He Has Established – Hebrews 10, verse 9 –

He Has Established

Hebrews 10:9

Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. (Hebrews 10:9)

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The Eternal Being of the Son of God

When we get to Chapter 10 of Hebrews, we are well aware that the Lord Jesus is the Heir of all things, and that it is Christ who created the worlds. We learn THAT in the second verse of Chapter 1, 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. And from that God expands the wonders of His beloved Son that it is God the Son who is the brightness of God’s glory and the express image of the manifestation of His Person. 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. (Hebrews 1:3) He is not only the first born of the Father, but He is the ONLY begotten of the Father. Christ was SENT into the world as the HOLY SEED of the ETERNAL BEING of God.

  He never surrendered that position as the Eternal Son. He is the possessor of His own throne which is a throne of righteousness, and He has a desire and love of His own righteousness, and from THAT position, He HATES ALL iniquity. (Revelation 2:6, 15; Psalm 7:11) His throne is an eternal throne, and He reigns with a scepter of righteousness.

   As we progress through the book of Hebrews, we see all the glittering light that shines forth in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. As the stars in the sky, Christ illuminates us with all the facets of His kingly order and His royal and holy priesthood and because man is so dim in his spiritual sight; thus, in a spiritual sense God takes us through the book of Hebrews with baby language so that the most childlike faith can understand the beauties of Christ, the magnitude of His sacrifice for sin, and the wonder of His blood and the power of His endless life.

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He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

The Old Testament Sacrifices Taken Away

The New Testament Sacrifice Established

   In Hebrews Chapter 10 we see the end of all the Old Testament sacrifices. God gives this witness to remind us of all the blood of the bulls and goats that was shed from Adam through the Old Testament and THEN as all things would pass away, a new thing was given.

   The Body that was prepared BEFORE the foundations of the world came forth as the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me. (Hebrews 10:5) When God the Father opened the heavens at the baptism of His beloved Son, He expressed His pleasure IN His Son not just at the Jordan, but from the beginning, God the Father was pleased with His Son as Christ spoke the worlds into existence by the endless power of His Word and Being. God the Father was pleased with His Son through the realm of heaven and the creation upon the earth. Like a precise decorator the Lord Jesus took the world, the earth, and decorated it with ALL the wonder of life, whether plants, beasts, or the things that move in the seas, ALL this that He worked through His creatorial power was to crown the earth with the divine beauty of life. He established the heavens, the stars, the planets, the orientation of the galaxies, and the solar systems of many planets and stars. He took one jewel from out of all the blackness and gave it light and life and decorated it with all manners of glorious colors, yes, God the Father had pleasure in His Son.

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He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

The Sinful Image of Man in Adam Removed

The New Redeemed Image of Man Established in Christ

   When sin came into the world, the Lamb that was foretold BEFORE the foundation of the world is revealed to us in Revelation Chapter 13:8, And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Thus, showing us that God’s grace was established BEFORE the creation of Adam in the image of God. What better image could man have then the image of His very Creator? What a position to be in that the Master of ALL creation would put His own image upon the creature: man, who was created and molded from the dust of the earth and the very life within mankind came from the breath and Spirit of his Creator. Yes, at the Jordan, God the Father was well pleased with His beloved Son. For God the Father knew the beginning to the end, and the end from the beginning. His Son was the beginning of creation, the beginning of the creation of God. And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. (Revelation 3:14)

    He would be the divine Sacrifice, the divine Reconciler, the divine Justifier, and the divine Propitiation for the sin of the world. No longer would the blood of the bulls and goats be for a divine witness against the sin of mankind, but NOW the blood of Christ would be the Eternal Witness of God’s provision for sin and death of all of mankind. To complete the righteousness of God the Justifier, Christ, MUST satisfy ALL of God’s ordinances that were against man in Adam’s trespass bringing sin into the world and death by sin. All the trespasses and sin that the children of Adam laid before God and will continue to do so until God presents that the very time of man will be no longer. Now redemption has been offered to ALL of mankind because the Justifier PAID the price for ALL sin. Remember that Christ entered into death which was the penalty for sin, showing us that the divine Justifier went INTO death to bring liberty in His resurrection to those who believe in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And because He paid the price for ALL sin as the judicial Judge He will be the Judge upon His great white throne to condemn those who would not accept His grace and cast them into the lake of fire.

   The righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ DEMANDS that He forgives ALL who come to God through Him. His righteousness also DEMANDS that He judges ALL who refuse His grace. Now, we (who are of the redeemed) are on a better footing, in fact, it is a sure foundation. The foundation, the ONLY foundation, of our faith is that Rock which is Jesus Christ our Lord. As He is the Center of the Father’s love, so He is also the Center of our eternal redemption. In His sacrificial death He has taken away the first that He may establish the second . . . of twain making one new man. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace; (Ephesians 2:15) And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: (Ephesians 2:16)

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The Perfect Will of God

Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.

He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. (Hebrews 10:9)

    All that Christ accomplished on the cross was done in complete obedience to the will of His Father. He delighted in pleasing God. He delighted in the very will of His Father. And in Hebrews 10, verse 7, it is written afore time that He would come into the world to do the will of God. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. In Hebrews 10:9, it is also written that when He came into the world, as the manifest image of God, He came to do thy will, O God. In verse 7, it was written in the volume of the book, it is written of the Son, that He IS the perfect will of God for He came into the world to specifically do the will of God His Father. In Hebrews 10:7, we are not only looking at what was written afore time, but we also see the complete manifestation of the Son of God coming into the world. That from the very descent of that holy thing, that holy seed from heaven, was completely the will of the divine majesty of God. There are many perfections found in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, and one of these perfections is the perfect will of God.

   God’s will is called perfect in Romans 12:2, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Although this verse addresses the redeemed, the statement to us is that WE should keep the perfect will of God. And that we should keep it as the children and sons of God. It is Christ who fulfilled this perfect will of God, and it is Christ who delighted to do the perfect will of God.

   When the soul of the Lord Jesus Christ was in turmoil for what was laid before Him in His crucifixion, it was His perfection in His obedience to the will of His Father that led him forward to what laid before Him through His suffering. Although the Son of man desired that the cup would pass from Him, His eyes were full of light (as He looked in the face of the Father) He declared, not my will, but thine, be done.(Luke 22:42) Here is the perfect will of God.

   In the book of Ephesians, Chapter 1, we have a declaration of the will of God that shows us the purpose of God’s divine will, and the power of His will in Ephesians 1:11, In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. In offering Himself, the Lord Jesus delighted in the will of God for the joy that was set before Him He endured the cross.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1)

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

   Hebrews 10:9 shows us the completion of the divine will performed by the Lord Jesus Christ in His sacrificial death on the cross of Calvary. He accomplished this by completing the perfect will of God according to the divine counsels and the fulfillment of what was written before in the scriptures that God would make His soul an offering for sin. And in obedience, the Lord Jesus would look on the travail of His own soul and would be satisfied.

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:10)

He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11)

Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12)

   We should understand that the offering of the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, was seen by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit from the foundation of the world. This discloses that there is only ONE world, there is only ONE Lamb which taketh away the sin of the world, and there is only ONE faith, and the foundation of THAT faith is IN and OF the Lord Jesus Christ for He is the Author and Finisher of ALL faith. He is the Creator of faith, and within Him ALL faith dwells. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.(Hebrews 12:2)

   Throughout the scriptures we have an active presence of God the Son not only in written form by the prophets in whom the Spirit of Christ dwelt. They wrote the words of God’s breathe, they declared the mind of God to man, and every one of them was chosen under divine Sovereign authority. The words that God gave them had such power that we read them today thousands of years after they were first given to those prophets in whom the Spirit of Christ dwelt.

Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: (1^st Peter 1:10)

Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. (1^st Peter 1:11)

Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. (1^st Peter 1:12)

   When we consider the prophetic scriptures in the volume of the book, we see all the characteristics of the Son of God in His divine ministry of overseeing the habitation of man and directing man to Himself by divine authority.

   In the Old Testament all the sovereignty of God is presented, and all that sovereignty dwells in the Godhead. There is no other neither on earth, nor in heaven who can proclaim sovereignty over all things. The total creation is the sphere of God’s will. No other will (including Satan’s) can interfere with the determinate counsels of God. There are two aspects of the volume of the book: one, it is the collection of God’s written word to man to reveal God’s Person to the sons of man. Secondly, although the word volume is used as singular and complete, the volume of the knowledge of Christ is without measure in God’s holy word. We fail to lay hold of the contents of this holy book because of our weakness in the love of Christ. We apply the love of God as it was characterized by the love of man. This is far, far, from the love, the divine love of God. The very Creator not only died for His creation, but He also was crucified by those whom he created. This is where the love of God shines. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (Luke 23:34)

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He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

The Sweet Savor in Shadow

The Sweet Savor in Substance

   In taking away the first we have the passing away of the day of atonement under the Law because Christ ratified the true Day of Atonement from heaven above ONCE AND FOR ALL in the sacrifice of Himself. In the book of Leviticus, beginning in Chapter 1, the sacrifices that were offered were a sweet-smelling sacrifice to God, and it was a sweet savor that ascended up to God.

But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, [to be] a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. (Leviticus 1:9)

But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring [it] all, and burn [it] upon the altar: it [is] a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. (Leviticus 1:13)

And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, [but] shall not divide [it] asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that [is] upon the fire: it [is] a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.  (Leviticus 1:17)

   The sweetness of sacrifice as seen in God’s eyes first began in the New World after the flood with the sacrifices that Noah offered. Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that [are] not clean by two, the male and his female. (Genesis 7:2) Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. (Genesis 7:2) He built an altar and then he sacrificed every clean beast, and every clean fowl, and those sacrifices or the sweet savor of them rose upward to God. And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. (Genesis 8:20)

And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.  (Genesis 8:21)

   The sweet odor of freshness rose from a New World that had been washed clean. When Christ gave Himself to be offered for sin, sin was the contaminate of the whole world and as Christ was being offered, His offering was a sweet savor to God the Father. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (Ephesians 5:2) When man contemplates his own sentence of sin and the result of that sin in judgment (which is death) man has lost the understanding of death. There is no such thing as a natural death for DEATH is NOT a natural thing, it is a JUDGMENT of God against sin for all of mankind. Man can only dwell in His own lifetime and the purpose of his life is defined by the span of his life. With Adam, his life was defined by bringing sin into the world and death by sin. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. (Romans 5:12)

   Look what is revealed to us in Romans 5:12: Adam brought sin into the world, and death by sin. It was personal and it is still personal to all of mankind. Death is NOT a sweet savor to man. Death is the stink of sin. Its bitter taste is repulsive, yet no one can escape this fowl smell of death that came up to God by Adam. Now there is also the sweetness of smell in the world of mankind, there are many flowers that draw men to their pleasant fragrance. There are many sweet savors in the world that man appreciates, and he delights in that odor. However, Adam defiled the sweetness of those fragrances in the garden. The sweetness of the relationship that Adam had with God was passed and given up for the stench of sin which is death.

   There in the garden the first recorded sacrifice on earth was offered by God Himself. He took two of the living creatures that He had created. He selected two without blemish, without and within, and according to John Chapter 1, these first two sacrifices made by fire were the foreshadow of the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, which took away the sin of the world. But what did God see at that time in the garden as the fire consumed the bodies of the two lifeless lambs when their blood had been shed? God was looking and smelling the sweet savor that He would see in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, in the fullness of time on the cross of Calvary. The two trespasses were covered with the skins of those two dead beasts so when God looked on Adam and Eve, He knew the sweet savor that would ascend up to Him on the cross of Calvary. He looked on those skins of death not seeing the trespasses and sin but He saw only His beloved Son. In the garden, this was God fulfilling all righteousness in His Son. However, the two trespassers were still under the Law of Sin and Death. God drove them out of the garden into a land of thorns and thistles, into a land of heartache and suffering, into a land of sin and death, but He provided mankind with a sweet savor which is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ: He instilled in Abel the Law of Faith.

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. (Romans 3:27) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. (Romans 3:28)

   The Law of Faith is God’s part of His eternal mercies. It is a gift that He imparted to Abel. And Abel took the gift of faith and the provision of that faith and out of his flock he selected a sacrifice according to the word that God had spoken unto him and also to his brother Cain. A spotless lamb was selected just as in the garden; however, it was now man who selected the lamb without spot both without and within. In the land of thorns and thistles, it would be the man Abel who would shed the first blood, the lamb of sacrifice (it was personal), and he would put that sacrifice on the stone of Abel, an altar that had not been hewed by man, made out of one stone which would be fulfilled in the tried stone, the polished stone which is Jesus Christ. Abel placed the wood upon the stone in perfect order crossing each layer so that the air and the flames would consume the sacrifice and the odor would ascend up to God as a sweet savor. And in the smokey shadows would be the future reflected of God’s dear Son, the Son of His love, in the fullness of time, on the cross of Calvary, giving His life for the sin of the world as a sweet savor up to God His Father. As the flames brightly burned and swiftly rose upward from the fat of the sacrifice, it was for the sins of man from the foundation of the world and throughout all of man’s time on the earth.

   The Lamb of God was always before the Father. The Son, the beginning of the creation of God in His sacrificial work, was set forth in the determinate counsels of God from the foundation of the world. As God provided the sacrifice of those first earthly beasts throughout man’s history until the manifestation of His Son, each one of those sacrifices, as provided by God, was a sweet savor to Him in His foreknowledge of what was to come in the fullness of time. And we, who are redeemed, should embrace Ephesians 5:2 as a sweet savor to our own souls in the sweetness of God’s love in the Son of His love. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. God the Father saw and viewed Calvary in each and every offering that was offered up in the Old Testament.

