ON THE LAW - Part 1 of 2

   Is “law” a good thing or a bad thing? In this age, there is an initiative to defund the police. The “law” is the means of controlling the conduct of unruly people. The assumption is that given the choice between malfeasance and civility, most will choose malfeasance, or wrongdoing.

  There were two malefactors on crosses adjacent Jesus and one malefactor who was freed. Jesus was and remains a Benefactor. The choice was malfeasance or Benevolence, and the multitude chose malevolence. They freed Barabbas who was a rebel against authority: “Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison” (Luke 23:19). Barabbas was the enemy of the Roman State, but the state freed him rather the Man who had been civil and in obedience to both the Law of God and the law of Caesar. [i]

  “Sedition” is resistance to lawful authority. It was insurrection against Caesar and the Roman State. Barabbas was a revolutionary zealot, and a member of the group that, by their actions, destroyed the nation of Israel. Barabbas represented those who would later resist the law of the land so much, that the “police” in that Roman state would tear down the Temple, burn the city, and disperse the law-abiding citizens in 70 AD. Note that neither Jesus nor His disciples broke the law of the land but were only accused of it! Those who remained free the day that Jesus died destroyed the nation of Israel.

  The question is: Where the Jews better off with Roman Law and the retention of their laws, customs, and much freedom, or were they better off destroyed? Any sane person would say that both the Law of God and Roman Law preserved the Jews and Israel. After all, the nation of Israel after 70 AD ceased to exist until 1948, and all the while, all over the world, Jews were persecuted!

 The point is whether the “law” is good or bad; even Roman Law which was really very civil at that time. Barabbas and the other zealots caused persecution by their zealotry. In modern terms, they were the Black Lives Matter organization and the Antifa of that day. Without regard to the law, they would seek to destroy their own nation. And what did BLM and Antifa do? They burned down and robbed their own cities, and now they have the entire nation to destroy whenever their mood is aroused.

  The multitude voted for Barabbas, to wit: “And they cried out all at once, saying, ‘Away with this man (Jesus), and release unto us Barabbas’” (Luke 23:18). The “Summerfest of 2020” was the same cry — Away with the police, and release unto us the criminals!

  If He remained alive, Jesus would heal the nation. If Barabbas remained alive, he would destroy the nation, and that the zealots finally accomplished! In modern terms, They cut off their noses to spite their faces! Indeed, Jesus is the “Face” of God and of the nation, Israel.

  The mob that caused Jesus to die made their own laws. That day, Jerusalem became their “Autonomous Zone” to do as they pleased. It was déjà vu as with the ancient Hebrews, “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Jud 17:6).

  Total libertarianism is destructive, for what shall people inevitably do? That which is wrong to do! The crucifixion of Jesus was the epitome of that natural inclination. That “inclination” is original sin that John Calvin called “total depravity.” Without the Law, people will do depraved things. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were twin depraved cities with its occupants doing as they wished to the destruction of those two cities.

  “Law” is good or bad, depending on the outlook of the person. The Law of the Romans seemed not to be as bad as the Law of God! The centurions were limited by two things: Roman Law and the authority of Pilate and Caesar. The latter’s laws were permissive. They had much freedom so long as the Jews did not threaten Caesar nor his government.

  On the other hand, God is omnipresent; He sees all things and spiritual “criminals” will someday be brought to justice. Civil justice is immediate but Divine Justice delayed. The path of least resistance was to obey Caesar and disregard God. They would deal with God later, or so they thought. Right then and there, they were judged and were so full of propaganda that they thought they could escape the wrath of God!

  For a time, they did. Although God suffered death on the Cross, He fulfilled the Law. He was punished for all the past sins of mankind; [ii] not just the immediate sins of those who would kill Him without remorse. Pilate and the soldier, Longinus, had the blood of Jesus on their hands. Pilate washed it off and Longinus saw what he had done and said, “Truly this man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39).

  What happened on the Cross when Jesus said, “’It is finished’ and He gave up the Ghost.” (John 19:30). The Law was finished but was not replaced. The death of Jesus completed the Law because he paid the price for all the sins ever committed. But the Law did not end. It continues, not as Law but Liberty.

