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1 Peter 1:3-5 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
I mentioned a particular song in the last posting; which has had a profound affect on my heart. I let the writer of it know; that indeed I sense God is going to use it in amazing ways.
Music indeed today is even with Christian artists seems dumbed down and lukewarm. John 16:8 shows that the true influence of the Holy Spirit comes to convict of sin; righteousness nd judgment to come. God's love is overflowing with His Holiness and reminds me anyway whenever it comes of my own wretched state. In the presence of someone Spirit filled I find myself ashamed of myself and am painfully reminded of my own cold heart. THIS is what Agape should do; it demands attention and draws us away from any competing affections. This is no mamby pamby sentiment; I don't intend to be condescending but as some have stated God is a jealous God that brooks no rivals as it were. Lukewarmness therefore has the worst of both worlds; it has all the form of true worship without the substance ( 2 Tim. 3:5); and it leads to legalism without any fear of God and His Holiness. Other forms of following rules of course can lead to someone who is cold hearted but full of outward vigor in what he defines as pursuing holiness. The opposite is anarchy; a free grace sort of careless mindset as to any fruit that the lord of the vineyard expects from those He has planted.
In short; we are all much worse than we can imagine; but thankfully this makes the gift that much more precious of eternal life.
Agape; Rich P
Before we continue with the day Four in 1.14 we shall take stock of what we are looking at the Covenant. It is set in seven days and refers the God's rest on the day Seven. " And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day."(1.5) He sanctified which by the Law of the Spirit refers to the word, "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one."(Heb.2.11) This being the gospel truth we shall look at the ch.2 from the POV of the Man. God created man 'in our image. "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."(Gen.1.27), Seven days refer to the Word was God as the law binding on the generation of Jesus Christ.
In Gen.2-4-25 we have the POV from the generation of man, namely Adam whom God blesses ' and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.'(Gen.5.2)
In short chapter Two refers to the selfsame narrative mode, first shot and now the reverse shot. Let us examine a few examples:
2.5 "for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground." So we have 'a mist from the earth" (v.6) The Spirit moved upon the face of the waters,"Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?" God had set the face for the waters. (Ge.1.2; Job 38.28 The sign obeys the time element. The rain shall follow for which God sepated the waters above and below. Blessings come from the greater to the lesser. Mercy of God has a face which is the firmament. A sign for his Son. In the fulness of time he shall come. 'But grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.'( Jn 1.17)
v.7 "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground," God breathes into the nostrils of man in answer to the question," Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth? What is more God gives him a face(2 Cor.4.6;Ps.30.9) Living soul
God is the source of all good gifts from above (see James 1:17). The enemy of our souls; of course knows how to channel our souls through our emotions toward self-absorption which then leads to destruction through the dual paths of self obsession that focuses on adulation of others and worldly success with the self destruction that such a performance based lifestyle inevitably results in.
Last night I was reading about a famous British poet who married someone of the same talents who tried to support each other's creativity. In this case his wife's mental illness due to being brought up to do everything perfectly; losing her father early in life; etc led to her own tensions; mental breakdowns and ultimately suicide after her husband's infidelity which caused his lover to also kill herself and take one of her kids with her; and apparently another son later on did the same that he had with his first wife. I don't need to mention names here; and not sure if I'm allowed to. My point is what we see here is repeated among musicians and artists (such as Van Gogh). Oftentimes substance abuse accompanies this run towards self destruction. In the case of the aforementioned couple in the beginning of this paragraph; further insight and documentaries shows how the occult directly was involved; which again is the means which many at the "crossroads" so to speak are said to make the deal with the Devil for success. Today; as it were it is "in your face" in regard to the whole society embracing Satan showing that indeed we are in the last hour before th Tribulation.
Yesterday I listened to a song by a relative unknown regarding entering heaven where there is no more pain and was struck by how the Spirit of God seemed to write the lyrics and the harmony. Again I realize here I probably can't recommend anyone; but am saying that the opposite of total abandon to God is a cold heart.
