Hebrews 4:3
From the Foundation of the World
For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. (Hebrews 4:3)
A foundational platform to work from: a structural beginning of the building, or in this case, the very foundation of the world. There is no question of the supernatural power that constructed all of creation. It is the unrestricted power of the Almighty that cast forth the Word of His power, and all of creation spun into existence out of the vacuum of space. For nothing that is seen was made of its self; it all came into existence from the very verbal expression of God. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:3) In this grand creation, that man denies, God is ever present, controlling, and maintaining the very creation that man denies. The world that we dwell upon is set on a foundation that we can neither see, nor understand. It is one of the evidences of the things not seen. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) This foundation determines the soundness of the structure. A divine Architect drew in His plans all things in this creation. It was discussed, and modified by His divine counsel: Father, Son and Holy Ghost. This was all accomplished before the world was. The divine plan was to create an entire creation of many systems; such as, solar systems, the immensity of the stars, the blackness, the far reaching of space, the colors, the planets, the galaxies, the meteors, and the chemical; all working according to God’s divine will with one intention: to set the earth as a unique jewel in space, and upon this earth to create a being in God’s own image, and call him ‘adam’ or/and ‘iysh,’ man. Before the creation all these things were decided by the eternal God. There was also a plan of the redemption or salvation of man.
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33)
For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? (Romans 11:34)
Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? (Job 11:7)
He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. (Ecclesiastes Romans 3:11)
Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? (Isaiah 40:13)
O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep. (Psalm 92:5)
The sovereign God, whom I serve, has never been caught short, He has never lacked preparation, and He has always been many steps ahead of man. He prepared the plan of salvation line upon line, and precept upon precept.
The Immoveable Foundation — The Rock
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: (Matthew 7:24)
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. (Matthew 7:25)
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: (Matthew 7:26)
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. (Matthew 7:27)
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: (Matthew 7:28)
For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (Matthew 7:29)
The building that is set upon the rock endures the storm, and in the case of the master plan of God, the rock is Himself — the Rock. The master plan is reflected in this brief comment by Christ in Matthew 7. The rock is where you set your foundation, when it is on a rock it uses the rock and the firmness of the rock as it’s very foundation which sand cannot give for it is ever shifting like the heart of man. A rock is firm and will not shift, and so the foundation of God standeth sure. Nevertheless 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. (2 Timothy 2:19) The Scripture continually speaks of the foundation of the earth. It also speaks of the God, the Lord Jesus Christ who formed the foundation, and established it in the midst of space. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: (Hebrews 1:10) And let’s not forget that the heavens also are the works of His hands. He has not only walked upon the earth, but heaven is His throne, and earth is merely His footstool. So the psalmist declared in Psalm 8:4, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? The Creator of both heaven and earth also works tirelessly in the souls of men. He is building for Himself a spiritual people, redeemed by His own blood, and members of His grand house, But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 3:6) We are built on this Rock, which is Jesus Christ, our Savior and God. This Rock cannot be moved, for He is a tried stone, and a polished stone.
To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, (1 Peter 2:4)
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded (1 Peter 2:6).
Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, (1 Peter 2:7)
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. (1 Peter 2:8)
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; (Ephesians 2:19)
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (Ephesians 2:20)
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (Ephesians 2:21)
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.(Ephesians 2:22)
The Immoveable House — on The Rock
This whole divine house is built upon Jesus Christ. He has sent the Spirit of God into the world to call out a redeemed people for Himself. These are members, or building blocks of His divine house, and in verse 3 of Hebrews 4, He is the wise Master Builder in the permanency of His house so that those who are saved by His death, and endless life according to the resurrection of the Son of God are new creatures, and have eternal salvation in His new man, who is in heaven above. This salvation will never pass away, even though heaven and earth may pass away, not one soul under the blood of Christ will be lost. Just as the word of God has been secured before the creation, before the foundation of the earth, not one jot or tittle will pass away. And so, each and every member of this grand company, the multitude of souls who have eternal life have entered into His rest. And there they will stay throughout all eternity.
The Power of God — The Breath of His Mouth
There is also in the quest of time this man Adam who stands before God. How can man with his limited mind ever conceive such a foundation as the one that the earth is set upon? Much less, how can man conceive in his own mind such a God that merely spoke the creation and worlds into existence? From emptiness, from nothingness, there was nothing in the blackness to respond, or to give to God; for nothing existed until God spoke: the worlds were framed by the word of God (Hebrews 11:3), And God said, (Genesis 1:3). By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. (Psalm 33:6) The mind of mankind cannot comprehend the power of the words of His mouth. It was an absolute command, and the creation came forth, God said, and it was so.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)
The same was in the beginning with God. (John 1:2)
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3)
Remember what I said previously that there was nothing, just a void, a great nothingness, and the Lord of glory spoke, and it was so! He was completely independent in His action. For only God can claim complete independence, and so, as He created the earth, He must reveal Himself to His creature — man. In revealing Himself He claimed the earth.
<<A Psalm of David.>> The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1)
Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine. (Job 41:11)
The Creation of a New Man
This earth and the world we inhabit does not belong to man. In the sad reality of sin, man is a transient being. He is like the sand in Matthew, Chapter 7, and man thinks he has something to give to God; however, just as before the creation there was a great void, so also in the heart of man, there is a great void, there is nothingness, and he has nothing to give to God. The distance between God and man that Adam’s sin caused could never be breached by man. This distance that was caused by sin is greater than man can conceive in his mind. Man is a broken object, and this broken object cannot mend itself; therefore, God must be the Creator of a new man. Adam must be cast off, and the new man introduced. The sin of Adam put man in a state that was beyond recovery. Only the same power that created all things could redeem man. God, therefore, would replace Adam with a new man, Christ Jesus: the very foundation of all salvation. Once again, I refer back to Matthew 7:15-23.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (Matthew 7:15)
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? (Matthew 7:16)
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. (Matthew 7:17)
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. (Matthew 7:18)
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. (Matthew 7:19)
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (Matthew 7:20)
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (Matthew 7:22)
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:23)
The Lord Jesus went into detail concerning the will of the Father, however, God the Father is referred to in relation to His sovereignty. We see here the divine will and counsel of the entire Godhead. Man desires to present something to God, as Cain; thus, he brought the works of his hands. Many translate their works as godly works (or good works)when they have nothing to do with the will of God. A man who performs what he considers good works brings them to God expecting that God will be happy. No, No! God is angry everyday with man in his sinful state. God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry [with the wicked] every day. (Psalm 7:11) He exhibited His anger with the flood. God was considering the end of all flesh, however, Noah found grace in God’s sight, and God preserved Noah, and because of Noah’s faith his children, his wife and the wives of his children were also brought through the flood. This was all because of grace. Notice in Noah’s life it was not what he brought to God, but what God did for Noah because of his faith. Man wants to give to God, and yet, man has nothing to give; for man’s heart is desperately wicked, and amongst his twisted DNA there is the strain of Adam’s sin. How can I give God something I do not possess? I am a castaway, He cast me out when He cast Adam out of the garden of God.
Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. (Acts 17:22)
For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. (Acts 17:23)
God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; (Acts 17:24)
Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; (Acts 17:25)
And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; (Acts 17:26)
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: (Acts 17:27)
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. (Acts 17:28)
Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.(Acts 17:29)
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: (Acts 17:30)
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)
Although Paul does not mention the sovereignty of God in this section of the Book of Acts, he describes a divine Being with complete sovereignty. Speaking to the men of Athens on Mars Hill, Paul describes their unknown god. I think it is appropriate that this God, the God of heaven and earth, was unknown to these men. They had an altar that they had dedicated to an unknown god, and yet, they had no way to communicate, or to come into the presence of this God. Paul, the master of communication, presented to them a sovereign God who controls all aspects of their lives even the very breathe they breath. For many years after the death of the Lord Jesus upon the cross of Calvary, the critics, the Pharisees, the deceivers of the Greeks, and the misguided Gentiles have been fighting over the sovereignty of God. Sovereignty of the divine Being cannot be diminished by the self appointed theologians, or by their theological schools or seminaries. If you want to have true theology in a sovereign God, all things concerning God must come from God, from Jesus Christ through the greatest theologian: the Holy Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit has never diminished the sovereignty of God, or misguided any child of God concerning the sovereignty of the Godhead. Enough said!
Who Is The Controller of Destiny — Man or God?
We look at our existence as an individual, as a collective body, as a nation, even as the world; and as a collective organism, and under this organism we surmise that we have control over our destiny. This is a lie that goes all the way back to the garden of God. The devil persuaded both Adam and Eve that they had control over their own destiny. How did that work out for them?
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. (Psalm 12:2) The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:(Psalm 12:3) Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us? (Psalm 12:4) The hypocrite with a conscience seared by vanity and pride in our current age repeats the same thought, our lips are our own: who is lord over us? Our lips are our own, our wombs are our own, our bodies are our own, who is lord over us? The lie continues on into our age in that man believes that he alone is in control of his own destiny. And therefore believing the lie of the devil, Adam and Eve, were driven out of the garden into a barren wasteland, and their first born was a murderer and shed the blood of his own brother. Over thousands of years that man has endured, he has both murdered and committed some of the most horrible atrocities that could ever have been performed against humanity. There is nothing in man to respond to the Almighty that the Almighty doesn’t present to man. Every hour of my life, my breathe, every beat of my heart belongs to God. I have nothing of my own, or my own existence, to present to God. In fact, my own existence is determined by the mercy of God. (Psalm 139) God reminds us once again of His attendant care of each and every soul who comes into this world as a child of Adam. God is the one who begins His search of man. He not only creates the being, man, but then He searches all his inner thoughts, his desires, and a complete record of his life both in goodness and in sin. Verses 1 through 6 of Psalm 139 describe the process of God searching the heart of man.
<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. (Psalm 139:1)
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. (Psalm 139:2)
Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. (Psalm 139:3)
For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. (Psalm 139:4)
Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. (Psalm 139:5)
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.(Psalm 139:6)
The Second Man
In Psalm 139, if you desire read the entire psalm, we find that God is not just a God of yesterday. We see that God is a God of today, and God of the future, in fact, the eternal God sees the end back to the beginning, and the beginning to the end. He is God of eternity, and as the psalmist, these thoughts are too wonderful for me. How can one not realize that all is His, and His works have been finished from the foundation of the world. Our thoughts are not His thoughts, and our ways are not His ways. It is God who approaches man, and not man who approaches God; once again, these thoughts are too wonderful for me. There is no level of comprehension or knowledge in man to fill the void that sin has caused. God, and only God, can reveal Himself. Did I come to God, or did God come to me? Did I cry to God, or did God cry to me? It is finished was His cry! On the cross of Calvary we have the Lord of glory paying the price for our sin, but there is much more behind the mystic curtain of God’s grace. For when Christ died, we have the end of all flesh. Adam was not only condemned, but ended in the death of Jesus Christ. We, who are of Adam, come to Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin at the veil of His death. We are completely forgiven by God in the death of His dear Son. Now, if we consider Romans, Chapters 1 through 4, we see our own struggle, the condemnation of all men, the presenting of faith, and the working of the Spirit of grace, and the declaration in Chapter 5 that we are justified by the resurrected man who has replaced Adam. He is the second man, the Lord Jesus, who was manifested in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in His flesh, so making peace by the blood of His cross. The cross is the symbol of the death of Adam. It is the complete death that Paul refers to twice in the Book of Galatians. In Galatians 2:20 Paul declared that he is crucified with Christ, in Galatians 6, verse 14, Paul stated, once again, that the world is crucified unto him, and he unto the world. Paul is describing the absolute death of Adam at the cross, that Adam could no longer have dominion over me; for he was replaced by the second man Jesus Christ. No one knows all the travail of the Savior’s soul, nor the works that took place in the darkness of the three days within the tomb. We leave that with the Almighty, for after the death of the Lord Jesus, and the long darkness of the tomb we have the glorious message to and for our soul, He has risen! It is in His resurrection that we find our justification. Romans, Chapter 5 erases the void between the soul and God Almighty. We now share our lives in the most intimate position with the Savior of men. We are bone of His bone, we are flesh of His flesh. This is the new man. This is the second man. This is the man without sin who has carried us to heaven’s glory with Himself.
The Prodigal at Rest
We are at rest with God in His Son, Jesus Christ. He ministers to us, to our soul, and spirit, and conscience. Each and every thought that we have of the divine Person is by the Holy Spirit sent to minister the will, and mind, of Christ to us. How wonderful is God! Were we not eating with the swine, as the prodigal, and then the Holy Spirit approached us. He made us realize our terrible position that we had lost everything. There was nothing that we had left, everything was gone in Adam, and our own sin. It was the Holy Spirit of God who put the thought into our mind to return to the Father’s house. It was the Holy Spirit of God who presented Christ to us as a wonderful Savior. Did we not have the thoughts of the prodigal, I am not worthy, I have nothing to give, everything has vanished of my own like a vapor in the morning sun. I have not only squandered my possessions, but my life as well. And as Abraham’s servant, when he was sent out to bring a bride for Isaac, the Holy Spirit surrounds my soul, and spirit, and awakens my conscience that I say in my heart, I will return, even as a servant. For even the servants of the Father’s house fare stupendously, and it truly would be better than eating with the swine of this world. Now the Holy Spirit, in this ministry of conviction, not only shows me who, and what I am, but He reveals a merciful Father, and a merciful Son, who is the Savior of men. Surely, the prodigal thought, My father will have mercy upon me. Remember, he was a long way off, the journey was long, and he barely had the strength to complete the journey home; yet, God saw him in his terrible condition. He saw him a far off. Did he come to Him, No, the father ran to him, but he was still unworthy to be called son. The father falls upon him and kisses him with his merciful love. Through the prodigal son God instructs us concerning Himself. It is God who embraces me with grace that I have none of, He embraces me and kisses me with that grace. And then, God in His wonder calls for the divine robe, the coat of many colors, and leads me into a relationship with His beloved Son, as joint heir with Jesus Christ. He also puts the ring of sonship upon my hand, and gives me authority to enter into His house where the celebration of a lost soul has come home to God.
And he said, A certain man had two sons: (Luke 15:11)
And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. (Luke 15:12)
And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. (Luke 15:13)
And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. (Luke 15:14)
And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. (Luke 15:15)
And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. (Luke 15:16)
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! (Luke 15:17)
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, (Luke 15:18)
And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. (Luke 15:19)
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. (Luke 15:20)
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. (Luke 15:21)
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: (Luke 15:22)
And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:(Luke 15:23)
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. (Luke 15:24)
Our State, Standing and Position in Christ
We have been considering God’s part drawing us to Himself. We mentioned Romans Chapters 1 through 4, and we can see that now in Romans, Chapter 5, we have entered into a relationship with the second man, the Lord from glory. It is He who has brought us into the Father’s house. We stand there clothed with the best robe, the coat of many colors. It is now our part in the Father’s house. It is the coat of obedient love, and mercy. It is the Father’s house of John, Chapter 14. It is also a time of celebration for us to consider our position in Jesus Christ, and the glory of Christ in us, the Spirit of God gives us Romans, Chapter 8. The glories of Jesus Christ are presented to us by the Spirit of God and we see both our state and our glorious position in Jesus Christ, for neither death, nor life is able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Jesus Christ.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (Romans 8:38)
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39)
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:(John 10:27)
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28)
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. (John 10:29)
I and my Father are one. (John 10:30)
Our Security in Christ
We now take up our divine possession of security. We are secure in the Son, in His eternal work on the cross of Calvary. We are secure, and kept, in the Father’s house by both God the Son, God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit. As Christians, we listen to the voice of God the Son through the ministry of the Holy Spirit of God. The Lord Jesus commits us as His possession and bride unto the Father for eternal care. I and my Father are one. And God the Father is greater than all.
In the security that came with the death of Christ on the cross, we have the divine cry, It is finished! from the Son. We also have the divine cry from heaven, the veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom. This veil stood for an entrance way to heaven, both in the Tabernacle, and in the Temple it was designed and decorated with the things of heaven, even cherubims were upon it. So horrific was the death of our Savior that God the Father rent what then existed to open a new veil in His Son, Jesus Christ. Our approach to God comes only through the Lord Jesus Christ. Concerning the veil: it was rent, the threads were torn and it was no longer a symbol of acceptance that stood for all Judaism. Judaism had now vanished, and there was now a new covenant sealed with the blood of Jesus Christ. For He is the Mediator of the new covenant, or new testament between God and man.
Just a side note: The Lord’s garment was not rent, the soldiers cast lots for it. Why is this important? It seems so small in light of the Lord’s crucifixion. This is where the importance comes in. This garment, was woven from top to bottom without a seam. It was the Son of God sent down from heaven without seam, without blemish, He was of one woven divine thread from God to man that could not be broken, nor torn, nor parted. His garment spoke of His divine character. For there was never a defect in the Son of God. And even the soldiers were not allowed by God to part His garment. The garment also spoke of the character of His flesh, that like His garment not one bone was broken. And as the garment was used as merchandise, God the Father only saw the completeness and purity in His Son within the garment. The soldiers acted ignorantly and cast lots, this is again a symbol of the mind and heart of man in this way: what think ye of Christ? Is He of earthly value, or is He of heavenly value at the right hand of God? Even today, in some way, man tries to cast lots for the favor of Christ. Man does not value the eternal grace of the Son of God that had been freely given by the perfect work of Christ on the cross of Calvary. In both the garment and the ring of the prodigal, we see the eternal power of God to give us the power to become the sons of God. In the best robe, we have the finished work of Christ on the cross, and although we were not worthy we were brought into a relationship under divine authority, and divine inheritance to be called the sons of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Again, as the psalmist, these thoughts are too wonderful for me. No man is called worthy to be a son, it is the worthiness of Christ that creates in us a new man who is worthy with the character of the Son of God. Remember, the best robe, a symbol of divine love. And the ring, the symbol of heirship, and also, the seal of the Father. It is the completeness of God’s love in Christ Jesus. It is the ring of sinless heirship, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ as in Romans, Chapter 8. We not only have the liberty of the sons of God, but we are fully surrounded with the complete works of the Spirit of God in us. The Spirit of God in Christ Jesus has set us free from the flesh of Adam. He has set us on a new ground, as a new creature created in Christ Jesus. The symbol of the ring that the father put on the hand of the prodigal is an everlasting, and endless circle of God’s love for His redeemed. For now all eternity awaits us to walk with God in the shroud of His grace. The good Shepherd has found me in all my wanderings, He came to me, and He will walk with me through the veil of death, and I will dwell in the Father’s house forever clothed with the glorious robes, and possessed by the ring on my finger.
In my Father’s house there are many mansions, this I have seen from afar off every day. In my walk the lights from it’s windows gets brighter and brighter each day. The mighty gates of salvation are wide open, and I have a dwelling place there in the house of the Lord forever. The importance of our walk is walking towards God, and not away from God. It is learning more about Christ, and His love towards us. It is evident that the Savior wants our walk so close to Him that we walk in His very steps. When He declared, Pick up your cross and follow me. It was not to be burdened through life endlessly carrying a cross, but to enter into the glory of the death that is contained in the cross of Christ. We follow Him into His death that we might emerge with life more abundantly. Once again, I refer to Paul’s declaration in Galatians 2:20, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 6:14) But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
When the Lord Jesus washed the feet of His disciples it wasn’t preparing or cleaning them for that day. It was revealing to them that their feet were to walk with His feet, that as He walked through this world they were to follow Him in His very steps. It is the blessed feet of the Savior that must guide me through all peril. I must be guided by His grace, not only the grace that saved me, but the grace for this day and the grace that is all sufficient for eternity.
Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; (Ephesians 1:8)
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (Ephesians 1:9)
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:10)
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (Ephesians 1:11)
That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. (Ephesians 1:12)
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13)
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:14)
This section in Ephesians is a celebration. How is it a celebration? We are in the house, and the fatted calf has been slain, but this is a celebration of joy for God declares, My Son was lost, but now he is found. The fatted calf is the calf of celebration, it is the rejoicing of what has gone before. The sacrifice for sin is over. The cross is no more. We have the new man, the glorious man, Jesus Christ in heaven for us at the right hand of God. This should be my attraction. This should be my joy. For truly, once I was lost, but now I am found. Romans Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 presents the journey of faith, and that journey of faith has freed us from the penalty of sin and death. In Romans, Chapter 8, we are anointed with the Spirit of Christ. This once again, brings us to the fatted calf, and the joy and the merriment of the Father’s house. In Romans, Chapter 8, we have the fullness of the Spirit of Christ presented to us that we are under the full sway of the Spirit of Christ. For if we have not the Spirit of Christ we are not one of His, but we have the Spirit of Christ, and we walk in His Spirit, and walk in His steps, and we joy in His presence, and nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, (Hebrews 12:22)
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,(Hebrews 12:23)
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. (Hebrews 12:24)
See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: (Hebrews 12:25)
The glory of this house is lit by the Christ of God. He is the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and we have been embraced by Him. He has brought us to God the Father, and presented us to the Father as the bride of His desire. He has taken all out of the way that would hinder a divine relationship with us. He has taken all our sin and nailed it to His cross. What a wonder, and many more wonders to come from the One who fulfills this expression, He is wonderful. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) Although the works were finished from the foundation of the world (Hebrews 4:3), we have Him revealing things concerning Himself each and every day. We have an anchor of the soul, Jesus Christ the righteous, the Holy Spirit of God brings firmness and completeness to the rest of God. It is secure in everything that is God, and it was finished in the very beginning for Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8) Amen.
© Copyright 2017, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)