The whole plan of salvation is that all humans take dominion over whatever territory God has put under their control, starting with their own body and soul, extending to children and other persons over whom they have some kind of responsibility.
“So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him…And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines…” (I Sam 17:50-52) “…and they anointed David king over Israel. (II Sam 5:3)
All humans are the seed of the Woman by inheriting her God-given life through her mitochondria. But this only provides mortal, temporary life, as we well know through our need for continuous infusions of air, water and nutrition.
Humans who want to restore eternal life must partner with God in salvation to achieve salvation.
Because Yeshua / Jesus got his male-determining chromosome, what we call the Y chromosome, from God, he is indeed the second Adam son of God, a second chance for a human son of God to come into existence as, and remain, holy, sinless, not condemned to death. His innocent death was therefore able to be applied to all the Woman’s seed, to substitute for the condemnation and sentencing of her guilt passed genetically to all her offspring.
“Yahweh’s Savior / Yeshua / Jesus the Son of God…was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:14-15)
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (II Corinthians 5:21)
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness. “(I Peter 2:24)
Since his Y chromosome was contributed by God in its fullness, Yeshua / Jesus undoubtedly did not look 100% like human men with a fallen sin nature – neither the Europeanized version nor the anthropologist’s. We don’t have a portrait, but we do have a description of both his spiritual identity as God and his physical appearance by the prophet Isaiah in chapters 52-53.
“For thus saith the LORD God / Adonay YHVH…what have I here, saith the LORD / YHVH …that my name / reputation, identity continually every day is blasphemed.
- Therefore my people shall know my name / identity…
- “Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore…making himself equal with God.” (John 5:17-18)
- that I am he that doth speak:
- “I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak…whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.” (John 12:49-50)
- behold, it is I / LORD God himself…
- Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then…a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son / the one to whom I delegated my legacy and authority, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” (Matthew 17:1-6)
- that saith unto Zion, Thy God / Elohayik reigneth!
- “it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he [Pilate] saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!…Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King?…(John 19:3-15)
- The LORD / YHVH hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation / yeshua of our God / Elohenu…
- “the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved…verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.” (Romans 10)
- As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men…
- For he shall grow up before him…as a root out of a dry ground:
- he hath no form nor comeliness;
- and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
This last section of Isaiah 52-53 is assumed to refer to Jesus’ appearance after he was beaten and crucified. Without question Jesus did display post-resurrection permanent physical wounds. But aren’t they more in keeping with battle trophies than shameful reminders? The sequence of events states that his marring occurs as he grows up…as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness…”?
We need to refocus our earth-bound imagination to the hyper-dimensional heavenly beings. Science fiction writers do a far better job than prim Sunday School teachers in translating the hyper dimensional biblical beings when they describe aliens from outer space.
Most of all, we should abandon our Sunday School coloring pages to take seriously what the Bible reports about the hybridization of hyper-dimensional heavenly “sons of God” and human women. More on this in a later post, but for now consider that we know that they were monsters.
Jesus only lived to the age of 33. Would he have grown into a giant like those referenced in Genesis 6 if he had continued to grow? Does he have to live with deformities for eternity because of the mismatch of immortal paternal genes and corrupted human genes (like acromegaly shown shown below as this individual aged)?
In Jesus’ experience as God crammed into a human body we shouldn’t assume that there were no metabolic and hormonal disorders when God’s perfect DNA could not match up perfectly with corrupted and mutated DNA.
Once resurrected into a newly formed body, however, he, as well as all resurrected sons of God, are glorious, beyond the “superman, the Ubermensch, imagined by Friedrich Nietzsche… the superior man, who justifies the existence of the human race…not a product of long evolution but emerging when any man with superior potential completely masters himself.
And “completely master himself” is exactly what Jesus did, and what all born again sons of God are to do – male and female – freely, not through oppression, paradoxically master ourselves by submitting ourselves to the will of the Father even to death, because we understand it is the right thing, the only constructive thing, to do.
Does this image show Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane or Mary at the garden tomb? Both were prepared to lay down physical weapons in order to defy spiritual evil, and die physically in the process.
“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;” (I John 3:2)
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (II Cor 3:18)
Exactly what that image will look like, we don’t know, but it is highly unlikely that it will be our current image of either male or female. GOT gets the idea, though.
“Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping…and saw Yahweh’s Savior / Yeshua / Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Yeshua / Jesus [no longer crammed into a body unfit for God]…She, supposing him to be the gardener [who would need to be super strong to wrestle stone doors!], saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Yeshua / Jesus saith unto her, Mary.”
