Tag: Genesis

  • a Failure of Kings Advent 4 of Christ

    a Failure of Kings Advent 4 of Christ

    What do you think about Kings?

    • Do you have a Sovereign?
    • Would you like to follow one?

    Who is your King?

    Perhaps your gut response would be no different than that of the high priests of Jerusalem at the capital trial of Jesus.

    The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

    Gospel of John 19:15b King James Version

    You may say that WE have no religious leaders in charge of a nation. But look closer at leadership titles where you will discover priests in politics. And don’t miss some presidents, premiers, prime ministers and even kings governing as Caesars.

    Descendants of Abraham did not always have kings, nor did the kings of Israel, Judah and Judea always have power.

    a reminder of Roger@TalkofJesus.com

    a glance at kings of the Promised Land

    Previously we witnessed pre-history as a timeline, essentially beginning again from the restoration of life at the time of NOAH.

    Which kings in history have been successful and which kings were a failure?

    TODAY, before we proceed to the recognized historical kings of Israel let’s also consider others from the Mosaic record.

    kings and princes mentioned by Moses

    mālaḵ verb, מָלַךְ

    Strong’s H4427 in the following manner: reign (289x), king (46x), made (4x), queen (2x).. more

    And Bela the son of Beor reigned H4427 in Edom: and the name of his city was Dinhabah.

    • KINGS of cities (or later City-States in places such as Greece)
    • Perhaps Prince would fit better.
    • Or maybe, Mayor? (But they were military generals as well.)

    meleḵ מֶלֶךְ

    The KJV translates Strong’s H4428 in the following manner: king (2,518x), misc..

    That these made war with Bera king H4428 of Sodom, and with Birsha king H4428 of Gomorrah, Shinab king H4428 of Admah, and Shemeber king H4428 of Zeboiim, and the king H4428 of Bela, which is Zoar.

    Genesis 14:2 King James Version


    These are just a few of the kings who made war. (That’s what Kings tend to do.) Therefore, Abraham (a Prince without a city. So like these kings and generals he was treated as a king when he helped them win a battle.

    And Melchizedek king H4428 of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

    14:18 וּמַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק מֶלֶךְ שָׁלֵם הוֹצִיא לֶחֶם וָיָיִן וְהוּא כֹהֵן לְאֵל עֶלְיוֹן׃

    Melchizedek NOT just the mayor of Jerusalem or a mere Prime Minister or even Prince (as Abraham was generally treated) — the כֹּהֵן – kōhēn – Priest of ʿelyôn ‘ēl


    IF in this 21st century of the Common Era WE independent evangelists (who know nothing of kings) attempt to compare Abraham, Melchizedek, David or Solomon to any common Caesar of this day,

    or

    IF WE anoint JESUS with simply the same royal title of any King (such as Charles),

    THEN WE miss many overlapping roles of Sovereignty the Lord God gave to these men

    AS WELL AS equally important roles of the Christ our High Priest and our Prophet dismissed and diminished by the common Caesar’s of these last days.

    Roger@TalkofJesus.com

    Kings of the Promised People

    kingdom Saul David Solomon & surrounding kingdoms of Ammon, Edom and other gentiles

    From a promise of the LORD to Abraham, a king without a country,

    to David conquering King uniting twelve tribes, Solomon son of David built the Temple and an Empire.

    You will be as familiar with the Dan to Beersheba borders as me.

    Additionally you may have discerned that Solomon conquered to the north beyond Damascus as far as Tiphsah on the Euphrates River [1 Kings 4:24].

    Solomon a distant memory of success

    The Jews of Jesus’ incarnate days had visualized their glorious past in the empire of Solomon. These contemporaries of Jesus nostalgically recalled Solomon as a Caesar of Israel in his time.

    From ~989 B.C. until his death in ~931 B.C. Solomon’s influence extended even into all the nearby world.

    Centuries of Failed Kings Before Christ

    King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh [king of Egypt]—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women.

    2 These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.”

    1 Kings 11:1-2 BSB

    Christian preaching makes much of monogamy here while ignoring common customs of marriage alliances between political rulers of nations through intermarriage. Yet the LORD had forbidden it.

    And incentives inviting our cultural bias against the True God of Israel continue as a leaven diluting a Common Era Church to this day.

    Frequently forced alliances led to the fall of Israel [722 BC] and decline through gradual apostasy compromised Judah just a century later [606 BC].

    esile to babylon

    606 B.C. Some captives taken to Babylon. (Daniel included)

    597 B.C. More captives taken to Babylon. (Ezekiel included)

    586 B.C. Jerusalem is destroyed by fire.


    Kings of Chosen Captives

    Without dwelling on all the kings of both Israel and Judah who ‘did evil in the sight of the LORD,’ we’ll move forward to those left powerless by defeat and the refining of the Lord our God.

    2 Kings 17 – Failure of Israel

    3 Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria.

    And Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute. But the king of Assyria found treachery in Hoshea, for he had sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, and offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year.

    Therefore the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison.