  Everyone has the liberty to sin, but those who receive the Holy Ghost are “Comfortable” [iii] without sin. When Jesus gave up the Ghost, some received it. Realizing that the Law was for their spiritual safety rather than slavery to sin, the truth made them free. [iv]

  “What is truth?” Pilate asked that. [v] The Truth is that the death made sinners free form sin. The Law would no longer control them, but they would voluntarily, without the “morality police” (Pharisees) controlling their every move. Who would control them? Themselves! They would come to love the Law because the intent of the Law was good for them, as it is in the Will of God.

  Then, no longer were the Ten Commandments, “commandments.” They were Ten Prescriptions for Eternal Health. Jesus said that both the Law and the prophets hung on the Greatest Commandment: to love. What is agape (that type of love)? It is “good will” (Strong’s Dictionary).

  The “Ten Prescriptions” are ten itemized Good Wills of God for you. Note that for those without the Holy Ghost, they are mere laughable, non-applicable and ancient laws, but to those with the Holy Ghost, they are God’s Will for His children for them to be heirs.

  Like the malefactor beside Him, it matters not what is done before, but the attitude at the instant of death. Dismus (the repentant malefactor) saw the truth at the last moment. His heart was circumcised when he realized the truth!

  As such, His reward was as great as those who were with Jesus from the beginning, and much more so than Judas who was hanging from his “cross” nearby! Who would be greater in the Kingdom of God? The thief was because He was blessed to be the first to enter the Kingdom!

  Laws are not for citizens. They are for zealots who are above authority. They become the law in themselves.

  Jesus did that too! He became the Law for us. No longer would the Law hold the righteous captive because the “new person” would see the law so much differently. Laws are how they are viewed — Are they to control the disobedient or are they to provide safety for them? Only the obedient obey laws; the disobedient will always disobey whatever law is made. They resent that they are controlled but are okay with control so long as they are deluded by those who control.

  Just who controlled the multitude the day that they either became zealots or stood quietly by? Judas had hung himself previously to Jesus. He gave up his “ghost” as well. Satan was expelled from the body of Judas when Judas died, and the “ghost” of Judas went to Calvary and incited the riot.

  It was the same old test again: From which tree would mankind eat? That day, the multitude ate of the Judas Tree, not knowing they were eating Satanic doctrine. Just a few were eating of the Tree of Life, so to speak, and one of them was the thief on the cross. Only he saw himself in Paradise already that day because there they stood — the Tree of Life “in the midst of the Garden” and the Judas Tree there as well.

  That day, the multitude stood away from the Tree of Life and cursed Him all the while Judas with Satan in him was dead and in Gehenna. They should have been there to make sure that the rope from which Judas hung remained unbroken! But rather, they stood and watched Jesus die in their place. 

(picture credit: Huffingon Post)

More on the Law tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[i] Luke 20:25

[ii] Rom 3:25

[iii] John 14:16

[iv] John 8:32

[v] John 18:38

HAPPENINGS IN ABRAHAM’S BOSOM

   Abraham’s heir was so important because his heir would be the heir of the Father. Jesus would descend from the loins of Abraham. When he was merely “Abram” he was blessed. Like Noah before him, Abram found grace. Melchizedek said, “Blessed be Abram of the most high God.” [i]

  “After all these things” (Gen 15:1) included “Jesus” as Melchizedek blessing Abram. [ii] “Blessed” in the Hebrew is barak. “Jesus,” before He was born of Mary, “kneeled” to Abram. (Abarim Publications).

  Melchizedek honored his “father, Abraham.” [iii] Father Abraham is significant because he is the “Adam” of all those with faith, or as Paul said it, “who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham.” As such, the spiritual heirs of Abraham are those who walk in faith as Abram had done.

  Now it should be clear that “Abraham’s bosom [iv] is a place of spiritual rest… resting in the faith of your fathers — Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is the Fifth Commandment, or “Prescription,” for eternal health! It is “sleeping” in the arms of your spiritual father. It was reported in the “Will of Abraham” that Jacob (Israel) slept in the bosom of his grandfather as Abraham laid on his deathbed. Israel was comforted by the faith of Abraham. “Jesus,” as Melchizedek, knelt to Abraham who would suffice until Jesus came to kneel to the heirs of Abraham.

  In other words, Jesus was the true servant of Abraham, not Eliezer. They walked together, but Jesus, as Melchizedek, served Abraham.

