Salvation Series 4 How?

Salvation Series 4 How?

Truly, we are “saved by faith” which started with the “faith of Jesus” in the promises of the Father that they will all be fulfilled. Jesus’ faith in the Father is first and foremost, without which, “the faith of Abraham and ours”, while needed for salvation, becomes inconsequential, because it has to be started first and foremost only by Christ. Be reminded that as Rom. 1:17 says, “from faith to faith“. Jesus, the Creator-Word (Jn. 1:1) is the “beginner(founder) and finisher(perfecter)“ of our salvation as in Heb. 12:2 “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God”.

Righteousness that is required by the Father for salvation is the “righteousness of faith”, not of works, (even by Jesus’ following the Ten Commandments), so that “no one can boast”. However, being saved by faith, is only a basic foundational start and initiates a mechanism in the process of how we reach the goal of “salvation“. As a process, salvation takes time to unravel towards its fulfillment. Time is needed for our spiritual growth and development (Isa. 26:17; Rev. 12:4-17) in the “church” as much as an embryo has to physically develop and grow before coming out of the womb. And, Jesus is central to achieving this by the grace of God the Father.

Proof that Salvation to see the Kingdom of God is a process:

It has been taught that by respectable and well-meaning preachers that “just believe and you will be saved”. This is factually true but the context is lost because the emphasis stops from the word “believe” and marginalizes the futuristic promise of “will be saved”. What was glossed over was that salvation is a process that starts with man-Jesus and will find conclusion with humanity.

Jesus’ explanation to Nicodemus about this process is revealing. Notice the discussion:

John 3:1-8 (NIV) “Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

From the above narrative, one sees that Jesus acknowledged that being born of water, i.e., “flesh gives birth to flesh” is a process. That, it takes a process of fertilization of the ovum by the sperm to develop into a zygote, then development into maturity for about 8-9 months in the womb before delivery as a newborn flesh-baby. Similarly, being born of the Spirit (Spirit gives birth to spirit) is a process that follows the same stages, i.e., the “Holy Spirit” of God has to “fertilize” the “spirit of man” (psyche/mind), go through the process of development in the “womb of the church” through sanctification and guidance of the Holy Spirit of God, bear fruits and develop wisdom, before delivery into an immortal glorious-spirit body at resurrection. As physical development in the womb may not come to maturity and can be “aborted“, so can spiritual development in the church may not come to fruition (not overcomers) and although “written in the book of life” to be partakers of the Holy Spirit (Rev. 3:5; 17:8; 20:15; 22:19; Phil. 4:3) may not “bear fruits of the Holy Spirit” and miss out for failure to be “overcomers” to the end.

Any “good works, decision or righteousness” that come from our “flesh” without the guidance of and coming from the Holy Spirit are as “filthy rags” and as “dung” to God (Isa. 64:6;Rom. 3:10; Phil. 3:8-9). Even Job has to be “lectured” by God that while “perfect” on his own, that he was still dirty in the eyes of Go (Read the whole book of Job). Our righteousness is the righteousness of faith that started with faith “of” Jesus for which he received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit then given to the faithful to bear “fruits of the Holy Spirit“, not fruits of our flesh. It has to be God’s fruits through the Holy Spirit in us, and not our own fruits that come from flesh. One can deny or reject the guidance of the Holy Spirit, because freedom of choice is key to the development of wisdom and to be “one” with the Father. Even Jesus with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, has to correctly choose between “his” will and that of the Father’s (Matt. 26:39; Lu.22:42) to be “one” with Him.

Salvation follows the process of:

1. Faith of Jesus in the Father regarding promises made to him from the foundation of the world; an unwritten covenant between the two. Jesus at that time was known as the Creator God in Genesis 1, the YHVH Elohim/Lord God in Genesis 2, Logos in John 1:1. Whereas, the identity of the Father was “Ancient of Days“. The Father-Son declarative relationship was planned but not established until the New Testament times. This was an unwritten covenant between him and the Father. This covenant was intimated through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob but actually a covenant, not to them directly, but to the “seed“ according to Paul (Gal. 3:16). With the surety of fulfillment of the promise of the Father to him, anchored on the “faith of Jesus“(Creator), he then gave an inkling of this promise to Abraham, “the righteousness of faith”, with which promises are based on, by grace and love of the Father. YHVH (Jesus) then “re-promised” to others what will happen in the future through and only through Him (Jesus). That promise of the Father was the “good news of the kingdom of God“. Yes, the kingdom of God composed of immortal sons and daughters of God , beginning with the Son of God(Jesus), “then many sons to glory” manifested at the second coming of Jesus (Rom. 8:19-25).

2. Incarnation of the Creator God of Genesis 1, the YHVH Elohim/Lord God in Genesis 2, the Logos in John 1:1. into man-Jesus. Without this incarnation from immortal spirit to mortal flesh/body, his death would not have been realized. He had to be mortal flesh to die.

3. Death of the Passover Lamb/Jesus for the “remission of sins“ through shedding of his blood (Heb. 9:22). His death substitutes for man’s death and “reconciles“ mankind to the Father, as in:

2 Corinthians 5:18-21 (NKJV) “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

The death of man-Jesus (the Creator God) was substitutionary to pay the penalty of human’s sin (2nd eternal-death), for mankind to be reconciled to the Father. The goal of his death is for “remission of sins“, for reconciliation with the Father, nothing more; his death did not proximately and actually save us. Had he not been resurrected by the Father, Jesus could have died eternally and we are still “dead in sin” (I Cor 15:17).

4. Jesus’ resurrection to claim the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father.
He said in John 16:17, “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.“ Because of the Father’s promise of resurrection and the “faith of Jesus“ in him, he was made alive. Having been resurrected to life, we “shall be saved by his life“(Rom 5:10;his post-resurrection). Notice, the phrase “shall be saved”, meaning future, not yet, or still in the process of salvation. But, how are we going to “be saved by his life”, his resurrected life? Remember Jn 16:7; 15:26; 14:16? He was resurrected for this very purpose, i.e., to receive the promised Holy Spirit to be given and dwell in us, for us to “be endowed”with power to overcome the Devil, starting at Pentecost (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4; Gal 3:14). We received this Holy Spirit not by (our) works of the law but by “faith of Jesus” (Gal 3:2).

5. Faith or evidence, then Believe.

With these events that were learned by the disciples and apostles, we now understand and have faith in Jesus. Rom. 10:17, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb 11:1). Faith is not trust nor hope; it is evidence or substance. Hearing and seeing the works of Jesus lead to development of our faith in Him and subsequently we believe in the promises he made. Abraham is the “father of the faithful”(Rom. 4:16) because he saw evidence or proof of God’s power; then he believed in his promises. Faith is evidence-based that emanates trust and hope.

6. In-dwelling of the Holy Spirit of power in us.
With us having faith/evidence, we then believed and are now given this gift of the Holy Spirit by grace. As Acts 2:38 connotes, one has to believe in Jesus’ sacrifice for the remission of sins, repent and be baptized with water, and the gift of the Holy Spirit will be given. Where does the Holy Spirit dwell in us?
Remember the tabernacle and the temple ? These were the places that God manifest himself as the “Shekinah glory”. His “abode“ to show his presence. Notice though the temporary nature of all of these. The tabernacle had to be pitched from one place to another along the span of Israel’s journey. This was replaced by the 1st Temple in Jerusalem and then the 2nd Temple. It was in the “holy of holies“, (the innermost partition) of the Temple that God manifests his presence. Both temples are now destroyed. All these temporal nature of his abode reflects on the future in-dwelling of God in the mind of humans, in the spirit-of-man. Notice what the Bible said that God does not dwell in temples made by human hands, as in;

Acts 7:44-,”Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen. Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built him an house. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things?” Notice that Solomon “built him a house“, as the Son of God is building a “house“(church) that is spiritually composed.

Acts 17:24, “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands”

2 Cor. 3:3 “You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”

The preceding verses intimated the future dwelling of God in humans. This occurred for the first time to man-Jesus(I Tim. 2:5), the “precursor“, the “forerunner“(Heb. 6:20) towards the development of a “new creation/creature“(2 Cor. 5:17) and manifestation of the “Son of God” and others as well(Rom. 8:19-25).

7. Sanctification and Development of Fruits of the Spirit as expressed in the obedience to the Ten Commandments, guided by the Holy Spirit.
Why do we need the Holy Spirit? As circumcision is a “sign“, the HS serves as a “seal” to identify us being in the “body of Christ“ (Jn 6:7; 2Cor.1:21-22; 5:5; EpEph 1:13-14; 4:30. Aside from that, we need “spirit-power“ as the “flesh is weak”, (Matt 26:41). We need the Holy Spirit of power to be used by us to express and bear the “fruits of the Spirit” (Gal.5:22-23). The HS gives us “cognition” as to which way to go or do, “conviction” to follow Jesus'(YHVH ELOHIM’s) Law, and “affection” for him and whatever is “good“, giving us the “mind of Christ“ (I Cor 2:16). Also, Matt. 7:19-20 states that “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. “

That said, according to Paul, “the Law is holy“ (Rom 7:12, v-14,v-23); nothing wrong with the Law and the Covenant. What was wrong was us, the flesh-nature that we have, that is “weak“. Remember that in Genesis, YHVH made “man (from dust) after his image”, and in the future to be “like him’. But that “clay” was flesh and “weak” so Adam could not be “like him” by his “own works“. It has to be by the “works and faith of Jesus”.

Adam, not knowing his “weakness“, did not “listen and follow” God, so he sinned and was banished from the “garden of Eden”. Adam was separated from God and needs to be “reconciled“. Having been reconciled by Christ’s death, we are now “being saved by his life through the function and power of the Holy Spirit“ given to us as promised, to “bring many sons to glory” (Heb 2:10).

Therefore, with the power of the Holy Spirit, follow the Ten Commandments as part of our process of “sanctification“ (I Cor 6:11; Rom 8:9-11; 15:15-16; 2 Cor 1:21-22; Eph 1:13-14; 2 Thes 2:13; itus 3:4-7; I Pet 1:1-2; 2:9-12; John 17:17; Rom 6:19-22; 8:5-14; Gal. 5:16-24;I Pet 2:11; Rom 2:6-7).

8. Eventual salvation from 2nd death. This requires a change from mortal flesh to immortal bodies. Notice, I Cor. 15:52, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we (who are alive) shall be changed.”

Only when we have immortal bodies can we say in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.“ And this is when salvation is realized.

By the way, all these things have been all along planned by God the Father.

While the Son started it, a well-established truth is that it was the Father who planned all and the Son that executes the plan. This truth is proven by :
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God (Father) sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.“(Galatians 4:4-6). The Father did not just do the “sending” but also established the “time” when the Son will be sent or incarnate through “a woman“(Mary).

Even all creation, while actually done by the Logos/Creator God/YHVH (just saying the “word”) was also because of and planned by the Father (I Cor. 8:6; Jn.1:3; Col. 1:16).

