My love letter to the Church, my Christmas gift
When God sent Jesus to this world as baby, he sent his very best gift, born of the Virgin Mary in order to represent us in the flesh. But hidden in the babe was the very Son of God, who for the will of the Father laid aside the glory and equal power he had in the Godhead from all eternity! In order to redeem us Jesus had to not only die physically but also spiritually, this is why the Bible calls him “The second Adam”. When Adam fell because of sin he no longer had fellowship with God, he died spiritually instantly and physically slowly. Jesus the second Adam always had a perfect relationship with God the Father because he did not have the “Sin” nature of Adam because he was conceived by the Holy Spirit and not by a man; he also is God the Son forever joined to the man Jesus. The ransom Jesus paid when he died on the cross cannot be fathomed by any man, I now know today that years ago I did not understand this but in my later years I have learned much through the Holy Spirit of the deep things of God, this Jesus said the Holy Spirit would do in glorifying him, the Lamb of God.
Two things had to take place when Jesus died on the cross. First he had to die physically; second, he had to die spiritually as Adam did in order to be the representative of fallen man who became slaves and captives in Satan’s Kingdom. That day on the cross, for the first time in all eternity God the Son was separated from the Father (Separation from God is spiritual death). This had to take place because Jesus became sin for us, and the Father poured out all his wrath and hatred of sin upon him causing the Lord to cry out; “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” The truth is God did forsake him and Jesus the man joined to God the Son died spiritually and physically that day. They then experienced Hell, we cannot understand what that was like, and I heard one Preacher say it was like an eternity of punishment for Jesus. But death and Hell could not hold him and the Father’s wrath was satisfied and Jesus rose having conquered sin and death. Satan today is a defeated foe, Jesus having paid the ransom. Jesus took all the Saints from Paradise where they had to wait for him to die on the cross and he brought them to Heaven.
Jesus became the “Firstborn” from the dead, a New Creation; the second Adam could not fail!
I am the living one. I died, but look–I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave. Revelation 1:18 NLT.
We must as Christians understand that Jesus is honored by God’s work alone done through us; these works were planned and ordained by God our Father from eternity. In doing these works through the Holy Spirit we become exactly as Jesus, our pattern and example. The Apostle Paul confirms this by saying; “Follow me because I am following Christ” Outside of these “Pre-Ordained” Good Works, the works we do in the flesh are as God has said; “Filthy Rags” This is because only God can bring the highest honor and glory to Christ Jesus by his own doing, through the good works he himself has ordained for us to walk in. When believers become mature, they will only follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, like Jesus, who did not his own will but only the will of the Father! This is the walk of faith that pleases God, on that day when the Sons/Daughters of God are revealed, they will all be exactly like Jesus, perfect! The Father will be so pleased that he will sing over them.
The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 KJB.
This is why believers are a peculiar people zealous of the good works God had previously ordained that they should walk in them! This is why I get disturbed when I hear some Churches preach and teach that Christians must witness and preach to everyone, it is not scriptural. It was NOT taught in the Epistles of the Apostles which was the guide to the early Churches. The first disciples sent by the Lord turned the world upside down with their preaching, the Churches were born and guidelines were established in order that the believers would know God’s will for the Church. When we read the Apostle Paul’s letters along with the other Apostle’s writings we find that specific gifted men were given the ministries of preaching/teaching, Evangelism (Timothy was an Evangelist) all CALLED by God. It is obvious that not all Christians are called to preach or teach but some of today’s Churches ignore this and push the false doctrine that every believer is to preach the word to everyone. The truth is God has ordained them to be as lights in the world, shining by their good works (Living Epistles) and behavior, not running with the world. People are drawn to them because of their good works creating opportunities for them to testify of Christ and what he has done for them to everyone who ASKS; *”What is the hope within you?” This believers should be prepared for as the word tells us and not be fanatics spouting scripture, chasing people but not caring for their needs through good works. It is incredible to me that God himself does HIS works through believers and by that they are doing the greater works because they are many and God rewards them for the work he himself does through them! The key is obedience by being “Willing” “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from myself. John 7:17 NASB.
I encourage Christians to check out what I have written about God’s will for the Church today and not follow legalism or the commandments of men. They will pull scriptures out of context like: “Preach the word, be instant in season and out of season” A proper interpretation of that scripture reveals that it was spoken to Timothy who was an evangelist and not to the Church as a whole. Again I say, to be a preacher, teacher or an evangelist you must be called by God who will have given you that gift through the Holy Spirit and not by any decisions made by men. This blog is my gift to all, I have spoken the truth to you in love on behalf of our wonderful Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, may he shine above all on Christmas as the best gift to us from our loving Father in Heaven.
*But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 1-Peter 3:15 NIV.
May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith!
Author Ken
December 2013