TruthInvestigate

“Oh, the unspeakable greatness of that exchange,—the Sinless One is condemned, and he who is guilty goes free; the Blessing bears the curse, and the cursed is brought into blessing; the Life dies, and the dead live; the Glory is whelmed in darkness, and he who knew nothing but confusion of face is clothed with glory.”

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Location: Kingsland, Georgia, United States

A person God turned around many times.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Seeing Jesus

“And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (Jn. 6:40). We need to copy Jesus as John copied Him. In Him is all the fullness of the Godhead manifested. In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col. 1:19; 2:3). Jesus is made our source of “wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” (1Cor. 1:30). All power to overcome our predisposed sins and sinfulness was given to Him (Matt. 28:18), by looking at His life.

 “All the words of [His] mouth [were] in righteousness; there [was] nothing froward or perverse in them. [And] they are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge…. Counsel [was His], and sound wisdom: [He was] understanding; [He was] strength.” (Prov. 8:7-14). He was the truth. “All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (Jn. 1:3,4).

But, how can we copy Him if we cannot see Him? How can we have the day to day life with the Messiah, the anointed One, when He came and left 2,000 years ago? Yes, He is in His heavenly sanctuary, ever living to make intercession for us; but that’s even worse for seeing Him. He was here 2,000 years ago, separated from us by time and a few thousand miles. Now He is separated from us with light-years between us; and added to that, the last time we heard from Him was 2,000 years ago, when He spoke to John. We must know Him like the apostles did who received His Spirit that propelled them to take the gospel to the furthest corners of the globe. In fact, we must know Him and His Father better than the apostles, inasmuch as the Latter Rain preaching of the gospel for a witness to the whole world will be more abundant than the apostolic Early Rain. Is knowing Jesus only our work? Does our heavenly High Priest have some part to play in our learning of Him? Yes, He does work with us to learn of Him.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 16:17).

“Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Thy sight. All things are delivered unto Me of My Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.” (Matt. 11:26,27).

He must reveal Himself before we can learn of Him. And this He promises to do. He did it for His disciples more so after He left than when He was with them. When His physical features would no longer be an obstacle due to His physical absence, He revealed to them His character when He sent them His Spirit. The same will happen again today.

All who would receive Christ by faith were united to Him by a tie closer than that of human kinship. They would become one with Him, as He was one with the Father. As a believer and doer of His words, His mother was more nearly and savingly related to Him than through her natural relationship. Desire of Ages, p. 325.

Closer than father, mother, brother, friend, or lover is the Lord our Saviour. “Fear not,” He says, “for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine.” “Since thou wast precious in My sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.” Isaiah 43:1, 4. Desire of Ages, p. 327.

When you succor the poor, sympathize with the afflicted and oppressed, and befriend the orphan, you bring yourselves into a closer relationship to Jesus. Welfare Ministry, p. 311.

Henceforth through the Spirit, Christ was to abide continually in the hearts of the children. Their union with Him was closer than when He was personally with them.… All that Christ was to the disciples, He desires to be to His children today.  Faith I Live By, p. 62.

Once the disciples were humbled by the cross and had come to terms with their self-sufficiency, then the Father sent His Son in Spirit “when the times of refreshing [would] come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19) through the Early Rain of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. By His Spirit they could hear Jesus again and see Him again, clear as a bell. Fulfilled in their souls was the great promise, “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which My covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put My Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jer. 31:31).

Their earlier relationship during their discipleship, their humbling at the crucifixion, their recognition of their sinfulness and the gift of repentance led to their full conversion and the blotting out of their sins. Then the gift of God in its fullness shook off their earthly shackles and circumcised their hearts and minds. Until this happened, even physically following Jesus every day did not communicate to them the knowledge of Him that could transform them. They needed more than eyesight in order to copy Him truly in deed, not only by the letter, but in spirit. The real advantage came to them after He had left them and they had come through trying difficulties that tested their commitment to the max.

Their advantage is no less advantageous for us, and even more so. The more trying the Gethsemane, the greater the victory for those who survive it. We have a Gethsemane to pass through—a time of trouble such as never was. Even today, we are traversing a dark time in the world that is already sifting the ranks of Adventism. Many are falling away to unbelief in this strong delusion that God has permitted to come upon the world. The 5th and 6th trumpets are manifesting themselves by increasing fruition of atheism and abominations in the earth.