    Egypt's king (not so much a god and Pharoah to an Assyrian king) wouldn't help Hoshea out of his political servitude to Shalmaneser king of Assyria. 

    Does this king's representative vassal relationship sound somewhat prophetic of a later Herodian whoredom with Rome?

    Then the king of Assyria invaded all the land and came to Samaria, and for three years he besieged it.

    In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, and he carried the Israelites away to Assyria…

    2 Kings 17:5-6a ESV ~724BC -722 BC


    Meanwhile, back in Judah

    Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. No king of Judah was like him, either before him or after him. He remained faithful to the LORD and did not turn from following Him; he kept the commandments that the LORD had given Moses.

    7And the LORD was with Hezekiah, and he prospered wherever he went. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and refused to serve him. 8He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its borders, from watchtower to fortified city.

    2 Kings 18:5-8 BSB

    • 701 B.C. 200,000 of the inhabitants of Judah captured by Sennacherib
    • 621 B.C. Nineveh, Assyria falls to Babylon and Media (the Medes)
    • 586 B.C Judah falls to Babylon, the rebuilt Temple destroyed and captured families of the leading Jews led captive to Babylonia
    esile to babylon
    Flight of the Prisoners, Artist: Tissot, Photographer: John Parnell, Photo © The Jewish Museum, New York

    600 years Before Christ, No more Kings of Israel;

    No King of the Jews in Jerusalem!


    Hope only for a few

    Biblical Foundations of Freedom

    The Prophesy of Isaiah, with some familiar to Christians as prophesy foreseeing the Messiah born in Bethlehem of Judea (formerly Judah), is set earlier than what we have just read in the context of the divided kingdom.

    Isaiah 10:

    Here in part is Isaiah’s and the LORD’s lament:

    11 ” ‘..shall I not deal with Jerusalem and her images

    as I dealt with Samaria and her idols?’ ”

    19 And the remaining trees of his forests will be so few

    that a child could write them down.

    22 For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness.

    Two mote Empires (Before Christ & Rome)

    For those who like me may have occasionally fallen asleep in history class I'll make this rise and fall of three Empires brief.
    • a remnant does return to Jerusalem and rebuilds its wall and Temple
      • 536 B.C. Cyrus the Great permitted the return. 49,897 Jews returned from Babylon to Jerusalem.
    • 516 B.C. The temple was completed. source
      • (Jerusalem will later get a Governor, Nehemiah and a Priest, Ezra),
      • But still no King since they are subjects of Persia.
    If not a king, how about a Queen?

    And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

    Esther 2:17 KJV

    Yet Esther becomes co-regent of the Medes and Persians [~478 B.E.] not simply a small remote city of Jerusalem.

    • Malachi’s prophecy likely came sometime after the ministry of Nehemiah around BC 458-445.
    • Malachi is the last prophet to speak before Christ.

    Before Caesars, Greeks

    The advent of Christ takes place in Judea and beyond, documented in Greek texts as was the whole New Testament. Persia.

    323 BC world map of Alexander the Great

    It’s a period of some 400 years Before Christ.

    Jews from Persia in the east, in Samaria to the north and even west as far as Rome became divided in their interest in the Bible given by Moses and the Prophets.

    Thanks to Alexander the Great, the nearby world of the Herod’s and Jews spoke Greek (not Hebrew or certainly not the Latin of Rome).

    In the timeline of all history Rome’s consequent defeat of other kings, princes and generals after Alexander’s death and division of yet another Empire would set the stage for the birth of a King from before all time born into it in a little Judean town unnoticed by a vassal King appointed by Caesar, a king of a captive Israel actually raised in distant Rome.

    These centuries of ADVENT lead up to a glorious day central to all of history and all of mankind.


    NEXT: Christmas 2024 of the Common Era, God-willing

  • Advent 2 of Christmas Evangelicalism

    Advent 2 of Christmas Evangelicalism

    Advent

    Advent time unpacked nativity set boxes

    a Nativity Scene on the mantle for Advent and our annual Christmas feast?

    A COVID Christmas – Shall we take Jesus out of the box includes history of Christmas in the U.S. December 1, 2020 C.E. 

    Last time in our ADVENT 1 post from this 2024 Common Era series, we asked:

    The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

    And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

    Genesis 6:11-12 KJV

    Command of the LORD & promise of a Covenant

    “But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark.. Genesis 6

    “I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth.” – Genesis 9

    READ MORE about God’s covenant with Noah

    Ark Encounter full-size replica of Noah's ark built to Biblical specs

    IMAGINE the historical NOAH preaching to a corrupt church about this ADVENT of the Last Days when JESUS will return to judge creation with fire and fellow sinners sitting right beside you at this year’s Christmas program.

    The chosen Before Christ

    A PERSONAL interaction between the Creator and Living God of timeless eternity and a created son of Adam and NOAH.

    Jesus said to them,

    ‘Verily, verily, I say to you, Before Abraham’s coming — I am;’

    excerpt from Gospel of John 8: Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)

    AFTER this unique time of ABRAHAM Before Christ,

    • Judah (and Israel) had yet to be conquered, named, lost, regained and renamed over centuries of the chosen sons of Abraham.