Moreover, Peter and Jude confirmed that it was the Father who orchestrated salvation in the covenant. Election, and foreknowledge (I Pet. 1:2), and Sanctification (Jude 1) refer to the initial act of God whereby He chose those whom He loved and set them apart to salvation before the foundation of the world.
God(the Father) foreknew people,“For whom He did foreknow…” (Rom. 8:29). God’s choice of a people before the world began was based on His own initiative to establish a covenant relationship with those whom He loved: “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God…” Those whom He loved and chose, He also set apart for Himself, that is, He sanctified them (Jude 1).

Similarly, the Father “sanctified“ the Son (i.e. set Him apart in the covenant of grace) and sent Him into the world (Jn. 10:36, He also sanctified His people (again, He set them apart in the covenant as His own special people) and “sent redemption” to them: “He sent redemption to His people: He hath commanded His covenant for ever: holy and reverend is His name “ (Ps. 111:9). It was precisely this group of people, i.e., those set apart in the covenant, who were redeemed by Jesus Christ: “For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified” (Heb. 10:14).
The Galatians passage presents God the Father as the great Choreographer of salvation, dispatching (sending) the Son (v.4) and the Spirit (v.6) at the precise and appropriate time, in order to bring us into his family as His adopted sons. The Father who initiated the covenant also orchestrates and deploys the covenant requirements for salvation (Eph. 1:5).

In summary, God the Father planned everything and the Son concurred willingly with the strategic plan and executed his Father’s will (Lu.22:42). This occurred even before creation of “invisible and visible things”. The promises of the Father to Jesus (because of the “faith of Jesus”) has come true, viz.,
1. Jesus’ death was imputed for mankind’s “second/irreversible death” to reconcile mankind to the Father.

2. That Jesus would be resurrected by the Father so the Holy Spirit would be received by him and given/sent to us.

3. That the Holy Spirit will imbue us (as it did Jesus at river Jordan) to seal us and sanctify us, so all of us will be “one” (yet many) with the Father through his Son,…us being the “body of Christ“. The critical spirit-power needed before one is judged is the in-dwelling in man of this Holy Spirit and is the same for those before and after Christ’s return.

4. That as the “flesh is weak“ it needs the Holy Spirit “written in the fleshly tables of our heart“ for all of us to be empowered to follow the Law of Love which summarized the Ten Commandments and bear the “fruits of the Holy Spirit“. These laws were “written in tables of stones“ previously then subsequently by the Spirit-indwelling in our “fleshly tables of our hearts“. This, so that we will have through spiritual growth and development the “mind of Christ”, to be “one“ with him and by extension “one“ with the Father.

5. Our mortal flesh will be changed in a twinkling of an eye to “immortal spirit bodies“, the body-composition for “eternal life“. With this change, then and only then is the process complete and salvation comes to fruition away from “second and irreversible death“.

Those who have faith and works by the power of the Holy Spirit, given on faith and by grace, will reign in the Millenium and beyond.

Access for further information:
http://fact-s.net/2015/09/12/jesus-author-and-perfecter-of-our-faith/
Original post: October 4, 2015
Revised and posted:February 20, 2017

Salvation Series 3, Who?

Oct4 by fact-s.net

Salvation Series 3, Who?

After knowing what and why salvation is, who then can take us to it? Can we do it on our own?

In Gen. 2:16-17, it says, “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Subsequent events show that Adam & Eve violated this command. Their strategy to be “like him” by their “own works” was not the plan of God. To have “knowledge of “good and evil“ has to be “given” to them and not for them to get it by themselves nor decide or define for themselves what is “good or evil“. Only God defines “good or evil“. Furthermore, this knowledge has to be written, not in “tables of stone” but in the “fleshly tables” of their heart and mind. (2 Cor. 3:3).

No one else can save us but Jesus. Notice, Acts 4:11-12 “He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

That Jesus is the “only way” (John 14:6) has been established even before the foundation of the world as in, “….the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.“(Rev. 13:8). This lamb was identified for us by God the Father himself through the testimony of John, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world”(John 1:29). See also, John 1:36 “And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!” Moreover, God the Father himself anointed Jesus coming out of water baptism from the Jordan river, baptizing him with the Holy Spirit signified by a dove dwelling on Jesus (Lu.3:22); the first historic in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit in man that empowered this man to overcome the Devil/Satan when he tempted man-Jesus. There is no other “perfect lamb” for sacrifice and “sweet savor” to God.

Jesus has been planned to be the Passover Lamb (I Cor. 5:7) who sacrificed his blood (died) for the remission (by his substitutionary death) of the sins of mankind (Matt. 26:28). God the Father can only count the death of this specific man-Jesus (anthropos) towards the death of mankind (I Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21;Isa.53:6;Gal. 1:4; I Pet.2:24). And rightly so, since he is the Logos Creator in John 1:1 who voluntarily followed the Father to be incarnated; the same Creator God(Elohim) in Genesis 1, the YHVH Elohim/Lord God in Gen. 2, the El Shaddai (God Almighty) in Gen. 17:1-2 and the YHVH Elohim/ Lord God who is “one/echad” in Deut. 6:4. There is no one like him; he is “above all gods”(Ps. 95:3; Ps. 135:5).

The actual and proximate Creator God, the Lamb, is Jesus. He and the Father are “separate”, distinct and unique yet “one”, as we will be “one” with him and the Father. Notice the following:

I Cor 8:6 New Living Translation
“But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we live for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom God made everything and through whom we have been given”.

“There is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Messiah Yeshua” (1 Tim 2:5).

Notice, “I will proclaim the LORD’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father“(Ps.2:7). Not yesterday or tomorrow but “today“, meaning after the “river Jordan“ water baptism. GOD was not introduced as the “Father” and Jesus as the “Son” until after Jesus came out of the water and was “confirmed“ by the Father himself, as in, “this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (Matt.3:17;Mk.1:11); he identified Jesus himself. When there is a “son”, then there is a “Father”.

Consider also:
“And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form”(John 5:37).

From Jesus himself is his own testimony that no one has seen nor heard the Father referred to in the New Testament. Conversely, all the time from Genesis on, the specific “elohim“ had to be YHVH ELOHIM, the LOGOS according to John, who incarnated to man-Jesus (anthropos-Jesus to Paul), the Messiah Passover.

The Father is higher in hierarchy than Jesus; not equal; Father gives power to Jesus and he who gives is greater than the receiver ; the one who subjected everything has to be higher than the other. As Jesus being head of church is higher in hierarchy than anyone of us, though being “parts of his body”.

At the end, the Son of God will be “subject” to the Father as in, “when He (Jesus) delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father,… then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15.24-28).

Paul also emphasized this in Ephesians 4:6 “…one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” The Father is over all Supreme.

And, to differentiate the two (although “one” as members of the body/church of Jesus is “one”), he wrote in Ephesians 6:23 “Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

To sum it up, Jesus is the only “way, the truth and the life“(John 14:16). He is the “who” will save us. Continue with Salvation Series 4, HOW?

Original post: October 4, 2015
Revised and posted:February 20, 2017

Salvation Series 2 Why?

Oct4 by fact-s.net

Salvation Series 2 Why?

Why do we need to be saved from death and which of the 2 types of death?

To answer this question, one needs to go back to the narrative in Genesis. To quote,
Gen. 2:16-17 “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

Gen. 3:1-5 “Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

From the preceding verses, we know that they sinned against God. Because of sin, God said that they would die. Notice though that Adam and Eve did not actually die right then and there. In fact, they were alive and God had to “cover” Adam and Eve up, as in, Gen. 3:21″Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them, signifying future “covering their sins“. Therefore, the “death” referred to as a consequence of this sin, specifically had to be the “irreversible death” that is eternal (until resurrected to immortality) and not the “reversible death” (temporary) that is “appointed” for all mortals (Heb. 9:27). Adam then lived 930 years (Gen. 5:5), died but to be resurrected in time appointed because it was a “reversible death”.

And that sin, that has a consequence of “irreversible death“, first requires “sin covering” or clothing with “coats of skin” before the person can be saved. It had to be paid for, suffered and exacted to, with “someone else’s death“. Blood has to be spilled in Genesis to make “coats of skin” for clothing/covering of that sin.

By extension to the future, this prefigured the Passover Lamb in Exodus 12 that came to fruition in Christ “our Passover” (I Cor. 5:7; John 1:29; Isa.53:7) whose death was a “sin-offering“, a “cover (of skin) for sins”, a substitutionary death for us, to satisfy the required “sin-covering“. His death was accounted or imputed for mankind’s death that was a consequence of Adam’s sin.

The Father promised to acknowledge Jesus’ death as a substitute for Adam’s and, by extension, that of mankind’s “irreversible or eternal death“. Notice, though, that while the immediate effect of Jesus’ death “reconciles” us back to God (2 Cor. 5:15-21; Col. 1:19-20; Heb. 9:19-22), we still need “to be saved by his life”(Rom. 5:10), i.e., Jesus has to “go away” (die) but be resurrected to life and to claim the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father in heaven to be sent to us (John 16:7), for a purpose that leads to actual salvation ahead. He has to be resurrected back to life, as by being alive he can then receive the Holy Spirit for us.

But, since this “irreversible second death” is a consequence of sin of Adam in Genesis, and Jesus’ death is imputed to that particular death thus reconciling us back to God, restoring the standing of Adam to the Father before he sinned, then why do we still suffer “reversible death”? Many traditional Christians incorrectly maintain that Adam would have lived forever had it not been for this sin. That, when Adam was created, he had an “immortal soul” and would not have died were it not for his sin. Is this teaching of “immortality of soul” true? The answer is alluded to in Genesis, the method of creation and our body-composition.

Immortal soul?

What is “soul“? This needs to be addressed before knowing whether it is “mortal or immortal“. Analysis is critical in understanding this concept of the word “soul” used to translate in English, the Hebrew word “nephesh” and the Greek word “psyche“. To do this, one has to go back to Genesis and take us through the step-by-step mechanism in the formation/creation of man.

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath (nhshamah) of life (chay); and man became a living soul(nephesh).” (Gen. 2:7). Notice here that “nephesh” was translated “soul“.

As the preceding verse connotes, man was formed by the “hand” of God (Isaiah 66:2) from “dust of the ground“, matter-composed. Whereas, the “breath of life” came directly and proximately from God, who did not use his hand nor “matter” like “dust of the ground“, and therefore spirit-composed. What was formed from “dust of the ground” was the “lifeless” physical body, viz., brain, heart and other parts of the body. This “lifeless body” became alive and got energized only when God directly “breathed into his nostrils” this “spirit-composed breath of life”. Then and only then did man become a”living soul“, a “nephesh” or breathing creature. Meaning, lifeless body from the ground+breath of life directly from spirit-composed Lord Creator=”living soul”; nephesh/breathing creature.

