As we enter the HOLY WEEK both for Christians and for Jews, I feel an urgency in my spirit. I pray that all will come to realize the ominous power of the time we are living. We are so close now to HIS Return. This is no time for games. This is a time for serious contemplation of where we stand in God’s perspective. That is hard for most people, especially US citizens who have lived so long in a world focused on self. THE ONLY THING that REALLY MATTERS right now, is where you stand with GOD.
This part of HIS AWESOME PLAN is about to come to an end. The world is going to go through enormous changes. For many of us, this will be an end to our time here on the earth. This is NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. This is the end of GRACE for the Gentiles. God will soon be sending His SON to collect the bride/body of Christ. Are you among those who will be found in Faith when He arrives?
I promise you do not want to remain on the earth, unless you happen to be a Jew/Hebrew. God is returning his attention to the Hebrew people. There will be a time of GREAT Tribulation before the Millennial Reign of Christ.
March 28 – April 3, 2021. Holy Week for Christians beginning Palm Sunday, through the Passion of our Lord, and culminating in Resurrection Sunday known to some as Easter. Commemorating the arrival of Jesus into Jerusalem, his time of examination by the Sanhedrin, his death, burial and Resurrection. The Salvation/Redemption plan that restores us to right standing with our Heavenly Father.
The Haggadah is the written step by step ceremony for the Passover Sedar. It includes the reading of the story of the Exodus from Egypt plus the ritual of the Matzo which represents the Messiah/Jesus. There are traditional foods that are eaten at a Sedar that are part of the ritual. There is drinking of wine involved, though you can use grape juice. You participate in the steps or you can just read through the book. It will bless you.
Free Messianic 30-minute Seder PDF for free here from Or Ha Olam.
And another version is available here: https://pillar-of-enoch.com/essays/PassoverHaggadah.pdf
I strongly urge you to spend time with the GOD this week. Read the Bible, read the Passover Haggadah (the link above has PDF links for the Haggadah presented in many different formats including one for kids), watch videos related to the Passion of Christ, search out videos about the Miracles God performed for the Ancient Hebrews, and the ones He is performing even in our modern world. When you recognize the Miracles that GOD is doing, it builds your faith. Enables your doubting heart to believe that GOD will work miracles for you. Search your heart, better yet, ask GOD to search your heart and see if there be any evil in you. Pray that HE will cleanse you and shape you in HIS image. Read the book of Revelation. Learn what is ahead. Repent and be SAVED! Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to all truth.
Passover Pesach (Passover) is on March 27 through April 4, 2021 The eight-day festival of Passover is celebrated in the early spring, from the 15th through the 22nd of the Hebrew month of Nissan. It commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt.
I put together the following selection of videos especially for this time. Each one was selected for a specific reason. Each presents a different aspect of GOD’s plan and/or a different perspective on who GOD is and wants to be in your life.
I hope that throughout this HOLY WEEK you will have an opportunity to see them all. I pray that they touch your spirit and bring you fresh revelation.
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What makes Jesus Christ much more than just a good teacher/leader/founder of a religion? Who was he anyway? Is he still alive? Was he really GOD? Was he really human? What did he claim?
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What is a Kinsman Redeemer? How is Christ our appropriation? What does that mean?
JESUS: OUR KINSMAN REDEEMER, the LAMB of GOD Part I of II: JESUS: OUR AVENGER of BLOOD, The LION of JUDAH
Sunday, October 25, 2015
The biblical study of salvation is known in seminaries and in the volumes of Systematic Theology as soteriology; within this study is contained all of the many aspects of what salvation is and what it means to the believer of Jesus Christ: atonement, redemption, propitiation, imputation, justification and sanctification, and glorification. All of these sub-groups are a part of the over all act of salvation which is provided and purchased by the blood of Christ, the LAMB of GOD Who takes away the sin of the world (JOHN 1:29).