    Chosen for Covenant and Curse

    FROM the LAW of Moses 
    for the generations of the LORD's chosen;
    administered by Levite priests (sons of Jacob, Isaac and Abraham:

    Additional Blessings of Obedience

    • “You must not make idols for yourselves..
    • You must keep My Sabbaths
    • and have reverence for My sanctuary. I am the LORD.
    • .. and I will establish My covenant with you.
    • youthful christian Swifty?
    • Sunday morning NFL evangelist?
    • Latte listeners of amplified praise?

    Punishments for Disobedience

    And YES,

    (You know some of the long history of God’s chosen)

    it gets worse from here even BEFORE Christ.

    YET could the LORD’s prophesy apply even to US?


    Our sin and disobedience continue into these Common Evangelical post-Christian times — (notably by some adopted in Christ Jesus).

    The Advent of Defeat

    You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them.

    Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. “For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the LORD will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly.

    Deuteronomy 7:2b-4 NKJV

    • But if your heart turns away and you do not listen.. Deuteronomy 30:17a
    • Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” – Joshua 24:22
    model of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem

    King Solomon (the Preacher) & Sin

    But King Solomon loved many foreign women.. from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love.

    ..  his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David.

    א מְלָכִיםא (1 Kings) 11:1-3 excerpt

    All this took place a millennium BEFORE the Common Era centered around the very incarnation of JESUS CHRIST.

    Failed Kings Before Christ

    Saul, as most of us know, failed in disobedience to the Lord’s word through His Prophet Samuel.

    Even David was a failed king, but he repented of his sin before the Lord and publically in sight of Israel.

    To name just one king of Israel or Judah who did evil in the sight of the Lord, Ahab (and Jezebel) come to mind due to their zeal to destroy God’s Prophet Elijah.

    Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him.

    Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.

    1 Kings 16:30,32 NKJV

    So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.

    READ the compelling contest for your own clarity of faith.

    And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions?
    If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.”

    But the people answered him not a word.

    1 Kings 18:21

    Advent of a Common Era

    “How long will you falter between two opinions, twenty-first century C.E. christian?

    Roger@TalkofJesus.com

    In this traditional Advent season of these last days we anticipate more than simply celebrating Christmas in the year of our Lord (A.D.) 2024.

    For the similarities of centuries of evil times Before Christ bring to mind our own disobedience to God’s will.

    Our incarnate redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man: And NOW celebrate Him in a manger, though our Savior was sacrificed on a Cross for repentant sinners – sinners who love babies and good gifts, even while we fear DEATH and judgment.


    Talk of JESUS .com

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  • Before Christmas Evangelicalism Advent 1

    Before Christmas Evangelicalism Advent 1

    Before Christ

    Before Creation

    And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

    Genesis (Beginning) 2:5 KJV ..in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,

    Here witness a time before Adam, before an incarnational Birth of the Christ, yet not Before Jesus the eternal Son of the One Triune God.


    Before Re-Creation

    Note that I did not say 'recreation' as we often view these days of the pre-christmas season. 

    The Bible points to a renewal of a corrupted creation we noted in the beginning - a creation corrupted by SIN.

    The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

    And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

    Genesis 6:11-12 KJV

    Ark Encounter full-size replica of Noah's ark built to Biblical specs

    Have you considered that in the time of Noah and Before Christ

    ONLY Noah and his wife, along with their three sons and their wives, were chosen to be SAVED from the destruction to come.

    The DOOR to salvation on Noah’s ark would not have been open to you. Yet God may have brought you to the Door of Christ Jesus in these last days.

    Roger@TalkofJesus.com


    Before and After

    Before, of course, can mean ‘face to face.’

    Then the LORD said to Noah,

    “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation.

    Genesis 7:1 ESV פָּנִים


    We ought not speak of BEFORE without considering the consequent AFTER.

    In the context of TIME, and even before time, what comes after or NEXT typically follows before. We speak of consequence or result of what has come before.

    Before I was afflicted I went astray:

    but now have I kept thy word.

    Psalm 119:67 KJV

    And unique events such as the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ still reflect a TIME before AND (except for the end of days) a TIME after. 

    .. the sun stood still, and the moon stayed..

    And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.

    Joshua 10: [12-15 context NKJV]

    Before our fathers or families

    It’s right there from the beginning:

    Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

    Genesis 2:24 NKJV

    Do you know this one?

    אֲנִי הִנֵּה בְרִיתִי אִתָּךְ וְהָיִיתָ לְאַב הֲמֹון גֹּויִם׃

    “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.

    “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.

    וְלֹא־יִקָּרֵא עֹוד אֶת־שִׁמְךָ אַבְרָם וְהָיָה שִׁמְךָ אַבְרָהָם כִּי אַב־הֲמֹון גֹּויִם נְתַתִּיךָ׃

    בְּרֵאשִׁית (Genesis) 17:14-15 WLC & NKJV

    This PERSONAL interaction between the Creator and Living God of timeless eternity and a created son of Adam and Noah wandering through lands of other kings and princes clearly points to a unique time BEFORE CHRIST was born as a Son of Man in a manger in Bethlehem of Judea.