  It turned out to be quite a banquet; for Melchizedek served Isaac as an heir to Abraham. Melchizedek overcame the world just as Jesus would do many centuries later: Jesus said to the “children” of Abraham, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Melchizedek’s blessing was, as “after all these things;” the many battles with kings and even the pretender to the throne, He had overcome the world!

  The implication is that Eliezer, the servant of Abram, had not. As such, Eliezer was powerless to serve Abram his “seed” to impregnate barren Sarai. That is a significant finding because neither would Sarai’s Egyptian servant, Hagar, bare holy seed but unholy. Now for the key verse:

⁴ And, behold, the Word of the Lord came unto him, saying, “This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.” (Gen 15:4)

  You must admit: When you read this before, you skipped over the significance of Eliezer. That verse is written because the name “Eliezer” is significant. “Eliezer” means “my God is help” (ibid). Eliezer’s God would serve Abram, but instead, Abram’s God would be the servant! Eliezer’s father was Nimrod, “the rebel” (ibid). Implied is that Nimrod rebelled against the LORD GOD.

  Nimrod was the son of Cush, the son of Ham, the son of Noah. Nimrod was also a leading figure after the flood as well. Sarai’s handmaiden would also be a Cushite (Egyptian).

  Ham was the first to dishonor his father (Noah) after the flood. Rather than cover his father with a coat of skin as his brothers had to cover the sin of Noah, Ham made fun of his exposed flesh. Hence, Ham was the first rebel after the flood, and his sons and son’s sons were rebels.

  Eliezer, seemed to be a servant, but rather, he was perhaps sent by Satan to plant bad seeds in the new, good Garden in Canaan. That would not do! So, here came Melchizedek to the rescue, to save mankind again! That was by kneeling that Melchizedek placed the Holy Spirit upon Abram, and then Abram would serve his seed to Sarai.

  Sorry that she served to Abram her handmaiden, Sarai said, “I have given my maid into thy bosom… my wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom… the Lord judge between me and thee” [v]

  Did Abram really serve his seed to Hagar, or was it someone else? Remembering that Eliezer was mentioned for a reason, was this the reason? Who fathered Ishmael? Was he Abram or was he Eliezer? Muslims claim Abraham as their “father” as well, but they were from Ishmael. Are Muslims really of Abraham or are they of Eliezer, the seed of the rebel?

  Admittedly, that is speculation but is it not evidenced in scripture?

  The Word of the Lord said, “This shall not be thine heir.” Referring to Eliezer. The Hebrew word for that phrase is simply “yaras” — “dispossess” (Strong’s Dictionary). Eliezer would dispossess God’s chosen heir.  The Word did not say, “this man,” or “your servant” but the “Dispossessor.” That is significant!

  With that said, perhaps the Dispossessor, Eliezer, did possess Hagar. Perhaps, Abram relented to driving Ishmael and Hagar out because neither were his rightful heirs!

  “Ishmael” means “god hears.” (Abarim Publications). The question is which “god,” El or Elohim? “El” is not necessarily the LORD GOD but can be a generic “god” as well. Sarai gave Hagar to Abram. [vi] Did Abram hearken unto her as Adam had Eve? Was Hagar even near Abraham’s bosom? Saria thought so: “(I) have given my maid into thy bosom.” [vii] But “Abraham’s bosom” is a place of rest and comfort; not sexual activity in the flesh!

  The Word said of Ishmael, “He will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren” (Gen 16:12).  As the likely seed of Nimrod, Ishmael would be a rebel, and the seed of Ishmael, and perhaps Eliezer, remain to this day rebels among the children of Abraham! Somehow, Ishmael had the seed of Cain in him. That mutated seed made it through the waters hidden in one of the women, likely Ham’s wife!

  God covenanted with Sarai as well; “I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nation” (Gen 17:16).

  God “knelt” to Sarai as well. Ishmael was by marriage (coupling). Both Sarai and Hagar had been “wives.” [viii] Wives as in “adulteresses” (Strong’s Dictionary). The triad was an unholy alliance.

  God blessed Sarai and Abram but not Hagar; he merely condoned her in Abraham’s bosom, or more likely in the bosom of Eliezer.

  With Sarai, God kneeled to them both. It was a triune marriage between God, Abraham, and Sarah. Because Abram had been holy, God made Sarai holy, and even gave her a “Christian” name — Sarah — “ruling body” (Abarim Publications). Like Abram’s name changed, Sarai’s did as well. Their purposes were just made holy!