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He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

The Law of Sin and Death

The Law of Faith

   When scripture tells us that Christ took away the first, let us concentrate on that very word first. By one man, Adam, brought the first sin into the world, and Christ took away that first sin in His own death upon the tree at Calvary and took away every sin thereafter was in the sweet savor of Christ ascending up to God. Each offering in the Old Testament was a bastion of good things to come. As man brought sin into the world, so God would reveal grace and truth to the world in His beloved Son. God gave the provisions of sacrifice to all those who walk by faith. If Abel’s sacrifice was obedience to God, then we see the walk of the children of God in the genealogy in Genesis 4 that the beginning of sacrifice transcended the line of faith in the old world until the days of Noah. Enoch walked with God, and he was of such obedience that God took him OUT of the world. It is said that God translated Enoch so that Enoch would not leave the world by death. All these men of faith in the old world KNEW the provision of sacrifice, and they were obedient to it for it is written of Noah, the LAST man of faith in the old world, that he found grace in the sight of God. To find grace in the sight of God, one must have offered the sacrifice of the lamb by faith, and therefore, by that sacrifice Noah pleased God. Now, this is NOT a new revelation, but it has been lost in the Church for many years: there is an actual spiritual generation that transcends time and this spiritual generation, the generation of Jesus Christ is revealed to us in Matthew Chapter 1 . . . from the generation of Jesus Christ we see the seed of faith in Abel traveling through time, we see it in Noah, and Noah was the LAST word of God to the Old World. It was a man of faith proclaiming God’s righteousness by faith to a perishing world. And we fail to see that spiritual line of faith, or seed of faith, which is IN Jesus Christ. In Psalm 24, verse 1, God divides the earth from the world. The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. God divided the earth from the world just as He divided the seed of faith from the seed of Adam. The earth is the creation of God, the matter, the molecules, each and every speck of dust all that God brought forth from the power of His word. The world is man’s attachment, man’s origin from the dust and the matter, as he was created by God and God formed man out of the dust of the ground, and breathed life into that formation, and made man a living soul. And the world, humanity, is what inhabits this globe populated by mankind. When the apostle John wrote through the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ that was in him, John declared to the children of God in his first epistle, 1^st John 2:15, Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Love not what is in mankind, nor what mankind has produced, Set your affections on things above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Here we see another first, Christ took away the first man that He might establish the second man, the Man from heaven. Man has spent his time in the world breeding his sin as a plague. Christ came and gave Himself to call us, the redeemed, OUT of this world for we are a heavenly people, we are NOT of this world. By the way, this world is characterized as the ‘present evil world.‘ Through the history of man, and under the direction of man’s father, the devil John tells us that the whole world lies in wickedness. You cannot exempt any of mankind from these words given by the Holy Spirit of God. Man will not accept the first penalty of his sin in Adam. Man will not accept that he has been cursed by sin and death and the works of the devil. When man has an exceptional traumatic experience, many times it is blotted out of his memory, this is what has happened to humanity who has blotted out the knowledge of their sin because they have cast off the word of God and the provision of the word of God the Son of God’s right hand the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as in that traumatic experience man has blotted out his inherent sin from Adam. However, there is one thing in the trespass of Adam that mankind cannot blot out, the penalty of sin: DEATH is always there to remind man, ALL men, of his sin for it is his sin that brings forth DEATH, and man, the world, and the things that man has brought into the world can do nothing to save man from DEATH. Both sin and death was contained in the very first Law that was given to Adam. Here we see another first, for Christ has taken away the Law of Sin and Death, the very first Law that was given in Genesis Chapter 2 is completely taken away in Romans 8:2 to show us that there is NO condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit of Christ. And Christ through His Spirit of life within Him has made us FREE from that dreadful Law of Sin and Death.

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: (Genesis 2:16) But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:17)

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)

   In Romans 8:2, we have the Spirit of life which is IN Christ Jesus. This is NOT the spirit of man in Adam. It is the Spirit of the thrice holy God, the fulness of the Godhead bodily, Jesus Christ is BOTH the Spirit of LIFE and the SACRIFICE of DEATH. For in His Spirit of life, in HIS death, He overcame and cast away both sin and death. And this is the Law of the Spirit of Life which is eternally in Christ Jesus. It is a Law directly given by the throne sitter in heaven, the righteous throne that rules all His creation. He taketh away the first, the Law of Sin and Death, and He establishes the second, the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. We also see, according to the book of Hebrews, that not only the Law of Sin and Death has passed away, but the Law given to man from God that was to condemn sin in the Law of Moses is also removed in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. For the Law of Moses magnified both man’s sin and death by sin, although there was a provision of sacrifice the Day of Atonement had to take place every year for the sins of the nation of Israel and repeated year after year until the fulness of time when God’s heavenly Man, without spot, without or within, the heavenly God possessor of all righteousness would lay down His own life to redeem man unto Himself. The Spirit of life (which is an endless life) is eternally in Jesus Christ makes up the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:16) When Christ came into the world, He came from heaven’s glory, He was NEVER a man in Adam, He had come from heaven’s glory NOT under the sin of Adam, nor with the inherent sin within all mankind. He came as the Man from heaven so that He could take the man of the earth TO heaven. When He took on flesh, it was a supernatural act of the beginning of the creation of God which is the Lord Jesus Christ. The volume of the book, the entire Old Testament, was full of Christ in both type and purpose of God Almighty.

   In Isaiah Chapter 53, God projects (in prophecy) offering the soul of His beloved Son; God in His foreknowledge saw the complete history of mankind from the foundation of the world, and it would be one lamb, the only lamb, the divine Son, the Son of the Father’s love, the manifest image of God who is the brightness of God’s glory would counsel within the Godhead, Let US make man in OUR image. (Genesis 1:26) We see the uniqueness in the creation of Adam, he was created in the image of the Unique One, and Christ’s image was unlike any other image in the entire creation of God. Man forfeited that image, and man took on the image of sin. Now Adam, after his trespass, was as just another beast of the field. The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. (Isaiah 3:9) Don’t let this verse escape you, it is to show that their image witnessed against them, and not only was it is a witness against man, but God brings in the most horrendous sin, which is sodomy, and as today, man hides it not. He boasts of his own sin of sodomy, and what does the word of God say, Woe unto their soul, and it is because of their own sodomy that they reward themselves with the very evil that they participate in and bring judgment upon themselves, and one of these judgments in our modern age is AIDS. God is not going to allow them to desecrate the body of the fallen sinner without a direct judgment from above. There is no escape from their own countenance, for it witnesses against them.

   The fall of mankind in Adam is directly related to the fall of Lucifer, the anointed covering cherub. (Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14) The same lusts that were conceived in Lucifer and brought forth sin into heaven were the same lusts that Lucifer, the serpent, tempted man with. For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (Genesis 3:5) When considering Ezekiel 28, notice the first realm is the realm of the earth and the prince of Tyrus is a type of man and of Lucifer. Here we see man fulfilling his lusts to be as God, high and lifted up. This continues to verse 10, however, after verse 10, although it is a lamentation against the king of Tyrus, we transcend the earth to heaven above, we see the anointed covering cherub, Lucifer, in all his beauty until iniquity was found in him. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. (Ezekiel 28:15) We see in all the kingdoms of men the lust of Adam after the temptation, ye shall be as gods. And therefore, THAT temptation, THAT lust within brought forth sin and sin bringeth forth death. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (James 1:15)

God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. (Psalm 7:11) If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. (Psalm 7:12) He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors. (Psalm 7:13) Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. (Psalm 7:14) He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. (Psalm 7:15) His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate. (Psalm 7:16)

   In the garden, God allowed Satan to come forth, but he is seen as a serpent, this is a detestable image that God placed on the serpent, and yet man saw the serpent in another light. It was Satan himself as the serpent that was more subtle (cunning, deceptive) than all the beasts. He transformed himself as an angel of light in the presence of Adam and Eve giving them a false image, a deceptive image, to overthrow mankind with the same temptation that overthrew Lucifer in heaven. Wherever evil makes its presence, it is through the subtleness of Satan working behind the scenes to promote man over the authority and sovereignty of God. Even within the Church, Satan in his deceptiveness has deceived man in that mankind believes that he can have the authority over the word of God. In the contemporary church, man runs hither and fro looking for what is ‘new’ in deceptive translations. Man cannot conceive, in his mind and will, that not only has God GIVEN the word of God, but He KEEPS it by the word of His power. There is only one current Bible that is the word of God, and it was anointed by the Spirit of God to give the knowledge of grace and truth in the Person of Jesus Christ in these last days. You can turn your mind off right now or you can accept the fact that God has anointed the King James Bible to be His divine witness to us in these last days.

