When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. ~ Matthew 25:31-46

How do we square these words of Jesus with the teachings of the Bible that  justification is by faith? If we were to simply read these words of our Lord in a vacuum, we might reach the conclusion that Jesus is preaching salvation by works, but that is not at all what is going on here.

In my last post, titled on Following Jesus, we saw that those who are Jesus’s sheep hear his voice, Jesus knows them, and they follow him. We learned that the words hear, know, and follow are all verbs and are present indicative active, which implies that the sheep actively follow Jesus, and will continue to follow Jesus.

What does following Jesus really mean?

In 1 John we read, He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. ~ 1 John 2:4-6 

In Matthew’s gospel Jesus separates the sheep from the goats at the culmination of the ages and rewards the sheep with the Kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world. He does this not because they earned a state of justification by good works, but because they followed Jesus, their Shepherd, and did the works of Christ.

This is what following Jesus means when our feet hit the ground. John tells us, He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. John will go on to tell us that his commandment is love.

True conversion is deliverance from sin unto a transformed life by which we are daily being conformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. If we would follow Jesus and live as Jesus would have us live, we would never be concerned with such things as, can we lose our salvation? If we are following Jesus, that is completely off the table. We have the promise of eternal life.

The only ones who should be concerned with losing their salvation are those who claim to have been saved because of a one time believing experience, but have no real fellowship with Christ and no conformity into his likeness. True salvation leads the believer into discipleship which transforms us into the likeness of Christ. 

Paul tells the Corinthians, Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Corinthians 13:5

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. ~ John 10:27-29

In the text above the words they follow is a reference to the sheep of whom Jesus is the Shepherd. In the Greek, this word follow is a verb, and is present indicative active, which means that the action of following Jesus happens in the present time, and that the subject (those who follow Jesus) carry out the action, and that the statement is true.

The implication of this text is that the sheep actively follow Jesus, and will continue to follow Jesus, not that they followed him in the past. Furthermore, the words, hear (My sheep hear my voice) and know (I know them) are also verbs which are present indicative active. Thus the text should be understood as My sheep actively hear my voice and I actively know them, and they actively follow me.

We must be careful that we do not read John 10:27 as if Jesus is saying my sheep heard my voice. Verses 27-30 is not a section of scripture which references a one time believing experience which happened only in the past. Unfortunately, it has often been used for this purpose and some who are not faithful to follow Jesus have taken false comfort in the thought that they are saved, even though they may be living in adultery, or some other terrible lifestyle. Having said a prayer many years ago will not profit you on the day of the Lord if you have lived in wickedness and not followed Jesus from your heart.

Those who are the sheep, who belong to Christ, are those who actively hear his voice and follow him. To be actively engaged in hearing the Shepherd’s voice is to listen. This may be why the NIV translates verse 27 as, My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

The NIV is not the only translation that employs the word listen, many others do as well. The Amplified Bible Classic Edition says, The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. (Bold added for emphasis)

The word listen is probably an accurate rendering. Have you ever been in the same room with someone and heard them speak but you weren’t listening and couldn’t remember a word they said? I think we all have at one time or another, and I don’t think Jesus is referring to that kind of hearing when he says my Sheep hear my voice. The Sheep recognize and respond to his voice, they listen !

Many sincere Christians struggle with the concept of hearing the voice of God, and this is mainly due to wrong ideas of what it means to hear God’s voice. Jesus is the voice of truth from God, and the Spirit of God abiding within, whom we receive through faith in Jesus, bears witness within us to the truth that is in Jesus. Hearing God’s voice simply means listening to and for the truth in Jesus. and following that truth. As we grow in the knowledge of the truth in Christ, and it takes root within us, we better recognize when the truth is missing, and we won’t follow the voice of another. Consider the following from the apostle John.

Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. ~ 1 John 2:24-27

Notice the words of John in the text above, where he says If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. He follows that statement by saying And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

Here in this section of scripture, John is echoing the very same thing he tells us in John 10:27-29, where the sheep who follow (and continue to follow) the Shepherd have the promise of eternal life. John uses the word if saying,  If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

The promise of eternal life belongs to those who remain in the truth and continue in the Son and the Father. John would have never made this statement if there were no possibility that one who is in the sheepfold could not be seduced to follow another. That is why he follows this by saying, These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

Whether we want to hear it or not, a Christian can be seduced and follow another if they don’t continue to abide in the truth that is in Jesus. Paul warns the Corinthians of another gospel, another spirit, and another Jesus.

So how do we avoid being seduced? John answers that by telling us, the anointing (the Spirit) which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing (the Spirit of Christ) teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

When John says you need not that any man teach you, he is not telling us that we don’t need others to teach us the Word of God. Teacher is one of the gifts that Jesus has given to his body. Being under good teaching is a necessity for healthy growth in the things of God. What John is referring to is the abiding truth that is in Christ. Every believer who has come to Christ has come to the truth, and has received the Spirit of truth bearing witness in them of the truth. The Spirit bears witness to the truth, because the Spirit is truth.

Those who seduce people away from Christ do so with a mixture of truth and error. John says they went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us. ~ v. 18

As Christians, if we want the promise of eternal life, we must continue to follow Jesus. Seducers will use Jesus (use his name, his teachings, his miracles and healings, etc), to draw attention to themselves. Seducers, which are false teachers, false prophets, and false apostles do not nurture your devotion to Christ alone. Thus they introduce teachings that get your eyes off of Christ by tempting you to lust after other things such as prosperity, supernatural experiences, etc. Others seduce with extreme legalism and rules about Sabbaths, feast days, and strict religious practices that have nothing to do with genuine godliness from the heart.

The work of seducers is to make you dull of hearing and desensitize your conscience to the voice of the Lord. When this happens you no longer hunger for the truth from your heart, but seek teachers to satisfy your itching ears which have been awakened by your lusts.

The fact that John encourages us to let that which we have heard from the beginning (the truth in Christ) to remain in us so as to not be seduced, ought to teach us that anyone of us could fall from the grace of God if we do not remain faithful to Jesus.

Follow Jesus, and keep your eyes on him!

The following is just my observation, or opinion.

What are people truly arguing when they debate the topic of eternal security? I think our presuppositions (our background beliefs) come into play more than some of us would like to admit. How we view salvation itself, plays a major role in how we lean regarding this topic, and which scriptures we choose to embrace the most.

Salvation does mean different things to different people. For some, salvation means going to Heaven when they die, for others it means a transformed life. What salvation means to an individual will affect how they read the Bible and how they live out their faith.

For those who believe that salvation means going to Heaven when they die, the possibility of apostasy (falling away) must be rejected, or else the insurance that is eternal security, is jeopardized.

On the other hand, for those who view salvation as deliverance from sin into a transformed life, there is less concern about eternal security because their approach is different. The fear of the possibility of  missing out on Heaven isn’t something of great concern to them.

Now, regardless of our presupposition, we can all be certain that Heaven is our destination after we leave this world if we follow Jesus, but is our destination in the afterlife what salvation is really about, or is it more about freedom from sin and following Jesus in this present world? How you answer this question may most likely determine which way you lean when OSAS is brought up.

May I suggest a healthy combination of the two: freedom from sin unto a transformed life in the present, and exceeding joy in the life to come.

Feel free to share your thoughts.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. ~ Galatians 2:20

Paul’s words in the text above have been a source of encouragement and strength to many believers since the time they were written, but a text like this can also easily be misunderstood if read in isolation. So what exactly was Paul meaning when he said, I am crucified with Christ, and how can we stand with Paul and say the same?

First, we need to know that being crucified with Christ is not some metaphysical doctrine that Paul taught. Paul was not teaching a doctrine outside reality. To be crucified with Christ does not mean that when Jesus died on the cross I was also dying at the same time. Instead, it means that through faith in Jesus, I am surrendering my life to his, and yielding to his Holy Spirit to live through me in obedience to Jesus as my Lord.