The redemption of sinful man can only be accomplished by a qualified redeemer, and none are qualified except for the LORD Jesus Christ. Why is this? you may ask. In the specifics, we will examine the why’s and wherefore’s of this doctrine; may it prove to be a blessing to the saints, and increase our understanding and appreciation, love and devotion to our LORD for what He has done, is doing, and will do for us! Amen.The idea of a kinsman redeemer is throughout the Old Testament; the Hebrew word is go-el, and this refers to “specific situations where a righteous man would do for a near kinsman (a relative) what they could not do for themselves. From the web site HEBREWS4CHRISTIANS we have the following article for your consideration.
A KINSMAN REDEEMER:
1) May purchase back a piece of property for a relative who sold it out of financial need.2) Free an Israelite slave who sold his services to a master in times of poverty.3) Avenge the blood of a murdered relative (the go’el haddam).One of the first mentions of a kinsman redeemer is in LEVITICUS 25:25-26; the entire chapter is about redeeming land, properties, houses and relatives. Other references include (but not exhaustive to) these: NUMBERS 5:8; 35:19,21,24,27; DEUT. 19:6,12; JOSH 20:5, 9; RUTH 3:9,12; 4:14; 2 SAM 14:11; NEH. 5:1-11; and ISAIAH 49:7. The entire book of RUTH is an eloquent example of the kinsman redeemer (Boaz) and how he redeemed land that belonged to his near kinswoman (Naomi) and her daughter-in-law, Ruth.For an excellent resource that covers the length and breadth on this subject of the Kinsman-Redeemer is on the following web site: You will find charts, diagrams and plentiful Scriptures and explanations that will aid in your understanding of all of this, available to you here.Note that the redeemer MUST be a relative; not a neighbor or a friend, but one who shares the same blood. What bond is there that is greater than the love of family – sure there may be feuding and quarreling, but the typical family will be there for all of it’s members and help out of a heart of love and compassion.
The redeemer MUST be able to pay the debt, no matter how exorbitant it might be, and MUST pay the debt in full. This reveals the comparable wealth of the kinsman who has such powers as to make good on any debt.
The redeemer MUST be willing of their own accord to clear the debt for their relative(s); no coersion is permitted as this a mission of mercy.
The redeemer MUST also be prepared to take on the role as the Avenger of blood (See DEUT. 19:6,12 and JOSH 20:3,5,9 and seek retribution for family slain by an enemy.
The book of Ruth is the quintessential example of the kinsman goel in action, in this case, it’s Boaz. Rather than relate the entire story here, let’s just look at the essentials so that we may move on in our study.
We turn to KOINONIA HOUSE and the concise but accurate appraisal of what a kinsman redeemer does, and all of the implications involved that will relate to the remainder of this article (NOTE: This author does not necessarily agree with particular assertions made by Dr. Missler, but in this instance, his exposition is excellent):To review this article by K-House, go here – A Story of Bethlehem: The Kinsman Redeemer.
JOHN 1:14-15
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.The WORD Who is God and Who is with God (the Father; See JOHN 1:1-2) became flesh; that is, the Son of God became a man – and why? Because He would redeem the world and to do so He must, as a kinsman redeemer, become a human being and therefore be related to us all. Only a near relation could pay the debt of a relative.
We are all of us, indebted to God for transgressing His Law (we sinners, spiritually speaking have a ‘debt to His holy society’ that must be paid!):
ROMANS 3:19-20
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.GALATIANS 2:16
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, . . . for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.ROMANS 6:23a
For the wages of sin is death . . .We cannot possibly earn enough righteousness of our own (ISAIAH 64:6) to pay the insurmountable debt of sin we have acquired against the Eternal and Holy God, whose only rendering in justice against such sin must be death itself (not merely physical, but spiritual death! See EZEK 18:4,20; REV 21:8). We cannot pay, because we are spiritually poverty stricken (MATT 5:3).
Who could possibly accept the full weight of our Holy Almighty God’s Eternal righteous judgment and the associated punishment that His justice demands? Only One Who is also Holy – absolutely pure of any sin of their own, Almighty and Eternal.
If they even had one mark of sin upon their soul, then they would equally be a debtor to God along with the rest of us (JAMES 2:10) and disqualified as a Kinsman Redeemer. That is why no one else could be our Redeemer except for Christ, our Savior Who was able to bear our sin – the sin of the entire human race throughout all time and places in this world – the full weight of God’s judgment and wrath!