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (2^nd Corinthians 11:14) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2^nd Corinthians 11:15)

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (Genesis 3:1)

   In that very first temptation of Adam that ye shall be as gods, man has proven himself a transgressor by continually exalting himself in the same deception of Satan to be as gods. Satan used the word gods as plural to upset the balance of man’s kingdom which would now become kingdomS (plural). In their reign as gods (meaning man) would be as the prince of Tyrus in Ezekiel 28 fulfilling Satan’s temptation of Adam. We see the grand finale of Satan’s work in Revelation 12 and 13 with Babylon the Great, the Beast that she rides, and the Beast that Satan raises up out of the bottomless pit to give Satan’s power and throne as the one ruler over all men and over the earth under the direction of Satan through his false prophet causing the world to worship the image of the Beast as God.

And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. (Revelation 11:7)

And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 17:7) The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. (Revelation 17:8)

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He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

The First Man – That Man

The Second Man – This Man

   Let’s remind ourselves where we are in Hebrews 10:9 . . . He taketh away the first. Let us examine this in light of the two men who had supernatural births. And each of these two men had a specific fulfillment. We see the prophetic fulfillment in the birth of John the Baptist, but in John we also see the passing away of the Old, and the passing away of the Law. For in the second man, the Lord Jesus Christ, He brought grace and truth into the world. John proclaimed of himself that he was to decrease, and Christ must increase. Christ Himself said that there was no greater prophet then John the Baptist, thus, linking John to that which is Old and must decrease and pass away. John as a symbol of the Law could not bring righteousness to mankind, and this is why John is uniquely connected to Christ by the words of Christ for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness (Matthew 3:15). The Law was given so that man could see what he is. John was uniquely united with Christ so that not only man would see what he is, but in Christ man would see the refuge of God Himself that God Himself would be man’s Redeemer, and that it would be God Himself fulfilling His own righteousness.

   John was taken out of this world violently beheaded by Herod, and a symbol of the Old removed out of the way. The bringing in of the New was also done violently when Christ was crucified on the cross. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. Christ has taken away the first that He should establish the second. John is distinctively identified with Christ in the baptism of Chris through the revelation that was given to John on the banks of the Jordan, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Two worlds came together, the Old world and the New world, in the last prophet of the Old world, John the Baptist.

But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. (Matthew 11:9) For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. (Matthew 11:10) Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Matthew 11:11) And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. (Matthew 11:12) For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. (Matthew 11:13)

   We see in the violent acts of man in Satan against God’s Christ on the cross that the Law had to pass away because it could not accomplish the redemption of mankind. John was NOT the redeemer. He came to introduce HE who is above all. We see this prophetically in Psalm 87. And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. (Psalm 87:5)

His foundation is in the holy mountains. (Psalm 87:1)

The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. (Psalm 87:2)

Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah. (Psalm 87:3)

I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there. (Psalm 87:4)

And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. (Psalm 87:5)

The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah. (Psalm 87:6)

As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee. (Psalm 87:7)

   This is a wonderful psalm, but it takes the eyes of faith to see the Old and to see the New. In the words, both this and that man were born in Zion. They both had supernatural roots: John being a symbol of Adam under the Law, the man of the earth, earthly, and Jesus Christ, the second Man from heaven, not of the earth.

Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. (1^st Corinthians 15:46) The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. (1^st Corinthians 15:47) As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. (1^st Corinthians 15:48) And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. (1^st Corinthians 15:49)

Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. (Hebrews 10:9)

The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah. (Psalm 87:6)

   The end of this wonderful Psalm of the highest Himself, and the highest himself shall establish her ends with the living water in the overflowing springs of God. As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee. (Psalm 87:7) The last verse of this Psalm carries us to John Chapter 4, to a parcel of land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

   Joseph was the heir of promise, and we see this by his coat of many colors. Joseph is the only man in the book of Genesis that was declared to have the Spirit of God within. And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find [such a one] as this [is], a man in whom the Spirit of God [is]? (Genesis 41:38) On this parcel of land there was a well, and this well was designated as Jacob’s well. This well gave life to Jacob and to his sons, and now, sitting upon this well was ONE greater than Joseph, greater than Jacob, in fact, One who is greater than all for here in the Person of Christ was the Gift of God to man, was the Eternal springs of God, the waters of everlasting life in Christ Himself as the divine Gift of God. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. (John 4:10) He had come with living water to give it to the many who would receive Him; to receive the Son of God, as the Gift of God, one must receive and identify with the fullness of THAT Gift. There had been many men called Jesus, but ONLY one of them was designated the Son of God and Savior.

   The entire scripture is a resume and the revelation of a God who created ALL things, and that creation was created for His own pleasure. The scriptures might be a mystery to the majority of the world, but the scriptures contain no mystery to the mind of God. It is God revealing His mysteries to us, and the greatest mystery to man is the Son of God’s love, the Lord Jesus Christ. He was a mystery to the woman at the well. It was a mystery that He could give water of life, endless life in Himself. It was a mystery that this water of life now would be available to both Jew and Gentile. The Rock that followed Israel through the wilderness was manifested in the world as the Heir of all things bringing LIVING springs of water to those who are thirsty and perishing, and fulfilling Psalm 87:7, all my springs are in thee. The highest Himself is the springs of life in Jesus Christ, and this and that man was born in Zion. And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. (Psalm 87:5) This and that man, one of the Old and one of the New.

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He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

The Law of Sin and Death

Grace and Truth

   Christ taketh away the first to establish and to bring in the second. Grace and truth came into the world to bring the spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. We see the fulfillment of this in Romans 8:2, For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Again, let us remind ourselves that the Law of Sin and Death was the first Law given to man, and this Law was given to man in the paradise of God. Adam had to be responsible to the ONE Law that God had given him, and Adam failed and brought sin into the world, and death by sin. So, Christ has come, born in Zion, to bring the streams of the Spirit of life within Himself. He not only brings them but establishes them with the Law of His own life as the Eternal springs of God. It is the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, a Law that will NEVER be terminated or erased and it is to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after that very Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus. He took away the Law of Sin and Death, and He took away the Law of Moses, and the ordinances that were against us, and delivered us from the condemnation of the Law. And it is Christ Himself who has established us IN this wonderful Law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus our Lord . . . the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus

   As we see in the writings of Moses that God dictated to Moses the Law and the ordinances, there are many Laws written by God that are against man. For man is the transgressor, not in one sin but in MANY sins, and there is not enough paper to write down all the categories of man’s transgressions against God. It is enough to know (by the word of God) that man (in Adam) is without excuse, and he bears the GUILT of his own sin and sins. But there are also Laws in grace and truth. In Romans 3:27, we have the Law of Faith which is also IN Christ Jesus our Lord. The first man who received the gift of faith was also found righteous before God for his obedience to God through his sacrifice, and that was Abel. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. (Hebrews 11:4) The Law of Faith was the first Law given to man OUTSIDE of the paradise of God in the land of thorns and thistles. Abel was given the road map of faith which is IN Christ Jesus for Christ is the Author and Finisher of ALL faith. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

    And this faith (under the authorship of God the Son) is a gift of God.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8)

Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. (John 4:10)

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

   In these verses we see the power of the gift of faith. When the Lord entered into the room after His resurrection, He proclaimed to His disciples that ALL power in heaven and in earth was given to Him. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. In Hebrews 11:4, we see the gift of faith at work because of Abel’s faith he offered that sacrifice to God, and because of his faith, Abel was found righteous before God, and Abel KNEW the Justifier of all men: Jesus Christ. Abel received the gift of faith for he BELIEVED in God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) Christ is not only the Author of faith and Finisher of faith, what He started in the redeemed, He will finish in that same redeemed soul. Faith is a continuum, for Paul in Galatians 2:20 declared that the life that he now liveth, he lived by the faith of Christ, who loved him and gave Himself for him. I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. This small phrase from Galatians 2:20 shows the life that is in the Law of faith that faith is never ending that where it begins in Christ it continues in Christ.

