Lucius Josephs’ Blog

Put God First priority #3

29 Jul, 2010 No Comment

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a. Be Thankful to God

The third priority in putting God first in one’s life is to show appreciation and be thankful to God, because it is of his fullness of grace we have all received grace upon grace, and since we are receiving what we were destined to receive, which is a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

We express our appreciation and gratitude to God by worshiping him in the acceptable manner with reverence and godly fear, and this is expressed in four (4) ways:-

Ascribing to the Lord the glory due to his Name

The main reason why we come and appear before the Lord is to humble ourselves before him because of his Sovereignty, and to express our grateful thanks to him. According to 1 Chronicles 16: 8-30; we are to; “Give thanks to the Lord! Call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing psalms to him; talk of all his wondrous works! For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; he is also to be feared above all gods.” Give to the Lord, glory and strength: give to the Lord the glory due to his name.

In Psalms 95 and 96 respectively we are told to; “Come, Let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song, for the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depth of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him, the sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.’

“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.”

“Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord the glory due to his name; bring an offering and come into his courts, worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; and tremble before him.”

We are told in no uncertain terms in 1John chapter one verses 3-4 that, “Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” Therefore since Christian fellowship is with the Father and the Son, it is imperative that those who come before him are walking and practicing the truth, because, “God is light and in him is no darkness at all.’ And, “If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” True worshipers are to worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship him.

It is amazing and appalling to see how many people who profess to know and believe God, have very little respect for His word. They hold His commandments in gross contempt, and in the same breath, stand in awe at the doctrines, traditions, and commandments taught and practiced by men. Like Jesus Himself said to the Pharisees, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions.”

Only One God

Believe it or not there are many false gods which people inadvertently worship instead of the One and only true God. but even if there are so called gods, whether in heaven or on earth as indeed there are many gods and many lords, “There is but one God: the Father, from whom all things came, and for whom we live, and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live” (1 Corinthians 8:5-6).

Therefore, all credits, glory, honor and gratitude should be directed or channeled to the One and only true God, for to Him all glory and power belong, and it is He who gave to all life breath and everything else, and also in Him we all live , move and have our being. (Psalms 62:11 Acts 17:25, 28).

Unfortunately, however, we do not all channel our praises, glory, honor, and express our grateful thanks to the One and only true God. Whether wittingly or unwittingly, many serve and worship other gods rather than the One and only true God.

The Lord said to the nation of Israel, “To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord Himself is God; there is none other beside Him. Out of heaven He let you hear His voice, that He might instruct you; on earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words out of the midst of the fire” (Deuteronomy 4:32-36).

The rationale for all this was for Israel to consider in their heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; and that there is no other besides him.

However, in order for God to distinguish Himself as the One and only true God, and distinguish His people from all others, He made a conditional covenant with them, so that if obeyed, they shall be a special treasure to Him above all people, for all the earth is His. They are to Him a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Those who obey the covenant are described as, “A chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that they may declare the praises of him who called them out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once they were not a people, but now they are the people of God; once they had not received mercy, but now they have received mercy” (Exodus 19:5-6, Leviticus 19:30; 26:2; 1 Peter 2:9).

Bring an Offering and come before his Courts

Bringing an offering before the Lord on his appointed holy convocation is the main objective for presenting ourselves before him. As a matter of fact, it is stated quite categorically in the book of Leviticus chapter 23: verse 37; “ These are the feasts of the Lord which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the Lord, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day.”

This offering which we are to offer to the Lord whenever we present our selves before him, regularly, on every festival, and holy convocation is known as the burnt offering; with its grain and drink offering. This offering is so special and of such intrinsic importance, that it is, “Besides (or in addition to) the Sabbaths of the Lord, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your free will offerings which you give to the Lord.”

This special offering is of intrinsic importance: it is the offering which Jesus Christ as our High Priest is appointed to offer on behalf of our sins. In the book of Hebrews chapter 5: verse 1, and Chapter 8: verse three respectively states that; “Every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.” And, “For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One (Jesus Christ) also have something to offer.”

This offering is of such great importance and valuable to God on behalf of our sins, it is required from our hands not only at the appointed festival or holy days, but also on a regular basis. This offering is as equally important and useful, as it is sacred and sanctified. The Lord said to Moses; “Command the children, and say to them, ‘My offering, my food for my offerings made by fire as a sweet aroma to me, you shall be careful to offer to me at their appointed time.”

The Lord continues; “This is the offering made by fire which you shall offer to the Lord: two male lambs in their first year without blemish (the shadow of Jesus Christ the Lamb of God), day by day, as a regular burnt offering. The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, the other lamb you shall offer in the evening.’ It is a regular burnt offering which was ordained at Mount Sinai for a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord.”

