Nature of God, Christology, the Holy Spirit…. History, Why and How they Developed and What to learn from it.

Throughout history, there has been many challenges that people at each particular point in time have to overcome. Some, they did peacefully, diplomatically, others by sheer force and mandate. It was no different, whether secular or religious. From the time Adam was created as narrated in the book of Genesis, humanity has gone through ups and downs, one upheaval or controversy after another. Dichotomy in understanding of God’s will by human beings continued into the time of Jesus on earth confronting traditional beliefs of the Sanhedrin, through the apostolic era, early centuries and up to this day.

Truly, there is nothing new under the sun as written in Ecclesiastes 1:9-10,

“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.”

The focus of this article is on the historical development of religious teachings, through thick-and-thin, that became today’s beliefs and to critically compare them with what actually were the core foundational teachings of man-Jesus. This will also explore the growth of the church, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the original apostles and beyond.

Cases in point are the understanding of the nature of God, the Shema doctrine, and the Holy Spirit. As we delve into these subjects, a number of “isms” will be covered. First and foremost in our task is the controversy about the nature of God(1) leading to development of the Trinity Doctrine(2).

Nature of God

In essence, this controversy hinges on 2 unequivocal facts, coupling them with how the “church fathers” resolve their issues, viz.,

1. God is Spirit ( Christology, Trinity Doctrine, Holy Spirit)

There is no dissension that God is spirit-composed and those who worship him has to do this “in spirit and in truth”, as in John 4:24

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

As far as the Father is concerned, being spirit-composed, there is unanimity in calling him God. But this poses a problem for flesh-composed man-Jesus(described by Paul as “anthropos-Jesus”), as to how he could be called God when God is a spirit. Athanasius and Arius, both pillars of Christian religion in the 4th century, Alexandra Egypt, have different beliefs, especially on Trinity Doctrine imposed by Constantine in the Council of Nicea 325 AD. The Holy Spirit as God-person was added in 381AD. Their conflict was mainly on the nature and relationship of the Son to the Father, whether homoousios (of one or same substance) and homoiousios (of similar/like but not the same substance).They excommunicated and prevailed over each other depending upon who the Roman emperor (specific Constantine) was in power. Along the way, there were rapprochement among different factions and shades of beliefs, including the anhomoiosians. In spite of Ecumenical Councils and Synods, their differences did not get fully resolved to this day and were in fact adopted by mainstream Christianity.

For quick review of the history, please access references # 3,4,5,6,7. And for an exhaustive history of the Trinity Doctrine, see reference #8. Other religions have Trinity, as in:

“The Hindu trinity was made up of the gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The Greek triad was composed of Zeus, Athena and Apollo. These three were said by the pagans to ‘agree in one.’ One of the largest pagan temples built by the Romans was constructed at Ballbek (situated in present day Lebanon) to their trinity of Jupiter, Mercury and Venus. In Babylon the planet Venus was revered as special and was worshipped as a trinity consisting of Venus, the moon and the sun. This triad became the Babylonian holy trinity in the fourteenth century before Christ.”(Ibid).

Specific to the subject Athanasian, Arianism, Unitarianism, Calvinism, Anabaptism, Adventism, Wesleyanism, Lutheranism, etc. please access reference #9

My personal take on these subjects is posted in: What is God?(1);

Trinity Deconstructed(2) and will be in my Summary.

On Holy Spirit, two schools of thought render it to mean either a “person” in the Trinity/Triune or that it is a unique power coming from and given by the Father to us through his Son-Jesus to enable us to follow the “law of the spirit” (Romans 8:2-4 ) to bring forth “fruits of the spirit”(Gal. 6:22-26).

Much like any gift, the Holy Spirit is indeed a gift and specifically a “gift of power” as in:

Luke 12:13 “ If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? “

As parents, we give gifts to our children which maybe toys, special food, clothes, money, etc. But, with God, he gave as natural laws, like power from gravitational force, mechanical-electrical-nuclear-solar, etc for our own “empowerment”. They were given as “static energy” that became “dynamic power” the moment we got the knowledge and used it. But, the “ultimate gift” he promised to give through Jesus, is the “Holy Spirit of power”. It is available as “static power” that will become “dynamic power” as we receive it “in the fleshly tables of our heart” (Jer. 31:33; 2 Cor. 3:3) and learn how to use it and follow it’s guidance. And this gift of power is needed by humans because, as Jesus convinced himself 3 times (Matthew 26:36-46; Luke 22:39-46; Mark 14:32-42), we are “weak“ and needed this power from the Father to enable us to overcome temptation. Even Jesus needed it and was “baptized “ with this power to ward-off Satan who tempted him in the wilderness.

The Holy Spirit is not a person in a “triune God”.

Various positions on this question are well documented (10,11) and needed to be evaluated by all seekers of truth.

2. Shema Doctrine as in

Deut. 6:4 שְׁמַע, יִשְׂרָאֵל:  יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, יְהוָה אֶחָד

“Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one”

This Shema had to be harmonized by Athanasians within the concept of Trinity/Triune, for which controversy again takes its root. For how could the Father, Son and Holy Spirit , being three persons, still be consistent with the Shema teaching that the “Lord is one”?

אֶחָד – Hebrew: “echad” can signify either a compound unity (Trinity) or one alone. So, how can one tell which definition is operative when studying a verse? The answer lies in the context, which is always determinative. Clearly, the word(echad) is referring to one alone, not a “compound unity”, and is unsullied monotheism (12;13) from Jewish point of view.

Could the interpretation of the word “one” be “lost in translation “?

Summary

After reading all the referenced citations, one cannot ignore the inescapable fact that the God of the Old Testament is the God Creator in Genesis, the El SHADDAI ( Almighty God; Ex. 6:3) to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the YHVH-Elohim(Lord God; Ex. 3:14; 6:2) to Moses, the Word according to apostle John (Jn. 1:1). This spirit-composed God of the Old Testament incarnated into flesh-composed man-Jesus(anthropos-Jesus according to apostle Paul; I Tim. 2:5; Rom. 5:15). As such, man-Jesus was divine and “from above”(John 3:31), heavenly. The Father that was introduced in the New Testament was actually the “Ancient of Days” in the Old Testament (Daniel 7:9,13-14).