   The result of the Law of Faith in Christ Jesus brings in the Law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus. That all those who have faith in Jesus Christ have a continual life in the power of HIS ENDLESS LIFE. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:16) It is faith that brings us to the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, and because it is a LAW from the throne room of God, NO ONE can take away that Spirit of life, NO ONE can condemn the righteous in Christ, NO ONE can abolish the salvation in a child of God because of the Law of Faith and the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. The Law of the Spirit of life takes us back to John Chapter 1 where IN Christ we see both the life and light of man. In verses 12 and13 we see the supernatural power of the Lord Jesus Christ in changing the children of Adam into the sons of God.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4)

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:13)

   These verses are undisputable for they have been given by the Spirit of God to reveal to mankind that Spirit of life that is IN Christ Jesus which is both the seed and the seat of ALL the redeemed for they are born of Christ, and they are seated in heavenly places WITH Christ, and in this, they continually fulfill the Law of Faith.

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He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

The Law and the Ordinances of Moses

The Perfect Law of Liberty

   Now that we are the sons of God, it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we KNOW without a doubt that we will be like Him. And while we tread the dust of the earth, we have the Law of Liberty to both sustain and direct our walk with Christ. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1:25) As we look into a mirror, and behold our image, as we look into the Law of Liberty, we should see the work and life of Christ reflected in us. And we should see that in ourselves, the old image of what we were is passed away with sin and the Law and ordinances that were against us. And that old image is replaced with the Law of Liberty in the face of Jesus Christ. We are called to see Christ in ourselves doing the work of God being motivated by our faith and not the fame and glory of man. The humility of Christ is part of our new man for we have looked into the PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY. The works of God are not burdensome. They are the works of our own liberty in Jesus Christ, and we must perform those works in grace and truth. When the Greeks came to the disciples, they asked, Sir, we would see Jesus. When a child of God looks into the perfect Law of Liberty, he should see Jesus ONLY and the FULLNESS of the Godhead Bodily in Him. He has taken away the first, to establish the second.

    So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. (James 2:12) Now we see the responsibility, you are not just ‘a happy sheep’ bouncing through green meadows without responsibility and without leadership. The Shepherd of His sheep walks amongst them. He requires of them to FOLLOW His word and His voice. We are the results of the works which were in Christ Jesus. In His words, It is finished, He SEALED us in the book of life, and we have the Law of Liberty to guide us during our walk on this earth. Although He finished the sacrificial work on earth, He now works as the resurrected Man in heaven. This is the same Jesus who was crucified amongst mankind. This is the same Jesus who was crucified by man so that we can see ourselves in the Law of Liberty and understand in our hearts, souls and spirits that we are no longer of the earth, earthly. We are of a royal priesthood, a heavenly people looking up into the heavens to the Man Christ Jesus at the right hand of God.

   The Law of Faith gives us hope in the works of Christ. It reveals from His work on the cross the things of the UNSEEN as Christ is the evidence of things not seen. The Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus gives us His breathe of life into this new creature created in Christ to be the sons of God. The Law of Liberty frees us from the Law of this earth, for the Law of Liberty gives us the freedom from the sin nature in Adam and free from our past sins. We are cleansed by the royal and regal blood of the Son of God so that we also can do the works of God. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. (James 2:18) The Law of Liberty changes the world of thorns and thistles into the green pastures of the true Shepherd of the sheep. In this place we are taught by the Lord Jesus for the truth is IN Jesus Christ. If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: (Ephesians 4:21) What did the Law do for mankind? It bound man with the chains of his own sin because the Law could not remove sin. And man’s sin shows all the imperfections of man in Adam, and Adam was the man of our heritage and the world’s heritage and the world is bound by him in sin. But those in Christ have been born anew, the door of the sheep has allowed us to enter into the Law of Liberty and be taught of Christ. Adam could look no higher than the earth. Adam was a down looker from the dust. He came from dust and he would return to dust. Now in the fullness of time, Christ came as the Divine Man from heaven, He was not from the dust of Adam. Christ’s roots and His origin were from above. He was not of the earth, earthly, and He came OUT from the Father to create a race of Up lookers in all the redeemed. Christ has broken the chains of sin so that we can walk in the path of the Law of Liberty. Psalm 23, verse 3, He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. He restoreth my soul. This takes place in my new birth which has been accomplished by the Law of Faith, the Law of Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, and now, in the Law of Liberty, He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His nameS sake and that name is the name above every name: the name of Jesus Christ.

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He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

The Old World

The New Earth

   It is Christ who has broken the chains of sin so that each and every child of God can walk in the path of the Law of Liberty. Our faith is directly connected to the throne room of Christ in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the Law of Liberty, we live to please our heavenly Father as sons, we present ourselves before God and He guides us and chasten us in His divine love as the sons of God. Christ took away the first and now let’s examine the second part. It begins with God Himself offering His own Son, the Son of His love, the only begotten of the Father to be the propitiation for sin, or simply, the Mercy-seat of God’s love in His Son.

Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: (Acts 2:23)　

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:10)　

   In Acts Chapter 2, we see that the Lord of glory was delivered by the determinate counsels and foreknowledge of God. Before the foundation of the world, the determinate counsels of God and God’s foreknowledge had designed and created the worlds that were and the worlds that were to come. Many feel that God’s creation ended with the seven days of creation of the earth. This was just the beginning of God’s determinate counsels to perform everything according to His foreknowledge. When Christ was delivered by the determinate counsels of God, this was God’s part in the sacrifice of the Prince of life. It is God the Father who made the soul of His Son an offering for sin. Man could crucify the Lord Jesus Christ, but man could not present the Body, Heart, Soul and Spirit of Christ as an offering for man’s sin. It had to be the fullness of the Godhead bodily offering Himself for the sin of the world. Man in his enmity had no part in this offering. They were simply the vehicles of Satan trying to destroy the fullness of the Godhead bodily in Jesus Christ. It is God the Father who presented the offering for sin in the Son of His love. And it was the obedience of the Son, as the Lamb of God, that Christ would see the travail of His own soul. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11) He endured the travail of His own soul and entered into death itself to destroy death and give life to those who are called by His name. It was the JOY of what He beholds in heaven now that was set before Him, and He knew in the foreknowledge of God that all these things would take place BEFORE the worlds were created by Him and the power of His word.