A burnt offering as clearly indicated is, a combination of; an animal sacrifice without spot or blemish, with its accompanying grain offering, and it’s accompanying drink offering. In the Book of Numbers chapter fifteen, the Lord said to Moses; “All who are native born shall do these things in this manner, in presenting an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord. And if a stranger sojourns with you, or whoever is among you throughout your generations, and would present an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord, just as you do, so shall they do. One ordinance shall be for you of the congregation and for the stranger who sojourns with you, an ordinance for ever throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the stranger be before the Lord. One law and one custom shall be for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you.”

Put God First by Seeking first the kingdom of God

19 Jul, 2010 1 Comment

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a. Seek first the kingdom of God

In consoling his followers the Lord says to them; “Do not be anxious saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ Or ‘What shall we drink?’ Or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well” (Matt.6:31-33

The Kingdom of God and his righteousness is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. It is for this purpose he sent his Beloved Son into the world to die for the sins of man, and resurrected him in glory, in order to fulfill the everlasting covenant and promise he made to Abraham and his descendants.

With regards to the covenant God made with Abraham the apostle Paul wrote, “When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that they might receive the full rights as sons.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, so that by faith they might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Because they are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into their hearts crying, “Abba! Father” So they are no longer slaves, but sons, and since they are sons, God has also made them heirs. Heirs to the promise God made to Abraham and his descendants (Gal.4:4-8; Gal.3:14).

In affirming the immutability of the covenant which God made to Abraham and his descendants, the apostle Paul wrote; “Brethren, let us take an example from every day life. Just as no one can set aside, or add to a human covenant that has been duly established so it is in this case: The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The scripture does not say “and to seeds”, meaning many people, but “and to your seed”, meaning one person, who is Christ” (Gal. 3:15-16).

The promise was extended to David from whom Jesus Christ descended and thus says the Lord; “The days are coming, when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety, this is the name by which it will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.’

“For this is what the Lord says: David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, nor will the priests, who are Levites, ever fail to have a man to stand before me continually to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to present sacrifices” (Jer.33:14-17).

With regards to the everlasting covenant the Lord made with the house of Israel the prophet Isaiah wrote; “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord will perform it.”

Jesus Christ fulfills this covenant by having an everlasting kingdom, and an everlasting priesthood.

For it is written; “If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come – one in the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?

For the one of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. This becomes more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is declared: “You are a priest for ever in the order of Melchizedek”.

Those who formally became priests took their office without an oath, but Jesus Christ became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest for ever.” Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. For it is fitting that we should have such a High Priest, one who is holy, blameless, pure, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens.

Unlike the other high priests, Jesus Christ does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priest men who are weak; but the oath which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect for ever” (Heb.7:11-17; 21-28).

The kingdom of God is the principal and ultimate objective of our calling for thus it is written; “Come to him, to that living stone, rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him. You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture in says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, the stone the builders rejected has become the head of the corner,” and a stone that will make men stumble, a rock that will make them fall”; they stumble because they disobey the message, as they were destined to do.

But you (the believer) are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may proclaim the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1Pet.2:5-9).

It is stated that, “Jesus Christ was slain, and by his blood he ransomed men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and has made them a kingdom of priests to God, and they shall reign on the earth” (Rev.5:9-10).

The stone which the builders rejected and has become the chief corner stone is Jesus Christ the King of God’s kingdom. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

The first message Jesus Christ preached when he began his ministry was; “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe the gospel.” (Mk.1:14-15). When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, he replied, The kingdom of God is not coming with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is, or there it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in the midst of you” (Lk.17:20-22).

The establishment of God’s kingdom on earth was revealed to the first world ruling king in a dream, and was later interpreted by the prophet Daniel. In interpreting the dream to the King Daniel said, “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed: nor will it be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand for ever; just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. The great God has made known to you what will take place in the future. The dream is certain and its interpretation is sure.”

With brotherly Love

Lucius Joseph

Put God First (part 1)

13 Jul, 2010 1 Comment

Put God first is a sentiment that has certainly been embraced by most, if not all professing Christians, but exactly how to apply it differs from one individual to another. It is therefore imperative that we first learn to put things in true and proper perspective.

The worse thing anyone can do is to spend his/her time (life), resources, even destroying very important relationships pursuing what is believed to be of such great importance to God, and ends up to be all in vain.

As a matter of fact, the worse indictment that has been labeled on those who profess to know God is that of vain worship, and this is duly supported by Jesus Christ who said to the Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men. You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God, in order to keep your own traditions” (Mk.7:6-9).

Jesus also cautions his followers saying; “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers” (Matt.21-23).