This tells us that a living being(human) has 2 components, viz., matter-composed body and spirit-composed breath of life before being classified or called as a “living soul/nephesh”. In Biblical parlance, one can deduce to a certain extent that the English word “soul” in the O.T. refers to a “living being/human“. The “body” has to be alive to be called “soul“(nephesh/breathing creature), hence the emphasis on the descriptive phrase “living soul” in Gen. 2:7. Otherwise, the body without the “breath of life”(nshamah chay) is “lifeless“. Nephesh or living creature/soul is a composite of “body(soma) and breath of life(nshamah).

Proof of these two separate components can be derived from the fact that each one can be destroyed or killed, as in:

Matthew 10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body(soma), but are not able to kill the soul(psyche): but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul(psyche) and body(soma) in hell(Gehenna).” Notice that “breath of life“, Hebrew “nshamah chay” in Old Testament, is Greek “psyche” in New Testament and equivalent in English to “soul“. And, both can be destroyed, that’s why, even spirit-composed evil angels and Satan fear YHVH-Elohim.

Strictly speaking and to prevent misunderstanding, the English translation “soul” should have been limited by the “translator” and only be specifically applied to “living creature”(nephesh in Old Testament) composed of body/soma and “psyche“/ human spirit as the translated word “soul“(in New Testament) does not accurately convey the actual reference to the 2 separate components of man. Be that as it may, even if “soul” is meant to be “psyche or spirit-of-man“, it still can be killed and therefore not immortal. Both body and spirit-of-man/psyche-mind can cease or be killed and therefore not immortal. Furthermore, as the “psyche” (spirit-of-man; breath-of-life) can be killed or can cease, it is not synonymous with “soma“, nor a “spirit-composed immortal body“.

From the above statements, it is clear that this “breath of life/psyche/nshamah“, which is part or a component of a “living being/soul“, is not “immortal” and can be killed. Notice though that the “breath of life/psyche/nshamah” at death(reversible as it is temporary) goes back to the Creator although can be killed in Gehenna fire, an irreversible/permanent death. It is the “soma/body/dust” that goes to the grave/hades/hell. Nevertheless, when we die and “thoughts perish”, meaning no longer can the body has remembrance, as the “soma/body/dust” is buried in hell/hades/grave and subsequently rots, but the “breath of life/psyche/nshamah” at time of death (reversible) goes back to the Creator, as in:

Ps.146:4 “His breath (ruwach) goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” (No longer thinking when dead; no consciousness)

Ezekiel 18:4 “…the soul (living being) that sinneth, it shall die”. ( soul is not immortal)

Eccl.12:7 “Then shall the dust (aphar/clay/the body) return to the earth as it was: and the spirit (ruwach or breath in O.T and psyche in N.T) shall return unto God who gave it.”

Notice that, while the “soul“(spirit/breath of life/psyche) can be killed or destroyed, at “reversible death(sleep) it goes back temporarily to the Creator to wait for a future body at time of “resurrection“; the spirit/breath of life/psyche has no body and has to receive a new body, spirit-composed or flesh-composed, depending upon whether they are “overcomers with the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit”. A “spirit-composed immortal body” will be given/ developed to those participating at the time of 1st resurrection who are “overcomers” and meet with Jesus “in the clouds” coming back at the start Millenium on earth. And we, who are alive in the “flesh” on this resurrection day will change “in a twinkling of an eye” (ICor. 15:52) from mortal to immortal (I Cor. 15:53-54), and meet Jesus and the rest of the “firstfruits” “in the air” (I Thes.4:17) to come down to earth and to the temple in Jerusalem. From here, Millenium starts and the “kingdom of God” ( the governing system) like a “stone” (Dan.2:35) will subsequently occupy the whole earth.

But the rest of the dead “live not again until after a thousand years” (Rev 20:5). And they are the ones who will participate in the “second resurrection” and will have a “flesh-composed mortal body“, (Ezekiel 37:1-14) not immortal, and will experience, after voluntarily becoming believers, the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit, bear “fruits of the Spirit” through sanctification and be given subsequently an “immortal body. Those who still continually reject this promise of the Holy Spirit will be thrown in “Gehenna fire” to suffer “eternal and irreversible death”.

Memory in Computer

Conceptually, computer technology can be used as a parallel. The spirit (psyche) of man is much like a “thumb-drive” or USB flash-drive that has all the “memory” or information/data in the memory hard drive that one can download from/into, save a copy that goes back to the owner. The whole computer (like our body) can be destroyed or die/rot, but the “breath of life/spirit”, (the memory and history of our unique life) that goes to the Creator, can then be “inputted” into a “new computer/body“. This new computer maybe “spirit-composed body”, much like in the “first resurrection” and immortal or “flesh-composed” as in the “second resurrection” and mortal. As the thumb drive can be destroyed, so can the “spirit/ruwach/breath of life” in Gehenna fire at Judgement Day after the ”second resurrection“.

By the way, the “spirit of man” is different from the “Spirit of God” that Jesus died for and resurrected for us to receive (“to in-dwell in us“) by grace and out of love by the Father. In a computer analogy, the Spirit of God can be equivalent to the “operating system“(O.S.), without whose power nothing can be “energized” or empowered.

Summary

In summary, when Adam was created, he came from the “dust of the ground”, matter and “flesh“, created by the “hand of God“. Being sinless originally, from the time of creation, does not confer in him eternal life as we were created “flesh-composed“. One can still die without sinning, just because we are mortal beings. In fact, and because of his sin, Adam was driven out of the garden of Eden and prevented from “eating the fruit from the tree of life”, signifying our natural and mortal composition is devoid of eternal life. As such, much like any “matter“, our body ages, deteriorates and has “expiration date”, being mortal. What is “born of flesh is flesh and that what is born of the spirit is spirit“(John 3:6). Also, in 1 Cor 15:44, ICor. 15:46 “There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body…Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterwards that which is spiritual.” (the “natural” body is first – and the “spiritual” body is second.) The nature of our body-composition from creation is subject to decay and “first death/reversible“. At death, the spirit/psyche of man goes back to God, while the body is buried in the grave(hades).

Being “flesh“, the living body/soul, is “weak” (Matt. 26:41) and needs to be strengthened by the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit from God. History of man shows the weakness of man to succumb to temptation. From, Adam, Noah, Abraham, Saul, David, even chosen people were overcome by evil. We all need the power given by God through the Holy Spirit. Changing us from this weakness requires “renewal or re-creating” of our ” natural weak self”, to have the “mind of Christ”.

Moreover, our present body-composition is “temporary“, much like the “tabernacle” or the “temple” that got destroyed. The tabernacle has been moved from one place to another, and the 1st and 2nd temple in Jerusalem have been destroyed, all signifying “temporal” nature. So is our body-of-flesh which is a temporary “temple of God”(I Cor. 3:16) that needed “change” from within a “ destruction” of self, for God to dwell into.

Our temporary body needs “re-creating“. Remember Jeremiah 18:1-4,

“The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.” See also Isa. 45:9 and Rom. 9:21.

In short, humans die naturally even without sinning per se (although temporarily;sleep-death) because its body composition is flesh and mortal, but can also die eternally because Adam (and all humans by imputation) sinned. Human psyche/spirit has to be taught, guided and nurtured by the Holy Spirit of God, and thereby necessitating it’s in-dwelling.

What sequence of events that needs to occur to be saved from “second/irreversible” death? And, who then can take us away from it? Can we do it on our own? And how? To answer these questions, please access Salvation Series 3 & Salvation Series 4.

Original post: October 4, 2015
Revised and posted:February 20, 2017

PLEASE tap on hyperlinks for references.

Hyperlink posted 1/20/2021; Inauguration of POTUS46

Critique is welcome at foundationacts@ yahoo.com

Salvation Series 1:What?

Oct4 by fact-s.net

Salvation, Series 1:What?

http://fact-s.net/2015/10/04/salvation-series-1what/

6 questions about salvation need answered? A SERIES of 6
This is a Series of Q&A regarding the topic of Salvation. The format in answering these questions is parallel to the “6 friends of Rupyard Kipling”.

What are we to be saved from? It is salvation from “death“. But, is there only one or two types of death? From a Biblical standpoint, there are 2 types of death. For the purpose of differentiation, they can be classified into:

1.”Reversible death” which is an actual death wherein everyone will resurrect from, being temporary, aka “sleep” as in:
Hebrews 9:27(KJV) “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”. This speaks of everyone’s “appointment with death and judgment”. All will die this type of death and it is temporary because everyone will be alive or resurrected to be judged (2 Cor. 5:10); only live person will be judged. Some verses that proved this death is considered “sleep“:

Psalm 13:3 (ESV):”Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death”.

1 Kings 1:20-21 (ESV): “And now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. Otherwise it will come to pass, when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be counted offenders.”

John 11:11-13 (ESV):”After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep.” Here, the disciples were assuming Jesus meant the “regular sleep” that we awake from. Actually , Jesus meant “reversible/temporary death” that Lazarus was resurrected to life with mortal body. By the way, Lazarus again died a “reversible/temporary death” and will be again resurrected at time appointed. Other examples are in the Bible, similar to Lazarus’ death

Acts 7:59-60 (ESV): “And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

Some of those who experienced this “sleep of death“, specifically believers and overcomers, will be resurrected to eternal life at the second coming of Christ on earth to start the “Millennium“. Those who are alive, believers and overcomers, at Christ’s return will be “changed from mortal to immortal bodies”(I Cor. 15:51-53). These are the “firstfruits“(I Cor. 15:20, v-23; James 1:18, Rom. 8:23), the “fellow firstborn from the dead”(Rev 1:4; Rom. 8:29,; Col. 1:15-18). Also, in Luke 20:36 “…nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.” (NKJV). Note that by resurrection, they become classified as “sons of God” as they have been changed from flesh-mortal-bodies to spirit-bodies.

But the “rest of the dead” will be resurrected after the “Millenium“(after Christ’s return) as in: Rev. 20:5-10 “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years”.

2.”Irreversible Death” which is actual death wherein there is no resurrection, aka “eternal death” or “second death”, i.e., “doomed to destruction forever“, death in the “lake of fire”, death of both body(soma) and soul (psyche/spirit).

This concept emanates from the following:

“And you shall not be afraid of those who kill the body that are not able to kill the soul rather be afraid of him who can destroy soul and body in Gehenna.”Matt. 10:28 Aramaic Bible in Plain English. Notice that the body(soma) and the soul(psyche/spirit) can be killed and ended forever.

Psalm 92:6-7 (ESV): “The stupid man cannot know;the fool cannot understand this:that though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish,they are so doomed to destruction forever”.

Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV): “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

Philippians 3:18-19 (ESV): “For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.”

Thessalonians 1:9 (ESV): “They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.