The timing and proper introduction of the Father/Son relationship, in the New Testament, which was never done before, was after Jesus came out of John the Baptist’s water baptism at river Jordan(Matt. 3:16). By saying “This is my Son…”, he was identifying himself as the Father and expressing this relationship being pioneered by man-Jesus for the first time. And rightly so, for them to identify themselves as such, since they knew each other “from the beginning”. Although, they did not have that relationship beforehand , this was planned that way for the future. This relationship extended to “bring many sons to glory”(Heb. 2:10) in fulfillment of the promise made to YHVH ELOHIM by the Ancient of Days and expressed by El SHADDAI to Abraham and his “seed” (Gal. 3:16, 3:29; Gen. 12:2; 13:14-17;15:5). This sequence of events discredits the belief that the word “God” is limited to a “triune”, but extends to innumerable more as the stars in heaven . This encapsulates the “gospel of the God-kingdom”, a kingdom of immortal beings of “first fruits” at the second-coming of Jesus on earth, who were “born again” ( John 3:1-21) after human birth. This is not a spirit-composed angelic kingdom, nor matter-composed plant kingdom, animal kingdom or human kingdom. In fact, no “human kingdom” will last as in Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2:1-45).

This God-kingdom is being built by the “carpenter-builder” Jesus, from flesh-composed to become spirit-composed beings, all “one” in spirit -composition and in following the wisdom of the Father. All will be distinct and separate but, hierarchically, with the Father at the top, followed by the “firstborn” Jesus-Son-of-God (the pioneer and Head of the churchbody) and everybody else under him.

As a man, Jesus had 2 components when conceived and delivered by surrogate mother Mary, viz., flesh + spirit of man and he became a “living being”. As a young man (Luke 2:41-52), he was ahead in the knowledge of spiritual things. He was “sinless” (2Cor.5:21; Heb. 4:15) and followed the Decalogue, much like Job who was “perfect in the eyes of God”(Job 1:8). But coming from a man, this “perfection” was “as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6)and not acceptable to the Father. It has to be “righteousness of faith” (Rom. 3:22; Phil. 3:9) of Jesus (Rev. 14:12; Rom. 3:22; Gal. 2:16). Being the first to receive the promised gift (Acts 2:38)of the Holy Spirit, he was “baptized “ into (and by) at river Jordan(Matt. 3:16). Imbued with the Holy Spirit, he was empowered to overcome Satan’s temptation in the wilderness even after fasting 40 days and night(Matt 4:1-11). With this power of the Holy Spirit, he performed the first miracle turning water into wine in the wedding at Cana(John 2:1-12). He manifested in his life “fruits of the Holy Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23) which are “righteousness of works”(Matt. 5:20; James 2:14-26) acceptable to the Father as they are products of the Holy Spirit. He was then rewarded to be an immortal “first of the firstfruits” (I Cor. 15:23), the “Son of God“.

And, so will those who he “called” (Matt. 22:14) to have “faith in Jesus” (Heb. 11:6; John 3:16) receive the gift (Acts 2:38-39; Luke 11:13) of the Holy Spirit of power to “chose” the will of God (not their own will; Luke 22:42), overcome and endure to the end (Rev. 3:21; Matt. 24:13), will also be rewarded (Rom. 2:7), like man-Jesus, with immortality, eternal life…”salvation from eternal death”.(14;15).

The word “god” is not just “lost in translation“ , but the interpretation was. It should be understood to mean the only one to be worshipped and others are “false gods”, although called“gods” nevertheless. Anyone with power is classified as “god”, viz., angels(like Satan the god of this world), kings and humans, although these “gods” should not be worshipped. Only YHVH ELOHIM, the only known true God in the Old Testament who incarnated to man-Jesus and who then subsequently directed us to worship the Father in the New Testament era and beyond. Deification of humans will be completed (16) as planned through a process and a path started by the “pioneer and perfecter” ( Heb. 2:1-18; 12:2) man-Jesus. From a flesh-composed man, Jesus became spirit-composed, manifested at resurrection as “Son of God”(17).

Hopefully we can now see that the Holy Spirit is indeed a gift of power, not a person, although, by grammatical usage, a person pronoun was used in the Bible. This is such a critical power in creating the “God-kingdom” that Jesus had to receive this directly, at his resurrection (John 14:16; 16:7), from the Father to then be given to those “called”. Without this gift, Jesus would not be able to “create a God-kingdom of Spirit-composed beings different from angels“, and we would not be empowered to be like him. Adam in Genesis tried to be “like God” with wisdom to know good and evil ( Gen. 3:5, 3:22) but failed because he did not have this power that was planned to be given as a gift by Jesus. Adam wanted to have this power on his own “works” and not “on faith” which is the principle intimated in the narrative that makes it a gift.

The long and short of it all is that the summarized analysis of history when harmonized with the Holy scriptures as we may be able to piece together at this time, (“here a little, there a little”; Isaiah 28:10) can indeed lead to the development of the true concept of a “God-kingdom” that was promised gospel from the narrative in the Genesis creation. The Father planned for us to have a “father-son” relationship, pioneered by Jesus Christ; this is an awesome gift that was implemented with the “gift of righteousness by faith of Jesus” and the gift of the “Holy Spirit of power” baptized into us for our empowerment.

May God bless us to “hear and see” the truth. 🙏😇

References

1. What is God? Retrieved 5/11/18 at http://fact-s.net/2014/06/29/what-is-god-2/

2. Trinity Doctrine Deconstructed. Retrieved 5/11/18 at https://fact-s.net/2014/08/06/trinity-doctrine-deconstructed/

3. Theology, Arius and Athanasius. Retrieved 5/12/18 at https://www.ukessays.com/essays/theology/arius-and-athanasius-theology-essay.php

4. Athanasius vs Arius. Retrieved 5/12/18 at http://www.cnjonlinehosting.com/historyandspirituality/2013/08/29/53-athanasius-vs-arius/

5. Early Christian Dispute. Retrieved 5/12/18 at https://www.google.com/amp/s/calvinlawson.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/arius-and-athanasius-early-christian-disputes/amp/

6. Arian Controversy. Retrieved 5/12/18 at https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arian_controversy

7. Athanasius of Alexandria. Retrieved 5/12/18 at https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athanasius_of_Alexandria

8. Trinity History. Retrieved 5/12/18 at https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/trinity/trinity-history.html

http://www.christadelphia.org/trinityhistory.php

9. On the specific “ism”. Retrieved 5/12/18 at https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/

10. Doctrine, Holy Spirit. Retrieved 5/13/18 at

http://www.askelm.com/doctrine/d910201.htm

11. Is the Holy Spirit a person or a force?Retrieved 5/13/18 at

https://billygraham.org/answer/is-the-holy-spirit-a-person-or-a-force/

12. Trinity-Shema. Retrieved 5/13/18 at https://outreachjudaism.org/trinity-shema-prayer/

13. The Shema. Retrieved 5/13/18 at

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-shema

14. Salvation Series 1, What?  Retrieved 5/16/2018 at http://fact-s.net/2015/10/04/salvation-series-1what/

15. Death, What is ? Retrieved 5/16/2018 at https://fact-s.net/2017/05/09/death-what-is/

16. Deification of man…Completion. Retrieved 5/16/2018 at https://fact-s.net/2014/07/12/deification-of-man-3/

17. Son of God. Retrieved 5/16/2018 at https://fact-s.net/2016/12/23/son-of-god-what-does-it-mean/

Original post: 5/16/18

Hyperlink version posted 3/12/19

The Destiny of Man

Why am I here? Did I exist because of evolution or creation? Why was I born? Is there any purpose in my life? These are questions people are asking themselves for guidance and direction in seeking self-worth, value and introspection.