Therefore the things one needs to do in order to put God first in his/her life are:-

Put things in true and real perspective

It is not just a matter of putting God first at all cost whether it is his according to his will or not, but rather put things in true real perspective, and seek first his will.

God has a plan for man before the foundation of the world, for it is stated clearly in the scriptures, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God – not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance that we should walk in them.”

We are both the material, and co-workers with Christ whom God is using to accomplish his plan for man. The apostle Paul tells us; “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, his work will be shown for what it is; for the Day will disclose it because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire” (1Cor. 3:10-15).

It is therefore unwise and insensible on the part of anyone who will not try to put things in true perspective and just simply follow trend despite the serious warning given by Jesus Christ saying; “For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.”

The apostle Peter echoed a similar sentiment when he says; “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Sovereign Lord who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute” (2Pet.2:1-2).

Since it is the many and not the few that are being led astray, one should not become insensitive and naive to the babble of confusion that plague the Christian religion, and simply take for granted everything that is said and done in the name of God. For thus says the word of wisdom; “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?

One cannot afford to be complacent; the stake is too high to have the wrong perspective of God’s order of things, which can cause one to build his/her thesis on the wrong premise. The prize at stake here is enormous. It is not simply granting one access into a kingdom as citizens, but rather being heirs, rulers of a kingdom, and having a glorified body, which varies in glory. For just as there is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars, and star differs from star in glory, so will it be with the resurrection of the dead.

Be renewed in the spirit of the mind

The apostle Paul said; “Now this I affirm and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; they are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more” (Eph.4:14-19).

Those who put God first in their lives however, did not come to know Christ that way. Assuming that they have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, they will put off their old nature which belongs to their former way of life, and which is corrupted through deceitful lusts, and they will be renewed in the spirit of their minds, and will put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

They will put God first by not conforming themselves to this world, but rather be transformed by the renewal of their minds, in order that they may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. They will set their minds on things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. They will put to death all what that is earthly in them, because the unrighteous, the immoral, idolaters, adulterers, sexual perverts, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, and robbers will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Putting God first is to strive to enter by the narrow door; for many I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the house holder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us.’ He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from. Then you will begin to say. ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity! There you will weep and gnash your teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out. And men will come from East and west, and from North and South, and sit at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last” (Lk.13:24-31)

Anyone who breaks one of the least of God’s commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commandments will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

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Identifying the Children of God

2 Jul, 2010 2 Comments

It is without a doubt that the majority of people especially in the Christian religion believes that there is but only one God, the Father of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through him we live, because in him we live and move and have our being; he is the vine and we are the branches.

Nevertheless, it is stated quite distinctly that there are those who are regarded as the children of God, and those who are regarded as children of the devil; for thus it is written; “This is how we know who the children of God are, and who the children of the devil are” (1Jn.3:10).

In order to differentiate one from the other, two identifying signs have been given, but before we examine these two signs it is imperative that we know first of all how one can be regarded as a child of the devil, and the other a child of God.

God the Father in his great mercy has given us (humanity) new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade away reserved in heaven for us. We were created through the resurrection of Jesus Christ to be like God in righteousness and true holiness.

Nevertheless we all have a human spirit which was dead (separated from God), because of the transgression of Adam, but was made alive again (given access to the Father), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but remains a free moral agency with the prerogative to join itself with either the spirit of the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience, and thereby becoming a child of the devil.

Or, the prerogative to join itself with the Spirit of God and becomes one spirit with the Lord. When joined to the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Authority is given to be called children of God only to those who receives Christ, and believes in his name. At this point the Father qualifies them to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light, for he has rescued them from the kingdom of darkness, and translated them into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom they have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The fact that there are those who are the children of the devil should not be a surprise because Jesus himself said to the descendants of Abraham; “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I proceeded and came forth from God; I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.’

“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him, when he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (Jn.8:42-44).

Having established the fact that there are children of God and children of the devil, it is therefore imperative to know how we are able to differentiate them.

It is stated quite explicitly, “This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are:-

Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God.

First of all, one needs to establish and prove what is this act of righteousness that differentiates the children of God from the children of the devil?

Certainly it can not be our own righteousness, because it is clearly stated that, “We are all like an unclean thing and all our righteousness are like filthy rags. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” We are all under the power of sin as it is written; “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands, no one seeks for God, all have turned aside, together they have gone wrong; no one does good, not even one” (Isa.64:6; Rom.3:10-12).

Neither can it be righteousness from keeping the law, because it is again stated quite clearly that; “Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith, but as it were based on works. They stumble over the stumbling stone.” It is well understood that, “No one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by observing the law; rather, through the law they become conscious of sin” (Rom.9:31-32; Rom.3:20).