    AFTER this unique time Before Christ, Judah (and Israel) had yet to be conquered, named, lost, regained and renamed over centuries of the sons of Abraham.

    The chosen Before Christ

    For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

    Deuteronomy 7:6 KJV

    But I'm getting ahead of myself. 
    We'll take a look at Moses and the Law later in this Advent series, God-willing. - RH)

    Jesus Christ, the grown Son of Man born of Mary and Son of God conceived by the Holy Spirit said this to well-schooled leaders of the Jews.

    ..it is my Father who is glorifying me, of whom ye say that He is your God..

    Abraham, your father, was glad that he might see my day; and he saw, and did rejoice.’

    The Jews, therefore, said unto him, ‘Thou art not yet fifty years old, and Abraham hast thou seen?’

    Jesus said to them,

    ‘Verily, verily, I say to you, Before Abraham’s coming — I am;’

    excerpt from Gospel of John 8: Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)

    The CHILD of MARY in a manger in Bethlehem of Judea IS the Christ, the Messiah of Israel and Savior of souls! Yet even BEFORE these pivotal historic events in the history of mankind, JESUS IS the Son of God — even as HE IS now and forever..


    I am the door, through me if any one may come in, he shall be saved, and he shall come in, and go out, and find pasture.

    Gospel of John 10:9 YLT – Invitation of Jesus Christ to any who would follow Him
    sheep by a manger

    The Lamb of God in a manger

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  • The Holy Spirit IS that I AM

    The Holy Spirit IS that I AM

    The Holy Spirit IS.
    I am the Spirit of God.
    I am the LORD.


    The HOLY SPIRIT of Trinity

    Glory be to God the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit

    Who IS God?

    It’s a question we all ask and a familiar question asked by many souls before us.

    Moses said to God,

    “If I go to the Israelites and tell them,

    The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’

    and they ask me, What is his name?’ – what should I say to them?”


    JESUS asked His Apostles a rhetorically similar question:

    And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

    τὸν Χριστὸν τοῦ θεοῦ

    And Peter answered and said, “The [Messiah] Christ of God.”


    The Apostle Matthew’s Gospel witnesses this same relational answer of his fellow Apostle Peter:

    God our Father and Lord

    Trinity = God the Father + God the Son Jesus Christ + God the Holy Spirit

    We get it humanly – the relationship of a son (or daughter) to a father (or to our mother).

    Human AND ever-existing SON

    Mortal men and women can relate to a Son of THE FATHER.

    We understand, in part, that JESUS was flesh and blood, body and brain a perfect human son of man (Mary, actually: ‘man‘ as in human like all of us).

    John, the Apostle who speaks so well relationally in the witness of his Gospel tells us:

    But these [signs, proofs or miracles] are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

    The Twelve, having loved their friend and Master whom they followed willingly, understood a relational link between JESUS and each of His disciples personally.

    When the Lord in so many ways showed His Disciples His ever-existing relationship to Almighty God our Father — HIS Father from before the beginning — they could not have been more awe struck that GOD stood in their human presence.

    My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

    My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

    I and my Father are one.

    We get that - in a human sense of relationship.

    Jesus and Spirit

    Yet think from the witness of any of the Twelve of the impact of JESUS, the living Christ they follow, telling His disciples: “I and the Father are One.”

    Just like all faithful Jews, these disciples had recited the Sh'ma since their childhood:

    Sh’ma Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Eḥad

    שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָד׃

    Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:


    Even so, the Disciples had heard their Master instruct Nicodemus, a leader of the Sanhedrin:

    Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

    That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

    John’s Gospel continues with Jesus’ further explanation of the Spirit:

    • Although mankind is flesh and blood, created from dust and water,
    • and Man is created in God’s image;
    • Man, LIKE GOD, is also spirit.

    What is Spirit?

    John begins his Gospel with Jesus (the Word) and the Spirit.

    John’s clear reference is the beginning written in the word of Moses:

    בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ׃

    וְהָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ וְחֹשֶׁךְ עַל־פְּנֵי תְהֹום וְרוּחַ אֱלֹהִים מְרַחֶפֶת עַל־פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם׃

    JESUS, THE WORD, WAS WITH GOD AND WAS GOD — ‘hovering over ‘a waste and emptiness,’ in the darkness over a face of the deep



    Spirit [spirit] – rûaḥ – רוּח

    • The KJV translates Strong’s H7307 in the following manner: Spirit or spirit (232x), wind (92x), breath (27x), (various additional)
    • Two additional uses in Genesis show both the Spirit of God and His quickening spirit in His creatures, including mankind:
      • And the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; – Gen. 6:3a NKJV
      • And they went into the ark to Noah, two by two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life.. All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. – Gen. 7:15,22 NKJV

    COMMENTARY


    Man cannot grasp the whirlwind or the unseen breath of God, yet JESUS, who IS One with the Father tells us:

    God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.”


