Miscellaneous and Varied Truth's of scripture!

[beloved57]

There is no condemnation to them in Christ Jesus !

There is no condemnation to them in Christ Jesus !

Rom 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

This scripture tells us a few things very specifically, #1 That none who are in Christ Jesus has been charged with any condemnation [from God], and Paul also tells us their first date in Christ Jesus 2 Tim 1:9

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Yes those Chosen in Him before the foundation Eph 1:4 have no condemnation charged to them by God because of it, even then Grace was given them, and Grace Justified them even then Titus 3:7

7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

When were believers initially Justified by His Grace ? It was when it was given them in Christ Jesus before the world began ! What were they Justified from ? They were Justified from the condemnation they would incur in Adam here Rom 5:18

18 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.

That word condemnation is the greek word katakrima and means:

I.damnatory sentence, condemnation

Its used only 3 times in the NT In Rom 5:16,18 and Rom 8:1, and so we understand it to be saying that there is no damnatory sentence from God to them that are in Christ Jesus, and thats because of Grace given them in Him before the world began !

Because of Gods Grace already given them in their Surety/Mediator Christ Jesus before the foundation, when they did in time, in Adam incur condemnation Rom 5:18, God could not charge them personally with it, but it [their condemnation] was charged to Christ Jesus ! The damnatory sentence they incurred was imputed/charged on Christ Jesus, and so we read:

Isa 53:6

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

That word laid means to:

iii.to encounter, fall upon (of hostility)

Thats the same force of idea as in came upon in Rom 5:18a

18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon/fell upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Their condemnation fell upon Christ and He was to encounter the Hostility of Gods Wrath in Justice for their iniquities, and not them !

This results from being in Christ where there is no condemnation Rom 8:1 !

 

[beloved57]

There is no condemnation to them in Christ Jesus !2

There is no condemnation to them in Christ Jesus !2

Following point #1 That Rom 8:1 gives us a few different specific facts to know, the first being that there is not and cannot be any condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, which are in Him by the Purpose of God before the world began, inwhich at that time Justifying Grace was given them in Him 2 Tim 1:9

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Now #2 Those who are Christ Jesus by Election, shall eventually in due time according to God's Purpose, shall walk after the Spirit !

Rom 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Its imperative that those whom God does not condemn, its imperative that they begin a walk after the Spirit, which means they shall become a Born Again Believer ! Thats what walking after the Spirit denotes, a walk of Faith, for Faith is the fruit of the Spirit Gal 5:22 !

To walk after the Spirit we must first be born after the Spirit like our Brother Isaac Gal 4:29

29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

Note: This above verse Gal 4:29 is proof that OT Believers such as Isaac were born by the Spirit no different than NT Believers ! The word after as in born after the Spirit, its the greek word κατά and it means by, its used that way here Mark 6:32

And they departed into a desert place by ship privately !

Jn 10:3

To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

And so it is, all who were Chosen in Christ Jesus, where there is No condemnation to them at all, by that they also became Christ's Offspring /Seed, as such they must eventually be born by the Spirit in order to walk after the Spirit or by the Spirit !

All men are born either naturally and or Spiritually by the Time and Purpose of God Ecc 3:1-2

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

Theres a time in the Purpose of God for those who were given Grace and Purpose in Christ Jesus before the world began 2 Tim 1:9 a time for them to be born both naturally and spiritually according to God's Purpose !

 

[beloved57]

There is no condemnation to them in Christ Jesus !3

There is no condemnation to them in Christ Jesus !3

Those Christ died for where in Him before the foundation Eph 1:4;2 Tim 1:9 when even then Purpose and Grace was given them, and That Grace Justified them Titus 3:7

7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Thats right, the Elect, Gods People He chose in Christ never had God's condemnation laid upon them personally, simply because they were always in Christ ! Why does it say therefore in Rom 8:1 this:

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Does the word now mean that it was before ? No it does not mean that or could it for reasons already stated, but it does mean that, Now it became known to the Justified one, having previously been knowledge withheld. Paul had previously discussed how that the believer had died to the Law by the Body of Christ Rom 7:4

4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

He taught that they were freed/Justified from sin Rom 6:7

7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

The word freed is the greek word dikaioó:

I make righteous, defend the cause of, plead for the righteousness (innocence) of, acquit, justify; hence: I regard as righteous.

The ASV reads :

for he that hath died is justified from sin.

