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Adoption - Yahweh
Version 2.9
Studying Theology:
Is just like piecing together a puzzle. Individual Theology pieces fit together and the picture begins to emerge.
The picture Theology displays is the image of Jesus!
John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Example:
Definition of the defined word given from the original Greek or Hebrew word meaning. (Strong's # reference) numbers provide easy reference lookup to the original Greek or Hebrew words.
Bible Verses where the defined word is used throughout the Bible, enable an easy lookup reference for a broad overview of how each word is used in context throughout the Bible.
The First Verse in the Bible where the defined word is used, this is a big help for defining the word and getting the original context of the word.
{commentary}
[clarification]
Bible quote
Referenced word
Theology Theo - God; Logos - word, speak, read, write, consider, think, study.
God Study, why do we as humans need to engage in the study of God? We study about God because through His word the Bible, God has revealed Himself to us. Since sin and the fall, all mankind is separated from God. God spoke through Holy prophets the words that He wanted saved and delivered throughout all mankind to reveal who He is.
Nature declares to us that there is a supreme all-powerful God. The vast stars above demonstrate how big the universe is and how small we as people are. The complexity of life reveals an intelligent author in the creation of life. Sin is revealed daily in disobedience, rebellion, disease, sickness, and finally physical death. All of our surroundings, our intuition and our emotions tell us that we are a part of a bigger picture, that there is indeed a God.
Nature does not however, tell us how to approach, interact, or have a relationship with Holy God. We know about sin by observing our surroundings and ourselves but we would not know about the cross of Jesus and His plan for redemption and salvation for us if it were not for the written Word of God. Nature and intuition cannot tell us how to have a relationship with God. This is where the Bible comes in and this is where Theology comes in. To know God is to study His scriptures and to know Him for whom He has revealed Himself to be.
Huiothesia (5206) Huios - sons; Tithemi - to place, appoint, commit; to place as sons.
Verses - Romans 8:15,23 9:4; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5.
First Use: Genesis 48:5-6 And now thy (Joseph's) two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I (Jacob) came unto thee into Egypt, are mine (adoption); as Reuben and Simeon (existing sons), they shall be mine. And the children, which thou begettest after them, shall be yours and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.
Adoption Biblically is slightly different than what we think of as adoption. For instance a stranger is not adopted into the family of God, like the concept we have of adoption where a non-family member becomes a family member through adoption. The Biblical concept of adoption is confirmation of adulthood of an existing family member and with adulthood comes privileges and inheritance. In the Bible Jacob actually adopted his two grandchildren Ephraim and Manasseh. Jacob did not need to adopt them to make them family but he did need to adopt them to give them an inheritance in the promise land. Indeed Ephraim and Manasseh did receive inheritances in the promise land just like their uncles did, because they were adopted as sons and received the same inheritance as their uncles the sons of Jacob.
We are born into the family of God, through faith in the resurrection of Jesus in the new covenant. Jesus spoke to Nicodemus and told him that he must be "Born Again" in order to see the kingdom of God, [in Jesus the kingdom of God is now available] the First step to becoming a member in the family of God is to be born into the family as a child of God and that is done by the person accepting the covenant of God that we are His creation separated by our sin and that He loves us and died for our sins on the cross and then He resurrected from death to reconcile us to Him in His resurrection life. When we accept the "New Covenant" we are now in a correct relationship with God, we acknowledge that God exists and that we desire to have a relationship with Him. We have asked for forgiveness of our sins, we are now cleansed from our sin, we are now clean and God in Spirit has come inside of us giving us a new life in Him, our new birth into His family as a child of God.
Once we are a "born again" child of God we are then predestined (appointed outcome) to the adoption. The actual adoption takes place later, when we physically die and our spirit and soul enter the visible presence of God where we are then adopted as sons of God and being sons of God we then receive an inheritance in heaven (visible presence of God).
Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the Firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to whit, the redemption of our body.
Aggelos (32) messenger, to bring tidings, the intermediary between the sender and the receiver of a message.
Verses - Exodus 3:2; Psalms 148:5; Colossians 2:18; Hebrews 1:6 12:22 13:2; 1st Peter 1:12; 2nd Peter 2:4; Jude ver. 6; Revelation 1:1 22:16.
First Use: Genesis 6:2 That the sons of God [angels] saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
Angel means messenger, angels are God's messengers, His assistants. Angels do not deliver their own message but they speak and assist when they are directed First from God. Angels are spirit beings, who are created by God for companionship with God. The spirit realm is the permanent realm and angels as spirit beings have an everlasting existence. Angels are "sons of God" this means three things; First they are each a unique creation of God. Angels do not marry and have babies like humans do. God individually creates each angel. Second, being sons [family members] they are in the visible presence of God. Third, being sons they have received an inheritance with God.
Holy angels: Note: Only holy (God's) people have holy (God's) angels. The holy angels are God's messengers sent to help and assist believing humans.
Hebrews 1:14 Are they (holy angels) not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them (people) who shall be heirs (inheritors) of salvation.
The fact that there are angels is another way to prove that God exists. Angels are the messengers, having a messenger requires a sender and a receiver of the message. God is the sender of the messenger and we are the receiver of God's message.
A lot of people in today's society will acknowledge the presence of angels and they are correct, angels do exist as the Bible tells us that they do; to acknowledge angels requires us to acknowledge the sender of the angel, God. True there are also plenty of unholy angels around, so it is very important to test every single message and make certain that it comes from holy angels and matches the Holy Bible. Some people may indeed have an angel communicating with them but it is in no means a holy angel of God if the message communicated does not match the Bible.
Revelation 19:10 And I (disciple John) fell at his feet (holy angel) to worship him. And he said to me, See you do it not: I am thy fellow servant and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Fallen angels: unholy angels
Hebrews 2:16,17 For verily He (Jesus) took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham {became a human, not an angel}.. to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Fallen angels are not eligible for redemption like fallen humans are. The reason is that because of the status of angels from which they chose to rebel. It was in the presence of God, in their inherited body and from their inheritance that some angels chose to rebel from and became fallen angels. There is not another inheritance or body for the fallen angels; nor can they remain forever in the visible presence of God because of their sin.
Matthew 25:41 Then shall He (God) say to them (unbelievers) on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels:
Jude ver. 6 And the angels which kept not their First estate, but left their own habitation (God given spiritual body), He hath reserved in everlasting chains {the more wicked fallen angels are chained} under darkness (out of the visible presence of God) unto the judgment of the great day.
Colossians 1:20 And having made peace through the blood of His (Jesus) cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself, by Him, I say, whether they be things {humans} in earth or things {holy angels} in heaven.
Angels in the past have rebelled against God. This verse indicates that since the cross of Jesus there will be no more new additional angels rebelling against God. But the angels that have rebelled against God will continue to rebel against God.
Anthropic principal is a scientific principal that the universe exists in a well thought out and precisely created plan, specifically to sustain human life. For instance, the fact that if the earth were 1% closer to the sun the earth would heat up, bubble and boil and would not sustain human life. Likewise if the earth were 1% farther from the sun it would be too cold and would not sustain human life. There are thousands of factors that are precision tuned in our universe to sustain human life here on earth. Correct gravity ratio, oxygen content, mineral content, water to land ratio etc.. The fact that water, when it freezes into ice expands and remains on top instead of contracting like most other materials, therefore ice remains on top of water instead of collapsing down and killing the aquatic life. Water freezing and expanding, becoming ice, is a design to facilitate aquatic and human life. It is a design from God not a circumstance from chance or fate of evolution.
We do not have epidemics of germs and viruses that could easily wipe out all human life; instead we have the opposite of a random system we exist in a designed system of controls, checks and balances. The smaller food for larger animals reproduces more frequently and more abundantly keeping a constant food supply available for the larger animals. This Anthropic design is evident in every element of existence, completely eliminating chance or random evolution.
How could a male and female evolve separately and still be compatible to create offspring? How can the more complicated eye and brain develop prior to wings, beaks and claws? Instead it all had to come together at the same time, this is creation.
Some people say, well the universe could be random, it could be chance, it could be evolution, but it is not! So to deal with the environment that we currently exist in, we have to deal with reality. Reality is that we exist in a complex delicate environment, one that testifies of an intelligent creator, God, and one that also testifies of sin and of man's disobedience to God.
Antichristos (500) Anti - instead of, replacement; Christos - anointed, living.
Verses - Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; 1st John 2:18,22 4:3; 2nd John ver. 7; Revelation 6:2 13:3,6,7 19:20.
