Cross the Eternal Symbol for Truth
- Who are not contented with the current knowledge about God?
- All religions have this notion that we hear supplications and praises to God.
- This is also the state of mind in all Christian sects and denominations.
Sep 06, 2007
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- Nobody wants to be a foolish builder.
- But because of spiritual blindness like the Scribes and Pharisees, unwittingly, we may be foolish builders in the eyes of God.
- Who, then, are the wise builders from the point of view of God? Men?
Building the “Spiritual Life”
(Spirituality in contrast with Religiosity)
In building a house, a Civil Engineer lay the foundation by digging on the ground and fill the hole with concrete forming a hard rock. On this base are the posts erected, then the walls, roof, and other structures of the house. God speaks earthly things to demonstrate heavenly things (John 3:12 “ If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?”). On this illustration does God compare building a spiritual house:
Matt. 7:24 “ Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”
It is written God is speaking in parables in the Old Testament, so was Jesus Christ prophesied to speak “dark sayings of old” and in parables:
Ezek. 20:49 “Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?”
Psa. 78:2 “I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:”
As prophesied, Jesus Christ did not speak except in parables but these He explained to His Disciples:
Mark 4:34 “But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”
Jesus Christ is the Word (Rev. 19:13 “And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.). He is the Truth (John 14:6 “Jesus said, I am the truth…”). So let Him explain the parable of the wise and foolish builders by following His direction:
Isa. 28:10 “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:”
1 Cor. 2:12 “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
God defines or explains the terms used in the parable through His words:
a. “Wise man” – Look who are the wise in the following. Definitely God is not speaking literally-physically as this relates to God’s chosen like Solomon, David , the prophets, Apostles, and Disciples of our Lord
2 Tim. 3:15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation…”
Matt. 11:25 “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”
Isa. 28:9 (KJV only) “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.”
Psa. 51:6 “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.”
Prov. 1:7 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
b. “Foolish man” -- Look what is foolishness in the eyes of God, and who the fools are, in the following|:
1 Cor. 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Prov. 18:2 “A fool hath no delight in understanding, that his heart may discover itself.”
Prov. 1:7 “… fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Prov. 19:13 “The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.”
Prov. 24:7 “Wisdom is too high for a fool…”
Prov. 28:26 “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.”
Prov. 92:6 “A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.”
Prov. 12:15 “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.”
c. “Rock” – refers to our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord and God.
Psa. 18:2 “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength,”
1 Cor. 10:4 “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”
Psa. 18:31 “For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?”
d. “Sand” – refers to people
1 Sam. 13:5 “…and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up…”
Isa. 48:19 “Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof…”
e. “House” – refers to the life of a person
Psa. 127:1 “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it…”
1 Cor. 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God , and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
Prov. 7:27 “Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.”
2 Cor. 5:1 “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
f. “Rain” – symbolizes truth in the word of God/God Himself.
Deut. 32:2 “My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass”
Psa. 72:6 “ He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.”
g. “Flood” – symbolizes the power of God, and this is found in His words.
Isa. 28:2 “Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.”
Psa. 77:19 “Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.”
h. “Wind” – God’s power through His words as in:
Acts 2:2 “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost…”
Jer. 51:1 “Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will raise up... against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind.”
Isa. 11:15 “And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue… and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.”
Jer. 22:22 “The wind shall eat up all thy pastors…surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness.”
i. “Heareth and doeth saying” – listening to and following the word of God and not man’s words
Prov 15:31 “The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. 32He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.”
John 3:21 “ But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”
j. “House falling a great fall ” – it indicates the prevailing of truth over falsehood, thus, condemnation and eternal damnation to the foolish builder.
2 Cor. 4:3 “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost .”
Psa. 94:21 “And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.”
Psa. 27:2 “When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up My flesh, they stumbled and fell.”
THE WISE AND THE FOOLISH
From the different Bible characters, God identifies the “wise and foolish” builders. From the point of view of the people, those in letter (a) are the “wise” builders. Those in letter (b) can never be wise, but they are in the eyes of God.
Jesus called those in letter (a) “blind guides leading the blind.” Let God now through His words explain the right choice. Those in letter (b), by virtue of being “poor in spirit” due to “spiritual humility,” are endowed with divine wisdom:
Matt. 5:3 “ Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matt. 18:3 “ Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
They are endowed with divine knowledge and wisdom not otherwise given to those in letter (a):
Isa. 28:9 (KJV only) “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.”
