Fact Not Fiction- The Faith of Abraham Pt 8

 Fact, not fiction, that leads to conclusions.  How many facts do we need to make a conclusion about something? Sometimes a single fact is enough to make a case for or against something. Other times a multitude of facts don't seem to be enough. When we are dealing with an important topic surely a multitude of facts is understandable. Irrefutable facts, hard facts, indisputable facts, we need these when we are dealing with the topic of salvation, of eternity. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, more important than our salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. A salvation that will give to us an eternity with our Lord, our Creator, our Redeemer, the eternity that we were created to live at God's pleasure.

As we continue to study the Faith of Abraham we do so knowing that it is with the faith of Abraham that we are all to belong to our Lord and Savior. We need to comprehend what it means to have the faith of Abraham. This in-depth study is for the serious student of God's truth. And shouldn't we all be serious students of God's truth? If we can't be serious students when our eternal life is the subject, when should we be such students? 

Priorities. God first. Others. Self last. But the world would have us twist them around and put Self first, others, and then God.

God first.  Study the following with that in mind- it is truth revealed. Truth, if known then revisited. 

Pray, and study- not simply, read, but study! All by the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, now and forever! Amen!!!!!!!

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The Faith of Abraham Pt. 7 

CHAPTER VI. AN IMPORTANT QUESTION SETTLED

That covenant stands secure.

And inasmuch as their covenant has passed away, and their national system of worship is abolished, and Jerusalem is no longer the place where men must go to worship the Father, we cannot possibly believe that any special promises or blessings are in reserve for the Jews as a nation; neither promise nor blessing remains for them, except such as are common to all the children of Abraham by faith in Christ. And they can inherit the promises on the same condition and in the same manner that other children of Abraham shall inherit them, and in no other. 

We will notice some of the facts which lead us to this conclusion.

Continued…

1. The declaration of Jesus, already referred to, that that arrangement has passed away by which Jerusalem was made a special place of worship, involves the abolition of their national system of worship. To restore this system would be a transgression against the gospel, according to the principle stated by Paul in Gal. 2:18. (Gal 2:18  For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.)

2. The promise that the new covenant should be made with Judah and Israel, has been fulfilled. The covenant was made and confirmed in the blood of Christ, and by the preaching of Christ and his apostles. But the confirmation of the new covenant was the opening of the gospel to the Gentiles, and it placed all on an equality, making but one body of Jews and Gentiles. See Eph. 3:6

Eph 3:6  That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel

3. And this leads us to notice that the house of Israel and the house of Judah were in Palestine when the covenant was made. The promises of the restoration of Israel to their own land were twofold: 

(1.) Those which were made to the tribes of Israel, the children of Abraham according to the flesh, referring to their restoration after the Babylonian captivity. These have been fulfilled. It is nothing to the purpose that they who claim that literal Israel will be restored again to Palestine, quote a great many prophecies; but the truth depends, not in the number of texts quoted, but in the correct application of them.

It is of no possible avail to quote scripture unless it is correctly applied. 

We mean no disrespect to any, but illustrate our remark by referring to the fact that Satan himself quoted the scriptures correctly, but that which he quoted had no reference to that time or occasion. 

The Saviour repulsed him by quoting texts which had an application then and there. We will briefly notice some of the evidences that the twelve tribes were there when the new covenant was made.

a. The prophets, except Malachi, all wrote between the years 534 and 800b.c. The decree of Cyrus for the return of the children of Israel was made in b. c. 536, and that of Artaxerxes in 457. Hence, there is no chronological necessity for referring to any future time or event, those prophecies which speak of their returning to Palestine. In truth the whole weight of chronology is against that

view.

b. The decree of Cyrus was liberal, and was proclaimed throughout all his realm.. He said:--

"Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him and let him go up to Jerusalem." "And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts." Ezra. 1:1-4. Artaxerxes, in his decree, said:-- 

"I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own free will to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee." Ezra 7:13. Further, that the prophecies referred to a restoration from the captivity in Babylon, is proved in the most positive terms:--

"For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. . . . I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive." Jer. 29:10-14. 

While many declare that ten tribes were lost, and never returned from the captivity of Babylon, the word of God declares that he gathered them from all nations and from all places whither he had scattered them. We cannot reject the word of God, and therefore cannot receive the theory of those who teach that they were not returned. Of the time of their restoration there can be no doubt, for

the Lord said it should be after seventy years were accomplished at Babylon. 

c. It is assumed that only two tribes returned from that captivity, and that ten tribes were dispersed and lost. But that is only an assumption, for which there is no shadow of foundation in fact. 