Since the average lifespan is about 70-72 years, is that all there is to our longevity? Is our life on earth limited to a finite duration of time? Do telomeres predict our death? After death, then what? Should one care about whether there is life after death?

Different religions, whether Buddhism, Hinduism, Muslim, Judaism, Christianity , etc., profess that there is an after-life, although they differ in details. Knowing what the future has in store for us, brings perspective to how we value our present life and helps us understand our responsibilities and obligations, as well as what attitude and behavior we all need to adopt and express.

Creation or Evolution?

Since time immemorial, philosophers, seers and thinkers come and go. Yet, no reliable answer from them to these questions is forthcoming. Granted, they are all intellectually endowed and respected by the society and era that they lived in. Nevertheless, they are all farther from the truth for reasons that are obvious. Introspection and use of their own judgments and human abilities to search for answers, only left them with more questions. Answers to these pivotal issues are not forthcoming if we anchor our existence on evolution. Logic and wisdom lead us to a Creator. Had they turned to their Maker, their eyes could have been opened to the truth. For “…my thoughts are not your thoughts…. my ways are higher than your ways..” Isa:55:8-9. Also, isn’t it logical to listen to the Creator, as described in Job Chapters 38 and 39? We listen to others and believe their writings, scientific or not, yet why is it repulsive to believe in those who personally witnessed God?

Source of Education:

Learning comes either passive or active. The active mechanism to learn is via our sensory somatic experience, viz., fire burns or heat is hot, when one touches a burning wood or the light of a candle. Also active learning comes from what we see and hear from a primary source and/or personally experienced. Passive learning on the other hand is when what we see and hear are from secondary sources, e.g., being instructed/lectured that an item is in fact hot and does burn, without actual personal experience. This is a first lesson in faith/trust in God who tells us the truth, instead of relying on our own finite brains, feelings, sight or hearing. Adam/Eve chose to learn the hard and active learning way by an actual experience of eating the “forbidden fruit”, instead of heeding the verbal admonition of God against it, via the passive learning process. They both paid an ultimate and heavy price of eternal death for their bad choice. Sometimes, it is wiser to learn from an instructor than experience the aftermath of a bad choice and decision. Whether one believes it or not, there is a living God who is our Creator, who totally and completely knows us and has plans for us from the very beginning. As this subject is about destiny, it is vital to go to the instruction book of our Maker, the Holy Bible, for an eye-opening reality. And, there is no better place to start than from the beginning.

Sequence and Pattern:

In the book of Genesis, it is essential to consider the pattern being set by GOD/YHVH-ELOHIM in the process of creation, viz.,

1. That first, there was darkness followed by light… non-living things were created, then living things, as after death will follow life.

Notice, that “….darkness was upon the face of the deep…” [1] then there was light. He first created non-living things, e.g. the planets and stars of multiple galaxies, then the living things, e.g. plants and animals. These are facts as narrated in the Holy Scriptures. But, what is the truth behind these events? It appears that this narrative has spiritual and functional meaning. GOD is showing this pattern of death (darkness, non-living) to be followed by life everlasting, that is to say that there is hope of life (light) after death (darkness, chaos ), in the same pattern that after lies,deception,confusion, and different interpretation will come the truth…that from mortality (death) will follow immortality (life forever)…that our current physical nature is temporal and will change to spiritual which is everlasting. Isn’t this a very powerful message of hope and renewal being taught to all of us from the beginning of time? Yes, our destiny is not eternal death and oblivion but eternal life.

2. Every living creature reproduces its own kind or likeness or image…..foundation of genetics.

Notice that before there was any other living entity, GOD/YHVH and angelic beings were already there as the only living entities ( see also fact-s.net/2011/05/21/what-is-god/). As the scripture says “…In the beginning, God created…” [2].

To establish this pattern of reproducing like-for-like, kind-for-kind, class-for-class, and same image-for-image, GOD created the plants and animals. He showed that they can only reproduce after their own kind or likeness or image. And, within this concept is “adaptation changes“ depending on stimuli. After the plants and animals were created, at that particular moment, there were only three living classes of creatures, viz., GOD, plants and animals. After the principle of genetics was established that plants and animals can only reproduce after their own kind or likeness or image, what did GOD say?

“Let us make man in our image, after our own likeness…” [3].

The plant-kind can only give rise to a plant, as the animal-kind can only reproduce the same kind. The same is true with the GOD-kind. Yes, God is reproducing himself thru the creation of man, human beings, flesh-composed, mortals. Man was created in the image of God..in the GOD-KIND, the highest and ultimate class of living entity. Not even was man ranked among the angels as Paul emphasized [4]. Man, although currently lower than angels, in the future will be higher than them. Starting from a “template“/temple of flesh-composed, the “spirit of man” the “breath of life” was put in there to experience life. This flesh-composed body is only temporary and will die. Subsequently, those who have “fruits of the Holy SPIRIT and are “overcomers” will be resurrected with “spirit-composed bodies”, immortals with eternal life. (See, http://fact-s.net/2016/12/21/kingdom-of-god-in-human-anatomy/).

So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being” the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven (1 Corinthians 15:45-48).

This is indeed an awesome destiny for man to be in the GOD-KIND,, or KINGDOM of GOD, not Plant-kingdom nor Animal-kingdom but GOD-FAMILY…GOD-KINGDOM. No wonder Christ prayed that man be”ONE WITH HIM” [5], as he is one with the Father, that Paul testified that we will be”…like his glorious body…” [6] that this flesh will change in a “…twinkling of an eye …” in the future to become spirit, from mortal to immortality…that man will “have dominion “…”overall” [7] … as GOD is over all. Yes, GOD is a family, with Jesus as quoted by Paul, the “…first of the firstfuits…” [8]… “the firstborn among many brethren” [9], with Jesus as our elder brother, and his/our FATHER being all-in-all and above-all. And to think that this was all planned even before the creation of the world, before you and I were born, before anyone committed evil nor has done any good work, is a remarkable and compelling proof of GRACE and unwarranted GIFT to be in the GOD-KINGDOM and GOD-FAMILY.