Part of my own failings as a husband were in regard to admiring attractive women and being stupid enough to mention it to my wife. That; in turn of course causes collateral damage; and the lack of attention to her needs and focus on my own as to the kind of sacrificial love I was supposed to possess cost me; particularly in regard as to how to handle accumulated and more serious stresses of finances and later with the encroachment of her family moving in our house; and finally my dealings with the person she ultimately had her infidelity with. I can't look in hindsight as to how my own failings in being accountable to others and if things could have been different; say with the recommended and refused premarital counselling in the church that was refused due to both of us being rushed into marriage; and the later isolation from healthy fellowship due to my own vows of church membership not taken seriously; etc.
My point here isn't to make this forum my own dumping ground for all my flaws; but it serves as a reminder to myself as well as others how important it is to continue to moniter whether we are indeed in the faith; and the overall fruits of our lives. There are no shortcuts to maturity in our spiritual lives; and any sins that are allowed to fester will at best remove affectiveness from our witness and cause lack of spiritual rewards. At worst; of course if He isn't chastising us we aren't legitamate adopted sons and daughters of the King. That is for all of us to monitor. Remaining in fellowship especially as we see the Day approaching ( Heb. 10:25) is crucial.
Having a deep focus on one thing for myself is part of attention deficit and can result in; as it does with some with autism extreme talent in one area. Being sold out to the Lord SHOULD involve wholehearted devotion to this singular cause which also incorporates wisdom in all areas of living to His glory.
The part about afflicting the souls seems vague; many take it as no food or water and they make it for 25 hours from sunset to sunset this evening. I think we should fast occasionally; and whatever we undertake today we should remember the atonement Christ made for us on this day and it certainly is when possible a good day to undertake a fast; personally since I'm able to be off work I decided to skip eating but not drinking today since I already partially fasted a few days ago; etc.
The bigger picture here is why I am mentioning all this in regard to things we are supposed to do in the closet as it were. We are in a recovery group in church that is similar to AA but more scripturally based; and I did the "fearless moral inventory" yesterday. One thing the last few months that I have obsessed far too much on is my coin collecting. I have decided to put a moratorium on it until the end of the year with e bay purchases after God has blessed me with some profit in the undertaking. I am placing a limit on spending if the Lord tarries next year at least until I actually am able to get a separate account or start a business.
In the larger picture I have foolishly used money to spend beyond my means (which my ex wife in no small measure aided in a bad codependence as well to my grandmother's inheritance when we were first married on vacations; etc). Not focusing on patiently saving and discipline involving other people has cost me since ehildhood when I was stupid enough to tell my friends about my coin collection buried in the ground and it mysteriously disappeared. Overall God's financial blessings mean I don't have any immediate need or concern and I should keep much in funds making money.
In Gen.11 the will of God sets the unseen world made to appear, The Law of the Spirit gives us an analogy of the Father Son relationship in terms of the toss of coin Where the word of God, while it is spinning shall keep two positions simultaneously. The Word was with God. The spin demonstrated the Word as circular and whenever and wherever, the Law is established. The Alpha Omega aspect of Jesus Christ is the fulfilment of the Law considering 'I and my Father are one.(Jn..10.30)
Here we have three days according to the Covenant and what does this number signify:
Jesus gave the Jews a sign: " For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."(Mt.12.40)
This sign existed in the will of the Father as an emblem: the slain Lamb before the foundation of the world; simultaneouslly he was the true Light sent to the world. So the two lights as a sign existed: "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:"( Jn 5.22). In short with four days the Covenant covers heaven and the rest are indivible. The great fish God has prepared, what was yet in the divine Will must be made to appear. The provision for His creation explicitly states: "And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat:"(Ge.1.30)
This ties upHis creation to the death of the Son of man so what doctrine Jesus laid out from his own death all live forms are connected.This cannot be disconnected."Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." In the Covenant death of his Son was implied. The last three days did not exempt any life form. They were blessed and with it came the stewardship of man created in our image. "And God blessed them,"(1.28)
John 5:24 reads, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
If you have eternal life, you have it now!