The Persian empire, in the days of Ahasuerus, was divided into one hundred and twenty-seven provinces (Esther 1:1); and the Israelites were scattered throughout the empire; and the decree for their defense and deliverance from the malice of Haman went to every province in the empire. Esther 9:17. The decree of Cyrus for their return was proclaimed throughout his whole realm. Artaxerxes, also, addressed his decree to all the people of Israel in all his kingdom. All returned who were willing to return. And they were not hindered by reason of any disability on their own part, for the king commanded the people to assist them with money, goods, and beasts. Thus did the Lord, in his providence, make every provision for the fulfillment of his promise. There is no promise that he would bring them back against their will. 

d. Although critics mostly discredit the statement of Josephus in regard to the origin of the Septuagint, it seems that his testimony is entitled to more consideration than is generally given to it, inasmuch as their objections are solely of a critical, and not at all of a historical, nature; while he sets it down as a historical fact, even giving the very words of the correspondence between the parties. He says that Ptolemy Philadelphus sent a request to the Jews to send six men out of every tribe for the purpose of translating the law into the Greek. When they were sent, word was returned to Ptolemy thus: "We have chosen six men out of every tribe, whom we have sent, and the law with them." He says that seventy-two were sent, seventy being engaged in the work, from which number of translators the name of the Version is derived. Thus twelve tribes were represented. See Josephus' Antiquities, B. 12, chap. 2, sec. 4-7. 

e. This evidence of the presence of the twelve tribes is corroborated by the Scriptures. 

That the tribe of Levi was represented in the return from the captivity is evident, for all the priests and servants of the temple were of that tribe. Of the priests alone, of the family of Aaron, Ezra gives the number who returned to Palestine under the decree of Cyrus, 4,289. Ezra 2:36-39. And he further says:-- "So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and

the porters, and the Nethinim, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities." Ezra 2:70. "And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in their cities, the people gathered themselves as one man to Jerusalem." Ezra 3:1; Neh. 7:73. 

And most decisive is the testimony of Ezra concerning the dedication of the temple, built after the return from Babylon. "And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy; and offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin-offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel." Ezra 6:16, 17. "The children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt-offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin-offering." Ezra 8:35. If ten tribes were absent, it is truly strange that no mention was made of it, when a sin-offering was made for the twelve tribes; for "all Israel" which dwelt in their cities. And is it not strange that people will persist in setting forth the idea that all Israel were not in their cities, when the proof is so strong that they were, and not a hint in all the Scriptures to the contrary? 

There is also another class of promises concerning the gathering of Israel, but these are not spoken of "Israel after the flesh," but, of the true Israel, who are the seed of Abraham by faith in Jesus Christ. These promises are found in both the Old and New Testaments. Thus spoke the Lord:--

"And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem." Isa. 27:12, 13.

With this compare the words of the Saviour:--  

"And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Matt. 24:30, 31.

The time of the gathering of the elect of God is fixed by these words of the Saviour; it will take place at his coming. He shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet to gather them,--when the great trumpet shall be blown, as Isaiah says. 

Compare 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 1 Thess. 4:16, 17. 

1Co 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 

1Co 15:52  In 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. 

1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 

1Co 15:54  So 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.

1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

With these agree the following words of the apostle:-- 

"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him." 2 Thess. 2:1. 

But one may inquire, Can the gathering of the elect, the Israel of God by faith, at the coming of Christ, consistently be called the gathering and the return of Israel unto their own land? Most assuredly it can; and it is so called by the express word of the Lord himself. That the resurrection of the just will take place at the coming of Christ, all will admit. Then we read the following:--

"Prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, and shall put my Spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land; then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord." Eze. 37:12-14.

The opening of the graves of all Israel shall take place "when Christ, who is our life, shall appear." It is his voice that will raise the dead. When the Son of man comes, the great trumpet will be blown, and the elect of God will be gathered from the four quarters of the earth. 

This is the only gathering of Israel that remains to be fulfilled. And, all ye saints of God, partakers of the faith of your father Abraham, rejoice, for that day is near to come, and the angels will gather every one who, by living faith, is united to Christ, the heir of the promise.

To be continued…

The Faith of Abraham Pt 7 - Covenants

 Covenants.  Have you ever entered a covenant with anyone?  That's a slightly unusual word isn't it, covenant. 

Definition of covenant 

1: a usually formal, solemn, and binding agreement

2: a written agreement or promise usually under seal between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action the deed conveying the land contained restrictive covenants

A formal, solemn, binding agreement. A written agreement, promise… 

Most of us have entered covenants, some legal, some not, some that we hold dear and others we've broken without much of a thought.  One covenant people enter commonly is the marriage covenant. I won't go into any long detailed explanation of keeping and breaking that particular covenant, I merely mentioned it because it's one we can understand readily as existing in our lives and the lives of people around us.

The covenant between man and God is one we need to comprehend. Some believe that any covenant between man and God before our Savior was born, lived, ministered and died for us only to rise again, have all been made null and void. This is a belief that is untrue and we need to comprehend this as God intends. If you desire truth, and seek to know the deep things of God, you can study the following, and the previous studies leading up to this one. Or, you can study as God leads you otherwise, just do not neglect the study of the Word of God for all the truth. May the Lord bless and keep us in HIM and all HIS truth, through our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, now and forever! Amen!!!!!!!