    πνεῦμα – pneuma in the New Testament

    Spirit in the New Testament – basically has the same meaning AND is just as mysterious, illusive as the breath of angels. – RH

    spirit in a living soul
    • the spirit, i.e. the vital principal by which the body is animated
      • the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides
      • the soul
    How do you think of your own spirit? 

    “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

    Gospel of Matthew 5:3 LSB from the Beatitudes of Jesus Christ

    Consider a mysterious ethereal truth: observable, yet beyond measure of man's contemporary thought. 
    
    spirits apart from your own mortal soul
    • a spirit, i.e. a simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, and possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, and acting
      • a life giving spirit
      • a human soul that has left the body
      • a spirit higher than man but lower than God, i.e. an angel
        • used of demons, or evil spirits, who were conceived as inhabiting the bodies of men
        • the spiritual nature of Christ, higher than the highest angels and equal to God, the divine nature of Christ

    spirit and soul alike, yet distinct

    Before proceeding to the more powerful and most mysterious Holy Spirit of God, 

    consider beyond flesh and blood, mind and spirit --
    that which is the same in Old and New Testaments, yet having subtle ungraspable distinction: spirit and soul.

    We hear it also in the heart of Isaiah, a Prophet of God:

    With my soul [nep̄eš] I have desired You in the night,
    Yes, by my spirit [rûaḥ] within me I will seek You early;
    For when Your judgments are in the earth,
    The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

    • soul – psychē – NT Greek
    • soul – nep̄eš – נֶפֶשׁ – OT Hebrew

    the HOLY Spirit

    Although related to spirit, we cannot examine the soul today as part of our brief topic of the Trinity and Holy Spirit.

    Spirit – rûaḥ or pneuma

    Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son

    1. as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy
    2. as impelling prophet to utter instruction or warning
    3. imparting warlike energy and executive and administrative power
    4. as endowing men with various gifts
    5. as energy of life
    6. as manifest in the Shekinah glory
    7. never referred to as a depersonalised force

    Gospel of Matthew 1:18 NKJV

    Simply the human beginning of the son of man (Mary, a virgin, that is; bearing a second adam in the line of God’s created ones).

    Certainly mysterious, controversial to this day to the psyches and spirits of mortal men and women who resist the Spirit of God.


    πνεῦμα – pneuma – spirit OR ghost


    As mysterious as Ghost or the Spirit may be to mankind, its root word [Strong’s G4154 – pneō] directs our thoughts

    • to breathe hard, i.e. breeze:—blow (of the wind)

    Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

    Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’

    The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

    The HOLINESS of God

    GOD IS HOLY text of Deuteronomy 6:13

    NO mention of Trinity is absent the key concept of HOLY in reference to the HOLY GHOST or the HOLY SPIRIT.

    We have examined the doctrines of Holiness previously:

    DOCTRINE: GOD IS HOLY

    I encourage you in the spirit to pray with ears to hear the Holy Spirit of the Lord God, who IS ONE with the Father and the Son our savior Jesus Christ.


    Cast me not away from your presence,
    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

    God has raised this Jesus to life, to which we are all witnesses.

    Exalted, then, to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

    God LORD Father JESUS Son Holy Spirit

  • Jesus Christ Lord – 3 Christ of the Christian Church

    Jesus Christ Lord – 3 Christ of the Christian Church

    Christians of the early Church proclaimed Jesus Christ Lord confessing, “JESUS is Lord.”

    • What is your relationship to the Son of God and Son of Man?

    Part 1 UPDATED 25 September 2024 CE

    Previously I pointed out thoughtful teaching QUESTIONS about GOD from the Westminster Shorter Catechism.

    Roles and Relationships of JESUS

    In Part 2 we read about Jesus Christ from the Nicene Creed.

    “.. of one substance with the Father,..”

    JESUS relates to mankind in roles summarized as King, Prophet and Priest; but none is more foundational than Christ of God.

    Roger@TalkofJesus.com

    the Trinity of the LORD

    Church and Biblical teaching are both clear and mysterious in describing GOD’s ROLES of relationship within HIMSELF, that is:

    • FATHER to the SON
    • SON to the SPIRIT
    • Holy Spirit
      • to the Father
      • and to the Son

    Some Christians know and experience a personal relationship to THE ONE GOD. The HOLY SPIRIT speaks to the heart [spirit ] of a uniquely created man or woman, a mortal made of flesh and blood.

    Church Doctrine (teaching)

    In Part 3 of this doctrinal post about the one LORD JESUS CHRIST we will look at scriptural teaching concerning CHRIST from historic catechisms of the Church AND most foundationally, from God’s word in the BIBLE.

    Catechisms provide studied ANSWERS to student QUESTIONS

    Like ANY learning, the Questions and Answers of a catechism we study and memorize as students seeking a deeper understanding of God.

