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The Temple

In the New Testament there are two primary words used for Temple. Hieron (ἱερόν), which describes the temple as a whole and Naos (ναός), the Holy of Holies. This is the inner chamber where God dwells as described in the building of the Temple in Exodus 26:33 as holy of the holies (קֹ֥דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים), where the ark of the covenant resided and only the High Priest was permitted to enter in once a year to make a sacrifice for the whole nation (Hebrews 9:7).

In Matthew, Jesus calls out the foolishness of the religious leaders who had no issue with someone swearing by the Holy of Holies and breaking their promise, but if they swore by the gold of the Holy of Holies then they were obligated to keep their word (Matthew 23:16). They had the same twisted allegiance to the sacrifice rather than the altar. Yet, the one swearing by the altar also swears by all that is on it, and the one swearing by the Holy of Holies also swears by the One who dwells in it (Matthew 23:20).

In one of Satan’s attempts to lure Jesus into acting independently from God the Father, he takes Him up to the pinnacle of the Temple, Matthew 4:5. His intent was to get Jesus to tempt God by casting Himself off the Temple, for Scripture states that His angels will protect Him. The tempting of God is not appropriate, for God cannot be tempted and tempts no one (James 1:13); therefore, Jesus rebukes Satan for even suggesting it (Matthew 4:7). In seeking to accuse Jesus, the Pharisees seeing His disciples picking grain and eating it as they pass through a grainfield on the Sabbath, tried to call […]

The Temple2023-11-25T07:51:21-08:00

The New Birth

One of the aspects of becoming a Christian is a new birth. Jesus spoke of this new birth to Nicodemus, who asked how a person can be born when he is old (John 3:4) in response to Jesus telling him that he must be born from above to see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3).

To understand what the new birth is and why it is necessary, we need to go back to the beginning. When Adam was created, He was made in the image (had a garment of light) and likeness (intelligent, rational) of God (Genesis 1:26). Even though as part of the original creation of humans God made us both male and female, He only created Adam. Therefore, Eve is not an individual creation; rather, she was built out from Adam’s side by God to be a helpmeet for him (Genesis 2:22), making it possible for the human race to propagate. Since we are all part of a single creation, Adam’s nature is passed on to his offspring. However, he did not pass on his original nature; rather, the nature his descendants receive was after he had corrupted it by trespassing and sinning (Genesis 5:3). This means that we all inherited his condemnation (Romans 5:12), and the spiritual and physical deaths that were a result of his trespass and sin (Romans 5:12-21). Physical death does not come upon us because of our personal sins, but as a direct result of Adam’s sin (Romans 5:14). Therefore, even if a human could live a completely righteous life before God, it would not be sufficient to save that one because the head of our creation is corrupt, condemned, and separated from God and therefore all his offspring […]

The New Birth2023-12-14T12:24:35-08:00

Atonement (כפר – koper)

The primary meaning of atonement is “to cover”. Under the Mosaic Law, those who sinned had to make a sacrifice that would atone (cover) for their sin, in addition to a yearly atonement made by the High priest (Exodus 30:10) concerning any sins done unaware, for ignorance of the law was not an excuse for violating it.

In a Psalm of David, he writes of the God Who listens to prayer, covering our transgressions. For transgressions of the law had to be dealt with or death would come upon the one breaking it.

“Words of perversity are against me. Our transgressions You cover.”  – Psalm 65:3.

Within the tabernacle, in the inner most chamber, God had the place of atonement where the High Priest would go once a year to offer a sacrifice for the sins of Israel. It is often mis-translated as the mercy seat; however, no mercy was being expressed here, rather, it was the covering place (הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת – kap-po-ret) for sins (Leviticus 16:15).

In the New Testament, atonement is only found in translation, not the original. There is a big difference between the blood of Christ compared to what the blood of bulls and goats could accomplish, for they do not inherently have the ability to send away sin (Hebrews 10:4).

Under the New Covenant, made through the blood of Christ, our sins are sent away not covered up. The Greek language has a word that expresses the same concept of covering as the Hebrew word for atonement; however, it is never used concerning Christ’s cross work. James uses it concerning the one who turns a sinner from his error, coving a multitude of sins (James 5:20). Therefore, if Christ had made an atonement for […]

Atonement (כפר – koper)2023-11-25T08:01:34-08:00

2 Corinthians The Things That Are Not Seen Are Eternal

We Speak Because We Believe, 2 Corinthians 4:13-15

Having the same Spirit of faith according to what was written, 2 Corinthians 4:13

Referring to Psalms 116:10

The Author of the Psalm expresses His belief in God

He called out to God, and God saved Him

We Speak Because We Believe

Faith Always Goes Back to a Promise, Hebrews 11:1

The Reason Paul Speaks is Because He Believes God

Not a Belief Built on Presumption, but Actual Fact and Promises From God

Christ was Actually Raised from the Dead on the Third Day According to the Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 15:4

God Really Created a New Man in Which Christ is the Head and the Church is the Body, comprising of Both Jew and Gentile, 2 Corinthians 5:17

We Actually Possess Eternal Life and Therefore All Things Pertaining to Life and godliness, 2 Peter 1:3-4

God Will Raise Us Along with Jesus, 2 Corinthians 4:14

We Don’t Have an Experiential Knowledge Yet, For We Are Not Resurrected

When We See Him We Will Be Like Him, 1 John 3:2

We are Given The Holy Spirit as a Guarantee of Our Full Redemption, Ephesians 1:13-14

The Grace Super Abounding Unto Thanksgiving, 2 Corinthians 4:15

Grace Exists in Abundance

Grace is God’s Attitude Whereby He Gives a Benefit Without Consideration of Merit

Grace Increases Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is an Attitude of Gratitude

The Things Not Seen Are Eternal, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Although The Body Is Decaying We are Not Cowards, 2 Corinthians 4:16

We Do Not […]

2 Corinthians The Things That Are Not Seen Are Eternal2023-12-14T08:17:17-08:00

Sealed by God

Do you know as a Christian God has put His mark on you? When we believe that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day, all according to the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit seals us with God’s mark. This means all spirit beings know that we belong to God.

in Whom also you, after hearing the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation, in Whom also having believed, you were sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise – Ephesians 1:13.

As part of our salvation, we are sealed until the day of complete redemption. This guarantees we will receive in full what God has promised to us.

and stop grieving the Holy Spirit of God, by Whom you are sealed until a day of full redemption – Ephesians 4:30

As ones who are sealed, we belong to God and therefore Satan cannot touch us. That is right, contrary to what the movies and false religions like the Catholic Church and other false pastors claiming to cast out demons would want us to believe, we cannot be touched by any demon because they know we belong to God.

We intuitively know that everyone born out from God does not habitually sin, but the one born out from God guards himself and the malignantly evil one does not touch him. – 1 John 5:18

Of all the things that this world can throw at us, the reality is we belong to God. Therefore, we really should walk in a worthy manner of God who called us into His Own Kingdom and glory, having our conduct of those who are citizens of the heavens and walk according to the Gospel […]

Sealed by God2023-12-14T08:43:19-08:00
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