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The Faith of Abraham Pt. 7 

CHAPTER VI. AN IMPORTANT QUESTION SETTLED

'Jesus was on his way into Galilee, and as he came to Sychar, being weary, he sat down by Jacob's well. A woman of Samaria came to draw water, and she was surprised when the stranger, whom she perceived to be a Jew, asked her to give him water to drink. The Samaritans were a mixed people, and had introduced the practices of their several nations into their worship. 2 Kings 17:24-41. Therefore the two nations were at variance, and the Jews had "no dealings with the Samaritans."

In her conversation with Jesus, the woman soon discovered that he was no ordinary man; and when he, a Jew, and an entire stranger, showed to her that her life was known to him, she confidently declared that he was a prophet. And then there immediately arose to her mind a question that had long vexed the people, and she said:--

"Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." John 4:20.

This was a declaration intended as a question.

The woman had shared in the anxiety of the godly of her nation, to have this question settled. As a question Jesus received it, and in reply he laid down a principle which corrected the erroneous ideas of both parties, both Jews and Samaritans. But in defining this principle he did not set aside any facts which had been developed concerning the plan of salvation. He very distinctly declared that "salvation is of the Jews." Not that the Jews were better than other people, or that they needed salvation more than other people, or that they of themselves had anything to confer on other people which was necessary to salvation. But it was necessary in the development of God's promise to Abraham that his posterity should be kept a separate people, for the manifestation of Messiah to the world, and salvation by Abraham's seed must come through them. 

Paul, speaking of the Israelites, said:--

"To whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came." Rom. 9:4, 5. 

All the things here enumerated were committed to them, and whosoever partakes of these blessings must receive them as coming through that channel. To them were committed the oracles of God. Rom. 3:1, 2.

Rom 3:1  What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 

Rom 3:2  Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

And not for their own sakes alone were these oracles committed to them. Stephen, in that memorable sermon which cost him his life, said that Moses, who stood in behalf of the people, "received the lively oracles to give unto us." Acts 7:38. 

Act 7:38  This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us

But these facts do not exhaust the subject, nor do they make necessary the perpetuation of the forms and ceremonies which were given to them. As has been seen, the great object of the hope of the people of Israel was the manifestation of the Messiah to the world, and the law of ceremonies was to illustrate his work; but the Messiah having come, the time had arrived when the principle above referred to could be declared. 

Therefore Jesus answered the woman of Samaria thus:--

"The hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father." John 4:21.

He certainly did not mean that the Father should not be worshiped in those places; but he did mean that it was not necessary to go to those places to worship the Father, for thus he continued:--

"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." John 4:21, 23.

And this was the settlement of the question thus far; the worship of God is no longer to be considered a matter of localities, nor of nationalities. In all places, and by all peoples, he may be worshiped to acceptance, wheresoever and by whomsoever he is worshiped in spirit and in truth.

But in the minds of some, the question may arise: How can it be that this is not a question of nationalities, if it remains true that salvation is of the Jews? 

Now whatever shape this query may assume, we must continue to insist that salvation is of the Jews, for the facts in reference to them can never be set aside. The Messiah came of them, and the new covenant was made with them, according to the promise. But as Jerusalem has ceased to be the special place where the Father must be worshiped, their national system must also of necessity have ceased, for they could present their offerings in no place but Jerusalem. Lev. 17:1-6.

Lev 17:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 

Lev 17:2  Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, saying, 

Lev 17:3  What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp, 

Lev 17:4  And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people: 

Lev 17:5  To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the LORD. 

Lev 17:6  And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the LORD. 

No one who believes the gospel will dispute the fact that that covenant has passed away. But we must always bear in mind that, as the making of that covenant did not annul the covenant with Abraham, so its abolition had no effect upon anything that was peculiar to the Abrahamic covenant. 

That covenant stands secure.

And inasmuch as their covenant has passed away, and their national system of worship is abolished, and Jerusalem is no longer the place where men must go to worship the Father, we cannot possibly believe that any special promises or blessings are in reserve for the Jews as a nation; neither promise nor blessing remains for them, except such as are common to all the children of Abraham by faith in Christ. And they can inherit the promises on the same condition and in the same manner that other children of Abraham shall inherit them, and in no other. 

We will notice some of the facts which lead us to this conclusion.

To be continued…

Books.

 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 

Daniel 11:45; 12:1,2

Truly this part is something we need to pay attention to - 'thy people shall be delivered- everyone that shall be found written in the book, many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake'-   Deliverance and a book with names.  This is what the Word of God tells us this about books and names-  

Exo_32:32  Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of THY BOOK which thou hast written.

Exo_32:33  And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

Those who sin against God will be taken out of God's book.

Psa_69:28  Let them be blotted out of the BOOK OF THE LIVING, and not be written with the righteous.

There is a book of the living, the righteous.

Mal_3:16  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

Book of Remembrance- them that feared and thought upon the LORD.

Php_4:3  And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the BOOK OF LIFE.

…whose names are in the book of life.

Rev_3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the BOOK OF LIFE, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Book of life.

Rev 13:6  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 

Rev 13:7  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

Rev_13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the BOOK OF LIFE OF THE LAMB slain from the foundation of the world.

…whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Rev_17:8  The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the BOOK OF LIFE from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

…whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world…

Rev_20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the BOOKS were opened: and another BOOK was opened, which is the BOOK OF LIFE: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Books were opened… another book was opened, which is the book of life…those thing which were written in the books according to their works.

Rev_20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the BOOK OF LIFE was cast into the lake of fire.

…not found written in the book of life…

Rev_21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the LAMB'S BOOK OF LIFE.

…they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Rev_22:19  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy,  shall take away his part out of the BOOK OF LIFE, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

…God shall take away his part out of the book of life…

Going back to Daniel's prophecy-

We know this prophecy in the Book of Daniel tells us that GOD'S people are going to be delivered at this point.  EVERYONE that is written in the book of LIFE, this is the book meant here in Daniel. There is no other book that has to do with deliverance for God's people. To know that we are given a prophecy that talks specifically of  God's people being delivered, the living and the dead, is truly amazing! Read it again…

Dan 12:1  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and AT THAT TIME THY PEOPLE SHALL BE DELIVERED EVERYONE THAT SHALL BE FOUND WRITTEN IN THE BOOK. 

Dan 12:2  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 

Jesus stands up, His work in the heavenly sanctuary is complete, all intercession for those who would accept Him as their Savior is over. The Sanctuary in heaven has been completely cleansed and the sins of the entire world are being readied to be placed upon the head of the author of all evil, Satan. With all sin cleansed that will ever be cleansed, the very last plea for forgiveness causing the precious blood of the Savior to be needed to cover and blot out that sin, has been made. No more pleas for forgiveness, no more contrite hearts to cry out for forgiveness, no more repentance sought for sins made and despised. The work is over and the time is at hand and ALL who are Christ's will be redeemed- those still living, and those who have died throughout the many thousands of years who died in His mercy. 

This is truly a prophetic utterance of the very last moment before we are redeemed. 

Knowing that there is going to a TIME OF TROUBLE such as never was right before the Lord's return gives us information we need. There will be a TIME, a period of time will take place and we don't know how long this will be- but we know it will be right before the Lord returns to save us all, all meaning those who are His. This time of trouble is going to be unlike any other in all of history, and our history books tell us of some very awful times of trouble in the past. Some people are living right now in a time of trouble such as they'd never experienced before, but this TIME of TROUBLE to come is going to be worldwide- could it be any less? The entire world will be involved in the horror to come as Satan makes his last stand before he is to be bound and cast to the wilderness as the goat on the day of Atonement. It's no wonder that this time of trouble is going to be the worse the earth has ever seen. We know for a fact that even human beings have been known to want to kill as many people as they can before they themselves are killed. How much more will the father of all evil want to commit horror and destruction as his last stand. This isn't fiction, though there have been fictional mediums that have depicted the end of the world and Satan. This will be reality and it is a reality that we will, by the grace of God live to see, or rise to know has occurred. As horrific as it will be, I do pray that I am written in God's book of life and that I can bear witness to all that will happened right up to my deliverance by the grace and mercy, the love of my Savior, all through HIS strength, through the HOLY SPIRIT! May God's will be done, now and forever! 

Has the beast planted his tabernacle in Jerusalem as of yet? 

Dan 11:45  And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. 

The tents of his palace. Not his palace, but a representative of his palace.  It's not there yet and this is why we watch.  Our limited comprehension of what this must be is just that- very limited. We must watch Jerusalem. Our eyes must be turned to Jerusalem. Will we know when the tents are planted? I don't know to be truthful, but prophecy is given for a reason and we are given the knowledge of the tabernacles of his palace being planted in Jerusalem. When this planting takes place the end of the beast occurs THEN at that time… simultaneously with the end… Christ finishes His work in heaven. Is it any wonder our eyes should be watching Jerusalem. Mankind's probation will be over. Will we know this? Will we have this knowledge as the time of the worst trouble to ever take place, comes? 

I don't have all the answers, I do know that in 70AD - 1,952 years ago, Jerusalem was taken over by Rome and from then until 1967 - 1,897 years later- Jerusalem was out of the control of the Jewish leadership and under a form of Gentile control. Then in 1980 the seat of the Jewish government was moved to Jerusalem solidifying their control. In Luke 21:24 we are told there would be a Times of the Gentiles fulfilled. Prophecy concerning Jerusalem took place! The Gentiles NO longer control Jerusalem. And we know there is a future prophecy concerning Jerusalem that has YET to take place, the planting of the tabernacles.  

Our eyes have been drawn to Jerusalem, we are awake and watching. God help us to see all we need to see, to know all we need to know- all to be HIS children, forgiven and redeemed by Jesus Christ! 

You Are of the (Faith of Abraham Pt 7)

 Jesus took 12 Jewish men and made them His Apostles. 

Jacob had 12 sons- all of them Jewish. The 12 Tribes of Israel.

The New Jerusalem -  when ALL who are going to be Jesus' are with Him,  will be in the NEW EARTH, that NEW CITY comes from God out of heaven itself to earth!