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:3)

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

   The travail of His soul brought forth one new man so making peace with God through the death of Himself as He presented His Body to God the Father as a living sacrifice for the souls of man. Christ came into this world to fulfill the determinate counsels of God. Every step that He took on planet Earth pointed to His final destination on the cross of Calvary. As the Savior of man, He presented Himself on the cross of Calvary. His priesthood as Melchisedec, bringing the Lamb to the slaughter, so that He might be the Redeemer on the cross of Calvary. The Spirit of God calls this place, the place of the skull, a place marked by death. For the skull of Goliath was beneath the feet of Jesus. The eternal Seed of promise that was given in the garden was fulfilled in the power of the highest Himself. That holy seed from heaven above, the highest Himself conceiving that seed within the womb of Mary, that holy thing, had come to crush the serpent’s head.

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35) Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16)

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15) Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. (Genesis 3:16)

   This heavenly Seed would crush the serpent’s head in the words, It is finished. From the holy word of God, we learn that God has a heart, that God has a soul, and that God has a Spirit. Not only was Adam MADE in the image of God, but Adam also had a heart, a spirit and a soul. These were the divine things given to Adam. Every breath that Adam took was a heavenly breath from his Creator until Adam brought sin into the world. Adam experienced the upheaval of his heart, and the upheaval of his soul, and the upheaval of his spirit. And Adam would then walk with the breath of Lucifer with enmity in his heart against God; thus, Adam would no longer have the Spirit of God within, he would walk with the spirit of a transgressor under sin and man would remain in this condition until the fulness of time. We should understand that the fulness of time brought the past, the present and the future all before God’s determinate counsels. For this one sacrifice (throughout all time) would determine the grace and truth of God in Jesus Christ for God Himself would present Himself as an offering for sin.

And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? (Genesis 22:7) And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:8)

   The offering of God the Son was a sweet savor to God the Father. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (Ephesians 5:2) For our spiritual understanding we should compare Leviticus Chapter 1 with Ephesians 5:2. In Leviticus Chapter 1, pay attention to verse 9, But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. In comparing these two verses, we see in Leviticus 1:9 that God in His foreknowledge accepted that sacrifice as a sweet savor in His foreknowledge of His Son being offered on the cross of Calvary. The burnt offering in Leviticus 1 is not for man, it is God the Father offering the burnt offering, the complete consumption of the sacrifice was a sweet savor unto God for it was a foreshadow of the fullness of time when God’s dear Son would present Himself as a sweet savor to God the Father. But this is not all, for the first time in scripture we see the words sweet savor is in Genesis Chapter 8, this number should tell us something. The number eight speaks of a new day. Christ arose on the eighth day which is designated as the first day of the week. The resurrection of Jesus Christ was the proof of an effectual new covenant and New Testament. In Genesis Chapter 8, as a foreshadow, after the flood, God made a covenant with Noah, with man, and with the earth. But we miss one truth, Noah was familiar with sacrificial death. He had undoubtedly offered sacrifices BEFORE the flood. How do we know this? Noah walked with God, it is declared that Noah was a man of faith, and that he was pure in his generations going all the way back to Abel. Noah was a preacher of righteousness. And according to Abel’s sacrifice, which foreshadowed the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, that Abel was seen righteous before God because of the sacrifice of the lamb from his own flock. So, if Noah was a preacher of righteousness he also had to be found righteous in the offering of a sacrifice to God, which again, foreshadowed the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. We should understand that Noah stood upon an earth that had been completely CLEANSED by God though the flood. And the world of humanity was completely gone EXCEPT for eight souls that stood before God on a New World. And this would be on a NEW footing, but this new footing HAD to be made by fire, and Noah built an altar. And there he offered one of every clean beast, and one of every clean fowl of the air. So what do we see? This new beginning of eight souls had to come by fire, and the sacrifices of Noah was a sweet savor . . . . and this is very important . . . that ascended up to God’s heart. And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.(Genesis 8:21) While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. (Genesis 8:22) This new world, with eight souls is, of course, documented in Chapter 8. It is here that we first see the sweet savor of sacrifice ascending up to God, and we should see that within the heart of God there was the foreknowledge of His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. As Christ divided the world with the world of the unrighteous and the world of the righteous, as Christ divided life on the cross, the life of Adam was divided from the life of Christ in His redeemed. In Genesis Chapter 8 Noah, under the instruction of sacrifice, divided the clean from the unclean. It was only the clean that was offered. It was only the clean that came up before God. In the sense, we see, the division between the sheep and the goats. We see the division of the unsaved of humanity, and the saved of the Prince of life, and their dwelling in heaven at the right hand of God. The new creation in the children of God are those who are washed CLEAN as the earth was washed CLEAN in the day of Noah, and are presented to God the Father under the sacrifice of His dear Son. We must see the God of glory in the words of Genesis Chapter 8, the LORD said in his heart. What do we see in the heart of God? He was projecting by His foreknowledge the sweet savor that would be in Jesus Christ His Son. The heart here is in the inner sanctum of God. And we have to see the completeness. Noah was in a New Land, he built a New Altar, he was on a New Earth washed clean, and the Father of lights and perfection made a New Covenant between Himself, the highest Himself, and Noah, a man of faith, and preacher of righteousness. This New Covenant also included the New Earth, and the sons of man, and all the seasons of the earth, both seed time and harvest, and God ends this covenant with the very profound words, While the earth remaineth. Thus, God gives us a foreshadow that there is a set time for this earth. And we know, according to the word of God, that this earth will pass away, and the elements will melt by fire, and God will create a New Heaven and a New Earth built on His own righteousness which was fulfilled on the cross by His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ when Christ bore the sin of the whole world, and saw the travail of His own soul. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11)

   In Isaiah 53:11 and 12, we see the three aspects of the offering of the soul of Jesus Christ. The first is, God the Father made His soul an offering for sin by the determinate counsels of foreknowledge of God, Christ was brought to the cross. Secondly, on the cross the Lord Jesus endured the travail of His own soul in giving birth to a New Covenant, a new people, a heavenly people not of this earth. Thirdly in verse 12, He POURED OUT His soul, the fires of God’s judgment liquified His own blood in the heat of the judgment of the sin of the whole world. He poured out His soul unto death itself.

    Back to Genesis Chapter 8, God received the sweet savor IN His heart. Does this not magnify Ephesians 5:2, And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. In Ephesians 5:2 we learn that Christ Himself IS THAT sweet savor of sacrifice before God the Father, and the Son of God’s love through His sacrifice have perfected forever those who come to God through Christ. In Genesis Chapter 8, we have the first mention of sweet savor. In Ephesians 5:2 we have the last mention of sweet savor. And both are connected to the heart of God. And we could say of the redeemed that through Christ, we are a sweet savor unto God. Why do I say that? I think Romans 12:1 answers that question. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Christ is our sacrifice and according to Galatians 2:20, we are crucified with Christ, and we are to present ourselves before God as a living sacrifice while we walk this earth in Christ Jesus. As Christ lived on this earth, we are to follow His steps and to pick up His cross and be a living sacrifice to God in the holiness of God. We, as the redeemed, are holy brethren. Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. In Hebrews 3:1, it is a companion verse to Romans 12:1, we are partakers of the heavenly calling in Christ Jesus, who is the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, and our profession is faith in Jesus Christ. We are to put on Christ so that we are holy and acceptable unto God the Father which is your and my reasonable service. I have died on the cross with Christ that I might live with Him and walk in His path. I have been removed from the contaminates of the world to sit in heavenly places with Jesus Christ. I have been crucified to the world, in that, I love not the world, neither the things that are in the world; consequently, the world is crucified to me, and it no longer has an attraction. It no longer draws my heart. It is no longer dominant over my soul, and my spirit has been made free in the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. According to Romans 12:2, I no longer conform to the world nor to the things of the world. Let’s put this into perspective: we are dead to the world, a dead man has no communion with the world, however, we are now alive with Christ Jesus. So, in the perfect Law of Liberty, we are called by our heavenly calling to do the perfect will of God as a living sacrifice and a sweet savor to God in Jesus Christ. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1)