On hearing and recognizing his voice, with a flash of insight into the teaching of resurrection, suddenly remembering the recent resurrection of Lazarus, she has an epiphany and “She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni / My Great Master...” (John 20:11-16)
Our Savior’s death did not bring an immediate end to Satan’s control. The battle to reclaim dominion from Satan, sin and death is still raging.
“But now is The Consecrated One / Messiah / Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept…But every man in his own order:
- The Consecrated One / Messiah / Christ the firstfruits;
- afterward they that are The Consecrated One’s / Messiah’s / Christ’s at his coming.
- Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
- For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.“ (I Corinthians 15:20-26)
What is taking so long for the last enemy to be destroyed and the full restoration of the Kingdom of God? God is giving humans time and opportunity to get saved from eternal death to eternal life.
“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…what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness…?” (II Peter 3:9-11)
The answer to that question is – we should be bringing people into the kingdom of heaven. Yahweh’s Savior accomplished his work by dying and resurrecting, then he handed responsibility for recruiting citizens into the kingdom of heaven to the born-again sons of God.
“And Yahweh’s Savior / Yeshua / Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
“When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” (Acts 1:6-9)
“…God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Yahweh’s Anointed Savior / Yeshua Messiah / Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in The Anointed One / Messiah / Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for The Consecrated One/Messiah/Christ…” (II Corinthians 5:18-20)
When we side with the Savior, we’ve joined an ongoing battle against the enemy Satan, and it is not an easy life.
“If in this life only we have hope in The Consecrated One / Messiah / Christ, we are of all men most miserable. …If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die…Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.” (I Cor 15:19, 32-34)
“But I [Paul] fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in The Consecrated One / Messiah / Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Savior / Yeshua / Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him…For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of The Chosen One / Messiah / Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works…For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face…Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of The Consecrated One / Messiah / Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for The Consecrated One’s / Messiah’s / Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (II Corinthians 11:3-28, 12:7-10)
What? What kind of paradox is that – when I am weak, then am I strong? One way to understand this is that the power of The Consecrated One / Messiah / Christ only becomes apparent when we are at the end of our own resources. If you’ve never experienced this, then you’ve never experienced the ultimate power trip.
There is another dimension to this paradox, however, that is consistent with what we’ve learned so far, and I believe explains God’s motivation behind the whole rather perplexing plan of salvation. In order for God to truly, in reality, have human sons of God who are actually “chips off the old block”, there must be humans who choose voluntarily to act as he chooses to act, out of deep love and commitment to the beloved’s welfare. Yahweh’s Savior / Yeshua / Jesus, as God, chose to suffer and die for his beloved humans, created in his own image. God’s children prove that we love like he loves when we stay committed despite worsening circumstances, sickness, poverty, even death. This can only happen as we respond to circumstances. This character trait doesn’t get zapped into us at the moment of the new birth, any more than at the physical birth. It has to be developed as we respond, in faith, to challenging circumstances.
“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. (I John 4:7-11)
“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven..” (Matthew 5:44-45)
Developing God’s likeness – his character traits – in this life is what qualifies us to take dominion in the world to come.
“For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?…Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Yahweh’s Savior / Yeshua / Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren…For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted…And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But The Chosen One / Messiah / Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” (Hebrews 2:5-11,18; 3:5-6)
Adam was only the first who chose to suffer and die rather than separate from his beloved.
“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of The Anointed One / Messiah / Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.” (Hebrews 11:24-26)
Every true believer who has merged his/her identity with the Savior can expect to be be faced with opportunities to develop love for God, expressed as staying faithful to him just as he stays faithful to us, forgiving trespasses against us and loving our enemies, and bringing his kingdom into play within our sphere of influence.
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:9-13)
“…ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Yahweh’s Anointed Savior / Yeshua Messiah / Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Yahweh’s Anointed Savior/Yeshua Messiah/Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Yahweh’s Anointed Savior / Yeshua Messiah / Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 1:7-9)
“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends...I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me…He that hateth [rejects] me hateth [rejects] my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated [rejected] both me and my Father.” (John 15:12-24)
“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Yahweh’s Anointed Savior / Messiah Yeshua / Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Yahweh’s Savior/Yeshua/Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Yahweh’s Consecrated Savior / Yeshua Messiah / Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:4-11)
There is another way in which God’s strength is made perfect in weakness. He could simply have squashed Satan like a bug when Satan defied him, but he didn’t deign to battle Satan directly.
God’s choice of weak humans to rule the world is validated, and his kingdom is staffed and strengthened at the expense of Satan’s, with every human who renounces the kingdom of darkness and is born into the kingdom of God.
Kingdom Come 