SUMMARY:

Our destiny far-surpasses our imagination (2 Cor. 4:17-18; Eph. 3:20.) Our flesh-composed body is temporal, merely a template. It has the spirit of man which is a “temple” ( I Cor.6:19-20), the “holy-of-holies” for the Holy Spirit to dwell ( Acts 1:8; Lev.16:2, Matt. 27:51) so that man will be “begotten son/ child of God”. At the resurrection, this flesh-composed body will change to “born son “, “from mortality to immortality” from carnal to spiritual as “sons/children of God”. What happened to Jesus from flesh-composed man to now spirit-composed will be our destiny. He is the precursor for all of us. He is our Elder-brother, head of the church/body and we “are one”. Indeed, grace and love manifested !

References

[1] Gen. 1:2 [2] Gen. 1:1 [3] Gen 1:26 [4] Heb. 2:6-18 [5] John 17:21-23

[6] Phil. 3:21 [7] Gen. 1:26 [8] I Cor. 15:23 [9] Rom. 8:29

CONTACT:

For any questions, comments, or article contribution for publication, please e-mail foundationacts@yahoo.com

Original post:06/27/2003

Reposted:5/21/2011

Revised:4/24/2017

Revised:5/13/2018 Mother’s Day

Hyperlink version posted 3/12/19

Cloning and surrogacy, a look into the past, present and future?

Going through spotlight news the past few years, one can’t help but be in awe at the amazing progress science has made.

Dolly the Sheep(July 5, 1996 – February 14, 2003), a ewe, was the first mammal successfully cloned at Roslin Institute in Midlothian, Scotland, from a nucleus of an adult mammary frozen somatic cell of a six-year-old Finn Dorset sheep transferred into a “surrogate” de-nucleated ovum (egg cell) of a Scottish Blackface sheep. The two cells fuse and then develop into an embryo (1). No sperm were involved(2). Her birth proved that specialized cells could be used to create an exact copy of the animal they came from (3).

Not only do they look alike but also similar in performance with the animal they came from. This was the observation made also about cloned Cuatetera horses from a mare surrogate by Argentina’s high-level player Adolfo Cambiaso(4).

While these examples claim exact copies in looks as well as performance, other factors like external influences can modify gene expression/activity and help explain why even identical twins aren’t truly identical(5). They are the same in many ways but also different in many respects.

In the same vein, CRISPR technology (6)

provided a powerful tool that revolutionized editing genomes. It allows researchers to easily alter DNA sequences and modify gene function. Its many potential applications include correcting genetic defects, treating and preventing the spread of diseases and improving crops.

Human surrogacy, traditional and gestational, is now a reality(7). The difference is that in the former, the embryo is related to parents, with surrogate as the mother. Whereas, in the latter, the embryo has no relation at all to the surrogate mother.

Questionable and Controversial?

It was only a few years ago when these topics were questionable and controversial until now. Truly, “time and chance happen to all”(Eccl.9:11).

If anyone told us before the turn of the century that these will happen, we could have “laughed” at the thought as that could only happen with a”miracle”. This response reminds me of Abraham and Sarah who “laughed” when told that in their old age, 100 and 90 years old (Gen. 17:17-19) respectively, that they would have a son (Gen. 17:17; 18:12). Isaac’s conception, indeed took a divine miracle that could only come through spiritual power.

Now, these topics are no longer “miracle” and “impossible “ because we have the tools, wherewithal and know-how that enabled us to do these things. Anything becomes a miracle only when we could not do it at that particular time. But, why only at this point in time does the world get to be generally aware of cloning and surrogacy which are truly amazing feats? Why do these capabilities occur this time, not before or centuries later?

Understandably, scientific knowledge takes time and builds on established principles that lead to another. Although, these can occur immediately as “miracles”. Similarly, spiritual reality and understanding can also “miraculously” come immediately or slowly through building on some facts, as in:

Isa. 28:10 “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:”

YHVH ELOHIM (Lord God) created with his spirit-power, the “image of God”, mortal man-Adam. But, it was the Father who gave YHVH ELOHIM (Lord God) this creative power; any power that he had, came from the Father(John 3:13). Subsequently, he incarnated voluntarily to man-Jesus, devoid of divine powers, and the Father himself created him to be the “Son of God” This started at river Jordan when he received the Holy Spirit of power until he was manifested as “Son of God” by the resurrection from the dead. But now, the Father, after his resurrection, gave him the creative spiritual power, the Holy Spirit, to bestow it to those who “believed” (Acts 19:2) and was “called”(Matt. 22:14).

Only the “Son of God”, the resurrected Jesus, was given this power to create us from merely “an image of God” which was mortal, this time to an immortal “clone” of him. As humans were created mortals by YHVH-Elohim (Lord God), this time, as Jesus-Son of God, he is building his church to be “one” with him and the Father as “children of God”, all spirit-composed, immortal-bodies for eternal life.

Immaculate Conception, Surrogacy and Cloning?

Could it be that our present generation is getting these know-how to explain some intricacies of the spiritual realm?

Like the incarnation of YHVH ELOHIM (LORD GOD) to man-Jesus, how could there be immaculate conception? How can humans (flesh-composed) be “children of God”, spirit-composed? How can humans be “one” with God. These are just some questions that now maybe explained to a certain degree.

As regards Jesus, his conception is different from Isaac who came from an infertile Abraham and barren Sarah, ages 100 and 90 respectively. Isaac came about as promised but through a mechanism that “energized” and made alive the “dead” sperm of Abraham and egg of Sarah. The mechanism appears to be similar to the “dead” body of Adam that came to life with the energizing power of the “spirit of man” breathed into his nostrils. Also, dead people came to life like Lazarus.

In contrast, man-Jesus was the incarnated spirit-composed YHVH ELOHIM(Lord God), who “came from above”(John 3:31), heavenly, sinless(2 Cor. 5:21), without any sin imputed to Adam. While his lineage (Matt. 1:1-17) was from Adam, Abraham and along the lines of David, man-Jesus did not have a human DNA contribution from parents, even from Joseph and Mary. There was no sperm from Joseph nor egg from Mary. In a manner of speaking, it was spirit that incarnated or became physical embryo that was conceived through a process of “gestational surrogacy”. His origin was not tainted with human origin since he was the incarnated YHVH ELOHIM, the Lord God, the Word. If he had DNA that came from human parents, he would have the imputed sin of Adam and subject to penalty of death, like any human. As such, he could not be a Messiah for mankind as he, himself, needed a Savior. Only a sinless Lamb can be a Passover to take on ( not take in sins) the penalty of mankind’s death.