But yet because the believer is still in a sinful body of death that sins all the time , Pauls point in Rom 7:14-25,

Yet, he comes to know by Gospel revelation that there is No Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, they are and have been Justified from sin by the Body of Christ, even before they came to believe !

Because Christ had been setup before the foundation to be their Surety, their condemnation they deserved, it was charged to Christ. You see either the condemnation they incurred, God charged it to them or He charged to Christ, Justice wont allow both ! If their condemnation did not fall upon Christ, then it was no reason for Him to died a curse for them Gal 3:13

13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

The word curse katara means:

cursing; a curse; meton: a doomed one.

katára (from 2596 /katá, "according to, down" and 685 /ará, "a curse") – properly, what has "to go down" (penalties received) due to condemnation, i.e. the penalty-curse that results when God Himself curses (condemns) something.

So if Christ was made a curse for us, our penalty and condemnation, we are free from condemnation Rom 8:1, and yes even before we believe, because are believing had nothing to do with being made free from sin or dead to the Law, it was solely by the Body of Christ, meaning His Death, but we don't know it until it is revealed by and in the Gospel, then we can say, therefore is therefore NOW No condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, and that since before the world began !

 

[aikido7]

The Bible is a rich blend of remembered history, legend, myth, oral tradition and metaphor.

Because obvious discrepancies and contradictions are a part of the Bible, I take them all seriously. I don't feel it is spiritually or intellectually honest to deny or try to minimize the various traditions found in the text.

I think it is a good idea to read what is actually IN the text and then try to understand what the words meant to those who originally wrote them down and those who read them. Only then do I then try to figure out how those ancient writings can help illuminate our modern world and my own faith journey.

I have long given up the idea that the "Bible is inerrant." If true, that would then mean that our understandings and interpretations of it are also inerrant.

Which is nonsense.

 

[beloved57]

aik

The Bible is a rich blend of remembered history, legend, myth, oral tradition and metaphor.

Did you read and understand the points i made in my 3 part series on :

There is no condemnation to them in Christ Jesus

 

[Nanja]

Those Christ died for where in Him before the foundation Eph 1:4;2 Tim 1:9 when even then Purpose and Grace was given them, and That Grace Justified them Titus 3:7

7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Thats right, the Elect, Gods People He chose in Christ never had God's condemnation laid upon them personally, simply because they were always in Christ ! Why does it say therefore in Rom 8:1 this:

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Does the word now mean that it was before ? No it does not mean that or could it for reasons already stated, but it does mean that, Now it became known to the Justified one, having previously been knowledge withheld. Paul had previously discussed how that the believer had died to the Law by the Body of Christ Rom 7:4

4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

He taught that they were freed/Justified from sin Rom 6:7

7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
The word freed is the greek word dikaioó:

I make righteous, defend the cause of, plead for the righteousness (innocence) of, acquit, justify; hence: I regard as righteous.

The ASV reads :
for he that hath died is justified from sin.

But yet because the believer is still in a sinful body of death that sins all the time , Pauls point in Rom 7:14-25,

Yet, he comes to know by Gospel revelation that there is No Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, they are and have been Justified from sin by the Body of Christ, even before they came to believe !

Because Christ had been setup before the foundation to be their Surety, their condemnation they deserved, it was charged to Christ. You see either the condemnation they incurred, God charged it to them or He charged to Christ, Justice wont allow both ! If their condemnation did not fall upon Christ, then it was no reason for Him to died a curse for them Gal 3:13

13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

The word curse katara means:
cursing; a curse; meton: a doomed one.
katára (from 2596 /katá, "according to, down" and 685 /ará, "a curse") – properly, what has "to go down" (penalties received) due to condemnation, i.e. the penalty-curse that results when God Himself curses (condemns) something.

So if Christ was made a curse for us, our penalty and condemnation, we are free from condemnation Rom 8:1, and yes, even before we believe, because are believing had nothing to do with being made free from sin or dead to the Law, it was solely by the Body of Christ, meaning His Death, but we don't know it until it is revealed by and in the Gospel, then we can say, therefore is therefore NOW No condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, and that since before the world began !

TY for this very comprehensive, edifying 3-Part series explaining Rom. 8:1 and all it entails!