    Doctrine-based QUESTIONS of Christology

    • 21. Who is the redeemer of God’s elect?
      • The only redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, forever.
    • 23. What offices doth Christ execute as our redeemer?
      • Christ, as our redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in His estate of humiliation and exaltation.
    • *24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?
      • *
    • *25. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?
      • *
    • *26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king?
      • *READ the Westminster Catechism [A.D. 1647] for ANSWERS to these and more Questions about God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
    If you also wonder about the Holy Spirit, time does not allow further study today.

    What does the Church teach? (Church Doctrine)

    Today we’ll study the roles of JESUS’ personal relationship with YOU, with me and with all followers of the Lord.

    Let's begin with a review from the NICENE CREED with its EARLY UNIVERSAL (Catholic) agreement as to the Person and Roles of Christ and God.

    THE CREED OF NICAEA – AGREED AT THE COUNCIL IN 325

    Until the early 20th century, it was universally assumed that the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed (the more accurate term) was an enlarged version of the Creed of Nicaea, which was promulgated at the Council of Nicaea (325). It was further assumed that this enlargement had been carried out at the Council of Constantinople (381) with the object of bringing the Creed of Nicaea up to date in regard to heresies about the Incarnation and the Holy Spirit that had arisen since the Council of Nicaea. - source: Britannica

    Who because of us men and because of our salvation came down,

    and became incarnate

    and became man,

    and suffered,

    and rose again on the third day,

    and ascended to the heavens,

    and will come to judge the living and dead,

    And in the Holy Spirit.

    Nicene Creed, a Christian statement of faith that is the only ecumenical creed because it is accepted as authoritative by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and major Protestant churches. -Britannica


    Offices, Titles, Roles and Relationships of JESUS

    As is my practice, linked DEFINITIONS to clarify.

    Christ our Redeemer

    “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,

    And [after] the last He will rise up over the dust of this world.

    Job 19:25 LSB

    Redeemer is a specifically Scriptural reference to a person acting to save a person or people from the hold, control or responsibility of another.

    The Prophet Isaiah points forward to the Holy One of Israel as the redeemer of Israel for the chosen ones of God.

    Lord κύριος

    Jesus asked them, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?”

    He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:

    ‘The LORD said to my Lord,
    “Sit at My right hand,
    Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’ 
    ?

    Gospel of Matthew 22:41-46 excerpt New King James Version

    22:45  εἰ οὖν Δαβὶδ καλεῖ αὐτὸν κύριον πῶς υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἐστιν 

    Since David called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?” - NLT

    Offices of our Redeemer

    • the office of a prophet
    • the office of a priest
    • the office of a king

    Prophetfrom נָבָא (H5012) נָבִיא

    Then the LORD came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward. Then He said,

    “Hear now My words:
    If there is a prophet among you,
    I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision;
    I speak to him in a dream.

    Numbers 12:5 NKJV

    New Testament use of prophet from the Greek:
    προφήτηςStrong’s G4396prophētēs

    “But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.

    Gospel of Matthew 11:9 NKJV [7-15 in contest] JESUS, speaking of John, even comparing John to Elijah and citing Scripture from O.T. Prophets.

    • What does the BIBLE teach us about this office of JESUS?

    And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying,

    That a great prophet G4396 is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

    Gospel of Luke 7:16 KJV [vs 11-17 in context] when JESUS raised a boy to life from his funeral casket

    Priest kōhēnכֹּהֵן

    And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest H3548 of the most high God.

    Genesis 14:18 KJV (first reference to the office of priest in the Bible)

    priest,
    principal officer or chief ruler
    priest-king (Melchizedek, Messiah)
    [6 more]
    Active participle of כָּהַן (H3547)

    Lexicon :: Strong’s H3548 – kōhēn

    The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest H3548 for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

    Psalm 110:4

    לְדָוִד מִזְמוֹר נְאֻם יְהוָה לַאדֹנִי שֵׁב לִימִינִי עַד־אָשִׁית אֹיְבֶיךָ הֲדֹם לְרַגְלֶיךָ׃

    1. priest-king (Melchizedek, Messiah)
    2. pagan priests
    3. priests of Jehovah
    4. Levitical priests
    5. Zadokite priests
    6. Aaronic priests
    7. the high priest
    Priest – ἱερεύς

    just as He says also in another passage,

    “YOU ARE A PRIEST G2409 FOREVER

    ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”

    Hebrews 5:7 LSB

    High Priest or Chief Priest – ἀρχιερεύς – archiereus

    Now the main point in what is being said is this: we have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the holy places and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.

    Hebrews 8:1-2 LSB


    King

    .. for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.

    Malachi 1:14b KJV

    king – meleḵ – מֶלֶךְ

    occurs 2,526 times in the Hebrew Bible

    Israel follows YAWWEH as its King of kings and Lord of lords.

    What other people have GOD as its King by their covenant with the LORD?


    king βασιλεύς – basileus
    Strong's Number G935 matches the Greek βασιλεύς (basileus),
    which occurs 118 times in 107 verses in the TR Greek.

    And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING G935 OF THE JEWS.

    Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John

    Outline of Biblical Usage 

    1. leader of the people, prince, commander, lord of the land, king
    probably from G939 (through the notion of a foundation of power); a sovereign (abstractly, relatively, or figuratively):—king.