  Nimrod is the father of false gods and goddesses. All the myriad gods of Mesopotamia and Egypt, as well as Greece and Rome, came from the Baals (Els) of Nimrod. He is the father of false gods and goddesses, and here was Eliezer, ready to serve Sarai a son by the seed of Nimrod. He could not do that because his gods were limited; they can only plant seeds in fertile “soil.” Saria was infertile, but Hagar very fertile. He would, perhaps, plant his seed where it would grow.

  Sarai was a virgin in that no seed had ever been implanted in her! By grace Abram had produced it much earlier, but it had not taken root. Abram, surely miraculously, would hold the seed in his bosom (bowels), but God would provide and plant it. Again, as with Adam, God would be he “Husbandman” and Abraham the vine that produced the Vine! [ix]

  Isaac was a product only of God! He made the semen as well as the fertile place. But what if Eliezer had served the semen and El (Baals) had made it grow on barren “soil?” Then Jesus would not have belonged to God, but to Baal.

  Thank Jesus for His intervention when he served His own “Body” and “Blood” to Abram to make him potent for the task ahead of him. The Body and Blood of the Messiah went into Abram, and he was made a new man with the capability of producing children for God!

  Abraham’s bosom is not Eliezer’s bosom. Jesus is from the seeof Abraham. Melchizedek “planted” it therein with bread and wine — the Body and Blood of Jesus. No longer do we need to fear Elieser’s, the Depossessor’s, bosom!

 Picture credit: The Ancient Home; "Buddha Statue")

 

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[i] Gen 14:19

[ii] Gen 15:1

[iii] Rom 4:12

[iv] Luke 16:22-23)

[v] Gen 16:5

[vi] Gen 16:3

[vii] Gen 16:5

[viii] Gen 16:3

[ix] John 15:1

ABRAHAM’S BOSOM: ABRAM’S BOWEL

  Abram was blessed with the third cycle of generation. The story of Abram is written in the Book of Generations that is called, “Genesis.” The first generation was in the beginning with Adam’s kind, the  second was 1000 years later with Noah’s kind, and the third, two thousand years later with Abram’s kind.

  Abram’s grace began with the dawning of the age of Aries, represented by the ram. Of course, the ram represents Satan, and rather than Isaac die, God would provide a ram: “And Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son” (Gen 22:13).

  Abram’s “lamb” sacrifice would not be done. God would provide the sacrifice. That parallels Adam, rather than him being sacrificed for sin, God provided a lamb from which coats were made to keep them safe. It also parallels Jesus as the “Lamb of God, who would be sacrificed. But on the sidelines, God provided another “ram” — Judas with Satan in him. Jesus would be the living sacrifice, but all the while Satan would be dying vicariously nearby, caught in his “thicket by the horns” so to speak, just as the ram had been.

  For Adam, the lamb was killed as his shield against the rudiments of the world and its ruler, Satan, who is “Prince of the Power of the Air.” [i] Adam found grace. God did not have to preserve him; it was merciful of God.

  Likewise, Noah found grace. [ii] God provided a “shield” for him. It was the Ark that God provided him. “Shields” protect as one travels (transported) about in perilous times. The perils of Adam would be the conflicts with Satan that are enumerated in the Books of Adam and Eve and the Conflicts with Satan.

  The perils of Noah would be troubled waters as mankind were judged. Noah and his family were kept safe from the collateral damage that might occur in the deluge.

  Out of the Garden, three kinds of men were born: (1) Satan’s kind with Cain, (2) God’s kind with Abel who would be killed by Satan’s kind, and (3) and a compromise of God and Adam, named Seth.

  Out of the waters would be born three kinds: (1) God’s kind, Shem, (2) Satan’s kind, Canaan from Ham, and (3) another compromise, Japheth’s kind, the Gentiles.

  Out of sinful Ur, God would follow suit as He had before, but Sarai was barren and old, and Abram was even older. Yet, they must have sons! Oh, what would they do? Let God take care of them!

