At the time of the flood some estimate that there were 5 Billion people on earth. How many believers were there? Eight. Few are those that find God and the grace that He gives us in the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Adam failed and the curse came. In his search for the knowledge of good and evil, God in His gift of free will, allowed it. Mankind has suffered ever since. We choose who we will serve…choose wisely!
Exodus 3:13-14 13 Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?”
14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”
15 Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’
John 8:48 Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” 52 Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’ 53 Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. 55 Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”
John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
When we accept Jesus we accept the Father! By faith we enter into the Kingdom of God. The same I AM of the Old Testament appeared to Abraham, the same I AM appeared to Jacob, the same I AM appeared to Moses, the I AM came to earth and gave us salvation. Jesus is the I AM. If they keep His covenant with them they will be under His protection to bring His Kingdom to the world with Jesus Christ as the King of the Jews. In Him they will be a holy nation.
1 Peter 1:1-5 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Peter was speaking to the Jewish believers in Christ. Our tripartite God is one. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the three persons of the Godhead but they are joined as one. Jesus is the body and if we see Him we see the Father and His Spirit resides in us.
1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Exodus 19:5-6 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
Isaiah 42:1-4 “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. 2 He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. 4 He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”
Jesus came to the Jews as their Redeemer King.
Through them, His chosen people, all nations would be offered salvation through their King, Jesus the Christ.
Revelation 7:9-10 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
The Jewish nation, when they accept Jesus as their Redeemer King, will bring the Good News of His salvation to all of the nations of earth.
John 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
The Jews in their rejection of Jesus are under the Law of bondage. God’s commandment only makes us aware of the sin that envelopes the world. Without the power of Holy Spirit we cannot keep them. Without faith it is impossible to please God. In the age of grace in Christ we are no longer under the Law but covered by the precious Blood of the Lamb of God. Holy Spirit within us is our teacher and in Christ within us we abide. In Jesus Christ and His redemptive work of the Cross it is finished. Carla
John hears the number in verse 4, whereas he sees the multitude in verse 9. He may be attempting to portray the surprising fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan, just as he heard about a lion and saw a lamb in 5:5–6. Indicative of victory in royal and military processions, as demonstrated by its connection with white robes and salvation or victory in verse 10. The crowd praises God and the Lamb. Faithlife Study Bible
The great multitude, in addition to praising God and the Lamb for providing salvation, will later glorify God for judging Babylon (19:1–3) and will proclaim “the marriage of the Lamb” (19:6, 7). White robes may be the garments of overcoming believers (3:5, 18) or of martyrs (6:11). Palm branches were typically waved by crowds at victory celebrations (John 12:13). The NKJV Study Bible
Psalm 3:8
Salvation belongs to the LORD.
Your blessing is upon Your people.Selah
Revelation 19:1 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!
Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
Revelation 5:9
And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation
If we give up our blindness, we accept our vulnerability and embrace responsibility. Because Grace gives us sight. And sight connects us. (I love the greeting in the movie Avatar, "I see you." I acknowledge you.) And this kind of love has the power to change the world. I don't have three steps to compassionate living. However, here’s the deal; if we are open to it, grace—the power of “love is the way”—changes our life. And that change spills to everyone around us. Even if we can't explain it.
And the good news? A vulnerable heart, is an open (and receptive) heart. A heart that looks for and is enriched by replenishment (sanctuary and rest and tender moments). Which allows the heart to not live defensive (or impenetrable), but instead to expand, and graciously spill love and light and hope and grace to the world around.
Yes. Love spills not because an order or directive is followed, but because the heart is enlarged, and it overflows. Sabbath Moments
No comments:
Post a Comment