2 Tim. 3:15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation…”
Matt. 11:25 “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”
Mark 4:34 “But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”
In contrast, those in letter (a) received the following rebuke:
Mark 4:11 “… unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand…”
Who of the two groups truly followed the directive, “ Search the scriptures” (John 5:39 )? Look how different God’s “language” is from man’s perception and understanding. Who would think that the fishermen from Bethsaida (Peter, Andrew, John, James), the corrupt tax collectors (Matthew and Zaccheus), the notorious adulteress Magdalene, the assiduous persecutor of Jesus Christ, Saul of Tarsus later known as Paul, are the real SEARCHERS of the Scriptures!
To the people, the Teachers of the Law, the Scribes, and the Priests, were “SEARCHERS” for having spent time and great efforts studying the Sacred Scriptures. But God says:
Isa. 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
To which group of people can we identify ourselves with? This is one way of confirming whether our names are written in the BOOK OF LIFE, for what other books can we find the Way to eternal life but the Holy Bible.
Building a house
If the “house” refers to the life of a person, then religious or spiritual beliefs will reveal the sturdiness or weakness of the “foundation.” Physically, a wise builder digs on the ground, removes the soil, and fills the space with concrete. Soil or ground symbolizes man as in, “till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” (Gen. 3:19). Spiritually therefore, removing the soil is doing away with man’s thoughts and ways, and replacing this with the “will of God.” The “will of God” is the truth. The concrete base is the ROCK foundation and this stands for CHRIST -- the TRUTH!
1 Cor. 10:4 “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”
Physically, a foolish builder because of ignorance puts no thought for the foundation of the house. He simply erects the posts on sand or soil. Spiritually since “sand” and “soil” symbolize man, instead of things coming from God, human reasoning and feeling become the foundation of the spiritual house. Foolishness blinds a person and cannot see the following:
1 Cor. 1:19 “…I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For after that...the world by wisdom knew not God…”
Jer. 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
Prov. 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
Let the two “houses” compare when the “fury of floods and wind” begin to batter them. So also two persons whose beliefs are based on TRUTH and the other on HUMAN PRECEPTS and RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS: There are two tests that separate the “wise from the foolish builders” (sheep from the goats, real from pseudo believers):
The Natural Man:
1 Cor. 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
The Spiritual Man:
1 Cor. 2:15 “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
TESTING THE SPIRITS
God provides His chosen the means to distinguish themselves from those who do not belong to His “household,” and thus be able to separate themselves from them:
2 Cor. 6:14 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers [ pseudo-believers]: for what fellowship hath righteousness [God’s standard of righteousness] with unrighteousness [man’s standard]? and what communion hath light with darkness? [spiritual blindness] 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial [false god/s, false Christs]? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel[unbeliever]? 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols [ falsehoods and deceptions]? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, [come out from the ‘synagogues’] saith the Lord, and touch not the uncleanthing [religiosity instead of spirituality]; and I will receive you, 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
Test 1
1 John 4:1 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”
Test 2
Rev. 13:11 “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.”
Test 1 – Refers to the identity of JESUS CHRIST
How easy for a person to say, “I believe in Jesus Christ and love Him dearly.” But who is the true Christ? Look how different people have varied perceptions of Jesus:
Who is Jesus Christ of the Apostles? Simon Peter recognized Jesus “not with flesh and blood, but by the revelation of the Father.” Truly identifying Jesus therefore requires a “miracle.”
Matt. 16:15 “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”
Some questions:
The answer to the questions leads to the CHRIST OF THE APOSTLES. Look who is speaking in the following!
Isa. 43:11 (The Father speaking) “I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.”
How could the FATHER declaring, “beside me there is no saviour,” be reconciled with JESUS as the Savior by virtue of His death on the cross?” Thus, Test 1 to know the people who truly recognize Jesus of the Apostles.
1 John 4:1 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”
Ephesians 2:19 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
The “house” is built upon the “foundation of the Apostles” and Jesus as the chief corner stone. The FOUNDATION is built on the IDENTITY of Jesus, and His true identification follows clear UNDERSTANDING of His words. Who is “Jesus Christ come in the flesh?” The Fatheror the Son? Only God can and should answer this question through His words:
a. Is there not only “one God, and this is the Father?”
1 Cor. 8:6 “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things…”
b. Was not the FATHER GOD who made the TESTAMENT of salvation? (Many verses in the Old)
c. Does not the Testament of salvation require the DEATH of the TESTATOR or maker?
Heb. 9:16 “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.”
d. Did not the SON Jesus Christ die on the cross to fulfill the testament of salvation? (Many verses)
e. Is not the FATHER GOD speaking in the following?
