Friday, December 5, 2014

(12/05/2014) Joined To Christ Through Faith

More is shared, today, on atonement, forgiveness, guilt before the law, and the priestly work of Jesus Christ.  Salvation from GOD has not been provided for those who are innocent of wrongdoing.  Atonement, redemption, and salvation are for the guilty, those whose awareness and self-will have been dominated by sin.  It is also a principle within divine judgment that, even though a person may have committed certain violations of divine law unintentionally (we say, by accident, in ignorance), they are yet accountable for their own deeds, and their spirit content still must answer to sacred process for correction, and restoration of their status as being in right relationship with divinity.  Many are not aware of their own sins until they see others being punished for the same things that they themselves have done.  While neither Christ nor Satan will appear as their accuser in judgment, the record of a person’s deeds from the Book of Life may establish their unfitness for eternal life.  Even though one may be in covenant as a believer, without atonement sinners continue in uncleanness, and can not be in full fellowship with those who serve GOD, because unknowingly and unwillingly (we say, involuntarily) they will continue to generate and spread defilement.  While forgiveness is an expression of divine love that encourages change and recovery from sin, a person will continue to transgress the law until the life essence (we say, spirit) that generates their attitudes and conduct has been changed.  Repentance and the necessary permanent changes that must occur require unseen operations of divinity.  Jesus appeared in the earth to fulfill and further reveal the divine priesthood that was established on behalf of Adam, and expressed as a culture, a nation, and a people through the covenant of Moses.  For many Christian believers, the priestly work of Jesus does not stand out in comparison to his work as healer, miracle worker, prince of the kingdom, prophet and teacher.  While Christ was truly a son of Abraham, and from the line of Jacob, his blessing and inheritance from GOD was not as a son of Levi.  Jesus was not born a Levitical priest as were all the High Priests descended from Aaron, the brother to Moses.  Their primary function was to offer blood by animal sacrifices for atonement and remission of sins committed by the covenant people.  Additionally, they were to cleanse and maintain the place of divine presence, first the tabernacle, later the Temple at Jerusalem.  Jesus was from the line of David who was a prophet-king, who offered blood on behalf of the kingdom, created a liturgy for worship, instituted schedules (we say, courses) for service among the priests, and also functioned as commander of the armies, and judge.  As the Son of the Highest, Jesus suffered, died, and was resurrected.  Even so, the works of Christ are only effective on behalf of those who are joined to him through faith.

THE BATTLE AXE:  (12/04/2014) Guilt and Ignorance?

Hebrews 1:  1-4, KJV—God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,  2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;  3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:  4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Acts 17:  24-31, KJV—God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;  25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;  26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;  27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:  28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.  29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.  30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:  31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Hebrews 9:  27-28, KJV—And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:  28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

James 2:  8-13, KJV—If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:  9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.  10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.  11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.  12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.  13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Matthew 9:  10-13, KJV—And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.  11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?  12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.  13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice:  for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Colossians 1:  9-20, KJV—For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;  10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;  11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;  12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:  13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:  14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:  15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:  16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers:  all things were created by him, and for him:  17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  18 And he is the head of the body, the church:  who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.  19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;  20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Hebrews 7:  26-28, KJV—For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;  27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s:  for this he did once, when he offered up himself.  28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

Leviticus 4:  22-28, KJV—When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty;  23 Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish:  24 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD:  it is a sin offering.  25 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering.  26 And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings:  and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.  27 And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty;  28 Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge:  then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned.

Leviticus 6:  1-7, KJV—And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  2 If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour;  3 Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein:  4 Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,  5 Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.  6 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest:  7 And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD:  and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein.

Hebrews 5 :  1-10, KJV—For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:  2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.  3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.  4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.  5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.  6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.  7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;  8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;  9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;  10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews 7:  1-6, KJV—For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;  2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;  3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.  4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.  5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:  6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

Hebrews 7:  11-19, KJV—If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?  12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.  13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.  14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.  15 And it is yet far more evident:  for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,  16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.  17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.  18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.  19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

1st Peter 3:  18, KJV—For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

John 8:  18-28, KJV—I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.  19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father:  if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.  20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple:  and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.  21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins:  whither I go, ye cannot come.  22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.  23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above:  ye are of this world; I am not of this world.  24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins:  for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.  25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.  26 I have many things to say and to judge of you:  but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.  27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.  28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

John 8:  26-37, KJV—I have many things to say and to judge of you:  but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.  27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.  28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.  29 And he that sent me is with me:  the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.  30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.  31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.  33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man:  how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?  34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.  35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever:  but the Son abideth ever.  36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.  37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

1st Peter 4:  1-2, KJV—Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind:  for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;  2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

John 8:  38-45, KJV—I speak that which I have seen with my Father:  and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.  39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.  40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God:  this did not Abraham.  41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.  42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me:  for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.  43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.  44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own:  for he is a liar, and the father of it.  45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

Luke 7:  41-50, KJV—There was a certain creditor which had two debtors:  the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.  42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?  43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.  44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet:  but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.  45 Thou gavest me no kiss:  but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.  46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint:  but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.  47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much:  but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.  48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.  49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?  50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

1st Timothy 1:  8-17, KJV—But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;  9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,  10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;  11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.  12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;  13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious:  but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.  14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.  15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.  16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.  17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1st Peter 2:  19-25, KJV—For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.  20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.  21 For even hereunto were ye called:  because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:  22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:  23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:  24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness:  by whose stripes ye were healed.  25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

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