After these things the Word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, "Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” (Gen 15:1)

  First off, what is meant by “after these things?” After all the kings and their great king, Chadorloaomer brought peril, God in the Flesh took care of Abram. The Most High God blessed Abram. Like Adam and Noah before, Abram found grace! [iii] Abram had seen God face-to-face, and not only lived but was rewarded. God, in the Flesh of Melchizedek, served Abram His “Body” and “Blood” with the elements of wine and bread. [iv]

  Melchizedek supped with Abram for remembrance of Him. Paul thereafter remembered Melchizedek in his letter to the Hebrews. Unbeknownst to them, Shem and his seed had worshiped “Jesus” all along through the Word of God. The apostle, John, revealed the Word. The “Word” was Jesus and had been all along. Melchizedek was the Word of God in the Flesh. [v]

  After those things, “the Word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision.” Before, Abram had seen God in the Flesh, but now he saw God in a vision — “in an ecstatic state.” (Strong’s Dictionary). Abram transcended reality. The surreal was made real. He saw “The Word” in Spirit and in Truth for what He Is.[vi] 

  Abram added all the evidence, and realized that the Word Is God, the Word is Spirit, and the Word is the Will of the Father for him. What did God Will for Abram? “He that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir” (Gen 15:4).

  The Word (Jesus) would provide a biological heir for him from his own side! Abram was the “third Adam!” Noah had been the second because he had three sons come from his loins at a great age!

  God would write a new Will, so to speak. His first Will was for Adam’s seed, the second of God’s Wills was for the seed of Noah, and now the Will of God was for the seed of Abram who had no seed! God would take care of him, “saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield,” meaning “Protector.” The Word of the LORD GOD would keep Abram from harm, and not only protect but be his “exceedingly great reward.”

  What would Abram’s reward be? His heirs would be as numerous as the stars in heaven. (Gen 15:5). That seems as if the Word of God spoke about the progeny of Abram. Look deeper than that!

And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, "Fear not; I am the first and the last” (Rev 1:15-17).

  Obviously, “the First and Last” is God. His “Voice” is Jesus as The Word. The burning as if in a furnace is the Holy Ghost. [vii] The “seven stars” are believed to be the angels of the seven churches of Asia. In the end, the “angels” (glorified Christians) of those seven churches would be heirs of Abram!

  The One Church is headed by Jesus with seven kinds of “angels.” The Book of Revelation reveals the seven kinds of the seed of Abraham! The Christian Church is the from the seed of Abraham and the “angels” (righteous) from those seven churches would be destined to rest in Abraham’s Bosom,  [viii] or alternatively, Satan’s bosom.

  The Covenant with Abram was not only to populate Paradise on Earth in Canaan’s land, but Paradise in Heaven in the realm of Jesus. Abram transcended the world. He saw unto the heavens through the “Sea of Glass.” [ix] He saw Jesus as God on His throne, and cherubim guarding the Way to the Tree of Life. He trusted the Word because he saw the Author and Giver of Life, “And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Gen 15:6).

  Abram trusted the Word to shield him and to multiply his seed. To do that, the Word would diminish Satan to not kill Abram and always to preserve the seed of Abram. Abram had faith in his God, and that He would be the God of Isaac and Jacob. He had faith that Jacob would become Israel, and indeed he did. He saw Israel, his son, resting in his bosom when he testified to his own will (See the “Will of Abraham” in the sacred writings).

  How could there be a Covenant with Abraham unless Abram had heirs. If you are a Christian, you too are an heir of Abraham, and your Jesus is the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Better yet, Abram’s seed was supplied by God in a dormant bowel and planted into Sarai’s barren womb! Isaac was a another “Seth,” and another “Shem.” The previous two Covenants would continue until the Covenant of Grace was realized.

  Why would Lazarus rest in Abraham’s bosom? Because Lazarus was from Abraham’s loins. Lazarus came to his “father” to share the “shield” of faith from the Wicked One that Jesus had put on Abram two-thousand years before. The “Shield” that Abram wore was the most essential of the whole armor of God, to wit: “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Ephes 6:16).

  God put that shield on Abram by grace and it made him a new person. Abram’s Christian name became “Abraham” — “their protector, their shield” (Abarim Publications). Lazarus was comforted in Abraham’s Bosom because he was under God’s Shield. The Holy Spirit Is that “Shield” and protected Abram and his seed in the heavenly Paradise!

  Christians are admonished of the faith of Abraham: “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all” (Rom 4:16).

  Paul was speaking to the Romans. They too were the seed of Abraham and Abram was their “father.” Not because they were Semites but because they were adopted Sons of God. True to the Noahic Covenant, Shem’s tent was enlarged to include Gentiles! [x] Paul spoke to that.

