No pass-over for us?

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Did the death angel not pass-over us?

I have been thinking about this for awhile now and I'd really like to hear your thoughts on it.

Romans 6:6 says " Knowing this that our old man was crucified with Him" and verse 11 " reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin."

Reckoning is another term for accounting and arithmatics is about the only thing that we can do with complete accuracy. So when He says to reckon ourselves dead, that means it's in the books as we ARE dead already and so we have to percieve ourselves that way.


Romans 6:3
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

So, wouldn't that mean then that in the NT way of things the death angel took out all that were and are in Christ? What does this mean?

I think that this is where we play the doublemindedness between believing satan's lies and how we are in God's site due to Jesus' blood shed for us. We died but are immediately rebirthed with a new nature, our spirit, which was stillborn, has awakened. But the body isn't redeemed as of yet. And our mind still contains freewill.

Doubleminded: Submit to God, Resist the Devil

2 Corinthians 10:5
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

1 Peter 5:5-7
5b be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for
“ God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”[a]
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Freewill:

Romans 6:13
And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

God didn't remove the sin but He removed the sinner by placing our spirit with the Holy Spirit. And instead of increasing our strength He Himself increases within us, while decreasing and weakening our natural desires.

John 3:30
He must increase, but I must decrease.

2 Corinthians 4:18
while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Hebrews 11
By Faith We Understand
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

What we're dealing with is facts of the promises of God. They are revealed to us by His Spirit and thru that revelation we "know" it to be true by the spirit giving evedence within us so that we lay hold on these. Facts are facts whether we believe them or not. If we don't believe the facts of the cross they still remain as real as ever, but they are valueless to us. It doesn't take faith to make things real in themselves, but faith can "substantiate" them and make them real in our experience.
Whatever contradicts truth of the Word of God is the devil's lie, not b/c it may not be a real fact to our sences, but b/c God has stated a greater fact before which the other must eventually yield.

John 17:15b,17
keep them from the evil one. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

As soon as we begin to accept our death with Christ as a fact, satan will do his best to convince us by the evedence of our day-to-day experience that we are not dead at all but very much alive. So we must choose to believe satan's lies or God's truth.

2 Corinthians 5:14
For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;

2 Corinthians 5:7 (The Message)
6-8That's why we live with such good cheer. You won't see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don't get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It's what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we'll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming.


The death is not in us but in Christ, where also is our life and where we abide.

Ephesians 2:5
even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Colossians 2:10
and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.


This also is "reckoned" unto us. A fact to be accepted. God in His gracious purpose, has included us with Christ. The character of the branches is determined by the vine. Discovering facts of Christ (and knowing that what He reveals, He will accomplish in us) is our food and growth in our new life.


Romans 6:4
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:9-10
knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

Romans 5:21
so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord

So, standing steadfast on Who Christ is, we find that all that is true of Him becoming true in us.


2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.


John 15:5
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Romans 6:14
For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.


But, I really wonder then, did the deathangel not pass-over us?

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

This subject completely facinates me! I've just had time to find what the old masters had to say on the subject of the pass-over supper with it's unleavened bread, and plan to post more as i find time and material to post.

1 Corinthians 5:7
Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, according as ye are unleavened. For also our passover, Christ, has been sacrificed;

1Co 5:8
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Family Bible Notes
1Co 5:8
Keep the feast; the spiritual passover provided for us in the gospel.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible
1Co 5:8
Verse 8. Let us keep the feast. Margin, Holy day--eortazwmen. This is language drawn from the paschal feast, and is used by Paul frequently to carry out and apply his illustration. It does not mean literally the paschal supper here--for that had ceased to be observed by Christians--nor the Lord's Supper particularly; but the sense is, "As the Jews when they celebrated the paschal supper, on the slaying and sacrifice of the paschal lamb, put away all leaven as emblematic of sin, so let us, in the slaying of our sacrifice, and in all the duties, institutions, and events consequent thereon, put away all wickedness from our hearts as individuals, and from our societies and churches. Let us engage in the service of God by putting away all evil."
Not with old leaven. Not under the influence, or in the indulgence of the feelings of corrupt and unrenewed human nature. The word leaven is very expressive of that former or old condition, and denotes the corrupt and corrupting passions of our nature before it is renewed.

Geneva Bible Footnotes
g. Let us lead our whole life as it were a continual feast, honestly and uprightly.

A. T. Robertson's Word Pictures
1Co 5:8
Wherefore let us keep the feast (hôste heortazômen). Present active subjunctive (volitive). Let us keep on keeping the feast, a perpetual feast (Lightfoot), and keep the leaven out. It is quite possible that Paul was writing about the time of the Jewish passover, since it was before pentecost (1Co 16:8). But, if so, that is merely incidental, and his language here is not a plea for the observance of the resurrection by Christians. With the leaven of malice and wickedness (en zumêi kakias kai ponêrias). Vicious disposition and evil deed. With the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (en azumois eilikrinias kai alêtheias). No word for "bread." The plural of azumois may suggest "elements" or "loaves." Eilikrinia (sincerity) does not occur in the ancient Greek and is rare in the later Greek. In the papyri it means probity in one example. The etymology is uncertain. Boisacq inclines to the notion of heilê or helê, sunlight, and krinô, to judge by the light of the sun, holding up to the light. Alêtheia (truth) is a common word from alêthês (true) and this from a privative and lêthô (lathein, lanthanô, to conceal or hide) and so unconcealed, not hidden. The Greek idea of truth is out in the open. Note Ro 1:18 where Paul pictures those who are holding down the truth in unrighteousness.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
1Co 5:8
v1-8 The apostle notices a flagrant abuse, winked at by the Corinthians. Party spirit, and a false notion of Christian liberty, seem to have saved the offender from censure. Grievous indeed is it that crimes should sometimes be committed by professors of the gospel, of which even heathens would be ashamed. Spiritual pride and false doctrines tend to bring in, and to spread such scandals. How dreadful the effects of sin! The devil reigns where Christ does not. And a man is in his kingdom, and under his power, when not in Christ. The bad example of a man of influence is very mischievous; it spreads far and wide. Corrupt principles and examples, if not corrected, would hurt the whole church. Believers must have new hearts, and lead new lives. Their common conversation and religious deeds must be holy. So far is the sacrifice of Christ our Passover for us, from rendering personal and public holiness unnecessary, that it furnishes powerful reasons and motives for it. Without holiness we can neither live by faith in him, nor join in his ordinances with comfort and profit.