Rev. 21:8 says: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Read also Rev 2:11, Rev 20:6 & 14. The second death is defined as dying in the “lake of fire”

So, which of these 2 types of death are we being saved from? Series 2 will try to explain which and Why?
Corollary to these 2 categories of death is the question of who dies at the battles of Armageddon and of Gog/Magog; will they still be resurrected?. When will those who died outside of these 2 battles be resurrected and in what body-composition? What is the timing in relation to Great White Throne Judgment? For answer to these tandem questions, please access subsequent Series.

But for now, go to Series 2: Salvation Why?

Original post: October 4, 2015

Dedicated the whole Salvation Series 1-6 to Evelyn whose loving support is invaluable and appreciated to umpteenth degree.

Please tsp hyperlink for references

Revised and posted:February 20, 2017

Hyperlink included 1/20/2021; Inauguration of POTUS46

In Search of an Ideal Government…a Perspective

Jun24 by fact-s.net

Throughout history, this search is on-going.

From the narrative in Genesis, Adam & Eve did not subject themselves to a theocratic government by disobeying God and were subsequently driven out of the “government in the garden of Eden“. Nimrod (the rebel), in a way, wanted to substitute his autocratic reach to the heavens (Gen. 11:1-9) through the Tower of Babel to make a “name for themselves“. Saul, David, Solomon, etc. also had a government that appeared to be aligned with God’s government. Yet, even these biblical patriarchs, supposed to be chosen by God, had a fleeting loyalty to him and “their kingdoms” succumbed. And throughout history, men of high esteem had leadership and moral compass yet were not durable nor lasting.

The Egyptian and Assyrian empires did not last. From the successive Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greco-Macedonian and Roman Empires, the common denominator they all share is disintegration and short life span. The 15th through the 20th century saw the demise of Spain, France, Germany and England as a world power. In WW II, Germany attempted to dominate Europe and even Russia. While in the Asian continent, Japan tried to sell a propaganda of Greater Asia Co-prosperity Sphere. All over-extended themselves and failed. Coming out of the ashes of WW II, the League of Nations did not see the “light of day” and was replaced with the United Nations. Will the latter succeed? In Europe, the European Economic Community (EEC/Common Market) was originally established as an economic integration by the Treaty of Rome in 1957, became European Community(EC) in 1993 by Maastricht Treaty, and eventually transformed into more than economic alliance, the European Union (EC) by the Treaty of Lisbon in 2009. In the Middle East, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria/Levant (ISIS/ISIL), came into being and is a threat to global peace. Will these human geopolitical collaboration for dominance succeed or end much like the Tower of Babel and the “image of Nebuchadnezzar” that will “break in pieces” as prophesied in Daniel 2?

Now remains the U.S.A. as an undisputed world power with the $US as “reserve currency“, money held to pay international debts, since1944 Bretton Woods agreement setting exchange rate of 1oz. of gold to US$35. Yet, in spite of this currency advantage over other countries, fiscal and monetary policies to address mandatory and discretionary demands took the US to an unprecedented $18T debt and social programs like Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid to an unsustainable trajectory. Is the U.S.A over-extending itself, like others historically, to suffer through this vicious cycle towards oblivion? With additional socio-political unrest, racial division, illegal immigration within an atmosphere of terrorism and wars in multiple fronts, it becomes questionable whether the best form of government, a Constitutional Republic, will also be “transitory”.

These successive events should make one wonder. Did God really plan for us to have the best form of “human government” (aka “human kingdom”) as the ultimate in governance? Are there indications that point otherwise? Are humans, in their present composition,”the pinnacle of creation” or just “an image or likeness of him“, perfect yet temporary? What role are humans destined to play in “world government“? It may take a suspension of disbelief, for one to reconsider traditional teaching of biblical verses written millennia ago.

Consider that governance started off in the Genesis account, as a “theocracy” and not a democracy, not even a Constitutional Republic. One may argue that a supreme and powerful leader, answerable to no one, maybe the answer. Yet, history belies that even a benevolent king, or a charismatic dictator could be the answer. There is still something missing in a human leader. Undoubtedly, God is the best leader. But, why did it not work with Adam & Eve? After all, didn’t God have the power for theocracy to work by force at the garden of Eden? Puzzling indeed !

But is it really an enigma wrapped in mystery? It is clear that God did not use force for compliance and man’s “free will” prevailed at the garden of Eden. But why did Adam’s disobedience occurred ? Could that have been prevented or was that a “given” and expected by the Creator? Could the reason be that man himself, his nature, when and how he was originally and purposely created, was perfect yet temporary? After all, the omnipotent and omniscient God knows the limits of his creation.

Going back to the narrative in Genesis about the creation of man, may help answer this question. Gen. 2:7 states that he was formed from the “dust of the ground“, meaning that his composition was “material“, not spiritual. Continuing the verse, Adam was not alive when created from dust, but became alive only when the “breath of life” was breathed into him by God. Therefore a “living person” is now composed of “dust + breath of life” to become a “living soul“. The “dust” is the material part of man but what about the “breath of life“? Is this like the “air” we breathe? Remember, that without this “breath of life” the dust-body has no life, i.e., dead. In James 2:26, “the body apart from the spirit is dead”, suggesting that this “breath of life” is the “spirit of man“, therefore “spiritual” and given by a spiritual God. This “breath of life” is not the material gasses that we breathe like oxygen,nitrogen, etc. Rather, it could be a God-given “component” of man that “initiates life“, the spiritual component that “energizes” all human functions, like breathing, heart pumping, thinking, moving, feeling, etc. A “spirit-energy” much like the mechanical, electrical or nuclear energy that provides power for things to function. A living man or a “living soul” is thereby made up of “material and spirit components“, the body which is material and the spirit(breath of life) which is spiritual. Zech 12:1 attests that God formed this spirit in man. This spirit in man imprints the memory of everything one experienced through the 5 senses(1 Corinthians 2:11). It can be parallel to the “operating system” in a computer, without which all components are defunctionalized.

Death of man happens when this “breath of life”, this spirit of man, leaves the body. The two can be divided (Heb. 4:12); “the soul that sins, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20). Also, Eccl. 12:7 explains that when man dies, “Then the dust (our body) will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit ( breath of life) will return to God who gave it.” Having thus stated, and that while man was created “perfectly” like God’s image (Gen. 1:27), it was nevertheless created only from “matter” (dust) and therefore “weak”. Notice what Jesus said, ” truly, the spirit (of man) is willing but the flesh is weak…” (Matt. 26:40-43). Not only is man “weak” (the body), but also only “a temporary dwelling“. Remember that the “tabernacle” in the Old Testament is a “temporary dwelling” of God. Read through Exodus chapters 35-40 about the tabernacle of God. See also the temple during Solomon’s time (1 Kings 8:11-12), the Temple rebuilt under Zerubbabel (Ezra 3:12; 6:15, 16). By Jesus’ time, the Temple had become a den of thieves. In A. D. 70, the Roman General Titus destroyed Herod’s Temple.

The message in all of these is God showing that these tabernacle and Temples are “temporary dwelling” of God. But notice that these temples are merely “types” of us and we are the actual temples that God planned to dwell in. Read Acts 17:24,”God who made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of Heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands.” Also, Acts 7:48, “the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands”. But it was prophesied that God, through the Holy Spirit will dwell in us. Read “. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit …” (Matthew 3:11); and “...you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38); [See also Acts 5:32; James 4:5; Rom. 5:5; Eph. 5:18.]

Essentially, man needs another component that was already planned by God from the beginning to imbue in us to assist the “weak flesh“, to be “strong” to overcome evil. “What is man that God is mindful of him?“, so asked David in Psalm 8:4-6 and repeated by Paul in Hebrews 2:6. God, as a Potter, has desired to work on his “clay” again as in Jeremiah 18:4, with the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit. Clearly, God desired to dwell in us, the temple not made by human hands, through his Spirit. This Spirit will again “energize and empower” our “weak flesh” by working with and guiding the “spirit of man” ( breath of life) which was already given before. This is another vital component, a new “operating system” that is given by grace and as a gift that can empower us to overcome evil. The first “operating system” that initiated life to Adam, the spirit of man/breath of life, needs this add-on new O.S.

The Holy Spirit teaches that one must believe (Hebrew 11:6), repent (Acts 2:38), and be baptized for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16). Also, the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit in us, will “seal, sanctify, guide, teach, and give us power” to have the “mind of Christ“(Rom 12:2; Phil 2:5-11; 2 Tim 1:7) and be “conformed in the likeness of his Son Jesus“(Rom 8:29). Yes, we shall be like “his Son“(I Jn 3:2-3), different from each other and unique, yet “one” with Jesus(I Cor 12:12 ; Rom 12:4), as we will be “one” with the Father.

God has a timetable and a purpose for man. And that purpose is for the “Spirit of God” to dwell in us, the temple (I Cor.3:16). The spirit of man with the Spirit of God. In fact, Jesus died and resurrected, for us to receive this Holy Spirit of God. See John 16:17, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter (Holy Spirit) will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” Also, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26).

In summary, all human governments will fail as they have never been the plan of Almighty God who knows what is best. In taking the Genesis creation of man into consideration, God has initially created an “image and likeness of Lord God (YHVH ELOHIM”). This “image” however was temporary, just a “temple or template” and therefore “weak“. As presently composed, man can not govern “self”, much less govern others with consistency of goodness. The “missing link” is for the Holy Spirit to in-dwell and proven after first in-dwelling in Jesus at the river Jordan. Eventually, God planned for mankind not to stay as “an image” only and not to stay “weak“. Instead, we will be “empowered” like him in our current state. Eventually, in the future, to receive a spirit-body, “put on immortality“, “one with him” as the “future world” will not be subjected again to angels but to us (Heb 2:5). As in I Cor. 2:12 “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God” (the Father). Also, Eph 2:22 “…builded together for an habitation of God(Father) through the Spirit.” After creating the universe, plant and animal kingdoms, however with man, God is not creating a “human kingdom“, but a “God-kingdom” , all with immortal bodies, with Jesus as the Head and us with him as one. At the end of time, the Father will be over all and in all.

This world government will be a “theocracy“, a God-Kingdom. The theocracy in the garden of Eden did not work because of man’s deficient composition. Humans will have a role but only after having been transformed by the Holy Spirit working with the “spirit of man”, and be “one” with Christ, in an “immortal” state (not physical), at resurrection., with immortal bodies as God. He that has “eyes to see and ears to hear“, may he be blessed to recover from blindness and deafness.

Crucifixion/Resurrection?

Apr21 by fact-s.net

Controversy continues as to the day of crucifixion and resurrection. That these happened is generally believed by many. But, does it matter when? Respectfully, I think it does.

Fundamental issues to resolve are:

1. Three days and three nights, Jesus was dead as Jonah was in the belly of the fish.

As written, ““For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly, so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40).

“Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”(Jonah 1:17).

“Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly, And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God. When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD. And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.” (Jonah 2:1-10)

The preceding narrative suggests that Jonas cried (Jo.2:2 ) as Jesus “cried out”(Matt.27:50) before they died and both “brought up my (to) life from corruption(death)” ( Jo. 2:6; Lu.24:3) as both were resurrected “three days and three nights”.