Knowing that for a Messiah, Passover Lamb, to have sinless origin (1Peter 1:19), this had to come from a sinless spirit-being the Lord God of Adam, Abraham, Isaac, David… the El SHADDAI(Lord Almighty), the YHVH ELOHIM(Lord God), the Word(John 1:1). He incarnated to man-Jesus and was conceived in Mary’s womb as a surrogate mother of Jesus. This “gestational surrogacy” never happened ever before.

In physical cloning, it became possible for nucleus of one cell to fuse with another denuclearized cell and turned into a single complete cell that turned into an embryo, developed and grew into maturity and delivered full-term. As a parallel reality, the Father (with the consent of YHVH ELOHIM) can transform spirit-composed YHVH ELOHIM into a complete human flesh-composed cell that reached maturity in the womb of Mary.

Jesus as Pioneer, Beginner, Captain, Author, Finisher

In setting up this segment, one needs to consider the following verses:

Heb. 2:9-13,

“ But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. “

Heb. 12:2,

“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

“Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”

All the promises to Abraham, Isaac, Israel and the rest of humanity (Gen. 25:18-21) hinge on the incarnation of YHVH ELOHIM to man-Jesus. As such, he is the trailblazer that initiated and will finish what he started.

He was conceived through a process of “gestational surrogacy “ in the uterus of Mary. After delivery, growth and development, he was then baptized with the Holy Spirit after coming out of water baptism in the Jordan River, i.e., it dwelt fully in him. With the guidance of the Spirit, he was empowered and sanctified to follow the will of the Father and “not his will”(Luke 22:42). He took on the penalty of death for mankind for reconciliation of the same to the Father. After resurrection to a glorified spirit-composed body, he was given the Holy Spirit of power by the Father, to be given to those who were called and believed.

In much the same way, we follow the path of our pioneer Jesus. So, those who were called and believed in him will receive the promise of Holy Spirit baptism. As a “spiritual sperm”, the Holy Spirit will dwell in the “holy of holies” (spirit of man; Lev. 16:2; innermost segment of the temple) of our temple(body;I Cor. 3:16) to “fertilize” the “spirit of man”. And this, to write the “laws of the spirit in the fleshly tables heart and mind” (2Cor. 3:3) for sanctification in the “church” (womb of Mary; maturity through growth and development). Those who endure (as Jesus endured; Matt. 24:13) through the end, the overcomers, (Rev. 3:21)will then be glorified (Rom. 8:28-30)and manifested (Rom. 8:19)by resurrection as “sons and daughters of God”, all spirit-composed.

We will be as “clones” of God in a way, yes, being “one” with him in decision making yet, voluntarily and not as a robot, while maintaining individuality, freedom of thought and circumspection.

Summary

The preceding ideas are an attempt to parallel material and physical events in this world, past, present and future with the spiritual realm. Association was made with what we now know in surrogacy and cloning with immaculate conception of the past through harmonizing biblical events and principles that project into the future. They are by no means conclusive but hopefully will help understand the subjects in another perspective.

The plan for humans as originally expressed to Adam “to have dominion over” (Gen. 1:26) everything on earth, and the promise to Abraham and to his “seed” (Gal. 3:16) placed their turning point in the incarnation (8) of the God of Adam, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob into man-Jesus.

Immaculate conception of Jesus in a human womb, is explainable through the mechanism of “gestational surrogacy” wherein the parents, Mary and Joseph did not have any contribution to his physical DNA. Christ was “from above”(John 3:13) , heavenly, and is sinless as Passover Lamb (I Peter 1:19) should be. This was an event purely of a God’s grace and love for mankind (Titus 3:4).

Our destiny(9) was planned from the beginning. We were made “an image of God”, i,e., man, classified as “god” (10) but not to be worshipped and our completion (11) for “deification“ requires a process of justification (12) for the sins of mankind imputed to the first-Adam, for us to be reconciled to the Father. Having been reconciled by the “blood of our Passover Lamb-Jesus”, those who were “called”(Matt. 22:14) to “believe” (Acts 2:38) will receive the promised gift of the Holy Spirit for our sanctification (2 Thes 2:13), following and walking willingly by the Spirit. Those who endure and overcome will be victors to be glorified as “children of God”, the “kingdom of God”(13),all spirit-composed, “one” with God, although separate and distinct from the Father, the only God to be worshipped in the name of Jesus.

God Bless 🙏😇

References

1. Dolly the sheep. Retrieved 5/5/2018 from https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/dolly_the_sheep.htm

2. Healthy Clones. Retrieved 5/5/2018 from https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKCN1061Z9

3. Life of Dolly. Retrieved 5/5/2018 from

http://dolly.roslin.ed.ac.uk/facts/the-life-of-dolly/index.html

4. Cloned horses. Retrieved 5/5/2018 from http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/12/six-cloned-horses-help-rider-win-prestigious-polo-match

5. Identical Twins are not really Identical. Retrieved 5/5/2018 from https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123820029

6. CRISPR explained. Retrieved 5/5/2018 from

https://www.livescience.com/58790-crispr-explained.html

7. Surrogacy. Retrieved 5/8/2018 from https://www.hrc.org/resources/overview-of-the-surrogacy-process

8. Incarnation, questions and Controversies. Retrieved 5/8/18 from http://fact-s.net/2017/01/12/incarnation-questions-and-controversies/

9. Destiny of Man. Retrieved 5/8/18 from

https://fact-s.net/2011/05/21/the-destiny-of-man/

10. What is God? Retrieved 5/8/18 from http://fact-s.net/2014/06/29/what-is-god-2/

11. Deification of Man/Completion. Retrieved 5/8/18 from https://fact-s.net/2014/07/12/deification-of-man-3/

12. Justification, Reconciliation, Sanctification and Glorification. Retrieved 5/8/18 from http://fact-s.net/2018/05/01/justification-reconciliation-sanctification-and-glorification

13. Kingdom of God in Human Anatomy. Retrieved 5/8/18 from http://fact-s.net/2016/12/21/kingdom-of-god-in-human-anatomy/

Original Post: May 9, 2018

Hyperlink version posted 3/12/19

Dedicated to a Judge in Paranaque/Las Pinas 1972

Holy Spirit, what is it, when and how given?

What makes this topic so important is that it gives another wrinkle to a longstanding misunderstanding or false rendering that relates to the Holy Spirit.

What exactly is the Holy Spirit? Is it another person/body in the Trinity concept, a power or both? When and how was this Holy Spirit given? And what is it for?

What exactly is the Holy Spirit?