John Wesley's Notes on the Bible
1Co 5:8
Verse 8. Therefore let us keep the feast - Let us feed on him by faith. Here is a plain allusion to the Lord's supper, which was instituted in the room of the passover. Not with the old leaven - Of heathenism or Judaism. Malignity is stubbornness in evil. Sincerity and truth seem to be put here for the whole of true, inward religion.

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
1Co 5:7
Purge out therefore the old leaven,… Meaning either the incestuous person, whose crime might well be compared to sour "leaven", and be called old because of his long continuance in it; whom the apostle would have removed from them; this is properly the act of excommunication, which that church was to perform, as a quite distinct thing from what the apostle himself determined to do. The allusion is to the strict search the Jews made1, just before their passover after leaven, to purge their houses of it, that none of it might remain when their feast began; which they made by the light of a lamp, on the night of the fourteenth of the month Nisan, in every secret place, hole, and corner of the house: or this may be an exhortation to the church in general with respect to themselves, as well as this man, to relinquish their old course of sinning, to "put off concerning the former conversation the old man", Eph 4:22 the same with the old leaven here; it being usual with the Jews2 to call the vitiosity and corruption of nature שאור שבעיסה, "leaven in the lump"; of which say3,
"the evil imagination of a man, as leaven the lump, enters into his bowels little, little, (very little at first,) but afterwards it increases in him, until his whole body is mixed with it.''
That ye may be a new lump; that they might appear to be what they professed to be, new men, new creatures in Christ, by their walking in newness of life; and by removing that wicked person, they would be as the apostles were, when Judas was gone from them, all clean through the word of Christ:
as ye are unleavened; at least professed to be. They were without the leaven of sin; not without the being of sin in their hearts, nor without the commission of it, more or less, in their lives; but were justified from it by the righteousness of Christ, and had the new creature formed in their souls, or that which was born of God in them, that sinned not. The apostle compares the true believers of this church to the unleavened bread eaten at the passover, for the grace of their hearts, and the simplicity of their lives; as he does the incestuous man to the old leaven, that was to be searched for, and cast out at the feast:
for even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us. This is observed, to show the pertinency of the similes of leaven and unleavened, the apostle had made use of; and to make some further improvement of them, for the use, comfort, and instruction of this church; saying, that Christ is "our passover", the Christians' passover; the Jewish passover was a type of Christ; wherefore Moses kept it by faith, in the faith of the Messiah that was to come; see Heb 11:28 as it was instituted in commemoration of the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt, so likewise to prefigure Christ, and the redemption of his people by him. The Jews have a saying4,
"that in the month Nisan they were redeemed, and in the month Nisan they will be redeemed;''
which was the month in which the passover was kept; and for the confirmation of which, they mention the following texts, Mic 7:15. There is an agreement between the passover, and Christ, in the sacrifice itself, and the qualities of it; it was a "lamb", as Christ is the "Lamb" of God, of his appointing and providing, and fitly so called, for his innocence and harmlessness, his meekness, humility, and patience; it was a lamb "without blemish", as Christ is, without spot and blemish, without the spot of original sin, or blemish of any actual transgression: it was a male, as Christ is the son or man, the head of the body, and the "firstborn" among many brethren; it was a male of the first year; in which it might prefigure Christ in the flower of his age, arrived at man's estate, and having had experience of a variety of sorrows and afflictions. There is also some likeness between them in the separation and slaying of it. The passover lamb was to be "taken out from the sheep, or from the goats"; as Christ's human nature was chosen out from among the people, and, in God's eternal counsel and covenant, separated from the rest of the individuals of human nature, and taken into a federal union with the Son of God, and preordained before the foundation of the world, to be the Lamb slain; it was also wonderfully formed by the Holy Ghost in the virgin's womb, and separated and preserved from the infection of sin; and in his life and conversation here on earth, he was separated from sinners, from being like them, and is now made higher than the heavens. This lamb was kept up from the "tenth" of the month, to the "fourteenth", before it was killed; which might typify preservation of Christ, in his infancy, from the malice of Herod, and, in his riper years, from the designs of the Jews upon him, until his time was come; and it is to be observed, that there was much such a space of time between his entrance into Jerusalem, and his sufferings and death; see Joh 12:11. The lamb was "slain", so the Prince of life was killed; and "between the two evenings", as Christ was in the end of the world, in the last days, in the decline of time, of the age of the world, and even of the time of the day, about the "ninth" hour, or three o'clock in the afternoon, the time between the two evenings; the first evening beginning at noon as soon as the sun began to decline, the other upon the setting of it. There is likewise a comparison of these together to be observed, in the dressing and eating of it. The passover lamb was not to be eaten "raw nor sodden"; so Christ is to be eaten not in a carnal, but in a spiritual way, by faith; it was to be "roast with fire", denoting the painful sufferings of Christ on the cross, and the fire of divine wrath that fell upon him; it was to be eaten "whole", as a whole Christ is to be received by faith, in his person, and in all his offices, grace, and righteousness; not a "bone" of it was to be "broken", which was fulfilled in Christ, Joh 19:36 it was to be eaten "with unleavened bread", which is spiritualized by the apostle in the next verse; and also with "bitter herbs", expressive of the hard bondage and severe afflictions, with which the lives of the Israelites were made bitter in Egypt; and significative of the persecutions and trials that such must expect, who live godly and by faith in Christ Jesus: it was eaten only by Israelites, and such as became proselytes, as Christ, only by true believers; and if the household was too little, they were to join with their "neighbours"; which might typify the calling and bringing in of the Gentiles, when the middle wall of partition was broken down, Christ, his flesh and blood being common to both. The first passover was eaten in haste, with their loins girt, their shoes on, and staves in their hands, ready to depart from Egypt to Canaan's land; denoting the readiness of believers to every good work; having their feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; their loins girt about with truth, their lights burning, and they like men waiting for their Lord's coming; hasting unto the day of the Lord, being earnestly, desirous of being absent from the body, that they might be present with him: in a word, the receiving of the blood of the passover lamb into a bason, sprinkling it on the lintel, and two side posts of the doors of the houses, in which they ate it, which the Lord seeing passed over those houses, when he passed through Egypt to destroy the firstborn, whence it has its name of the passover, were very significative of the blood of sprinkling, even the blood of Christ upon the hearts and consciences of believers; whereby they are secured from avenging justice, from the curse and condemnation of the law, and from wrath to come, and shall never be hurt of the second death. Thus Christ is our antitypical passover, who was sacrificed, whose body and soul were offered as an offering and sacrifice unto God for us, that he might be proper food for our faith; and also in our room and stead, to make satisfaction to divine justice for all our sins and transgressions.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

1Co 5:8
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.