Why is this of a seminal event? Because the Jonas event is the only proof to that “evil and adulterous generation” that Jesus is the Messiah (Matt.12:39-40;16:4). Without this proof that it happened the way he described it, will cast doubt about him being the prophesied Savior.

2. Which Sabbath was referred to, annual or weekly?

In Lu. 23:54-56 “And that day was the “preparation”, and the sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the “sabbath day” according to the commandment.”

Since Christ is the Lamb of God (Jn. 1:29) and our Passover (I Cor. 5:7), then he had to be sacrificed on Nisan 14. According to Ex. 12:3-11, Nisan 14 is the day the Passover Lamb was killed. Following that day, starting sunset to sunset, is the 1st Day of Unleavened Bread, Nisan 15. This feast of unleavened bread has to be observed for 7 days, with the 1st and 7th day, as “annual Sabbath“.

Jesus was killed on “preparation day” (Passover day) and was buried towards the end of that day, Nisan 14, as the annual “Sabbath drew on“, Nisan 15.

The women had to “rest” that “annual” Sabbath of rest, Nisan 15, “according to the commandment” and therefore has to “prepare spices and ointments” sometime Nisan 16, a non-sabbath day. Then they rested on a “weekly” Sabbath (Saturday) Nisan 17.

There were 2 Sabbaths that week and year, an annual and weekly Sabbath of rest.

3. What day did Christ resurrect and when was the crucifixion ?

Notice that Mary, Joanna, Mary Magdalene and other women were bringing the spices and ointments “very early in the morning the 1st day of the week”(Sunday, Nisan 18), and the body was “not found”, the “stone that sealed the tomb rolled down” and “Peter running towards the sepulcher” confirmed this (Lu. 24:1-12).

With the preceding facts, one can see clearly that following the “only sign of Jonas” having been buried towards the end of the day(sunset), Jesus must have resurrected after complete “3 days and 3 nights” also towards the end of the day(sunset). Since the “body was not found “very early morning” of Sunday the 1st day of the week, Nisan 18, therefore the resurrection was Nisan 17, a weekly Sabbath, towards the end of that day, sunset. The crucifixion or death of Christ had to be Nisan 14 (Passover killed), Wednesday, before the “annual” Sabbath, Nisan 15. Additionally, prophecy in Daniel says:

Dan. 9:17: “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease..,”

4. What is the “third day” referred to in the “Emmaus walk” narrative?

This day could not be Sunday the first day of the week as this was the 4th day from crucifixion and burial, not the 3rd day.

The narrative states that 2 disciples reached Emmaus on the 3rd day. The “third day” was the 3rd from Sunday when they started the trip from Jerusalem (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday). The “day was far spent” (Tuesday towards sunset and to begin the following start of Wedneday nightime) so they invited the resurrected Jesus to eat with them. And they started to rest that Wednesday night as it was the start of the 7th day of Unleavened bread, an annual sabbath, also a “rest day“. See also, Feast of Unleavened Bread in Lev 23:5-8 proving that Nisan 15 and Nisan 21 are annual or high Sabbaths.

Therefore, the “third day” has to be after Sunday, i.e., towards the end of Tuesday, the day prior to the beginning of Wednesday, the annual Sabbath Nisan 21(last day of UB). This then makes the “Emmaus walk” 3 days long, no matter how many miles the “distance from Jerusalem to the true Emmaus village”.
(http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/emmaus.html).

5. What year and date was the crucifixion/resurrection?

Knowing that Nisan 14 crucifixion was Wednesday and Nisan 17 was Saturday, can the calendar at that time confirm these days? The best calendar to show the years of Jesus’ ministry can be accessed in:

http://www.studiesintheword.org/chart_22-36AD.htm

http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/data-services/spring-phenom
http://www.judaismvschristianity.com/Passover_dates.htm.

Notice that in Molad years 23, 26, 30 and 33 AD, Nisan 14 (Crucifixion) was on Wednesday. Therefore, Nisan 17 towards sunset was Saturday, weekly Sabbath , when he was resurrected. And, on Nisan 18 Sunday the first of the week, Jesus’ “body was not found”. As to which exact year, one may have to research further.

Moreover, according to Lu. 3:23, Jesus was about 30 years old when he began his ministry after baptism at river Jordan which lasted 3 1/2 years. As E. Martin and others (1, 2,3) suggested that Jesus was born on Rosh Hashanah, Sept 11, 3BC, then his ministry was from 27 AD-31AD. Taking all things into consideration, then the year most likely was on 30 AD , month of March or April and his birthday may have to be re-evaluated. See also: https://jamestabor.com/jesus-died-on-a-thursday-not-a-friday/.

Summary

As the day, week and year are controversial, altogether and whatever the truth behind the facts of crucifixion and resurrection, the key message is:

Jesus is the Messiah/Passover who was crucified and resurrected for us.

God bless.

Original post: April 21, 2015

REFERENCES:
1. Martin, Ernest: Star that Astonished the World, 2nd Ed; ISBN 0-945657-87-0, 1995
2. Retrieved from:http://cortright.org/revsign.htm
3. Retrieved from:http://cortright.org/birth.htm

DEIFICATION OF MAN…COMPLETION

Jul12 by fact-s.net

DEIFICATION OF MAN…COMPLETION

In the article “Destiny of Man”, one sees that God is reproducing himself. Man as an “image of God” is an earthy flesh-composed reproduction or replica of Him, and “God saw “…it was very good.” [1]. As other living beings capable of reproduction have developed into kingdoms of their own kind, viz., plant-kingdom and animal-kingdom, so has God planned to develop and expand membership into his God-kingdom. Unlike plants and animals that God created after their respective kinds to reproduce their own image following the laws of genetics, man was never created after the man-kind. Rather, man was created after the God-kind, after God’s image [2]. One finds that man belongs to the highest order, the God-kind, and not to the animal-kind nor the plant-kind. Speaking of birds(animals), Jesus asked men “…Are you not of more value than they?” [3]. Yes, humans are higher in order than animals and currently lower than angels although in the future will be higher than them [4]. From the beginning, there was never God’s plan to have “kingdom of man”. In fact, all “human kingdoms” from Tower of Babel kingdom, Babylonian(Nebuchanezzar) and through its representative historic extensions all the way to the “ten toes of iron and clay” will be destroyed (Daniel 2:1-45).

As this conclusion that man is in the God-kingdom was deduced from the narrative in Genesis, can this truth be confirmed subsequently and unequivocally? And being in the God-kind, can man, as flesh and blood (not spiritual), be classified as god? To one’s surprise, it was Jesus himself who confirmed this concept, the very person who was there in the Garden of Eden as YHVH. Notice the discourse in John 10:33-35 when as a human being, like you and me, being flesh and blood, he was questioned about his claim of being god and classification as god, accused of blasphemy and stoned. People were saying“…being man (flesh and blood), make thyself God”. They could not fathom the concept that flesh-composed man is in the God-kind, and can be called god as well. Looking at him being human, they could not see how Jesus could claim deity. All the while and from the beginning of time, they thought of God only as spirit-composed being, and not flesh-and-blood; immortal not mortal. To them, that claim was blasphemy! He then answered “Is it not written in your law, I said, ye are gods?” If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken.” This “Word of God” is Jesus Christ as elucidated in John 1:1 as well as 10:36, “… whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world” and came to men(gods). The “Word of God” came to humans and not to plants nor animals. Yes, Jesus himself validated the classification of man as in the God-kind and can be called god as well. As man, as a human being, Jesus was in the God-kind, and his claim of being god is true, even after coming to this world as flesh. Instead of an epiphanic awakening and acceptance of this concept, the people turned seething mad. Subsequently, he was accused of blasphemy and was killed [5] [6] because of that claim. Since Jesus was bold and not evasive as a man and flesh to be called god and in fact faced death for it, all of us should be able to withstand criticism from people who may disagree with this concept. That humans even as flesh “…are sons(children) of God…” and in the God-kind and can therefore be called god as well, likewise was confirmed by John [7]. This concept that man be classified as god should not be considered ludicrous, as even angels were called “gods” (compare elohiym/aggelos: Ps. 97:7 and Heb 1:6 as well as Heb 2:7 and Ps. 8:5). The difference, though, between angels and man was explained by Paul in Hebrews 1:4-13, in that, in contrast to angels, there was a promise and plan for man to be like Christ and be part of his body. Also, angels lack understanding of God’s plan [8] [9] The concept of polytheism as against monotheism is alluded to by Paul “…gods many and lords many” [10] and by the psalmist , “…he judges among the gods” [11], “but YHVH is great…above all gods” [12]. But, most assuredly and unmistakenly “YHVH our God” [13] “…is God of all Gods and Lord of all Lords [14], and the only one in the Old Testament to be worshipped. Most definitely, we should have no other gods before him!

As there are differences in the plant-kind and animal-kind, so are there differences in the God-kind, i.e., our heavenly Father is unique,distinct and superior (John 14:28; “…for my Father is greater than I “) to the Son Jesus. While admittedly there are many different species, order or genus, anything in the Plant-Kind can be called plant, as anyone in the Animal-kind is categorized as an animal, whether dog, cat or whatever. Likewise, an offspring of man is a son of man and called man, as an offspring of God is a son of God and called god. Yet, why is it that when it comes to the God-Kind, people have difficulty in understanding that if one is in the God-Kind, he/she is also god? No wonder, as man, Jesus who claimed to be son of God ,was accused of blasphemy, stoned and killed. As Israel was at that time, we are fixed, deaf-and-blind to the concept that the word “god” can only mean spirit-composed and not flesh-composed. We need to re-evaluate our understanding of what God is and replace it with the truth of man’s actual position in the hierarchy and context of creation, that of being in the highest order. From hereon, as difficult a concept it is to others, we need to accept and get used to classifying man as god, as Jesus did, to show the eventual “destiny of man”. This understanding that man is in the God-Kind provides a synopsis of man’s superlative path to glory, gives meaning to why we are here, and provides proper perspective of who/what we are.

While man is classified as “god” he is still a work in progress and his process of spirit-composed deification is still ongoing. In much the same way that we regard a fetus in-utero as human, yet it still needs to develop to full humanhood. He is at this time only a type or foreshadow of god, an earthy mortal image of God and has not yet attained the fullness and glory that the spirit-composed God planned him to be [15].The attribute of God, i.e., immortality is not inherent in the material composition of man ( “for dust thou art, and unto dust shall thou return” [16]. One cannot claim realization of the promise of “dominion overall” [17] ” as we are still subject to disease and can be killed by lethal microbes as in bioterrorism. Our present life is fleeting “like a vapour”([18].The kingdom (of G0D) ...” to be delivered up to the Father “by Jesus Christ” I Cor.15:24, is yet future. While currently we bear the earthy image of God, we still SHALL bear the image of the heavenly [19]. While the type, Eve, the earthy-woman, the “flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone” [20] already came from the 1st Adam, the woman (spiritual church, you and I, the wife in Rev.19:7) still has to come out from the 2nd Adam, Christ [21], after his resurrection.