Isaiah 43:11 “I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.”
f. Can the Son Jesus Christ be “another” Savior when the Father claims to be the only one?
g. The answers to the questions lead us to this great miracle of God:
1 Tim. 3:16 [KJV and Bishops Bible only] “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh…”
h. Therefore confessing “Jesus Christ is come in the flesh” means believing and accepting that it is the FATHER who manifested Himself in the flesh. The following validates the foregoing truth:
1 John 5:20 “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”
Psa. 18:31 “For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?”
There is only one Lord and He is Jesus Christ:
1 Cor. 8:6 “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”
The “rock” is JESUS CHRIST!
1 Cor. 10:4 “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”
i. Can the Father, “the only God,” (1 Cor. 8:6a) possibly have a companion/s?
Isaiah 43:10 “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.”
j. The following leads us now to the “relationship” between the Father and the Son:
John 10:30 “ I and my Father are one.”
John 14:7 “ If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?… ”
k. Does not God confirm the foregoing with the following?
Isa. 52:6 (the Father speaking) “Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.”
John 8:24 KJV only (the Son speaking) “ I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”
The “LORD JESUS” as revealed is Emmanuel:
Matt. 1:23 “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
l. Would Jesus Christ be remiss of His promise “to be with His Disciples till the end of the world,” if He is not the Holy Spirit?
Matt. 28:20 “ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
2 Cor. 3:17 “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
Acts 20:28 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God , which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
m. Did God already reveal His name/s in the Old Testament?
Isa. 52:6 “Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.”
n. When did God give the clue to His NAME that the Apostles would use in baptizing the believers (in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost)?
Matt. 1:19 “Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David , fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
o. Jesus Christ required His Disciples to baptize the believers in the NAME of God.
Matt. 28:19 “ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
p. After Pentecost, the Disciples were given divine knowledge and wisdom and the NAME of the Father, NAME of the Son, and the NAME of the Holy Spirit was revealed.
Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Acts 8:12 “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God , and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”
Acts 19:5 “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
q. The Natural Man, with the use of the intellect and senses, perceives the “Son of the living God” sitting/standing at the “right hand of God” to be two persons:
Mark 16:19 “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.”
Acts 7:55 “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”
But God is speaking in parables (Ezek. 20:49 ) or “spiritual things” (1Cor. 2:14 ). God explains “right hand” to mean “power of God.”
Exo. 15:6 “Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.”
Luke 22:69 “ Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.”
r. The Natural Man perceives God at creation to have companions when He said:
Gen. 1:26 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…”
So also at the baptism of Jesus by John:
Matt. 3:16 “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
s. Unknown to the NATURAL MAN, senses and intellect nor feeling are capable of comprehending “spiritual things” that God speaks in His words.
1 Cor. 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Things of God can only be “spiritually discerned” by the revelation of the Holy Spirit:
1 Cor. 2:12 “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
t. From the foregoing, Simon Peter identified “Jesus as the Christ …” or the “Father in the flesh.” This is further confirmed when Jesus told His detractors:
John 8:19 “Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.”
u. God manifested Himself in the flesh for two reasons:
John 17:3 “ And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”
Rom. 3:10 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
Rom. 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
v. Thus, we see Jesus praying to the Father and is fully depended on the Father:
John 5:19 “…Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do…”
1 Pet. 2:21 “…Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:”
w. Thus to confess, “Jesus Christ is come in the flesh” is to believe and accept that it is the FATHER, and not the Son, who manifested Himself in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16 KJV and Bishops Bible only).This truth is attested to in:
1 John 5:20 “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”
Isa. 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: [man Christ Jesus] and the government shall be upon his shoulder: [totality of power or right hand of power of God] and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, [or Comforter] The mighty God, The everlasting Father, … ”
Col. 2:9 “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily [the visible God in eternity]. ”
x. Since Jesus fulfilled His promise of being with the Disciples till the end of the world (Matt. 28:20) in the form of the HOLY SPIRIT (2 Cor. 3:17), true believers now just wait for His SECOND APPEARANCE -- no longer His 2 nd coming:
Heb. 9:28 “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”
y. Test 1 -- Refers to the clear and true IDENTITY of Jesus Christ. This is what is meant in the following:
Rom. 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Test 2 – Distinguishes the “voice” of Jesus Christ from that of Satan:
Rev. 13:11 “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.”
Jesus Christ is called the Lamb of God:
John 1:29 “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
Satan is also called dragon:
Rev. 12:9 “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
The beast is a look-alike of the Lamb. Therefore many people would mistake him for Jesus Christ. “Coming up out of the earth” means human perception of Jesus Christ since “earth” stands for man (Jer. 22:29 ), instead of recognition by divine revelation as seen in Simon Peter (Matt. 16:16 -17). The real JESUS CHRIST, as introduced by the word, cannot be recognized by the intellect and senses. That is why it required a “miracle” for Simon Peter to recognize Him. The BEAST therefore is “jesus christ” to many people! Jesus warned His Disciples on this great deception:
Matt. 24:23 “ Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before.”