Keeping the feast, the continuous eating of the passover lamb, a nonestop feasting of Jesus,in sincerity and truth, b/c after all we are what we eat, right.
The old leaven is the old creature we once were before believing in Christ with all the sins, now we need to feast on Him and who He is continually in sincerity and truth to purge out the old leaven. Jesus gives us the grace to continually feast on Him, thru His Love and His indweling and in His power. Thank You, Jesus (Christ is our only passover and He is our redeemer)

1 Corinthians 11:24
and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”


1 Corinthians 11:27-29
Examine Yourself

27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.


1 Corinthians 9:13
Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar?

1 Corinthians 10:31
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 15:32b-33
If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”


Revelation 2:17
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’


We eat of Christ everytime we think of Him, His Love, His words, His work, His deeds, His care for the poor and everytime we act on His commands, which are all His character in action.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Here are just 7 of the love dishes prepared by Him, about our God, for us to feast upon.


There are seven beautiful descriptive attributes of God mentioned in the New Testament.

The first was used by Stephen, who called Him "the God of glory" as he gave his defense to the Jewish council just before he was martyred and indeed "saw the glory of God" (Acts 7:2,55) himself as he finished his testimony.

The apostle Paul later called Him "the God of patience and consolation," while urging his fellow Christians to be "likeminded one toward another" (Romans 15:5).

In the same chapter, he also called Him "the God of hope" in a benedictory prayer: "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing" (Romans 15:13).

To the Christians at Corinth, Paul wrote about "the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation . . ." (II Corinthians 1:3-4).

Then later he wrote: that "the God of love" would be with them (II Corinthians 13:11).

To both the Philippians and the Thessalonians, he wrote about "the God of peace" (Philippians 4:9).
"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly" (I Thessalonians 5:23).

The seventh of these beautiful descriptions was written by the apostle Peter.
"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you" (I Peter 5:10)

Recapitulating, in this logical Bible order, these seven beautiful attributes of God (we could almost call them "titles" of God) are as follows:
He is the God of glory, the God of patience and consolation, the God of hope, the God of all comfort, the God of love, the God of peace, and the God of all grace!

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

I thought it would be nice to do a Martha/Mary thing in preparing these dishes while learning of Him, in preparation for His death/ressurection.

The first of the Love-feast:

The feast of the "God of Glory"

Acts 7:2-3 To this he replied: "Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran. 'Leave your country and your people,' God said, 'and go to the land I will show you.'

Acts 7:55-56 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:2, 3

Psalm 29
A Psalm of David.
1 Give unto Jehovah, ye sons of the mighty ones, give unto Jehovah glory and strength; 2 Give unto Jehovah the glory of his name; worship Jehovah in holy splendour. 3 The voice of Jehovah is upon the waters: the •God of glory thundereth, —Jehovah upon great waters.
4 The voice of Jehovah is powerful; the voice of Jehovah is full of majesty.
5 The voice of Jehovah breaketh cedars; yea, Jehovah breaketh the cedars of Lebanon:
6 And he maketh them to skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young buffalo.
7 The voice of Jehovah cleaveth out flames of fire.
8 The voice of Jehovah shaketh the wilderness; Jehovah shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of Jehovah maketh the hinds to calve, and layeth bare the forests; and in his temple doth every one say, Glory!
10 Jehovah sitteth upon the flood; yea, Jehovah sitteth as king for ever.
11 Jehovah will give strength unto his people; Jehovah will bless his people with peace.

"Give unto Jehovah", here we are called upon to give unto Him, the God of Glory, worship, saying "Glory" in holy slendor. His powerful Voice, full of majesty, speaking to us, shaking our wilderness. Forever our King, giving strength to His people and blessing them with peace.

In Hebrew the root meaning of the word translated “glory” is “heavy” or “weighty.” The idea is that there is no more weighty or significant being in the universe than Yahweh, for He alone truly is majestic and high above all.

The highest glory of the creature is in being only a vessel, to receive and enjoy and show forth the glory of God. It can do this only as it is willing to be nothing in itself, that God may be all. Water always fills first the lowest places. The lower, the emptier a man lies before God, the speedier and the fuller will be the inflow of the divine glory.

God's Glory is the sum total of all His attributes.

John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

1 John 4:12
No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.


Psalm 96:7-9
7Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
8Ascribe to the LORD the glory of His name;
Bring an offering and come into His courts.
9Worship the LORD in holy attire;
Tremble before Him, all the earth.

Psalm 68:33
To Him who rides upon the highest heavens, which are from ancient times;
Behold, He speaks forth with His voice, a mighty voice.


Psalm 26:8
O LORD, I love the habitation of Your house
And the place where Your glory dwells.

Psalm 68:35
O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary
The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people
Blessed be God!


Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

Ephesians 1:17-19
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding[a] being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

Colossians 1:27
To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Revelation 21:22-24
The Glory of the New Jerusalem

22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.

Now here's a glorious thought to "chew on"...

