Who is the Son of God?

The Son of God

He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. (Matthew 13:11)

   The Lord speaking to His disciples illuminated them in the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, and to us in these last days, He has given to us the Spirit of Himself to show us the mysteries of the Son of God and the kingdom of God. To whom do I speak? I speak to those who have light from above, to those who have been translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son Jesus Christ. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (Colossians 1:13)

   Let us begin by the Book: the ONLY divine book, the Word of God. The Word of God has come out from the treasures of God’s determinate counsels. 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) The Word of God is the Spirit’s arsenal to combat the evil of this world, and to glorify the Son of God: Jesus Christ. In the gospel of John Chapter 16, verses 7 thru 15, we have a description of the spiritual work of the Spirit of God.

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (John 16:7)

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (John 16:8)

Of sin, because they believe not on me; (John 16:9)

Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; (John 16:10)

Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. (John 16:11)

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. (John 16:12)

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)

He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (John 16:14)

All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (John 16:15)

The Mission

  In verse 8 (And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment) it is the mission of the Spirit of God to reprove the world of sin. It is the mission of the Spirit of God to display righteousness, the very righteousness of God. It is the mission of the Spirit of God to send forth judgment into the world because of sin, and because of a world that believes not on Jesus Christ. We hear little of this mission today in the churches. Could it be that the church is so filled with the world that the world does not want to hear about their sin and depravity? Could it be that they have shut their eyes and ears, their minds and hearts to the things that belong to Jesus Christ?

   The word of God is the weapon of the Spirit against the evil of the world. The word of God has displayed through its pages the foreknowledge of God before the world was, before the heavens above. In the blackness there was one Center, this was the Light.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) The same was in the beginning with God. (John 1:2) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3) In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4)

   This is the marvelous Light that contained ALL the power of the Godhead. This power was given forth by the Spirit of God, and manifested by the Son of God. IN Christ lives the power of life, and creation. The Father of lights and perfection LOVED the Son, and glorified Him with the Spirit of eternity before the first word of creation was uttered.

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)

And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. (John 17:5)

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16) And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:17)

   The complete Godhead set His counsels in His own Being of righteousness. He filled the Godhead bodily with His Spirit with the Father, and with the Son. And the Son of God would be the manifested glory of this fullness. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9)

Who is the Son God?

   The Son equally possessed the glory of God WITH the Father and WITH the Holy Spirit. Therefore, who is the Son of God? Before the foundations of the world God set forth His counsels that it would be the Son of God who would be the manifested glory, and divine image of the Almighty.

   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) The Son of God would reveal Himself as the divine Creator of all things. He would reveal Himself as the Sustainer and the Redeemer of men. He would be the Light of God, the knowledge of God, the wisdom of God, and the righteousness of God sent into the world to bring forth divine Light and Life. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.(Genesis 1:3) In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4) And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:5)

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:14) Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16) And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:17)

   The manifest image of God in Jesus Christ would now set forth the beginning of His creation. The Light of God would now divide the darkness, and begin the work of His counsel, and divine purpose. He created a beginning in which ALL creation would come forth by the Word of His power out of a empty darkness came the first words that broke the silence. The voice, the very voice of the Son of God in all His majesty and power echoed across the darkness as He put forth His power of creation and life. (John 1:1-4) (Genesis 1:3) The mystery of God  began the will and purpose of the Son as He set forth the creation of heaven and earth.

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: (Hebrews 1:10)

   It was the Son calling creation into existence by the very Word of His power. (Hebrews 1:3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. Within the Son was ALL the power and the creative force to fill all in all, and yet, in perfect unity with God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit.

That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; (Colossians 2:2) In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:3)

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; (Colossians 1:19)

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16)And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:17)

   This is the record of the outpouring of the creation, and the righteousness of God through His divine counsels and foreknowledge. It is the Son of God set forth as a mystery to be fulfilled in the last days. Christ would hide Himself from man until His divine manifestation and birth upon the earth. All the creation, the very beginning, was to put forth God’s will and plan by His own counsels and foreknowledge. All the stars were numbered and named. All cosmic power was put into place by the Word of His power, and then managed and sustained by the power of His Word. Every particle of dust moved according to His will and purpose.

