No Greater Love Than His - In The Son of His Love--a blog

The Father’s Love to the Son

10/28/2022

The Father’s Love to the Son

Matthew 3:17, 17:5; 2 Peter 1:17; John 17:24

The Father’s Love to the Son is the very foundation of the gospel. The Father cannot be an enemy of Him Who is His very heart. When the Son put on His people’s sin, He met the anger of an offended Judge, not the enmity of an offended Father. Even when His God forsook Him, as He hung surrounded with the terrible garment of our sin, and His human soul wanted all sensible comfort, He was the Object, amid all His woe, on Whom Eternal Love was resting. The great triumph of the cross is this, that He who hung there was more pleasing in His Father’s sight than even sin was hateful–that sin should be consumed, and yet the Love remain!!! Had this love not been as full as ever, as high as ever–had there been an interruption of it but a moment–our salvation would be hopeless. But while Christ took on Him what was due to us, He did not lose, He could not lose, what was Eternally His Own; the light of Everlasting Love did not forsake, and could not forsake the Temple where it dwelled. George Smeaton (1814-1889)

The Best Wine!!!

8/29/2022

I have been reading the four gospel accounts of our Lord's crucifixion this morning. There is an incredible amount of prophetic fulfillment and spiritual lessons there, that my pea brain can't begin to comprehend but a small portion of it. But I was captivated by the sponge of vinegar, actually cheap bitter wine, that was placed to our Lord's lips. And I was struck by the fact that the first miracle our Lord performed before the people was the turning water into wine at the wedding of Cana. And it was the best wine that the master of the feast had ever tasted. But here, at the most important Miracle that our Jesus ever performed, His victory over death and hell, He drank cheap bitter wine held up to His lips on a hyssop branch, the same branch used to apply the blood of the sacrifice under the law of the Old testament. The new wine in Christ's blood is the sweetest and best and completely efficacious. The bitter wine that this world can provide, even wrapped in the garb of the Old testament law, is bitter and our Lord drank every ounce of requirement that old bitter cup required. Beloved our faith is in the best wine of the feast. And we will one day drink it fully in celebration at the marriage feast of the Lamb who Was slain from before the foundation of the world. Amen and Amen

Our Melchizedek's Victory!!!

8/27/2022

Hebrews 3:1-2
The cross was our Melchizedek's altar of priestly agency, a throne of powerful action, a chariot of victory in triumph. From “The Atonement” by Hugh Martin 1822-1885

"Scripture lays before us that the actual manifestation of Christ's power(Heb 7:16-power of an endless life) and His official obedient(Heb 5:5-6) and positive agency(Heb 2:13-18) in that manifested power, which never were, nor never could be overcome and made ineffective. But on the contrary, His power, obedience and agency prevailed to put forth all His strength and energy precisely against an inconceivable combination of agencies and instruments naturally fitted, that had it been possible, to subdue and overcome Him.
Earth and hell and heaven, all prepared to torment Him: Earth’s rulers and her rabble; her kings and priest’s and soldiers, and malefactors assailing Him; her Jews and Gentiles; her dumb creatures even; Earth's forests furnishing wood (for the cross) Earth's stream refusing water (even though He said, “I thirst”); Earth's bitterness mingled and vinegar and gall; Earth's curse embodied in her thorns, in mockery and pain to Crown Him; Earth's “founded” steadfastness refusing to support Him (the earthquake); her firmament to shine on Him (darkness over all the earth).
Hell's utmost force and fury gathered up against Him; heaven's sword devouring Him and heaven's God forsaking Him. Earth and hell and heaven thus in conspiring actions against Him unto the uttermost of heaven's absolute Justice and Earth and hell's utmost Injustice:-- What is the glory of the Cross if it is not this? With such action conspiring to conquer and subdue His Priestly and representative action, His Priestly power, obedience, and representative action outlasts and outlives them all. He did not die subdued and overcome (forced) into dying. He did not die until He gave Himself in death. Emmanuel a mere sufferer in his death? Oh no!!! The Logos of the Cross is the power of God. (When He uttered, “It is finished”, He knew His Father’s Will had been completely fulfilled, that bitter cup had been completely drained, and now it was time!!! RF)