How then can completion of spiritual deification be achieved? What is the mechanism behind this? Notice the following verses:

Eph.1:5 Today’s English version, Good News Translation

“Because of his love, God …..had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his children, this was his pleasure and purpose.”

Eph. 1:11 The Message;Colorado Springs,Newpress, 1993)

“It is in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eyes on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything……”

Eph 3:20 Living Bible,Wheaton Il. Tyndale House Publishers, 1979

“God…is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of..infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes.”

This concept is extremely important and needs to be emphasized…that it is only in and thru Jesus that man’s spirit-composed deification, our becoming “(spiritual) children of God”, will be realized, fulfilled and completed. What does that mean? Simply put, it was not and never was in the 1st Adam, the earthy-image of God, that this final and completion of deification will initiate and has never been planned like that. Rather, it was thru another man, the 2nd Adam, the one who did not come from the dust of the ground, not the earthy-Adam, but thru the man-Jesus, who was heavenly [22], not from this earth or dust of this ground, but “from above” [23],the “one and only begotten of the Father” [24], [25]. The “Word of God” (Jesus), as a matter of speaking, disrobed, renounced or abandoned his previous glorious spiritual body to become flesh, a human being, in a “fashion…as a man” [26], as planned. Imagine, being stripped of all spirituality and powers! As extremely difficult it was, he did it because of love for us. Moreover he did it on faith that his Father will “reconstitute” his spirit-body back to him, and better, i.e., higher than spirit-composed angelic-class. This gospel of love/faith goes back to the very beginning of time.Yes, from faith-to-faith, from the faith of Abraham all the way to the only faith that matters, the faith of Jesus ( [27], [28], [29], [30], that ultimately will bring man’s final deification to spirit-composed fullness and completion. As,” it was appointed unto man once to die …” [31] so did the 1st Adam die and still dead and under the ground waiting for resurrection and finality of deification. But, the man-Jesus (see Paul rendering of Christ, [32] died and was resurrected into life everlasting, mortality changed to immortality, physical changed to spiritual, and Jesus did not need to wait longer than 3 days and 3 nights to be transformed into this glorious spiritual body as prophesied and promised. In the entire human history, it was only the man-Jesus who died and rose spirit-composed [33], eventually completing the spirit-composed fullness of his deification. And only after Jesus reached and attained back his glory, i.e.transformed/resurrected into his glorious spiritual body, after the last/2nd Adam “became a life-giving spirit” [34] can he“..bring many sons to glory”. [35]. He is the precursor and has proven himself that final deification of man will be initiated and completed in Him, and finally for other humans, as well. “Death, where is thy sting?..grave, where is thy victory?” [36] is now only applicable (from victim-to-victor) to the resurrected Jesus who now has a spiritual body, but will materialize in the future for current humans when there physical body changes to spiritual. He is the “beginning-and-the-end”, the “Alpha-and-the-Omega”. As the earthy-Eve came about from and after the 1st Adam (flesh), so shall the spiritual-Eve(wife in Revelation, church) come about from and only after the 2nd-Adam’s spiritualization (resurrected Jesus, Son of God). Specifically, only that event of resurrection that makes it even more phenomenal. Remember what Jesus said that he has to be glorified and go to the Father, so that the Spirit will be sent [37]. Yes, Jesus the first of firstfruits and after that, the rest of the firstfruits at the start of the Millenium and subsequently at the end of the Millenium, the latter-fruits, thru the action of the Spirit. It is only through this transformational action of the Spirit coming into us that this will be realized. While human beings in their present state of flesh-and-blood are classified in the God-kind and can therefore be called “…gods”, they have not yet attained the fullness of deity or spiritualization which will come only thru and after Christ’s death and resurrection, by the works of the Holy Spirit. This Holy Spirit was first given to resurrected Jesus (John 16:7) and is the power given first at Pentecost, and is, in this present “age”, molding, preparing and sanctifying us into the future spirit-composed “sons/daughters of God”.

In the garden of Eden, notice the narrative surrounding the temptation posed to man by the serpent, ” Don’t you know that when you eat the fruit of the tree of good/evil, you will be like GOD, knowing good and evil?”( [38]. “…And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever” [39]. Careful evaluation of this event leads us to the following facts:

1. While man is classified IN the God-kind, he has not attained his full potential as GOD has planned for him, as it was still future.

2. Adam/Eve lack attributes of God, i.e., (a) wisdom to know good/evil on their own and (b)immortality. Much like a human newborn/child that is entirely and fully man but has not attained many things inherent in adulthood and needed time to mature to be fruitful. Remember,” to every thing there is a season ” [40]. We all started as spiritually-deprived infants, and Adam when he was formed from the ground was no exception. Christ welcomes “little children” [41] as a start of subsequent development into adulthood and maturity. Currently, we are in a developmental stage, some “newborn babes” [42], “babes in Christ” and need spiritual “milk“( [43], while others may tolerate “strong meat” [44]. The same principle applies to plants and animals that they need to mature before becoming fruitful.

3. In Gen. 2:17 Adam was admonished from eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good/evil, why? This is the fruit that when eaten will give them the ability to “know good and evil”. So, why is it such a “forbidden fruit”? What’s so bad about “knowing” good and evil? Certainly, it is not that God/YHVH prohibited Adam/Eve to know good from evil, as before that verse, He already defined and taught them and let them know what was prohibited and what was allowable, i.e., the fruit of the tree of good/evil is bad and the rest were good, including the fruit of the tree of life. Also, he wanted us to know good and evil such that the Ten Commandments were given subsequently . Neither, is it the act of choosing between good/evil that is prohibited as we are asked and encouraged to choose and do what is good. It is therefore not the knowledge or choice of good/evil per-se that was prohibited but, rather, from the context it appears to be about man/flesh making a judgment on or defining what is good and evil. What is forbidden by God is the defining, judging and deciding for ourselves what constitutes good/evil. This is a prerogative of God/YHVH. Deciding what is good and evil is within the purview of YHVH/ELOHIM and not man’s, not in his yet infantile beginning. Adam, on his own, and by his choice, has usurped this attribute of YHVH/ELOHIM even when he was still flesh and spiritually deprived. Moreover, the fruit of that forbidden tree is eternal death or second death. And from the beginning, the 1st Adam was prohibited to “eat” (the fruit/death) as it was not the 1st Adam who was destined and planned to “eat”, i.e.. experience or suffer death for mankind but the second Adam, Jesus Christ. Yes, it was the man-Jesus who was planned to suffer death for mankind, be resurrected, be restored to a better glorious spiritual body and rank, completes his deification from flesh/blood, thereby receiving that attribute of ” knowing good and evil”, the prerogative of decision-making as to what constitutes good/evil, as well as immortality. Being “like him“(God), is a gift, but Adam/Eve wanted to get it thru their own efforts(works), i.e., eating the fruit, which is wrong.These, I believe, are the reasons why God forbade man to eat that forbidden fruit. The gospel of grace/gift and not our works is interwoven in this narrative, “so that no one can boast” ( Eph. 2:9).

4. Having eaten the forbidden fruit, is a de-facto choice by man himself to decide what is good and evil . On his own efforts(works), instead of as a gift thru grace, he wanted to get that attribute of God and to become “one of us” [45] to make judgment on what is good/evil. He chose to decide, on his own, on what constitutes good/evil, even while he was still flesh.This, to his peril as “my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor my ways, your ways” [46] thereby excluding him from staying in the Garden of Eden. He disqualified himself from continuing to live his mortal and finite life in the garden of Eden. That violation of God’s commandment is a major sin that was imputed to all mankind. As “by one man, all died…so with one man, (Jesus), all will live” [47].

Taken in context and factoring in what actually happened subsequently, the narrative in the garden of Eden about the temptation/prohibition for man to “eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good/evil”, to be “like God” and Adam/Eve getting barred from the garden and “tree of life”, can be summarized as follows:

A. To be “like God” is a gift and cannot be achieved by anyone’s own works, but Jesus’ works. Adam/Eve was tempted to do it, on their own, did it, “eat the fruit” and failed miserably.

B. The man-Jesus, the 2nd Adam, was the person planned to eat(experience, take-in) the fruit(death) of the tree of knowledge of good/evil and not the 1st Adam. Jesus Christ fulfilled all the requirements of the Law, did all good works, then died/resurrected and received back his spiritual body/immortality as well as the attribute of deciding what is good/evil(knowledge of good/evil). This occurred out of Jesus’ love for us and his faith in the Father, not of our works, but Jesus’ faith and works ! His works and his faith are then imputed to all of us, indeed an undeserved gift to us from the Father.

Again, to emphasize the centrality of the man-Jesus to the whole plan of ultimate deification, please consider the concept of Father/Son relationship. When was this concept first introduced? All the while, we see man called “son of man“. But for man to be categorized as “son of God“, this did not start until the man-Jesus came into the scene. While there are hints as in :

“The LORD (YHVH) said unto my Lord (Adown), Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” Ps. 110:1 and,

“Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s (anointed one) name, if thou canst tell?” Prov. 30:4,

This Father/Son concept did not materialize or came to realization until the man-Jesus was manifested. Notice the narrative in Matt. 3:13-17 and Matt. 17:5. when the man-Jesus was introduced officially as “…my beloved son, …in whom I am well pleased” The Holy Spirit even was a witness in the form of a dove and descended upon him. Also, in John 1:18 and 3:18, Jesus was called “the only begotten Son”. The qualifier, only, because he was the only flesh-and-blood who had that distinction at that particular point in time. Jesus, the only begotten son and after him, thru the works of the Holy Spirit, “…many sons…”. As Jesus was begotten by the Father , confirmed and authenticated by the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, we are also begotten and witnessed by the Spirit who comes into man after having been sent by the Father after Jesus’ death/resurrection [48]

In a nutshell, one can glean from Genesis thru Revelation, that the mechanism of complete and full spirit-composed deification is as follows:

1.Creation of a template.

This earthy-image of God, 1st Adam, a “temple” of God has to be formed (as a template) for God to get into, as He will not enter nor dwell spiritually into a temple (physical edifice) made by man [49] [50] [51] or by hands.. Through the physical 1st Adam, humanity came about for the Spirit of God to take abode in the “spirit-of-man“, the anti-type of the “holy-of-holies” part of the temple in Jerusalem.

2. The “Word of God” has to become flesh [52], the second-Adam, and be conceived or enter into a human, Mary as a surrogate mother. This man-Jesus, as a temple, has to receive (or be entered into by) the Holy Spirit of God and he did at River Jordan baptism, do all the good works with the power of the Holy Spirit, die as a human in the cross and be resurrected to a more glorious spiritual body for the Holy Spirit to be given to him and subsequently sent to mankind, first at Pentecost.