First Use: Genesis 3:14,15 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this (deceived the woman), thou are cursed above all cattle and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed (Antichrist) and her seed (Christ - Jesus); it (Jesus) shall bruise thy (Satan's) head [ this occurred at the cross of Jesus], John 19:17 and He bearing His cross went forth into a place called "the place of the skull". and thou shalt bruise His heel... This among other things, happened to Jesus on the cross where His heel was nailed against the cross and was badly bruised as He supported His body on the heel of His foot. This is a prophesied injury that could not have occurred by stoning or any other means of death. Jesus bruised His heel in order to heal us.
Anti means instead of, the instead of Christ. It is like asking for water and instead getting poison. The poison may look and smell like water but it is not water and will not refresh and sustain life. It will, instead, poison and take life. The antichrist is the same way; he is "instead" of Jesus. Jesus is the real Savior that is why He became a man to save us from our sins. We are already saved completely; we have no further need for another savior. The one we have, Jesus, is sufficient. The coming one is not a savior he is a deceiver, a counterfeit, a phony, a liar and all who follow his poisonous lies will be led into death with him who opposes the real and living God.
Actually anyone who denies Jesus is making them self an antichrist. People who deny their own personal sin and need for a personal savior have made themselves their own savior and are their own Christ and have become their own "instead of" (Anti)Christ.
1st John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists (self saviors); whereby we know that it is the last time.
Katallage (2643) restoration, reconciliation, mend, repair
Hebrew: Kaphar (3722) cleanse, disannul, forgive, merciful, pardon, purge, reconcile.
Verses - Leviticus 4:20; Numbers 28:22; Nehemiahemiah 10:33; Romans 5:11.
First Use: Exodus 29:33 And they shall eat those things wherewith atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them: but a stranger shall not eat thereof, because they are holy.
Atonement is an offering given by the offending party to the offended party. Offences separate and sever relationships. When the relationship is severed it requires a mending in order to repair and re-establish the broken relationship. The means to mend the broken relationship is called the atonement. Man has offended God. After all, all God did was to create us, give us life, bring us into existence and love us. All man does is to disobey and turn our backs and walk away from God. With this behavior it is necessary that the broken relationship between God and man be mended. In this case man is so separated from the knowledge of who God is that mankind is not even aware that we have so offended God and that the relationship is broken and needs to be repaired.
When two parties are no longer communicating there is need for a third party to intercede. This third party is called the "mediator". In this case, it is man that is not talking to or seeking after God, so God sent Jesus as a mediator to get the attention of mankind and to tell mankind that we have broken the relationship with God {it is not uncommon for the offending party to be so clueless that they are completely unaware of their offending behavior}. Jesus has done much of this mediation by speaking to prophets and having the Bible written. The relationship is so broken that many people even deny the existence of God. The most shattered a relationship can become is to deny the existence of the other person. Jesus is mediating/talking to us on behalf of God, because Jesus is God and therefore He is capable of talking for God and representing God.
When the broken relationship is identified as broken, it is then possible to determine a remedy (atonement). It is up to the offended party to declare what is suitable to repair the relationship and it is up to the offending party to desire to remedy the relationship otherwise the relationship will remain broken.
God being the offended one has declared that a relationship in the current sinful physical state of man is not acceptable. God has determined that to repair the relationship it will be necessary to have a new birth, a new Spiritual Born Again birth. Now it would normally be up to the offending party to meet the needs of the offended one therefore restoring the relationship. In this case, man is not able to repair the breach, the brokenness is too broken for us to repair. In this case God, has sent Himself to repair (atone) the separation on man's behalf.
The atonement is what the offending party is offering to the offended party. God has a special category of people that make offerings to Him. This group of people is called priests. A priest offers to God on behalf of man, where a prophet receives from God and offers it to man. Because God is not upset with Himself and God is not in a broken relationship with Himself, God has no need to make atonement with Himself. For this reason God had to become a man. God had to become a man and serve as a priest to offer atonement (repair) for the broken relationship between man and God.
Leviticus 4:20 And he (Priest) shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering {an earthly priest First had to sacrifice for their own sin then they could offer atonement}, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make Atonement for them (people) and it shall be forgiven them.
Hebrews 7:26,27 For such a High Priest (Jesus) became us {we have}, Who is Holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily as those (earthly) high priests, to offer up sacrifice, First for their own sins and then for the people's: for this (offered for man's sins) He did once when He offered up Himself. Jesus is unique in that He is both the Priest (man offering to God) and the offering.
After the offending party offers the repair (atonement) it is up to the offended party to determine if the offering is acceptable and if acceptable, therefore repairing and restoring the relationship. We know beyond any doubt that Jesus and what Jesus did as a Priest in offering atonement to God is acceptable to God and has repaired the relationship between man and God. The reason that we know this is that God resurrected Jesus from death and gave Him a new Spiritual body.
Romans 1:3 Concerning His (Father's) Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
It is the resurrection of Jesus that shows us that Jesus is the Son of God.
Romans 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement (repair).
The atonement between man and God is complete and completed; there is no current or future work of atonement. We have received the work that Jesus as our High Priest did for us on the cross. The relationship between man and God is open and available. The atonement is a sacrifice that is offered from a priest to God. We do not receive atonement from God. God is not offering to us because He has not offended us. Now that the relationship between God and man has been atoned (repaired) it is now the responsibility of each individual person to take advantage of the repaired relationship and to have a relationship with God.
Egeiro (1453) - collect one's faculties;
Eknepho (1594) to arouse oneself out of
stupor.
Verses - Psalms 57:8 139:18; Zechariah 13:7; Romans 13:11; 1st Corinthians 15:34; Ephesians 5:14.
First Use: Genesis 28:16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.
Awake is a word in the Bible that has two meanings. The physical meaning to awake from physical sleep and also awareness - awake. Awake is to be aware, aware of God and His plan for mankind; aware of man's sinful predicament and aware of what God is doing in our lives and the lives of others to fulfill His plans.
Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
1st Corinthians 15:34 Awake to righteousness and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
Ephesians 5:14 Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light.
One note of caution: Becoming aware or awakening especially to problems, sin and end time predicaments, unfortunately does not mean that we can do much about them. Sin is an interesting situation in that while we are in sin and in danger of the death that will result from it, we are in denial and unaware of sin, so sin is not a problem to us even though it is our biggest problem. Once we have our conversion and awake to our sin and the sin of others, we now become aware of sin and instead of treating sin like the non-event it is to a Christian, now we sometimes obsess with sin, our sin and the sin of others.
God is patient and God is longsuffering. God has allowed mankind much freedom to come to the knowledge of Him. God has an end time plan that does involve the antichrist, it is God's perfect plan and God is going to allow it to unfold and take place. Yes we are to be awake. Yes we are to pray and to be salt and light in a dark world but we are not to worry and take things on ourselves that we have no control over. So be awake but more importantly be at rest in the Lord Jesus and let Him take care of His world.
Baptizo (907) wet, wash, dip, dye, stain.
Verses - Matthew 3:11 20:22 28:19; Mark 16:16; Luke 12:50; Romans 6:3; 1st Corinthians 1:13,14 10:2 12:13; Galatians 3:27.
First Use: Exodus 29:4 And Aaron and his sons thou (Moses) shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation and shalt wash (baptize) them with water.
The word Baptize is a very loaded word and has a couple of definite significant meanings. First it means to take on the appearance of something else by dipping, for instance a piece of red cloth that is then dipped (baptized) in white dye, the cloth then becomes white. This is like us being baptized into Christ Jesus we take on the appearance of Jesus. We take on the appearance or characteristics of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, characteristics of love, patience, kindness etc. We do not however become gods; we remain humans, but humans with a new outlook and new relationship with God.
Also baptism is associated with death by drowning if a person were to drown in water it would be said that they were baptized, they were dipped and they became one with the water. The image to the Christian is one that the Christian has had a conversion the Christian now recognizes the kingdom of God and has chosen to live in God's heavenly kingdom while choosing to die to self and the worldly system. Signifying this decision the Christian is baptized in water signifying dead to this world and alive to Jesus, also signifying a washing and cleansing renewal in the new sinless life with God.
Baptism Water:
Water is an element in cleansing and washing. The Levitical priests at the age of 30 were publicly washed with
water signifying their cleanliness and start of priestly duties. Likewise when one becomes a Christian we become
clean and a part of Jesus' priestly kingdom. We as Christians are also each a priest that means that we can each
approach God. In approaching God we offer our own individual offerings to God, including prayers and fruits of
praise and thanksgiving to God.
