Glorifying God

[Soldier4Christ]

1Co 14:19  Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

Although this verse is speaking specifically about unknown tongues it can also apply to words that are frequently used by and between Christians. These words are foreign to those that do not know Christ as their Saviour as well as to some that are babes in Christ. For this reason I want to start out this thread with an explanation of some of these words.


Atonement

The word atonement is used only once in the New Testament (Rom 5:11) and then only in the King James Version. Other versions use the word reconciliation. It's primary meaning is "the restoration to the divine favor", reconciliation,  the state of being at one or being reconciled, so that atonement is reconciliation. Thus, it is used to denote the effect which flows from the death of Christ.


Reconcilation = a change from enmity to friendship

It is mutual, i.e., it is a change wrought in both parties who have been at enmity.

In Col. 1:21, 22, the word there used refers to a change wrought in the personal character of the sinner who ceases to be an enemy to God by wicked works, and yields up to him his full confidence and love. In 2 Cor. 5:20 the apostle beseeches the Corinthians to be "reconciled to God", i.e., to lay aside their enmity.

Rom. 5:10 refers not to any change in our disposition toward God, but to God himself, as the party reconciled. Romans 5:11 teaches the same truth. From God we have received "the reconciliation" (R.V.), i.e., he has conferred on us the token of his friendship. So also 2 Cor. 5:18, 19 speaks of a reconciliation originating with God, and consisting in the removal of his merited wrath. In Eph. 2:16 it is clear that the apostle does not refer to the winning back of the sinner in love and loyalty to God, but to the restoration of God's forfeited favor. This is effected by his justice being satisfied, so that he can, in consistency with his own nature, be favorable toward sinners. Justice demands the punishment of sinners. The death of Christ satisfies justice, and so reconciles God to us. This reconciliation makes God our friend, and enables him to pardon and save us.


Expiation

Guilt is said to be expiated when it is visited with punishment falling on a substitute. Expiation is made for our sins when they are punished not in ourselves but in another who consents to stand in our place. It is that by which reconciliation is effected. Sin is thus said to be "covered" by vicarious satisfaction. (vicarious = 1 a : serving instead of someone or something else b : that has been delegated <vicarious authority> 2 : performed or suffered by one person as a substitute for another or to the benefit or advantage of another

The cover or lid of the ark is termed hilasterion in Greek, that which covered or shut out the claims and demands of the law against the sins of God's people, whereby he became "propitious" to them.

The idea of vicarious expiation runs through the whole Old Testament system of sacrifices.


Propitiation = to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of

That by which God is rendered propitious, i.e., by which it becomes consistent with his character and government to pardon and bless the sinner.

The propitiation does not procure his love or make him loving; it only renders it consistent for him to execise his love towards sinners.

In Rom. 3:25 and Heb. 9:5 (A.V., "mercy-seat") the Greek word hilasterion is used. It is the word employed in Ex. 25:17 and elsewhere as the equivalent for the Hebrew kapporeth, which means "covering," and is used of the lid of the ark of the covenant (Ex. 25:21; 30:6). This Greek word (hilasterion) came to denote not only the mercy-seat or lid of the ark, but also propitation or reconciliation by blood. On the great day of atonement the high priest carried the blood of the sacrifice he offered for all the people within the veil and sprinkled with it the "mercy-seat," and so made propitiation.

In 1 John 2:2; 4:10, Christ is called the "propitiation for our sins." Here a different Greek word is used (hilasmos). Christ is "the propitiation," because by his becoming our substitute and assuming our obligations he expiated our guilt, covered it, by the vicarious punishment which he endured. (Compare Heb. 2:17, where the expression "make reconciliation" of the A.V. is more correctly in the R.V. "make propitiation.")


Redemption = the purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom.

The Greek word translated as "redemption" is apolutrosis, a word occurring nine times in Scripture, and always with the idea of a ransom or price paid, i.e., redemption by a lutron (see Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45).

There are instances in the Septuagint Version of the Old Testament of the use of lutron in man's relation to man (Lev. 19:20; 25:51; Exodus 21:30; Num. 35:31, 32; Isa. 45:13; Prov. 6:35), and in the same sense of man's relation to God (Num. 3:49; 18:15).

There are many passages in the New Testament which represent Christ's sufferings under the idea of a ransom or price, and the result thereby secured is a purchase or redemption (compare Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; Gal. 3:13; 4:4, 5; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6; Titus 2:14; Heb. 9:12; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19; Rev. 5:9).

The idea running through all these texts, however various their reference, is that of payment made for our redemption. The debt against us is not viewed as simply cancelled, but is fully paid. Christ's blood or life, which he surrendered for them, is the "ransom" by which the deliverance of his people from the servitude of sin and from its penal consequences is secured.



Ransom = the price or payment made for our redemption, as when it is said that the Son of man "gave his life a ransom for many" (Matt. 20:28; compare Acts 20:28; Rom. 3:23, 24; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; Gal. 3:13; 4:4, 5: Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; 1 Tim. 2:6; Titus 2:14; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19

In all these passages the same idea is expressed). This word is derived from the Fr. rancon; Lat. redemptio. The debt is represented not as cancelled but as fully paid. The slave or captive is not liberated by a mere gratuitous favor, but a ransom price has been paid, in consideration of which he is set free. The original owner receives back his alienated and lost possession because he has bought it back "with a price." This price or ransom (Gr. lutron) is always said to be Christ, his blood, his death. He secures our redemption by the payment of a ransom.


Sanctification =  to free from sin : PURIFY.

Sanctification involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Rom. 6:13; 2 Cor. 4:6; Col. 3:10; 1 John 4:7; 1 Cor. 6:19). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1 Cor. 6:11; 2 Thess. 2:13). Faith is instrumental in securing sanctification, inasmuch as it (1) secures union to Christ (Gal. 2:20), and (2) brings the believer into living contact with the truth, whereby he is led to yield obedience "to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come."

Perfect sanctification is not attainable in this life (1 Kings 8:46; Prov. 20:9; Eccl. 7:20; James 3:2; 1 John 1:. See Paul's account of himself in Rom. 7:14-25; Phil. 3:12-14; and 1 Tim. 1:15; also the confessions of David (Ps. 19:12, 13; 51), of Moses (90:, of Job (42:5, 6), and of Daniel (9:3-20). "The more holy a man is, the more humble, self-renouncing, self-abhorring, and the more sensitive to every sin he becomes, and the more closely he clings to Christ. The moral imperfections which cling to him he feels to be sins, which he laments and strives to overcome. Believers find that their life is a constant warfare, and they need to take the kingdom of heaven by storm, and watch while they pray. They are always subject to the constant chastisement of their Father's loving hand, which can only be designed to correct their imperfections and to confirm their graces. And it has been notoriously the fact that the best Christians have been those who have been the least prone to claim the attainment of perfection for themselves.", Hodge's Outlines.

[Shammu]

Adding to this Pastor Roger the words, brothers and sisters.

Brothers and sisters; The most common term for Christians in the New Testament is brothers. We might translate this "brothers and sisters in the Lord". Brothers was the term Christians used to refer to each other.

People have a variety of notions of Christian community. Some people picture Christian community. Some people picture Christian community as 20 or 30 people living together in a large house or on a farm. Other people consider Christian community to be a group of Christians who pool their finances, putting their checkbooks and bank accounts into a common pot. Others think of community as a monastic community or religious order.

But to be a Christian community, a group of people do not have to live in one building or handle all their money in a centralized way. Christian community means a way that Christians can relate to one another. The Scripture regards a community relationship of love, commitment, and interdependence among Christians as normal, not optional.

The love Christians are to have for each other flows from this relationship and bears its special mark. 1 Pet. 1:22. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: In Hebrews 13:1.Let brotherly love continue. A particular Greek word, philadelphia, is used in such places to mean "brotherly love".

Scripture is talking about a special kind of love that exists among us because we are brothers and sisters in the Lord. But in our own culture and language we have lost much of the underlying scriptural concept of brothers and sisters. On the one hand, the words brother and sister refer to children of the same parents.

Scripture, of course, uses brother and sister to refer to children of the same parents. However, scripture never uses the term brother to refer to all mankind. It consistently uses brother precisely to describe situations in which there is a definite relationship among a group of people. In the New Testament, this relationship is the brotherhood of Christians; we are brothers and sisters because we are joined to one another in Christ. Non-Christians are "outsiders". For example Col. 4:5 Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.

Scripture teaches that we should love and serve all men. Matt. 5:44-45 Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. We are to love our enemies because God loves them and because God wants Christians to be like him. But we are not told to love them because they are our brothers.

The early Christians understood that their faith gave them a distinctive identity which they shared with all other Christians. They saw their relationship as Christians as a relationship among members of a family, John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. The same spiritual blood flowed in them.

Everything was affected by the early Christians' unity in Christ. Being one with brothers and sisters in the Lord was more important than relationships with fellow countrymen, with members of the same social class, with political allies, even with members of the same family. This was the meaning of the rebuke which Jesus spoke when informed that his blood relatives had come to visit him. Matt. 12:48-50 48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?  49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!  50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Your brother, and friend in Christ.
Bob

1 Kings 20:32 So they girded sackcloth on their loins and put ropes on their necks, and came to the king of Israel and said, Your servant Ben-hadad says, I pray you, let me live. And King [Ahab] said, Is he yet alive? He is my brother.

[nChrist]

Brothers and Sisters,

I think this is a beautiful topic. Understanding words like "Atonement" should give us a much greater appreciation about what JESUS CHRIST accomplished on the CROSS for us. I would like to talk some more about the word "Atonement", but from an Old Testament perspective. I would like to use very general and plain language to describe what was associated with "Atonement" during Old Testament times.

"Atonement" From An Old Testament Perspective:

First, I would like to repeat again that I will be using VERY GENERAL and plain language. My interest is a general understanding, not 100% accuracy from a Biblical and historical view. Generally, I will only be addressing the Nation of Israel because Gentiles were unclean heathens, not fit for the things of God.

"Atonement" - an act to make amends or make right (act of reconciliation). The One who was wronged and grieved was GOD by violation of HIS Laws and Sin by the people of Israel. An ordinary person could be the first one wronged, but ultimately GOD was wronged and grieved because of sin. It is very important to note that those who sinned, violated the law, and grieved GOD were EVERY single person in the Nation of Israel.

"Atonement" involves the payment of a penalty or the making of a sacrifice  to make amends for sin. "Atonement" was also associated with ransom money to be paid by every male Israelite twenty years old or older. Payment of the money was mandatory, and it was used for the work of the "Sanctuary". This was over and above other offerings and sacrifices. Plague, the wrath of God, and disassociation from the protection of GOD were listed as the penalty for failure to pay the "atonement money". Generally, the same was true for failure to perform sacrifices, pay penalties, and perform other prescribed duties for sin. See the below Scripture reference:

Exodus 30:16   NASB  "You shall take the atonement money from the sons of Israel and shall give it for the service of the tent of meeting, that it may be a memorial for the sons of Israel before the LORD, to make atonement for yourselves."

"Atonement" is most commonly associated with the sacrifice of animals and other means that represented restitution. In essence, atonement was a very complicated set of procedures to pay for sin, and the instructions had to be followed perfectly. See the below examples:

Exodus 29:36  NASB  "Each day you shall offer a bull as a sin offering for atonement, and you shall purify the altar when you make atonement for it, and you shall anoint it to consecrate it.

Exodus 30:10  NASB  "Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once a year; he shall make atonement on it with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once a year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the LORD."

Numbers 29:11  NASB  one male goat for a sin offering, besides the sin offering of atonement and the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

Leviticus 23:27  NASB  "On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the LORD.
Leviticus 23:28  NASB  "You shall not do any work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the LORD your God.

Leviticus 25:9  NASB  'You shall then sound a ram's horn abroad on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the day of atonement you shall sound a horn all through your land.

Jeremiah 18:23  Yet You, O LORD, know All their deadly designs against me; Do not forgive their iniquity Or blot out their sin from Your sight. But may they be overthrown before You; Deal with them in the time of Your anger!

Brothers and Sisters, there are hundreds of examples in the Old Testament about sin and the methods involved to pay for those sins. I must make a few more very general statements about "atonement" in hope that you more fully appreciate the Perfect Sacrifice of JESUS CHRIST on the Cross and what it means. Most Jews in the Old Testament required the services of a Priest to make intercession for them on a regular basis. The average person certainly had NO ACCESS to the HOLY OF HOLIES. Those who did have access were required to follow elaborate cleansing rituals and other procedures that had to be followed perfectly.

I wanted to present these very general highlights of "Atonement" from an Old Testament perspective for a reason. I anticipate that much will be said about JESUS and the CROSS in this study and what this most precious event in human history actually meant. What changed at the CROSS? One must have a general understanding of what things were like before the CROSS to fully appreciate GOD'S greatest GIFT to mankind, JESUS CHRIST! "Atonement" is a beautiful portion of what JESUS CHRIST did for us, and I hope that everyone gains a better understanding of the CROSS in this study.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Romans 12:1-2 NASB  Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

[nChrist]

GOD Always Gets ALL The GLORY!!

2 Corinthians 2:15-16 NASB  For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?

Brothers and Sisters,

There are many beautiful references and illustrations that apply to this portion of Scripture. We are to be a witness for Christ. We can be and should be giving testimony to others about our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Some Christians believe this is only the work of the pastor, but this work is for all of us. The Holy Spirit of God instructs us, guides us, and makes us adequate for this work. The fragrance of Christ is a beautiful thing that will lead to life for many. The fragrance of Christ is also referred to as the LIGHT of the glory of Christ and many other precious comparisons, but we should know that the LIGHT is always the difference between eternal life and the curse of sin and death. The LIGHT is and always has been JESUS CHRIST, our Lord and Saviour. This LIGHT is in us and we should not hide it or be ashamed of it. We should know that others are dying in their sins, condemned to eternal destruction and punishment. God wants to use us to share the LIGHT, and God will help us do that. God will give us opportunities to share and let the LIGHT of JESUS work in us and through us.

2 Corinthians 4:3-6  NASB  And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Brothers and Sisters, please do think about those who are perishing in the dark. You are and should be a LIGHT in the darkness, a BEACON to the lost and always ready to share the LIGHT of the Gospel of the Glory of Christ. If you are worried about your confidence or skill level, please remember the simplicity of the GOOD NEWS. When your opportunity comes to share, ask God to help you share the plain and simple news of JESUS and the CROSS. The Holy Spirit of God lives in your heart and HE will help you. Don't get upset or discouraged if the person doesn't immediately accept JESUS CHRIST as Lord and Saviour. Just know beyond any doubt that the Word of God is never wasted, and know that the person you witnessed to might accept JESUS days or weeks later because they heard the Word of God. Remember that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. The Word of God never stops working on a person, but that does not mean that all people will accept it. The first progress might be a softening of the heart. Just know beyond any doubt that God will continue to use His Word long after you have witnessed to someone. It is GOD who uses the WORD, and GOD gets all the Glory!

Love In Christ,
Tom

John 1:10-13 NASB  He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

It is GOD who uses the WORD, and GOD gets all the Glory!

Amen Brother Tom. When we study the word we find many wonderous and beautiful things occurred on the cross. Many of these things were not revealed to the Apostles until much later. Jesus told them that this is the way that it would be.

Joh 16:12  I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
Joh 16:13  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.
Joh 16:14  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.



There are many verses and chapters in the New Testament that explain to us the changes that took place through the cross. One of these that I would like to explore right now is Acts 15.

Certain teachers came down from Judaea teaching that the Gentiles must be circumcised in the manner of Moses in order to be saved. Paul and Barnabas were there and disputed this teaching. Because of the disputations Paul and Barnabas are then sent to Jerusalem to consult the Apostles and elders on this subject.

When they get to Jerusalem they tell the Apostles of the conversion of the Gentiles and the Pharisees that rose up saying it was necessary to circumcise them and to command the to keep the law of Moses. After a lengthy discussion and disputing amongst the Apostles and elders Peter stood up and told them of the words of God. How God had said that the Gentiles should hear the word and believe and that God would then give them the Holy Ghost according to their hearts, purifying their hearts by faith. Peter then chastised the others asking them why they should tempt God by putting a requirement on the disciples that even their fathers were not capable of handling.

Peter continues then saying that we are to believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that we will be saved. Paul, Barnabas, Judas and Silas then when out teaching that there is no such commandment to be circumcised nor to keep the law.

In Galatians chapter 2 we see Paul again talking of this meeting in Jerusalem and reasserting the fact that Jews and Gentiles alike are to be justified by faith not by the works of the law. In the book of Galatians we see Paul writing to a group of people that has fallen back into the bondage of legalism ( teaching of the law over grace). The entire book of Galatians is a key to understanding the Gospel of the grace of God. The study of Galatians will aid anyone who wants to fully understand what changed at the cross.

[Soldier4Christ]

Rom 15:4  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.




The entire Bible is set before us as many lessons for our learning.  In the Old Testament we see that man is not capable of abiding by the Law. David, Abraham, Moses and many others that were considered righteous men had their times that they broke the law. Yet these men all had one thing in common, the hope of the promise that God had given them. The hope of things to come. They lived on faith, faith that God would keep His promise and provide them a way to escape their sins. For as we see in Hebrews chapter 10 the sacrifices that they made could not and did not take away their sins. Those sacrifices were simply a reminder of those sins and it pleased God that they were repentant of those sins. This is the reason that Jesus had need to preach to the spirits that were in prison (1Pet 3:18). If it were not for the saving grace of Jesus Christ none of them would be saved either. It was their faith in the promise that God gave to them that saved them not the law. Under the law none were or are righteous, none of them were able to enter into Heaven of their own good works. This is what is meant that the law is death, the law shows us all as being guilty, for even a sinful thought accuses us and condemns us to death. Why would anyone want to go back to living under the law?



When Jesus died on the cross the perfect sacrifice was made once and for all. The "first was taken away so that the second would be established", we are sanctified completely once and for all through the sacrifice of the body, the shed blood, of Jesus Christ. This was given to us all freely by the wonderful grace of God.

Jesus Christ went to the cross freely. The message in the Bible on this is clear. Jesus had the disciples take swords with them to the Garden. Why since He did not allow them to use them and keep the Pharisees from taking Him prisoner? To show that He willingly went to the cross for us. Jesus could at any time have called for a band of Angels to come and deliver Him to safety. He didn't because He went willingly to the cross for us. He could have struck dead those that wished to crucify Him. He didn't because He went willingly to the cross for us. Jesus knew that it was the only way for man to escape the heavy burden of sin that we were unable to bear by ourselves.  


Saved by Grace, Not of Works.

The word grace when used in the context with salvation means gift. Therefore the grace of God is the gift of God. We are saved by the gift of God not of anything that we can do of or for ourselves. What a gift it is, too! There is no gift greater than what God has given to us.

In Gen 22 we are told that God directed Abraham to take his son Isaac into the mountains in the land of Moriah and offer him up as a burnt offering. Now Abraham loved his son very much and cherished him. It is also to be noted that sons in general were considered to be of great worth. Isaac was Abrahams only son with his wife Sarah. So we can see that Isaac meant a lot in various ways to Abraham. God did not intend for Abraham to actually carry this out. His intent was to see if Abraham was willing to faitfully obey Him. Before Abaham could actually do this God stopped him and provided a ram in Isaacs place.

It is not a coincidence that we are told of this story and it is not just about Abrahams faith in God. It is so that we may know just exactly what God has done for us and how we are to have faith in Him. God gave His only Son as a sacrifice in our place to pay for our sins, our debt for those sins are then paid for once and for all.






Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.


Rom 4:4  Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Rom 4:5  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Rom 4:6  Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
Rom 4:7  Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Rom 4:8  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Rom 4:9  Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.




Heb 8:7  For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.


Heb 10:9  Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
Heb 10:10  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

[nChrist]

Brothers and Sisters,

THE GIFTS OF GOD - Page 1

I've wanted to do a study on the Gifts of God for a long time. I firmly believe that we Glorify God in studying about, talking about, and knowing about the things of God that must be GIFTS because no man can buy or earn them. I thought about various ways to do this and started on various ways. I found out pretty quickly that this study would be the length of a book fairly quickly, so I have changed course to do this in a brief format. This will mean that those wishing to follow this study will need to do some of the work themselves instead of me posting a book here.

THE GIFT OF A SAVIOUR

Most of you should have Bibles or software that offers footnotes, references, topic indexes, dictionaries and other methods to find complimentary portions of Scripture, meanings, etc. As a result, I've decided to list brief information that should be more than enough to get you started. Most of the Gifts that I want to talk about have links from the Old Testament to the New Testament, and they all ultimately involve JESUS CHRIST and the Cross.  We all know that God's Greatest GIFT to mankind was the GIFT of a SAVIOUR on the CROSS, JESUS CHRIST. I think there is less common knowledge about many details that changed at the CROSS. Many of the terms were used under the Law of Moses and involved many requirements for man. The Law required various forms of sacrifices and a host of rituals that caused God to withhold HIS WRATH for the many sins of man. The Holy Bible refers to many of these sacrifices and rituals as shadows of things to come that really didn't satisfy God. Almighty God really wanted HIS Law followed and nothing less, but no man was able to keep the Law. It is not a light or small thing to disobey Almighty God, and you should quickly note that many acts of disobedience in the Old Testament involved a death sentence. However, you will find many examples of patience and mercy from God in dealing with HIS chosen people, Israel. In fact, you will find examples of God sparing the lives of many who committed death penalty violations. One example is King David after he committed adultery. Yes, this is the same David who slew Goliath. There are many examples, but another one that stands out is the people worshiping idols and other gods with a little "g". Our All Powerful and Almighty God is a jealous God, and HIS Wrath is terrible when HIS Mercy comes to an end. Many portions of the Old Testament make it clear that the MIGHT and MAJESTY of ALMIGHTY GOD is beyond human imagination.

SHADOWS OF THINGS TO COME

As you go through this study, please do keep in mind that Jesus Christ was and is a fulfillment of the Law that no man could keep. You will only understand this statement if you understand the REALITY of JESUS and what HE did on the CROSS. There were a host of shadows of things to come in the Old Testament in the form of sacrifice, offering, ritual, and more, but JESUS CHRIST was the REALITY of the shadow spoken of.

Matthew 5:17 NASB  "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

Matthew 5:48 NASB  "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The beautiful portions of Scripture above are the words of Jesus Christ. Please think of Matthew 5:17 in terms of what Jesus Christ fulfilled as you go through this study. If you think that you can fulfill the law on your own, please consider Matthew 5:48. Many other portions of Scripture apply, but please carefully study and consider the following portions of Scripture before you begin this study. I am hoping they will help you understand how Jesus Christ was and is the REALITY of shadows of things to come from the Old Testament.

=====================See Page 2

[nChrist]

THE GIFTS OF GOD - Page 2

SHADOWS OF THINGS TO COME CONTINUED

Colossians 2:13-23 NASB  When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day -- things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)--in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.

Hebrews 10:1-10 NASB  For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, "SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME; IN WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE TAKEN NO PLEASURE. "THEN I SAID, 'BEHOLD, I HAVE COME (IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME) TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.'" After saying above, "SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS AND WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, NOR HAVE YOU TAKEN PLEASURE in them" (which are offered according to the Law), then He said, "BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL." He takes away the first in order to establish the second. By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Please study the above portions of Scripture in context and a beautiful picture will form in your mind: the sum, substance, and absolute REALITY of our Precious Lord and Saviour, JESUS CHRIST! Shadows are only temporary at best, but our Lord and Saviour is REAL, and HE LIVES forever!
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ATONEMENT

ATONEMENT is something we have already talked about in this thread. Reconciliation is something a little bit easier to understand for most people, and it is another rendering of "Atonement" - to make amends between two parties. In this case, ONLY the Blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross can pay for and forgive our sins in this age of God's Grace. Our sins keep us apart from God until we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. His blood on the Cross is what makes amends for our sins and reconciles us (brings us together) with God. So, the blood of Jesus Christ brings us together with God when we are SAVED. I'm thinking about the words of a beautiful old hymn, "Nothing but the Blood of Jesus". There is absolutely nothing that any man or woman can do to reconcile themselves with God other than accepting JESUS. Please note that we "joy" or "exult" in God. This can also be rendered as rejoicing in or boasting in God. We must make a clear and blunt statement that no man or woman can rejoice or boast in God EXCEPT THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST! Our confidence is in JESUS and the Cross, certainly not in ourselves or other men.

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Romans 5:11 NASB  And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Romans 5:11 KJV  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Romans 5:11 AMP  Not only so, but we also rejoice and exultingly glory in God [in His love and perfection] through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have now received and enjoy [our] reconciliation. [Jeremiah 9:24.]

References (Please study in context):

Romans 5:10  NASB  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Galatians 4:9  NASB  But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?

Philippians 3:1  NASB  Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

Philippians 3:3  NASB  for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,

John 1:12  NASB  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

2 Corinthians 5:18-19  NASB  Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Jeremiah 9:24 NASB  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD.
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JUSTIFICATION

Romans 3:24 NASB  being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;

Romans 3:24 KJV  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Romans 3:24 AMP  [All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,

JUSTIFIED in plain words could be said to mean to show or regard as just, innocent, or righteous. This is a brief summary of Strong's Numbers "G1344". We should all immediately know this description could NOT possibly refer to mankind, as mankind represents the opposite of this description. "Isaiah 64:6 NASB  For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away." However, the description of Holy, Just, Innocent, and Righteous DOES fit our Lord and Saviour, JESUS CHRIST. So, how can a man be seen as just, innocent, or righteous in the eyes of God? The answer is:  ONLY IN JESUS! When we give our hearts to JESUS and make HIM the LORD over our lives, GOD sees us through JESUS. Our only righteousness is the righteousness of JESUS, not our own. We are just and innocent ONLY in JESUS because of the BLOOD HE shed for us on the CROSS. Apart from JESUS, we are unjust, guilty, and unrighteous, worthy only of punishment and eternal damnation.

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See References:

Romans 4:16  NASB  For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

Romans 5:16-19  NASB  The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

1 Corinthians 6:11  NASB  Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Ephesians 2:7-10  NASB  so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Titus 3:5-7  NASB  He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
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[Soldier4Christ]

Amen Brother Tom,

This is indeed a beautiful study and you are right, there is much that can be written on this subject and it doesn't ake long for it to become a whole book after all the entire Bible covers this entire topic and it does cover a lot of studying.

I never grow tired of studying this subject so I am thoroughly enjoying myself.