PART 1 #901

This scripture tells us a few things very specifically, #1 That none who are in Christ Jesus has been charged with any condemnation [from God], and Paul also tells us their first date in Christ Jesus 2 Tim 1:9

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Yes those Chosen in Him before the foundation Eph 1:4 have no condemnation charged to them by God because of it, even then Grace was given them, and Grace Justified them even then Titus 3:7

7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

When were believers initially Justified by His Grace ? It was when it was given them in Christ Jesus before the world began !

This is a great Truth!
Those who were Chosen in Christ were Justified Rom. 3:24 by the Grace of God even from Everlasting!


Part 2 #902

Following point #1 That Rom 8:1 gives us a few different specific facts to know, the first being that there is not and cannot be any condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, which are in Him by the Purpose of God before the world began, in which at that time Justifying Grace was given them in Him 2 Tim 1:9

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Now #2 Those who are Christ Jesus by Election, shall eventually in due time according to God's Purpose, shall walk after the Spirit !

Rom 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Its imperative that those whom God does not condemn, its imperative that they begin a walk after the Spirit, which means they shall become a Born Again Believer ! Thats what walking after the Spirit denotes, a walk of Faith, for Faith is the fruit of the Spirit Gal 5:22 !

Most assuredly they shall, because in the Mind and Purpose of God,
they were prepared, decreed beforehand and predestined to do so,
Chosen to be the recipients of His Mercy Rom. 9:23; Eph. 2:10!

1 Pet. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which
according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope
by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

~~~~~

 

[beloved57]

TY for this very comprehensive, edifying 3-Part series explaining Rom. 8:1 and all it entails!

PART 1 #901



This is a great Truth!
Those who were Chosen in Christ were Justified Rom. 3:24 by the Grace of God even from Everlasting!


Part 2 #902



Most assuredly they shall, because in the Mind and Purpose of God,
they were prepared, decreed beforehand and predestined to do so,
Chosen to be the recipients of His Mercy Rom. 9:23; Eph. 2:10!

1 Pet. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which
according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope
by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

~~~~~

We have been blessed to realize these things!

 

[Nanja]

We have been blessed to realize these things!