3. After Christ’s death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit was sent [53] to get into man, a “temple” made by God, for development into maturity, bear fruits of the Spirit, die/sleep [54] and eventually change from mortal to immortal, from physical to spiritual, as what happened to the man-Jesus.
Summary

Brethren, the concept that man is in the God-kind, an earthy-image of God, and is called god, predetermines the ultimate destiny of humanity. This is essential and critical in understanding the awesome future that God has planned for us, even before we were born, much less have done anything to merit this gift. By grace did we receive this glory. God, the Father, is expanding membership into His God-kingdom. Indeed, this gospel of the GOD-KINGDOM started with Jesus and He will bring it to completion. The “kingdom of God is at hand” was trumpeted only after the man-Jesus came to this earth. He is the”beginning of the creation of God-kingdom” [55], the “author and finisher of our faith” [56]. He is the “firstborn over all creation” [57] and “created” by the Father ( [58]. He is the “cornerstone” of a spiritual temple that we are a part of and “fitly framed together”( [59].The Spirit of God is currently working to ” bring many sons to glory“. Those who now have the spirit of God as a token, bears a token image of the heavenly and are called “children of God“. In a “twinkling of an eye, at the last trump” [60], when Christ returns at his second coming, our physical bodies will change to spiritual, the first-fruits of Christ’s first harvest. After that, at a time certain, post-Millenium, will follow the latter-fruits of Christ’s second harvest. Everyone, “in his own order” [61] first was the man-Jesus, the first of first-fruits, who became immortal, then the rest of the firstfruits, and lastly the latter-fruits. The “fullness of the Gentiles“( [62], “…fullness of God[63] will manifest and man’s deification will be completed for them, as well. When our physical body changes to spiritual, then will be fulfilled the covenant made in Genesis between the Father and Christ that man who was made in the image of God will have “dominion overall”[64]. The world now is “subject to angels” [65], but the world-to-come “will be subject to the sons of God”.
References:

[1] Gen. 1:31 [2] Gen.1:26 [3] Mat. 6:26 [4] Heb.1:4-13 [5] John 19:7 [6] Matt. 26:63-66 [7] I John 3:12 [8] I Pet. 1:12 [9] Eph. 3:10 [10] I Cor. 8:5 [11] Ps. 82:1 [12] Ps. 37:9 [13] Micah. 4:5 [14] Deut. 10:17 [15] Eph. 3:20 [16] Gen.3:19 [17] Gen.1:26 [18] James 4:14 [19] I Cor. 15:49 [20] Gen.2:23 [21] I Cor. 15:45 [22] I Cor. 15:47 [23] John 8:23 [24] Heb.1:5 [25] Heb.5:5 [26] Phil. 2:8 [27] Rev.14:12 [28] Heb. 12:2 [29] IITim.3:15 [30] Phil. 3:9 [31] Heb 9:27 [32] I Tim.2:5 [33] Acts 16:23 [34] I Cor. 15:45 [35] Heb. 2:10 [36] ICor. 15:55 [37] John 16:7 [38] Gen. 3:1-6 [39] Gen. 3:22 [40] Eccl.3:1 [41] Lu.18:16 [42] I Pet.2:2 [43] I Cor.3:1-2 [44] Heb.5:12-14 [45] Gen.3:22 [46] Isa.55:8 [47] I Cor.15:21-22 [48] I Pet.1:3 [49] Acts 17:24 [50] I Cor 3:16 [51] II Cor 6:16 [52] John 1:14 [53] Ps. 104:30 [54] I Cor 15:51 [55] Rev. 3:14 [56] Heb.12:2 [57] Col. 1:15 [58] I Cor. 3:10 [59] Eph. 2:20-21 [60] I Cor 15:52 [61] I Cor. 15:23 [62] Rom.11:25 [63] Eph. 3:9 [64] Gen. 1:26. [65] Heb.2:5.
CONTACT:

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

Posted:Sept 1/2003

revised:July 12, 2014

For further reading, access the following topics: Destiny of Man, What is Death?, Temple of God

What is God?

Jun29 by fact-s.net

Sounds ridiculous? Yet surprisingly, many of us may be misinformed about what the word God is. Some may be atheist and denies existence of God. Others are agnostics and still groping for the answer. Admittedly, others know who their God is, one way or another. But, do we really know what the word God is? This question is not about the attributes of God, viz., omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, etc. Rather, it is about whether we comprehend what comprises or constitutes the word translated in English as “God”. Can this understanding help us in resolving the conflict between those who prove that Jesus, at incarnation, was God and man versus those who has equally compelling proof that he was only human and not God?

Why did Jesus say in John 10:34 “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’? The man-Jesus classified himself as well as other human beings as gods, for which reason they accused him of blasphemy, stoned him and subsequently killed him because uof this outrageous claim. Was Jesus right in classifying humans as gods? Does it really matter, who we are and where in creation do we belong? We are not in the plant-kingdom nor are we in the animal-kingdom. Are we really in the “god-kingdom” as classified by Jesus for which claim, he was persecuted and eventually died? This issue maybe so basic, yet so fundamental that the answer maybe so eye-popping as to help us understand the future and destiny of man. As the Bible says, “the only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is…” Rom. 12:3(The Message, Colorado Springs, Navpress, 1993)

To know the facts, we need to get to the original word in Hebrew (for the Old testament portion of the Bible/Tanach) and Greek (for the New Testament) that was translated into the English word God. Anyone who has a comprehensive concordance will be able to compile all the original words translated as God. Afterwards, to know the truth behind those words, one then looks at the usage/context of how the original word was used and whether other text or verses can confirm the true meaning of the original word. Following this format of research, one may be surprised about discovering many things that we were taught as a child/adult may indeed be deficient and fall under the category of misinformation, not intentional mind you, but misleading and confusing, nevertheless. As we delve into this critical subject, we will know what comprises the word “God”, concepts of polytheism/monotheism, variations/levels of powers, and where is the rightful position of angels, man, sons of God, Christ and the Father. And from these, we will then appreciate the spiritual significance behind knowing this subject well, and the hierarchy of creation.

POLYTHEISM/MONOTHEISM :
At the outset, let us look at the concept of polytheism/monotheism and verses that may appear confusing yet may eventually help us in exploring this subject: The startling fact is that the Pentateuch introduces the concept of plurality of the word God. Notice :
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.(Gen.1:1)

Here, the word God translated from Hebrew is plural and this numerical concept is reiterated in (Gen.1:26) Then God said,

“Let us make mankind in our image, after our likeness, …
But also, consider the following verses:
“If after all, there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords”,( I Cor.8:5 )

God stands in the assembly of El ,in the midst of the gods he renders judgment”(Ps. 82:1)
None can compare to you among the gods, O sovereign Master! Your exploits are incomparable! (Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O lord) (Ps. 86:8)
Yes, I know the Lord is great, and our sovereign Master is superior to all gods.
(YHVH is above all gods ) (Ps.135:5),
For you, O Lord, are the sovereign king over the whole earth; you are elevated high above all gods.(above all gods ) (Ps. 97:9)
You shall have no other gods before me (Ex.20:3 Decalogue)
You must burn the images of their gods,(graven images of their gods ) (Deut.7:25),
…on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment (many deities ) (Ex. 12:12)
For thou, LORD, [art] high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods (Ps. 97:9)
The preceding verses from the Old/New Testament tell us that, indeed, there are many gods, but a Supreme Being among them is above all of them.
Traditional Christianity denies the reality of many “gods”. But, there are indeed many “gods” and with different names. To Abraham, his name was El Shaddai and to Moses, YHVH (Yahweh/Jehovah). To Muslims, the name is Allah, to Chinese and Hindus there are many names, see;