The water baptism is significant to the converted believer; the washing in water is also a symbol to the spirit realm that the baptized person is cleansed and now in the kingdom of God. Evil spirits and demons lose the bondage they once had on a person. The demons can no longer go to the believer, at the desire of the demons. Unfortunately though the believer can still go to or invite the demons into their life and there will also always be periods of testing and sifting, that include demonic attacks. But a baptized Christian is now in a new relationship with God, a relationship that includes support, protection and guidance. Water baptism is a commandment from Jesus and is something every obedient Christian has to take part in.
Baptism Fire:
Fire is also a cleansing element. Fire cleanses items from corruption and disease. Fire also strengthens items,
clay jars are stronger and more reliable and more useful after they have been in fire. The baptism of fire also
helps us becoming more like and more identifying with Jesus. The fire in the life of the Christian is the fire of
trials and testing. The important thing about this fire is that it is God's fire. God controls the circumstances
in the believer's life. He turns up the heat to refine us by taking out the impurities in our life. We lack
compassion so God allows circumstances in our life, in order to give us a heart of compassion like His heart.
Trials and fire create in us compassion and mercy, eyes to notice the hurting and suffering that is going on
around us and a heart to desire to change it. The fire also strengthens us; it gives us hope and a clearer picture
of who God is and how powerful He is. As the fire of circumstances burns in our life we become stronger knowing
from past experience that God is in control, this gives us patience and the ability to reach out and help
others.
Baptism: Holy Spirit
Another Baptism where we become more identified with Jesus is the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that when
He left, He would not leave us as orphans but that He would send the Comforter the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is
our comforting friend He teaches us right from wrong He guides and directs us, He gives the Bible meaning to us
and He teaches us to pray to the Father.
The interesting thing about Christianity that separates Christianity from all of the worlds religions and makes Christianity not a religion but a relationship, is that God has come to us. All of the world's religions focus on man and man's shortcomings. The Christian relationship with God focuses on God coming to man. The way of Christianity is that God meets us where we are, He leads, He guides and He instructs us into a deeper and more meaningful relationship with Himself. Religion has man guessing and attempting to get man's act together in the hopes that some god will approve and then reward man with something like money or fame. In the real relationship with God, God says He knows that we make mistakes. He knows all of our thoughts, our hopes, our fears and our anger. But He says that He is bigger than any of that. When we look to God we replace our fears, our anger with His love, His compassion and His mercy. When we replace what we have with what God has for us, we are being baptized.
Biblion (975) book, scroll, writing.
Verses - Exodus 17:14 24:7; Joshua 1:8; 2nd Chronicles 34:14; Matthew 22:29; John 5:39 ; 2nd Timothy 3:16; 2nd Peter 3:16.
First Use: Genesis 5:1 this is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him;
1st Timothy 3:15-17 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. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect (complete) thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
The Bible is how God has chosen to reveal Himself to the world and to have His words preserved through the generations. The Bible is unique and unlike any other book ever written. The Bible is tangible proof that God exists. Approximately 40 separate authors wrote the Bible during a several thousand-year time frame. The Bible is one complete book it has a beginning in Genesis (Beginning) it has continuity from Adam and Eve to Jesus and the Bible has an ending, the book of Revelation (make known). There is no supplement or addition needed for the Bible. The Bible is complete; it covers the creation of the universe and all time, up to and including the future and Jesus' eternal everlasting kingdom. Most of the Bible at the time that each verse was written, it was written as prophesy. In the Bible the events were described in the Bible before the event actually happened. This prophetic writing of the Bible could only happen with knowledge of the future, knowledge man does not have, knowledge God does have.
The Bible thoroughly reveals to man who God is, His nature and His plan for mankind. The Bible is without self-controversy and without self-contradiction and the Bible is without error. Over the thousands of years of the Bible's existence, the Bible has one clear message and one clear meaning; the predicament of mankind in sin and death and the remedy of the love and forgiveness of God.
The Old Testament of the Bible was written by Jews in the Jewish language of Hebrew during the years 2,600 B. C. To 400 B.C (approximately). The Old Testament tells of God, man and the coming Messiah, Jesus. The New Testament was written by Jews in the international language of the day, which was the Greek language. The New Testament was entirely written in the lifetime of the disciples of Jesus, with writing being completed in the time frame of approximately 40 A.D. to 90 A.D.. The night that Mary gave birth to Jesus in the manger is the year 1 A.D. and Jesus lived on the earth as a human for 33 1/2 years, being crucified at the age of 33, which would be around the year 34 A.D. Then Matthew, who personally spent 3 1/2 years as a disciple of Jesus, wrote the Gospel of Matthew, followed by the 26 additional writings by a total of eight different authors completing the New Testament around the year 90 A.D. The Apostle Paul himself wrote 14 epistles (letters) comprising half of the New Testament's 27 books. The First book is thought to be the Gospel of Matthew written by the disciple Matthew around 40 A.D.. The last book written is thought to be the Book of Revelation, written by the disciple John approximately 90 A.D..
Eulogeo (2127) "Eulogy" Eu - good, well; Logos - word; speak well, bless, happy, praise, commendation.
Verses - Genesis 5:2 9:1; John 20:29; Romans 4:7,8; Ephesians 1:3; James 1:12; Revelation 1:3 14:3 20:6.
First Use: Genesis 1:22 And God blessed them (His created creatures), saying, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas and let fowl multiply in the earth.
Acts 3:26 Unto you First God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all Spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Blessing is a good word from God. Blessing means happy. It is a blessing to do the good things that God has prescribed for us. We often think of a blessing as a worldly gift like money, or opportunity. A blessing is a word from God; a blessing is more knowledge of God. Blessings can come from both bad and good sources. We can be blessed, good word from God, in any circumstance that we are in. Someone [hopefully a non-Christian] can come up to us and cause all kinds of problems for us and this can be a blessing. It can be a blessing because God can still use bad circumstances to reveal Himself to us. Anytime God reveals Himself to us in a personal relationship, it is a blessing. These are often trying blessings but they are still blessings. Theses are blessings out of difficulties.
Another kind of blessing is a good blessing. Someone [hopefully a Christian] can come up to us and have terrific interaction with us. They can speak to us and give us hope and joy directly from God, they might even give us a gift to solve a need that we have. This is also a blessing and God uses good blessings to reveal Himself to us as well. This is the kind of blessing that the Christian wants to be. We want to be a blessing to others in blessing them.
Genesis 12:2 And I (God) will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and though shalt be a blessing.
Blessings are a cornerstone to the ministry of Jesus as Jesus taught blessings.
Matthew 5:1-12 And seeing the multitudes, He (Jesus) went up into a mountain: and when He was set,
His disciples came unto Him: and He opened His mouth and taught them, saying,
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Blessings, good words of God's instruction, are given by God throughout the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Genesis 1:27-28 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them ..
Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the (heavenly) city.
Soma (4983) body, visible expression, functioning unit.
Verses - Matthew 26:26; John 2:21; Romans 8:10,13; 1st Corinthians 6:13; 2nd Corinthians 4:10; Ephesians 3:6; Colossians 1:24.
First Use: Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man (body) of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (spirit); and man became a living soul (soul).
Body is one of the three components that make up, the human being. The other two components are a soul (awareness) and a spirit (everlasting life). The physical body is the abode/dwelling for our spirit and soul. The physical body has the important job of visible interaction in our physical world. We might be very happy and pleased with someone, but they would never know it unless we bodily vocalized our vocal chords and spoke, or gestured in an understood pleasing way. If we wrote a note or smiled, hugged and greeted someone warmly, they would presume that we are conveying to them our emotions of joy toward them.
Without the physical bodily ability to express our soul we would not have interaction with other people. Our body exits to function in a physical world and to express our soul. If we damage our body and physically it can no longer represent our soul we then suffer death and the spirit and soul separate from the body and go into the presence of God. God and only God has complete control over our spirit. Our spirit and soul remain in our body at the direction of God and according to God's knowledge and in God's time we suffer physical death. Only Jesus on the cross was able to direct His Spirit into the presence of God. God commands our spirit to remain in our body; at God's direction our spirit and soul separate from our body and at Gods direction the spirit and soul either remain in heaven or are imprisoned in hell. According to the Bible there is absolutely no such thing as human ghosts. The ghosts that we deal with are demon spirits masquerading as human ghosts. But there are absolutely no human spirits wandering the earth.
Part of what the earthly physical body has to represent is sin and the fallen nature of man. So our bodies carry in them the penalty of sin. We suffer pain, sickness and eventually death. One of the surest ways to know that mankind is suffering from sin is to look at our physical bodies and to realize that our existence in this body is temporary. Nothing on the earth is more temporary than our bodies. There are many forms of disease and types of physical disabilities; none of these physical conditions hinders a person's relationship with God. No physical condition represents our spiritual condition. People look and feel great as they use their healthy energetic bodies to sin against God and people in all sorts of ailments glorify God.