    JESUS showed POWER on earth, signs and miracles no created man could do except the expected Messiah of GOD !

    The King, as Judeans had hoped, would be more powerful than Herod the Great (who rebuilt the Temple, a civil project still under construction under one of his sons (King Herod). Jerusalem and all the lands and their kings were subject to ROME and its Caesars.

    “Hosanna,

    Ὡσαννά εὐλογημένος ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἰσραήλ

    hōsanna eulogeō ho basileus israēl

    “.. Blessed [is] the King of Israel..

    John 12:13c

    a crowd of people with palm branches processing toward Jerusalem

    Rome’s Governor Pilate would decide a pre-ordained mortal fate of this earthly KING Jesus, a man seemingly powerless as Jerusalem’s King Herod and his appointed priests of the Judean Temple.

    drawing of Herod's Temple
    The Apostles Peter and John also preached Christ crucified and risen with signs from God. ACTS 3-4

    JESUS, according to God’s Word

    Wouldn't HOLY SCRIPTURE; written, God-breathed words of the BIBLE (faithfully translated); provide the best, true guidance of how Christian should proclaim JESUS?

    Consider how the New Testament speaks about Jesus - source
    • “Jesus” occurs 980 times in 940 verses in the LSB.
    • 942 times in the KING JAMES VERSION
    • 1000+ times in translations substituting ‘Jesus‘ for prepositions such as ‘He.’

    • Jesus” AND “prophet” occurs in 5 verses in ‘The Gospels” in the LSB.
      • and JESUS never uses it Himself as a title, only confirming this office.
    • Jesus” AND “priest” occurs 30 times in 14 verses in the LSB.
    • He is never addressed as a ‘Priest,’ but the letter of HEBREWS and other Scripture makes clear that JESUS is both Priest and Sacrifice.

    Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us take hold of our confession.

    For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things like we are, yet without sin.

    Hebrews 4:14-15 LSB

    • Jesus” AND “king” occurs 18 times in 8 verses in the LSB
    • Jesus never refers to Himself as King yet acknowledges the recognition of Him by others.

    So Jesus, knowing that they were going to come and take Him by force to make Him king G935, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.

    Gospel of John 6:15 LSB – G035 – basileus

    The Lord Christ Jesus

    Jesus” AND “Lord” occurs 379 times in 179 verses in the KJV

    • The Twelve Apostles and others frequently address the man Jesus as, “Lord.”
    • Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. – Matthew 20:30b
    • When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. – Luke 5:8

    And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

    Gospel of Luke 24:23 KJV – the women at the tomb of Jesus on Resurrection Sunday

    Easter or Resurrection Sunday is the day the tomb of Jesus is found empty and when the risen Messiah appears risen after His crucifixion on a Corss
    HE IS RISEN!

    Jesus the Christ of GOD

    • The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. – Matthew 1:1
    • And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. – Matthew 1:16
    • And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. – Matthew 16:16
    • For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. – Matthew 24:5
    • Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. – Matthew 27:22
    • Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, – Romans 1:1
    • Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.1 Corinthians 1:3 ESV

    He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    1 Corinthians 1:8 Christian Standard Bible


    “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”

    Acts of the Apostles 2:36 Legacy Standard Bible

    ‘.. what should we do?”

    And Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized

    in the name of Jesus Christ

    for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

    Acts of the Apostles 2:38 LSB


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  • Jesus Christ IS Lord – 1

    Jesus Christ IS Lord – 1

    Who IS JESUS?

    .. Grace to you and peace, from the One who is and who was and who is to come, .. and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

    The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 1:4-5 excerpt LSB

    Our evangelism of the gospel may present the Lord Christ Jesus more casually than the scriptural truth that HE IS GOD!

    Christians and others sometimes talk of Jesus presumptively or perhaps even flippantly.

    JESUS IS! just as the LORD told the Hebrews through Moses the explanation,
    I AM THAT I AM!
    Exodus 3:14 KJV אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה


    JESUS defined

    Without quibbling over the hundreds of NAMES Christians use to proclaim JESUS to unbelievers, let’s simply DEFINE and consider these three I have chosen today:

    Ἰησοῦς

    The KJV translates Strong’s G2424 in the following manner: Jesus (972x), Jesus (Joshua) (2x), Jesus (Justus) (1x).

    John 1:10 NASA ISS image of earth

    Ἰησοῦς – Jesus

    Lexicon :: Strong's G2424 - iēsous

    Before, Then, Now & Forever

    According to the GOSPELS of JESUS CHRIST

    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word [logos] was with God [theos], and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

    Gospel of John 1:1-4 NKJV

    And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

    Gospel of John 1:14 NKJV

    Human History: ~4 B.C – ~A.D. 30

    Consider the enduring testimony of Scripture recorded in approximately A.D. 50 through the A.D. 90's, soon after the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ more than 2000 years ago.