True recognition of Jesus should follow clear understanding of His word. Who can distinguish the “voice of the Lamb” from that of the dragon, but God through His words. This is revealed when Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights (Matt. 4:1-2). Satan or the dragon simply perceived Jesus’ fasting to mean literal-physical hunger for bread, that he told Him.
Matt. 4:3 “And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.”
Unwittingly, many people’s (still Natural men --1 Cor. 2:14 ) perception of the fasting of our Lord is also that of an empty stomach and hunger for bread. That is why in trying to follow Christ, they also fast literally-physically. However, it is written God does not need sacrifices but supplication for mercy from the people:
Matt. 9:13 “ But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Matt. 12:7 “ But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.”
Christ saw this only from the few and this validates His statement, “Many are called but only few are chosen.” This fulfilled the prophecy about Him that He would speak in parables and dark sayings of old (Psa. 78:2). He told His Disciples about His words. How many people today believe Him?
John 6:63 “ It is the spirit that quickeneth [who can give meaning to His words, man?] ; the flesh profiteth nothing [does the body benefit from His words?] : the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, [are the words literal or spiritual?] and they are life. ” [for physical life or spiritual life?]
Consequently, Jesus answered Satan regarding the Devil’s perception of His fasting:
Matt. 4:4 “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
Christ’s message of His fasting was long revealed in the Old Testament. It is HUNGER for the TRUTH!
Psa. 119:103 “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.”
Amos 8:11 “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 12And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.”
Jer. 15:16 “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.”
Another illustration distinguishing the “voice of the Lamb” from the “voice of the Dragon.” The Natural Man (1 Cor. 2:14 ) also speaks the “literal-physical language.”
John 2:18 “Jesus… said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?”
His listeners including His Disciples [when still Natural Men] did not understand this until our Lord demonstrated the meaning at His death:
John 2:21 “But he spake of the temple of his body. 22When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.”
It is this spiritual language, the “voice of the Shepherd,” that the “sheep” would recognize the Shepherd and differentiate Him from strangers:
John 10:3 “… the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. ”
Since clear recognition of the true Christ follows clear understanding of His words, salvation comes from the “NAME of the Lord”, where NAME refers to the Word of God:
Rev. 19:13 “And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.”
Rom. 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
John 15:3 “ Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”
Just as the physical Jesus had to be nailed on the cross, so is the WORD. The physical Christ corresponds to the “letter” of the word.
Col. 2:14 “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.”
“Handwriting of ordinances” refers to the LETTER of the law, which the Natural Man understands and tries hard to follow. However it is impossible for it is written:
James 2:10 “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
God’s purpose in giving the “letter of the law” is to convict man of his sins in order to become conscious of his inability and helplessness to follow them.
Rom. 3:20 “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
That is why it is written, man is under the curse of the law. Without God explaining, how could we understand this “dark saying?” God makes it clear that everyone trying to follow the law, that is the “letter,” will surely fail.
Gal. 3:10 “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law…”
God made this plan in order for man to realize his unworthiness, and therefore should be encouraged and induced to beg for God’s mercy. Thus, putting away boasting for following the law as seen in the Scribes and Pharisees. The first step to salvation is humility and should end with it. Humility is the antidote to pride that caused the downfall of Lucifer. The majestic and Almighty God showed the way to humility by manifesting Himself in the flesh. That is JESUS CHRIST that people aspiring for eternal life in the heavenly kingdom have not recognized.
With humility, God is just waiting to endow divine knowledge and wisdom to anyone following Way shown by Jesus Christ. But the proud loves the way of Lucifer.
Matt. 11:15 “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”
Isa. 28:9 KJV only “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.”
2 Tim. 3:15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
Now it is clear why “little children” [Matt. 18:3 “ Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven .”], like John, Peter, Paul, and other Apostles and Disciples [the “poor in spirit” Matt. 5:3], are given the gift of FAITH, like the faith of a child.
Eph. 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”
Rom. 1:17 “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
The “letter of the law” corresponds to physical Jesus before His death. The “resurrected Christ” ( Rom. 10:9) confirmed the fulfillment of the Testament of salvation, which required the death of the Testator. Christ’s death and resurrection therefore marks the “nailing of the letter of the law on the cross” and this gave rise to the “spirit of the law” that corresponds to the “resurrected Christ.” Just as Jesus is alive, so is the spirit of the law!