Larkin's Commentary on Daniel and Revelation
Re 21:27
4. THE NEW NATIONS.
Re 21:24-27.
"And the NATIONS OF THEM WHICH ARE SAVED (the Saved Nations) shall walk in the light of it (the City): and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defìleth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's Book of Life."
This last verse does not imply that there will be sin on the New Earth to endanger the City, but to show that the City will never be contaminated by evil of any kind.
Outside the walls of this beautiful City, spread over the surface of the "New Earth," nations shall dwell, whose kings shall bring their glory and honor into it, but nothing that will defile or work abomination shall ever enter in through those "Gates of Pearl," for there will be no sin on that New Earth. Re 21:24-27.
Who Are to Be the Happy Inhabitants of This New Earth?
Where did the people who inhabited the earth after the Flood come from? They were the lineal descendants of Noah, how did they escape the Flood? They were saved in an Ark which God Provided. Ge 6:13-16. Shall not God then during the "Renovation of the Earth by Fire," in some manner, not as yet revealed, take off righteous representatives of the Millennial nations that He purposes to save, and when the earth is again fit to be the abode of men, place them back on the New Earth, that they may increase and multiply and replenish it, as Adam (Ge 1:27-28), and Noah (Ge 9:1), were told to multiply and replenish the present earth.
If God could take off Elijah for the purpose of sending him back again to herald the Second Coming of the Lord, surely God can take off representative men from the nations and put them back again on the New Earth to repopulate it. If this is not God's plan then we have one type in the Scriptures that has no antitype, for Noah's Ark, which is a type, has no antitype unless it be this.
It is clear from the Scriptures that God does not purpose to create a new race for the New Earth. His promise as to Israel is that the descendants of Abraham shall inherit this earth for a "thousand generations," or 33,000 years; now this is not possible unless they are transplanted to the New Earth. And this is just what God has promised.
"For as the New Heavens and the New Earth, which I will make, shall remain before Me, saith the Lord, so shall Your 'Seed' and Your 'Name' REMAIN." Isa 66:22.
It seems clear from the presence of the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden, that God intended the human race to populate the Earth, and when it became too thickly populated, to use the surplus population to colonize other spheres. Our "Solar System" is only in its infancy. The Earth is the only one of its planets as yet habitable. Where are the inhabitants for the other planets to come from? Think you that the planets of our Solar System, and the planets of other solar systems, of which the stars are the suns, were made simply to adorn the heavens for our little earth. God does not plan things on a Small Scale, and it magnifies His power and wisdom to believe that He created man in His own likeness, a created being higher than the angels, and gifted with the power of Procreation, that He might by means of him populate the Universe. This magnifies the Scheme of Redemption. Think you that God gave His Son to die on Calvary just to redeem a few millions of the human race? Why He could have blotted them out, as He probably did the Preadamite race, and created a new race, and Satan would have laughed because he had the second time blocked God's plan for the peopling of this earth.
No, God will not permit Satan to block His plan for peopling this earth with a Sinless Human Race. The death of Christ was not merely to redeem a few millions of the human race, but to redeem the Earth, and the Race Itself from the curse of sin, and the dominion of Satan.
The Apostle James tells us that we are only the "First Fruits" of His "Creatures." Jas 1:18. What then must the HARVEST BE?
The Universe is young yet. We are only in the beginning of things, for
"Of the increase of His government and peace THERE SHALL BE NO END." Isa 9:7.
When this Earth shall have gone through its "Baptism of Fire," and shall be again fit for the occupancy of man, the representatives of the "Saved Nations" (Re 21:24) will be men and women in whom no taint of sin will remain, and who cannot therefore impart it to their offspring, who will be like the offspring of Adam and Eve would have been if they had not sinned. This magnifies the whole scheme of redemption, and justifies God in the creation of the human race.

Praise to the God of Glory

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

The feast of the God of consolations

Geneva Bible Footnotes
Ro 15:5
4Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
4. We must take an example of patience from God: that both the weak and the strong, serving God with a mutual consent, may bring one another to God, as Christ also received us to himself, although we were ever so unworthy.

Without the walls of doublemindedness in which we would live half in God's truth and half in satan's lies.

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
Ro 15:5
...
God is the great pattern and exemplar of patience; he is patient himself, and bears much and long with the children of men; with wicked men, whose patient forbearance and longsuffering being despised by them, will be an aggravation of their damnation; but his longsuffering towards his elect issues in their salvation: he waits to be gracious to them before conversion, and after it bears with their infirmities, heals their backslidings, forgives their iniquities, patiently hears their cues, requests, and complaints, relieves and supports them, and carries them even to hoary hairs; and is in all a pattern to be imitated by his people.

Not in respecting sameness of judgment in the doctrines of faith; though this is very necessary to an honourable and comfortable walking together in church fellowship; much less an agreement in things indifferent.

This regards a likeness of affection, the sameness of mutual love, that they be of one heart, and one soul; that notwithstanding their different sentiments about things of a ceremonious kind, yet that they should love one another, and cease either to despise or judge each other; but think as well and as highly of them that differ from them, as of themselves, and of those of their own sentiments, without preferring in affection one to another; but studying and devising to promote and maintain, as the Syriac here reads it, שויותא, "an equality" among them; showing the same equal affection and respect to one as to the other, and to one another; the Jew to the Gentile, and the Gentile to the Jew; the strong to the weak, and the weak to the strong.
This is what is greatly desirable.

It is grateful to God; it is earnestly wished for by the ministers of the Gospel: and is pleasant and delightful to all good men; but it is God alone that can give and continue such a Spirit: this the apostle knew, and therefore prays that he would "grant" it:

and for which request there is a foundation for faith and hope concerning it; since God has promised he will give his people one heart, and one way, as to fear him, so to love one another.

The rule or pattern, according to which this is desired, is next expressed,

according to Christ Jesus; according to the doctrine of Christ, which teaches, directs, and engages, as to sameness of judgment and practice, so to mutual love and affection; and according to the new commandment of Christ, which obliges to love one another; and according to the example of Christ, who is the great pattern of patience and forbearance, of meekness and humility, of condescension and goodness, and of equal love and affection to all his members.

Christ is the pattern of walking in oneness of mutual love, spirit and mind.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
Ro 15:5
5, 6. Now the God of patience and consolation--Such beautiful names of God are taken from the graces which He inspires: as "the God of hope" , "the God of peace" .
grant you to be likeminded--"of the same mind"
according to Christ Jesus--It is not mere unanimity which the apostle seeks for them; for unanimity in evil is to be deprecated. But it is "according to Christ Jesus"--after the sublimest model of Him whose all-absorbing desire was to do, "not His own will, but the will of Him that sent Him" .

Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Family Bible Notes
Ro 15:5
The God of patience; who, by his word and Spirit, gives patience and consolation in trials. Like-minded; alike in views and feelings, in obedience to and imitation of Christ. Hence differences of Christians on lesser points need not mar their unity in feeling.