  Perhaps now the reader understands the shield provided by Abraham’s Bosom and why Lazarus was so secure therein. Lazarus had the faith of Abraham and was resting comfortably in death in the same faith in the Word that Abraham had. The Word still shielded the heirs of Abram as they were rewarded in Paradise.

  The Word remains the same Shield to this day. Trusting the Word (Jesus) for deliverance is the faith of Abraham! That Shield kept the generations going even when they deserved death.

(picture credit: crosswalk.com; "Shield of Faith")

 

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[i] Ephes 2:2

[ii] Gen 6:8

[iii] Gen 14:19

[iv] 1 Cor 11:23-25

[v] John 1:1-3;14

[vi] John 4:24

[vii] Acts 2:3

[viii] Luke 16:22

[ix] Rev 4:6

[x] Gen 9:27

LOOKING FOR JESUS

  My granddaughter, Kaitlin, when she was about five, was riding her bicycle as she cried her little eyes out for not getting her way. As I watched her, she screamed in anger, “What are you looking at?”

  It turns out that is a great philosophical and religious question: “What are you looking at?” or better yet, “For whom are you looking?”

  God is the “Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last” (Rev 22:13). The question is, when is the Beginning and when is the Ending? The Beginning is more obvious. It is creating the heaven and the earth. [i] The Ending is when God does a final re-genesis. From the Beginning to the Ending are cycles of regenerations wherein many are given a fresh start.

  Of course, the generation of Adam’s kind was the Beginning and the regeneration of Adam’s kind is the Ending. In between were Noah’s kind, Abraham’s kind, Moses’s kind, the Priestly kind, and Jesus’s kind. God made covenants with them all. He regenerated all those kinds and gave them another chance. The Ending is the last chance. When Jesus died, it is written that He gave up the Ghost. [ii] When Jesus died, it was the Beginning of the End. Jesus is the “Last Chance.”

  God tried liberty with Adam, liberty with Noah, and so on until Jesus came with Liberty for all. Mankind is at liberty to do their own wills. Life itself is a test of the human will. Made in the image of God, mankind originally had the Will of God. Back in the Garden of Eden, Satan stole the glorious Will, the Image of God was mutated, and liberty became a curse:

²⁰ For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope, ²¹ Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Rom 8:20-21) 

  Liberty is freedom to do one’s own will, given the choices of that and the Will of God. “Subject to vanity” (in verse 20) is the exercise of free will. God created mankind to be at liberty to do as his creatures please. It would seem that, “Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Gen 2:17) is not a command but a choice with a warning. It is a harbinger of things to come!

  God did not prevent Adam and Eve from eating. Neither did God command that they not eat of it. They were allowed to eat, but there was a price for eating — “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom 6:23)

  Therein is a choice. Sin and die or reject sin and live eternally. His creatures are free to sin, but in the end, sin (pleasure to the flesh) requires payment just as amusement parks and concerts are not for free! Indeed, nothing is free! Someone must always pay, so sin must be paid for by someone.

  Adam and Eve were reprieved. Innocent lambs died to pay the wages for their sins. Then, as a reminder, God made them coats of skins. (Gen 3:21). In the end, “The Lamb of God,” Jesus, provided the coats from His own flesh.  His spiritual “flesh” that is. God put on Adam’s kind coats made from the Ghost of Jesus to Comfort them.

  Each sinner has a “coat” made from the Flesh of Jesus. It is ready-to-wear.  Baptism is to ceremonially wash the sinner clean before wearing the “Coats” made from Jesus. Whenever, anyone sees the filth of their flesh, wills to do so, they are candidates for baptism to ritually wash away sins from the flesh. Of course, the sin is not on the flesh, but in the hearts of the creatures; to wit: “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts.” [iii] It seems from that, that the creatures wash their hands and their hearts.

  Handwashing is work, and heart-washing is impossible. Sinful creatures can only be led to the water and God does the washing. Washing with water is merely cleansing the flesh in preparation for the new “Coats.” Subsequent to the cleansing of the flesh, is baptism of the Holy Ghost: “I (John) indeed have baptized you with water: but He (Jesus) shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost” (Mark 1:8). The Holy Ghost is “Living Water” from the “belly” of Jesus. [iv] When it was “finished” out of the belly of Jesus flowed the “Living Water” — the blood and water from the abdomin of Jesus that was pierced. [v]

  The repentant thief, Dismas, was never baptized with water alone, but by the Blood and Water of Jesus when He was pierced. That had to happen! It is not in scripture, but only by blood and water can anyone be saved, [vi] and that was not water by immersion but from the sprinkling of the Water and Blood of Jesus. The Holy Ghost bled the Blood and Water of Jesus, and that is in Whom sinful creatures must be baptized. Dismas had to be sprinkled as Jesus was pierced!  It is the “One Baptism” of which Paul wrote from the “One Lord” because of the “One Faith.” [vii] It is vanity to think that immersion by Rev. John Doe can save!