Oh, yeah!

~~~~~

 

[beloved57]

There is no condemnation to them in Christ Jesus !4

There is no condemnation to them in Christ Jesus !4

The condemnation incurred by God's Elect Rom 5:18 is never legally charged to them, even though they did actually incur it by their sinful act/actions both in Adam and themselves, but it was legally laid to Christ's charge on their behalf, and by His death in their stead, that condemnation has been removed. It was that condemnation which was a result of sin and was the penalty of their sin, yet it being charged to Christ, He by His death purged it away Heb 1:3

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: See Ps 79:9 !

The word purge here in Heb 1:3 is the greek word katharismos abd does mean, a cleansing from the guilt of sins, which guilt is the condemnation incurred Rom 5:18; Condemnation is the final Judgment of those guilty of their crimes before God and against His Holy Law, but for them Christ died, that guilt/condemnation has been purged away by His Own Sacrifce; So the World that shall be condemned in the Last Day 1 Cor 11:32

32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. This is the World Christ did not Pray for Jn 17:9 !

Neither can anyone Christ died for belong to that condemned world of 1 Cor 11:32 nor the ones already condemned in Jn 3:18, because Christ died for their condemnation, and it has been purged away, so how could any of them be already condemned ? In fact even as unbelievers those Christ died for are not condemned, rather they have been reconciled to God [in His Favor] solely by His Death for them Rom 5:10 !

 

[beloved57]

Christ Our Life ! When ?

Christ Our Life ! When ?

Col 3:4

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

When does Christ become Our Life ? Now many believe that Christ does not become Our Life until we become Believers in Him ! This assumption is dead wrong, in fact we cant believe on Him accept He is Our Life already, for without Him we can do nothing Jn 15:5

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Christ has been the True Believers Life long before they believed ! They always had Life in Him as He was always their Mediator Head, and John writes Jn 1:4

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

And they were Chosen IN HIM when ? Eph 1:4

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Christ was the believers Life and they had Life in Him, while they were dead in trespasses and sins and unbelief !

Dont let this alarm you, because the same was True of their natural life in Adam in the beginning, Adam as their Natural Head was their Life before God before they any physical being at all ! The only reason why we were born naturally is because we had physical life already purposed in Adam Acts 17:26

26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

And its no difference in the Last Adam, Believers receive Spiritual Life because Christ was their Head and Life before they had any Spiritual being, but just as sure their natural life was manifested out of Adam from natural birth, so likewise their Spiritual life shall be manifested out of Christ from Spiritual Birth !

 

[beloved57]

Who are these, the risen bodies of the Saints ?

Who are these, the risen bodies of the Saints ?

Matt 27:52

52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,


These are the OT Saints which had died in the Lord Jesus Christ, they were part of His Body the Church, for as the Head of the Church, their resurrection in the Last day is by Him, for He told the sisters of Lazaruz Jn 11:25

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

It was His death that accomplished the OT Hope, remember when Paul said Acts 24:15

15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

Acts 26:6-7

6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God, unto our fathers:

7 Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

Acts 28:20

20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.

Job an OT Saint had this Hope in Christ Job 14:14

14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

That change is here also expressed by Paul Phil 3:11,21

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

21 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.

The Saint David had the same Hope Ps 17:15

15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

The OT part of the Body of Christ, died in Faith/Hope Heb 11:13

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

I believe it was some of these that are being referred to in Matt 27:52, for they had to be in Christ to be Saints, for Sainthood is only in Christ, King of Saints Rev 15:3

3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

 

[beloved57]

Faith is a Good Work we do after being created in Christ !

Faith is a Good Work we do after being created in Christ !

Eph 2:8-10

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

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Its been my testimony of the Truth, that Faith and or the act of believing is nothing short of being a work that is done by us, which is based upon a simple understanding of the word work found in our text, which is the greek word ergon :

work, task, employment; a deed, action; that which is wrought or made, a work.

The word action means:

A process or condition of acting or moving, as opposed to rest; the doing of something; exertion of power or force, as when one body acts on another; the effect of power exerted on one body by another; agency; activity; operation; as, the action of heat; a man of action.
One wise in council, one in action brave.

An act; a thing done; a deed; an enterprise

Now what reasonable individual can deny that ones act of believing is a thing done by them ? Its a action that man does; Remember the Jailor that asked Paul this Acts 16:30

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

The word do here means a plan or course of action, a work !

Paul responded in Vs 31

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house

So to believe on Christ is something man here is told TO DO, in fact it was to him what is called an imperative, an imperative to do to be saved !

So once again a work is something done by the individual ! Now when it comes to Salvation, getting Saved, man is not saved by any work that he does, even if its a good work done by him, Titus 3:5

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit;

That word done is the same greek word for do in Acts 16:30, the word used by the Jailor !

Eph 2:9 of our text is most clear to this point Eph 2:9

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The ISV reads:

and not the result of actions, to put a stop to all boasting.

Salvation simply put is not the results of actions done by us, that would make it a work !