What God does not condemn, neither should we.

Romans: Verse by Verse (Newell)
Ro 15:5
Verses 5 and 6: Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of one mind together according to Christ Jesus; that ye may with one accord, with one mouth, glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul asks here that the same God who gave to the Old Testament saints and to the apostles "endurance" and "comfort of the Scriptures," may grant that we may be "like-minded, loving as brethren" (1Pe 3:8).

"Behold, how these Christians love one another!" was the amazed but constant testimony of paganism, yea, of Judaism, also, regarding believers in the early days of the Church. And this Spirit-wrought unity and tender affection is by far the greatest need amongst believers today. New "movements," new "educational programs," great contributions of funds--what are these worth while Christians are divided in mind, more in discord than accord? Such a state cannot "glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

"By this," our Lord said, "shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (Joh 13:35).
And this accord, this unity, is not brought about by outward organization. There is, incited by the devil, a great cry that all professing Christians today "get together," form themselves into a great "charitable" unity, inclusive of Romanists, Protestants, and well-intended Jews.

Meanwhile, in answer to the earnest, persistent cry of God's people that He would revive His Church, the real saints are being drawn more and more by His Word into the true fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Bible conferences, unsectarian Bible schools, gatherings and even leagues for prayer, and increasing intelligent fellowship with truly godly missionary effort, are the real sign that God is granting Paul's desire that believers may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
People generally make one of two mistakes concerning Christian unity.

First, that there must be absolute unanimity of opinion on all points of doctrine; and second, that there must be external unity of all so-called "Christian bodies."
We have alluded to the second of these ideas as of Satanic origin, and deluded human consent.

But now, as to the first, the desire of the apostle in verse 5, that the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus, does not have reference to opinions or views of doctrines, but does have reference to gracious dispositions of spirit; for God is not spoken of here as the God of wisdom and knowledge, but as the God of patience and of comfort. It is God's acting in these blessed graces toward the saints that will enable them to be "of one mind together according to Christ Jesus."


When the Spirit of God is freely operating among a company of believers, the eyes of all of them, first, are toward Christ Jesus. They are thinking of Him, of His love, of His service, and of what will please Him. They are conscious of their blessed place in Him. Then follow, naturally, patient dealing with one another, comforting one another. Some of the company may know much more truth than others; many may hold varying judgments or opinions concerning particular matters. But this does not at all touch their unity--their conscious- unity, in Christ; and it does not in the slightest degree hinder their being of one mind, and working- together with one accord, and, in the vivid words of Scripture, be with one mind together according to Christ Jesus.


Rome has undertaken to compel unity in both these evil senses (for she knows not the blessed unity of the Spirit): and rivers of martyrs' blood have flowed because they dared to express an opinion contrary to the edicts of "the Church." The doctrine, too, is constantly promulgated, that to be outside "Mother Church," outside the fold of Rome, is to be without the pale of salvation!
Both these things are fearful perversions of the truth.

God bless your day!
Before, then, they could enter the rest.......

William Burkitt's Expository Notes
Ro 15:5

Observe here, 1. How the apostle concludes his foregoing exhortation, with votive supplications, and fervent prayer. The ministers of God must follow the word they deliver with prayer; they must not only wrestle with their people, but they must wrestle with God for and in behalf of their people, if they ever hope to overcome.

Observe, 2. The prayer and supplication itself; and that is, for concord and unity among Christians: That they may, with one mind and one mouth, glorify God: that in their Christian assemblies they may all worship God after the same manner, and not one this way, and another that. Unity among Christians in common conversation, but especially in church-communion, is a very desirable mercy, and much to be prayed for by the ministers of God.

Observe, 3. How the apostle addresses himself in prayer to God for his mercy under a double title, (1.) As a God of patience, The God of patience grant you to be like-minded; intimating what great need there is of patience, in order to maintain love and unity among Christians; and, that God must be applied to in prayer, who is the author of it, to produce and work this grace of patience, in order unto peace and unity among Christians: The God of patience grant you to be like-minded. The unity of the saints greatly depends upon the exercise of patience one towards another; and that they may attain it, he begs the God of patience to give it.

(2.) Our apostle joins with this another title, namely, The God of consolation; wherein he points them to that abundant comfort which would result to themselves from such a blessed unity, continued and maintained by the mutual exercise of patience and forbearance one towards another: The God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one towards another.


Observe, 4. The pattern and example which he lays before them, to excite and quicken them to this duty, namely, the example of Christ himself: According to Christ Jesus, that is, according to the example of Christ Jesus; as if the apostle had said, "Let us consider how the Lord Jesus bears with us, how many thousand infirmities and failings doth he find in the best of us, yet is he pleased to maintain communion with us; and shall not we after his example do the like, that thereby God may be eminently glorified by us?"


Observe, 5. How God is called the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1. As he begat him by an eternal and ineffable generation.
2. As he was man, so he created him, Lu 1:35.
3. As Mediator, so he appointed him to, and qualified him for, that office.

And eternally magnified be omnipotent love, that the comfort of this compellation of our Lord Jesus Christ, so he is in him our Father also, our merciful, our gracious, and loving Father. May we ever demean ourselves towards him as dutiful and obedient children!

 

[JPPT1974]

We need to remember that
We shouldn't judge as well
For when we judge, God judges us
Because that is His job.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

The third feast

The Feast of "The God of Hope"

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The God:

Romans 15:5
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,

Jeremiah 14:8
O Hope of Israel,
its Savior in times of distress,
why are you like a stranger in the land,
like a traveler who stays only a night?

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.


1 Timothy 1
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,


He Fills:

Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

Isaiah 55:12
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.


John 14
Jesus Comforts His Disciples
1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God[a]; trust also in me.
27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.


Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Ephesians 1:2
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


Ephesians 5:18-19
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,


2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.


1 Peter 1:8
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,


And Abounds:

Romans 5:4
perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.


2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Hebrews 6:11
We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.


Now the God of hope—Literally, “the God of the hope,” because He is the author of that hope and therein His grace is set before both Jew and Gentile in Christ. The hope is not mere expectancy; it carries with it the assurance of faith.

Fill you with all joy and peace in believing. This is a petition to the God of hope that it might come to them "in believing"; in the way of faith, and the exercise of that grace; for joy comes this way; faith and joy go together; where one is, the other is also; and as the one increases, so does the other; a believing view of interest in Christ is attended with joy unspeakable, and full of glory: and so peace comes in at the door of faith: there is no true peace till a soul is brought to believe in Christ; and that is promoted and increased by repeated acts of faith on Christ, or by a constant living by faith on him.

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you.



that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost.

“And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed” (Deut. 31:8).

“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Ps. 30:5).

“‘With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,’ says the Lord, your Redeemer” (Isa. 54:8).

“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,
And come to Zion with singing,
With everlasting joy on their heads.
They shall obtain joy and gladness,
And sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isa. 35:10).

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance” (Rom. 5:3).

“Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort” (Ps. 119:76).

“Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God” (Ps. 42:11).

Great is His faithfulness, the God of our Hope

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

The 4th lovefeast being prepared is for "the God of all mercy; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation" and and 5th for our God "the God of love"

"the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation"


2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Comfort in Suffering
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Father of mercies-that is, the SOURCE of all mercies

James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Romans 12
Living Sacrifices to God
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Comfort-which flows from His "mercies" experienced. "mercies" and "comfort," are spoken of before proceeding to speak of afflictions


2 Corinthians 1:4-6
who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.


The "tribulation" of believers is not inconsistent with God's mercy, and does not beget in them suspicion of it; for in the end they feel that He is "the God of ALL comfort," that is, who imparts the only true and perfect comfort in every instance. His strength is perfected in our weaknesses. Ya, tho He kill me, I will trust in Him.

Psalm 146:3
Do not put your trust in princes,
Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.
5 Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the LORD his God,
8 The LORD opens the eyes of the blind;
The LORD raises those who are bowed down;
The LORD loves the righteous.




And Lovefeast #5 being prepared (Martha/Mary style in service and adoration) for our God in preparation for His death and ressurection:

"The God of love"

2 Corinthians 13:11
Final Greetings
11Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Jacob’s response to his dream at Bethel (Genesis 28:17–22). Jacob’s initial response was one of awe and fear (28:17), but then he made a vow.

"If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You." Genesis 28:20–22

Rabbi Sholomo Riskin, chief rabbi of Efrat and dean of the Ohr Tora institutions, observed in the “Shabbat Shalom” column of the Jerusalem Post (December 9, 1989) that Jacob’s statement is not conditional. It is pure prayer: I will believe, Jacob is saying, no matter what transpires, and if the Lord [Elohim] will protect and clothe me, and I’ll return to my father’s house in peace. “Then shall the Lord [JHVH] be my God [Elohim] ...” and I’ll be able to worship You not only as the God of justice and power but as the personal God of love and compassion.

We can sense the depth of meaning given agape by glancing at just one passage in which it is central, namely:

Romans 5:6–10.
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

The God-kind of Love (4:7): Agape (Strong’s #26), a noun rarely found outside the New Testament, has a specialized meaning within Christianity. Agape (“love”) describes an active, self-giving love which, in goal and action, consistently seeks the highest good of another. Unlike other kinds of love, agape is not based on the high value of the person to whom it is given or upon any hope of reciprocation. Agape is an act of the will rather than the emotions. This love unconditionally and generously elects to set its love upon persons for their sake and benefit without demanding a return and in spite of a person’s worth, attractiveness, present condition, previous actions, or consequential response.2
Hayford, J. W., & Hagan, K. A. (1997). Passing Faith's Tests with Love and Joy : A study of James, 1&2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude. Spirit-Filled Life Bible Discovery Guides.

We believe in an omnipotent, omnipresent God of love, who is actively involved in the affairs of this world. We believe in a God who sees trouble and grief, who takes sides with the persecuted against their persecutors, and who as ruler of all is free to act in judgment. It is no wonder that the more familiar we become with sin’s impact in society, the more we question, “Why do You hide yourself in times of trouble?”

Through Moses, God showed Himself to be a God of power, who would kept His ancient covenant with Abraham and his descendants. Through Moses, too, the name “Yahweh” was revealed to the Israelites. And through Jesus, God showed Himself to be a God of love. Also, through the name “Immanuel” (which means “with us is God”), God the Son showed that He took on flesh to provide redemption for sinful humanity.

God chose Abram and initiated a long-range plan that would for all eternity establish the Lord as a God of love, who cares deeply for human beings in spite of our sinfulness. That plan is introduced in the covenant promises God made to Abram. And the rest of the Bible is the story of how that plan was carried out.


Moses is a deliverer and a type of Jesus Christ. God, who is the covenant-keeping God, sent Moses as a deliverer for His people in the midst of their oppression in Egypt. In the same way, Jesus Christ is a deliverer for God’s people in the midst of oppression in this present world system. God is a God of love. Since the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden, God has been in the business of rescuing and saving humankind.

For a time, God has permitted humankind to rebel and erect a world system that is alien to His kingdom. However, this time period is drawing to a close as the end of history approaches. The sin that deceives humankind has been destroyed by the Lamb who has redeemed us by His blood. In fact, at the very center of the universe is the final reality of the Lamb who exists, redeeming humankind by the blood. This is the very center of the universe and the very heartbeat of God reaching out in sacrificial love to men and women. What a marvelous truth that is! When we look up at the starry night sky and see the myriad display of lights twinkling in an infinite expanse, our hearts should rejoice because the universe is not empty, contrary to what the existentialists say. Nor is it a jungle where only the fittest survive. At the very center of the universe is a God of love, the Lamb upon the throne, who died so that you and I could have eternal life. Is it any wonder that part and parcel of this reality is a mighty song, a new song that gloriously proclaims the fact the Lamb was slain for the sins of the world? He purchased eternal life for each of us by His blood. What other response can there be than a mighty, eternal anthem of praise and worship that fills the darkness of the night with the splendor of His eternal glory!
Hayford, J. W., & McGuire, P. (1997, c1994). People of the Covenant : God's New Covenant for Today. Spirit-Filled Life Kingdom Dynamic Study Guide.