What therefore is the act of righteousness which, when practice differentiates God’s children from the children of the devil?

The righteousness which when practice differentiates the children of God from the children of the devil is having faith in the act of righteousness by which man was imputed with righteousness. And since faith without works is dead, it means demonstrating this faith by whatever symbol that proclaims this act of righteousness.

It is clearly stated that, “As the result of one man’s act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous” (Rom.5:18-19).

The act of righteousness which imputed righteousness and brought life to all men, is the offering of the body of Jesus Christ which he offered to the Father as a sweet smelling aroma, and which satisfies his will.

Righteousness has been attained on this basis from the very inception of humanity beginning with Abel. Immediately after we are given the two signs which differentiate the children of God from the children of the devil it is stated, “ For thus is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, and not be like Cain who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brothers righteous” (1Jn.3:11-12).

So what made God to regard Abel’s offering, and disregard the offering made by Cain? Not only did God highly regard Abel’s Offering, but he was also commended as being a righteous man.

How did Abel attain righteousness? This is what we learn from the scriptures; “In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the first fruit of the ground, and Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord has regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard” (Gen.4: 3-5).

We are further told that, “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, by faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings” (Heb.11:4).

The reason why Abel’s offering was accepted, and Cain’s not accepted is because Abel offered to the Lord the sacrifice, the sweet aroma which satisfies his will, one which depicts the best one can offer for man’s redemption. For the life of all flesh is in the blood; and God has given it to us upon the altar to make atonement for our souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for ones life.

The Lord instructed the priests saying, “You must not redeem the first born of an ox, a sheep or a goat; they are holy. Sprinkle their blood on the altar and burn their fat as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.” Again the Lord said to them; “The priests shall burn them (the fat) on the altar as food, and offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the Lord’s. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. You must not eat any fat or any blood” (Num.18:17; Lev.3:16-17).

The sprinkling of blood and the burning of the fat of clean animals which were offered by Abel and also the Levites the priests were a type, that foreshadowed the real sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the best and only sacrifice that can fulfill the Father’s in presenting the worshiper holy and blameless before him.

It is this secret mystery that was hidden for ages in God who created all things; that through the church his manifold wisdom might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.

This secret mystery was according to the eternal purpose which God has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confidence of access through our faith in him. Therefore, the practical righteous which distinguishes the children of God from the children of the devil is faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ which is demonstrated by partaking of the bread and wine. For it is written: “For as often as you eats this bread, and drinks this cup you proclaim (demonstrate) the Lord’s death until he comes.”

It is this act of righteousness that the children of God have become enslaved to for having been set free from sin. They are enslaved to this act of righteousness because God requires that this offering, the food for his offerings, his sweet smelling aroma be offered to him at its appointed time. In fact God set aside specific times for his children to come together before him, specifically to offer to him his offering.

For thus says the Lord; “These are the Lord’s appointed feasts, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing offerings made to the Lord by fire – the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day. These offerings are in addition to those of the Lord’s Sabbaths and in addition to your gifts and whatever you have vowed and all the freewill offerings you give to the Lord” (Lev.23:37-38; Numbers chapter 28 and 29).

It is this act of righteousness that when practice produces holiness, and ultimately everlasting life. It is this same act of righteousness that when practice, one becomes righteous even as Christ is righteous. Therefore we have been warned saying; “Dear children, do not let anyone deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous just as he is righteous” (1Jn.3:7).

The same way Abel was commended as being a righteous man because he offered the Lord the offering which was pleasing to him, in like manner, righteousness is attained by faith in offering the Lord his offering, his food for his offerings, his pleasing aroma at their appointed time.

The children of God are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, in order that they may declare the praises of him who called them out of darkness into his marvelous light. They are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. They come to Mount Zion (the Church) and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in joyful assembly, and to the assembly of the first born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a Judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better things than that of Abel.

2. The second identifying sign is “He who does not love his brother is not of God”

Loving one’s brother is not so difficult to understand as practicing righteousness, for it is clearly defined saying; “By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us, we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1Jn.3:16-18).

One important admonition we have regarding the poor is; “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need whatever he needs,” For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land” (Deut.15:7-8, 11).

These are the two outward signs or hallmarks that differentiates and identifies the children of God from the children of the devil, the question is, are we able to identify ourselves with them? For in the scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,” and, ‘A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message – which is also what they were destined for” (1Pet.2:6-7).

The message or word which they were destined to do, but stumbled because of disobedience is no other than the message of the cross. To the Jews a stumbling block: and to the Gentiles and those who are perishing foolishness, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God.