Take a moment and read all 12 verses of ISAIAH 53; See also GAL 1:4; HEB 1:3.Jesus Who is God has the spiritual wealth that is required to pay this incredible debt in the light of God’s Holy Light. He is holy (HEB 7:22-26), spotless (1 PET 1:19), and there is no claim by Satan the accuser or His adversaries had on Him as a sinner (JOHN 8:46; 14:30) that would rightly condemned Him if He were.
Because He is also a Man, He is our near-kinsman and is authorized to choose the option of paying that debt. And He was a willing sacrifice for us:
JOHN 10:17-18
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
See also LUKE 9:56; JOHN 1:29,36; HEB 1:3-8.GOD Himself so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, Who Himself took on flesh and as a Human being endured every test and temptation that the enemy could assail upon Him – and not once EVER FAILED! As stated previously, He remained totally pure and righteous, without even the slightest trace of sin any where in His heart, at any time in His Holy Life! And as our kinsman, out of love and compassion willingly took on the debt of sin Himself.
See 1 TIM. 3:16; HEB 4:14-15.This is why the fallen angels cannot be saved; because Christ did not take upon Himself the form of an angel and become a kinsman redeemer for them. Tragically, Satan’s decision, and those angels who sided with him in the rebellion against God, is a final one and beyond remedy.
Our kinsman Redeemer – both of Jews of Israel and Gentiles of the nations of the world, is Jesus Who is indeed the son of Abraham – the father of Israel (MATT. 1:1) and the son of Adam (through His mother Mary, not Joseph His step-father*) – the father of the human race (LUKE 3:23,38), has paid the penalty of our debt of sin; He has restored to us far more than we had ever lost:
[* It’s important to understand that Joseph was not the father of Jesus, though Mary was His mother. The Father of Jesus is God Almighty – the Father, just as He is the Son. This brings up the valid question: Why Is The Virgin Birth So Important? Read this article from GOT QUESTIONS? at the link provided here.]
Whereas before we had merely the natural life of this world’s domain, He has granted to us who have faith in Him, eternal life (JOHN 3:15; 6:68; 17:3; ROM 5:21; 6:23)! Where we had merely the plans and purposes, temporal blessings and gifts of this life, He has granted eternal plans and purposes, blessings and gifts through His grace (JAMES 1:17; EPH. 1:8-10)!
Where we might have the blessing of citizenship in a prosperous nation in this world, He has granted us citizenship and nationality of heaven’s Kingdom (PHIL. 3:20; note: the word “conversation” in King James in this reference means “citizenship” refer to your Greek Lexicon dictionary for verification. See also REV. 1:6; 5:10; 20:6), to all who believe in the LORD Jesus Christ!
He has redeemed us, purchased us by His blood (ACTS 20:12), and so those of us who place our faith in JESUS for salvation now belong to Him and His Kingdom (1 COR. 6:19-20); He has paid the penalty of our sin freely; He has granted to us a glorious inheritance among the saints (EPH 1:18; COL 1:12); and yet He has one more function to perform . . .
Among His children, both Jew and Gentile believers: saints of the living God, many have been martyred – murdered in fact by the children of darkness. Throughout history Jews have suffered at the hands of their enemies who have mercilessly killed them. Likewise the church of Jesus Christ has had rivers of blood flow from their slain bodies throughout the centuries.
The Kinsman goel is known also as the Avenger of Blood and His duty will be to find every offender that has murdered His kin, and mete out justice by slaying them – and this is exactly what will happen when in these last days, the nations of the world will gather together against Israel to destroy her as a nation. The LORD Jesus Christ will appear just in time to save Israel and to wreak such havoc in slaying the wicked, according to His justice, that the river of blood of His slain will flow as high as the horses’s bridle (about 6-7 feet deep)! See REV 14:18-20; see also ISAIAH 59:16-21; 63:1-3; REV 19:11-21.
For a comprehensive and detailed examination of “the Avenger of Blood” check out Lambert Dolphin’s excellent article JESUS, The AVENGER of BLOOD (we will also republish this as a stand alone article on FROM The MIND of FIRE).