Rev_21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Rev_21:12  …and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the NAMES OF THE TWELVE TRIBES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISREAL:

Rev_21:14  And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the NAMES OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES OF THE LAMB.

If you are a Christian you will live in the New Jerusalem with its 12 gates engraved with the 12 names of the Tribes of the Children of Israel, and the 12 names of the Apostles. Think about that for a very long moment, especially all of you who want nothing to do with anything Jewish. 

How wondrous is the Jewish heritage we ALL share. Yes, I said ALL because not a single one of us who belong to Jesus Christ does not have a Jewish heritage THROUGH HIM. We are grafted on to the vine, we are made into the children of Abraham.

Gal 3:7  Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 

Gal 3:8  And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 

Gal 3:9  So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 

WE ARE OF FAITH, are we not? If you are of FAITH you are a child of Abraham, the Jewish patriarch. So many CHOOSE to forget that our SAVIOR WAS JEWISH! They like to erase that part of Him and retain the Son of God, the Spirit seed part that they don't consider to be Jewish because that essence was only God which merged into the Jewish woman Mary's essence to become the human Son of God.  They let it slip from any consideration that they are truly part JEWISH if they are of the faith of Jesus! This is truth that Satan would much rather we forget about.  Does our being part Jewish through faith make us followers of the Jewish faith without Jesus? No. We are Jewish through faith and we follower the Jewish Messiah, Jesus, who took His faith and brought the truth of THAT faith to all. To distinguish it from the Jewish faith that continued to exist and practice the rites of the Jewish faith that were null and void after the death and resurrection of Jesus, the new Jewish led faith became known as Christians. Being a Christian means being a Jew by faith, and particularly a child of the Jewish Abraham, a child of God, a child of the Jewish Jesus- you cannot say He was not a Jew, you just can't. You follow the Son of God, a Jewish man who lived a life of a Jewish person from birth to death. Jesus did not turn into some mystical non-Jewish person upon His resurrection. He will forever retain a Jewish heritage, forever.

Why is this important? Because it's truth. Jesus taught that one of the greatest commandments is to LOVE OTHERS, without exception! Yet so many have a multitude of exceptions to who they choose to bestow their love upon. We are to LOVE others. It is the angels job at the end to separate those who are God's and those who aren't, it's NOT our job!  So, before you point your finger at other faith followers and declare them worthy of your hatred, your derision, your disdain remember even if they do not worship Jesus, they are still potential children of His and it's not your place to rob anyone of their chance to belong to Jesus as He may lead them to Him, and the way He leads them may have nothing to do with your preaching Jesus at them. They might not choose to follow Jesus for several years, you don't know! You have no way to know! ALL are potentially Jesus', ALL without exception. All will be given a chance, and it's not your place to determine when that chance happens. Don't ever consider yourself so important that you believe you are the only instrument to lead someone to Christ and His truth. 

God help us all to be His, through Jesus Christ our Lord and SAVIOR, now and forever, all through His mercy and grace, His forgiveness, His love!!!!!!! Amen!

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The Faith of Abraham Pt. 6 CHAPTER V. THE COVENANT WITH ISRAEL

From yesterday…

Are we to conclude, then, that all were lost who lived under that covenant, because they were all sinners, and it contained no power of forgiveness? By no means. A consideration of a few texts of Scripture will make this point clear.

1. Our Lord Jesus reminded his hearers that circumcision was not of Moses, but of the fathers. John 7:22. ((Joh 7:22  Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. ))It was a token, not of the covenant made with the twelve tribes of Israel, but, of the covenant made with the FATHERS. They were ALREADY the covenant children of Abraham,--under a covenant of faith and grace. Hence, when the law condemned them, the law which they had so solemnly promised to obey, they were turned back as their only refuge TO THE COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM. 

Of this covenant the true seed of Abraham, Christ the Messiah, was the appointed mediator. 

In this manner the LAW SERVED TO BRING THEM TO CHRIST. Gal. 3:24. 

((Gal 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.))

As they only who are sick need a physician (Matt. 9:12-((But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick)), so must the sinner be convicted of his malady before he will apply to the great Physician for healing. And as by the law is the knowledge of sin, and by the law sin is made to appear exceeding sinful (Rom. 3:20; 7:13-- ((((Rom 3:20  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 Rom 7:13  Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. ))), nothing but the law can convince anyone of his need of a Saviour, and bring him to Christ for salvation.

How inefficient, then, to lead to genuine conversion, are all proposed systems of gospel teaching which ignore the law of God.

Continued…

2. That this position is correct, is proved by Paul in Gal. 3:16, 17, where he declares that "the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. Compare with Rom. 5:20. ((Rom 5:20  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound))) There were many righteous, faithful ones, of whom Paul said the time would fail him to mention, who through faith wrought righteousness, out of weakness were made strong, not accepting deliverance when they were tortured, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Their faith was in every respect truly evangelical; and having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise, but saw it afar off, thus confessing, as did Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, that they were only pilgrims and strangers on the earth. But not one was saved by virtue of the covenant made at Horeb; THEIR FAITH WAS THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM, whose children they were.

The object of this covenant is further shown in the system of types or ceremonies given to them. Immediately after the covenant was ratified with the children of Israel (Ex. 24:1-8), God called Moses unto him into the Mount, where he gave him the system known as the ceremonial law. At the first the Lord commanded Moses to take from the people an offering of various valuable articles, and therewith to make a sanctuary, that he might dwell among them. The definition of this word as given by Cruden is as follows: "A holy or sanctified place, or dwelling place of the Most High." This is correct according to the etymology of the word, and according to what the Lord said: "Let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them." Ex. 25:8.

The sanctuary made by the children of Israel, under the direction of Moses, was a temporary or movable building, consisting of two rooms, the first called the holy, the second the most holy. In the first were a golden lampstand with seven lamps, a table of show bread, and a golden altar of incense. In the second or most holy was an ark containing the two tables of stone on which God himself had written his covenant, or law of ten commandments. And this was the only thing that was permanently kept in the most holy place. See 1 Kings 8:9.(((1Ki 8:9  There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. ))))

The order for making the ark, including its description and use, or object, is found in Ex. 25:10-22, as follows:--

"And they shall make an ark of acacia wood; two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. And thou shall overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about. . . . And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee. "And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold; two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end; of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubim on the two ends thereof. And the cherubim shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. "And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel." 

But that was not the only place in the sanctuary in which the Lord said his glory should be manifested; we read as follows:-- 

"This shall be a continual burnt-offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord; where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee. And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory." Ex. 29:42, 43. "There was to be a continual burnt-offering at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, or holy place, and the priests daily went into the holy place to trim the lamps and to burn incense. Ex. 30:1-8. But, as Paul says (Heb. 9:7), "into the second went the high priest alone, once every year." The order of the service in the most holy place is given in Leviticus 16. Verse 29 says this service shall take place on the tenth day of the seventh month, and from the nature of the service that day was called the day of atonement. See Lev. 23: 27, 28. Lev. 16:11-14 describes the manner in which the high priest was to make an atonement for himself with the blood of a bullock. Verses 15, 16, describe the making of the general atonement, as follows:--

"Then shall he kill the goat of the sin-offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat; and he shall make an atonement for the holy place."

This has reference to that holy place where the ark was; see verse 2; and before we read further let us inquire, Why was he to make an atonement for the holy place? Surely the holy place had given no offense. It was not capable of action, either right or wrong. The remaining part of verse 16, and verse 19, give us full information on that point:--

"And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins; and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness." "And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his fingers seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it, from the uncleanness of the children of Israel." 

Thus we see that the meaning of making an atonement for the sanctuary, or the holy place, is this: The sanctuary was defiled by the sins of the people, and as it was the place where God's glory dwelt, and where he met the priests in judgment for the violations of his law, it was to be cleansed from their sins, that their uncleanness might not remain before God,--before the throne of Judgment. During the whole year the work of propitiation was to be carried on in the service in the holy place, but the tenth day of the seventh month was the day of judgment, when all transgressions of his people were to be removed from before the Judge. It was the most solemn of all occasions in the religious observances of the nation. The high priest was to enter upon this service only after special preparation. Had he gone into the most holy without this preparation, or had he gone therein on any other day than the tenth day of the seventh month, he would have died. Lev. 16:1-4. And the people well understood the importance of the success of the work of the high priest on that day. Had he not strictly observed the order given he would have died. Had he died therein, the sanctuary would have been doubly defiled; and as it was death for any but the high priest to enter there, they could have devised no means for his removal. In the event of any failure on his part, no atonement could have been made, and their sins would have remained before the seat of judgment. Everything connected with the service of that day was calculated to deeply impress upon their minds the following words of the Lord:-- 

"Also on the tenth day of the seventh month there shall be a day of atonement; it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. And ye shall do no work in that same day; for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God. For whatsoever soul it shall be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. . . . It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls; in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath." Lev. 23:27-32.

All that we have here described, both the sanctuary and its service, were typical. They were illustrations of the work of Christ; and to teach the manner of his priestly work was one great object of the covenant with Israel. The book of Hebrews is mostly an argument on the priesthood, both type and antitype. After noticing the great differences between the priesthood of Christ and that of Aaron, the writer says:--

"Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest [such as he has described], who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the Heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man." Heb. 8:1, 2.

And concerning the sanctuary on earth, and priestly service therein, he says:--

"Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle, for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount." Verse 5. And again, discoursing especially of the work of Christ as our high priest, he says:--

"It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the Heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." Heb. 9:23, 24.

The old covenant has passed away; the Aaronic priesthood has ended. As the first covenant was ratified or dedicated with blood (Ex. 24:6-8; Heb. 9:18, 19), and on the principle that a testament is of force after men are dead (verse 17), Christ shed his blood as the sacrifice of the new covenant (see Luke 22:20- Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. ), which made the covenant of full effect, and made all the sacrifices of the old covenant effective and their further use meaningless.

When Christ came to his own, and they received him not, but despised and rejected him, and finally delivered him to death, they fully demonstrated their unfitness to be the depositaries of God's holy law. Not only had they refused to let their light shine to the people around them, but they themselves rejected the light by crucifying the Author of it. But God was still gracious to the tribe of Israel for the father's sake. They were a disobedient and gainsaying people (Rom. 10:21); but they were the children of Abraham, from whom the Messiah must come, and so the word of salvation through the risen Messiah must be first preached unto them. Acts 3:26; 13:46. The work of the gospel must begin at Jerusalem. It was written by the prophet that the new covenant was to be made with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. Jer. 31:31. And by another prophet it was declared that the seventy weeks, which reached to the manifestation of the Messiah and the full confirmation of the new covenant, was appointed to that people. Dan. 9:24-27.

But this state of things was to continue only until the covenant was confirmed and offered to Israel. God had from the first included all mankind in the plan of salvation. His promise to Abraham was that in him all families of the earth should be blessed. Upon the lineal descendants of Abraham he bestowed the high honor of being the depositaries of his truth--of being that people who should carry the light to the world, and around whom the faithful should gather. In every age all who wished to might come into covenant relation with God. But the Jews were unfaithful to the trust committed to them. They not only neglected to carry the light to others, but they themselves rebelled against God. Even after they had, by severe captivity, been turned from idolatry, and had made a strict profession, they took away the key of knowledge, and would not enter into the kingdom themselves, nor suffer others to. It was because of this disposition that God cut them off. He bore long with them, but could not suffer them always to stand in the way of his plan to send the truth to all the world. In accordance with the promise, the Messiah came to them, and the gospel was first preached to them, that they might have one more opportunity to fulfill their mission. But they neglected Christ and the gospel, and so the kingdom was given to a nation that should bring forth the fruits thereof. Others received the word gladly, and proclaimed it to the ends of the earth. And so now, as was designed from the beginning, all who exercise faith in Christ are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Gal.3:26-29.

Faith of Abraham. Pt. 6.

 

Faith of Abraham Pt. 5

 The truth… Original Institutions….and God's Laws Reality in God from everlasting to everlasting. 

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CHAPTER IV. STEPS OF THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM Pt. 5

Continued…

And when the Lord directed Jacob to go to Bethel, he said to his household "Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, . . . and I will make there an altar unto God." Gen. 35:2, 3. Here it was understood that they were unclean in the sight of God, not fit to approach unto his altar while the strange gods were among them. Jacob buried their idols in the earth. And the curse came upon Ham for the violation of the fifth commandment; Gen. 9:21-25; but if the law had not been known he could not have been guilty.

Numerous evidences are found in the book of Genesis that the people knew that adultery was sinful. When Abimelech would have taken Abraham's wife, not knowing that she was his wife, the Lord commanded him to restore her; and the king said to Abraham, "Thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin." Gen. 20:4-9. And when Joseph refused to comply with the immoral request of his mistress, he asked, "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Gen. 39:7-9. These are but a few of the evidences on this precept. When the messenger of Joseph accused his brethren of stealing his cup, they offered proofs of their honesty towards him, and inquired: "How then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold?" Gen. 44: 4-9. See also chapter 31:19, 30, 32, 39. The transgression of the tenth commandment must precede the violation of the eighth, and it is as sinful to covet as it is to steal. Nothing positive is found in the book of Genesis in regard to the ninth precept. That it was wickedly broken is a matter of record, for Joseph's mistress maliciously bore false witness against him. Likewise in the book of Genesis not a word is said concerning the sinfulness of taking the name of God in vain. But we find explicit testimony in Leviticus 18. Said the Lord to Israel: "After the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do." He then enumerated a list of abominable practices among which is the following: "Neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God;" and afterwards added: "For in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: and the land is defiled; therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it." Lev. 18:3, 21-25. Profanity was sinful in the nations of Canaan; and because of it and their other sins, the Lord visited them in judgment. But it was as true of them as of others, that "sin is not imputed when there is no law." For God is no respecter of persons. This is further proof of what Paul teaches in Romans 3, that Jews and Gentiles are and were all amenable to the same law. The evidence in regard to the sabbatic institution is most positive and clear. The Sabbath was not only known before the law was given on Mount Sinai, but it was distinctly enforced before that time. Ex. 16:22, 23. We learn that a double portion of manna was gathered on the sixth day, and on that day Moses said: "To-morrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord." The morrow was the seventh day of the week, and it appears from the language of Moses that it was already the Sabbath, before its arrival, and therefore by a previous appointment. When the Lord expressed his intention to give them manna, he declared as an object before him: "That I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no." Verse 4. When some of the people sought for manna on the seventh day, the Lord said: "How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?"

Verse 28. From all this it is very plain that the Lord had a law for the observance of the Sabbath before it was given on Mount Sinai. It was called the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord. How it came to be the rest of the holy Sabbath, the commandment spoken by Jehovah himself informs us: "In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day and hallowed it" Ex. 20:11. This transaction took place at creation,--before the fall of man. Unlike the ceremonial laws for sin-offerings, it was instituted before sin existed. 

The Sabbath is a commemorative institution; but it commemorates the work of God--not of man. It originated in the mind and will of God himself, and was not made necessary by an act of rebellion as even the gospel was. It was an original institution, as was marriage, and as such it would have existed and continued if man had never fallen. 

With what propriety, then, can men call it a Jewish institution? It is so called by many, but in direct contradiction of the Bible, which plainly says: "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." Ex. 20:10. These are the words of Jehovah himself, and who dares to dispute his claim? He also said of the Sabbath that it is "holiness" to the Lord. Ex. 31:15; margin. By the mouth of the prophet he called it, "My holy day." Isa. 58:13. It was consecrated from the beginning, as the commandment says and the historic record proves: "And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made." Gen. 2:3.

Thus have we identified the holy covenant of God, his word which he commanded to a thousand generations; which was given to Abraham and to Isaac, and confirmed to Israel for an everlasting covenant. The violation of this law has brought the curse upon all the world, Jew and Gentile alike, from which curse we must be redeemed by the blood of Christ in order that we may inherit the blessing of Abraham. Gal. 3:13, 14. And being thus freed from its condemnation we must "Go and sin no more," and walk in the steps of that faith which our father Abraham had, that we may do his works and be his children in truth. John 8:33-39. Jesus, the seed of Abraham, says: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matt. 7:21. The will of the Lawgiver is found in his law, as Paul shows in Rom. 2:17-23. Without obedience to the law of God our faith is dead, and our profession of love to God is vain, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments." 1 John 5:3.

The Faith of Abraham Pt 4

 Truthfully we need to comprehend more than we seek to. We get the basics and then say it's enough, no more is needed. We say we understand and we don't want to cloud that understanding with more details. We hide from the advancing truth, deeming it unneeded to our salvation, we have what we think we need. The truth is, God would not be seeking to give us more comprehension if we didn't need that understanding for His purposes. 

Today in the following study I learned something I want to expound on just a bit- 

The Ten Commandments, God's moral laws were in effect from the very beginning  of creation because they are the epitome of God's love. We sinned. Sin is a transgression of God's law. Adam and Eve could not have sinned had there been no law, no moral spiritual moral compass written on their very hearts. 

Too many people believe that the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses were the start of the law we could break and thereby sin. But we know sin happened in the Garden of Eden. We know that Satan sinned first, and for him to have sinned there had to have been a law even before human creation. The law of God is -as revealed already- written on the hearts right into the very living essence of every intelligent being created. Once sin began to pervade mankind's entire thought process, corrupting them entirely where they no longer recognize sin as the evil it is, God destroyed all of mankind except Noah and Noah's family. Making a promise to never destroy all of mankind again in that manner, God's reboot of humanity did not erase the evil, it couldn't because Satan wasn't destroyed in the flood, and mankind is so very weak separated from God. With the plan of salvation in place- the woman's seed destroying Satan- would have to occur to irradicate sin entirely and ultimately destroy all evil. 

The reality is the laws of God were and are spelled out in detail to mankind so they could have no excuse whatsoever to disobey them when they could no longer hear them from the heart. 

Christ died so we could have the laws written on our hearts revealed once more to us and sin would appear all the more sinful so we would seek to sin no more! 

The laws of God are love detailed and from everlasting to everlasting.

God help us know Him as He would have us know Him and allow His will to be done in our lives completely, all through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior- now and forever!!!!!!! Amen.

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'CHAPTER IV. STEPS OF THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM

Continued…

'Repent of sin, and be baptized for its remission. Sin lies back of baptism--back of repentance; and the law lies back of sin. To ignore the law is to have a baptism without any foundation--without any significance. Now if there is no distinction between laws in their nature, then it would be reasonable and proper to command thus: Honor thy father and thy mother, for the remission of sins; Thou shalt not steal, for the remission of sins; Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy, for the remission of sins. Why is it not as correct to read them thus, as it is to command to be baptized for the remission of sins? Clearly because those laws are of another nature; they are moral laws, and required because their transgression is sin. But baptism is not a moral duty, and may therefore be incorporated into a system of remission. If baptism was a primary obligation, it would be required on its own account, as are the ten commandments, and then it could not possibly have any place in the gospel plan. 

Ceremonial laws are made necessary by the action of man; moral law has its origin in the will of God, without any regard to human actions. Of this nature is every one of the ten commandments. And every precept was known before the days of Moses. When the Lord told Cain that sin lay at the door, it was evidence that he knew the law; and this law certainly included the sixth commandment, which Cain broke, for he was condemned as a murderer. That crime could not have been imputed to him if there had been no law on the subject. Gen. 4:7, 10-12; Rom.

5:13. 

Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. 

Gen 4:10  And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. 

Gen 4:11  And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; 

Gen 4:12  When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. 

Rom 5:13  (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

To be continued.