The Intent of the Mystery of God’s Will

25 Jun, 2010 2 Comments

The Intent of the Mystery of God’s Will

The intent of this mystery is for the church to demonstrate the manifold wisdom of God to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, and to have access to the Father with all boldness and confidence through faith in Jesus Christ.

The apostle Paul wrote; “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all people see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;’

“To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in him” (Eph.3:8-9).

We are admonished by the apostle Paul to hold fast to our confession. He said; “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, his flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water, let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.’

“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb.10:19-25).

The objective of this mystery is to present the worshiper before God in a holy, blameless, perfect and irreproachable state. It is the food of God’s offerings which satisfies his will. He said to Moses; “Command the children of Israel and say to them, my offering, my food for my offerings made by fire as a sweet aroma to me, you shall be careful to offer to me at their appointed time.”

God ordained specific times to offer to him his offering, it is besides or in addition to everything else one may wish to offer to the Lord. He said; “These are the feasts of the Lord which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the Lord, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day – besides the Sabbaths of the Lord, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your free will offerings which you give to the Lord.”

This offering is the offering which Jesus Christ as our High Priest, is appointed to offer to the Father on behalf of our sins, and since “He continues forever, he has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to the Father through him, since he ever lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins and then for the people’s, for this he did once for all when he offered up himself” (Heb.7:24-27).

Appreciation of the Mystery of God’s Will

We need to show our appreciation of this mystery by being obedient to the faith. In rendering his benediction the apostle Paul said; “Now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began, but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith – to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

Because of the apostle Paul’s deep understanding of this mystery he wrote; “For this reason, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled will all the fullness of God.”

“Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Eph.3:14-21).

One can not do anything to reimburse God for the amazing grace he has lavished upon us, we can only show our appreciation, and express our gratitude to him by, the mercies of God to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to him, which is our reasonable act of worship. And the reason for this is because as priests of the New Covenant we are to be holy to our God, because we offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and the bread of our God; therefore we shall be holy.

As obedient children we are not to conform ourselves to the former lusts, as in our ignorance; but as he who called us is holy; we also are to be holy in all our conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

We should appreciate the fact that, we were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold from our aimless conduct received by tradition from our fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for us who through him believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that our faith and hope are in God.

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The Mystery of God’s Will

25 Jun, 2010 No Comment

In several passages of scripture the apostle Paul made reference to God’s mystery, his secret wisdom which was kept secret for ages from other generations, but has now been revealed to his saints.

The Apostle wrote; “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and understanding, having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in himself” (Eph.1:7-9).

This mystery is God’s secret wisdom which he ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory.

The Mystery of God’s Will Revealed

This mystery which is for our glory, and was kept secret and not revealed to the sons of men in other ages has now been revealed to us, it is the redemption we have through the blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins.

According to the apostle Paul we should not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord which in effect is, “For there is one Mediator between God and men, the Man Jesus Christ, who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due times.”

The gospel according to the power of God is that, “God has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2Tim.1:9-10).

The gospel reveals the way our Savior Jesus Christ abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light, so that no one is excusable.

Jesus said; “I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, and one may eat of eat and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

Even after the Jews expressed their disgust and disbelief at Jesus’ statement, He reiterated and affirmed his statement by saying; “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.’

“He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the father, so he who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven – not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live for ever” (Jn.6:48-58).

This mystery was revealed to the apostle Paul who wrote; “I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles – if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation he made known to me the mystery (as I wrote before in few words, by which when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets; that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of his power” (Eph.3:1-7).

Gentiles are now fellow heirs of the same body, and partakers of God’s promise in Christ through the gospel which speaks in this wise; “I speak as to wise men; judge for your-selves what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, being many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread” (1Cor.10:16-17).

What was revealed to the apostle Paul is the way to; “Open the eyes of the Gentiles and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ” (Acts 26:18).

The apostle Paul declared the mystery to the church by stating; “For I have received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you; that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which he was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is my body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same manner he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, this do as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till he comes” (1Cor.11:23-26).

The bread and the wine are figurative to the manna and the rock which sustained the children of Israel during their journey in the wilderness of sin. “They ate manna forty years, until they came to an inhabited land; they ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan” (Exo.16:35).We also, are being miraculously fed with the true bread from heaven, as we journey through the wilderness of sin until Christ comes.

The Church as the Body of Christ

13 Jun, 2010 1 Comment

Most people are familiar with the ideology that the church is the body of Christ, but how does it function as the body of Christ?

The church in a literal sense is the body of Christ, and Jesus Christ is literally its head. They both function together as a living organism to carry on the process of governance.

The church in reality is the legislative body, the cabinet of Ministers in the Government of God, of which Jesus Christ is the head, and the chief corner stone. They do not make laws, because the laws have eternally existed, but they are advisors on all matters of the law.