Upon the Day of Judgment when the heavens and the earth are no more, every unrighteous sinner will likewise be judged by our Holy God according to His Holy Law (REV. 20:10-15); the ONLY way of salvation from that judgment is through Christ and the grace He offers from the cross of Calvary.
REVELATION 5:1-9
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6 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.
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
8 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.
9 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;This concludes this study on the KINSMAN REDEEMER! For more Scripture to consider, here is a compiliation that the reader might review:
To redeem; redeeming:
PSALMS 34:22; 44:26; 49:15; 72:14; 103:4; 130:8; ISAIAH 50:2; JER 15:21; HOS 13:14; GAL 4:5; TITUS 2:14. EPH 5:16; COL 4:5.
Redemption:
PSALM 49:8; 111:9; 130:7; JER 32:7-8; LUKE 2:38; 21:28; 8:23; 1 COR 1:30; EPH 1:7,14; 4:30; COL 1:14; HEB 9:12,15.
The redeemed:
EXOD 15:18; 2 SAM 4:9; PSALMS 106:10; 107:2; ISAIAH 1:27; 35:9; 43:1; 44:22; 51:11; 52:3; LUKE 1:68; 24:21; 1 PET 1:18; REV 5:9; 14:4.
The Redeemer:
JOB 19:25; PSALM 19:14; 78:35; PROV 23:11; ISAIAH 41:14; 43:14; 44:6; 47:4; 49:26; 54:5; 59:20; 60:16; 63:16; JER 50:34;
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What Happened in the Natural Realm and in the Spiritual Realm at the MOMENT JESUS DIED?
Matthew 27:50-53
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
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Why is it so important that JESUS ROSE from the Dead? Do we have evidence that this is indeed true?
The Resurrection of Christ
1Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
The Resurrection of the Dead
12Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
The Order of Resurrection
20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24Then 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. 25For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
29Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? 30And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? 31I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32If 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. 33Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
The Resurrection Body
35But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: 38But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 39All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Where O Death is Your Victory? (Isaiah 57:1-2)
50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
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A Historian Explains the Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus (Dr. Gary Habermas)
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At the end of this part, each member should:
Have an understanding of seven key things the blood of Jesus does for us.
Become acquainted with more scriptures on what the blood of Jesus did for us.Remission: The blood of Jesus gives us remission. Now it’s important at this point to bring clarity to the issue of remission and forgiveness.
Luke 24: 46 – 47: “…And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” Note those two words: repentance and remission.
Acts 5:31: “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.”
The Scripture says here ‘repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins’. But in Luke 24, Jesus said ‘repentance and remission of sins’ should be preached in his Name amongst all nations beginning at Jerusalem. So He used the term remission of sins. Now we come to Acts 5 here, and we find some translators using forgiveness of sins and not remission, and here’s where we need to make the correction. In fact, the two words – remission and forgiveness, are translated from the same Greek word – ‘aphesis’. However, this is not enough to conclude, we now have to check the context in which the words are used when they are used. When two or more words, interpreted from the same word in any language are applied differently, the way to know what is meant at any time is in the context of their application.
What Peter said is in consonance with what Jesus said. They were exactly the same thing, so why change one from remission to forgiveness, when it’s exactly the same, and in the same context.
The point here is that if you sin against God as a Christian, you don’t just get forgiveness (which is coined less that remission as though you are getting a pardon), no, the wrongdoing does not exist anymore in the same way your sins were removed at the beginning when you came to Christ; there is no record of them anymore. The remission of sin that you have at the beginning is the remission of sin that you get if you sin after you are born again; there is no record of it anywhere, not in God’s book. This means the blood of Jesus Christ works for you before salvation, and after salvation, it provides remission of sins completely. He said a new testament, will, covenant, order, will I give to them, and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. That’s because it is completely removed (Hebrews 10:16-18).
1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. Forgive here means to take away and to cleanse us from all righteousness. The sins are completely remitted, with no records kept. It’s not a pardon; it’s blotted out; as though it never existed.