2 Cor. 3:6 “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”
To follow the “letter of the law” is impossible to attain salvation, just as simply recognizing the “physicalJesus” does not prove the fulfillment of the Testament of salvation. It is the “spirit of the law,” the result of the death and resurrection of the True Christ, that our Lord directed the attention of His listeners to. Jesus emphasized the importance of His words more than His “corporeal person.”
John 15:3 “ Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”
John 12:47 “ And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”
“Only a few, not many people” will believe and submit to this truth, that it is the “spirit” and not the “letter” of the word that gives eternal life. Now the following reveals a new meaning:
Heb. 9:22 “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”
“Flesh and blood” of Jesus
How easy for many people to say, “We are saved by the blood of the Lamb.” But only a few believe it is the TRUTH in the word that cleanses the sins of the humble. All these came about from the TESTAMENT OF SALVATION promised by the FATHER GOD, and fulfilled by the death of the maker thereof:
Heb. 9:16 “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.”
For the Spirit God to fulfill His testament by His death, “He had to manifest Himself in the flesh” (1 Tim. 3:16 KJV only) now known as the Son Jesus Christ. This “mystery” is revealed in the following:
1 John 3:16 KJV only “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to…”
With the shedding of blood on the cross, the promised INHERITANCE [God Himself promised to be the inheritance in Ezek. 44:28, and later on revealed as the HOLY SPIRIT in John 7:39, Acts 2:1-4] is made available to those who believe:
John 3:16 “ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Thus, Jesus calls Himself the “bread of life.”
John 6:35 “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”
To take the word to the “letter,” how could this be possible? Who, then, can explain the “spirit” of the word but God alone through His words.
John 6:54 “ Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life… 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.”
The “flesh and blood’ of Jesus is revealed in the “miracle” when Simon Peter clearly recognized Him:
Matt. 16:15 “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”
True recognition of JESUS cannot come from “flesh and blood,” where “flesh and blood” means the wisdom or rationality of man. The wisdom of man comes from the dictate of the intellect and feeling or emotion. Emotion is mistakenly felt as coming from the Holy Spirit. Thus for Simon Peter, the non-use or renunciation of his “flesh and blood” gave way to the “flesh and blood of Jesus” that revealed the TRUTH to him.
Therefore the “flesh of Jesus” refers to the “letter” of His words. His “blood” represents the Holy Spirit the shedding of which cleared the way of His availability to those who believe. It is the Holy Spirit that “quickens the dead letter” or reveals the meaning of the word. This serves as the “living bread.”
John 6:63 “ It is the spirit that quickeneth ; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
Now these words of our Lord present a “new” meaning:
John 6:54 “ Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life…”
But many of those who heard this left Him because they could not understand what our Lord meant:
John 6:60 “Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 66From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”
But the Apostles who were “converted like little children” (Matt. 18:3) remained with Him:
John 6:67 “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”
It is from this perspective that our Lord said:
Matt. 22:14 “ For many are called, but few are chosen.”
The Scribes and Pharisees failed to pass the TWO TESTS previously presented:
Test 1 – For the clear identity of JESUS CHRIST (1 John 4:1-3).
The Scribes and Pharisees claimed to worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, our Lord rebuked them for not having recognized Him and therefore had not known the God that they worshipped:
John 8:19 “Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.”
John 8:54 “Jesus answered… it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him…”
This truth does not pass away. Anyone professing to know the Son Jesus Christ should follow clear identification of the Father also, that God no longer is a mystery; otherwise, failure to pass Test 1.
Test 2 – For the distinct recognition of the “voice” of the Lamb (Rev. 13:11).
The Teachers of the Law took upon themselves the authority to explain the word of God. However, not even the Apostles appropriated this authority:
Mark 4:34 “But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”
No wonder Jesus Christ rebuked them for simply following the “letter of the law,” and this they could not rebut:
Matt. 23:25 “ Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.”
“Outside of the cup” refers to MORALITY. Example, the Scribes and Pharisees were faithful to their spouses.
“Inside of the cup” refers to SPIRITUALITY. Our Lord called the Scribes and Pharisees “blind leading the blind.” They did not even know they were committing spiritual adultery by accepting seeds other than the “seeds” of God (Luke 8:11 ), which is the TRUTH. They cannot see themselves as the “spiritual wife” (Jer. 3:14 ) of God who is the spiritual husband, (Isa. 54.5). While they preached the word of God, they were limited only to the “letter” for they could “not see” the “spirit” of the word. Jesus rebuked them, “This adulterous generation” (Matt. 16:4).