They are called, chosen and sanctified by the Spirit for three important functions;

1. To be obedient to Christ their head (1Pet.1:2).

They are elected according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit for obedience. “Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation. In him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authority; all things were created by him and for him .He is before all things, and in him all things exist. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the first born from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the preeminence” (Col.1:15-18).

“God raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion and every title that can be given, not only in this present age, but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be the head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way” (Eph.1:20-23).

Since “Jesus Christ is declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead; through him, the apostles have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for his name, among whom we also are the called of Jesus Christ’ (Rom.1:4-5).

1. For the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ (1 Pet.1:2).

The church is an integral part of the kingdom of God: it is the fullness of Christ, his complete governing body: Jesus Christ is depicted as the stone which struck the great image and became a great mountain (kingdom) and filled the whole earth. He is the stone which the builders rejected and has become the chief corner stone. He is the noble man who went to a far country to receive a kingdom and to return, but his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ He is the son of the owner of the vineyard whom when the vinedresser saw him said, “He is the heir let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.”

The church is part of that kingdom and, “As living stones are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. They are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, in order that they may declare the praises of him who called them out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1Pet.2: 5, 9).

As a kingdom of priests they must be holy to their God, and must not profane the name of their God, because they present the offerings made to the Lord by fire (zeal), the food of their God, therefore, they are to be holy” (Lev.21:6).

Offering to the Lord his food for his offerings is something the body of Christ must be careful to observe. The Lord said to Moses; “Give this command to the children of Israel and say to them: ‘See that you present to me at the appointed time the food for my offerings made by fire, as an aroma pleasing to me” (Num.28:2).

This sweet smelling aroma in our New Testament dispensation is the sacrificial body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, which the church is appointed to offer to God through the hands of Jesus Christ our High Priest.

Our admonition is to, “Be imitators of God as dearly loved children, and live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Eph.5:2).

The offering of the body and blood of Jesus Christ is the spiritual sacrifice that is acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. It is the offering which did away with the first, as it is written: “First he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them’ (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, ‘Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second, and by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb.10: 8-10).

1. The lips of the priest ought to preserve knowledge, and people should seek the law from their mouths (Mal.2:7).

They are the messengers of the Lord Almighty. Not that they are competent in themselves to claim anything for themselves, but their competence comes from God, who has made them competent as ministers of the New Covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Their confidence before God is through Jesus Christ.

The church, the legislative body of Christ, have been specifically called and chosen to make plain to everyone, especially the rulers and authorities of the heavenly realms the administration of the mystery of the manifold wisdom of God, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, and was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.

God destined this mystery for our glory before time began, and none of the rulers of this age understood it, for had they understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. This mystery was kept hidden in God with the intent that through the church his manifold wisdom should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. This mystery is the new and living way by which we draw near to God with confidence (Eph.3: 9-12)

Therefore they are commissioned to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything which Christ has commanded them.”

The church, the legislative body of Christ has been specifically called and chosen to have fellowship with Jesus Christ and to share in his glory, therefore the members are to be encouraged, comforted, and urged to live lives worthy of God, who calls them into his kingdom and glory.

Jesus Christ our Cornerstone (part 2)

7 Jun, 2010 2 Comments

Jesus Christ our Sanctification

Jesus Christ is the corner stone of our sanctification as a result of his resurrection from the dead, and his appointment as high Priest who lives for ever and has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Such a High Priest meets our need – one who is holy, blameless, pure, and set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Both righteousness and holiness (sanctification) is a state which has been conferred upon believers because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Hence we are admonished to “Put on the new man, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph.4:24).

As living stones we are integrated into the cornerstone of holiness by “God the Father who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him.” This spiritual state has to be perfected by cleansing ones self from every defilement of body and spirit, and making holiness perfect in the fear of God.

This necessitates our separation from everything that defiles as we have been instructed saying; “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For, we are the temple of the living God.

As God has said, “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty” (2Cor.6:14-18).

Christ the cornerstone of our sanctification has called his people out of the world, and prayed to the Father on their behalf saying; “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world anymore than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified” (Jn.17:14-19).

It is also by the authority of Christ our sanctification that Paul issued a letter to the church saying; “I have written to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people – not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler, with such a man do not even eat.”

“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? God will judge those outside. Expel the wicked man from among you” (1Cor.5:9-13).

A messenger of Christ our sanctification has issued a warning saying; “Come out of her, my people so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues” (Rev.18:4).