Lest any man should boast ! This also means lest the person even has a chance or opportunity to boast, whether they did or not, but be advided we men are by nature boasters Rom 1:30; 2 Tim 3:2

In fact Salvation is so much not of works [our actions] its simply impossible for anyone to boast about attaining it !

See whether or not we say it, when we believe that we got saved, based on our act of believing [something done by us] versus someone who didnt get saved, because of their refusal to believe, then thats subtlety admitting to a superior virtue or wisdom, or prudence, in that as we they had the same opportunity or chance to believe but they didnt , and so my superior wisdom is what gave me the advantage [not Gods Spirit and Grace and Power] over that one, i exercised[put into action] a natural quality that has given me a favorable outcome, which outcome they could have had if they did what I did !

Then our believing and its results [getting saved] becomes our accomplishment, hence my salvation came into fruition, was acquired, completed, brought to pass by my natural ability, the ability of their mind and or heart !

 

[beloved57]

Faith is a Good Work we do after being created in Christ !2

Faith is a Good Work we do after being created in Christ !2

Once again one of the definitions of ergon/ the word work in strongs concordance greek # 2041 is:

any product whatever, anything accomplished by hand, art, industry, mind

Notice anything accomplished by the #1. Hand, #2. Art, #3. Industry, and #4. Mind !

The mind is defind as:

The intellectual or rational faculty in man; the understanding; the intellect; the power that conceives, judges, or reasons; also, the entire spiritual nature; the soul; - often in distinction from the body.
By the mind of man we understand that in him which thinks, remembers, reasons, wills.

The state, at any given time, of the faculties of thinking, willing, choosing, and the like; psychical activity or state;

Physical activity is work !

Now understand something, The Mind and Heart in scripture are virtually the same, for example Prov 23:7

7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

The word heart here means:

inner man, mind, will, heart

Now lets look at a passage that is very popular in mans religion Rom 10:9-10 and in both of these scriptures the word Heart is found Rom 10:9-10

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

The greek word for heart kardia means:

the heart; mind, character, inner self, will, intention, center.

Do you see the word mind there ? So what false religion is saying by appealing to this passage, they are saying God saves them because of the doing or the accompishment of their mind, which again , a definition for ergon work is:

any product whatever, anything accomplished by hand, art, industry, mind

Thats their believing, and thats boasting, its Salvation based upon a mans works, their inner desire intention, purpose !

érgon (from ergō, "to work, accomplish") – a work or worker who accomplishes something. 2041 /érgon ("work") is a deed (action) that carries out (completes) an inner desire (intension, purpose).

 

[beloved57]

Faith is a Good Work we do after being created in Christ !3

Faith is a Good Work we do after being created in Christ !3

Now what makes this boast of theirs especially evil, its because this is an accomplishment an act done with their natural man and heart, even while they are spiritually dead, and in the flesh, with an evil heart by nature Jer 17:9

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Gen 6:5

5 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.

But heres the Truth, and yes some men do believe, but its after he is a New Creation Eph 2:10, for God Created him in Christ Jesus unto good works unto good works, in which one of those good works to be done by the New Creature is to believe, have Faith, that is perhaps the first good work done after being created anew by and in Christ Jesus, which good wok gives evidence of having been saved by Christ. It has been destined beforehand that the New Creature should walk in the good work of Faith, because the promise is, the Just shall live by Faith, made Just by the Faithfulness of Jesus Christ !

 

[beloved57]

A Spiritual knowing before believing is a must !

A Spiritual knowing before believing is a must !

2 Tim 1:12

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

A Spiritual knowing of Christ is an condition for believing in Him, and this knowing must be by revelation, for Jesus said here Matt 11:27

27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man[by nature] knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

Only those whom the Father reveals the Son to know Him, as it was with Peter here in this narrative Matt 16:15-17

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Peters knowledge of Christ as being the Christ/ Messiah, the Son of the Living God was not something he could have known by nature, in flesh and blood, but by Divine revelation.

And so as one writer once said, John Gill :

"an unknown Christ cant be the object of our Faith "

Such knowledge of Christ by revelation is an imperative before we believe on Christ for Salvation matters !

How can you explain the Sheep hearing His voice and knowing it, in order to follow Him Jn 10:2-5

But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

This knowing of Christ is a New Covenant Blessing Heb 8:11

11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

Christ Sheep is promised that they shall know Him Jn 10:14

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Because as the good shepherd He layed down His Life for them Jn 10:11

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

It would be a travesty if the ones the Good Shepherd gave His Life for, never came into a Saving Knowledge of Him !

The Sheep are able to know Him to a degree, to believe and follow Him because they have His Spirit given them, which marks them as His Rom 8:9

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.

So His Sheep which hear His voice and knows His voice, must have had the Spirit of Christ in them Jn 10:2-4

2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

Having His Spirit is imperative to show that we belong to Christ, and so we can hear His voice in the Gospel !

 

[beloved57]

A Spiritual knowing before believing is a must !2

A Spiritual knowing before believing is a must !2

Most of the natural jews of Peters day, searched the scriptures with an natural understanding, and did not see Eternal Life in Christ Jn 5:38-40

38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.

39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

Whereas Peter and the other beliving disciples of Christ [to exclude judas] perceived Eternal Life in Christ Jn 6:65-69

65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