Where to start to get to the answer to this question, is a “door” to open to understand the truth behind the actual nature of this “entity”. There is no better place to start but to open that “door”, the Holy Scriptures of today( like the Bereans on what was available to them on that day, Acts 17:11), to get some inclination of what precisely this is.

Remember a basic principle that the “spirit essence” has to come directly or “flow” from a spirit/composed person. It cannot originate from any other. As to whether there was a separate “person” with the “giver” of this “spirit essence” may be intimated by the narrative in the first known “giving of this spirit” in Genesis creation of man.

Let us first establish who was the Creator in Genesis and where was this person at the time when man was created.

While there is no doubt that it was the Father who planned creation, it was the spirit-composed YHVH ELOHIM(EL SHADDAI) who proximately created all, the invisible and visible to us. No other spirit-composed person directly participated in this creation, not even the Father. And, man-Jesus was the incarnated YHVH ELOHIM, the Word (John 1:1-5). The first “living beings” created were the “spirit-composed” angels, including Lucifer(Isaiah 14:12:15), thereafter, the material world, inanimate and animate:

Col. 1:16-20 “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

Job 38:4-7 “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons(angels) of God shouted for joy? “

The creation of the visible world and Adam was narrated in Genesis 1. But, notice the creation of Adam and where the Creator was :

Gen. 2:7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul(being). “

Notice that when Adam was formed from the “dust of the ground” he was not alive until the “breath of life” (the spirit-component of man) was “breathe into his nostrils”, then he became a “living being”. All his material components, from head to toe, were still dead. Remember that “the body without the spirit is dead, being alone” (James 3:26). He became a “living being” only after this “breath of life”, the spirit-component, came into him. The composition of a living person is “body+ spirit”. The body/matter-component came from earth and therefore “earthy”. But, the “breath of life” the “spirit of man”(the spirit-component) came directly from a spirit-composed YHVH ELOHIM. It appears conceptually, that this “spirit” (the spirit of life , the breath of life) is an energy that empowers, much like gravitational power, mechanical power, electrical power, nuclear power, etc. and not a person. YHVH ELOHIM (Lord God Creator ) has this power that brings life to his physical creation by breathing this life-energy into the body. And, there will be another power that man will be given in the future. Notice that the resurrected Jesus-Son of God, was given another “creative power” (the Holy Spirit of power; not a person) by the Father, and that time, it was power that created spirit-composed “children of God”. Without this power, there will be no salvation from eternal death. This is very important to receive from the Father that Jesus had to die and be resurrected, so that we can be “saved through his life“(Rom. 5:10).

Also, in Isaiah 64:8 he was described as a “potter” with “hands on” although not necessarily using his actual hands.

“But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand.”

One can assume that the Creator-God was on earth and using his own hands in creating man-Adam. As to whether any man saw God “face-face” is controversial as he may show himself as or through a messenger/angel, in a vision or a spirit-composed person has the power to show themselves in a physical and material composition. But certainly, he was in the garden of Eden with Adam & Eve as he was with Abraham and others, in whatever form. (Read Gen. 2:15-23; 18:1-3, 22, 32; 19:1;Ex.3:2-6; Ex. 4:10, 11; 33:11,20; Isaiah 1:1 6:1; Daniel 7:2,9; Amos 1:1, 9:1; Gal. 3:19; Acts 7:53; Heb.11:27).

There are numerous verses that support the generally accepted teaching that the God in the Old Testament(1), the YHVH ELOHIM(EL SHADDAI) incarnated into the man-Jesus. And, this “spirit-composed” person (YHVH ELOHIM) was the origin of that “breath of life”; the “spirit-of-man” that empowered the body to be alive. There was no other spirit/composed person who did the creation but YHVH ELOHIM who used his spirit-power to create as in:

Gen. 1:2 “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

The incarnated YHVH ELOHIM, as man-Jesus, also used the same “spirit-power” only after (not before), it was “baptized” to him at river Jordan. It was the Father (not any other spirit-person) who gave him this “spirit-power” to create the world, as well as for him, as a human, to overcome Satan after 40 days of fast, the same spirit-guidance he followed and not his own will (Matt. 3:16; Luke 3:22;Luke 23:39-46). The Holy Spirit of power enabled him to create and overcome evil (Acts 1:8; 2:1-4;2 Corinthians 2:12; Acts 2:43; 3:1–7; 9:39–41).

This verse does not necessarily mean there was another separate, living “spirit-composed person” who was involved in the actual or proximately the “Co-creator”. There is no basis for the presence of a “Co-Creator”, whether the Father or another “person “ as the Trinity doctrine may assume.

Is the Holy Spirit another person/body in the Trinity concept or a power?

The history in the development of this Trinity concept is an eye-opener(2). Those in the forefront of religion are unanimous in the acceptance of the fact that before and during the “apostolic era”, this concept was unknown. The only God that Israel knew was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that wrote on “tables of stone” the Decalogue, the Torah(3) and was handed down through Moses and on:

“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching[Torah].” (Proverbs 1:8)

“My son, do not forget my teaching[Torah], but keep my commands in your heart”. (Proverbs 3:1)

But, in the 3rd and 4th century, this Trinity doctrine was in full discussion causing a rift in the Christian world, especially between Athanasius and Arius, both respected leaders. To finally bring an end to this controversy, Constantine called for a Council in Nicea to bring conclusion to this, leading to Trinity Doctrine, the Nicean or Athanasian Creed.

Looking at the history of this doctrine and knowing what we know now, we realize that the root-cause of this rift was a misinterpretation of the nature and usage of the word “elohim “. See Reference #1 for analysis.

There is no Trinity. In fact, the Father has started, with the power of the Holy Spirit at river Jordan, begetting “children of God” with the “pioneer” Jesus, who manifested after resurrection as the “Son of God”, then subsequently, us. The family that God is creating is not limited to 2 persons, the Father and Son, but many other “sons and daughters of God”, aka, “spiritual church of God”, the “kingdom of God”, all spirit-beings, higher in the hierarchy than angels(Heb. 1:4-14). Not animal kingdom or human kingdom, but kingdom of God. With this Holy Spirit of power, the Father is building this “kingdom of God“, with Jesus as the “head of this church“.

When and how was this Holy Spirit given?

It is well known that the Holy Spirit that empowered man-Jesus was the first recipient at Jordan river(Matt. 3:16). It is therefore given after the “breath of life“(the life-giving energy) was given for a flesh-composed person to live After Jesus’ resurrection, the Father gave this power to the Son-of-God Jesus (John 16:7) to then be given out to “believers”. Subsequently, this power was given at Pentecost to his apostles then to others, as in;

Gal. 3:2-5 “The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? Although you began with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort? Have you suffered so many things for nothing? – if indeed it was for nothing. Does God then give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law or by your believing what you heard?