Isaiah 53:12 “He poured out His soul unto death.”
John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.” (17-18) “Therefore does My Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have Power to lay it down, and I have Power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father.”
Ephesians 5:2 “And walk in love, as Christ also loved us, and has given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.”
Ephesians 5:25 “He loved the church and gave Himself for it”.
Hebrews 1:3 “When He had by Himself purged our sins, He sat down on the Right Hand of the Majesty on High.”
Revelation 1:5b “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His Own blood, and has made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be Glory and dominion for ever and ever, Amen

Hebrews 9:14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ (than bulls and goats), Who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God?” The Precious Lamb of God (Rev. 5) is so much more than a higher quality sheep!!!)

The Transformation of Creation's Futility

7/10/2022

Remember man’s creation to a “trinity of glory”:
Hebrews 2:6-8 From the lips of the Prophet David in Psalm 8:4-6
#1 God (by His Son) made man “a little lower than the angels.”
#2 God “crowned him with glory and honor.”
#3 God “set him over the works of His Hands.”
This was to be the “pinnacle” from which man was to behold the Glory of God in His creation and bow before Him in worship and praise.

BUT!!! Hebrews 2:8b “But now we see not all things put under him.” Notice that #3 above is the only part in which man was actively to do anything! Man has a very difficult time with the little word do.
Romans 8:20-22 This is the groaning of all creation, humanity included. Humanity operates in the fantasy of control. Futility, vanity, frailty is testified to at every funeral and memorial, striving in vain to make the memory last!
Ecclesiastes 2:1-17, I Corinthians 15:19

Isaiah 45:18 “For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I Am the LORD and there is none else.”

BUT!!! Hebrews 2:9 “But we see Jesus!!!” Notice”
#1 Gold made Him a little lower than the angels:
“For the suffering of death.”
#2 God crowned Him with Glory and Honor:
“That He, by the Grace of God, should taste death for every man.”
#3 God made Jesus, the captain, (author, leader, source, founder) of their salvation perfect (for the appointed task of redemption & reconciliation) through sufferings. In this, His humiliation, our Jesus made possible the restoration of humanities role in creation, bringing pleasure unto the Father Who created it by His Beloved Son!

Hebrews 1:10-13; 2:5 The Divine “process” of restoration of creation’s Glory.
#1 Earth’s transition is spoken of here in the context and testimony to our Jesus’ Unchangeable Character. We need to remember this as we see the quaking of this world on it’s seeming foundations.
#2 But notice the heavens: “they shall perish, become old, He will fold them up as a garment, but notice! “They shall be changed”. This is the same word used of us in 1 Corinthians 15:51!
#3 Heb. 2:5 Remember all of that description of our Jesus in Vs 9-11? It is all preparatory for “the world to come, whereof we speak”.

Romans 8:18-24ff This is the blessed hope of all creation, humanity included. This Change, this world to come, because our Jesus, whom we see, is our Creator and our Restorer.
Matthew 27:29 The Creator’s crown of thorns. Little did the soldiers realize in this act of scorn, they were foreshadowing the end of all creations curse. No more thorns or thistles or by the sweat of our brow (Genesis 3:18-19) in the “world to come” because of our Creator’s Resurrection!!

Isaiah 65:17-25, 66:22 The Glorious prophecy of the New Heavens and New Earth.
2 Peter 3:10-15, Acts 3:14-21
Revelation 21 This is the New Earth on which the New Jerusalem, the Redeemed, shall inhabit in Eternity in the Pleasure and unto the Praise of our Father and His Beloved Son.

Creation and the Two Adams

7/3/2022

Remember: Our Father created all things by Christ Jesus, His Beloved Son, for His Own Pleasure, and if Christ Jesus was One with the Father in creation, then it follows that creation’s purpose is to display the Father’s Glorious Love He has in His Eternal Son, the Brightness of His Glory!!!

1 Corinthians 15:45-47 All that we looked at last week falls under the stewardship of the first man Adam. Adam was made (became) a living soul. He created nothing, but was rather created unto an incredibly glorious stewardship, given dominion over all creation

Hebrews 2:6-8 Vs 7-8a speak of God’s original intent for humanity. Created just a little lower that the angels!! Crowned with glory and honor, set over the very work (creation) of God’s Hands!!! All of this was the stewardship of the Glory of God in creation that humanity was created unto!!!

Hebrews 2:8b “But now we see not yet all things put under him (under humanities dominion).”
“Man, being made in the image of God, was fit and able to glorify Him as God.
But whereas, whatever perfection God had communicated unto our nature (in Adam), He had not united it unto Himself in a personal union, the fabric (framework) of it fell to the ground. God manifested herein, that no gracious relation between Him and our nature could be stable and permanent unless our nature was assumed into a personal union and subsistence with Himself. This is the only Rock and assured foundation of the relation of the church unto God, which now, can never utterly fail. Our nature is eternally secured in that Union (with and in Christ), and we ourselves thereby.” “IN HIM all things consist.” Colossians 1:17-18 John Owen

Romans 8:14-25 And this fall, this loss of dominion over all things, has led to the groaning of all creation, ours included!!

But Remember: Rev. 4:11 The Father created all things for His Pleasure. Hebrews 1:2 The Father created all things by His Son, Who is His Pleasure (Matt 17:5), and the Father has appointed His Beloved Son the Heir of all that He has created!!! John 3:35, John 13:3, 16:15

Colossians 1:12-21 Therefore, the reconciliation of all creation. The Work, the Re-creative Work of the Last Adam, the One Who gives Life to all of creation- the Second Man (1 Cor. 15:45-47) the Lord from heaven, Who is to inherit all things!!!
Vs 12-15a The Glorious description of our Man, the Last Adam. The King of our new Kingdom! Our Redeemer at the cost of His Own Blood. The Image Of The Invisible God. Vs 19 It pleased the Father that In Him, all fulness should dwell.(3:9)
Vs 16 By Him were all things created, ......all things were created by Him, and for Him.”
Vs 15b Now notice: He who is the Image of the invisible God is the firstborn of every creature, of all creation!!!
Vs 18 “He is the Beginning, the firstborn from the dead.” Therefore, He is the Head of the church, His Body of the “born again” ones.
Vs 20 It pleased the Father, to reconcile all things unto Himself, whether they be things in earth or in heaven. And that by the Blood of His cross.
Vs 21 And that includes us, His “sometime aliens and enemies”, He also has reconciled.

Ephesians 1:10 This is the Father’s “ingathering” in One all things in Christ expressed by Paul as the Father’s Good Pleasure. And this is the , “But we see Jesus” of Hebrews 2:9. This is the Hope of all creation as in Romans 8:23-25. And in John’s vision (Revelation 5:11-14) this is the reason for the praise and worship of all creation at the presentation of the Bloody Lamb!!!

Our Covenant God is our Creator

6/26/2022

Isaiah 42:5-6 The glorious Vs.5 is preceded with the Qualifier of the one Speaking: ”Thus saith God the LORD, He that created the heavens....” and then we proceed to Vs 6 and the prophecy of God the LORD giving Christ as the covenant!!!

Rev. 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for/because Thou hast created all things, and for Thy Pleasure they are and were created.” ; Job 9:1-10, 37:18; Ps. 102:25-27/Hebrews 1:10-12 , Ps. 104; Isa. 40:21-22, 45:12, 18, 51:12-13, 66:1-2; Jer. 10:10-14/51:15-17, Jeremiah 32:17 (refer to the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge)

Acts 17:24-25 “God that made the world an all things in it, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth” .....”seeing He gives to all life, breath and all things.” Note this is the introduction to Paul’s gospel message to the heathen philosophers in Athens. No attempt to prove anything, just the statement of Biblical fact!

Hebrews 11:1-6 (3) Notice the place of faith in God’s creation of the worlds out of nothing in this text on the indispensable nature of faith in pleasing God. It is not optional!!!

John 1:1-3, 10 In His introduction as Redeemer, God’s Word, His Son, is introduced as the Creator of all things!!!

Hebrews 1:2 In His introduction as our Priest/King, He is spoken of as the one “by Whom He Made the worlds.” Ps. 33:6; Eph 3:9; Col.1:16

Proverbs 8 The personification of Wisdom is in the context of creation (Vs.22-30) and provides the inseparable connection between creation and conscience (Vs.1-21, 31-36) as we see in Romans 1:18-28. As Romans 1:20 declares, the hallmark of the Creator is so strong in His Creation, that all of humanity is without excuse!!! Ps 104:24

1 Corinthians 1:24 Christ, by Whom He created the Worlds, is the Wisdom of God!!! “The fool has said in his heart, there is on God.” Ps. 14:1 in total denial and ignorance of Psalm 19:1-6 (Note the proximity of the proclamation of creation and David bringing in the perfection of the law).

Ephesians 3:9-10 Paul’s purpose was to “make all men see the fellowship of the mystery, hidden from the beginning of the world in God, Who Created all things by Jesus Christ”, now notice, to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church, the Manifold Wisdom of God”, which as we have seen above is Christ!!

2 Peter 1:16-18 Christ Jesus is the Pleasure of the Father: Matt. 3:16-17, 17:5; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22, 9:34-35, John 3:35, 5:20-23; Col. 1:13 (margin: the Son of His Love)

Conclusion: If our Father created all things by Christ Jesus, His Word, our Redeemer King/High Priest, and if Christ Jesus is the very Wisdom, One with the Father in that Creation, then Creations purpose is to display the Father’s immeasurable love and pleasure He has in His Son!!! And the church, the Body of Christ is the “candlestick” of the Glorious Wisdom of God, His Son, on display unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places

Our Glorious Covenant God!!!

6/18/2022

Our Glorious Covenant God!!!

Revelation 4:1-3 Note: Two covenant emblems: “One Sat on the Throne. He that Sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardius stone.” Ex. 28:15-20 with a twist. The first and last stones on the priest’s breastplate are reversed. Pointing to a covenant/High Priest far grander than the Old Testament and only Israel. Isaiah 66:18-20; Matt. 20:14-16; Lk 13:24-30
“There was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like an emerald.” Ezekiel 1:26-28 Vs 26: Upon the throne in this vision is “the likeness as the appearance of a man.” Vs 28 The brightness that surrounds the Throne has the appearance of the rainbow. Now notice, “This was the appearance of the likeness of the Glory of the Lord.” Perhaps this union of what appears to be the “Son of Man” on the Throne, and the Glory surrounding the Throne is the envisioning the Union of all the Covenant purposes of the Father in Christ. Revelation 3:21 “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My Throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His Throne.” Christ is the Glory of the Father!!! (John 1:14; Eph 1:3-12)

Isaiah 42:6 All of the Covenant assurances to the Family of God and to all of creation are found, sealed, and assured in Christ Jesus.
“I the LORD have called Thee in righteousness, and will hold Thine hand, and will keep Thee, and give Thee for a Covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles.” See also Isaiah 49:8; 60:1-3; Luke 2::30-31

Hebrews 6:13-7:3 God’s immutable oath, in which it is impossible for Him to lie (vs 17-18) our strong consolation, our refuge of hope that is set before us. Hebrews 7:21 “For those priests, (Levitical) were made without an oath, but this priest with an oath by Him that said to Him, The LORD sware and will not repent, Thou art a Priest after the order of Melchisedec.” Notice vs 19, “But the bringing in a better hope, by which we draw nigh to God.”
So what are the “two immutable things”?
1. God’s only Begotten Son is declared our King of Righteousness, our King of Peace. 7:2
2. The Son of God, by God’s oath of office, “abides a priest continually-eternally. 7:3 & 16-17 “Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.” (See 1 John 1:1-3)

Remember: Abraham’s encounter with Melchisedec (Genesis 14:18-20) was before his dream of “cutting the covenant”(Gen. 15:8-18), killing the animals that were used in the tabernacle shadow worship of the “Lamb slain before the foundation of the earth.”(Rev. 13:8)
Galatians 3:16 “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, and to seeds, as of many, but as of one, and to thy seed, which is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ (Gen. 15), the law, 430 years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of no effect.”
Hebrews 2:16 “For verily He took not on him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham.(The seed of faith) Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make a reconciliation for the sins of the people.”
Matthew 28:26-28 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, And brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take eat; this is my body. And the took the cup, and gave thanks and gave it to them saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is My Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
Is Christ Jesus your covenant with the Father? “No man cometh to the Father, but by me.”
God has given us His Word!!! He cannot Lie!!! (John 1:1-2, 14:6; Hebrews 1:1-2)

On 2 Corinthians 5:21

5/24/2022

2 Corinthians 5:21 "For He has made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the Righteousness of God in Him."
"If I were to reduce the whole Gospel of God to one word, I believe that one word would be "transfer". All my salvation lies in that word. My transgression is transferred to Christ; He is charged with it; and His Righteousness, which is the very Righteousness of God, is transferred to me, and I am to put it on and wear it, and go to God in it." Joseph Irons 1785-1852

There is more to Resurrection that resurrection!!!

5/22/2022

There is more to Resurrection than resurrection!!!

Romans 5:8-11 Vs 10: ”We shall be saved by His Life.”

Romans 6:3-11 Vs 5: “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His Resurrection.”
Vs 10-11: “In that He Liveth, He Liveth UNTO God.” Vs 11 “Reckon yourselves....alive UNTO God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Note: Resurrection in Christ Life is an UNTO GOD LIFE. Flesh “life” is to exist unto self, my will, my needs, my safety, my control, my reputation, my exaltation!

Romans 7:4 “You are dead to the law (it’s guilt, condemnation, punishment) by the Body of Christ; that you should be married to another, even to Him Who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit UNTO GOD!!!”

Romans 8:9-11 Focus here is the Resurrection Spirit of the Father, Vs 11
Vs 9 If we are Christ’s, the Spirit of God dwells in us. But note: “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His”
Vs 10 To have the Spirit to dwell in us is to have Christ dwelling in us!!! Jn 14:16-18.

Galatians 2:20 Vs 19 “For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might LIVE UNTO GOD.”
Vs 20 #1 If I am crucified with Christ, (planted in the likeness of His death), I live.
#2 But something is radically different!! “It is not I, But Christ Lives in me.”
#3 The life I now live is this “day to day” flesh, this body, I live out of a new “operating center”, the “Christ in me” center, the “UNTO GOD” center.
#4 The faith by which I live out of the “Christ in me” center is more than just my fledgling faith. I live by the faith of the Son of God, my Resurrected Jesus, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Hebrews 5:1-9 All of the above is the work of our Great High Priest, who lived His Life in the days of His Incarnation (as completely human as Divinely possible) in the faith and confidence of His oath of office as our Eternal Priest “after the order of Melchisedek”.
Vs 7 His “strong crying and tears” were perfectly human and sinless. He possessed the full range of human emotions and proper desire of preservation, without the controlling lust that grips us. His control was the Will of His Father!!!
Was He saved from death? Heb. 2:10-15 Note the statement of His Faith in vs 13: ”I will put my trust in Him.”

Colossians 1:27 This is the glorious mystery of the Gospel, Christ in you, the hope of Glory.”

Philippians 3:3 This UNTO GOD LIFE is the resurrection life our Christ Jesus purchased for us through His Own Blood. This is our faith mark of that life. “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, Rejoice in Christ Jesus, AND HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH.” Our flesh contributes nothing to this life!!!

The Father, the Bosom of the Gospel Part 6

5/1/2022

The Father, the Bosom of the Gospel Part 6

2 Peter 3-4 1. Everything that we need for life and godliness is already given to us by His Divine Power (Eph. 1:19-20) through the knowledge of God and our Lord Jesus Christ.(vs 2)
2. And in that knowledge are given “great and precious promises that by these you might be partakers of the Divine Nature.” (Eph. 3:19; Col. 2:8-10; 1 John 3:1-3)
3. “Having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (Gal. 1:3-4)

But we have a problem: 1 Corinthians 1:9-16 1. Again, the blessings of the “things which God hath prepared for them that love Him” exceed human understanding.
2. Vs 9 Such blessing has never even entered the heart of man!!
3. Vs 11 “The things of God NO MAN KNOWS, but the Spirit of God, Whom we have received of God, that we might know the things freely given to us of God. (John 16:13-16)
4. Vs 16 “But we have the mind of Christ.” And this is 1 John 5:20!!! This Spirit of God given to us that we may “Know Him, that is TRUE, and we are IN HIM that is TRUE, even IN His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the TRUE God and Eternal Life”.

Hebrews 10:12-20 This is the Sprit of the New Covenant,
1. Vs 12-14 The Covenant that IS the MAN Christ Jesus (Isa. 42:6, 49:8; Gal. 3:16-17)
2. Vs 15-22 This Spirit, is the Spirit of Sonship (Gal. 4:4-7), the Spirit of the “The New and Living Way” (Vs 20, 8:13, 2 Cor. 5:17), Vs 15 The Spirit that Witnesses within us the New Covenant Promise of the Father!!! (16-23, Jer. 31:33-34)

Ezekiel 26:25-27 This is the Father’s Spirit that He promised to put within His people, to “cause you to walk in my statutes (laws), and you shall keep my judgements and do them.”

And that brings us to Romans 8:2: “For the LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS (operation of the Father’s Spirit in our hearts) has made me free from the law of sin and death.”
Vs 4 “That the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

But first things first:Unless we know and believe the truth of 1a, the truth of rest of Romans 8 does not belong to us!! Vs 9 Only those who are IN CHRIST JESUS have the Spirit of Christ dwelling in them.

Hebrews 4:12-16 The Spirit’s continually gracious and active “law work” in our heart’s.
1. Eph. 6:17 The Word of God is the Spirit’s surgical tool, it cuts both ways!! It reveals sin and brings life.
2. 4:12 It “divides soul and spirit”. We don’t understand the difference at first. But the Spirit makes the distinction between what is of the first man Adam (1 Cor. 15:45, the living soul) and the last Adam (a life giving Spirit). This is usually very uncomfortable!!
3. “And joints and marrow”. Our flesh and it’s lusts govern so much of our activity (joints). We hardly have ever given a thought to the “whys” of behavior other that to feed our ego’s. But the Spirit gets down to the very marrow, the root of things and “breeds white blood cells” to fight the infections of the flesh.
4. “Thoughts and Intents of the heart”. This is painful, the stuff of our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount! (Matt.5-6). Vs 13 This is life lived before the Father Who sees in secret!
5. Vs 14-16 But if Romans 8:1 is true of us, Never fear, we have a Great High Priest, our Advocate with the Father.(1 John 2:1-3) We are to find ourselves continually at His Throne of Grace and Mercy. Remember, this is the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father!!!