You have Christ! We have been identified in Christ by baptism of the Holyspirit.
Everlasting life is a new birth and we shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life by the resurrection of Christ!
Blessings Brother!
"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
Matthew 24:35
"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
Blessing's
The word of God is sound and sign. The day decreed for the Son has seven days the Word is circular as mentioned in the gospel of John. The day one: And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night" Gos as the Father of light and the Son as the true Light shall light whosoever comes in the world.The two lights the greater light and the lesser lights are signs. (1.16)
Similarly day two has signs." And God called the firmament Heaven." God sanctifies the day decreed for the Son as Day. This day is followed by two faces signified by all thing under the heaven and the earth in his Son. Thus heaven is an image of the invisible God nevertheless a sign. It is a sign for manas well s His other creation. "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:/For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, "(Col.1.15.17)
Day three similarly has a sign: the word of God as an assayer over seed which is in itself, so the body determined for grass, herbs and trees shall consist of his Son. Prophet Isaiah consequently comparts the humanity of the Son as a dry plant." For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground."(Isa.53.2) Because of his death resurrection the Spirit sets him among the myrtle trees in the vision of Zechariah.
I am sorry that you are facing challenges with making and keeping friends. I pray that the Lord will equip you for these challenges and bless you with a few trustworthy and faithful friends who will stick by you for decades.
Salvation is entirely the work of Christ and cannot be improved or added to. When Jesus died on the cross, He fully paid the penalty for sin, making complete atonement for all who believe. Romans 5:8-10 shows that Christ died for us while we were still sinners; nothing we do can make that sacrifice more sufficient. Galatians 2:21 warns that trying to gain righteousness through human effort nullifies the grace of God, because if we could earn salvation, Christ's death would be unnecessary. Salvation is a gift, received by faith alone ( Ephesians 2:8-9), not by works, rituals, or moral achievement. Adding anything implies Christ's work was incomplete, which Scripture directly contradicts. John 14:6 confirms that Jesus alone is the way; no human action supplements His finished work. When we trust Christ fully, our sins are forgiven, and we are counted righteous before God. Attempting to add to His work shifts the focus from God's provision to human effort, turning faith into a performance. True security and peace come only from relying completely on what Jesus accomplished, not on anything we can do. Salvation is therefore entirely by grace, fully sufficient in Christ, and nothing else is required.
Let me ask you, what work/thing did you add to the cross of Christ?
Grace and Peace
Forgiveness and salvation, while related, are not the same. Scripture shows that forgiveness was granted at the cross nearly 2,000 years ago when Christ bore the sins of the world ( 2 Cor. 5:19). That forgiveness, extended once for all, does not in itself give eternal life. Salvation unto justification comes only through believing the gospel. Romans 5:18 declares that justification unto eternal life is distinct from forgiveness, and it is received through faith.
The gospel Paul preached ( 1 Cor. 15:1-4) is clear: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, He was buried, and He rose again the third day. In His death He bore our sins, in His burial He put them away, and in His resurrection He rose without them. Faith in this finished work is the only response God requires. Forgiveness already belongs to God; salvation is His gift, received when we believe.
Upon belief, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption ( Eph. 1:13-14). This seal guarantees eternal security-we cannot lose salvation because it is not ours to keep, but God's to preserve. Likewise, the forgiveness secured at Calvary cannot be undone. God does not revoke what He has freely given for Christ's sake.
2 Corinthians 5:14-21 explains that through Christ's substitutionary death, God reconciled the world to Himself, no longer imputing trespasses. Those who believe become new creatures in Christ, made righteous in Him. As ambassadors, we now proclaim this word of reconciliation. The call is urgent: "Now is the day of salvation" ( 2 Cor. 6:2).
Therefore, forgiveness was accomplished at the cross, but justification unto eternal life is only received when one believes the gospel of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Faith alone makes salvation certain, unshakable, and eternal.
(Justification) "No other subject is as important as this one"
Grace and Peace
John 14:21
"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."
1 John 2:4
"He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
Blessings
Romans 6-8 reveals Paul's distinct teaching for the Body of Christ, showing how believers in this dispensation of grace are freed from sin's dominion, released from the law, and secured in the Spirit.
In Romans 6, Paul explains that through identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, the believer has died to sin and is alive unto God. This is not achieved by works but by grace through faith, giving us a new position "in Christ." Sin no longer reigns, for we are under grace, not law (6:14).
In Romans 7, Paul contrasts the believer's new life with Israel's former relationship under the law. The law, though holy, revealed sin and produced condemnation, showing man's inability in the flesh. Paul uses the illustration of marriage-just as a woman is bound to her husband until death, believers are now free from the law because we died with Christ. The struggle described in chapter 7 highlights man's helplessness apart from the Spirit.
Romans 8 then brings the victorious answer: "no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." The Spirit indwells and empowers, fulfilling what the law could not. We are sons and heirs of God, waiting for the redemption of the body at the rapture. Even creation groans, awaiting deliverance. Nothing can separate the believer from the love of God in Christ. From a dispensational lens, these chapters mark a shift: Israel's covenant law exposed sin and condemned, but the Body of Christ lives in grace, Spirit-led and secure in eternal union with Christ. This truth is foundational for our walk, distinct from Israel's kingdom program, and it sets forth the believer's position and assurance in this present dispensation of grace.
No one should live in a perpetual lifestyle of sin because believers are dead to sin, alive in Christ, and called to walk in newness of life, reflecting God's grace, not abusing His forgiveness.
Grace and Peace
Ephesians 2:6 declares that God has "raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." This is not a future promise only but a present spiritual reality for all who believe in Christ. In this dispensation of grace, the Church, the Body of Christ, is uniquely identified with Christ's resurrection and exaltation. Just as Christ is seated at the right hand of God, far above all principalities and powers ( Eph. 1:20-21), so too are believers spiritually united with Him. This speaks of our new identity and position, not based on earthly standing or works, but solely on grace through faith ( Eph. 2:8-9). To be seated with Christ indicates rest, completion, and authority-Christ's work is finished, and we share in His victory. Our blessings are in the heavenly realm ( Eph. 1:3), our citizenship is in heaven ( Phil. 3:20), and our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces in heavenly places ( Eph. 6:12). Thus, Paul reminds the Church that we already possess a secure position of victory, seated above the very powers that once held us captive. This truth encourages us to walk worthy of our calling ( Eph. 4:1), to stand firm in spiritual warfare ( Eph. 6:13), and to live out of the riches of God's grace. Ultimately, being seated with Christ assures believers of both present security and future glory, as God will one day fully display His exceeding riches of grace in us throughout the ages to come ( Eph. 2:7).
Grace and Peace
Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.
As I lay hold of middle age I observe a conflict within my mind. I look back and think "how little I have done for the Lord; I have utterly wasted my youth on meaningless pursuits". But I also think "I am now too old to do anything GREAT for the Lord". Then God comes through and shares this truth!
"And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good."
God gives every seed a body. It ties the Word was God the body his Son took. The word become flesh sets the incorruptible seed of the word to which every seed sown in the soil of this natural world will fall to. The Son of man demonstrates this Word being circular underpinning Jn 1,1-2 as the truth. Power and Wisdom of God set up this turnstile in heaven. The Word was God gave the see a body. The Word was with God consequently gives a body so the Son of man is a sign set in heaven, For this reason God calls firmament heaven, Thus under it the life forms shall observe the word which is 'thy truth.' Jesus would declare,"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."(Jn.12.32;6.44). Jesus was in the bosom of his Father meaning he was in the will of his Father and he as Son of man declared, I and my Father are one; after he has completed his tasks on the earth he shall be lifted up; "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is thus the word has made a full turn. So life of a fruit tree invests in the seed the same sign of the life of the Son. "I will raise him up at the last day' is the truth cited in Jn 1.2 'the same was with God from the beginning." The epistle St Peter refers, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever./ For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:/ But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."(1 Pet.1.23-25)
The Law of the Spirit certifies the Covenant as spelt in vv.11-13 as good.
"And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good."
Holiness of God expresses the voice to which His power and Wisdom equally apply so when Jesus said, I and my Father are one' the face has the word and it is holy so is the sign. It is the probability of tossing a coin in air. While spinning both head or tail are as Jesus said, 'My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.' The world made to appear is at rest as the coin comes to rest. Be it head or tail the truth of the word is clear. He that has the Son has the Father as well. There is nothing other than this Father Son relationship. God sanctified the dry land as he sanctified as Sea. The Son has life in himself so have both dry land and seas.
It also follows the same principle as God set before the foundation of the world. "For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;/To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure."( Job 28.24-25)
He weighed water every atom of it with a nucleus so the word of God sits over it like an assayer. Consequently when the Covenant refers to this command, "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so."(Gen.1.11) the seed is in itself, meaning the word as a refiner. 'and after his kind' shows up a fig tree produces figs and not thistles. The word as circular as in the godhead. The word was God.the word was with God; and the same was with God from the beginning. A fig is a fig is a fig. There is no confusion. For this reason Jesus faulted the Jews who rejected him."because my word hath no place in you." By doing so their works showed their father, "Ye do the deeds of your father."( Jn 8.37,41)
In terms of the Unity of the Spirit both dry llnd and seas were synonymous for life.
"And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so."
The Word governing the world made to appear is not simply the natural world as seen to the physical eye. The Son as the mediator between waters above the firmament and below has a say in the matter. " all things were created by him, and for him:/ And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."(Col.1.16-17) The intent of the Holy Spirit is for our instruction in righteousness. So let us leave the earth sciences out of our study. God dod not play ducks and drakes with his way.Whenever the Spirit names as he does with the firmament it is sanctified because it is a sign for his son. Similarly north or Zion have their direct frame of reference to the Son.
God sets the four spirits to walk to and fro and tells us,"Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country." (Zech.6.8) Holy Jerusalem and Zion are two aspects of the Father Son relationship and it is to which all seven days in the Covenant are heading. In the case of the great flood consider this passage,"And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated./And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat."(Gen.8.3-4)
Mount Ararat is a name in context of Zion and Jerusalem in the land of Palestine is similarly a name. "And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath." The number Three is a tag for the Son as 150 days are. 50x3 is a sure indication of the days are set in context of the Son. Waters receding 'from off the earth continually' also instructs us how we should interpret 'And the evening and the morning were..."(1.8)
And the evening and the morning were the second day.
God is presented with a whirlwind and it is his Spirit bursting through the world unseen into the world made to appear. It was thus He challenged Job; similarly the four beasts in the night vision,"and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea." These are four spirits God had sent befoore he founded the world.(Zech.6.4) These spirits have already set the ordinances of heaven and it is which we see spreading outwards with each day. Waters above are not simply waters but with a face signifying the ordinances of heaven as though had checked their quality as passing down the assembly line . God asks,"Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?"( Job 38.8) It simply shows they know who their Father is. Has rain a father? So not a drop is scattered about without a purpose. "To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;"(38.26-28) Simply stated the kingdom of God is a closed system where the word of God sets the world mde to appear through mills of divine Will that there is more to a drop of water than it appears to the naked eye. " The worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."(Heb.11.3) It is thus a man as in the story of the ugly duckling proves out in the end as a swan. "He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light." When God commanded Fiat Lux, it shall be frm generation to generation. The two faces, of the Spirit and of the body are set in place for man created in our image.'
9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."
Blessings.
I pray the Lord help and heals you in what ever you are going through.
I'm sure there's many here that will love to pray for you.
May the Lord bring you peace.
God bless.