“Extortion” refers to the application of the “letter of the law” on Tithes where Paul did not follow because Jesus, who showed the Way, had not preached and demonstrated it. For details, read TITHES AND OFFERING AND THE TEMPLE MERCHANTS -- http://www.purechristianity.org/tithes.htm].
“Excess” refers to the literal application of some laws, like Sabbath, and other religious traditions. For details, read “THE LORD OF THE SABBATH -- http://www.purechristianity.org/lord_of_the_sabbath.htm.
This is the list of other reproofs to the Scribes and Pharisees and find to whom they also apply in our time. God reveals the “foolish builders” and their followers!
Matt. 23:1 “Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:”
The Scribes and Pharisees professed to be servants of God as Moses was.
Matt. 23:4 “ For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.”
“Bind heavy burdens” is requiring the laity to perform religious traditions that Jesus and the Apostles did do, like building chapels, churches, cathedrals, and other activities. For details read, CHAPELS, CHURCHES, AND CATHEDRALShttp://www.purechristianity.org/chapels.htm
Matt. 23:5 “ But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,”
Discern religious leaders how showy they are in their task, wearing attire or some emblems to distinguish them from the laity.
Matt. 23:7 “ And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”
Nowhere in the Bible can we find prophets and Apostles ever addressed as Father or Rabbi (meaning Teacher, Pastor, Head, Shepherd) for this titles solely belong to Christ. Jesus warned His Apostles on this:
Luke 22:25 “And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.”
Jesus continuing the rebuke:
Matt. 23:13 “ But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.”
Try to discern religious leaders who discourage and prevent people from searching the Sacred Scriptures and hearing the truth. Take note when questions are presented to them and they are offended.
On the commandment, “Thou shalt not steal,” look how spiritually blind some religious leaders really are for unwittingly robbing God of the honor and glory solely belonging to Him.
Psa. 111:9 “He [God] sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.”
Sincerity and honest intention are not enough:
Rom. 10:2 “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”
Thus, continuing our Lord’s rebuke:
Matt. 23:15 “ Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.”
The Scribes and Pharisees have been sincere and zealous in winning souls for God. But because this is not based on knowledge or TRUTH, the proselytes or new converts from other denominations are not delivered from “spiritual slavery.” The Natural Man (1 Cor. 2:14 ) cannot accept but TRUTH will prove this. Read the rest of Matthew 23 that the Lord will open our eyes to the iniquities and abominations that He saw in His time, and find how true what He said:
Matt. 24:35 “ Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”
Matt. 5:18 “ For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
This proves how important passing the TWO TESTS is to the chosen people of God are. For further revelation of the “wise and foolish” builders:
For Test 1 read:
Jesus of the Original Apostles –
Http://www.purechrist ianit y.org/jesusof.htm
The God of the Old and New Testament http://www.purechristianity.org/godofthe.htm
For Test 2 read;
Deciphering God’s Spiritual Language Http://www.purechristianity.org/decipher.htm
Tower of Babel & The Religious Languages
http://www.purechristianity.org/towerof.htm
OPENING THE EYES OF THE BLIND
Here is another demonstration how “flood and wind” will destroy the “house built on sand.”
John 9:1 “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 6When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. 8The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? 9Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. 10Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? 11He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay [a reminder that his blindness is caused by being a Natural Man – ‘dust thou came and unto dust thou shalt return…], and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight [washed with water where water symbolizes the word of God and the man was converted into a Spiritual Man]. 13They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.. 18But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. 19And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? 20His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 21But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. 22These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. 35Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 36He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 38And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
John 9:39 “And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind . 40And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 41Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. ”
Here is the TRUTH or the “Rock foundation” on which the “wise builder” built the “house.”
1. God’s instruction in reading the Sacred Scriptures:
Isa. 28:10 “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.:”
2. This is the equivalent of Christ’s presence explaining the message of the incident in the “spiritual language” of God:
1 Cor. 2:12 “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
3. The word “blind” has two meanings: literal and spiritual. The incident is expressed literally. The story is the “letter of the word” that the Natural Man understands of the incident:
1 Cor. 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
4. But the literal or the “letter of the word” for the incident does not yet constitute the truth. It is the “spirit in the word” that serves as spiritual food:
2 Cor. 3:6 “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit : for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”
5. The Natural Man only perceives the literal “opening of the eyes” of the man born blind” in the story. However, it is the “spiritual” that Jesus Christ emphasized.
John 9:39 “And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. 40And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?”