   God has called us to not be conformed to this present evil world. This includes the imposters in the world church who reject our Savior because of their love for the world, and consequently, they have conformed to this world and have not the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are called by the heavenly calling. We are sanctified in the sacrificial death of Christ, and we are exhorted to follow Colossians 3:1 – 4 by the Holy Spirit of God.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.(Colossians 3:1) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)

   What we have in Colossians Chapter 3 is not just head knowledge, but living knowledge for those who are the living sacrifices for Christ. In that we die with Him, now, we live for Him, and we take our place in the heavenly realm seated with Christ in heavenly places. That which is of the earth is earthy, and so we return to Hebrews 10:9, Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

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He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

The Realm of Death in the Flesh

The Realm of Life in the Spirit of Christ Jesus

   He taketh away the first, so that He and He alone may establish the second. All our springs are in thee. (Psalm 87:7) The heavenly Man, the heavenly High Priest, the heavenly Minister of the Covenant rules over and directs and sympathizes and ministers His heavenly will to His heavenly people as He sits upon His heavenly throne in the heavenly Jerusalem, the mother of us all. So, that on the cross He shall see the travail of His soul, and in His foreknowledge, He saw the joy that was set before Him. He saw the breath of His new creation, a new people, designed and contained in His own Body and these are all made up of those who look up to the Prince of life for the salvation of their own soul. For in Him is life, and this life is the light of man which is the active Spirit of Christ within every child of God and by His Spirit we hear His defining voice in the word of God, for His Spirit, the Comforter that He has sent shall lead us into all truth. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:13) And the truth is in Jesus. If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: (Ephesians 4:21)

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1^st John 2:27)

  The edification of the Spirit of Christ is to ALL the children of God with no exceptions. Since God is sovereign, He must have sovereignty over those who He possesses. We, being in Christ, are possessed by the Son of God. God the Father has placed the Spirit of His Son INTO our hearts. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6)

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: (Colossians 1:12) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (Colossians 1:13)

   We not only see the Spirit of Christ in our hearts as individuals, but we also see that we have been translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. And for this to happen, we must have the Spirit of Christ within us and by having His Spirit within us, He will lead us into all truth. This is why the Spirit of God gives us Romans 8:9, But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. The Spirit of God gives us a witness and a division that those who walk after the flesh are of the flesh, and they who walk after the Spirit of Christ, the Law of the Spirit of Christ, have the Spirit of Christ within. They who walk after the flesh have NOT the Spirit of Christ and are NONE of His. Here, the Spirit of Christ again divides. We should look at this division as the Spirit of life, and in the flesh, the realm of death. If someone has no heartbeat, they are dead and if the Spirit of Christ does not beat in your heart, you are not His; you are without faith, and still under the judgment of the Almighty God. So, when we see someone walking in all manner of flesh, and they have no desire or understanding in the word of God, although they may make a profession of faith, they are NONE of His, and the Spirit of Christ does not dwell in them. However, in their actions, the spirit of man testifies who they really are: souls without Christ and without the Spirit of Christ.

   In the redeemed, we have a true Guide in the Spirit of Christ. We have a true Savior to lead us into the path of true righteousness. There are three elements in the holy brethren: we are called to be holy in Him who loves us. (Hebrews 3:1) Secondly, we have a charge to minister the word of God to all the holy brethren. (1^st Thessalonians 5:27) This encompasses all the word of God with the same inspiration of the Spirit of God in the ministry of the word for the word of God is called holy, and it must be ministered in the Spirit of holiness in Christ Jesus. (2^nd Timothy 3:15) The third and last point: we are called to walk before God as those holy brethren who are called by the heavenly calling. God Himself declared, Be ye holy, for I am holy. These are God’s own words, and they transcend time. They were first given to Israel as a heavenly responsibility not only concerning the people, but over all of God’s creation. For it was Israel who was NOT a nation, but was created by God AS A NATION, and taken out of the womb . . . and God breathed life into the nation.

For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (Leviticus 11: 44) For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. (Leviticus 11: 45) This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: (Leviticus 11: 46) To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten. (Leviticus 11: 47)

But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called [thee] by thy name; thou [art] mine. (Isaiah 43:1)

This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise. (Isaiah 43:21)

Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. (Isaiah 44:2)

Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. (Isaiah 44:21)

Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel. (Isaiah 44:23) Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; (Isaiah 44:24)

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (Leviticus 19:1) Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy. (Leviticus 19:2)

   Now the redeemed of the Lord have been created in Christ. We are born again as part of the new creation. Now in our standing before God, part of our new creation will come at a much later date. It will come in the creation of the new heaven and the new earth where God’s righteousness will fill the entire realm of the new heavens and the new earth. There will be no scars of sin and death. All will be new in the creation of God. Now as Israel was called to be holy before God, Christ also has established in us, that we should walk before God in holiness for God has called us to be holy before Him. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; (1^st Peter 1:15) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1^st Peter 1:16)

   We are called to both walk and to embrace the holiness of God. As we put on Christ, we embrace the mind of Christ, we feast on the word of Christ, we drink of the waters of life in Christ, and we are seated with Christ in heavenly places. And as we walk in the dust of this earth, we have the armor of Christ which He gives from His throne for He is also the Captain of our salvation. In the Old Testament the people of Israel were admonished to meditate on the word of God day and night. Should this not be our desire to do the same? How can we guard ourselves from the evils of this world if all our thoughts and actions are with this present evil world? The word of God has promised us that Christ will never leave us nor forsake us. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)

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He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

The Realm of Man’s Rule Over the Earth

The Divine King and Priest Will Reign and Rule Over The Earth

   When Abraham stood before the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord Jesus told Abraham to walk before him and be thou perfect. (Genesis17:1) Christ had given Abraham all the earthly promises: that his seed would be as the sand of the sea. He also gave Abraham a specific promise of the heavenlies that not only those of the earth would be blessed, but there would be a heavenly seed as the stars in the heavens, and they would be fulfilled in Christ Himself.

   As Christ was faithful in ALL to Abraham, so He is faithful to us and all that He has promised us. In verse 6 of Hebrews Chapter 13, the Spirit of God brings man into the picture, this is man in Adam without Christ. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Christ wants us to neither fear, nor dread from the sons of man. God, in Christ, wants us to stand in the Law of Liberty with the freedom that Christ has given to us in Himself by the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. He has given us divine liberty wherein mankind cannot silence us. We are not only children of truth, but we are born of that truth in Jesus Christ.