The original Adventism which Jesus gave to Ellen and James White is dead (Rev. 11:7-10). But it will come back to life again (vs. 11-13), and for that resurrection of Reformation living faith we need to prepare now. We must be striving to know Jesus’ character or we will not be worthy to receive the full revelation of the Lord in the Latter Rain. It is all a gift, for the Father will cause that revelation of His Son―“And He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you.” (Acts 3:20).

But we have a work to do. We must walk next to the Messiah, even if our sight is as dim as His erring disciples was, and our ears as clogged with misconceptions of His love and will. Even though the lines of communication are hampered by our surroundings and our own inherited spiritual and chosen disabilities, we must exert all that we have within us to hear and see Him as we read the Bible and meditate upon it. In both Old and New Testaments we must see Jesus.

His promise is, “I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me.” (Prov. 8:17). Do you love Jesus? Do you want to love Him more? Its children, needy children, faulty high-needs children, who come to Him. “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Thy sight…. Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” (Matt. 11:25-30).

If we take what little He has already revealed and put it into practice—for the purpose of knowing Him better—then our disability to see and know Him will lessen with exercise. And our ability to see Him will increase (most of sight and hearing happens in the brain). “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” (2Pet. 1:4-10). If we are seeking Him and His love wholeheartedly, downloading His life into our thoughts and lives, then, even if it takes a lot of time to perfectly reproduce His character traits in us, He will look upon us with grace, as He did for His weak and fledgling disciple family when He tabernacled among us; and so will His Father, our Father. “For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.” (Ps. 103:14).

“The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.” (2Chron. 16:9).

“The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2Tim. 2:19).

“If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.” (Jn. 15:7,8).

“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Lk. 12:32).

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Hebrews chapter 13

Heb 13:1  Let brotherly love continue.
Heb 13:2  Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Heb 13:3  Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
Heb 13:4  Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Heb 13:6  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Heb 13:7  Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Heb 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Heb 13:9  Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Heb 13:11  For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Heb 13:12  Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach.
Heb 13:14  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Heb 13:15  By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.
Heb 13:16  But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Heb 13:17  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Heb 13:18  Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
Heb 13:19  But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Heb 13:20  Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Heb 13:21  Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Heb 13:22  And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
Heb 13:23  Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
Heb 13:24  Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
Heb 13:25  Grace be with you all. Amen. Written to the Hebrews from Italy, by Timothy.

“Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.” (Heb. 13:1-3).

This command agrees with the idea that the truth of God restores the original Edenic fellowship between creatures as they are supernaturally bound together by agape love. They are “one flesh”; “for no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church.” (Eph 5:29). Atonement to God has made them one with each other, which was Christ’s deepest desire. “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.” (Jn. 17:21-23). Such oneness between the children of God stands out in marked contrast from the coolness and coldness between the children of the evil one. Only the new heart and mind from conversion gives the capacity for empathy described WoH’s above request.

“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” (Heb. 13:4).

There is a fine line between true relations in marriage which God gave to Adam and Eve, and the gross perversion many have today, even among God’s people. As in the days of the concentration of power and luxury of the Roman Empire, and as it was in the days of Noah, so it is again today’s bridgebuilding into the “glorious” 21st century. “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matt. 24:37-39).

Until Jesus comes, marriage will be honored by Him. But, in as the day of judgment at Mt. Sinai, so will the time come, when God’s people abide by the Lord’s command, “
Come not at your wives.” (Ex. 19:15), and by Paul’s prophetic injunction, “But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.” (1Cor. 7:29-31). The days before judgment and the day of judgment are two very different circumstances which require two different frames of mind and actions in the life. The fear of God and His justice must force a relinquishing of former liberties in the Spirit, the model of which was demanded of the people on the Day of Atonement. “And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: for on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.” (Lev. 16:29-31). If the God of perpetual justice and mercy is about to give His greatest of all blessings of forgiveness and the forever forgetfulness of our sins, we must reciprocate by searching our souls and by sacrificing self.

Until the culmination of this investigative judgment, Jesus, in the Most Holy Place, permits the relations of marriage among those who He has not yet sealed and prepared for His return in power. The sealed will be as Jesus described, “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” (Matt. 22:30). All that His people will be after the translation and resurrection, they must be just before that never before occurrence. The coming little and great times of trouble and Jacob’s troubles will produce such an unique holiness on the people of God. God and His dear Son will so fill their vision that nothing earthly will satisfy them.

“Let your conversation be without covetousness.” (Heb. 13:5).

“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.” (Phil. 3:20,21). “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” (Col. 4:6). Selfishness will never abide in the heart of God’s children. Envy of others’ possessions mean less than nothing to them who have “tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost.” (Heb. 6:4). “Be content with such things as ye have.”

Paul’s greatness came through in contentedness with little earthly materials. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.… Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phil. 4:6,11-13).

“LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
But Thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and He heard me out of His holy hill. Selah.
I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.” (Ps. 3:1-5).

“For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Heb. 13:6).

The original mentions of this came from Moses and was given to a faulty people afflicted with human imperfections and bound to forsake their Savior and Redeemer.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake Me, and break My covenant which I have made with them.” (Deut. 31:16).

Yet, He said that He would not forsake them if there was the smallest iota of sorrow for sin in their hearts. Therefore , this promise contains much comfort and hope for us who are equally flawed and weak and “subject to like passions” (Jas. 5:17) as they were.

“When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) He will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which He sware unto them.” (Deut. 4:30,31).

“And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel.
And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.
The LORD thy God, He will go over before thee, and He will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said. And the LORD shall do unto them as He did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom He destroyed. And the LORD shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you. Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. And the LORD, He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” (Deut. 31:1-8).

“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses My servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Josh. 1:5-9).

“If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.” (Jn. 15:6-8). 

The blessings of Jesus and His warnings, His promises and requirements, His permanently combined mercy and justice, have ever gone hand in hand.

This favorite promise of the Lord’s protection, provision, and presence which we quote today, has been a repeated down through the ages.

By Samuel Circa 1080 BC. “And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king. And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; and turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. For the LORD will not forsake His people for His great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you His people. Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you. But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.” (1Sam. 12:19).

By David Circa 1000 BC. “For the LORD will not cast off His people, neither will He forsake His inheritance.” (Ps. 94:14). “I will keep Thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.” (Ps. 119:8).

By Solomon Circa 970 BC. “And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel.” (1Ki. 6:13). “The LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers: let Him not leave us, nor forsake us: that He may incline our hearts unto Him, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments, and His statutes, and His judgments, which He commanded our fathers. And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of His servant, and the cause of His people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require: that all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else. Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes, and to keep His commandments, as at this day.” (1Ki. 8:57-61).

“Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel. But if ye turn away, and forsake My statutes and My commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; then will I pluck them up by the roots out of My land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for My name, will I cast out of My sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations. And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house? And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath He brought all this evil upon them.” (2Chron. 7:18-22).

For king Uzziah Circa 780 BC. “And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded: and he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him, He will be found of you; but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you.” (2Chron. 15:1,2).

By Isaiah, circa 720 BC. “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.” (Isa. 41:17,18). “And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.” (Isa. 42:16).


By Ezra, the teaching, preaching, intercessor priest Circa 450 bc. “Nevertheless for Thy great mercies’ sake Thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for Thou art a gracious and merciful God.” (Neh. 9:31).

By Jesus to His disciples AD 31. “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more; but ye see Me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you. He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.… If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth Me not keepeth not My sayings: and the word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father’s which sent Me. these things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (Jn. 14:16-21,23-27).

And now by the WoH, circa AD 68.

“Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.” (Heb. 13:7).

“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (1Pet. 5:1-5).

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Heb. 13:8). Jesus never changes. “I AM THAT I AM.” (Ex. 3:14).
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev. 1:8). I am.
“I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” (Gen. 15:1).

“I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst. … I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (Jn. 6:35,51). 
“I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (Jn. 8:12).
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” (Jn. 8:58).

“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (Jn. 9:5). 
“I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep…. I am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine.” (Jn. 10:11,14).

“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” (Jn. 11:25).
 “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” (Jn. 14:6). 
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” (Jn. 15:1).

“I AM.” (Ex. 3:14). 

“Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.” (Heb. 13:9).

“Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: from which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.” (1Tim. 1:5-7).

“Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.” (Gal. 4:8-10).

“We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.” (Heb. 13:10). Our tabernacle is in heaven. We have entered through the first veil with Jesus into the Holy Place, where He eats with us from the table of showbread, and breathes on our prayers a holy influence from His altar of incense.

“For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” (Heb. 13:11-14). As the carcasses of the sacrifices was disposed of outside the city, likewise Jesus was crucified as a criminal outside Jerusalem. If we are following Him and bearing our cross, we will also bear reproach for the foolishness of the cross. This world grows less and less appealing to the Christian as he finds that he cannot abandon His Creator, and diverges from the spirit that works in the children of disobedience. 

“By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.” (Heb 13:15). Every child of God is a member of the Nethinims. He has a song that no man can sing except himself. “I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.” (Ps. 40:1-3).

“But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” (Heb. 13:16,17).

“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (1Pet. 5:1-5).

“Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.” (Heb. 13:18). This is sounding like Paul more and more. Paul was blind from his first meeting of Jesus on the way to Damascus. So, he was dependent on others to do his writing. As Moses was God to Aaron and Aaron was Moses’ prophet to the people, so Paul was God to Luke and others and they were his penman to the people. This does not lessen the inspiration of Paul’s letters, but it does throw light on how the prophetic office worked.

When the writer of Hebrews (WoH) used the word, “we” (Heb. 2:5; 5:1; 6:3; 6:9,11; 8:1; 9:5; 13:18), the WoH is including himself and his scribe, who may also be adding his two cents. And Luke certainly possessed the divine credentials to supplement Paul’s words. “It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus.” (Lk. 1:3). If the WoH is Paul and his penman the gospel writer, Luke, then we have a united treatise mainly written by Paul, but also added to by Luke, who also had a good handle on the intricacies of the Old Testament.

“But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.” (Heb. 13:19). Even though the WoH includes his associates, he takes full control of his letter, and full responsibility. He is a real leader, someone to whom people gravitate, someone people love to gather around and to serve, even to the point of donating organs. “I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.” (Gal. 4:15). It is the fulfillment of the wonderful precious promise concerning the grateful response of service to the preachers of the gospel by those who received the good word of God from them−

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.” (Isa. 61:1-6).

“We trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.” Again this sounds like Paul, “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” (2Cor. 4:1,2). This calm, settled, joyful conscience and holy confidence in God come only through the Spirit of God, that “that He might be glorified.” “The worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.… Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus… And having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised).” (Heb. 10:2,19,21-23).

“For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” (1Jn. 3:20,22).

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.” (Heb. 13:20). Paul made similar statements.

“But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Rom. 8:11). “Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him.” (Rom. 4:23). “Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” (Rom. 1:3,4).
“Now the God of peace… make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Heb. 13:20,21).

“And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.” (Heb. 13:22). We are to suffer under the strong communication from the Spirit of God through His servants. The Law may not feel good, but it’s the best thing for us. “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” (Matt. 11:29,30). When we love Jesus because of what we see in Him, we easily copy Him and let Him instill His character in our hearts. This is the easy road to God.

“My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of His correction: for whom the LORD loveth He correcteth; even as a Father the son in whom He delighteth. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.” (Prov. 3:11-18). 

The alternative is much harder. “The way of transgressors is hard.” (Prov. 13:15). “Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that My fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.” (Jer. 2:19.). “He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.” (Prov. 11:29). “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.” (Prov. 14:15,16). “A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.” (Prov. 17:10).

“Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?” (Prov. 17:16). “A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.” (Prov. 18:6,7).

“Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you. Grace be with you all. Amen.” (Heb. 13:23-25).

Having given many reproofs, yet always tempering them with assurances of love and his confidence in them, the WoH closes with affectionate salutations. Never once did he mean to blast the Christians of Judea with the wrath of Satan. As a father to them, he exemplifies Paul’s counsel:
           
“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:4). Like our Father in heaven and His divine Son, he mingled truth with grace.”For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made. For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid Me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners. I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.” (Isa. 57:15-19).

“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger for ever.
He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear Him.
For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.…
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children’s children.” (Ps. 103:8-14,17).