The power of the Holy Spirit originates from the Father, then given to man-Jesus to empower him to become “Son of God” by resurrection, then afterwards given to him by the Father, to then be distributed by Jesus(Son of God) to believers. Much like the power to create all from the beginning was given to him, so was this power (Holy Spirit) given to him at his resurrection to now “create” “sons and daughters of God “. This power is being used to “build the spiritual church” through the process of salvation (4).

What is the Holy Spirit for?

Much like any power, e.g., mechanical, electrical, nuclear, gravitational, solar, etc. the Holy Spirit empowers believers in many ways. But it does not force us without our consent and decision. The Father does not like “robots “. The Holy Spirit has many functions as written in the Holy Bible. This is key ingredient that believers must have in the process of salvation. The mechanism of how this happens is explained by Jesus (5).

Once inside our “temple”, the “holy of holies” in our mind, it helps and guides our spirit-of-man to do what is good. The “spirit of man” is much like an “egg” and the Holy Spirit is like the “sperm” in the process of “fertilization “. Through many changes and overcoming challenges, it then develops into a zygote. And with growth/development in the “uterus” of the “mother/church”, it becomes a mature fetus and ripe for “delivery”. It subsequently manifests “full-term” at “delivery” as “newborn child of God” at resurrection of the “firstfruits “, as in;

Rom. 8:19 ” the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.”

This is the fulfillment of being “born again”(6).

Summary

The Holy Spirit is a power that originates from the Father. It is not a “person” nor limited to three persons in the doctrine of Trinity which evolved in the 3rd/4th century because of misunderstanding the nature of God in conjunction with the Shema doctrine of “oneness”. It is very important in the eventual “building” of the “kingdom of God”, the “church of God”, all “spirit/composed”.

The first man as promised, who received this gift of the Holy Spirit, was man-Jesus at river Jordan because of his belief in the Father that what he promised, he will fulfill. This was the power that enabled him to overcome temptation of Satan at the mount after fasting 40 days/night. This is the same power that guided him to the way of the Father, following God’s will rather than his’ in the garden of Gethsemane. In contrast, Adam in the garden of Eden succumbed to Satan’s temptation because of his weakness and lack of this power that provides wisdom.

Only after Jesus’ resurrection, as “Son of God”, was he given by the Father, the same power, but for him to bestow to others who believe. At Pentecost, Jesus gave this power to the apostles and since then to other believers into this day. As Jesus, the forerunner (beginner,trailblazer, precursor,pioneer) was empowered to be sanctified and glorified, we who are “called” during this period, will alsobe “sanctified” and become “overcomers” to endure through the end. As Jesus was glorified as “Son of God”, we will also be glorified with him as “children of God”, all spirit-composed.

Being so, we will be immortal and live eternally. Instead of the family of God limited to three, as falsely woven into the Trinity Doctrine, there will in fact be numerous members of this family, like the many stars in heaven as promised to Abraham(Gen. 22:17; 26:4).

This process is the very essence of salvation from “second death”, for usthen to say“death where is thy sting?” (I Cor. 15:55-57).

May God Bless you.

 References

1. FATHER’S DAY_USA.2014 Retrieved 5/3/18 at http://fact-s.net/2018/05/03/1208/

2. Trinity Deconstructed. Retrieved 5/3/18 at https://fact-s.net/2014/08/06/trinity-doctrine-deconstructed/

See also: https://www.ucg.org/studienhilfen/broschuren/is-god-a-trinity/is-the-holy-spirit-a-person

3. Torah. Retrieved 5/3/18 at http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/m/articles_torah.html

4. Justification, Reconciliation, sanctification and Glorification. Retrieved 5/4/18 at http://fact-s.net/2018/05/01/justification-reconciliation-sanctification-and-glorification

5. Kingdom of God in Human Anatomy. Retrieved 5/3/18 at http://fact-s.net/2016/12/21/kingdom-of-god-in-human-anatomy/

6. Born Again? Retrieved 5/4/18 from http://fact-s.net/2017/03/12/born-again/

Original Post: 5/4/2018

These subjects are directly related to defining what precisely are the promised gift and reward given to man. They also may clear up some mistaken assumptions about faith, works, trust and hope that will lead to man’s salvation.

Because of confusing teachings, it becomes a responsibility for those in search of the truth, like the Bereans(Acts 17:11), to study these subjects together, in love, knowing fully well that no one has a monopoly on wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit. As complex and all -encompassing the breath and depth of these subjects are, one is advised to read through and meditate on all the quotes, verses and references provided, to gain utmost understanding as the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to the truth.

As the taproot of these terms came about because of the “promise“, whether gift or reward, let us then begin with the question, to whom that promise was made and extended, what exactly was promised, when did it begin to attain fulfillment and its finality? When was the promise initiated and completed?

Who are the children of Abraham?

From what the scriptures say, only Abraham and his children were given these promises. As to whether the promise was extended to others could not immediately be known at that time, although subsequent era alluded to that. Who then are his descendants?

While genealogy defines who are the children of Abraham, God specifically defined them (through Paul), as “children of faith” and children of promise(1). They were not Isaac, Jacob and their descendants nor Ishmael and his offsprings because they were all children of Jerusalem on “earth” at that time, not “Jerusalem above” which is future (2Peter 3:13; Rev. 21).

The children of God are “children of promise”, “children by faith”, no matter what race, genealogy, sex etc, they are all heirs according to the promise. God by his Holy Spirit has written his laws in the mind and heart of those in the “book of life” that were “called” and their eyes opened to “believe “(Matt. 22:14; Isaiah 69:28; Rev. 3:5; Rev. 22:19). In contrast to Israel of “Sinai”, those with the Holy Spirit have “circumcision of the heart”(Rom. 2:29; 9:24-29) as the sign of the New Covenant to receive, in the future, immortality and to live forever on earth and the universe. This is extent of what the promise covers. They are brothers and sisters who are not children of the bondwoman, tethered “under the Law” (Rom. 6:14; Gal. 5:18) given in Sinai in “tables of stone” (Ex. 31:18; 34:4; 2Cor. 3:3) but of the free. Having been freed from eternal death (exacted by the Law given at Sinai attributed to one man-Adam’s sin in the garden of Eden),through the death also of one man-Jesus, the “pioneer and perfecter”, we are now free to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit to bring “ fruits of the Spirit”, against such there is no law (Gal. 5:22-23).