The ability for them to know and believe on Christ for Eternal life, was part of the Gift of the Father, to those Chosen in Christ Jn 6:65

65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

And they come to Him because they know His Voice as their Shepherd Jn 10:4

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

Thats what follow means, to come after ! And to do that, we must know Him, His voice, they dont follow a stranger ! Not when the Spirit of Christ is given them !

 

[beloved57]

Ye believe not because ye are not of my Sheep !

Ye believe not because ye are not of my Sheep !

Jn 10:26

26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

No unbeliever who shall be condemned in the day of Judgment, it will not be specifically for unbelief, or for not exercising a saving faith on Christ for Salvation, because for them not being of Christ Sheep in the first place, Faith was never granted to them to believe, as it was granted to Christ's Sheep Phil 1:29

29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

But to them who are not of His Sheep, to believe on His name was not given to them, it was witheld, because they were not of Christ's Sheep, nor had they been appointed to Eternal Life by and through Him Acts 13:48

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

All the Sheep had been ordained to Eternal Life Jn 10:27-28

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

If they had been Chosen by God to Salvation, and had been the adopted Sons of God by predestination Eph 1:4-5, both Faith and Love to Christ had been given them, Jesus said once Jn 8:42

42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

For both Faith and Love to Christ are given in Salvation Grace 1 Tim 1:14

13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

When Christ comes to save a sinner He died for, they get from Him both Faith and Love, thats all part of saving a sinner ! So if one never believes, they were never saved by Christ, and so it is, Ye believe not because ye are not of my Sheep !

 

[beloved57]

They were pricked in their heart !

They were pricked in their heart !

In Acts 2:38 Peter gives instruction to exactly whom ? He gives it to them that have been pricked in their heart Acts 2:37-38

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38 Then Peter said unto them[That were pricked in their heart], Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

And this pricking is a Spiritual pricking, not mere natural conscience, but Spiritual and inward and done by the Holy Spirit who Christ had so recently poured or shed upon them Acts 2:32-33

32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. See also in this connection Titus 3:6 !

Peter here was able to realize that the ones seeking instruction from them, had been given the Gift of Repentance Acts 5:31

31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Note, As Exalted Saviour Jesus Christ gives Repentance to the Elect !

 

[beloved57]

They were pricked in their heart !2

They were pricked in their heart !2

Now this pricking of the heart was a supernatural operation of the Spirit, a heart circumcision, and it was not to be resisted, for the very greek word means, To be pierced, stung, smitten, pierced all the way down, deeply [thoroughly] pained, emotionally pierced through, psychologically pricked, emotionally stunned, and its used that way in Acts 2:37

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

37 Now when they heard this they were stung (cut) to the heart, and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles (special messengers), Brethren, what shall we do?

Thats what circumcision is, a cutting of the foreskin ! See Col 2:11 !

What was happening in Acts 2:37 was the fulfillment of scripture, remember Peter had already acknowledged that this was prophecy coming to past here Acts 2:16-18; and its also the fulfillment of this Prophecy Zech 12:10

10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

That word bitternes also means:

The quality or state of being bitter, sharp,Having a very thin edge or fine point; of a nature to cut or pierce easily

So the bitterness here coincides with the pricking of the heart in Acts 2:37, and this is right after the pouring out of the Spirit Zech 12:10

10 And I will pour upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him as one who is in bitterness for his firstborn.

As well it was after the pouring out of the Spirit in Acts 2:16-18

16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

Which had been also foretold in Joel 2:28-30 ! So what we have Peter doing here in Acts 2:38, he is instructing spiritually born babes in Christ to bring forth fruit meet for repentance, it being obvious that Christ had Just granted them repentance from on high Acts 5:31

31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Note: Men can be instructed to repent when it has been given to them in their to do so !

 

[beloved57]

They were pricked in their heart !3

They were pricked in their heart !3

In light of repentance instruction being for spiritual babes we only need look to the writer of Hebrews, which informs us that the doctrine of repentance, and even water baptism was for babes in Christ, Heb 5:12-6:2

12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

6 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Also when read back in Acts 2:37 it reads:

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Referring to what Peter had been preaching to them from Acts 2:14-36, and the word for heard is the greek word akouó and means:

I hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported.

to be endowed with the faculty of hearing

to understand, perceive the sense of what is said: See Matt 13:15 in that regard;

The word also denotes an hearkening obedience Acts 3:22

22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

So its a Spiritual Comprehending hearing [which denotes understanding] and its coupled with a willingness to be a learner, to be instructed, to submit, to obey, to hearken under hearing, which we know the scripture teaches that those unregenerate in the flesh cannot do Rom 8:7-8

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

7 This is so because the corrupt nature has a hostile attitude toward God. It refuses to place itself under the authority of God’s standards because it can’t. GWT

So now with all these facts now to the forefront, Peter is speaking his instruction in Acts 2:38 to the already regenerate, who have been given Spiritual ears or hearing, to comprehend and obey the instruction from the Heart , hence Peter wrote in his Epistle to believers 1 Pet 1:22

22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

Hence those in Acts 2:38 would obey through the Spirit , for He it was that pricked their Hearts !