http://www.names-surnames.com/gods/864-chinese-gods-list
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hindu_deities
Although, only one, I believe,should be worshipped and others not.
These verses affirm and did not deny the existence and reality of many gods. Polytheism is a fact in as much as there are many gods, and so is monotheism, in so far as there is One Supreme Being and One Above All gods is concerned. If in fact the preceding statement is true, and using this premise as a base, it then becomes imperative to get to the original word in Hebrew and Greek that was translated God . This will then help us understand what constitutes or comprises the word God, not only from the transliteration of the word, but also its context and usage
ELOHIM:
In Genesis, the Hebrew word translated God in English comes from the word ELOHIM/ELOHIYM. This is plural and a derivative of “El/Eloah(singular) meaning strong, mighty, power, POWERFUL ONES. (Brown,Driver,Briggs, Hebrew Lexicon, pp.42-44)
Likewise, in Strong’s Exhaustive Bible Concordance, comes the following Hebrew words:
430 ‘elohiym el-o-heem’ plural of 433 ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:–angels, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.
433 ‘elowahh el-o’-ah; rarely (shortened) >eloahh {el-o’-ah probably prolonged (emphat.) from 410; a deity or the Deity:–God, god. See 430.
426 ‘elahh el-aw’ (Aramaic) corresponding to 433; God:–God, god.
410 ‘el ale shortened from 352; strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity):–God (god), X goodly, X great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong. Compare names in “-el.”
Why is Elohiym plural ? Some think this is numerical plurality but others take this to mean multiplicity or majesty of powers, functions or rank
Which, if any, could it be?
In Gen. 1:26, “And ELOHIYM said, Let us ….our likeness…” suggest there were others of the same likeness or image during this creation narrative, hence Elohiym is a word that connotes numerical plurality , but also that a particular being (not beings) actually did the creation itself or spoke the word of creating, e.g., using he in
Gen.1:27 So ELOHIYM created man in his own image, in the image of ELOHIYM created he him; male and female created he them.
1:31 And ELOHIYM saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Gen. 2:2 And on the seventh day ELOHIYM ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
V-3 And ELOHIYM blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which ELOHIYM created and made.
V-8 And YHVH ELOHIYM planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
and using I in Gen.1:29 And ELOHIYM said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
V-30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
YHVH ELOHIYM:
The identity of this particular Elohiym, was specified as YHVH ELOHIYM in
Gen. 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that YHVH ELOHIYM made the earth and the heavens,
V-5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for YHVH ELOHIYM had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
V-7 And YHVH ELOHIYM formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
V-8 And YHVH ELOHIYM planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
V-9 And out of the ground made YHVH ELOHIYM to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
N.B. Also see chapters 3,4,5, etc. that specifies that the particular Elohiym was in fact YHVH.
YHVH is the creator in contradistinction to the other Elohiym, as in, Gen 6:2 sons of ELOHIYM. This specific and particular Elohiym is YHVH, who is the creator and the one who said “…Let us…our likeness ..” in Gen.1:26. This same person is the one who spoke to Moses and the one known to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as El Shadday. Notice the following:
Ex 6:2 And ELOHIYM spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am YHVH:
V-3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of EL SHADDAY, but by my name YHVH was I not known to them.
V-7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a ELOHIYM: and ye shall know that I am YHVH your ELOHIYM, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
Deut 10:17 For YHVH your ELOHIYM is ELOHIYM of gods, and ADOWN of lords, a great EL, a mighty, …
Incidentally, the traditional English version of this was quoted in the prayer by Col. Oliver North who was a keynote speaker at the National Day of Prayer gathering at Washington, D.C. on May 6 2004
This is the Elohiym(God) of Israel, and specifically identified and named YHVH / El Shadday
This again is confirmed in the Shema doctrine found in
Deut.6:4 Hear, O Israel: YHVH our ELOHIYM is one YHVH:
V-5 And thou shalt love YHVH thy ELOHIYM with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Micah 4:5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of YHVH our ELOHIYM for ever and ever.
Yes, there is no other specific Elohiym known and introduced to Israel to be worshipped but YHVH / El Shadday who is ONE. The One and ONLY ONE above all gods.
From the preceding, one can see that the plural word Elohiym is a generic or common name for a powerful being and that it includes the creator as well as others of like image or likeness. But to specify the identity of this particular Elohiym as a creator of heavens and earth and the being who dealt with Abraham, Isaac,Jacob,Moses and Israel , the proper name YHVH / El Shadday was used.
Angel as ELOHIM:
To confirm this concept that Elohiym/God is generic/common name, notice the following:
Worship him, all ye gods (430, elohiym)Ps.97:7 and juxtapose this with the reference…angels (32 aggelos {ang’-el-os} of God worship him in Heb 1:6
The elohiym/gods in Psalm 97:7 is definitely referred to mean aggelos/angels. See also the scene when Jesus told an angel (Satan) to worship him and speaking of himself towards Satan :
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Matt.4:10
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.Lu. 4:8
And to identify which of the elohiym or angels is specifically referred to:
…. for Satan himself is transformed into an angel (32 aggelos {ang’-el-os} of light.
II Cor.11:14,
…prince of this world be cast out John 12:31
… god (2316 theos) of this world (Satan) II Cor 4:4.
See also Ps. 8:5 angel(elohim, Strong’s #43)
Yes, even angels are classified in the Elohiym/God. This could be the reason why “us” and “our” are used in Gen.1:26 as angels were there during man’s creation, as the “serpent” (Lucifer,Satan) was in the garden of Eden
Man, Jewish leaders, Judges as ELOHIM:
Following the same concept of commonality of the word Elohiym/God, notice these verses:
John 10:31 The Jewish leaders picked up rocks again to stone him to death.
V-32 Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good deeds from the Father. For which one of them are you going to stone me?”
V-33 The Jewish leaders replied, “We are not going to stone you for a good deed but for blasphemy, because you, a man, are claiming to be God.”
V-34 Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’?
V-35 If those people to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods’ (and the scripture cannot be broken), 10:36 do you say about the one whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
Ps.82:6 I have said, Ye are gods (430 elohiym); and all of you are children of the ELYOWN (God).
N.B. Children of Elohim/God are classified gods as well, as Jesus, the man, the son of God is God, as other humans who were stoning him are called gods as well. Jesus classified “…those people to whom the word of God came …as… ‘gods’ in v-35. The word of God came to humans, you and me, and not to plants nor to animals. That’s why we are gods ! See also, Ex. 21:6; 22:8-9,28 where judges are called elohim (Strong’s#430)
MOSES reckoned Elohiym:
Ex.4:16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of ELOHIYM. See also, Ex. 7:1
Kings of the House of David likened to Gods:
Zech.12:8 In that day shall YHVH defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as ELOHIYM, as the angel of YHVH before them.
Yes, even men/women are classified in the Elohiym/God. Notice also that in Zech. 12:8 both man(house of David) and angel are classified as elohiym.
Again, looking at the facts and deducing the truth from the usage and context of the verses quoted, there is no doubt that Elohiym/God constitutes and comprises:
1.YHVH/El Shadday – the creator ,above all gods, one and only god to be worshipped by Israel , and by extension all gentiles.
2. angels(including Lucifer),
3.and man/woman
.
This specific and inclusive concept is not “pantheism”. It is not that “God is all and all is God” and not “all reality is infused with divinity”(Who made God? Ravi Zacharias,pgs.41-43,2003 Zondervan). Christ was specific and excludes plants, animals and innanimate beings. Distinction among the “gods” is maintained,i.e. there are levels and ranks of powers. Moreover,Elohiym is a word that connotes numerical plurality but may also mean multiplicity or majesty of powers, function or rank, as in Adonai in Gen 42:30,33, Isa. 22:18; 51:22; Ezra 10:3; Malachi 1:6

THEOS:
This same concept in the Old Testament is carried through in the New Testament. Notice, that in Greek, the word God is translated from “theos” This word is singular, masculine, and in the nominative case (The New Analytical Greek Lexicon ,p. 201)
And yet, THEOS , by context and usage, is a composite and includes:
1. God the Father:

When Jesus had finished saying these things, he looked upward to heaven and said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, so that your Son may glorify you just as you have given him authority over all humanity, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him. Now this is eternal life—that they know you, the only true God(theos,Strong’s#2316), and Jesus Christ, whom you sent. John 17:1-3
2. God the Son/Jesus:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God(theos,Strong’s#2316), and the Word was fully God.(theos,Strong’s#2316) The Word was with God(theos,Strong’s#2316) in the beginning. All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.John 1:1-3;
She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” This all happened so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: “Look! The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call him Emmanuel,” which means “God(theos,Strong’s#2316) with us.” Matt. 1:21-23
For this reason the sovereign master himself will give you a confirming sign. Look, this young woman is about to conceive and will give birth to a son. You, young woman, will name him Immanuel Isa. 7:14
Isa.7:14 Therefore the ADONAY himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
3. angel:
among whom the god(theos,Strong’s#2316) of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God. … theos,Strong’s#2316 of this world (Satan) II Cor 4:4
4. man/woman:
Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’(theos, Strong’s #2316) ? If those people to whom the word of God (theos,Strong’s #2316) came were called ‘gods’(theos, Strong’s #2316) (and the scripture cannot be broken), do you say about the one whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’(theos,Strong’s #2316)? John 10:34-36
N.B. Jesus was human and was made in the image of the invisible God as we all are 2Cor 4:4. Jesus as man incarnate is God as He is also God in the pre-incarnate and post-incarnate state
The preceding verses show that “theos”, while singular, is a composite word as the plural “elohiym” is. Now comes the question, why is Elohiym plural but can be singular, while Theos is singular but maybe plural? This is because by usage/context the Elohiym/Theos maybe specific or generic. When the word is specific then it is described and identified, e.g. YHVH / El Shadday or Father, Son, angel, man.
This contextual usage is equivalent to the rendering of “ekklesia”(plural) as exemplified in:
I Cor. 12:12 For just as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body—though many—are one body, so too is Christ.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church
CoL 4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which (is) in his house.
1Thes. 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which (is) in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Tim. 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which (is) the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which (are) written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect
Notice that when the plural word is modified by a singular verb, it coalesces the plural into singular connotation. Ecclesia , while plural, is one but composed of many members; as our body is one, yet made up of many members. This usage is akin to the United States is one country but composed of many states; as Israel is one nation but with 12 tribes and with the grafting of the gentiles could be even more.

Summary:
1.Elohiym/Theos refers to a composite of powers, the sum of divine and powerful beings, the totality of all attributes of deity. It is a generic term that may apply to a particular being. When it does, the specific name of that Elohim is identified, as in YHVH Elohim
2. Most of the time, Elohiym in the Old Testament refers to a specific YHVH Elohiym and Theos in the New Testament refers specifically to God the Father. At other times, it refers to those others in the generic Elohiym/Theos, i.e. Jesus, angels, humans.
3. In general, Elohiym/Theos is collective and not a selective term; common and not a proper name; inclusive and not exclusive; generic not proprietary; composite and not specific.
4. The usage and/or context of the word explains the intended meaning, whether plural/singular or numerical plurality/multiplicity of power, rank or position/function.
5. The word God/Elohim, as originally written,, includes different species, levels, class or rank. At the highest level is the Father, followed by Son(s) of. God, then angelic rank, and the lowest is man. However, man will be transformed into “sons/children of God”, spirit-composed at resurrection and higher than angelic-class.

SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Why know what the word “god” is ? Now that you know the facts and the truth behind the facts, the screaming spiritual significance of this truth can out-decibel anything ever heard of before! This has not been emphasized in traditional Christendom. Man is planned and classified by Jesus himself, to be categorized in the Elohiym. This classification of man in the Elohiym has far-reaching potential, seriousness and gravity that Jesus risked being stoned, charged with blasphemy and eventually gave his life for us to comprehend the magnitude of our destiny. Human beings are in the Elohiym/Theos, not in the plant-kind, nor in the animal-kind. We did not “evolve” from plants nor animals! In Genesis, you can see that after plants were created, they were planned to reproduce after their own kind. Likewise, when animals were created, they were to reproduce after their own kind. But, notice, after plants and animals were created to reproduce their own kind, God said, in Genesis,
1:26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, after our likeness, .”
1:27 God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.
Yes, humans are in the image of God, as Jesus the man, was in the image of the invisible God.( “… Christ, who is the image of God… 2 Cor 4:4) God is reproducing and multiplying the numbers that compose the Elohiym, aside from angelic beings. We are created in the Elohiym/Theos. We are in the GOD-KIND ,the God-Kingdom ! This is the context of the gospel of the Kingdom Of God. Kingdom of “man” was not planed. In fact, all human kingdoms from the Tower of Babel through the succession of human kingdoms represented by the ” image of Nebuchadnezzar”, will all perish. While in the class of Elohiym, as man ,like Jesus was, we are currently below the level and rank of angels(see Heb. 2:7) But as Jesus is now in the right hand of the Father as “Son of God”, our High-Priest, man will also be in that position, higher than the angels(Heb. 1:4; 2:10), as we will be in Christ, as “Son of God”, who will bring ” many sons to glory”. The head, who is Christ, has to be with the body, which is the ecclesia, composed of many members. When this kingdom of God, the ecclesia, the priests of Melchizedek are finally composed and is delivered to the Father, then all of us, including Jesus, will bow down before the supreme God of all…the Father, as in:
And when all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all. 1 Cor.15:28
Thank God, this human destiny was decided even before man’s creation, and before man has done anything right or wrong. Being in that category or class of Elohiym is a gift, not of works, but of grace through faith and out of the love of God.
Brethren, the spiritual meaning of this concept that man is in the class of Elohiym is of enormous significance worthy of praise and glory of the Father. For centuries, we were distracted from this concept and now, through the blessing of the Spirit, the time has come for all of us to see our direction and destiny.
Complementary Articles:
Destiny of Man, Deification of Man, Passion of Christ
CONTACT:
For any questions, comments, or article contribution for publication, please e-mail foundationacts@yahoo.com
Posted : June 17, 2004
Revised: June 29,2014

The Destiny of Man

May21 by foundationacts

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

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The Destiny of Man