Now Jesus’ explanation of the incident through His words which He clearly put in the following:
John 6:63 “ It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
a. “It is the spirit that quickeneth” means it is God who gives “life” or spiritual message to the “dead letter of the word” – not any man to do this role.
b. “The flesh profiteth nothing” means the body does not benefit from the word of God. It is the soul that should benefit from the word of God. But the Natural Man only sees the physical aspect of the story, as in Jesus saying, “Destroy this temple…” The Jews thought of the building made with hands, but to the Apostles it was the body of Jesus that was “destroyed and raised after three days” – referring to His death and resurrection.
c. In the story, the man born blind benefited physically. However, it is the healing of his “spiritual blindness” that led him to eternal life. This is the kind of “life” that our Lord speaks of in His words.
IDENTIFYING ONESELF WITH BIBLE CHARACTERS
People are hopeful that their names are written in the BOOK OF LIFE. God reveals the Book of Life. Is not the Holy Bible containing the word of God that gives eternal life? The Sacred Scriptures therefore is the Book of Life! To see our names in that book is to be able to identify ourselves with the characters. I would now venture to see myself in the man born “blind.” Am I not spiritually blind for “not seeing” the LIGHT of the gospel since birth? The is the LIGHT of the gospel:
1. JESUS is the Word of God:
Rev. 19:13 “And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.”
2. JESUS is the Truth:
John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth…”
3. JESUS is Emmanuel that means “God with us:”
Matt.1:23 “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
4. If Emmanuel means “God with us” and there is only one God, the Father (1 Cor. 6a), then JESUS must be the “Father in the flesh.”
1 Tim. 3:16 (KJV only) “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh…”
5. Then in confessing, “Jesus Christ is come in the flesh,” I could “see” the FATHER in the person of JESUS to fulfill these two roles:
FIRST - To fulfill His TESTAMENT of salvation with His death:
Heb. 9:16 “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.”
SECOND - To show the WAY, by example, as model:
1 Pet. 2:21 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:”
Rom. 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
6. If the Son JESUS were not the FATHER, then His death would not have fulfilled the TESTAMENT for it requires the death of the maker. The maker of the Testament is the FATHER. He is the Testator.
Heb. 9:16 “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.”
7. If the Son JESUS were not the FATHER, then He should not have accepted worship for only God deserves worship. This is according to Jesus Christ Himself (Matt. 4:10 ), and there is only “one God and this is the Father” (1 Cor. 8:6a).
1 Cor. 8:6 “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things…”
Matt. 4:10 “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.”
8. JESUS as the FATHER in the flesh is confirmed in the following:
John 14:7 “ If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me…”
Col. 1:14 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature [in the flesh or as man to fulfill the testament and to show the way by example]: 16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible…”
Like the man born blind, I could not “see” all these things about JESUS before. As a result, my belief and recognition of Him fall in one of the three (3) doctrines preached after the Apostles. It is only after clearly recognizing Him that my eyes were “opened” to the great spiritual message of His words. In this case, I see myself in the person of the man born blind. Before, I could only see the story and never the message behind the story. I was like the Scribes and Pharisees who only comprehend “literal things.” But now what Jesus said of the miracle is clear to me:
John 9:38 “And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. 40And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 41Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.”
To take the word of our Lord literally, Jesus Christ was not seen making “those who see were made blind.” Therefore, the “literal language” of Satan portrays Jesus Christ to be a liar. Unwittingly, because of spiritual blindness, that is what the Natural Man perceives Jesus Christ to be! Literally, there are many promises of Jesus remaining unfulfilled, and many cases contradicting Himself. It is the “spiritual language” of God that everything in His words is in perfect harmony, and His words will not to pass and/or not having passed away.
1 Cor. 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually [not intellectually, not of the senses, not emotionally] discerned.”
Nicodemus, a preacher of the word of God, was a Natural Man because he could not understand “spiritual things.” This was revealed when he came to Jesus one night and was told by Him to be “born again:”
John 3:3 “Jesus…said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God . 4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”
Eventually however, by humbling himself before God, Nicodemus became a Spiritual Man. He was “born of water and of the Spirit,” where “water” means the word of God (Eph. 5:26 ) and Spirit refers to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
John 3:5 “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus was found, together with Joseph of Arimathea, bringing the body of Jesus from the cross:
John 19:38 “And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus…besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night…”
Nicodemus before, although a preacher of the word of God, was a “foolish builder.” However by being “converted like a little child” before the Lord, he was transformed into a Spiritual Man and became a “wise builder.”
Matt. 18:3 “… Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
1 Cor. 2:15 “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
Saul of Tarsus before recognizing Jesus, as a Pharisee, was a persecutor of our Lord and His Disciples. Later however, he became a leading apostle of Christ popularly known as Paul. As a Spiritual man, he realized the “spiritual language” of God and wrote:
Rom. 7:14 “For we know that the law is spiritual…”
Nicodemus and Paul are good examples of how “foolish builders” can become “wise builders” by simply humbling themselves like “little children” before God.