   He is the Creator of all things, and He is sovereign over all things. God has called us in Jesus Christ to have NO FEAR of man in Adam. In our present evil world, the fear card is being used by all governments and the fear of evil rule has taken away all true liberty whether it is in the United States or in other nations. True liberty has ceased to exist; yet man still follows the lies of government and the lies of the government’s stooges (the news media). In our present age we have come to the fulfillment of all of man’s lies. Lies abound more than ever before, and of course, the very seat and origin of the lie are from the satanic power of their father the devil. (John 8:44) The heads of governments, and those who they surround themselves with, has become a system of dictatorial devils to set and to rule over man by instilling FEAR in the hearts of all men. Both the governments and religions of this world are ruled by FEAR and promote FEAR. Remember Pilate. He made his last decision from the fear of the Jews. Pilate surrendered his soul based on fear. As many today have surrendered the gospel of truth because of the fear of man. They like their positions, their wealth, their stature, even those who follow them, but they would rather preach a gospel of lies then the gospel of truth because of the fear of man. This present evil world has pulled out all the stops in their lies. This demonic spirit of fear has spread over all the world. It is as a giant evil sunflower with all its seeds sprinkling down over the nations. They are deliberately using the spirit of fear to suppress and control the people and hold the world in their wicked grasp of lies to fulfill their own demonic lies. In the days of the apostles, both John and Paul realized the wickedness of sin in the world. In their day the whole world . . . lieth in wickedness, and the whole world was then and is now full of evil. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. (1^st John 5:19) Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: (Galatians 1:4)

   This world has not changed since the days of the apostles. The spirit of wickedness and the spirit of evil has always been dominant in the world of man. If God, through the eyes of His Spirit, put these words into His appointed apostles, why are we, the redeemed, so blind to this present evil world and the fact that the world and its people are lying in all wickedness. They are ALL part of the great whore of Babylon riding on the back of the beast of government and religion.

And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: (Revelation 17:1)

With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. (Revelation 17:2)

So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 17:3)

And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: (Revelation 17:4)

And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (Revelation 17:5)

And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. (Revelation 17:6)

And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 17:7)

The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. (Revelation 17:8)

And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. (Revelation 17:9)

And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. (Revelation 17:10)

And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. (Revelation 17:11)

And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. (Revelation 17:12)

These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. (Revelation 17:13)

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. (Revelation 17:14)

   How did we get to Revelation Chapter 17 from Hebrews Chapter 10? Because Revelation 17 is all part of what Christ has and is establishing in the second of Hebrews 10:9. The beginning of the Revelation of Jesus Christ is designated as the revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto Him to SHOW unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John. (Revelation 1:1) There is NO date when God the Father gave this book of the Revelation to His Son. This book of the Revelation, and this is just a thought, could have been given to the Son of God BEFORE the foundations of the world in the determinate counsels of God. And then the Lord Jesus sent and signified it with His own seal and by His angel to His servant John. This is just to give you an area of thought, and not to presume that everything took place in a short period of time. Just as we still see the truth and the fruit of the cross ever expanding through the time in which we dwell and will continue into the future. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second and He has established the second on firmer ground as He has defeated both death and the works of the devil. He is STILL fulfilling that defeat of Satan in bringing many sons to glory. He is STILL establishing and proving the New Covenant with both the redeemed and the future kingdom of God’s dear Son on mount Zion. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. (Psalm 2:6) The Lord Jesus will sit on the throne as both King and Priest in Jerusalem on God’s holy hill. He will, of course, be Lord of lords, in this He will not only reflect His earthly glory, but He will also reflect His heavenly glory.

   In His earthly glory, He will sit on the throne of David over Israel and over the whole world. As Priest, after the order and oath of Melchisedec, He will bring heavenly blessings down to man to shed these blessings over the whole world under the condition of the obedience of the nations to the Feast of Tabernacles because in all reality He who sits in Jerusalem on the throne of David, is full of all spiritual and temporal blessings; for He comes in His own spirit of life to reign over His kingdom as the King of kings, and Lord of lords.

   To put things in proper perspective, if we look back from the Lord’s millennial kingdom to the days of David, we would see that David’s life and his throne and reign over Israel was only a shadow of the future kingdom to come in God’s dear Son. If David’s throne and kingdom were such a glorious kingdom, just think what the millennial kingdom of Christ will bring to this earth from heaven’s glory as both the King and Priest of Eternal dominion of Jesus Christ our Lord. We should also see in the millennial kingdom that Christ will sit as Judge on His throne to finalize God’s authority over ALL of mankind. For Christ will bring in the righteous judgment of God into the realm of mankind. He will finalize God’s authority over ALL men. Through all the declarations and the names that have been given to the Creator of all things, and the glories of His inheritance, the name of SON from the lips of God the Father is the dearest name within the Godhead. The only begotten SON of God’s love is unmatched in beauty and holiness in the throne of heaven. On earth and the throne in Jerusalem, the unmatched name among the sons of men will be the name of Jesus for at THAT name every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that name to the glory of God the Father.

   When the Son of God walked upon His earth, He walked in unmatched holiness, His steps were holy, His words were holy, His thoughts were holy, His touch was holy, His presence among man was holy, He was truth Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (Isaiah 6:3)

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He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

Earthly Things

Heavenly Things

   Let’s travel from the earth to the heavens where we see the throne sitter on His emerald throne with His scepter of righteousness in His right hand, and all those around His glorious throne proclaim, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. (Revelation 4:8) All those in heaven sees the wonderful worth of the Lord God Almighty. His holiness covers heaven, the earth, and under the earth through His thrice holy declaration. In John Chapter 3, verse 13, the Lord explained to Nicodemus that Christ was not only present with Nicodemus, but he was also simultaneously present in His kingdom as well. And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. (John 3:13) This was a heavenly revelation that in His omnipresence, as the Son of man He had full communion with heaven and earth at the same time. Prior to Christ’s disclosure of His omnipresence, He had explained to Nicodemus the Godhead in verse 11, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. The Lord Jesus used the word WE three times in depicting the Godhead: Father, Son and Holy Ghost; then He brought ALL three together in the word OUR, as a divine witness to man of all three. Then in verse 12 of John 3, tells us that the Lord Jesus was explaining HEAVENLY THINGS. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? Nicodemus was bewildered by these truths. Is this not the same today? If I tell you of heavenly things by the Spirit of God and God’s word, will you believe or will the sin that is within you deny the truth? Nicodemus was a scholar in all the Jewish teachings, but his eyes were closed to heavenly things. He was not only blind to the things that Christ revealed to him, he was also blind to the work of faith, for it was foreign to him.

   John Chapter 3 is a Chapter of the New and of the Old. We have the great truth of the New, a man being born again, born of the Spirit of God; we have a great truth of the present that Christ was God as the Son of man, and that He was present on earth at the same time that He was present in heaven; and to the best of my understanding, this is the first time in John 3:12 that Christ presents the Godhead in the gospel of John. Christ presented the Godhead to Nicodemus who was considered a ruler and scholar in the Jewish community. Christ took away the first by the work of grace that was in Him, and He established that grace through the Gift of Himself on the cross of Calvary that through faith man is brought to God and eternal life through Jesus Christ. As Christ is the Gift of God, He is also the Gift from God. For faith brings man to grace in the road of belief in God. It is faith that presents grace to man so that man will believe and become a child of the living God. Faith is established as a Gift that cannot be removed once it is given. Therefore, faith accompanies grace, and God’s grace is eternal for it is IN Jesus Christ. The Gift that was delivered on the cross of Calvary to bring forth grace must be received by faith in Jesus Christ. There are no steps in the new birth. That’s explained to us in John Chapter 3, our new birth is instantaneous by the movement of the Spirit of Christ within us as the Gift of God. When a person is born again, they die and live at the same time. They die to Adam and live unto Christ by the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. We are set free from the Law of Sin and Death.

Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. (Hebrews 10:9)

Amen and Amen.

Copyright 2023, Michael Haigh

Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.

All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJB)