perfect, he became to all those who obey Him, the source of eternal salvation."

The potential for all mankind to have and know Him as their Life, has been and is being offered to the whole world freely, no strings attached, until God will tolerate mankind's rejection of His, super-abounding, overflowing, deluge of grace, through, His Son Jesus Christ, no longer. Jesus said, "Just as it was in the day's of Noah"; but mankind gets so taken up with living his own self-willed life, that he doesn't have any time for God, in his consciousness.

The day will come as Paul, and Jesus spoke of it. "The day appointed by God when His wrath will be poured out because of the ungodliness of mankind". Jehovah, God's faithful keeping of the promise of blessing, part of His covenant, was made and kept, and just as sure, is the judgment part of His promise. The sum and substance of true faith in the Word of God, unites all who exercise it with the Lord Jesus, the Living Word, Lived out before the eyes of the whole world.

An intellectual faith only establishes another religious group, who profess a form of godliness, but have no real evidence of the power of the New Life in Christ, but through their own efforts, manifest a religion, or social, physical, humanitarian organization, which James describes as works of Man. In the light of his looking intently, into the Perfect Law of Liberty, His actions will be determined on that basis. James 1: 22-27, "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of a person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law of liberty and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer, but an effectual one, this man shall be blessed in what he does. If any man thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit the orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

As a result of a weak, anemic, intellectual faith, (from the heart man believes unto righteousness), people take on the name, but become just another organizational structure whose main objective is humanitarian and social, with all the religious forms and trappings, but are void of Spiritual Life. It is God's purpose that Jesus Christ have the preeminence, and that He become all and in all to everyone professing His Name.

In concise and abbreviated terms, He has given mankind the revelation of His creation and the purpose for it. We are only given a glimpse of the original creation process, and the greater in-sight into His Recreation or Restoration process and the introduction of man, as we know him, into the world. The first or natural man was Adam, and all of his descendants. The second and Spiritual man, was, the Man from heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ. All of this was a part of God's eternal plan and was all known of God, because of His foreknowledge of all things,.(His Omniscience).

He knew the many obstacles He would have thrown in His pathway. The obstacles would come from a horde of fallen angels, led by the one who had rebelled against Him in the heavenly realm, and who would interject his evil into the race of men. In the face of all of this, the plan of God emerges and is apprehended by faith, by all of those who recognize His Sovereignty and Deity, as well as His love, mercy and grace. The message comes through loud and clear. He would not be deterred in accomplishing His preplanned purpose. Will you and I, accept the part He has for us in it ? Which part is to make us anew, in His Son, to become conformed to His Image.

In the recreation account, if you will believe it, we are illuminated to see the earth removed from a state of chaos and restored to its pristine glory. Man is placed upon it at that time, although God foreknew that it would all be marred, and would cause Him to declare it while in this state, ' to all be futility ' It was not fulfilling the creative, intended purpose. So when the time was right, it would have to undergo another renovation, this time by fire, earthquake, travail and a new birth for all the old creation. And so He has promised, "A new heavens and a new earth, where-in dwells righteousness." The believers redemptive process will be perfected and completed at this time also. A New Sinless body will be given at this time as well.

All the writings of the Bible concur with this concept, although mankind in his own intellect has confused the issue by interjecting his own efforts into it, even though God has repeatedly said, ' He would accomplish it all without any help from man, other than Jesus Christ, His Son.' Rom. 8: 18-25, "For I consider that the suffering of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longings of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but we ourselves, having the first-fruit of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan with-in our-selves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of the body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does a person hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

God has revealed, between Genesis and Revelation, all of the mystery of His plan and purpose and process, by which He would bring about the fulfillment of all He had devised in the councils of the Godhead, before the foundation of the world was ever laid.

The societies of the world today are being motivated, guided, and manipulated, based on one philosophical evaluation or another. Everything is geared to solving the ills of mankind and the society by the manipulation of man's psyche. While taking this approach, only the natural, physical and emotional problems are being addressed. Here again mankind's approach is turned around and so therefore, the answers that are arrived at, are wrong.

The real person, termed man, the ego, is primarily a spiritual being, housed in a material, physical body. Because the nature of sin has taken control, the man, the person, the ego is too weak through the flesh to overcome its evil tendencies. The spirit of man must be made alive with the power of the Spirit of God. It is only thus that the control is again established and restored to believing man. Only when the Spiritual completion takes place, is it then possible for mankind to address the rest of His problems. Society has become so captivated with the idea that there are some,who having acquired what they believe to be an understanding of the character and the inner workings, of man, that they then can determine the cause and the cure for the particular persons problems. The determination of the cause and the cure are always based on what the patient, or subject, tells them they believe their problems to be. According to the subject or patients related tale of woe, they are analyzed and placed into a predetermined or prestablished- established category, and certain predetermined solutions are then applied, as a cure. The problem with this is, if the subject or patient only knew, that the psychiatrist endeavoring to help solve the problems, has just as many, if not more problems than they do. As a result of all of this counterfeit approach, our society has more problems being created every year, than there are solutions being found. The age old rule applies, "If the premise or hypothesis is wrong, the conclusion or result of the inquiry will be wrong.

Even the professing church has become deeply entrenched in this counterfeit concept for improving the lives of men. The unlearned and the untaught in the Gospel truth of deliverance, are advising, and being advised to seek help from the doctor, (the shrink), before they are advised to find deliverance by faith in the Resurrected Lord of Life, Lord of both Heaven and Earth.

Yes, He will, provide you with the strength to put off the old man, who is dead in trespasses and sins, with all the old drives and desires, and anti-God motivations, and put on the New Man, who is created in Holiness, and Righteousness of the truth. Yes, and that includes the best of man and the worst of man. Whatever it is that mankind has given himself over to in order to make a name for himself, he has come up missing the mark. Once again I repeat the writing of the Apostle Paul. "Just because some choose not to believe, with a true and sincere faith, that doesn't minimize the power of the Word of God as expressed in the Gospel." "The Gospel is the Power of God resulting in Salvation, to everyone who believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Gentile). "From the heart man believes resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made resulting in Salvation."

Everything except the True Gospel message, is presented to us today, with a psychological twist. Most everything is being manipulated in its presentation by guile, which is nothing more than deceit. All sales techniques are geared to convince you of your need, real or imaginary, and to cause you to want and then to buy. Consider every other area in life and see if you are not faced with this approach. It is all a counterfeit distraction to keep you from being able to stop and consider, is this necessary, or do I really want and need this? Consider the laws that have been written in the last few years to try and counteract this kind of pressure, and then look at the way the laws are being manipulated, so the purveyors of their merchandise can keep the pressure up. Hold any of our political or philosophical endeavors up to scrutiny and if you are honest with yourself, and put aside your own personal bias for a moment, you will soon learn who is sincere and who it is that is conning you into his way of thinking. This applies in the realm of religion as well. The air waves and Podiums are full of the counterfeit, hawking their brand of religion, but Real true Christianity is not a religion, its a life. The phony and the counterfeit, never present the plain, simple, honest to goodness facts of what they are teaching, and then leave you to make up your own mind under the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. Everything has to be slanted, and sometimes to the point of an out and out lie.

The real question is, what is really best for you and what is best for others. God in Jesus Christ is the only one to be completely trusted, and the early believers staked their lives on the truth of Him being the fulfillment of all of God's promises. Our early founding fathers, did so as well, and they were forced to defend this belief with many of their lives, just as many of early saints of the church. 2Cor. 1:18-22, "But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no. For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us, by me and Silvanus and Timothy was not yes and no, but is yes in Him. For as many as be the promises of God, in Him they are yes; wherefore also by him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge."

Our so-called justice system is no exception. every kind of deceit and guile is being used to convince jurors to decide in favor, of their arguments, regardless of the true facts of the case in many instances. God has said, Deut. 16: 19-20,a, "You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for the bribe blinds the eyes of the wise, and perverts the words of the righteous. Justice and only justice you shall pursue."

Not finding any justice in the affairs of mankind, He established His own. Heb. 2: 1-4, "For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord it was confirmed to us by those who heard. God also bearing witness with them both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will."

The righteous and just demands of a Holy and righteous God were satisfied, by the offering of Jesus Christ. Rom. 13: 1-5, "Let every person be in subjection to the governing authority. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; for it, (The governing authorities), is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword, (an instrument of death), for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil. Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience sake."

"Shall not God; the judge of all the earth do right"?

The One who established true righteousness, and justice, and then administers it equitably, and at the same time keeps all of His promises in supplying all of mankind's needs, and to appear on earth to do it, is God in Jesus Christ. Phil. 4: 19, "And My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in Glory in Christ Jesus."

The sad part is to see mankind deprive himself of all the abundance of the blessings, He is offering to the world, and to all the dead in trespasses and sins, who are willfully rejecting completely, the abundance of Life that Jesus came into the world to supply. John 10: 10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly."

But it is sadder still, to see professing believers---depriving themselves of the fullness of His Life, and continue on blindly trying in their own strength, to substitute a counterfeit life. 1Cor. 1: 9, "God is faithful through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

The spurious teaching continues to prevail in the organized church as well as our secular society. We hear people everywhere exclaiming, God has a great wonderful purpose for me, I just have to fine out what it is, and in this approach they only show their blindness and the false teaching they are taken up by. The result is, millions spinning their wheels, building one monument after another,to their own glory , trying to prove to the world and themselves, just how much they're doing for God. When all the time God is trying to get them to realize that the great things he has for all is, to conform all believers to the Image of Jesus Christ, and there-by Glorify Him. Then what ever the result of the life lived, will be pleasing and acceptable to Him. But it won't be measured by the standards of the world in which we live, it will e measured by God, Himself.

The great things God has for each of the believers, is not in the realm of the physical and material accomplishments, but in the realm of the Spiritual, and then the physical, material will be kept in the right perspective, for they are only of secondary importance. Mankind has always put the physical, material first, and then the Spiritual. But God in Jesus Christ has turned this concept all around, and since that time the emphasis should have been the Spiritual first, then the physical of natural. The First shall become Last, and the Last shall become First.

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