God is worshiped in spirit; we can be in any physical predicament and still have fellowship and communion with God. We do nothing for God in the physical realm, unless it is being done with our hearts. Again our bodies represent our souls so when we do something physical like sing, pray, preach, it is the expression of our soul. God actually looks at our heart (soul) and hears us pray from our soul. It is with our internal beliefs that we have a relationship with God. Our physical bodies communicate our internal beliefs.
Gennao (1080) from Genos "kind"; reproduce in same kind, regenerate, give birth
Anothen (509) Ano "above"; above, anew, again; "Born from Above".
Verses - Jeremiah 31:31,33; Ezekiel 37:26; John 3:3,4; Galatians 4:29; 1st Peter 1:23; 1st John 3:9, 4:7.
First Use: Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. {Born the First time} John 20:22 And when He (Jesus) had said this, He breathed on them (disciples) and saith unto them, Receive you the Holy Spirit. {Born Again, Born from Above}
Born again or "Born from Above" is an actual Spiritual event/occurrence. Jesus is literally breathing His Spirit of God into us, giving us new Spiritual life. The First people in the Bible to become Born Again were the people gathered together in the upper room on the day of Jesus' resurrection from the dead. We celebrate this day and call it Easter, but the appropriate name for the celebration is "Resurrection Sunday". On Resurrection Sunday, Jesus breathed/baptized the believing disciples making them "Born Again" new Spiritual creations and now Spiritual children of God.
John 20:19-23 Then the same (Resurrection) day at evening, being the First day (Sunday) of the week.. came Jesus and stood in the midst and said unto them (disciples), Peace be unto you... He (Jesus) breathed on them and saith unto them, Receive (by faith in the Resurrection of Jesus) you the Holy Spirit: (become a Christian).
Matthew 3:11 I (John the Baptist) indeed baptize you with water unto repentance (attitude change): but He (Jesus) that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He (Jesus) shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire:
In Israel when the person who was to redeem a close relative refused to redeem that person, they signified their lack of desire to redeem by removing their shoe. John is saying that Jesus is mightier, that Jesus is the redeemer. John does not want to interfere (remove Jesus' shoe) with the redemptive work Jesus came to do. Deuteronomy 25:7-9, Ruth 4:7,8. Also, only a close relative can be the redeemer. This is part of the Virgin birth of Jesus; if Jesus had an earthly father He would only be a close redeeming relative to a few people. Because Jesus is our creator (we are made in His image) and He has no earthly father, Jesus is the closest relative, to each human.
Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit by breathing on His disciples. It is very important to note that this baptism is not an experience baptism. Jesus said to the disciples "receive the Holy Spirit". The Born Again "experience" is actually not an experience. We are saved by faith not by experience. By faith we receive the baptism (breath) of Jesus. There have been no changes in the Church since the night Jesus stood in the midst of the disciples and breathed on them. We still become Born Again, "Born from Above" the same way the First disciples did, by acknowledging the resurrection of Jesus and by receiving by faith the Born Again baptism from Jesus. If the resurrected Jesus has not breathed on us as His disciple then we do not have the Holy Spirit and we are not yet born again, children of God.
Forty days after this event, the disciples were then baptized with fire and the Holy Spirit this is an experiential baptism. This baptism is the baptism that empowers the born again disciple to now be a Christian witness of Jesus. When Christians ask a person if they have experienced being born again, this is really what they are referring to. It is very possible to be born again but not to be empowered by the Holy Spirit as a witness. We become Born Again at our decision when we recognize that Jesus is our near relative redeemer, that we are dead without His life. The day that we recognize the resurrection (Life) of Jesus is the day that Jesus will Himself personally baptize us (Born Again) with His Holy Spirit of everlasting life. This is the Born Again baptism that we receive by faith. The baptism of fire is an experiential baptism. This baptism happens later in the life of the born again disciple. At God's choosing, God will give us various experiences and empower us to be His witness. This experience baptism comes from seeking God.
Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek Me (God) and find Me (God), when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.
Bride: numphe (3565) to veil, cover, claim, promised union
Wife: gune (1135) to become, assembled, united, fulfilled, completed.
Verses - Isaiah 61:10; Jeremiah 3:20; Matthew 25:1; John 3:29; Ephesians 5:23-33; Revelation 19:7.
First Use: Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
The faithful marriage union between one man and one woman is a representation of the ultimate intimate Spiritual union relationship between God and His people.
Jeremiah 3:13,20 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: .. Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt with Me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD.
Jesus is the bridegroom and one day as a groom He is going to take part in a marriage an arranged marriage. The Glorious marriage arranged by His Father, God. The very special bride for Jesus is us! the Church of Jesus.
2nd Corinthians 11:2 For I (Apostle Paul) am jealous over you (Church) with godly jealously: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
Some false teachers have tried to negate the special relationship that Jesus has with His Church/bride and have put forth the false teaching that Jesus was married while He was here on the earth. Often Mary Magdalene is suggested as a possible wife for Jesus and at times the wedding in Cana of Galilee John chapter 2 is offered as Jesus' own wedding yet it would be odd to have Jesus the "invited guest" steal the bride and then get married himself that would likely create a riot and would not be a legal wedding in lacking the Jewish betrothal period.
The polygamist teaching of the Mormon (LDS) Cult teaches and speculates that Jesus had as many as three wives while here on earth. It is Mormon teaching that every good Mormon is married therefore the Mormons have attempted to manufacture wives for Jesus and then claim that Jesus is a Mormon.
Rest assured that Jesus did not have an earthly marriage or any earthly wives but that according to the Bible the final union between Jesus and His bride the Church is yet to come in the grand and Glorious celebration of the Wedding Feast Supper.
Revelation 19:7-9 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
According to the Bible's prophetic enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Genesis Chapter 22, where Abraham offers his, "only Son" {Isaac is the "only Son" of Abraham in that he was the only child of Abraham to receive an inheritance in the Promise Land. A person is designated a child prior to receiving the father's inheritance and becomes a Son when designated to receive an inheritance without the inheritance the status as "child" remains. Abraham was the father of many children but in Isaac was his "only Son," only inheritor.} and Isaac was an unmarried son, during the prophetic enactment of the sacrifice on Mt. Moriah (Calvary) the same location where Jesus was later crucified. It is then after the sacrifice and in Genesis chapter 24 that the Bible reveals the sending of the servant Eleazar (God's Comforter) [Holy Spirit] to go and to gather the bride for the unmarried Isaac, portraying an illustration of Jesus and His Church.
The Old Testament prophecies leave no room for any marriage of Jesus prior to His Cross and His Resurrection but do portray the Glorious Wedding union to the Church yet to come. Jesus could not marry the Church or any individual prior to the Cross as the remedy for sin did not yet exist.
Any marriage prior to the Cross would mean that Jesus was marring a sinner and really teachings of an earthly marriage of Jesus are yet another false set of teachings that are attempting to do away with the need of mankind for the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross and of His Glorious Resurrection and it is an attempt to deny the special relationship that Jesus has with His Bride "The Church".
The Church-Bride of Jesus was foretold in Adam and Eve
God created the bride (Eve) of man from the flesh of man (Adam), this is very important, the woman is not a new unique creation but is of the same flesh (substance) of man and this makes for the ability for one united common bonded relationship. The animals of God's creation are not originally created from each other and therefore do not have the close intimate relationship that humans do. The first animals were created by God from the waters of the earth.
Genesis 1:20 "let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life."
Later God created the mate for the animals separately from the ground Genesis 2:19 "and out of the ground the LORD formed every beast" but the "suitable" help mate for Adam was not found separately from Adam therefore God created the woman from the material (flesh and bone) of the man Adam.
Interestingly God first created man from the ground and now we are created in the water of the womb demonstrating that God is not limited in His materials or in His abilities for creating life.
Genesis 2:20-25 .. but for Adam there was not found a help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep {death i.e. the cross} to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman {bride}, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
John 19:33 - 35 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water {cleansing for His bride}. And he (the Disciple John) that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
Just as the bride of Adam is created from the physical body of Adam we the Church, the bride of Jesus, are going to receive a Spiritual body of the same substance as the Spiritual Resurrection body of Jesus, making us "one flesh with the Resurrected body of Jesus". This is made available to us and illustrated to us in the "Last Supper" Communion service that all Christians still take part in during each "Communion Service" where the "Bread (body) and Wine (blood) of Jesus are offered to all of the Christian followers of Jesus so we can each individually partake in and receive of the new Resurrection Spiritual body of Jesus.
The Communion is the "Last Supper" feast where Jesus offered His body to His followers, this was one of the last acts that Jesus preformed in presenting His body to each of us just hours before His crucifixion and death.