1 John 2:1: “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world”. This settles it! It works for us as it works for the whole world. He is our propitiation. And every time you read it, it’s the same word used. Sinning is not compulsory for the Christian; you don’t have to sin, but if you do, there is remission, a complete blotting out. God has no record of your mistakes or errors because the blood of Jesus completely washes them out of existence. Hallelujah!
Hebrew 10:14 says, “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” There is no more sacrifice for sin; by one offering he has perfected us forever. Glory to God!
Justification: the blood of Jesus makes justification possible. Through His blood, we are justified, declared not guilty by God, with no record of the past. Acts 13:38 -39 says, “Be it known unto you, therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him, all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses”. This Scripture should also have read remission, but it says forgiveness.
Redemption: the blood of Jesus brought us redemption; that is, agorazo – the purchase. We were purchased by the blood of Jesus and given as gifts to God.
Revelation 5: 9: “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.”1 Corinthians 6:20: “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s”
Acts 20:28: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
Access: The blood of Jesus gives us access to God. Praise God; we’ve got access! We have access by Christ unto the Father. He is the way. We enter into the most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus. So every time you break that bread, remember the new and living way, which He consecrated for us through the veil, which is His flesh.
Ephesians 2:18: “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father”
John 14:6: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Other Scripture References: Acts 4:12; Hebrews 10:19.Fellowship: We have fellowship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We’ve come into partnership, communion, a sharing together with Him. We are in His class, because of the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:13-14: “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;”
Other Scripture Reference: Colossians 1:20
Cleansing: The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
Hebrews 9:14: “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The will: the blood gives us the will; the testament.
Hebrews 9:15-16 (NIV: “And for this reason, Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance – now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it,”
Acts 26:18: “To open their eyes, and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: Romans 8:16.
IN CONCLUSION:
God said the life of the flesh is in the blood and gave the blood on the altar for the atonement of the soul. The blood of animals offered year after year, though covering sin for a while, could not completely wash away sin. But Jesus, who was without sin, became sin for us and obtained eternal redemption through His precious blood. Now there is no remembrance of sin; we are new creations without a past, purchased as gifts for God, because of the precious blood of Jesus Christ.Lessons Learned from this Study:
The blood is the life of the flesh and God gave the blood for the atonement of the soul.
Atonement means appeasement; propitiation; compensation for wrongdoing; to satisfy the claims of justice.
The first sacrifice for sin was when Adam and Eve sinned, and God killed an animal, spilled the blood to cover their sin, and used the body of that animal to cover their nakedness.There is no other way to make atonement for the soul except by blood.
The burnt offering was an offering of dedication and acceptance.
On the great day of atonement, the high priest offered sacrifices to make atonement for the people as a nation.
Jesus was our Passover lamb.Jesus was given as the sacrifice for sin, and He entered into the most Holy Place in heaven with His blood, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
The new creation in Christ became a reality at the resurrection of Christ and not at the cross.
Having paid the price for our sins, Jesus purchased us as gifts to God.The blood of Jesus gives us remission, justification, redemption, access, fellowship, cleansing, and the will or new testament.
At the end of this part, each member should:spacer
What about the HOLY SPIRIT? What do you know about the HOLY SPIRIT? DID you know that the Holy Spirit did minister to the Hebrew People before the Cross? Do you know why Jesus had to die before the HOLY SPIRIT could live inside us? What does the HOLY SPIRIT DO for the believer?
John 16:7 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.
Why did Jesus have to go in order for the Holy Spirit to come? Also does this mean the Holy Spirit was not present before Jesus went away?
Understanding the second part of your question is the key to answering the first part.
Part One: (How the Spirit was with them before and after Jesus “going away”)
In John 3:34, it is said of Christ that He had the Spirit of God “without measure”. So as He was living on Earth as a perfect sinless man, Jesus had unlimited access to the Holy Spirit, who descended on Him to empower Him for ministry at His baptism. So the Holy Spirit was here, empowering Jesus Christ without measure.
In John 14:16-18, Jesus told the disciples, “you know him, for he dwells with you and shall be in you.” So the Spirit of God was with the disciples, but He (the Spirit) was going to be with them and in them in a new way.
Now in the context of John 16:7, Jesus talks about “going away” through the crucifixion (John 16:19-22). But He speaks of the Comforter in ways that also refer to the Spirit’s ministry after the ascension (John 16:13). If you think about it, Jesus actually went away from the disciples twice: once for 3 days and nights from death to resurrection, and once at the ascension. There are two “going aways”, and there are two events involving the Holy Spirit that are mentioned after each of those “going aways”.
First event:
After the crucifixion and resurrection, in the upper room, Jesus breathes on them and says “receive ye the Holy Ghost” (John 20:22). We breathe air in order to live, so this speaks to the aspect of the Spirit’s ministry when He regenerates the believer and gives them new life.
Second event:
After the ascension, the disciples waited in Jerusalem to receive power from on high (Acts 1:4-5). This speaks to the Spirit’s ministry of empowering believers for service. This is like a mighty rushing wind that can be harnessed to help us do work. Natural air is breathed for life; and as wind, is harnessed for power: so the Spirit gives us life and empowers us for service.
Part 2: Why Jesus had to “go away” in both cases
For Regeneration to occur, the disciples had to have their sins atoned for. This could not occur until after His death and resurrection. So He had to leave them to atone for their sins. Once that was done, He could return and they could “receive the Holy Ghost” when He breathed on them.
For Empowering to occur, it’s a little more complicated. The disciples were going to be empowered to help them go and tell others about Jesus. Those people would have to believe their words (John 17:20) to be justified by faith. If Jesus had NOT gone away, it would be simple for everyone to just “go check Him out”, see the risen Lord, and prove it. There would be nothing to believe or not believe, there would only be proof that everyone would go check out, so there would be no justification by faith. And there would be no sense empowering the disciples with a measure of faith (Romans 12:3) to do anything because Jesus would be here and would have the Spirit of God without measure. The woman at the well in Samaria ran into something similar (John 4:39-42). At first people believed in Christ because of her words. But then others believed because they went and listened to Him directly, so until His ascension she was out of a job, so to speak.
Part 3: Why Jesus remains away during this Gospel Age
Notice that after the resurrection, Jesus only spends time with those who believed in Him before His death. Had He showed up publicly risen from the dead, there would be proof and no opportunity to believe God’s words by faith. (Mankind fell through believing the lies of the Serpent; therefore mankind is justified through believing the words of God). The disciples already believed in Him, so He appeared to them confirming the faith they already had. Now, because He is not on Earth in a bodily form, mankind has the opportunity to respond in faith believing God’s words and the freedom to disbelieve if they so choose.
Also, the church has the opportunity to preach God’s words and work together with the Comforter who comes beside us to give us a measure of the Holy Spirit and work together with us to reach the unbeliever. We have a measure of empowering so we have to work together; there are no lone rangers who have it all on their own. When Christ returns to Earth, the time for faith will no longer be here because proof will arrive.
It might be said that Christ “proved it” to Paul and therefore He had no opportunity to believe by faith. But Paul is the one who wrote that we are justified by faith (Romans 5:1) so that perhaps he had the opportunity to reject the vision of Christ He received on the road to Damascus but instead responded by calling Jesus “Lord” (Acts 9:6).
So to sum it up: Jesus had to depart by dying to make regeneration available; and He had to ascend so that empowering for service would be needed to spread God’s word. If the risen Christ were here on Earth there would be proof and no opportunity to believe by faith; and there would be no need for empowering to spread God’s word because people wouldn’t have to hear it and believe, they could just go check it out. Because He left Earth in bodily form, everyone has the opportunity to experience both aspects of the Spirit’s ministry in their lives.
And no, the Spirit was present the entire time; but He “came to them” in a different way each time Jesus “departed” from them.
Hope that helps! 🙂
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In order to understand the value of the GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, is to truly understand SIN and how it affects us, and how the Devil Works.
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If you have reviewed everything in this post, you should have a pretty good understanding of God’s plan for the Believers. You should understand who Jesus Christ is and what He has provided for us. You should recognize your need for salvation/redemption and the need for the power of the Holy Spirit in order to overcome. Now let us take a look at where we are in God’s plan, and just how close we are to the Rapture of the Faithful.
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