Paul says to the Romans, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ~ Romans 12:1-2

Being crucified with Christ isn’t some imaginary or mystical mindset we take about the cross. Instead it is living in obedience to Christ and daily dying to our own will for the will of God, thus putting to death the works of our flesh. Christ died so that we might live, and eternal life in Christ doesn’t begin when we die and go to heaven, it begins now, and we live as those who have been crucified with regards to the flesh. Being crucified with Christ is the walk in the Spirit!

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. ~ Galatians 5:16-26

Being crucified with Christ is putting off the sins of the old man and living according to the image and likeness of Christ.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. ~ Colossians 3:1-11 

We are crucified with Christ at the moment we are born again when we are immersed by the Spirit of God into Christ, in this way we die to sin and are made alive unto God, and we are to live as unto the Lord not fulfilling the desires of the flesh which leads to sin.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him… ~ Romans 6:1-8

Notice that Paul does not teach that we were crucified with Christ at the time Christ died on the cross. Rather he is explaining what happens to us (spiritually) at the time of our conversion, when we are saved. He explains this in view of why we are not to go on living in sin. When we believe the gospel we are immersed (baptized) into Christ and his death by the Spirit of God. Notice that Paul uses the words, like as inference to the resurrection and the new life we are to walk in: like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

A careful examination of Romans 6 shows that the conversion and new life of a believer is to in the likeness of Christ’s death and resurrection.

Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. ~ Romans 6:9-11

This truth is laced throughout Paul’s teachings in the New Testament. For example, he says in Ephesians, put off concerning the former conversation (lifestyle) the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. ~ Ephesians 4:22-24

In Paul’s theology, the death of Christ empowers us to live in victory over sin because the Spirit of the One who died and rose again for us now lives within us. The same power that worked in Christ, who chose to lay down his life rather than save it, now lives in us by the Holy Spirit. Thus we can overcome the power of sin and the flesh through the indwelling power of the Spirit of the crucified One. We have power to put off the old man of sin (the person we were before Christand without Christ) and put on the new (the person God has called us to be) which is created in the image and likeness of Christ. Paul sums this up by calling it crucified and risen with Christ. This is the work of the Spirit of God in us who have received forgiveness through Christ’s finished work on the cross, conforming us into his likeness.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. ~ Ephesians 1:3

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

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort… ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3

We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you… ~ Colossians 1:3

The New Testament places strong emphasis on the fact that God is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Have you ever stopped to consider why this is? There are some who speak of the Father in their teachings in a manner that is independent from Jesus Christ. This is error because it is Christ, and Christ alone who reveals the Father. We can only draw near to God through Jesus Christ. You cannot learn of the Father by freelancing. It is Christ alone who reveals the Father.

Jesus is the only mediator between God and man, and the mediatorial ministry of Jesus is one of the least understood doctrinal truths among many Christians. Yet it is the one truth that will safeguard believers against the lies and deceptions of false teachers. Whenever you hear a minister speaking much about the Father, the Holy Spirit, or angels without an emphasis on the Christ Jesus, this should always be a cause for concern.

In Matthew 11, Jesus says,  All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save (except) the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. ~ v.27

It is Jesus, and Jesus alone who reveals the Father!

We must not think of Christ’s mediatorial ministry in terms of our conversion experience alone, but rather as our mediator forever. When God raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at his own right hand, Jesus became the surety of a better testament, and was appointed by God as our Great High Priest, forever! This is a strong theme in the book of Hebrews.

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. ~ Hebrews 8:6 

The writer of Hebrews is not addressing unbelievers, but his fellow Hebraic kinsmen who have come to faith in Christ Jesus. Thus the message he speaks to them, needs to be taken to heart by us.

Jesus has a ministry in the Heavens, at the right hand of God, and that ministry is that of mediator of the New Covenant, which is a better covenant than the Old. Anyone who doesn’t emphasize Jesus, yet speaks often of the Father or Holy Spirit, is most likely teaching false doctrines.

We cannot approach the Father, whom the writer of Hebrews describes as a Consuming Fire, without Jesus! The danger of following those who speak of the Father or the Holy Spirit without glorifying Jesus is that they are teaching things about the Father and the Spirit that come out of their own imagination and not from the truth that is in Christ.

Paul writes in Colossians that Christ is all and in all. Paul also says, for to me, to live is Christ! And to the Corinthians Paul writes, we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.

When Christ is missing, so is the truth. If Christ is not being glorified, the Father and the Holy Spirit are not present in the teachings. Jesus is both the revealer of the Father and the one who bestows the Spirit on his people. When the Spirit fills the heart, Jesus is glorified.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. ~ John 16:14-15

The mediatorial ministry of Jesus is not simply about getting saved. It is about our entire walk with God – through our entire life. Jesus is the apostle and high priest of our faith, and we are to run our spiritual race with patience while looking to Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. ~ Hebrews 12:1-2

The Christian walk is not a sprint, it is a marathon, and we are to continuously keep our eyes on Jesus. This is the only safeguard against false teachings and deception. Christ must be our all in all!

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. ~ Revelation 2:1-7

I want you to take a moment and consider the weight of this message from Jesus to the church at Ephesus. They had work, labor, and patience. They could not bear those who were evil and had even tested and rejected false apostles, much like many of us today. They had labored for Christ’s name. I don’t know about you, but that is what I would consider a pretty good Christian track record. Yet Jesus had something against them. With all this good and commendable service, they had left their first love.

It doesn’t take a Bible scholar or theologian to understand what Jesus means here. Jesus is to be our first love, and our passion. We can be very diligent in all the things that matter with regards to Christian service and defending the faith (all those things are important), but if we lose our passion for the man, Jesus (if we lose our longing and desire to sit at his feet and fellowship with him) we have missed the mark.

Refute error, defend the faith, and teach sound biblical practices, but in doing so keep your passion for Jesus. The sad reality is that if we aren’t careful we can become so consumed with exposing false teachers and false doctrines, that we ignore real and intimate fellowship with Jesus.

Our Christian experience can easily become political centric, Israel centric, Hebrew centric, exposing false apostles centric, etc. What truly drives us? If my focus isn’t Jesus and conforming to his likeness by the work of his Holy Spirit in my heart, I ought to take a step back and get my priorities corrected.

All those things the church at Ephesus were doing were good and commendable, but one thing was missing and that was the most important thing. As Christians, we have been called into fellowship with Jesus, and our christian walk is designed to flow out of our heart’s desire and love of Jesus.

True fellowship with Jesus is purifying, edifying, encouraging, and joyous. All those other things are important, but if we aren’t abiding in him, we can find ourselves disheartened, discouraged, and withering spiritually. Life is in Jesus alone, and abiding continuously in him is the goal of the Christian walk. Let Jesus be the center of our focus and from that place let us pursue the other things.

Give this some thought as it applies to your own life, and may the Lord himself give us each understanding.

The hypostatic union is a doctrinal or theological term that refers to the nature of the person of Jesus Christ as being fully God and fully man at the same time.

When it comes to the hypostatic union of Jesus Christ, it is often taught or understood from a tenet perspective, meaning that it is a belief that we hold to as Christians regarding the nature of Christ. What is often not taught is how this truth can impact our walk with God in our daily life. How does knowing that Jesus is both fully God, and fully man impact our relationship with God and our walk with Christ?

The Bible answers this question over and over again, but too often we miss the answer because we just aren’t looking for it. For example, in the book of Hebrews the deity of Jesus Christ is a point of emphasis in the opening chapter, but after this, the humanity of Christ is expounded upon for much of the next 9 chapters. 

In chapter 1 the writer of Hebrews says concerning Jesus, in the beginning thou hast laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands. Then in the second chapter, Jesus is the man who accomplishes what God ordained for man as the one with the dominion over the works of God’s hands. When I consider this, my mind tends to go to the text where Jesus says, I am I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.

Jesus is both the one whose hands created all things, and the one who (as man) has dominion over the works of his hands. Let that sink in.

But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. ~ Hebrews 2:6-9

The phrase, But we see Jesus, is the beginning of an expository teaching on the mediatorial ministry of Christ in his humanity that will span across the next 9 or so chapters of the book of Hebrews. In the opening chapter of Hebrews the superiority of Jesus to the angels is established and they worship him. This is who Jesus is in God’s Heavenly Kingdom. He is the one by whom God made the worlds. He is the Son of God and the express image of the Father. Jesus’s deity is well established and he is far superior to the angels.

As we read into chapter 2 we see this same Jesus humbling himself and taking a place lower than the very angels that he is superior to: What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels…

If we could just park there for a few moments and soak it in, what beautiful truths concerning our Savior’s love and grace could fill our hearts? The creator lowered himself and took on humanity which is a little lower than the angels for the purpose of suffering death for us so that he could bring us back to God. In this lowering of himself to save us, he rejoices to call us his brethren.

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren... ~ Hebrews 2:10-11

Now, stop and ponder that truth for a moment. Jesus is not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters, and embraces us as such no matter how unworthy we may think we are. This is the beauty of the hypostatic union of Christ at work in real time in each of our lives – right now! Through his Spirit he is near to everyone of us who trust in him, no matter how messed up we may be. He is not ashamed to call us his brethren If Jesus had not taken on humanity by lowering himself he could not have suffered and tasted death for any of us.

In the person of Jesus Christ we have the full revelation of the majesty, character, and nature of our God. We also have the perfect man as our example to follow. Without Jesus, we would have never seen God or know him, and without Jesus we would have never have hope of becoming the people God desires us to be.

The hypostatic union of Jesus Christ is so much more than a mere tenet of our faith (a statement of what we believe to be true). It is fellowship with God himself on a human level that even the angels desire to look into. Let that soak in.

Blessings…

The Bible speaks of Jesus as God’s Son in begotten language, and there are two ways that the New Testament speaks of Christ as begotten of God. The first is in relation to his incarnation. In this context, Jesus is said to be God’s only begotten Son.

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. ~ John 1:14

No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. ~ John 1:18

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ~ John 3:16

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. ~ 1 John 4:9

As God’s only begotten Son, Jesus is God’s representative to us. He is the one by whom God reveals himself. The title only begotten Son of God is a testimony of his deity. Thus Jesus stands alone, in a class all by himself as God’s divine Son who was with God in eternities past, and was manifested in the flesh to be the Savior of the World.

The second way in which the New Testament speaks of Jesus as begotten of God has to do with his resurrection, in which he is said to be the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18) and the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29), and the first begotten from the dead (Revelation 1:5).

Consider Paul’s words from Acts 13 which speaks of Jesus as begotten of God at the time of his resurrection.

God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. ~ Acts 13:33-35 

Notice that Paul applies the words from Psalms 2, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee, to the resurrection and not the incarnation. The writer of Hebrews also draws on this same text when he says the following:

… when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. ~ Hebrews 1: 3b-6

So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. ~ Hebrews 5:5-6

Now, consider Paul’s words from Romans 1 which ties these two truths together.

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead … ~ Romans 1:1-4

God’s Son was made of the seed of David. The writer of Hebrews says he did not take on the nature of angels but he took on the seed of Abraham (2:16). Jesus, the Son of God, is the Son of Man (the Man who came down from above) to die and rise again on behalf of all the sons of men, to deliver us from the power of darkness and to bring us near to God. 

Being the firstborn from the dead does not mean that Jesus is a born again man as some erroneously teach. It means that in his flesh, i.e., in his humanity, he triumphed over sin and death through his resurrection and has become our great High Priest representing us in the sight of a Holy God. In Jesus, God and man meet and thus we have redemption, reconciliation, and the remission of our sins in him.

In his incarnation he is the only begotten of the Father, in his resurrection he has become the firstborn among many brethren. He is both God with us and the one who brings us to God. He is God in our midst, and the one who leads us in praise to God! Hallelujah!

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. ~ Hebrews 2:9-18

The fullness of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer is a biblical truth, that when understood correctly, and applied through faith and surrender to Christ is absolutely life changing. It is the experience of God’s presence that every true believer in Christ yearns for.  

Writing to the believers at Ephesus, Paul says that the Holy Spirit of promise is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession. The redemption of the purchased possession is a reference to the redemption of all creation at the consummation of the ages, when the saints are glorified with Christ at his coming.

In Romans 8, Paul says that the whole creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God (when all the saints are transformed into the likeness of Christ at his glorious appearance), at which time all creation will be restored to God’s glorious intent. In the meantime, we have what the Bible describes as the first-fruits of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit in us is the foretaste of the glory that will be revealed in us at the coming of the Lord. And we are instructed in scripture to be continuously filled with the Spirit.

In Romans 14:17, Paul tells the believers in Rome that the kingdom of God (in the present) is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Paul expressively employs the language in the Holy Ghost.

The language in the Holy Ghost, by the Holy Ghost, and of the Holy Ghost are used in the New Testament to describe effective prayer (Jude 20), effective gospel ministry (1 Thessalonians 1:5), communion with the Lord and his people (2 Corinthians 13:14), and the joy of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 1:6). The doctrinal influence of the fullness of the Holy Spirit in Paul’s theology comes through strongly in both his teachings and prayers in his letters.

Oftentimes we forget that some of the letters that Paul wrote to the churches (such as the letters to the Thessalonians) correspond with the Spirit filled life and ministry that Paul was experiencing in the book of Acts. Unfortunately, too many view the book of Acts as only a history of the beginning years of the church in transition from the Old to the New Covenant way of life, and they advocate that God no longer does such powerful works because the canon of scripture is complete.

I must pause for a moment and elaborate briefly (if that’s even possible), because those who make such claims seem to forget that the cannon of the Old Testament scriptures was complete during the time that book of Acts was happening. The Holy Ghost empowered the apostles and the early believers, like Philip and Stephen to testify of Christ from those scriptures, and they did it better than most, if not all of us, can with the New Testament.

When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he told them that the gospel he preached to them was that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised again from the dead according to the scriptures.

Paul is referring to the Old Testament scriptures when he says this, and I have never, ever, heard a preacher that has the understanding that Paul had. Paul’s Bible was the Old Testament, and If Paul needed the fulness of the Holy Ghost to effectively preach the gospel, so do we. Paul tells the Thessalonians, our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. ~ 1 Thessalonians 1:5

Peter also declares that the Spirit of Christ was in the prophets who prophesied of the suffering of Christ and the glory that should follow, and the gospel has now been preached with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. ~ 1 Peter 1:10-12

We need the Holy Ghost to effectively preach the gospel. Furthermore we make a massive mistake when we view the book of Acts as simply a history of the early church while failing to embrace it as a book of doctrinal importance.

Among the many doctrinal truths that we need to embrace so that we can rightly receive from God’s Holy Spirit is, the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord falls under the category or heading of righteousness. Remember, Paul tells us that the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Consider the following form Acts 2.

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. ~ Acts 2:41-43 

I want you to notice that the apostles were not without doctrine. Freelancing while they performed miracles, signs, and wonders wasn’t how they rolled. There was a doctrine that these men who were appointed by Christ were teaching the people to follow. Doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers worked together to lead the people into the fear of the Lord.

When we examine the book of Acts closely we find that the people who were filled with the Holy Spirit were people who walked in the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord doesn’t mean they were paralyzed and made ineffective by fear. We read in Acts 9 of the churches in Judaea, Galilee, and Samaria, walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost.

As stated, the fear of the Lord would fall under the heading of righteousness, but comfort will fall under the heading of peace. The genuine fear of the Lord causes a holy trembling, and a purifying peace.

The fear of the Lord which accompanies the power of the Holy Ghost in the book of Acts is part of all scripture which is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and instruction in righteousness. Remember, all scripture is profitable for doctrine, even that which we think is only history.

This lesson can be seen when Ananias and his wife Sapphira, lied to the Holy Ghost in Acts 5.

Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. ~ Acts 5:9-10

What happened to Ananias and Sapphira was not hidden from the church, but caused a holy fear to come upon the church regarding the things of the Spirit. Notice that Peter refers to what Ananias and Sapphira did as tempting the Spirit of the Lord. We must be careful that we do not tempt the Spirit of the Lord with false teachings and false manifestations that we carelessly attribute to the Holy Spirit, because it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

If we would simply lean on the book of Acts for doctrine regarding the power of the Holy Spirit, we could keep ourselves from much of the error perpetrated by unscrupulous ministers, who are motivated by greed, rather than godliness.

Reverence for God is one of the most basic characteristics we need to embrace to experience the true power of the Holy Spirit. Without the fear of the Lord, we can’t even discern the Lord’s presence, nor can we know his Spirit.

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. ~ Corinthians 6:16-7:1

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. ~ Acts 2:1-4 

Acts 2:1-4 is often used when the topic of speaking with tongues is under discussion, but there is a more important topic that we need to see in this text, and that is being filled with the Holy Spirit. What happened at Pentecost in the upper room was the fulfillment of Jesus’s words to the apostles when he told them, John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. ~ John 1:5.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a baptism of power, and when one is baptized with the Holy Spirit, he becomes full of the Spirit. In Acts 4, Peter and John were brought before the high priest, the rulers, elders, and scribes, to answer for their part in the healing of the lame man in Acts 3. They were asked by this religious committee, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? In response, the Bible says, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them…”

Notice the emphasis placed on Peter being filled with the Holy Ghost. If being filled with the Holy Spirit is synonymous with being saved as some seem to suggest, there would be no reason for the text to emphasize that Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. The more we look into what the scriptures have to say about being filled with the Holy Spirit, the more this becomes clear.

Now, after being threatened and commanded to no longer speak in the name of Jesus, the Bible says that Peter and John went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. In response the company of believers lifted up their voice in prayer to God.

And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. ~ Acts 4:24-30 

Notice that the text says they lifted up their voice to God with one accord. Remember that in Acts 2, the believers were with one accord before they were all filled with the Holy Spirit (2:1). They were in such unity that their prayer came up as one voice and not voices. There is power in godly unity that we may need to address in another teaching. We know that Paul instructs the Ephesians to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Notice also what the believers in Acts 4 requested. They asked for boldness to speak the word of God, but not simply by declaring words from the page of a text. Notice how it’s stated, “grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, by stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

They specifically asked God to grant to them boldness to speak the Word of God with the demonstration of power. This aligns with Paul’s words to the Corinthians when he says the following:

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. ~ 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 

Paul believed that the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power (1 Corinthians 4:20), but the sad reality is today we often have only words to give with no power. The believers in Acts 4 prayed for power –  grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, by stretching forth thine hand…

Now, I want you to notice what happened after they prayed for God to grant boldness to speak his word and that God would back his word with his power.

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. ~ Acts 4:31 

Notice that the text says, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. This came as a result of their prayer. And it is important to note that Peter, who was filled with the Holy Spirit as he spoke earlier in front of the religious leaders was among those who were filled later in Acts 4.

The scriptures bear witness to the truth that there can be many fillings of the believer with the Holy Spirit. In Ephesians 5, Paul tells the believers at Ephesus to be filled with the Spirit by speaking to themselves in Psalm, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in their hearts to the Lord.

Being saved and being filled with the Spirit are two distinct things. Every believer has the Spirit of God in them, but not every believer is always filled with the Spirit, if they were, there would not be so much sin and carnality within the church. This is why Paul instructed the believers, those who already had the Holy Spirit’s presence in them, to be filled with the Spirit.

I hope to write more along these lines in the coming days, because there is more we need to visit in the New Testament about being filled with the Spirit. If we will look closely we just might see how being filled with the Spirit is embedded in Paul’s teachings and prayers in the epistles he wrote. Paul’s prayers are filled with requests concerning the Holy Spirit’s influence and power in the life of believers. In closing consider the following prayer from Paul for the believers at Ephesus.

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. ~ Ephesians 3:14-19 

Pauls’ prayers defies so much of today’s Christian theology that often make for a stale and powerless Christian witness. May we learn what it truly means to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Blessings.