  Now for the key verses:

²⁶ For then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. ²⁷ And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 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. (Heb 9:26-28)

  When Jesus was crucified, that was the Beginning of the End. The first coming of Jesus is “now”  in the end, according to Paul (verse 26). Genesis lasted from Adam to Moses (Water), and re-genesis from the last Adam (Jesus) to the destroying fire. [viii]

  Re-genesis commenced with the advent of Jesus and ends with His second coming. His first coming was to “bear the sins of many” and the second coming is “unto salvation” (verse 28). Regeneration is from redemption to salvation just like generation in the Beginning. What was Paul saying? All who would drink the Living Water are redeemed, but those who “look” for His Second Coming shall be saved.

  The Greeks came to Philip and said, “Sir, we would see Jesus.” [ix] They were looking for Jesus at the first coming. They would be redeemed. Salvation does not end there. Of the “many” that have been redeemed, Jesus will appear to those that still are looking at the second coming.

  What will He do at that time? He will save them as promised. Jesus died to redeem all mankind; that many! However, He shall save those who remain looking for Him. Paul looked for Jesus! “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14).

  Jesus redeemed Paul by grace, but Paul continued looking toward Jesus. Why is that? To be saved in the end!

  Look at Paul. When Jesus died, Paul was one of the “many” that were redeemed. Paul was “born again” when He saw Jesus as the Way. Jesus had to blind Paul to make him see because the old creature, Saul, had not seen Jesus in the Flesh. Saul saw the Holy Ghost of Jesus in his blindness and put on that “Coat” to keep him save from the Wicked One until Jesus comes again.

  When Paul died, he was still looking at Jesus from afar. He could sense the Coat of Jesus, but the Glorified Jesus remained a vision that he would look toward.

  For us, seeing Jesus on the Cross is a beginning, but sinners must look toward Jesus on the throne in Paradise and trust that He is coming again.

  Paul wrote, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (verse 27). Why is death so important? Because death brings about judgment. Judgment is when the flesh dies, and Jesus decides who looked toward Him and who did not. In the moment of death, judgment takes place. Immortal souls either die a second death [x] or live on for eternity. That is why Paul wrote, “To live is Christ; to die is gain” (Phil 1:20). But what is “in” and “out” of Christ? “But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour” (Phil 1:21).

  That goes back to the wages of sin is death. “In Christ” is living outside the flesh. The “flesh” in scripture is the human will.  Hence, living outside the flesh is the cutting off the human will, and asking God to replace it with His Good Will… “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Mat 6:10).

  To be saved, those redeemed must be looking to Heaven. What to look for? Jesus and His Will for His creatures. If any of the “many” are not looking at Jesus to do His Will, then they shall never be saved from the second death. Again, that is not a command, but a harbinger. The danger is if those let out of Satan’s jail for free look to Satan rather than Jesus, then the wages of that is death.

  The question is, those of you who are born again, are you still looking at the Tree of Pleasure with Satan camouflaged behind its leaves, or are your eyes directly on Jesus and His Will be done? If you look as if the Second Coming will never arrive, and do things as if God cares not, then are you looking for Jesus?

  “Sir, we would see Jesus” is the paramount pleasure because seeing Jesus alive in Heaven as the Tree of Life is “Sir, we would see Jesus” is the paramount pleasure because seeing Jesus alive in Heaven as the Tree of Life is so much better than seeing the lifeless Serpent dead in his tree! [i]

(picture credit: Baby Center; "Your child seems very clumsy)

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[i] John 3:14

[i] Gen 1:1

[ii] John 19:30

[iii] Jas 4:8

[iv] John 7:38

[v] John 19:34

[vi] 1 John 5:6

[vii] Ephes 4:5

[viii] Mat 3:11

[ix] John 12:21

[x] Rev 20:14