Jesus Christ our Redemption

Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our redemption because only in him we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins. God has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Redemption is not a one time process as it is commonly believed, it is an ongoing process. The one time process of redemption is, once and for all there is now an offering that can present the worshiper holy, perfect, and blameless in the presence of God. It is made absolutely clear that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness, and no one can say that I have no sin, or have not sinned. Therefore, “If we claim to be without sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we claim we have not sinned we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”

But, if any body does sin, we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. It is the blood of Christ that (not purified as in the past, but as an ongoing process) purifies us from all sins.

It is stated quite categorically that the life of the flesh is in the blood: and God has given it to us upon the altar to make atonement for our souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. Therefore, the cup of the New Covenant which was instituted on the night before Jesus Christ was led to be crucified and became effective after his death, was part and parcel of the plan of the mystery hidden in ages in God.

According to the scriptures, a testament is in force only when some body has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. Therefore the cup of the new covenant of Christ’s blood became effective after his death and that was all part of God’s redemption plan for man.

The corner stone of our spiritual structure therefore is, Jesus Christ coming in the flesh, his death and resurrection, and his appointment as the eternal High Priest, and his flesh and blood as the food for God’s offering as the redemption price for our sins. For thus it is written; “God is the source of our life in Jesus Christ, whom he made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption; therefore, as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord” (1Cor.1:30-31).

It is the lack of, and improper discernment of the body and blood of Jesus Christ that is the cause of the believer’s weakness, sickness and premature death. We should therefore learn how to build our spiritual house on the chief corner stone, in view of God’s mercy, to offer our bodies as living sacrifices (as priests), holy and pleasing to God, which is our spiritual act of worship.

Priests must be holy to their God, and must not profane the name of their God, because they present the offerings made to the Lord by fire, the food of their God, they are to be holy. Priests are holy to their God and should be regarded as holy, because they offer up the food of your God. Consider them holy, because I the Lord am holy – I who make you holy” (Lev.21:6-7).

Our admonition is to; “Come to him, the living Stone, rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him. You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

People stumble because they disobey the message, which is also what they were destined for. “But you (the believer), are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once we were not a people, but now we are the people of God; once we had not received mercy, but now we have received mercy” (1Pet.2:5, 9).

All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ, who chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ in accordance with his pleasure and will, to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has given us in the one he loves, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment” (Eph.1:3-10).

I think the time has reached its fulfillment. Therefore as obedient children, let us not conform ourselves to the evil desires we had when we lived in ignorance, but just as he who called us is holy, so let us be holy in all we do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Jesus Christ the Cornerstone (pt1)

6 Jun, 2010 4 Comments

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Christianity is undoubtedly portrayed in scriptures as a construction work, were each individual has been given a solid foundation on which to build his/her eternal destiny.

The apostle Paul alluded to this perception by stating; “According to the grace of God given to me like a skilled master builder, I laid a foundation and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1Cor.3:10-11).

In another instance Paul described believers as, “Members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and Christ himself being the corner stone in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom believers also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Eph.2:19-22).

The apostle Peter echoed similar sentiments by urging all believers to, “Come to Christ, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God’s sight chosen and precious; and like living stones built yourselves into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1Pet.2:4-5).

The job description of those who are called is clear with absolutely no ambiguity, and there is only one hope for this calling, and the reward is based on how we pursue that hope. It is only if the work which any man has built on this foundation survives, that he will receives a reward, because the quality of every man’s work will be revealed by fire, and will test every man’s work of what sort it is.

Every structure is supported and joined together by the cornerstone, and in constructing the spiritual house one must assure him/herself that as living stone he/she is properly integrated, amalgamated, and well supported by the four corner stones of the spiritual temple, if not the slightest turbulence can cause a rift between the stones and the cornerstone.

The four cornerstones of the spiritual temple on which we are integrated and amalgamated, in order to build our own spiritual structure are:-

Jesus Christ our Wisdom and Power

Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our wisdom and power because according to the apostle Paul, “We do however speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing; No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.’

“None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written; “no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him, but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit” (1Cor.2:6-9).

What exactly is that secret wisdom and power of God which he destined for our glory?

The secret wisdom and power of God which he destined for our glory is, Jesus Christ who because the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death, so he yielded his life for atonement for sin, and open the life gate that all may go in.

According to the apostle Paul “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written; “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise: the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

He then posed the following questions; “Where is the wise man? Where is the Scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolishness the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world did not know God through wisdom: it pleased God through the foolishness of what we preach, to save those who believe.”

How exactly do we preach the message of the cross, which is to those who are perishing foolishness, and to those who are being saved the power of God?

To preach the message of the cross is not just a verbal exercise, it involves a demonstration of the message of the cross. The secret mystery which was revealed to the apostle Paul is this; “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me. For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the lord’s death until he comes” (1Cor.11:23-26).

The apostle Paul said; “Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1Cor.1:18-25).