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (Ephesians 1:9)

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: (Ephesians 1:11)

   All this creation was according to His counsel of His own will. As this glorious plan unfolds, every part and piece is put into its proper place and order. One dust particle after another joined in perfect unity, and all is created by the spoken Word of God. 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)

   We see the fullness of His counsel in the divine plan of His creation. For the creation itself witnesses to the existence of the Godhead and the power of the Godhead.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:20)

<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. (Psalm 19:1)

The Mystery of His Will

   In Genesis 1:3 we see the beginning of God’s government over His creation for He proclaimed the first Law of creation. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. (Genesis 1:3) And from this through the next sixteen verses He establishes His governmental control over His material creation, and thus, His material creation obeys His Word. From verse 19 of Genesis Chapter 1 to verse 25 He creates the beasts, and establishes their position, and their dominion according to His will and purpose. And THEY obey Him, and lastly, He creates man, and establishes His government over man according to His will and purpose. This all establishes the government of God over His creation.

   And as the pages of Scripture unfold His will, we see the working of that government through the history of creation and the history of man. His counsel, His plan, His will was in perfect order and controlled in His perfect righteousness. Huge massive globes came forth at His will. The heavens were filled with His glory, and the Highest Himself ruled over the heavens and the earth. The Son of God stood in His glory as He rested on the seventh day. He had laid the foundation of the earth, and molded it to be the habitation of man, and placed the sun and the moon in the heavens: the sun to rule by day, and the moon to rule by night. The sun in its orbit would continually replenish the earth, and warm the globe in which He placed man. The moon would pull the seeds from the ground, and show forth its life from death. For the seeds would have life in themselves. The moon would also control the tides, and all would be in its time and place in the perfect order of His will. God’s governs over creation and God does not need man’s approval. The Lord is steadfast in His determinate counsel. The word ‘determinate’ reveals that the Almighty is the same today, yesterday, and forever. His will is unbendable, and unbreakable.

   In the manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ we see the Person of God within the very miracles that He performed. Each miracle was according to the strength of His will: the will of the Almighty. In the gospel of Mark, Chapter 1, verse 41, His will unfolds in the statement to the leper. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

   To unfold the mystery of His will we must visit the Ephesian letter, Chapter 1, verse 9. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself. Here God is encompassing the fullness of all times according to His perfect will. He has gathered all together and perfected it in His Son, Jesus Christ. The fullness of time goes back to the beginning, and culminates at the end of the saga of man. In verse 10 of Chapter 1 of Ephesians, That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him. Now we see the counsels of God drawing ALL times to one place. He is drawing time to the center of His will which He has perfected in Jesus Christ.

   Man in his fallen state tries to divide God’s will into many parts, however, in the Scriptures, in the word of God, the will of God cannot be divided. The will of God is straight forward and all moves to the good pleasure of His will. (Ephesians 1:5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will’.

   It was God’s will that sent a man named John. This was a divine appointment of God according to His own will that John the Baptist would come out of the wilderness to introduce the Lord of glory to mankind. The Old Testament proclaims a defined future. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:3) And the New Testament records this prophecy accomplished in John the Baptist in John 1:23. He said, I [am] the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

   Make straight the way of the Lord. John the Baptist opened a highway in the wilderness, in the barren sand in the desert to introduce the One who is Life. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4) And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:5) In these two verses we have the fullness of God’s life giving power, and the very knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ. It is emphasized by John 1:9-11.

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (John 1:9) He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (John 1:10) He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (John 1:11)

   This was the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world to reveal the power of Life within Himself. And every man received the Light of God that he might receive Life from above. Christ came to give life to that which was dead. He came to nullify death.

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. (Romans 5:18) For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:19)

   It is IN Christ that death is nullified. Adam gave us death, and Adam must die. In Christ ALL has been redeemed, and to us (those who are saved by the grace of God) the gospel is life unto life. To the lost and unrepentant soul the gospel is death unto death.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1^st Corinthians 1:18)

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. (2^nd Corinthians 2:14)

For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: (2^nd Corinthians 2:15)

To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? (2^nd Corinthians 2:16)

For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. (2^nd Corinthians 2:17)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. (John 8:51)

  It is the will of God that ALL men should come to repentance. However, the word ‘believe’ is the key to everlasting life. 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)

Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? (John 9:35) He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? (John 9:36) Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. (John 9:37) And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. (John 9:38)

The Son of God — The Glory of God — The Godhead Revealed

   The apostle Peter (through the Spirit of Christ) tells us of the long-suffering of God. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2^nd Peter 3:9) Whether it is the antediluvian age, or the age of Israel wandering, the years of the judges, the age of the kingdom, or even the manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and yes, even to the age of the Church man has failed miserably; yet, God is longsuffering.