2 Tim. 3:15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
Matt. 11:25 “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”
The story of the man born blind is the message of being “born again.” The Scribes and Pharisees, who in the eyes of the people were men of God, were just Natural Men. No wonder they called Jesus “having a devil and is mad” for they could not understand Him. If we substitute JESUS CHRIST with TRUTH, we will see how the word of God, indeed, does not pass away for many people will say the same thing of the TRUTH, “this is devilish, this is foolishness.”
John 10:20 “And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?”
Just as Jesus was called having a “devil and is mad,” so is TRUTH in the perception of the Natural Men. It is for this reason that Jesus told the people:
John 9:39 “And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.”
Jesus came into the world to show the “light” of the gospel -- so is the TRUTH in the word. However, Jesus was accepted only by a few -- so is TRUTH. What is surprising is, the very people perceived to be men of God rejected Jesus. Orthodox teaching of godliness and righteousness is expected to reject TRUTH. TRUTH exposes Natural Men to be spiritually blind. This was proven when the Pharisees were convicted in:
John 9:40 “And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?” Our Lord retorted, “ If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.”
Our Lord told the Pharisees that for professing not to be spiritually blind, their sins remain because they have not seen GOD’S STANDARD of righteousness. Their godliness and righteousness is limited only to MAN’S STANDARD. Therefore, how could they truly repentof their sins in the eyes of God? Theirs is only remorse.
Judas Iscariot “ repented” of what he did to our Lord. In truth however, this is only remorse for he did not humble himself before Him. Committing suicide proved this.
Matt. 27:3 “Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.”
Acts 1:18 “Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. 19And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.”
The Natural Man could only feel remorse for evil deeds and erroneously thinking this is already repentance. Jesus spoke of it as the “great fall of the house of the “foolish builder:”
Matt. 7:26 “ And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”
There are two super beings that can perform supernatural acts: God and Satan. People who did not know the God of Abraham and Moses cannot see the difference between miracles and wonders.
Exodus 7:10 “And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. 11Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. 12For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. 13And he hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.”
The rod of Aaron turning into a serpent is a miracle from God, while those of the wise men was definitely a wonder from Satan. The fact that the rod of Aaron swallowed up the rods of the wise men shows the superiority of miracle over wonder. Jesus Christ performed miracles for several reasons. One is to show the superiority of miracles over wonders.
Matt. 11:5 “ The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.”
How many people can distinguish miracles from wonders? These are the clues for the difference:
1. False prophets cannot perform miracles but wonders. “False Christs” refer to the erroneous identification of the True Christ:
Matt. 23:24 “ Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before.”
2. People who do not know the True Christ cannot perform miracles but limited to wonders. Is not knowing Christ and His chosen mutual? This truth exposes the works of those who do not truly know JESUS. They are pseudo believers. Their wonders, erroneously thought to be miracles, are exposed.
Matt. 7:21 “ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven…. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity [anything contrary to the truth is iniquity in the eyes of God] . ”
Therefore, if false prophets and people who cannot truly identify Christ can “cast out devils, prophesy in the name of Jesus, make the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hears, and even raise the dead to life again;” how can Christ show the superiority of His miracles over these?
3. Here is the truth that the “foolish builder” cannot, and will not, accept for it is not pleasing to the intellect, feeling, and senses. The “flesh profit nothing, or the body does not benefit from the miracles of Jesus! It is because the words of our Lord are “spirit.”
John 6:63 “ It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
The ultimate beneficiary distinguishes miracles from wonders. Christ gives more importance to the soul over the body. Is not God “harvesting” souls instead of bodies of His chosen? Does not the word of God refer to the healing of the soul in the following?
Psa. 41:4 “I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.”
Matt. 16:26 “ For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Christ performed many miracles, but because of spiritual blindness people are more attracted to wonders! Wonders are counterfeit miracles.
Matt. 8:16 “…they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: 17That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.”
Matt. 11:5 “ The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.”
Look how God speaks “spiritual things” or in parables. He is talking of “taking our infirmities and bare sicknesses,” but at the same time giving the warning, “blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” This is put to light by distinguishing miracles from wonders:
1. “The blind see”
a. To see the light of the sun, moon, stars, Christmas lights, or
b. To see the “light of the gospel” which is the truth.
2. “The deaf hear”
a. To hear the sound of beautiful music, cry of a baby, listen to a preacher who does not even know God, or
b. Understand the great message of the word of God.
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