We are integrated into this corner stone in view of God’s mercy, by offering our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (as priests in order to offer to the Lord his food for his offering) this is our spiritual act of worship.

The church has been given the responsibility to make known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places the manifold wisdom of God, which for ages past was kept hidden in God. The apostle Paul clarified this by saying; “To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things;

This mystery the apostle Paul said, “Was according to the eternal purpose which God has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confidence of access through our faith in him” (Eph.3:8-12).

The apostle Paul endorsed the source of our boldness and confidence to the Father by saying; “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the most holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water” (Heb.10:19-22).

Jesus Christ Our Righteousness

Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our righteousness because his death fulfilled the righteous requirements of the law, by paying the penalty of sin in full, which is death, and conferred his righteousness to all those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness, and will reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ . As the result of this one act of righteousness, justification which brings life, came for all men. As the scripture clearly states; “But now, the righteousness of God apart from law has been made known, to which the law and the prophet testify. This righteousness from God; comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Rom. 5: 17-19; 3: 21-22).

This righteousness has not only been imputed, but has to be practiced as well, because we have been admonished saying; “you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.’ And, “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteousness just as he is righteous.” This act of righteousness is the only righteous act that can produce holiness, because, all of man’s righteousness is as filthy rags before God

This act of righteousness is to become slaves to God as priests, to offer to him his food for his offerings at its appointed time, and having become slaves to God, the benefit we reap leads to holiness, and the result is everlasting life.

Live a Life Worthy of the Calling (pt 2)

4 Jun, 2010 4 Comments

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The main objective of our calling is to become a kingdom of priests to the serve the Lord, and as a matter of fact, the second most important function of a priest next to offering the Lord his food for his offerings is to disseminate knowledge.

For thus says the Lord. “The lips of the priest should guard knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts” (Mal.2:7).

One thing is certain: God will not minimize his standards nor compromise his laws to facilitate man in his short comings and disbelief. Because, “To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received precious faith, grace and peace in abundance through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord, as his divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

And through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them we may partake in the divine nature and escape the corruption that is in the world by evil desires.

Therefore, in order to have a walk worthy of the calling which we have received, we must first have faith in the one who has called us, and faith in the calling we have received. We must then add to that faith virtue that means acting on the faith we have received, because faith without works is dead, and without faith it is impossible to please God.

We must then supplement our virtue (goodness) with knowledge because knowledge is the medium by which we grow to the measure and stature of the fullness of Christ. It is the process by which the new man is renewed according to the image of him who created him. The apostle Paul’s prayer for the believer is that, “They be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that they may have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

Knowledge of God is of paramount importance for our spiritual growth. We are to “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to him we give the glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

Knowledge has to be supplemented with self control in order to maintain an equilibrium state of mind: because, knowledge has the tendency to puff up, and can cause the individual to exalt himself, therefore like the Apostle Paul said, “ I discipline my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” (1Cor.9:27).

Self control has to be supplemented with perseverance or steadfastness, not giving up despite the challenges, knowing that it is he who endures until the end that shall be saved, and that “No temptation has overtaken us that is not common to man. But God is faithful, who will not allow us to be tempted beyond our strength, but with the temptation will also provide a way of escape, that we may be able to endure it.

Perseverance has to be supplemented with godliness, which is to exercise the godly characteristics of Christ which is walking with all lowliness (humility) and meekness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Godliness is supplemented with brotherly kindness, which is to be devoted to one another, honoring one another above ones self. We are exhorted to keep on loving each other as brothers, and do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. It is said that, “What is desired in every man is unfailing love, a poor man is better than a liar” (Prov.19:22).

Brotherly love finally must be supplemented with Love, the kind of love that Jesus Christ demonstrated because, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love in words or tongue but with actions and in truth” (1Jn.3:16-18).

We have been given the promise that, “If we possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep us from being ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is short-sighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Our admonition is to, “Think of what we were when we were called, not many of us were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong; he chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.’

“It is because of him (God the Father) that we are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1Cor.1:26-31).

To those who are unsure or oblivious of the hope of their calling, we are urged to be all the more eager to make our calling and election sure, for if we do these things we will never fail, and our reward will be a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2Pet.1:10-11)

So then, are we going to make our calling and election sure, and have a walk worthy of the calling? It is our choice to choose.

Older Entries »

Lucius Josephs’ Blog

Put God First priority #3

Put God First by Seeking first the kingdom of God

Put God First (part 1)

Identifying the Children of God

The Intent of the Mystery of God’s Will

The Mystery of God’s Will

The Church as the Body of Christ

Jesus Christ our Cornerstone (part 2)

Jesus Christ the Cornerstone (pt1)

Live a Life Worthy of the Calling (pt 2)

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