 

[chnchris]

1Co 5:8
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Keeping the feast, the continuous eating of the passover lamb, a nonestop feasting of Jesus,in sincerity and truth, b/c after all we are what we eat, right.
The old leaven is the old creature we once were before believing in Christ with all the sins, now we need to feast on Him and who He is continually in sincerity and truth to purge out the old leaven. Jesus gives us the grace to continually feast on Him, thru His Love and His indweling and in His power. Thank You, Jesus

1 Corinthians 11:24
and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”


1 Corinthians 11:27-29
Examine Yourself

27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

1 Corinthians 9:13
Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar?

We eat of Christ everytime we think of Him, His Love, His words, His work, His deeds, His care for the poor and everytime we act on His commands, which are all His character in action.

As Catholics, we believe these Scriptures point to Holy Eucharist (Communion), when we partake of the Body and Blood of Jesus at daily Mass (give us our daily bread).

chris

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

As Catholics, we believe these Scriptures point to Holy Eucharist (Communion), when we partake of the Body and Blood of Jesus at daily Mass (give us our daily bread).

chris

Daily, yes. There was a time when the people had no bibles yet still they were told to eat of His flesh. When bibles became available to all, they were told to read of His Word daily.

Eucharist and communion of reenacting the Lord's supper are symbolic outwardly of the inward eating of His Word.

In the tabernackle in the desert, the Holy place, the place were the priest worked, there was the shew bread, Jesus is the bread of life. Also there was the candlestick, Jesus is the light. The light used oil to burn, which is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit shines light upon the Word of God to illuminate it to us. Just as the Holy Spirit shines light upon the scriptures to reveal them to us. The altar of incence, used for intervessory prayer is the only other priestly equipment in the room.
The eucharist and communion are outward symbols of what we are doing here inwardly, eating of Him, which should be partaken of contiually.

This hymn is from the early church and shows how the Lord Himself was the feast. We need to truly eat of the Lamb. not in outward symbolism, like eating of the actual shewbread as the priests were allowed to do, but in the inward way of assimulating His Word into us, for us to become as He is. This is how we are change from glory to glory, not from traditional ritualism but from eating of His Word.

At The Lamb's High Feast We Sing

At the Lamb's high feast we sing,
Praise to our victorious King,
Who hath washed us in the tide
Flowing from his piercèd side;
Praise we Him, Whose love divine
Gives His sacred blood for wine,
Gives His body for the feast,
Love the victim, love the priest.
Where the Paschal blood is poured,
Death's dark angel sheathes his sword;
Israel's hosts triumphant go
Through the wave that drowns the foe.
Christ, the Lamb, whose blood was shed,
Paschal victim, paschal bread;
With sincerity and love
Eat we manna from above.
Mighty victim from the sky,
Powers of hell beneath Thee lie;
Death is conquered in the fight;
Thou hast brought us life and light;
Now thy banner thou dost wave;
Vanquished Satan and the grave;
Angels join his praise to tell
See o'erthrown the prince of hell
Paschal triumph, paschal joy,
Only sin can this destroy;
From the death of sin set free
Souls reborn, dear Lord, in Thee.
Hymns of glory songs of praise,
Father, unto Thee we raise.
Risen Lord, all praise to Thee,
Ever with the Spirit be.

This anonymous hymn in Latin dates from the 6th or 7th century. The original title was Ad regias Agni dapes and was translated into English by Robert Campbell in 1849.

edit to say:
The actual feast goes beyond even just the reading of the Word. The feast is the shining of the Holy Spirit, the revealing by the Father, of the things of Him. This is what the church's foundation stands upon.
"the God of glory" "the God of patience and consolation," "the God of hope"
"the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation . . ." "the God of love"
"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly" and "the God of all grace"
To Him we owe ALL glory and ALL honor and ALL of our praise. Amen

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Feast #6 "The God of peace"

1 Thessalonians 5:23
Blessing and Admonition
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
A Promise to Sanctify and Preserve
Paul focuses on wholeness, unity of being. First, Paul’s appeal is to the God of peace. The idea of peace includes the idea of wholeness or integration. When one is at peace, every part is united and working in harmony. Second, Paul asks that God sanctify them completely. Again Paul emphasizes the aspect of wholeness. And finally, Paul specifies every part of the person—spirit, soul and body. God’s desire, spoken through Paul by the inspiration of the Spirit, is that His children continually grow towards wholeness.





Philippians 4:9
The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
A PROMISE OF GOD’S PRESENCE
We need to learn and receive instruction in God’s Word. We need to hear and see God’s Word lived out by others. Yet it is only when we “do” that we live close to our Lord and that we experience the God of Peace with us.





Romans 16:20
And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
A PROMISE OF FINAL VICTORY
It takes courage and character to face adversity, and the only One who can prepare us to do that is our heavenly Father working through His Son and Spirit.





Hebrews 13:20-21
Benediction, Final Exhortation, Farewell
20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you[a] what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
A Promise to Complete the Great Work in You
Wait in peace for that hour when “the God of peace shall sanctify thee wholly, so that thy whole spirit, and soul, and body, may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ!”




Psalm 122:6-9
6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
"May they prosper who love you.
7"May peace be within your walls,
And prosperity within your palaces."
8For the sake of my brothers and my friends,
I will now say, "May peace be within you."
9For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your good.

A most appropriate prayer for a city whose name means peace and is the residency of the God of peace

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

The Feast of "The God of all Grace"

1 Peter 5:10
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

While the title “God of all grace” occurs only in 1 Peter 5:10, “grace” in the developed sense discussed above is found no less than 106 times in 98 verses. It is indeed a defining term of the Christian faith, for the Father, as the “God of all grace,” has chosen to call “us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus.”


“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” (1 Pet. 5:10).

John Wesley's Notes on the Bible
1Pe 5:10
Verse 10. Now the God of all grace - By which alone the whole work is begun, continued, and finished in your soul. After ye have suffered a while - A very little while compared with eternity. Himself - Ye have only to watch and resist the devil: the rest God will perform. Perfect - That no defect may remain. Stablish - That nothing may overthrow you. Strengthen - That ye may conquer all adverse power. And settle you - As an house upon a rock. So the apostle, being converted, does now "strengthen his brethren."

And so ends the preperations.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Tommorrow is Palm Sunday when Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last Passover celebration of His earthly life. We now set out to follow Him on His last 7 days in His unredeemed body and on to His ascention in His glorified body.

Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

The day before the triumphant entrance

In John 11:53 we read that the chief priests and Pharisees had held council to put Jesus to death, saying that the one (innocent , guilty or otherwise) is preferred killed than to endanger the nation.

The people were gathered as much to see the one who was raised from the dead as to see Him who had raised Him. Lazarus may have been in hiding previously due to threats of his death as well, from the same source, to dissuade believe in Jesus.

The meal was prepared and Martha served while Mary honered Him with costly perfume. This act of serving and honoring is a great example of how Jesus should be treated while He is with us.


John 11:55-57
When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple area they asked one another, "What do you think? Isn't he coming to the Feast at all?" 57But the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that if anyone found out where Jesus was, he should report it so that they might arrest him.

Jesus arrives at Bethany

Then Jesus, six days before the passover came to Bethany, where was Lazarus which had been raised from the dead, whom He raised from the dead.

John 12:9-11
Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.

Jesus anointed by Mary.

John 12:2-8
Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5"Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." 6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. " It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

God's Personal Visit

Jesus headed straight up to Jerusalem the next morning. When he got near Bethphage and Bethany at the mountain called Olives, he sent off two of the disciples with instructions: "Go to the village across from you. As soon as you enter, you'll find a colt tethered, one that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says anything, asks, 'What are you doing?' just say, 'His Master needs him.'"

The two left and found it just as he said. As they were untying the colt, its owners said, "What are you doing untying the colt?" They answered, "His Master needs him." So they brought the colt to Jesus. Then, throwing their coats on its back, they helped Jesus on. As he rode, the people gave him a great welcome, throwing their coats on the street. Others cut down braches from the trees and lay them before Him.

Right at the crest, where Mount Olives begins its descent, the whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed:
Blessed is he who comes,
the king in God's name!
All's well in heaven!
Glory in the high places!

But some Pharisees from the crowd told him, "Teacher, get your disciples under control!"
But he said, "If they kept quiet, the rocks and stones themselves would start to sing and shout praises."

As the city came into view, Jesus wept. "If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you! But now it's too late. In the days ahead your enemies are going to bring up their heavy artillery and surround you, pressing in from every side. They'll smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact. All this because you didn't recognize and welcome God's personal visit to you."

The disciples didn't notice the fulfillment of the many Scriptures at the time, but after Jesus was glorified, they remembered that what was written about him matched what had been done to him.

It was the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, that was there giving eyewitness accounts. It was because they had spread the word of this latest God-sign that the crowd had swelled to a welcoming parade. The Pharisees took one look and threw up their hands: "It's out of control. The world's in a stampede after him."

Jesus went straight to the Temple and threw out everyone who had set up shop, buying and selling. He kicked over the tables of loan sharks and the stalls of dove merchants. He quoted this scripture:
My house was designated a house of prayer;
You have made it a hangout for thieves.

So now there was room for the blind and crippled to get in. They came to Jesus and he healed them.
And the chief priests and the scribes heard of this and kept seeking some way to destroy Him, for they feared Him, because the entire multitude was struck with astonishment at His teaching.

As the religious leaders were watching the outrageous things he was doing, and heard all the children running and shouting through the Temple, "Hosanna to David's Son!" they were up in arms and took him to task. "Do you hear what these children are saying?"
Jesus said, "Yes, I hear them. And haven't you read in God's Word, 'From the mouths of children and babies I'll furnish a place of praise'?"

Then, being fed up with them, Jesus turned on his heel and left the city for Bethany, where he spent the night.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.


They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you the authority?"

Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John's baptism...was it from heaven, or from men? Tell me!"

They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' But if we say, 'From men'...." (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)
So they answered Jesus, "We don't know."
Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."



Jesus then began to give some parables."What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'
" 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
"Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.
"Which of the two did what his father wanted?"
"The first," they answered.
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him."


(the "sinners" were the ones who said they wouldn't but did, while the "leaders" were saying they will. but didn't)


"Listen to another one: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.
"The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. Last of all, he sent his son to them. 'They will respect my son,' he said.
"But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and take his inheritance.' So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
"Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?"
"He will bring those wretches to a wretched end," they replied, "and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time."
Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures:
" 'The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes'?
"Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus' parables, they knew he was talking about them. They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.


Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
"Then he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.'
"But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
"Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.' So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless.
"Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
"For many are invited, but few are chosen."

(the proper garment is Jesus' righteousness, not our own.)

Later on that day they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn't we?"
But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. "Why are you trying to trap me?" he asked. "Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"
"Caesar's," they replied.
Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."
They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

He could now spend the rest of the day teaching and doing good, which He no doubt did, as was His custom.

 

[plmarquette]

John 3.3-8 born again of water and spirit ... the corporal passover , anoints our eyes , ears, and mouth with the blood to protect us ...

but we by our words and thoughts , many times , was off the blood by sin , returing to the old ways and opening ourselves up to the attacks of evil

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

John 3.3-8 born again of water and spirit ... the corporal passover , anoints our eyes , ears, and mouth with the blood to protect us ...

but we by our words and thoughts , many times , was off the blood by sin , returing to the old ways and opening ourselves up to the attacks of evil

I'm not sure what you mean by that? Jesus' attacks came from without, not from within.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Day 3

In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter
remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!"

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain,
'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he
says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in
prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying,
if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive
you your sins."

(even tho the fig tree had been out of season with no fruit on, Jesus had cursed it, b/c
when He needed it it wasn't there for Him. This is commonly refered to as representing
Israel but also shows how we need to be ready in season and out when He needs us to be there
for Him) (so, therefore, always be purified and sanctified in readiness for His need) (He always has the supply for the need)


Jesus proceeds to the temple area where He gets into a discussion the ressurection, the greatest commandment and about ancestry.


Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. "Teacher," they said, "Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. The second and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. Finally, the woman died too. Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?"


Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection.
Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the bush, how God said to him,
'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?
He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!"

When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'There is no commandment greater than these."

"Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?"
"The son of David," they replied.

He said to them, "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says,
" 'The Lord said to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
under your feet."
'If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?"

No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

The large crowd listened to him with delight.

While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, "Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."

And He proceeded to pronounce seven woes on them.

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

"Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.'

"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

"Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? You also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.' You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!

"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"


Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. As he looked up, Jesus saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."

And so ends another account of a day in the life of the Lord.