   God has presented the very glory of Himself in the face of Jesus Christ. When Peter, James, and John witnessed the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ, the transfiguration was the revealing of His eternal glory to man. They saw the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2^nd Corinthians 4:6)

   What has God done? He has revealed His Godhead in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The total manifestation of the Son of God is supernatural.  Why would we even think that we could understand this mystery without the Holy Spirit of God? The manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ is so remarkable that only the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, can give understanding to the unsearchable riches of Christ. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. (Ephesians 3:8) The temporal, the man in Adam, cannot understand the spiritual realm. He cannot understand the unseen. Only faith can see the invisible. And it is the faith which is IN Jesus Christ. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

   In Adam all men are undone by sin. In Adam there is no hope of heaven or eternal life. God has to create (through faith) a NEW being which comes out of the death of Christ. Christ has to insert both His light and His life and breath His Spirit into the new creature or new creation. Eternal life must come from the One who possesses life and is the center of all life who is the Lord Jesus Christ. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:16)

  Today, religion tries to take away the Lord of glory, and in exchange they substitute a weak and feeble Christ who is subject to the whims of mankind instead of mankind being subject to the Almighty. The fact is that some still see Him on the cross which is blasphemy. This is anti-God and anti-Christ. No matter how they try to explain or rationalize why they insist on keeping Christ on the cross (before the eyes and minds of the people) it still echoes the words of the Jews, Crucify him, crucify him. And Rome is still doing its work of death. After Joseph of Arimathaea received permission from Pilate to remove the body of the Lord Jesus from the cross, Joseph placed Christ in his own sepulchre. Then on the morning of the third day Christ arose. It is the papal Rome that never gives the Lord Jesus Christ His rightful place at the right hand of the majesty on high. 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) Christ, in their great halls of Rome, is symbolically and powerfully displayed in His crucifixion. The glory of His resurrection is not celebrated, nor His present position emphasized that He has sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. They have never received His final message, It is finished. The Son of God is in heaven, the glorified Man — Jesus Christ. The fullness of the Godhead bodily is alive, and has all power in heaven and earth. There is no ‘mother’ of God. The female gender is not found in the Godhead. Only the masculine form is found in the Godhead because it was Adam (man) who brought sin into the world, and only a glorified Man, the Son of God could redeem mankind. Only God in Christ could reconcile the world unto Himself. And may I repeat? the glory that the Son of God has today is His eternal glory. It never changes.

   In the days of Ezekiel, there was a glorified Man on the throne of glory.

And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings. (Ezekiel 1:25)

And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. (Ezekiel 1:26)

And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. (Ezekiel 1:27)

As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake. (Ezekiel 1:28)

   Now I would like you to compare this vision of Ezekiel to the vision of John in Revelation Chapters 4 and 5. This is the same Man. This is the same glory. This is the glory that the Man, Jesus Christ had before the world was. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. (John 17:4)  And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. (John 17:5)

   As we look through the lattice work of the word of God we begin to see the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His Person. Philip was shown the reality of this in John Chapter 14 when the Lord Jesus told him, If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.

Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. (John 14:8)

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? (John 14:9)

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (John 14:10)

Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. (John 14:8)

   This was a great revelation to Philip, and should be a greater revelation to us. Our faith should see the unity and the fullness of the Godhead bodily in Jesus Christ. Our faith should see the effulgence of God’s glory in Jesus Christ. We should realize that as righteousness (which only belongs to God) the effulgence of this glory also only belongs to God. Within the scope or the immensity of this glory we get facets that illuminate our faith and life in Jesus Christ.

The Glories of Christ

♦   The book of Ephesians instructs us about the glories of Christ. In Chapter 1, verse 6, we have the glory of His grace. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Within the fullness of His glory is the facet (the beam) of the glory of His grace. This grace has been poured out to us by His finished work on the cross of Calvary. And His glorious resurrection, and His ascension to the right hand of God. His glory magnifies Him as the God of grace.

♦  In Ephesians 1:12 that glory is magnified with praise. That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. It is for us, who are redeemed, and are embraced, to the glory of His grace that our hearts would be full of praise for His grace to us.

♦   In verse 14 of Ephesians Chapter 1, it is the praise of His glory. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. This is the effulgence of His glory that we beheld in Ezekiel and in Revelation 4 and 5.

♦   In verse 17 of Ephesians Chapter 1, we have the united and the unity of God the Father, God the Son, embracing us with the spirit of wisdom, and the revelation and the fulfillment of the knowledge of God in Jesus Christ. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The Spirit of God reveals to us that the Father of glory is united to the Son of glory by the Spirit of glory in the very fullness of the eternal God. God reveals Himself in the fullest extent of His Being in Jesus Christ in the fullness of the Godhead bodily. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9) Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:23)

♦   In verse 18 of Chapter 1 in the book of Ephesians, we are surrounded by the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ by the Spirit of God which is the Spirit of Christ. His Spirit is the power of His glory. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. By His Spirit we are drawn into His inheritance. We have acquired His inheritance, for we are joint heirs with Jesus Christ. God wants us to realize the benefits that we have acquired in the inheritance of the Lord Jesus Christ. For He is the heir of all things. (Hebrews 1:2) God the Father has appointed the Lord Jesus Christ (the Son of man, the Son of God) as heir of ALL things. In verse 18 of Ephesians Chapter1, we are drawn into the FULLNESS of that heirship. God presents to us those things that we have acquired in Jesus Christ, for it is Christ who fills all in all.

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:10) 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: (Ephesians 1:11)

Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:23)

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (Colossians 3:10) Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:11)

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Romans 8:16) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17)

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Galatians 4:5) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6) Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:7)

   These verses give us the present awareness of who we are, and what our standing before God is. We are sons brought in by adoption through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are established as the children of God as joint heirs with Jesus Christ. God wants us to understand that one day in His glory the saints will be embraced with that eternal glory which belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, today, He wants us to have full knowledge of Himself by His ministry, by His Spirit to us. We wait as Christians for the new heaven and the new earth wherein righteousness dwells. The word ‘dwelleth’ instructs us of His presence among the saints in the new heaven and the new earth. He who is righteous will tabernacle amongst His own.

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2^nd Peter 3:13)

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (Revelation 21:1)

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:2)

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. (Revelation 21:3)

   In our inheritance as joint heirs with Christ, we will be embraced by His righteousness, and we will be surrounded by His glory: in THIS we understand that faith will give way to sight. It will be the fulfillment of faith in Jesus Christ, when we shall see Him as He is, and shall be like Him. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)

For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (Philippians 3:20) Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:21)

The Mystery of His Will Fulfilled

   We see the fulfillment of His marvelous will, for by His will He begat us to eternal life. The fulfillment of His will, which He set forth in the beginning, was fulfilled step by step as the ages past, so as the ages past, the Son of God was glorified by the Father, and the Father was glorified in the Son in His life and in His redemptive work on the cross of Calvary. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. (John 17:4) And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. (John 17:5)

The Mystery of Christ in His Will Fulfilled in the Face of Jesus Christ

   No man has seen God at any time. (John 1:18) And this is the mystery of Christ (Ephesians 3:4; Colossians 4:3) for Christ in His manifest image has declared God, and revealed the Godhead to mankind from the bosom of the Father. God is Spirit. (John 4:24) However, the revelation of God to man is IN the face of Jesus Christ. He is the manifested image of both the brightness of God’s glory, and the express image of His Person. He expressed to mankind the knowledge and the glory of God. In the very Person of the Lord Jesus Christ was the fulness and completeness of the Godhead bodily.

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)

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15)

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9)

   The image that Stephen saw (as recorded in Acts Chapter 7) when heaven was opened unto him, was the Son of man, and that is how the Spirit of God relates this to us. He saw the same Jesus who was upon the earth, and gave Himself for our sin. He saw the glorified Son of man at the right hand of God, and this Stephen saw before he fell asleep. Read Acts Chapter 7 very closely, and the Spirit of God will reveal to your heart that although Stephen brought the message of redemption to the Jews by the Spirit of God, they refused the Spirit of God, and from THAT point the nation of Israel was sealed for many trials and suffering through the ages to come. They had refused Christ in His crucifixion, now they had refused the Holy Spirit of God. And they stoned Stephen, and Chapter 7 of Acts ends with a declaration to all believers that Stephen fell asleep, as ALL believers fall asleep in Jesus Christ.

   The image of Christ was at the right hand of God. This symbolizes control of the government of God. He told His disciples that ALL power in heaven and on earth had been given to Him. Stephen’s vision, and the heaven being opened confirmed the position of the Lord Jesus Christ at the right hand of God with all power in both heaven and earth. We belong to a Savior, a Man who was tempted in all parts as we are, yet, apart from sin. We have a God and Savior in THAT Man who is the manifest image of the Almighty God, and He has redeemed us by His own death on the cross of Calvary. For God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. And we, who have been washed in the blood of Christ, are present in the fulfillment of His divine plan. We have the presence of Christ on earth: He dwells within us. We see Him with spiritual eyes. We set our affections on things above for He set His affection on things below. He came OUT of heaven’s glory to the darkness of this world to call out a people for Himself in His life to take us out of darkness to His marvelous light. I will say this over and over until you believe it, We as Christians are NOT of this world. We have been taken OUT of the world to serve the living God, as Christ was in this world, so WE are in this world. Was not this the place of the suffering and death of our Savior? We are not friends with the enemies of Christ. We are ambassadors with a message of deliverance, and it must be delivered in its fullness. And we will continue to show the depravity of man in Adam, and salvation through Christ crucified. This is the message that for more than two thousand years the general world has not received. You must look in yourself, and examine who you are by the Word of God. You either belong to Adam and the devil, or to the Savior, Jesus Christ who is in heaven, and He is at the right hand of God. And just for the mere professors of faith, the Jews in the gospel of John, Chapter 8, argued with Christ, they were fervent in their claim that they were of God and Christ was not. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. (John 8:41) The same religious leaders who claimed to be of God would be the same religious leaders calling for the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. The religion of man, and I stress man in Adam, can only bring forth the fruit of Cain, and his father, the devil. The religion of man is truly the most evil work on earth for it outwardly denies the power of God, and in these last days it has swallowed up the truth, and has put forth one lie after another. Today the word of God (in its fullness) condemns the religion of mankind. This includes EVERY organization and denomination, no matter how small, even two or three. If it is based on man, then there is no salvation in Adam. If one of even three is of his father the devil, he will try to corrupt the other two.

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (1 Timothy 4:1) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (1 Timothy 4:2)

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2^nd Timothy 3:1)

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (2^nd Timothy 3:2)

Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, (2^nd Timothy 3:3)

Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;(2^nd Timothy 3:4)

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2^nd Timothy 3:5)

For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, (2^nd Timothy 3:6)

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2^nd Timothy 3:7)

   The first tool that Cain used  against his brother Abel was not the spear. Cain tried to corrupt Abel’s faith by denying the word of God and the offering which God had established. Religion hasn’t changed. To prove this: listen to Cain as he talks to God, Cain is perverting the word of God to God’s face. And even in Cain’s punishment Cain states it was too much for him to bare. Too bad, Cain didn’t think that of his brother Abel when Cain murdered him. God gives us such a picture of the wicked heart of mankind versus the heart of faith. Both men came out of the same womb. Both shared a life with Adam and Eve. Both heard the Word of God, yet, one was a man of faith, and one was a murderer. The man of faith was obedient to God. The murderer was faithful to his own religion. And the murderer was a corrupter of the word of God. The lie that the devil told in Genesis Chapter 3, became the weapon in Cain’s hands to kill his brother. It was the desire of Cain to be a god over his brother, and dictate his own will above the will of God. The lie has not changed. Genesis 3:5 still exists in the heart of mankind today, and we see it in action in all the perverted governments of the world. We only exist because God intervened to preserve life and order. If it was up to Cain he would kill us all. God works in the governments of man to preserve life and faith on earth. Even the Lord Jesus Himself told us that if the evil days were not shortened there would not be found faith on the earth.

And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. (Matthew 24:22)

And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. (Mark 13:20)

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8)

   The Lord also gave the example of the days of Noah/Noe. And we see this in our own age with all the immorality, and the mixing of gender, and the lust to fill up their souls with the abominable acts of the world. In the day of the Gentile nations they have filled up their cup with all the abominations of the world. Meditate on Genesis 6:5 this verse echoes across the ages to this present day. And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis 6:5 is the exact mind and heart of the antediluvian people. The foundation of God standeth firm because its foundation is IN Jesus Christ. And according to His will He is preserving His faith on earth unto His return. As He creates new creatures in Christ He also sustains them according to His will. To replace the antediluvian heart we have His presence in our hearts, and in our spirits. It is the Spirit of Christ within us that magnifies His Person and glory.

   We are also at this present time looking for the Lord’s return. He will come in all His glory as the lightening coming out of the east to set up His marvelous kingdom, and to gather all unto Himself in His great power and glory. And oh, yes, those of us who have already been translated or raised into His presence will come with Him and reign with Him. The proof in the word of God for the translation of the saints, and the resurrection of the saints is in 1^st Thessalonians, Chapter 4, verses 14 thru 18.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1 Thessalonians 4:14)

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (1 Thessalonians 4:15)

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:18)

Amen.

© Copyright 2019, Michael Haigh

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

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