Matthew 26:26-28 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body. And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
1st Corinthians 10:16-17 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we (Christians) are all partakers of that one bread (Jesus).
As the bride of Jesus we will therefore be in a close intimate, rewarding and fulfilling, Spiritual relationship with Jesus. The bride of Adam came from the opened (pierced) side of Adam and likewise the bride of Jesus comes from the cleansing of the blood and water that flowed from the pierced side of Jesus while He was on the Cross. The creation of the bride for Adam in Genesis is a prophecy foretelling and fulfilled in the Cross of Jesus by the creation of the bride of Jesus His Church.
Ephesians 5:29 - 32 .. even as the Lord [nourisheth and cherisheth] the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
The last invitation to Salvation in the Bible is a wonderful invitation given by both the Spirit and the Bride (Church), given freely to everyone.
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the Bride say come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him who is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
*In short it would not have been possible for the Christ - Messiah to have a physical wife or any type of sexual relationship while He was here on the earth and then still be the Messiah. Jesus is the Sinless Messiah and had He had a sexual interaction with a sinful Human it would have been "strange flesh" for Jesus because the sinful flesh of Humans is Strange to the Divine and sinless Body of God.
1st Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam (Jesus) was made a quickening (life giving) Spirit.
1st Corinthians 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second Man (Jesus) is the Lord from heaven.
1st Corinthians 15:48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1st Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption (Unholy) inherit incorruption (Holiness).
2nd Corinthians 5:21 For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
The Bible explains to us that each spirit being is to inhabit it’s own abode "body" and for example the angels that disobeyed God to have a relationship with women that in doing so the fallen angels left their own God given "abode" - angel spirit body, in that during intercourse the two would "become one" therefore the women did not become angels but the angels became fallen angels.
Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Genesis 6:1-2 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God (Angels) saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
Jude 1:6-7 And the angels which kept not their first estate {body}, but left their own habitation, {when they became one with humans (strange flesh to them)} He (God) hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
In the same manner had Jesus the Messiah had a sexual relationship with a woman or anyone, as the homosexuals say that Jesus had their type of intercourse, He would have Become "one" with one person and ceased to be the Sinless Redeemer of All Mankind and that would negate the mission that Jesus set out for Himself to accomplish. The mission of Jesus is to reunite All Mankind, those willing to be reunited, back to Himself/God. Had Jesus taken one physical wife or been involved in any physical-sexual relationship He would Not then be eligible to redeem All mankind and would have invalidated the Church as His Bride in that Jesus would have already had His bride.
1st Corinthians 6:13 .. the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
1st Corinthians 6:14 And God hath both raised (Resurrected) up the Lord, and will also raise (Resurrect) up us by His own power.
1st Corinthians 6:15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
1st Corinthians 6:16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith He, shall be one flesh.
1st Corinthians 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
1st Corinthians 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
1st Thessalonians 4:3-5 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel (body) in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
Kaleo (2564) call, bid forth, name; Kletos (2822) invite, appoint, called.
Verses - Genesis 2:19; Psalms 31:17; Isaiah 62:2; Romans 11:29; 2nd Thessalonians 1:11 2nd Timothy 1:9 Hebrews 3:1 2nd Peter 2:10.
First Use: Genesis 1:5 and God called the light Day and the darkness He called Night. And the evening and the morning were the First day.
Genesis 3:9 And the LORD called unto the Adam and said unto him, Where art thou?
Called (all are called to a personal relationship with God) --> Chosen (those who have responded to the Call) --> Elect (of the chosen, elected or appointed to a specific purpose for God) --> Glorified (Accomplished in God's specific plan).
Abraham --> Isaac --> Jacob --> Joseph
Romans 8:30 Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also Glorified.
Called is to be bidden, or invited. A call is an invitation. All are called (invited). To be physically born as a human being, created in the image of God, is to be called (invited) into a relationship with God.
John 12:30-32 Jesus answered and said, This voice (The Father, speaking from heaven, glorifying Jesus) came not because of Me, but for your (disciples) sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince (Satan) of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up (crucifixion & resurrection) from the earth, will draw (call / invite) all men to Me.
Hebrews 13:12-14 Wherefore Jesus also (was sacrificed outside the city, at Calvary), that He might sanctify (set us apart for God's use) the people with His own blood, (He) suffered outside the gate (outside the city). Let us (bidding, calling) go forth therefore unto Him (Jesus) outside the camp, bearing (having) His reproach (rejection of this world). For here (this fallen sinful world) have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come (heaven).
Biblical example: Abraham
Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD God said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred and from thy fathers house, unto a land that I will show thee.
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a new place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed: and he went out not knowing where he was to go.
Abraham, the father of faith, heard the calling of God and Abraham responded to God. Abraham left his old life and went to have a relationship with God. This did not make Abraham without faults. Abraham still made plenty of mistakes but now Abraham had a new life and a new friend in life, God. God became the friend of Abraham, that is the call. The call is an invitation into friendship with God.
1st Corinthians 1:1-2 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God.. Unto the Church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all (Christians) that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs (Corinth) and ours (Christians throughout the earth): The Christians at the city of Corinth, worship the same God, Jesus, as all Christians no matter where they are on the earth.
2nd Timothy 1:9 Who (Jesus) hath saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
God has called (invited) us into a relationship with Himself. God did not call us to do work for Him. In fact God did all the work (creation & redemption). God has called us to rest in the work that He has completed. It is not work to obey God, nor is it work to worship God. Abraham was not working to make himself pleasing to God or to get God's attention. Everyone already has God's attention. God called Abraham to come have a relationship with Him and Abraham responded and proceeded to the promise land and received the promises of God in the "promise land."
Teknon (5043) child, offspring, immature, defenseless, needy.
Verses - Proverbs 22:6; Luke 1:16; Romans 8:17; 1st John 3:10.
First Use: Genesis 3:16 Unto the woman He said. I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children;
But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them gave He power to become the sons (children, 5043) of God, to them that believe on His name:
1st John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons (children, Teknon) of God: therefore the world knew us not, because it knew Him not.
1st John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons (children, Teknon) of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.
The Bible often calls children "sons". This is looking forward to our being in the presence of God and the receiving an inheritance from God.
Sonship, becoming a Son (Huios, 5207) of God comes later as being a Son is part of the Adoption of God. First it is necessary to be Spiritually Born as a Child of God, born into the family of God by His Spirit we become a "Born Again" child of God and we remain a child of God the entire time we are physically in our physical body here on earth. After we physically die and are received into heaven by God it is in heaven that we are adopted as a Son of God and the adoption includes receiving a new spiritual body and included with the new spiritual body is the new status of Son - Adult. Being a son - adult we will have greater capabilities, greater understanding, greater freedoms, greater authority, and greater responsibility all of this being in heaven as we will then be in the direct presence of God.Galatians 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons (sons, Huios).
Romans 8:17 And if Children, then Heirs (Inheritance); heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.
Eklegomai (1586) Ek - out of; Lego - words; select, make choice, choose out, chosen.
Verses - Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:14; Proverbs 1:29; Isaiah 58:5,6; Ephesians 1:4; James 2:5; Revelation 17:14.
First Use: Genesis 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
Genesis 13:11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
Called (all are called to a personal relationship with God) --> Chosen (those who have responded to the Call) --> Elect (of the chosen, elected or appointed to a specific purpose for God) --> Glorified (Accomplished in God's specific plan).
Abraham --> Isaac --> Jacob --> Joseph
Chosen are the people that have responded to God's call. It is necessary to First respond to God and to obey the calling of God to be in the promise land. Ishmael was not a child of obedience, he was a child of servitude being born to Hagar the servant. Isaac was the child of God's calling, born free, born in the land of promise. When we answer God's call and respond to God we are in a right relationship with God and are in the promise land. The chosen are only chosen in the promise land. Had Abraham not responded to God's call and gone to the promise land. Isaac could not be the chosen child. Had Isaac been born anywhere in the world, he would just be another person, but he was born in the promise land and therefore receives the promises of God.
Genesis 24:5-8 And the servant said unto him (Abraham), Peradventure the woman (Isaac's bride) will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son (Isaac) again unto the land from whence thou (Abraham) camest? And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again... only bring not my son thither again.
Genesis 21:12 .. for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Galatians 4:28 Now we (Church) brethren as Isaac was (chosen), are the children of promise.
When we accept Jesus and are born again into the family of God, we, like Isaac, are in the promise land of God and like Isaac we are the children of God's promises. Of the called those that respond to the call become chosen. God does choose with complete knowledge. God has complete knowledge of all past, present and future thoughts, actions and events. God uses His knowledge to make His choices.
Biblical example: Isaac
Isaac is "chosen" over Ishmael to be the child to receive the promises of God.
Genesis 17:20,21 And as for Ishmael, I (God) have heard thee (Abraham): Behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful,.. But my covenant will I establish with Isaac.
Isaac is an example of being chosen. Isaac was chosen because he was born in the promise land and because he was born free. Ishmael was also a child of Abraham but he was a child born as a servant. Only the children that are born into the family are free, while children born from a servant remain a servant. Only those that are born in the promise land can be chosen to receive the promises of God. Isaac fit all the conditions to be chosen. He was born into the family, he accepted his family, he was not a child of slavery and he remained in the promise land his entire life.
Christos (5547) living, Messiah, anointed,
Old Testament Hebrew, Messiah (3323).
Verses - Daniel 9:25,26; Matthew 1:1; Mark 1:1; Luke 2:11; John 1:17; Acts 2:30; Romans 1:1; Revelation 1:1.
First Use: Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy
seed (Antichrist) and her seed (Christ - Jesus); it (Jesus) shall bruise thy (Satan's)
head [this occurred at the cross of Jesus],
Christ is the Greek word for the Hebrew word Messiah and both mean anointed. Christ is not the last name of Jesus. Christ is a title and a descriptive word. The word anointed means wet, or juicy, meaning alive. To not be juicy is to be dried out. The Biblical picture of anointed is of a living tree or vine that is green and anointed with sap; this healthy plant is living and producing fruit. An unanointed tree or vine is dried up and dead, incapable of life and incapable of producing fruit. The dried up trees branches and vines find their use in burning in a fire. Another example of anointed is the blood that circulates in our bodies and the marrow of our bones, keeping our bodies moist and alive. Dried out unanoitned bones, are bones of disease and death and not of life.
Closely related to the term Christ is the Hebrew, Old Testament term of Netzer, where the word Nazarite comes from. The netzer is the green shoot or branch of a tree or plant. This special branch is a branch that has newly emerged from the stump of a cut down tree or plant. This is a second chance branch for the tree. The branch comes from the same root system of the original tree giving the downed fallen tree a second life. Mankind is in the predicament of a fallen tree. We were once a tree of life with God as our root and then sin destroyed us and cut us down. Without a netzer (green, alive branch) the tree would cease to exist. Jesus is the netzer to humanity. He is our anointed, alive branch, giving the plant a second chance and a new life. Note there is only one netzar, or savior branch Any additional branches that sprout are then called sucker branches. These sucker branches do not assist the netzar but they interfere with the netzar by sucking life from the intended netzar branch.
The town of Nazareth that Jesus grew up in is named Nazareth "Netzer town," or green branch. Often in the Bible Jesus is referred to as Jesus the Nazarene (netzar). This is not a coincidence; this is a design of God because Jesus is the netzar. He is the living anointed Christ branch, that the dried up, ready for the fire branches of mankind can attach themselves to and find anointed living life.
Christianos (5546) Christ like, follower of Christ Jesus.
Verses - Isaiah 62:2; Acts 11:26 26:28; 1st Peter 4:16.
First Use: Acts 11:26.. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the Church and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians First in (the city of) Antioch.
Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa [Roman king overseeing part of Judea] said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
1st Peter 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on his behalf.
Christian means Christ like this means we will exhibit some of the same characteristics and personalities that originate in Jesus. Being Christ like in our new nature is completely different than becoming a Christ. Humans will never become a God, nor will we become our own Savior, nor do we take the place or even stand in the place of God. We simply become similar to Jesus in our behavior.
It is interesting that the disciples did not First call themselves Christians, but that the Christ like conduct of the disciples led others to call them Christians. Additionally, Christians do not become disciples but disciples become Christians.
Christians are not blameless people, but we are forgiven people. In fact, the only difference between Christians and non-Christians, is Jesus. But Jesus makes the biggest difference the world will ever see. With Jesus there is reconciliation to God and life, without Jesus there is just sin, misery and death.
Christian is Christ like; this is the outward appearance of our baptism in Jesus. We become identified with Jesus. Baptism means to take on the appearance of another. If we walked down a busy street, chances are we could identify professional people, tourists, homeless people, gang members and a whole variety of people, that are in appearance and character to their beliefs, actions and situations. These people are identifiable with their peer groups; they are in baptism with their various functions of the day. If we looked and listened closer we might see a tourist with a cross around their neck, or a professional person carrying a Bible to read and hear as a homeless person prays to Jesus and speaks of their unshakable faith in God, despite their circumstances. This is because being a Christian is not limited to cultural expectations. These people are Christians First and foremost and they then function in society, but the world recognizes their Christ like attributes despite their circumstances and the world calls them Christians.
Ekklesia (1577) Ek- out of; Kaleo - called; called out ones, congregation, gathering.
Verses - Matthew 18:17; Acts 2:47 5:11; Romans 16:1,5; 1st Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 5:22; Colossians 1:18.
First Use: Genesis 1:9 And God said, Let the waters under heaven be gathered together (called) unto one place and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
Matthew 16:18 And I (Jesus) say also unto thee, That thou art Peter and upon this rock {the individual's rock solid confession that Jesus is God} I will build my Church: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
The Church, the "called out ones" are the people who answer God's calling to remove themselves from this worldly system, to respond and have a Spiritual relationship with God.
1st Corinthians 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor effeminate (homosexual prostitution), nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
All Christians are people who have been redeemed from their sins and into the presence of God.
Psalms 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will He teach sinners in the way (way of life).
The Church is a collection of both Jewish and Gentile believers in Jesus.
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
There is not a distinction among peoples and groups in the eyes of God in the Church of Jesus. There are still Jews and Gentiles that do not accept Jesus and are not a part of the Church.
The Jews have had a six thousand year relationship with God. About 4,000 years before the incarnation of Jesus God was interacting with Abraham. The promises and covenants of God belong to the Jews. It is the blood of Jesus that brings the gentiles into the promises and covenants that the Jews already have. Gentiles do not become Jews, but become Christians. Jesus is the fulfillment of all the Biblical promises to the Jews.
Ephesians 2:11-14 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh (close) by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, Who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Peritemno (4059) Peri - through; Tomoetes - cut by single stroke; separate, remove.
Verses - Deuteronomy 10:16; Exodus 12:44; Jeremiah 4:4; Luke 1:59; Romans 2:29 4:11; 1st Corinthians 7:19; Galatians 5:2; Colossians 2:11; Philippians 3:3.
First Use: Genesis 17:10 This is My (God's) covenant, which ye shall keep, between Me and you and thy sees after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
Romans 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Circumcision means to cut away, removal, to remove that which is interfering with a personal relationship with God. The Jews practice circumcision as they are instructed in the Old Testament. Circumcision is the physical symbol of their covenant relationship with God. Physical circumcision is only a symbol of a relationship with God. In both the Old and New Testaments God actually requires a spiritual circumcision of our heart. In our desires we are to cut away (circumcise) anything that would interfere with a relationship with God. We are to cut away any doubt, any unbelief and any unholyness. With the removal of these uncertainties comes a relationship with God.
Acts 15:1 And certain men [Jewish Christians] which came down from Judea taught the brethren [Gentile, Believers] and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved (Salvation).
The act of circumcision became a big issue in the early Church. The Jews who were teaching physical circumcision to the new Gentile Christians, thought that it was necessary to become Jewish to then become a Christian. This position is not as outlandish as we might think. Those Jews correctly understood that all of the promises and covenants of God belong to the Jews. Those early Church Jews thought that if a Gentile was to come into a covenant relationship with God, it was First necessary to enter into the covenant of circumcision with God. The Apostle Paul clears up this issue and says that the Gentile is brought into the covenants and promises of God, not by physical circumcision but by the blood of Jesus and faith in the resurrection of Jesus.
Galatians 5:5,6 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Ephesians 2:12,13 That at that time ye (Gentiles) were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Koinonikos (2842) communicative, willing to communicate, liberally; sharing, fellowship, things in common.
Verses - Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:14-23; John 13:2-4; 1st Corinthians 10:16; 2nd Corinthians 16:14.
First Use: Genesis 18:33 And the LORD went His way, as soon as He had left communing with Abraham: And Abraham returned unto his place.
1st Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
Communion is sharing whether it is sharing food, friendship, shelter, thoughts, conversation, or a host of desirable things. Communion is common access to desirable content with a desirable outcome. If someone shares something negative, it would be considered sabotage rather than communion. The ultimate communion is to share in the life of Jesus. This is just what Jesus is offering us, His life and that abundantly.
The communion with the bread and the wine is a representation that we are sharing in the body and blood (life) of Jesus. Our own mortal bodies are growing old and perishing. There can be no arguing the need for body and blood that are not tainted with sin. Jesus offers us His Body and His life abounding blood. When we take communion and eat the bread and the wine, we are participating in an illustration. While Jesus was teaching on earth, Jesus explained that if man desired to live, man would need to exchange the perishable body that man has and receive the same type of sinless body that Jesus has.
John 6:51-56 I (Jesus) am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove (argued) among themselves, saying How can this man give us His flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily (truth), verily (truth), I say unto you, Except ye eat of the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in Me and I in him.
John 6:60-63 Many therefore of His disciples, when they heard this, said, This is a hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples murmured at it, He said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man, ascend up where He was before? It is the Spirit that quickeneth (gives life); the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit and they are life.
John 6:66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him.
This can be a difficult subject. Jesus explained that we need to have His body and His blood inside of us if we are to live in the resurrection. But then Jesus explained to the disciples that His body and blood are Spiritual "the flesh profiteth nothing". Many of the disciples were saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat". These disciples were seeing Jesus as just that, a man. Eating the flesh of a man will not profit, however, by eating (internalizing) the words of God we will profit with everlasting life.
Let's look at another reason why the bread and the wine that we as Christians eat is an illustration and not the physical body and blood of Jesus. One of the most illegal things that a person can do in the Bible is to drink blood or to eat the flesh of another person.
Leviticus 7:26,27 Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings. Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.
Leviticus 17:10,11 And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I (God) will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood:
The law was strictly written to instruct and to inform us. The law informs us that it is unacceptable to drink blood and that it is a curse to eat human flesh. The law describes to us Jesus; therefore Jesus is not going to do anything that is against the law.
Had Jesus wanted us to eat His physical flesh and drink His physical blood then Jesus would have had to remove some of His flesh for the disciples to eat and He would have to injured Himself causing bleeding then offered it to the disciples to eat and drink. All of which would have been unlawful and the actions would actually cause separation from God and not reconciliation. Jesus did not offer His physical blood nor did He offer His physical flesh. Jesus offered the Spirit and His words are Spirit and life.
The bread and wine communion is symbolic of the physical body, physical blood and of the everlasting Spiritual body and the everlasting Spiritual blood of Jesus.
Matthew 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it and broke it and gave it to the disciples and He said, Take eat; this is My body.
The bread is symbolic of the body of Jesus. The body that Jesus gave, allowing His body to be broken to pay for our sins.
Matthew 26:28 For this is My blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
The wine is symbolic of the blood that Jesus would shed. The shed blood and physical death of Jesus would activate the New Covenant (Will). The Covenant that through the death of Jesus we can now live a new life through the resurrection of Jesus. When we eat the bread and consider the death of Jesus our First natural reaction is to thirst, thirst for life. Our desire after eating the bread is to drink and that is just what we do, we drink from the cup of Jesus' indestructible life.
Matthew 26:27 And He (Jesus) took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them, saying, Drink all of it;
Homologomenos (3670) Homou - same, place or time, together; Logos - words, reason, thoughts spoken.
Verses - Daniel 9:20; Romans 10:9,10 14:11; 1st Timothy 6:13; 1st John 1:9 4:2,3; Revelation 3:5.
First Use: Leviticus 5:5 And it shall be, when he is guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing.
Luke 12:8 Also I (Jesus) say unto you, Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
Romans 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.
1st John 4:1,2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:
Confession means to have the same thoughts and same reason and the same speech as God. Confession is to align our thoughts with the thoughts of God. Confession is not solely to a negative thought or action. We confess when we align our thoughts with God's thoughts and God's main thoughts are that He loves, adores and cherishes us. We are to confess God's love for us.
Psalms 139:17,18 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Confession means to align our thoughts with the thoughts of God. The word confession or similar words are used approximately 21 times in the New Testament and in only two uses is it referring to confessing sin, James 5:16 and 1st John 1:9. The other 19 times confession is referring to confessing Jesus. This is an important point. The night Jesus was betrayed, both Judas and Peter sinned and both Judas and Peter confessed their sin.
Matthew 27:3-5 Then Judas, which had betrayed Him (Jesus), when he saw that He was condemned, repented himself and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? See thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed and went and hanged himself.
Only Peter went on to confess Jesus. Just as with Judas, it does us no good to examine or confess our sin without also confessing Jesus, the remedy from our sin.
Suneidesis (4893) to witness between right and wrong, an obligation to do good.
Verses - Acts 24:16; 1st Corinthians 8:7,10:29; 2nd Corinthians 5:11; Hebrews 9:9; 1st Peter 2:19 3:16,21.
First Use: Genesis 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil..
John 8:9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own Conscience, ..
Conscience is the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. Conscience is a product of the fall of mankind. Man was created in the Garden of Eden where there was only good and not evil and therefore a conscience was not needed. After the fall mankind would begin to experience both good and evil and therefore a conscience was needed to distinguish between the two.
1st Timothy 4:1,2 Now the (Holy) Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their Conscience seared with a hot iron;
Since our conscience is a by-product of sin it alone is not sufficient to direct our actions in a way pleasing to God. It is required that our thoughts and actions be submitted to the Holy Spirit and in alignment with the Bible Scriptures.
Just like we cannot trust our conscience alone to convict us and direct us from evil we also cannot trust our conscience alone to support us in our right decisions. Again we are required to rely on the Bible for support and confirmation of our right actions.
Hebrews 9;14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot (fault) to God, purge your Conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
As Christians we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus, this cleansing includes our thoughts our actions and our conscience. Some people would give anything to have a conscience cleansed from past wrong actions. A clean conscience is possible, the price is high. The price for our clean conscience is the blood that resulted from the death of Jesus. Jesus came to give His life so that we would be reunited with Him and He gave His blood so that we would have a clean conscience in our relationship with Him. The price for our clean conscience was high. Jesus gladly paid the high price.
Arkeo (714) suffice, be sufficient, satisfactory, Lit. Being content through the erecting of a barrier or a wall of protection.
Verses - Exodus 2:21; Joshua 7:7; Philippians 4:11; 1st Timothy 6:8; Hebrews 13:5; 3rd John ver. 10.
First Use: Genesis 37:26,27 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother (Joseph) and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites {descendants of Ishmael, Abraham's child born to Hagar the Egyptian slave} and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.
1st Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Contentment is the result of safety, well-being and peace. Contentment comes from God's wall of protection that He places around us. The opposite of contentment is in-contentment, which means "self condemning". Contentment is an interesting situation because, wherever we go in life, whether we go to foreign countries, to the heights of success or the depths of despair "there we are". In other words there is no escaping ourselves wherever we go "there we are" and there are all of our problems, handicaps and hang-ups right there with us. Since we accompany ourselves wherever we go and into every situation we encounter and our positives and negatives accompany right along with us, it is a good thing in life to learn to accept ourselves and not to "self condemn" ourselves but to learn to be content. Content with God and content with ourselves in God.
Contentment stems directly from our being aware of God's wall and hedge of protection around us. It is a Biblical fact that God is our constant companion, continually accompanying us through life. It is wonderful to realize that God is with us, then when we encounter problems, we know and believe that God is with us. But then why the problems? Isn't God for us? Isn't God on our side? Yes! God is on our side. Yes! God is doing a big work in each of our lives. It is the work of God in our lives that we need to recognize and acknowledge. God is God, therefore He is doing what He wants to do and what God wants to do in our lives is to get us to walk with Him. Walking with God means to walk where God walks and where God often walks is right into the midst of life's most difficult problems. God is a big God. He is far bigger than any problem man can ever encounter, God is even bigger than sin and death, problems man created for ourselves, but God being bigger overcame sin and death for us. Since Spiritually we will never die and never be separated from God then in actuality we will never encounter a true problem that cannot be overcome in God.
Contentment comes from the peace, rest and comfort of the fruits of God, the Holy Spirit, residing inside of us. And God desires for us to be content in Him. We cannot be content if we fail to understand the sinful nature of the world that we live in and if we fail to understand the temporary existence of our current predicament. We as humans live in a fallen imperfect world, that is a fact. All mankind is consigned to eat from the tree of good and of evil. God takes us by the hand and walks us through any evil we might encounter. Knowing that God is with us and that God is for us, we can find our contentment in God during life's situations and circumstances.
Epistrepho (1994) Epi - upon; Strepho - turn, new direction.
Verses - Psalms 51:13; Isaiah 1:27; Matthew 13:15 18:3; Mark 4:12; Luke 22:32; John 12:40; James 5:20.
First Use: Psalms 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting (new direction) the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
James 5:19,20 Brethren (Christian), if any of you (Christians) do err from the truth and one (helper) convert (new direction) him (Christian); Let him (helper) know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death (separation from God) and shall hide a multitude of sins.
All people are sinners. When someone is knowledgeable enough with God and the Bible, to instruct and help others, then that person is walking in a converted (new direction) manner. That person has made corrections in their own life and sins. They are hiding their sins in a sense by now recognizing them as sin and no longer committing them and now they are helping others not to sin as well.
Conversion is a realization that there is a living, loving God. Many people in the world are simply unaware that there is a God and that God is available for a personal relationship. It is evident in the actions and deeds of disobedient people that they do not have the knowledge that God exits, or they wouldn't act the way they do. Once the existence of God becomes known to a person the person is now aware of something that they were not previously aware of. This new awareness is called a conversion. The changes from living for self and the earthly existence, to a conversion (new direction) of living with God and an everlasting existence.
An example of something unknown is when a group from a Church in the USA, went on a missionary trip into the rain forest of South America. After several days and a long canoe ride up a river the missionaries settled into a village next to the river. After making acquaintances with the native people, one of the missionaries commented about the sweltering heat and remarked that he would like some ice to put into his drink to cool it down. The interrupter unfamiliar with the word ice asked for some clarification. The natives living in the tropics had never experienced ice. The missionary assured the natives that water could freeze and become hard as rocks. He even explained that the river that flowed near the village could become ice and could then be safely walked on. The natives never did believe the concept of ice, until some was dropped off from a visiting helicopter. And then the ice melted into water. To the unconverted, God is like the mythical ice, yet to the converted, God is real and He exists. It took an encounter with ice to convert the unfamiliar natives to ice; likewise it takes an encounter with God to convert man to the existence of God.
Luke 22:31-34 And the Lord (Jesus) said, Simon (Peter), Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he (Satan) may sift you as wheat: {sifting separates the unusable chaff from the desired wheat. Satan is saying that Peter is unusable and he wants to separate Peter from God} But I (Jesus) have prayed {to the Father} for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted (New direction from denying Jesus), strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison and to death. And He said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
Conversion is not limited to a one-time event. We realize that God exists; we can still have other conversions (new directions) as we realize more and more about God. Back to our native friends that had not believed in ice. Once they believed in the existence of ice they still had many new discoveries to make with ice. They would learn that ice is a great medicine to comfort a bump and a bruise; they might enjoy ice treats like snow cones and ice cream. We likewise know God, but then some moments we really get to know God even more personally.
Diatheke (1242) living will, testament, contract, agreement.
Verses - Exodus 2:24; Isaiah 28:15,18 55:3; Jeremiah 31:31; Ezekiel 37:26; Matthew 26:15,28.
First Use: Genesis 6:18 But with thee (Noah) I (God) will establish My covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark (safe haven), thou and thy sons and thy wife and thy son's wives with thee.
Covenant means a permanent agreement. A Biblical covenant is made unchangeable and permanent by the death of the author just like a person' s will is made permanent after the person dies. A covenant requires two parties and is the end result of any negotiation processes. The covenant is the settled agreement between two parties or the resolution of a dispute. After an agreement was reached in the Old Testament then shed blood from a dead animal was used to reveal the death of the substitute. The animal substituting for the death of the two parties of the covenant, death making the covenant unchangeable and irrevocable and permanent.
In the Old Testament an animal would be killed in substitution of the two negotiating parties making the agreement. A covenant is not in effect while the parties are living. It is exactly like a will. A living person writes a personal will, directing how he wants his possessions handled after his death. While that person is living the will is not in effect, because the living person can change his mind and the will at any moment. Once the person dies, there is no chance of amending the will so the will now becomes effective. A covenant is exactly the same except, that in the Old Testament the animal dies in substitution and the covenant goes into effect while the two parties are still living. The Old Testament (will) Bible went into effect at the substitution death of bulls and goats. The New Testament (will) Bible is in effect by the shed blood and physical death of Jesus, making the New Testament currently in effect and forever without changes or amendments.
With the new covenant and the death of Jesus the New Covenant went into effect and can never be changed because Jesus would have to die again for a newer covenant and it is not possible for Jesus to die again. Part of the new Covenant is Jesus' prayer to the Father in John 17:1-26.
John 17:1-26 These words spake Jesus and lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify Thee: As thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou has given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do...
Psalms 50:5 Gather my saints together unto Me (God); those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice (the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross).
Ktizo (2936) author, thought up, planed out, owner, proprietorship, manufacturer, fabricate, create.
Verses - Genesis 1:27; Psalms 104:30 148:5; Ecclesiastes 12:1 51:10; Romans 1:20 8:22; 2nd Peter 3:4; Revelation 4:11.
First Use: Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven (sky) and the earth.
Creation is the act of bringing into existence, that which currently does not exist. There are several Hebrew words used to describe the creation abilities of God. Bara (1254) create, create something out of nothing; Asah (6213) build, build or make something out of already existing material and Yatsar (3335) form, form something from already created material.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created (Bara) the heaven (sky) and the earth.
Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make (Asah) man in our image, after our likeness: God already exits in His own image. God is making man in the existing image of God.
Genesis 1:27 So God created (Bara) man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created (Bara) He them.
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed (Yatsar) man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Without a creator nothing would exist, existence requires creation it requires intelligence, a plan and the ability to create. Mankind is able to build and form many objects, like automobiles, computers and even genetically alter some physical materials but God created the original materials. God created the iron, rubber and petroleum that we form into automobiles. God created the electrons that we use for electricity. God created flesh, blood, bone and DNA that man uses to form altered flesh, blood, bone and altered DNA. Mankind might shape, mold and build but God created mankind with arms, legs, hands, thumbs and the ability to build, mold and use items.
Stauros (4716) stake or post, used for capital punishment.
Verses - Matthew 10:38 27:32,40,42; 1st Corinthians 1:17,18; Philippians 2:8; Colossians 1:20 2:14; Hebrews 12:2.
First Use: Genesis 3:14,15 ..and thou (Satan) shalt bruise His (Jesus') heel. This is a prophesied injury that is fulfilled by the crucifixion.
Luke 2:34,35 And Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary his mother, Behold this (Jesus) child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; Yeah, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
The cross of Jesus is the pivotal dividing point in humanity. The cross is the event to reveal the hearts and intentions of mankind. On the cross Jesus was suspended between heaven and earth. Our decisions about Jesus are suspended just like Jesus on the cross. Either we chose to have a relationship with God in heaven or our relationship is with this world. Our hearts are revealed by how we view the cross. Hearts that are either for God and embrace the loving sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, or hearts that are against God and embrace what they think is the triumph of Satan and the death of God on the cross.
The Christian cross representing the cross of Jesus, is the single most recognized symbol throughout the entire world. The Pagan & Muslim & Hindu & Atheist world all know and recognize the Christian cross of Jesus. To the Christian, the cross is a reminder of God's ultimate love for us, that God became a man and gave His physical life for us so that we can live with Him in His righteous Spiritual kingdom. The sacrifice of the cross of Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus from death symbolized in the Christian cross is our hope, our joy, our redemption and our salvation. To embrace Jesus is to embrace the cross.
1st Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
The cross 2,000 years ago, while it was being used as an instrument of torture and death, had a variety of shapes and sizes. Some crosses were shaped like an X; others were a single post, without a crossbeam. The local executioner would use what was available at the given time. Sometimes people were nailed to a tree. Jesus carried his cross beam through the streets.
Luke 23:26 And as they (Roman soldiers) led Him (Jesus) away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian (city of Cyrene in Libya), coming out of the country (field) and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
This cross beam may have been attached to a tree. Jesus might have been crucified on a cross that included a tree growing out of the ground and the beam He carried or, the beam that He carried might have been fastened to a post already there resembling the traditional cross as we know it to be. Either way, Jesus was crucified in the outstretched manner that we are familiar with.
There are several Verses in the Bible that would indicate that Jesus was crucified exactly as we are familiar with, that He was raised up and his hands nailed outstretched from His sides and his feet nailed together near the bottom of the cross. The disciple Thomas stated that he would not believe in the Resurrection of Jesus unless he personally saw the two nail marks, one in each of the hands of Jesus [the hand included the tip of the finger, to the elbow].
John 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him (Thomas), We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails {Plural} and put my finger into the print of the nails and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe.
Some modern day critics of the Bible have said that Jesus was crucified with His hands together above His head with one nail, but that does not match what the Bible says. The Bible says that a sign was placed above the head of Jesus, not above His hands.
Matthew 27:37 And set up over His head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING