This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 1:22
22 In [en] the body [soma] of his [autos] flesh [sarx] through [dia] death, [thanatos] to present [paristemi] you [humas] holy [hagios] and [kai] unblameable [amomos] and [kai] unreproveable [anegkletos] in his [autos] sight: [katenopion] KJV-Interlinear
22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach — NASB
Of the seven holy days throughout the year (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles), the Day of Atonement was the most significant.
On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest entered into the second room of the Tabernacle (the Holy of Holies) twice, and sprinkled the blood of the sacrificed animal, onto the Mercy Seat.
Day of Atonement means to cover. Today the holiday is called Yom Kippur, which means the day of covering.
Jesus Christ went to the Cross on the Passover, was placed into the grave just as the Feast of the Unleavened Bread began, and arose three days later, which is the celebration of First Fruits. Forty days later, at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was given and that is when the Church Age began.
In the fall of the year, the celebration of Trumpets (the calling out) will occur, and this is representative of the Rapture. The Day of Atonement is representative of the Judgment Seat of Christ, while the Feast of Tabernacles represents the regathering for the Millennial reign of Christ.
All of these things were made possible because of one reason and one reason only, and that is because Jesus Christ, who is God, became man in the flesh, just as you and I are members of the human race.
And in so doing went to the Cross as true humanity, and paid the price for sins in our place. That set the stage for Jesus Christs’ conquest of sin (corruption), spiritual death (separation from God), and physical death (limitations in life).
Christ redeemed man from the slave market of sin, reconciled man to God with the destruction of these barriers, and propitiated God on behalf of us, with His work.
When the blood was symbolically sprinkled onto the Mercy Seat, that represented the complete covering as a result of Christs’ work on the Cross.
Above the Mercy Seat were two angels on either end, one representing the Righteousness of God and the other representing the Justice of God.
Both (righteousness and justice) looking down on the Mercy Seat and seeing the covering of the Mercy Seat, with the work of Christ from the Cross, and all of this symbolically representing the satisfaction (propitiation) of God as to the sufficiency of the work of Christ in obtaining salvation (redemption, reconciliation, propitiation) for mankind.
Christ’s work satisfies Gods stringent demands. Righteousness demands perfection. Justice demands punishment. And all of this in such a manner as to provide a legitimate restoration of mans relationship with God, without compromising Gods perfect character and truth.
Those who are disinterested in God or truth will be typically liberal minded. Not political liberalism, but spiritual liberalism. Liberalism is the tendency to compromise away all principles of value, in exchange for lesser values designed for convenience or expediency.
Gods values are strict and unchangeable, and maintain the highest of standards, and do not follow the course of mans relative values or arguments.
As a result, you and I have the opportunity (potential), of being made perfect (without blemish, untainted, blameless), and thus presentable before God Himself, in a manner of His choosing and not of our choosing.
All religions of the world, all cults, all philosophies, etc, differ from Christianity because of these principles. The sin nature drives their principles, which fundamentally reject the work of Christ altogether.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Colossians 1:21
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 1:21
21 And [kai] you, [humas] that were [on] sometime [pote] alienated [apallotrioo] and [kai] enemies [echthros] in your mind [dianoia] by [en] wicked [poneros] works, [ergon] yet [de] now [nuni] hath he reconciled [apokatallasso] KJV-Interlinear
21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, NASB
This principle of, lost to God, applies to everyone who has ever been born alive into this world.
Eph. 4:18
18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; NASB
The content of your mind determines the nature of your life. Darkness means lack of light. Light is used as the content of the scriptures. Therefore, lack of light means simply the lack of doctrine in your soul.
Lacking Bible doctrine, means that your thinking processes will be abused by the sin nature within you and that abuse leads to sin and everything that is anti-God.
No matter how smart you think you are, no matter how smart you actually are, if you lack Bible doctrine in your soul, then your intellect will lead you into only one direction, and that direction is evil.
Why do people who are wealthy, successful, intelligent, talented, and so forth, seem to support things that are anti-God, or anti-biblical principles? Because they lack truth within their soul.
Truth is light and light allows you to see the difference between truth and the lies of the world. In total darkness you cannot see the difference, because you can’t see. And seeing means the ability to discern, or tell the difference between one thing and another.
Without doctrine, functioning doctrine, within your soul, then you are by default automatically in opposition to God.
Without the work of Christ on the Cross, you would have no access to Bible doctrine, and therefore no access to light. Without a saved soul, without a regenerated human spirit within you, then you would have no means of metabolizing Bible doctrine into your soul.
The unbeliever is totally lost. The unbeliever has to be saved, before Bible doctrine can begin to function within him. Before salvation there is only one question that is important to the unbeliever, ‘What do you think of Christ?’
To reject Christ means eternal separation from God and eternal darkness. Darkness in this life means functioning without truth. Darkness in eternity means far worse.
However, when a person believes in Christ, then the second question that applies to their life, is a daily question, ‘What do you think about Bible doctrine?’ Without Bible doctrine there is none or very little spiritual growth and an incomplete life, however, with Bible doctrine, there is advancement to the ultimate completion of ones life.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 1:21
21 And [kai] you, [humas] that were [on] sometime [pote] alienated [apallotrioo] and [kai] enemies [echthros] in your mind [dianoia] by [en] wicked [poneros] works, [ergon] yet [de] now [nuni] hath he reconciled [apokatallasso] KJV-Interlinear
21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, NASB
This principle of, lost to God, applies to everyone who has ever been born alive into this world.
Eph. 4:18
18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; NASB
The content of your mind determines the nature of your life. Darkness means lack of light. Light is used as the content of the scriptures. Therefore, lack of light means simply the lack of doctrine in your soul.
Lacking Bible doctrine, means that your thinking processes will be abused by the sin nature within you and that abuse leads to sin and everything that is anti-God.
No matter how smart you think you are, no matter how smart you actually are, if you lack Bible doctrine in your soul, then your intellect will lead you into only one direction, and that direction is evil.
Why do people who are wealthy, successful, intelligent, talented, and so forth, seem to support things that are anti-God, or anti-biblical principles? Because they lack truth within their soul.
Truth is light and light allows you to see the difference between truth and the lies of the world. In total darkness you cannot see the difference, because you can’t see. And seeing means the ability to discern, or tell the difference between one thing and another.
Without doctrine, functioning doctrine, within your soul, then you are by default automatically in opposition to God.
Without the work of Christ on the Cross, you would have no access to Bible doctrine, and therefore no access to light. Without a saved soul, without a regenerated human spirit within you, then you would have no means of metabolizing Bible doctrine into your soul.
The unbeliever is totally lost. The unbeliever has to be saved, before Bible doctrine can begin to function within him. Before salvation there is only one question that is important to the unbeliever, ‘What do you think of Christ?’
To reject Christ means eternal separation from God and eternal darkness. Darkness in this life means functioning without truth. Darkness in eternity means far worse.
However, when a person believes in Christ, then the second question that applies to their life, is a daily question, ‘What do you think about Bible doctrine?’ Without Bible doctrine there is none or very little spiritual growth and an incomplete life, however, with Bible doctrine, there is advancement to the ultimate completion of ones life.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Colossians 1:20
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 1:20
20 And, [kai] having made peace [eirenopoieo] through [dia] the blood [haima] of his [autos] cross, [stauros] by [dia] him [autos] to reconcile [apokatallasso] all things [pas] unto [eis] himself; [autos] by [dia] him, [autos] I say, whether [eite] they be things in [epi] earth, [ge] or [eite] things in [en] heaven. [ouranos] KJV-Interlinear
20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. NASB
Having made peace, means to have laid the foundation, the ground work, for the reconciliation of the relationship between heaven (the divine) and earth (humanity).
When man sinned, a barrier was erected between God and humanity. This barrier applied to humanity only. God is perfect and the principles of Gods essence dictate that He can only have a relationship with something that is also perfect, untainted, blameless, without flaws, without blemish, etc.
By mans own means, man cannot accomplish the reestablishment of a relationship. The penalty is too great, such that no person can carry the load for the justice demanded, for themselves, let alone the entire human race.
To look the other way, is to reduce Gods standards, and to reduce Gods standards, would mean that perfection in the universe and in heaven would be wiped out. God would no longer be God, but just another compromising creature where the compromises never end, but just keep on getting lower and lower until there are no standards left. The law of the jungle would rule, rather than truth.
But we are in luck. God will never reduce His standards, and He came up with a plan which can make each one of us perfect, and therefore restoring us back into a relationship with Him. That plan is often times called the Blood of Christ.
But this blood is not literal blood, but a reference to the very dramatic and extensive work which He accomplished while hanging on the Cross. Blood also has the connotation of life and death, and therefore, Christ gave His life into death, a very real death (spiritual death), such that the foundation could be laid for the reconciliation between man and God.
The work finished, leaves only the acceptance of that work by mankind.
Acceptance comes in the form of our belief in Christ. There is no work on mans part, only faith, which is a mere thought expression of faith, ‘Father, I believe in Jesus Christ.’ Now, it takes no effort whatsoever, to think those six little words. It does however, take a great deal of effort, to reject them for all of ones life.
Which choice should anyone take, for the most rational, logical, and sensible approach to life? And yet it is arrogance that raises the barrier preventing belief, or spiritual growth, whichever applies to your life.
What can anyone possibly gain, by rejecting Christ? There is absolutely no basis in fact or truth, for any other alternate philosophy, religion, cult, etc.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 1:20
20 And, [kai] having made peace [eirenopoieo] through [dia] the blood [haima] of his [autos] cross, [stauros] by [dia] him [autos] to reconcile [apokatallasso] all things [pas] unto [eis] himself; [autos] by [dia] him, [autos] I say, whether [eite] they be things in [epi] earth, [ge] or [eite] things in [en] heaven. [ouranos] KJV-Interlinear
20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. NASB
Having made peace, means to have laid the foundation, the ground work, for the reconciliation of the relationship between heaven (the divine) and earth (humanity).
When man sinned, a barrier was erected between God and humanity. This barrier applied to humanity only. God is perfect and the principles of Gods essence dictate that He can only have a relationship with something that is also perfect, untainted, blameless, without flaws, without blemish, etc.
By mans own means, man cannot accomplish the reestablishment of a relationship. The penalty is too great, such that no person can carry the load for the justice demanded, for themselves, let alone the entire human race.
To look the other way, is to reduce Gods standards, and to reduce Gods standards, would mean that perfection in the universe and in heaven would be wiped out. God would no longer be God, but just another compromising creature where the compromises never end, but just keep on getting lower and lower until there are no standards left. The law of the jungle would rule, rather than truth.
But we are in luck. God will never reduce His standards, and He came up with a plan which can make each one of us perfect, and therefore restoring us back into a relationship with Him. That plan is often times called the Blood of Christ.
But this blood is not literal blood, but a reference to the very dramatic and extensive work which He accomplished while hanging on the Cross. Blood also has the connotation of life and death, and therefore, Christ gave His life into death, a very real death (spiritual death), such that the foundation could be laid for the reconciliation between man and God.
The work finished, leaves only the acceptance of that work by mankind.
Acceptance comes in the form of our belief in Christ. There is no work on mans part, only faith, which is a mere thought expression of faith, ‘Father, I believe in Jesus Christ.’ Now, it takes no effort whatsoever, to think those six little words. It does however, take a great deal of effort, to reject them for all of ones life.
Which choice should anyone take, for the most rational, logical, and sensible approach to life? And yet it is arrogance that raises the barrier preventing belief, or spiritual growth, whichever applies to your life.
What can anyone possibly gain, by rejecting Christ? There is absolutely no basis in fact or truth, for any other alternate philosophy, religion, cult, etc.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Colossians 1:19
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 1:19
19 For it pleased [eudokeo] the Father that [hoti] in [en] him [autos] should [katoikeo] all [pas] fulness [pleroma] dwell [katoikeo]; KJV-Interlinear
19 For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell in Him, NASB
Gods good pleasure, means just that. It was Gods intent to create humanity and angels, and to have them share the universe and heaven with Him forever.
If God is perfect, then by making man and angels He must have had a purpose in mind. God does not do things arbitrarily, since that is inconsistent with His character.
God has attributes. God has an essence, which we studied several days ago. That means that God has the highest of standards to live by, which are all based on truth. To compromise those standards, would mean that God would not be God. That is the approach of all religions out there. Man tries to make God in mans image and conform to mans ideas.
Unbelievers and negative believers alike, have no standards, except those which generate their own personal selfish desires, which are considerably lower than Gods standards.
Gossips want to gossip and destroy or bring harm to others, and in so doing they want to satisfy their own ego and promote themselves, but at someone else's expense. Criminals see nothing wrong in what they do, until they get caught, then they are soooo sorry (because they were caught). Tyrants are bullies and see everyone as expendable peasants to serve their whims. Tyrants can only be controlled by means of a greater violence than they themselves can bring. Remember Sadaams execution video online? With the rope around his neck he was still defiant.
So, mans standards are no standards whatsoever. Though man sees himself as being rational and reasonable, all human efforts end up in disaster, because all human intents are formed out of evil. How do we know this? Simply look at history! Why do you think that God goes to so much trouble to allow history to unfold? Because all of these arguments have been made throughout history.
What about this? What about that? And so history reveals mans failures and Gods perfection. Case closed. And as for those who simply refuse to see it, well look at Sadaam. Or, look in the mirror. Who among you can sustain the universe?
One by one mans arguments and logic collapse into a miserable pile of you-know-what.
So, God looks around to find someone who can pull it all together, and behold there is the next person of the Trinity. God did not have to look very far, to find someone perfect (who happens to also be God), and who could pull off the most sophisticated plan in all of history.
Man certainly cannot do anything to control history, or control anything for that matter. Can you keep the planets in their orbits, make the winds blow or cease, make your hair to grow or stop, make your right foot into your left or whatever? No.
There isn’t much of anything that you can do, once you really begin to understand that it is God who has looked down the tunnel of time and has seen every thought and decision you and everyone will ever have.
It is God who gives life. If is God who coordinates every human birth, which will cause some kind of interaction with other humans. Of the seven billion people who are on the planet now, God placed us all here now, not a hundred years ago, not a thousand years ago, but now. And all of the intricate relationships that we all have amongst ourselves, no matter how insignificant, God placed us all here, now, to live our lives together with all of those relationships.
Do you sell? He put customers in the world who would make the decision to buy from you. Do you serve? He put people in the world to whom you could serve. Do you give or take? He put people in the world to whom or with whom you could interact. Are you a self made person? Think again.
So, God is pleased with Christ, of whom all the fullness of life, of creation, of history, of His plan, have come together. And despite man and angels attempts to screw things up with their ‘better’ ideas.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 1:19
19 For it pleased [eudokeo] the Father that [hoti] in [en] him [autos] should [katoikeo] all [pas] fulness [pleroma] dwell [katoikeo]; KJV-Interlinear
19 For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell in Him, NASB
Gods good pleasure, means just that. It was Gods intent to create humanity and angels, and to have them share the universe and heaven with Him forever.
If God is perfect, then by making man and angels He must have had a purpose in mind. God does not do things arbitrarily, since that is inconsistent with His character.
God has attributes. God has an essence, which we studied several days ago. That means that God has the highest of standards to live by, which are all based on truth. To compromise those standards, would mean that God would not be God. That is the approach of all religions out there. Man tries to make God in mans image and conform to mans ideas.
Unbelievers and negative believers alike, have no standards, except those which generate their own personal selfish desires, which are considerably lower than Gods standards.
Gossips want to gossip and destroy or bring harm to others, and in so doing they want to satisfy their own ego and promote themselves, but at someone else's expense. Criminals see nothing wrong in what they do, until they get caught, then they are soooo sorry (because they were caught). Tyrants are bullies and see everyone as expendable peasants to serve their whims. Tyrants can only be controlled by means of a greater violence than they themselves can bring. Remember Sadaams execution video online? With the rope around his neck he was still defiant.
So, mans standards are no standards whatsoever. Though man sees himself as being rational and reasonable, all human efforts end up in disaster, because all human intents are formed out of evil. How do we know this? Simply look at history! Why do you think that God goes to so much trouble to allow history to unfold? Because all of these arguments have been made throughout history.
What about this? What about that? And so history reveals mans failures and Gods perfection. Case closed. And as for those who simply refuse to see it, well look at Sadaam. Or, look in the mirror. Who among you can sustain the universe?
One by one mans arguments and logic collapse into a miserable pile of you-know-what.
So, God looks around to find someone who can pull it all together, and behold there is the next person of the Trinity. God did not have to look very far, to find someone perfect (who happens to also be God), and who could pull off the most sophisticated plan in all of history.
Man certainly cannot do anything to control history, or control anything for that matter. Can you keep the planets in their orbits, make the winds blow or cease, make your hair to grow or stop, make your right foot into your left or whatever? No.
There isn’t much of anything that you can do, once you really begin to understand that it is God who has looked down the tunnel of time and has seen every thought and decision you and everyone will ever have.
It is God who gives life. If is God who coordinates every human birth, which will cause some kind of interaction with other humans. Of the seven billion people who are on the planet now, God placed us all here now, not a hundred years ago, not a thousand years ago, but now. And all of the intricate relationships that we all have amongst ourselves, no matter how insignificant, God placed us all here, now, to live our lives together with all of those relationships.
Do you sell? He put customers in the world who would make the decision to buy from you. Do you serve? He put people in the world to whom you could serve. Do you give or take? He put people in the world to whom or with whom you could interact. Are you a self made person? Think again.
So, God is pleased with Christ, of whom all the fullness of life, of creation, of history, of His plan, have come together. And despite man and angels attempts to screw things up with their ‘better’ ideas.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Colossians 1:18
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 1:18
18 And [kai] he [autos] is [esti] the head [kephale] of the body [soma], the church [ekklesia]: who [hos] is [esti] the beginning [arche], the firstborn [prototokos] from [ek] the dead [nekros]; that [hina] in [en] all [pas] things he [autos] might have [ginomai] the preeminence [proteuo]. KJV-Interlinear
18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. NASB
The plan of God centers on the work of Christ, the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, the one of whom all religions, philosophies, cults, theories, etc, reject.
If there were one definition for history, if there were one definition for your life, it would be directly related to ones relationship with Christ. The more pronounced your relationship with Christ, the better your life will be. The less your relationship with Christ the worse your life will be.
Jesus Christ is life, the beginning of all things, the reason that anything at all exists, or is even permitted to exist and remain. He is the fountain from which all authority and power, come. He is the one who supports and maintains the universe and all of creation.
He is designated the head, the leader, and first over all that make up the church, or those who have believed in Christ, and over all those who are as such designated the Body of Christ.
All believers collectively become the family of God, the chosen nation, the body of people who make up those who will survive into eternity to live with God forever.
It is the work of Christ, who voluntarily went to the Cross and accepted the judgment of God for all of the sins of humanity. The beatings, the whippings, the nails in the hands and feet, the spitting, the foul language, everything that people did to Jesus while He was tried and executed, was not the judgment which He bore for sins.
That judgment, the judgment for sin, was far, far worse, than the violence inflicted upon Him by people. That human violence was nothing more than a satanic attempt to get Jesus to crack and therefore fail in His qualification for His ultimate spiritual sacrifice at the hand of the Father. Jesus did not crack or fail in any way.
Sometimes people try to make a big deal about assigning blame to someone or to some group for putting Jesus on the Cross, but the real person to blame if there is any blame to make (and there is not), is God the Father, for it was a part of His divine plan that the Son should receive the penalty for the sins of humanity. And of course the Son and the Spirit both agreed with that plan. The Cross was Gods chosen mechanism for revealing His plan, for revealing mans sin, for revealing the very dramatic and extremes that evil will go to, and for resolving the angelic conflict.
The Cross was Gods strategic victory over Satan and evil. Christ won the battle by accomplishing salvation. The Second Advent will be the tactical victory, when Satan is totally removed from the planet, and from his influence on humanity, until the end of the Millennium.
On that Sunday morning, three days after the Passover sacrifice (a one day feast) followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread, was the very first resurrection into immortality. That Sunday morning is designated the Feast of the First Fruits, in the Hebrew calendar of feasts. Christ was the first.
He will be followed by the Church Age believers when we are all resurrected into our resurrection new bodies, at the moment of the Rapture.
No one knows when our dispensation will come to an end, but suffice to say, ours is already the longest lasting dispensation (for humanity) on record.
The pre-flood era was a little over 1600 years. The age from Noah to the Exodus was about 1200 years. From the age of the nation of Israel until Christ was born was about 1500 years. And no matter whether you measure our dispensation from Christ’s birth (2009-2B.C.=2011), from the Cross (2009-30A.D.=1979), from Pentecost (most use this date 2009-30A.D.=1979), or from the completion of the Bible in 96 A.D. (2009-96=1913), our dispensation is well over 1900 years and counting.
My personal favorite date for guesstimating the date of the Rapture is the completion of the Bible date. I think that we have another hundred years perhaps, in our dispensation, which will send technology through the roof, populations through the roof (perhaps eight times what it is now to over fifty billions of people in the world), the problems of humanity through the roof, and the interest in Christianity down the toilet.
Of course the Rapture could occur tonight, so don’t go native on us.
Old Testament believers will be resurrected at the end of the Tribulation. The tribulation is the last seven year period of the dispensation of the Age of Israel.
And then the millennial believers will be resurrected at the end of the Millennium. Thus concluding the four resurrections in all of history (Christ, Church, Israel, millennial).
It is fitting that Jesus Christ is the first among us, since it is He who accomplishes the fullness of history.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 1:18
18 And [kai] he [autos] is [esti] the head [kephale] of the body [soma], the church [ekklesia]: who [hos] is [esti] the beginning [arche], the firstborn [prototokos] from [ek] the dead [nekros]; that [hina] in [en] all [pas] things he [autos] might have [ginomai] the preeminence [proteuo]. KJV-Interlinear
18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. NASB
The plan of God centers on the work of Christ, the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, the one of whom all religions, philosophies, cults, theories, etc, reject.
If there were one definition for history, if there were one definition for your life, it would be directly related to ones relationship with Christ. The more pronounced your relationship with Christ, the better your life will be. The less your relationship with Christ the worse your life will be.
Jesus Christ is life, the beginning of all things, the reason that anything at all exists, or is even permitted to exist and remain. He is the fountain from which all authority and power, come. He is the one who supports and maintains the universe and all of creation.
He is designated the head, the leader, and first over all that make up the church, or those who have believed in Christ, and over all those who are as such designated the Body of Christ.
All believers collectively become the family of God, the chosen nation, the body of people who make up those who will survive into eternity to live with God forever.
It is the work of Christ, who voluntarily went to the Cross and accepted the judgment of God for all of the sins of humanity. The beatings, the whippings, the nails in the hands and feet, the spitting, the foul language, everything that people did to Jesus while He was tried and executed, was not the judgment which He bore for sins.
That judgment, the judgment for sin, was far, far worse, than the violence inflicted upon Him by people. That human violence was nothing more than a satanic attempt to get Jesus to crack and therefore fail in His qualification for His ultimate spiritual sacrifice at the hand of the Father. Jesus did not crack or fail in any way.
Sometimes people try to make a big deal about assigning blame to someone or to some group for putting Jesus on the Cross, but the real person to blame if there is any blame to make (and there is not), is God the Father, for it was a part of His divine plan that the Son should receive the penalty for the sins of humanity. And of course the Son and the Spirit both agreed with that plan. The Cross was Gods chosen mechanism for revealing His plan, for revealing mans sin, for revealing the very dramatic and extremes that evil will go to, and for resolving the angelic conflict.
The Cross was Gods strategic victory over Satan and evil. Christ won the battle by accomplishing salvation. The Second Advent will be the tactical victory, when Satan is totally removed from the planet, and from his influence on humanity, until the end of the Millennium.
On that Sunday morning, three days after the Passover sacrifice (a one day feast) followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread, was the very first resurrection into immortality. That Sunday morning is designated the Feast of the First Fruits, in the Hebrew calendar of feasts. Christ was the first.
He will be followed by the Church Age believers when we are all resurrected into our resurrection new bodies, at the moment of the Rapture.
No one knows when our dispensation will come to an end, but suffice to say, ours is already the longest lasting dispensation (for humanity) on record.
The pre-flood era was a little over 1600 years. The age from Noah to the Exodus was about 1200 years. From the age of the nation of Israel until Christ was born was about 1500 years. And no matter whether you measure our dispensation from Christ’s birth (2009-2B.C.=2011), from the Cross (2009-30A.D.=1979), from Pentecost (most use this date 2009-30A.D.=1979), or from the completion of the Bible in 96 A.D. (2009-96=1913), our dispensation is well over 1900 years and counting.
My personal favorite date for guesstimating the date of the Rapture is the completion of the Bible date. I think that we have another hundred years perhaps, in our dispensation, which will send technology through the roof, populations through the roof (perhaps eight times what it is now to over fifty billions of people in the world), the problems of humanity through the roof, and the interest in Christianity down the toilet.
Of course the Rapture could occur tonight, so don’t go native on us.
Old Testament believers will be resurrected at the end of the Tribulation. The tribulation is the last seven year period of the dispensation of the Age of Israel.
And then the millennial believers will be resurrected at the end of the Millennium. Thus concluding the four resurrections in all of history (Christ, Church, Israel, millennial).
It is fitting that Jesus Christ is the first among us, since it is He who accomplishes the fullness of history.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Colossians 1:17
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 1:17
17 And [kai] he [autos] is [esti] before [pro] all things [pas], and [kai] by [en] him [autos] all things [pas] consist [sunistao]. KJV-Interlinear
17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. NASB
Just to make sure that folks know that Jesus is God, Paul makes it clear here, that Jesus Christ has existed before everything that was created. The word ‘pro’ means to exist chronologically prior to anything else.
He Himself was never created. He is God, co-equal and co-eternal with the other two members of the Godhead. There is no difference between Christ and the other two members of the Godhead.
If Christ created all that is created, then He had to preexist prior to creation, and therefore He must possess eternal life.
God did not create Himself. God did not come into existence from some former preexisting universe, or by means of some natural phenomena.
There has been only one universe, and that is the one we are currently living in.
Likewise, if Christ created all that is, then He must possess infinite power and infinite wisdom. Moreover, Paul states here that Christ, by His own power, holds all things together. So Christ sustains and maintains with respect to functioning management, over all that exists in this universe and beyond.
Jesus Christ controls history.
During history, Jesus became a man, in order to continue history and to resolve the angelic conflict, among many other things.
Jesus Christ is the unique person of the universe, in that He is both God and man, in one person. He is the revealed and visible member of the Godhead, but that does not make Him any greater nor lesser than the other two members of the Godhead.
His title is Lord. That is ‘Kurios’ in the Greek and ‘Yahweh’ in the Hebrew, both of which proclaim His deity.
His name, Jesus, means Savior, which reflects His redemptive work on the Cross for salvation. And Christ, means Anointed One or Messiah, which indicates His offices of prophet, priest, and king. He is the chosen or selected member of the Godhead through which humanity may access a relationship with God.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 1:17
17 And [kai] he [autos] is [esti] before [pro] all things [pas], and [kai] by [en] him [autos] all things [pas] consist [sunistao]. KJV-Interlinear
17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. NASB
Just to make sure that folks know that Jesus is God, Paul makes it clear here, that Jesus Christ has existed before everything that was created. The word ‘pro’ means to exist chronologically prior to anything else.
He Himself was never created. He is God, co-equal and co-eternal with the other two members of the Godhead. There is no difference between Christ and the other two members of the Godhead.
If Christ created all that is created, then He had to preexist prior to creation, and therefore He must possess eternal life.
God did not create Himself. God did not come into existence from some former preexisting universe, or by means of some natural phenomena.
There has been only one universe, and that is the one we are currently living in.
Likewise, if Christ created all that is, then He must possess infinite power and infinite wisdom. Moreover, Paul states here that Christ, by His own power, holds all things together. So Christ sustains and maintains with respect to functioning management, over all that exists in this universe and beyond.
Jesus Christ controls history.
During history, Jesus became a man, in order to continue history and to resolve the angelic conflict, among many other things.
Jesus Christ is the unique person of the universe, in that He is both God and man, in one person. He is the revealed and visible member of the Godhead, but that does not make Him any greater nor lesser than the other two members of the Godhead.
His title is Lord. That is ‘Kurios’ in the Greek and ‘Yahweh’ in the Hebrew, both of which proclaim His deity.
His name, Jesus, means Savior, which reflects His redemptive work on the Cross for salvation. And Christ, means Anointed One or Messiah, which indicates His offices of prophet, priest, and king. He is the chosen or selected member of the Godhead through which humanity may access a relationship with God.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Colossians 1:16
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 1:16
16 For [hoti] by [en] him [autos] were [ktizo] all things [pas] created [ktizo], that are in [en] heaven [ouranos], and [kai] that are in [epi] earth [ge], visible [horatos] and [kai] invisible [aoratos], whether [eite] they be thrones [thronos], or [eite] dominions [kuriotes], or [eite] principalities [arche], or [eite] powers [exousia]: all things [pas] were created [ktizo] by [dia] him [autos], and [kai] for [eis] him [autos]: KJV-Interlinear
16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created by Him and for Him. NASB
Him, is a reference to the Son, Jesus Christ. By Him, Christ, all things were created. All things that are in heaven and in the earth.
Created uses the word ‘kitzo,’ which is a reference to the proprietary ownership, by the manufacturer, of the original. God the Father authored the plan, and Jesus Christ brought it all into existence.
Jesus Christ, took the detailed plans of the Father, and fabricated everything that exists, into existence, in perfect accordance with the original divine plan.
The earth and the heavens are distinguished as different from each other. Christ created the universe and everything in it, and He also created the earth and everything in it, too.
Also, Christ created the angels, who were created prior to the creation of the universe, which we have already studied.
And likewise, just as the universe surrounds the earth, so also Heaven surrounds the universe. This you recall from our study in Job. The universe is as a vault, around which God may walk its entire circumference while in heaven. The phrase is symbolic indicating that any point in the universe is easily available and accessible by God.
As we view this universe, we can only see a small portion into the distant stars. There is much that we can see, but far more that we cannot see. Likewise, in our current world, there is much that we can see, but far more that we cannot see. And even though the huge advances in science and technology have revealed the tremendous complexities of our world, there is still far more that we have yet to discover, and probably never will discover it all.
The cycles of the universe (repeated creation and destruction) are a myth. The natural tendencies of the universe are a myth. The ideas of natural evolution are a myth.
Jesus Christ created all that is, and He created it from a single proprietary prototype, if you will. The angels, the universe, the plants and animals, even humanity were all created from one initial creation moment, within their respect timeframes in history.
He created the angels first, the universe second, and these were created with perfection. The angels rebelled, and the universe and the earth were brought into a destructive condition. The earth became null and void. It was not created in a destroyed state. Satan was the one who caused all of this destruction.
Then the earth was restored in those six days as spelled out in Genesis. Humanity was the next creation, and here we are.
The next major creation after Adam and Eve was the creation of reborn man, due to faith in Christ and the salvation due to that faith. We as believers became a regenerated and new spiritual species, which we have also already studied.
Christ not only created the physical things that exist, but also the non-physical things. Things such as the principles of establishment, authorities, social norms and standards, powers, due process, and so forth.
There is nothing in existence that Christ did not create in its original and perfect state.
Now Satan and man have taken nearly everything that God has created, and have twisted it into bizarre ideas, but that is merely a function of man applying flawed thinking to the world around him, and abusing and distorting everything, for mans own selfish purposes, that God has provided.
However, Christ created everything for one purpose, and that was for Himself, for eternal happiness, for the fulfillment of the perfect plan which God designed originally in eternity past, and ultimately for the glorification of God Himself.
Gods original intent was to have a universe filled with life, with whom He could share a phenomenal eternity.
Man and angel ruined that whole concept. However, God also designed the recovery from man and angels ruinous ways, and that is where His phenomenal brilliance enters the picture.
No matter what man and angel try in their attempt to destroy everything, for all their efforts only end up in destruction, God can take all of the bad, and make it all come out good for those who have and will believe in Him.
Look around you. There is every type of stress factor that you can imagine in life. And yet, when it is all said and done, God can take your life, advance you to spiritual maturity, and advance you even further in a life for eternity, beyond anything that you can imagine. And there isn’t anything that this world can do to prevent it, so long as you want it for yourself.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 1:16
16 For [hoti] by [en] him [autos] were [ktizo] all things [pas] created [ktizo], that are in [en] heaven [ouranos], and [kai] that are in [epi] earth [ge], visible [horatos] and [kai] invisible [aoratos], whether [eite] they be thrones [thronos], or [eite] dominions [kuriotes], or [eite] principalities [arche], or [eite] powers [exousia]: all things [pas] were created [ktizo] by [dia] him [autos], and [kai] for [eis] him [autos]: KJV-Interlinear
16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created by Him and for Him. NASB
Him, is a reference to the Son, Jesus Christ. By Him, Christ, all things were created. All things that are in heaven and in the earth.
Created uses the word ‘kitzo,’ which is a reference to the proprietary ownership, by the manufacturer, of the original. God the Father authored the plan, and Jesus Christ brought it all into existence.
Jesus Christ, took the detailed plans of the Father, and fabricated everything that exists, into existence, in perfect accordance with the original divine plan.
The earth and the heavens are distinguished as different from each other. Christ created the universe and everything in it, and He also created the earth and everything in it, too.
Also, Christ created the angels, who were created prior to the creation of the universe, which we have already studied.
And likewise, just as the universe surrounds the earth, so also Heaven surrounds the universe. This you recall from our study in Job. The universe is as a vault, around which God may walk its entire circumference while in heaven. The phrase is symbolic indicating that any point in the universe is easily available and accessible by God.
As we view this universe, we can only see a small portion into the distant stars. There is much that we can see, but far more that we cannot see. Likewise, in our current world, there is much that we can see, but far more that we cannot see. And even though the huge advances in science and technology have revealed the tremendous complexities of our world, there is still far more that we have yet to discover, and probably never will discover it all.
The cycles of the universe (repeated creation and destruction) are a myth. The natural tendencies of the universe are a myth. The ideas of natural evolution are a myth.
Jesus Christ created all that is, and He created it from a single proprietary prototype, if you will. The angels, the universe, the plants and animals, even humanity were all created from one initial creation moment, within their respect timeframes in history.
He created the angels first, the universe second, and these were created with perfection. The angels rebelled, and the universe and the earth were brought into a destructive condition. The earth became null and void. It was not created in a destroyed state. Satan was the one who caused all of this destruction.
Then the earth was restored in those six days as spelled out in Genesis. Humanity was the next creation, and here we are.
The next major creation after Adam and Eve was the creation of reborn man, due to faith in Christ and the salvation due to that faith. We as believers became a regenerated and new spiritual species, which we have also already studied.
Christ not only created the physical things that exist, but also the non-physical things. Things such as the principles of establishment, authorities, social norms and standards, powers, due process, and so forth.
There is nothing in existence that Christ did not create in its original and perfect state.
Now Satan and man have taken nearly everything that God has created, and have twisted it into bizarre ideas, but that is merely a function of man applying flawed thinking to the world around him, and abusing and distorting everything, for mans own selfish purposes, that God has provided.
However, Christ created everything for one purpose, and that was for Himself, for eternal happiness, for the fulfillment of the perfect plan which God designed originally in eternity past, and ultimately for the glorification of God Himself.
Gods original intent was to have a universe filled with life, with whom He could share a phenomenal eternity.
Man and angel ruined that whole concept. However, God also designed the recovery from man and angels ruinous ways, and that is where His phenomenal brilliance enters the picture.
No matter what man and angel try in their attempt to destroy everything, for all their efforts only end up in destruction, God can take all of the bad, and make it all come out good for those who have and will believe in Him.
Look around you. There is every type of stress factor that you can imagine in life. And yet, when it is all said and done, God can take your life, advance you to spiritual maturity, and advance you even further in a life for eternity, beyond anything that you can imagine. And there isn’t anything that this world can do to prevent it, so long as you want it for yourself.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Colossians 1:15
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 1:15
15 Who [hos] is [esti] the image [eikon] of the invisible [aoratos] God [theos], the firstborn [prototokos] of every [pas] creature [ktisis]: KJV-Interlinear
15 And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. NASB
If you ever wondered what God the Father or the Holy Spirit looked like, or were like, then you only have to look as far as Jesus to see their characteristics and attributes.
Jesus Christ is God. As far as personality go, all three members of the Godhead will be virtually identical. Each is an individual person, but all three possess the same exact attributes and essence.
They are all co-equal, co-eternal, and co-infinite.
They all possess omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, eternal life, love, sovereignty, immutability, veracity, righteousness, and justice.
But just because one is similar to the other, that does not mean that you can address each or approach each in the same fashion.
Carnal man makes that presumption in arrogance. Man and all religions (Christianity is not a religion) believe that they possess the right, the equal right to approach God (the Father or some higher recognizable deity) based on mans terms and on mans level.
Man believes that he can force or invent deity to compromise or negotiate with man, such that man has the power to design and define his own destiny. Whether discovering the fountain of youth, whether discovering the ultimate technology, whether ascending to some higher form of existence, melding into nature, or negotiating a co-existence with God, humanity has come up with some pretty bizarre ideas.
But, not so.
God says quite simply, that all must come through the Son, because of the work of the Son on the Cross. The work which lifted up man out of the slave market of sin. And though Christ paid the price in full for sin, man must still recognize that work by believing in Him.
Christ is the first born of all of creation, which means what exactly?
This means simply that Jesus Christ has been the one and only path to God, and that there has never been an alternate path to God. Of all of creation, means that this applied to Satan and the angels as well. Satan (Lucifer) rebelled by rejecting Christ, wanting to be the sole heir to power, or negotiator and intermediary with the Father – to be like the most high. And that is his ultimate downfall, as it is with every unbeliever.
The first born means the first, or the beginning or the place where all things begin, and that is exactly what Jesus Christ is, the first and the point of where our only possible relationship with God, exists.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 1:15
15 Who [hos] is [esti] the image [eikon] of the invisible [aoratos] God [theos], the firstborn [prototokos] of every [pas] creature [ktisis]: KJV-Interlinear
15 And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. NASB
If you ever wondered what God the Father or the Holy Spirit looked like, or were like, then you only have to look as far as Jesus to see their characteristics and attributes.
Jesus Christ is God. As far as personality go, all three members of the Godhead will be virtually identical. Each is an individual person, but all three possess the same exact attributes and essence.
They are all co-equal, co-eternal, and co-infinite.
They all possess omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, eternal life, love, sovereignty, immutability, veracity, righteousness, and justice.
But just because one is similar to the other, that does not mean that you can address each or approach each in the same fashion.
Carnal man makes that presumption in arrogance. Man and all religions (Christianity is not a religion) believe that they possess the right, the equal right to approach God (the Father or some higher recognizable deity) based on mans terms and on mans level.
Man believes that he can force or invent deity to compromise or negotiate with man, such that man has the power to design and define his own destiny. Whether discovering the fountain of youth, whether discovering the ultimate technology, whether ascending to some higher form of existence, melding into nature, or negotiating a co-existence with God, humanity has come up with some pretty bizarre ideas.
But, not so.
God says quite simply, that all must come through the Son, because of the work of the Son on the Cross. The work which lifted up man out of the slave market of sin. And though Christ paid the price in full for sin, man must still recognize that work by believing in Him.
Christ is the first born of all of creation, which means what exactly?
This means simply that Jesus Christ has been the one and only path to God, and that there has never been an alternate path to God. Of all of creation, means that this applied to Satan and the angels as well. Satan (Lucifer) rebelled by rejecting Christ, wanting to be the sole heir to power, or negotiator and intermediary with the Father – to be like the most high. And that is his ultimate downfall, as it is with every unbeliever.
The first born means the first, or the beginning or the place where all things begin, and that is exactly what Jesus Christ is, the first and the point of where our only possible relationship with God, exists.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Colossians 1:14
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 1:14
14 In [en] whom [hos] we have [echo] redemption [apolutrosis] through [dia] his [autos] blood [haima], even the forgiveness [aphesis] of sins [hamartia]: KJV-Interlinear
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. NASB
Redemption means deliverance, release, rescue, salvation.
Forgiveness means pardon, clemency, amnesty, absolution, expungement, to wipe out, erase as though it never existed.
The blood is not literal blood, but is symbolic of the work which Jesus Christ performed on the Cross in our place.
It was during those three hours on the Cross, from noon until three o’clock, on that historic Passover day, on a Wednesday afternoon, that darkness, a unique darkness, a supernatural darkness fell across the land, and in which Jesus screamed and screamed in the dark, as no one could see Him, but only hear, the work of judgment.
And then it was over. Daylight returned, and Jesus asked for a drink to quench His thirst. Work, especially extreme work, generates a thirst in anyone and Jesus (His humanity) was no exception. Then Jesus exhaled for the last time and died physically. His work was of that of the Father, punishing Him for our sins, paying the price for our wrongs, redeeming us out of the slave market, and setting us free such that we would have the opportunity to be forgiven and thus saved. Other events also occurred, as well as three full days in the grave, and so forth.
Note, that forgiveness did not occur on the Cross, only the punishment of sin, which set the stage for our forgiveness. Forgiveness is the actual pardoning from sin, but that comes only when we accept the work of Christ, by believing in Him. Believe in Christ and you will be saved.
Even in our faith in Christ there is no work or effort on our part. Our belief and subsequent and simultaneous salvation come only because Christ went to the Cross in our place and paid the ultimate price for our freedom.
Those who refuse to believe in Christ, commit the unpardonable (unforgivable) sin, which prevents their forgiveness and sends them to the Lake of Fire forever. Mans work in not enough to save or pardon.
Conversely, for the believer, during his life after salvation, sins will be committed and thus the confession process recognizes Christ’s work on the Cross and forgiveness is issued each time we confess to God the Father. That restores us into fellowship and thus back under the control of the Holy Spirit in our spiritual life.
Without the Cross, there would be no rescue, no salvation. Without the Cross there would be no forgiveness, no pardon.
Our entire future depends on the work of Christ, and without Him, we would have no life, and certainly no future.
And, I might add, without our obedience to Gods rules, we would have no blessing, or at least very little.
A personal note here. We are getting ready to send off our Bruce who is getting ready to deploy (41st Infantry Brigade Combat Unit) to Iraq. Our prayers go with him and all of our military personnel, for their safe return.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 1:14
14 In [en] whom [hos] we have [echo] redemption [apolutrosis] through [dia] his [autos] blood [haima], even the forgiveness [aphesis] of sins [hamartia]: KJV-Interlinear
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. NASB
Redemption means deliverance, release, rescue, salvation.
Forgiveness means pardon, clemency, amnesty, absolution, expungement, to wipe out, erase as though it never existed.
The blood is not literal blood, but is symbolic of the work which Jesus Christ performed on the Cross in our place.
It was during those three hours on the Cross, from noon until three o’clock, on that historic Passover day, on a Wednesday afternoon, that darkness, a unique darkness, a supernatural darkness fell across the land, and in which Jesus screamed and screamed in the dark, as no one could see Him, but only hear, the work of judgment.
And then it was over. Daylight returned, and Jesus asked for a drink to quench His thirst. Work, especially extreme work, generates a thirst in anyone and Jesus (His humanity) was no exception. Then Jesus exhaled for the last time and died physically. His work was of that of the Father, punishing Him for our sins, paying the price for our wrongs, redeeming us out of the slave market, and setting us free such that we would have the opportunity to be forgiven and thus saved. Other events also occurred, as well as three full days in the grave, and so forth.
Note, that forgiveness did not occur on the Cross, only the punishment of sin, which set the stage for our forgiveness. Forgiveness is the actual pardoning from sin, but that comes only when we accept the work of Christ, by believing in Him. Believe in Christ and you will be saved.
Even in our faith in Christ there is no work or effort on our part. Our belief and subsequent and simultaneous salvation come only because Christ went to the Cross in our place and paid the ultimate price for our freedom.
Those who refuse to believe in Christ, commit the unpardonable (unforgivable) sin, which prevents their forgiveness and sends them to the Lake of Fire forever. Mans work in not enough to save or pardon.
Conversely, for the believer, during his life after salvation, sins will be committed and thus the confession process recognizes Christ’s work on the Cross and forgiveness is issued each time we confess to God the Father. That restores us into fellowship and thus back under the control of the Holy Spirit in our spiritual life.
Without the Cross, there would be no rescue, no salvation. Without the Cross there would be no forgiveness, no pardon.
Our entire future depends on the work of Christ, and without Him, we would have no life, and certainly no future.
And, I might add, without our obedience to Gods rules, we would have no blessing, or at least very little.
A personal note here. We are getting ready to send off our Bruce who is getting ready to deploy (41st Infantry Brigade Combat Unit) to Iraq. Our prayers go with him and all of our military personnel, for their safe return.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Colossians 1:13
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 1:13
13 Who [hos] hath delivered [rhoumai] us [hemas] from [ek] the power [exousia] of darkness [skotos], and [kai] hath translated [methistemi] us into [eis] the kingdom [basileia] of his [autos] dear [agape] Son [huios]: KJV-Interlinear
13 For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, NASB
Not only did God give us life from out of nothing, for God created life out of nothing, just as He created this universe out of nothing. Recall the study of the different terms used for the word create, from Genesis.
God formed our physical bodies out of the dust (biological life), but He created human life out of nothing.
And in so doing, He designed the plan for giving to us an inheritance of the universe. From dust to glory as it were. Where else can you find a blessing of such magnitude?
And in due course, man rejected God, who is light, and found himself in darkness, or an existence without light.
The power of darkness is essentially the absence of power altogether, or a life without power. God is the only power in existence. All forms of power are essentially the application of Gods essence. God invented this universe, and all of the ingredients and principles that rule it. Many of which we have discovered, but most of which we have yet to discover.
The word for translated, ‘methistemi,’ means to be removed from one place and placed in another. Typically this means that a person is moved from one country and brought into the place of another country. When such a change occurs, that person is no longer governed by the laws of the former country, but by the laws of his new country.
Darkness is the old country. Darkness illustrates sin, pain, suffering, death and so forth.
Light is the new country, and light illustrates life, no more sorrow, no more pain, no more suffering, no more death, etc.
The kingdom of Christ is a kingdom of the spirit, and not of this world. And into His kingdom we were translated, instantly, upon believing in Him.
Before salvation, there is no hope, no power, nothing. After salvation, then we have not only hope, but the promise of a phenomenal future even after this world comes to its end.
When you are a citizen of a given country, then you have the benefits which pertain to that country. But in salvation, we are not only citizens, but heirs to the entire new universe and heaven combined, that are to come.
Now, any citizen must obey the laws of the land. Violate those laws and there is a certain loss of benefit or privilege. It is no different with the spiritual life. God has rules, and those rules pertain to spiritual growth, responsibility, participation in some fashion, and therefore the benefits go to those who abide by the rules. That should only make sense. You cannot delegate your responsibility to someone else, to fulfill for you.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Colossians 1:13
13 Who [hos] hath delivered [rhoumai] us [hemas] from [ek] the power [exousia] of darkness [skotos], and [kai] hath translated [methistemi] us into [eis] the kingdom [basileia] of his [autos] dear [agape] Son [huios]: KJV-Interlinear
13 For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, NASB
Not only did God give us life from out of nothing, for God created life out of nothing, just as He created this universe out of nothing. Recall the study of the different terms used for the word create, from Genesis.
God formed our physical bodies out of the dust (biological life), but He created human life out of nothing.
And in so doing, He designed the plan for giving to us an inheritance of the universe. From dust to glory as it were. Where else can you find a blessing of such magnitude?
And in due course, man rejected God, who is light, and found himself in darkness, or an existence without light.
The power of darkness is essentially the absence of power altogether, or a life without power. God is the only power in existence. All forms of power are essentially the application of Gods essence. God invented this universe, and all of the ingredients and principles that rule it. Many of which we have discovered, but most of which we have yet to discover.
The word for translated, ‘methistemi,’ means to be removed from one place and placed in another. Typically this means that a person is moved from one country and brought into the place of another country. When such a change occurs, that person is no longer governed by the laws of the former country, but by the laws of his new country.
Darkness is the old country. Darkness illustrates sin, pain, suffering, death and so forth.
Light is the new country, and light illustrates life, no more sorrow, no more pain, no more suffering, no more death, etc.
The kingdom of Christ is a kingdom of the spirit, and not of this world. And into His kingdom we were translated, instantly, upon believing in Him.
Before salvation, there is no hope, no power, nothing. After salvation, then we have not only hope, but the promise of a phenomenal future even after this world comes to its end.
When you are a citizen of a given country, then you have the benefits which pertain to that country. But in salvation, we are not only citizens, but heirs to the entire new universe and heaven combined, that are to come.
Now, any citizen must obey the laws of the land. Violate those laws and there is a certain loss of benefit or privilege. It is no different with the spiritual life. God has rules, and those rules pertain to spiritual growth, responsibility, participation in some fashion, and therefore the benefits go to those who abide by the rules. That should only make sense. You cannot delegate your responsibility to someone else, to fulfill for you.
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