Kingdom Come

” ye are not come unto the mount [Sinai] that might be touched, and that burned with fire…

The writer is clearly speaking to non-Jews.

“ye are come unto…the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant…See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven…let us…serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:22-29)

And so while Paul’s letter to the 1st century AD Gentile believers at Ephesus parallels their vocation to the nation of Israel’s in the 2nd millennium BC, he exhorts them that their calling carries even more responsibility.

• he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,
• that we should be holy 
• predestinated us unto the adoption of children
• made known unto us the mystery of his will that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in The Promise Seed / Christ
• ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise are made nigh by the blood of The Promised Seed / Christ
• For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us
• Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God
• To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the congregation of believers including those following Moses at mount Sinai / church the manifold wisdom of God
• According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord
• Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (Ephesians 3)

Peter and John bear witness to Paul’s claim that the Gentile Christians from the 1st century onward parallel the Messianic role of Cyrus the Persian and of Moses the Hebrew over the nation of Israel.

“To the strangers [aliens, non-Jews] scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia…

• ye are a chosen generation
• a royal priesthood
• an holy nation
• a peculiar people

that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God…among the Gentiles: that…they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (I Peter 1:2, 2:9-12)

“John to the seven [Gentile] churches which are in Asia [founded by Paul]: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come…And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father.”(Revelation 1:4-6)

“denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world…our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:12-14)

“walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called…Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;…But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ…for the work of the ministry, for the edifying [building, the verb form of the noun edifice] of the body of Christ…” (Ephesians 4:1-16)

What is that vocation? It is critical to understand exactly what the writer of Hebrews was drawing our attention to when he goes on and on about Jesus Christ being the High Priest in the order of Melchisedec.

It is because Christians / Anointed-ones are called to function under him as priests in that order.

“Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens…Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; 

• Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
• Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
• And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.” (Hebrews 8:1, 10:19-24)

“Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:5-6)

“The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Revelation 4:10-11)

“the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5)

The Finished Works of Christ: What They Mean For Us

APR. 18, 2018 | BY CREFLO DOLLAR

our healing, deliverance, prosperity, victory, joy, peace, and everything else we need in life is already finished and ready for us to claim.

I put it to you that Christianity’s hyper focus on Jesus as the only Christ / Messiah is a cheap escape from personal responsibility – for not just Dispensationalists, not just Catholics, but also Protestants with Martin Luther’s doctrine of grace – to toss out the clear scriptural demands to identify with haMashiach by becoming hamashiach – a holy, righteous, chosen servant of God.

When we follow the biblical trail instead of the most appealing preacher we realize that redemption of the helpless victims of powerful social forces is a fundamental aspect of biblical godliness.

There are many Messiahs in the Bible.  Since every King and High Priest was anointed with oil, each may be referred to as “an anointed one” (a Mashiach or a Messiah).  For example: “G-d forbid that I [David] should stretch out my hand against the L-rd’s Messiah [Saul]…” I Samuel 26:11. Cf. II Samuel 23:1, Isaiah 45:1, Psalms 20:6…

in Jewish thought, the Messianic idea is not the most crucial.  However, in Christian thought, the Messiah is paramount.

The height of irony is that a chasm has been created between those who call themselves Christ / Messiah -ones – of all things! – and Judaism’s faithfulness to the Word recording many messiahs.

“Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles…he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law…I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles…Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth,” (Isaiah 42:1-10)

This was spoken of Isaiah before it was fulfilled by Jesus the Christ.

“that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.” (Matthew 12:18)

But this had also come to pass with Cyrus the Great, the Persian King of kings.

“Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him…I will…open before him the two leaved gates [of Babylon]…

that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel…That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else!” (Isaiah 45)

It also applies to the first “Chosen Ones” ministers in Jesus’ kingdom – his apostles.

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit.” John 15:16)

And it didn’t end there.

“a certain disciple…named Timotheus, the son of a…Jewess [which made him Jewish regardless of paternity] his father was a Greek:

• Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium – check for leadership
• Him would Paul have to go forth with him – for mentoring, like Barnabas with Mark 
• and took and circumcised him – 
• And as they – Paul and Timothy – went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep – demonstrating their authority and leadership

At this time in the development of the New Covenant church, Timothy, a second generation follower of the sect of YHVH’s Savior, demonstrates that being an ordained Israelite was clearly a requirement for leadership. He was circumcised by Paul himself. not because Paul had second thoughts about needing to be circumcised to be saved, but to qualify him to become a leader of the Messianic Jewish-led church.

The early Church historian Eusebius confirms the scriptural report that Timothy was the first pastor of the church plant at Ephesus.

“my own son in the faith…I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine…” (I Timothy 1)

And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath…And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 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. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.” (Acts 13:46-48)

Understanding that “who we are” is equivalent to “what we do” adds to our understanding of the development of the soul, with its implications for the permanent state of the soul after the death of the mortal body.

Can’t get around it.

During the Exodus, when God finally revealed his secret name to Israel’s children / descendants / tribe, the circumstances proved that in with this hyperdimensional being,

• invoking the name does establish a relationship,
• and believing in the name does grant access to power over humanly insolvable problems and even death,
• which must be acted upon in faith to achieve salvation.

“I am the LORD:

• And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name Jehovah was I not known to them. 
• And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, 
• And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.
• Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:” (Exodus 6:1-6)

The next dialogue between Moses and the LORD confirms that “name” is equivalent to “way”, equating “who we are” with “what we do,” and defining God’s character and attributes – his soul.

“And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet

• thou hast said, I know thee by name…
• Now therefore, I pray thee…shew me now thy way, that I may know [be united with] thee…

And the LORD descended in the cloud [heads-up, this is major foreshadowing], and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD…

• The LORD / YHVH
• The Lord / Boss
• God / Hyperdimensional Spirit Being
• merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin,
• and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, [but unlike physical epigenetics, cutting it short] unto the third and to the fourth generation. “ (Exodus 33:12-13 – 34:5-8)

Regardless of the name by which he is called – God, El, I AM, YHVH, Shiloh – the power is not in the sound formed by the mouth. The power of salvation is in

• the soul’s belief in, and subsequent identification with, i.e. connection to, this supernatural Being’s attributes and actions on behalf of powerless mankind,
• and is achieved when humans respond with actions demonstrating faith in the Being’s promises of empowerment.

“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Messiah / Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek [non-Jew]. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17)

Faith in action speaks so much louder than reciting a creed, and reverberates throughout eternity.

This didn’t just start 4,000 years after Adam and Eve with Christianity. We can logically conclude that the Adams received, and passed on, the belief in God’s word that he would overcome the Serpent and Sin through the Seed of the Woman, otherwise Abel, Seth, Noah couldn’t have any knowledge of Creator God, receive his Word and act on it in faith.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

• For by it / faith the elders obtained a good report.
• Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God
• By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous
• By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because…he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
• he that cometh to God must believe that he is [i.e. I AM / YHVH], and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him…
• “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
• Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
• By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure…

This is key! Saving faith is believing that God will see us through death!

time would fail me to tell of…Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented…

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses…let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 11-12)