    The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. – Mark 1:1 [A.D. 50’s]


    Prologue of the Gospel of Luke:

    Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

    In the days of Herod, king of Judea .. – Luke 1:1-5a ESV [~A.D. 60-62]

    Βίβλος γενέσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, υἱοῦ Δαβίδ, υἱοῦ Ἀβραάμ

    The book [Biblos] of the genealogy [genesis] of Jesus [iēsous] Christ [christos], the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:

    Matthew 1:1 [A.D. 60’s]


    Χριστοῦ – Christ

    [image of the Christ child] until Shiloh come and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Genesis 49:10 with picture of sleeping baby

    “Where is He that is born King of the Jews? – Matthew 2:2

    Pilate said to them, “Then, what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”

    They all said, “Let Him be crucified!”

    Matthew 27:22  LSB, GNT

    λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Πιλᾶτος τί οὖν ποιήσω Ἰησοῦν τὸν λεγόμενον Χριστόν

    Behold the Man - Jesus before Pilate who said, Shall I crucify your King?

    Christ defined

    Post-Resurrection – from A.D. 30’s – to ???? eternity

    The BIBLE documents MANY post-resurrection appearances of the Lord Jesus Christ to the Apostles, Paul, and others.
    In about A.D. 55 the Apostle Paul writes: 

    After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep.

    1 Corinthians 15:6 LSB

    We may be familiar with the AWESOME appearance of JESUS to Saul [Paul] on a road to Damascus but read of a much later revelation of the risen Jesus to the Apostle John for UNDERSTANDING a more present, even future context of ALL CREATED MEN AND WOMEN appearing before the Throne of the Lord Christ Jesus!


    The Revelation of Jesus Christ

     ἀποκάλυψις Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ 

    When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.

    But he laid his right hand on me, saying,

    “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

    Revelation 1:17-18 ESV


    HEAR the Apostle John’s description of the Lord, SON OF MAN, as Jesus had described His Person born into this world, the same RISEN LORD John had witnessed some SIXTY YEARS before when he was a young Apostle.


    ~ A.D. 90-95

    .. and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.

    The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

    The revelation of Jesus Christ to John 1:12b-16 ESV


    LORD, Lord, lord

    Fallen flesh resists JESUS as Lord, born in flesh and blood, the Son of Man dying in suffering flesh and sacrificed blood on a Cross.

    Roger@TalkofJesus.com

    Is JESUS your Lord?

    CREATED humankind have difficulty accepting ALMIGHTY GOD, born as a mere man, suffering for sinful souls condemned to death and hell.

    THEREFORE, WE who would be EQUAL to ALL resist following JESUS as Lord.


    Lord defined

    And Abraham answered and said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes.

    Genesis 18:27 LSB – אֲדֹנָי ‘ăḏōnāy

    And he said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of my master H113 Abraham, who has not forsaken His lovingkindness and His truth toward my master H113; as for me, Yahweh has guided me in the way to the house of my master’s H113 brothers.”

    Genesis 24:27 LSB – Lexicon :: Strong’s H113 – ‘āḏôn

    The unused root of [אֲדֹנָי ‘ăḏōnāy] used by Abram’s slave or servant referring to his owner:

    אָדוֹן

    The KJV translates Strong's H113 in the following manner: lord (197x), master(s) (105x), Lord (31x), owner (1x), sir (1x).

    Note the intended authority implied in each of these human roles, let alone those references to God:

    • firm, strong, lord, master

    • reference to men
      • superintendent of household, of affairs
      • master
      • king

    • reference to God
      • the Lord God
      • Lord of the whole earth

    • reference to men
      • proprietor of hill of Samaria
      • master
      • husband
      • prophet
      • governor
      • prince
      • king
      • father
      • Moses
      • priest
      • theophanic angel
      • captain
      • general recognition of superiority

    • reference to God
      • Lord of lords (probably = “thy husband, Yahweh”)
      • my Lord, my Lord and my God
      • Adonai (parallel with Yahweh)

    kyrios – Lord

    Moving from the Hebrew Scripture to the Greek of the New Testament we observe Jesus asking followers about their RELATIONAL loyalty to Him.

    “Now why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

    Gospel of Luke 6:46 LSB – QUESTION of JESUS for followers


    κύριος

    – From kuros (supremacy)

    κύριος kýrios, koo'-ree-os; from κῦρος kŷros (supremacy); 
    supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):—God, Lord, master, Sir.
    - source

    JESUS, Son of Man, the Son of God

    “I and the Father are one.”

    John 10:30 [Or a unityone essence}

    And they all said, “Are You the Son of God, then?” And He said to them, “You yourselves say that I am.”

    Luke 22:70

    “For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day.

    “But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. – Luke 17:24-25

    ἐγὼ τὸ Ἄλφα καὶ τὸ Ὦ ὁ πρῶτος καὶ ὁ ἔσχατος ἡ ἀρχὴ καὶ τὸ τέλος

    I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

    Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 22:13

    Jesus says to his disciples (followers): “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.John 14:6


    Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. – Revelation 22:14

    To be continued…

    NEXT: in Jesus Christ Lord part 2 – Christ, the Anointed One


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