Having established to whom the promise was given, identified the “seed “ and who the “children of Abraham” are, we can now take up the following terms.

Justification and Reconciliation

To start with, why do we need justification and reconciliation? What really justifies us? Is justification for our individual past and future sins? What got us justified and reconciled. What are we justified by faith for and whose faith is referred to? Is it subsequently our faith, too?

Remember that sin “entered the world” (Rom. 5:12-21) because of Adam’s sin in the garden of Eden. All of humanity’s sin are imputed or counted towards one man’s sin so that one man-Jesus’ “righteousness of faith and works” can be assigned (counted, but not swapped) to all(2).

Moreover, even man’s righteous deeds are as filthy rags to God as in:

Isaiah 64:6 (NIV) “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.”

Paul zoomed into the very core of preceding questions in:

Romans 3:23-27 (ESV)

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith”

Gal. 2:16 “...no one is justified by the works of the law but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ * and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

Gal. 3:6-14 “Just as Abraham believed God , and it was credited to him as righteousness , so then, understand that those who believe are the sons of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you ” So then those who believe are blessed along with Abraham the believer. For all who rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, “ Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law .” Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith . But the law is not based on faith, but the one who does the works of the law will live by them . Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree ”) in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.”

I Cor. 5:8 (NIV)

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:”

Rom. 5:10 (NIV) “For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life”

That being said, through Paul, notice what James’ additional testimony is:

James 2:14-26 “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”

Beginning and fulfillment of the promise to Abraham

Paul and James gave us verses to understand the full and correct message about faith and works. What on the surface appears contradictory testimony can be harmonized and squared away by taking the “righteousness of faith” and “justified by faith”  initiated or began  the gift and reward for the promise made by the Father. Essentially,  the gift which was initiated by the righteousness of the faith of Jesus was demonstrated, activated or completed  through action, by “righteousness of works“ and “justified by works”.  These promises would begin fulfillment through man-Jesus, the “beginner/author and finisher”(Heb. 12:2) of faith, the “pioneer” (originator/trailblazer) towards our salvation.

Sanctification and Glorification

How are we saved (Rom. 5:10)through his life? This is the very essence of what sanctification is. Sanctification or holiness comes from the Greek word “hagiasmos/hagiazo”.

Remember that Jesus died and was resurrected, not by himself but (Acts 2:32; 5:30; Gal. 1:1; Rom. 6:4), by the Father. Without him alive (John 14:16;16:7)he would not have received the Holy Spirit from the Father for us (Matt. 3:11;Mk 1:8;Luke 3:16).

This is the Holy Spirit of power that dwelt in man-Jesus at river Jordan ( Matt. 3:16; Luke 3:22) and will dwell (3) in the “Holy of Holies” of our body (temple as in I Cor. 3:16) to guide and help our spirit (the spirit of man; Gen. 2:7) to bring forth “fruits of the Holy Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23). As man-Jesus followed the Holy Spirit, so should any human so imbued with this power.

We are required to bring forth fruits, to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, not our will but the will of God (Mk. 14:36; Luke 22:42). Only those who endure/persevere/overcome (Matt. 24:13;Rev. 2:7,11,17, 26-28; 3:5,12, 21)to the end will be given the reward of immortality, salvation,i.e., eternal life, our glorification. Man-Jesus, as a pioneer/precursor/forerunner/beginner/trailblazer, indeed followed the guidance of the Holy Spirit instead of his own will.

Gifts vs Reward

Both are secondary to actions taken due to promises made. Both required a provider/giver and a recipient. However, gifts are given because of action from a belief that are evidenced-based (faith) thereby leading to trust. They are not given because of action that are “works of the flesh”, whether good or evil. Justification, reconciliation and imputation of sin of Adam to Jesus, are secondary to Christ’s belief and trust in the Father, having been with him from the beginning; of faith that is evidence-based. What the Father promised, Jesus trusted he will fulfill.

Contrariwise, reward is provided because of actions done by the recipient that are “fruits of the Holy Spirit”, not “fruits or works of the flesh”. This action does not even originate from any man and has to come, as a gift of the Father, through the Holy Spirit of power that was given because of the initiating “faith of Jesus”. The Holy Spirit sanctifies the recipient and he/she that “endures to the end” (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 3:7-19) the “overcomer” (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26-28; 3:5, 12, 21) will be glorified as “son of God”. The rewards for those that “endure to the end” are resurrection to immortality and eternal life.

Summary

Because of the sin of one man Adam, to which all sins were imputed (whether Jews/Gentiles, pre/post-Adamic, pre/post-Abrahamic), similarly, one man-Jesus has to justify all sinners through imputation of his “righteousness of faith”. This justification is initiated, according to Paul, (Rom. 5:1; Gal. 2:16) by the “faith of Jesus”, and not his “works”, so no man( even Jesus) can boast (I Cor. 1:29; Eph. 2:9).

However, as “faith without works is dead” like the “body is dead apart from the spirit” it has to be demonstrated,!activated or completed by works (James 2:14-26), with the power of the Holy Spirit in him (Matt. 3:16; Luke 3:22). So Jesus had to sacrifice his life as a Passover Lamb (I Cor 5:7) by crucifixion (a curse Gal. 3:13) thus reconciling us to the Father by his “faith and works”.

It is the belief that is evidence-based(faith) leading to trust that initiated the “gift of righteousness” to all. But, it is the demonstration/activation/completion of faith “through works” that led to “reward” of reconciliation”.

With the gift of the Holy Spirit of power given to us, through faith, directly by Jesus as Son of God, we will then have to become overcomers to reach sanctification and eventual glorification.

God bless

References

1. Promise made to seed of Abraham and his children. Retrieved 4/28/18 from http://fact-s.net/2018/04/28/promise-made-to-theseed-of-abraham-and-his-children/

2. First Human, What difference does it make? Retrieved 5/1/18 from http://fact-s.net/2014/07/18/adam-the-first-human-what-difference-does-it-make/

3. Kingdom of God in Human Anatomy. Retrieved 5/1/2018 from http://fact-s.net/2016/12/21/kingdom-of-god-in-human-anatomy/

Other references:

http://fact-s.net/2018/03/31/can-we-really-swap-christs-righteousness-for-ours/

http://fact-s.net/2017/04/11/gift-and-reward-whatthis-topic-is-well-known-to-christians-and-expected-to-be-well-understood-yet-many-sorely-missed-to-see-where-the-difference-and-similarity-as-they-relate-to-salvation-to/
http://fact-s.net/2017/11/27/are-both-our-faith-and-works-needed-for-salvation/

http://fact-s.net/2015/10/27/faith-vs-hope-or-wishful-thinking/

Original post: 5/1/2018