DrD

Jesus was a real human being - He was in the likenes of human flesh yet without the sinful nature of humanity. . . These verses teach that Jesus in obedience to the will of the Father voluntarily came to earth in the likeness of human flesh for the specific task of redeeming sinful humanity - mankind as a whole - back to the Father. . . The fact that Jesus was human makes all the difference because it was necessary for a human being to atone for the sins of humanity - to redeem humanity and bring back into a right relationship with the Father. . .1 Corinthians 15:21-22 (NASB) 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

When the writers speaks about "rest" for the believers I think he is speaking about eteranal life for the believer in the presence of God - and beig free from the rules, regulations and principles of this world. . . We are urged to make every effort to enter that rest because there is the possibility that we can miss heaven just as many of the Israelites missed the promise land (Canaan) - and as a result of the same reason - unbelief. . . Apostasy from Christ is to abandon or renounce one's relationship with Christ - to reject Christ. . . We are not perfect beings however we are forgiven - when we fall into sin or occasionally commit a sinful act - we have the ability to repent and continue our progression in Christ. . . 1 John 1:5-10 (NASB) 5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

There is no excuse for deception, trickery, or lies. Numbers 23:19 (NASB) 19 "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? It was God's plan that Esau serve Jacob - and because it was such, He would bring it to pass without any sin or deception. . . Jacob shared equal responsibility for what he and his mother did just as we are responsible for our decisions and actions. . . Rebakah knew God's plan and I'm sure thet she shared them with Jacob many times over which also makes Jacob privy to God's will, purpose and plan for his life. What he needed to do was to wait patiently on the Lord - trusting Him to bring His plan to fruition. . . Just as the prophet Isaiah said, when we wait patiently on the Lord we find ourselves made stronger, wiser and better. . . Isaiah 40:28-31 (NASB) 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. 29 He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. 30 Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, 31 Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

Having a somewhat vague understanding that when man was created by God, in His image and likeness, he (Adam who represented the entire human race) was given the dominion or rule over earth - he was given the lease which makes us responsible for it. Adam, as humanity's representative got us in trouble when he trangressed God law which resulted in sin and an overthrow and takeover by Satan. . . My understanding is that God will not violate any decision He makes - which meant that He would not overthrow Satan Himself or use any other spiritual or angelic power to overthrow him and take back control or dominion of the earth. . . He (God) instead already had a plan that would result in man (the second Adam or Jesus) defeating Satan and regaininbg dominion and control. . . This, I believe is why it was necessary for Jesus to put on the likeness of human flesh - assuming a lower form than His original state (temporarily) to - atone for our sins - pay the penalty for our sins which is death - and raise humanity from sinfulness back to righteousness. . . Could He have done this retaining equality with God the Father and not be in violation of His own will and Word, I think not. But being who He is - Omnipotent - Omniscent - and Omnipresent - He already had a corrective action for the mess we would make. . . Christ's divinity is specified in this passage of Scripture when it decalres that He was with the Father prior to the creation of anything or anyone whether human, angelic or demonic. There was never a time when Jesus didn't exist nor will there ever be a time that He doesn't exist having the same qualities and atributes as the Father (having this understanding that there is nothing or no one that has these divine qualities or attributes other thean the members of the Trinity or Godhead - Omnipotentence - Omnipresence - Omniscience. . .

Faith in God and in His Word is important because without faith it is impossible to please God, for they that come to Him must believe that He is, that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him. . . Faith is the indicator that we believe both God and His Word (promises)- that we trust Him and are confident that what He has said is true and as we confidently stand on what He has said, He will bring it to pass in our life. . . Sin tricks us because it is deceptive - it masks and hides its real intent until it is acted upon at which point its real intent is made manifest. . . Sin hardens us because it results in us turnig from God and prevents God from performing in our lives what He has promised us He will do. . . Sin causes us to dis-believe God and as a result fail to trust in God or His Word. . . Christian fellowship brings about encouragement to those that participate in such. . . Christain fellowship is our (the Christian believers)social-system (our inheritance is among those that are sanctified) - those that understand the will and purpose of God - that have grown and are growing in an applicable understanding of the Word of God and are willing to share with that social group providing wisdom and strength that affords all that are a part of that group to prosper in their walk with Christ.

Yes, I believe that both Isaac and Rebekah were spiritual people who werfe aware of God's purpose and plans and were waiting for their fulfillment. However, I feel that Rebekah lacked patience and possibly even faith in God thereby not knowing how to wait on God and allow Him to manifest His purpose and plan. . . Isaac, on the other hand seems to have places more emphasis on the customs and traditions of his time than on God purpose and plan. . . EVIDENCE OF SPIRITUALITY: JACOB - I feel that Jacob had a very good knowledge of who God is as well as some knowledge of God's will and plan for his life - however, he seemed to have an attitude that if it should happen so-be-it - and should it not happen, maybe I can help it o come to pass. . . ESAU - I feel that he also had an understanding of who God is and some idea of God's purpose and plan for his life - however, i think he felt that his way of getting thongs done were as good as God's ways so what God wanted didn't take any presidence in his life.

The NT condemns Esau for selling his birtright because it appears that Esau valued other things more than his relationship and responsibility to and with the Lord. . . Selling his birthright represented that he, Esau, had a greater consideration for what he could possess now (what he could see, hear, smell, taste or touch) than what was purpsed and planned for him by God. . . Matthew 6:19-34 (KJV) 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. This transaction, the selling and purchasing of the birthright reveals much of what is memtioned above about these two brothers. . . ESAU - that he valued earthly things more than spiritual things. . . "What does it prophet a man to gain the whole world and then lose his Soul? What will a man give in exchange for his soul? JACOB - although he valued the spiritual things - he put more confidence in acquiring them by his own actions and plans tahn he did in trusting God to bring them about in his life. . .Hebrews 11:1-2 (KJV) 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 10:35-39 (KJV) 35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Everyone that is in the church, local congregation, is a part of the church and makes up the whole church or congregation. . When we atleast attemot to understand the strengths of others, their gifts and talents and allow them to exercise them it results in a stronger church. We must also be humble enough to recognize their weaknesses and not exploit them but support them and help them develop and become stronger - thjis will lead to a much stronger congregation. . . The lack of unity in a congregation results in one overlooking others, ignoring others, and depriving them of the opportunity to exercise their gift(s) and talent(s) thereby resulting or causing weakness in the church. . . What am I doing to bring unity into my local church? Through much prayer and faith I am attempting to demonstrate the God-kind of love to all that are a part of the local congregation = the Word of God tell us that love does two things (1) hide / cover a multitude of faults, and (2) love, the kind of love that Paul defines in the 13th Chapter of 1 Corinthians, will never fail. . . LOve also eliminates fear which allows us, or better causes us to consider others and esteem them greater than ourselves. . . Love will reach out to others and trust others which inturn results in unity and strength. . .

Because Jesus is our hope, the only hope we have of the fulfillment of the promise of rest or eternal provided for us. Jesus has redeemed us from sin - He appeals to God for us - and He is the only one we can depend upon or rely on to fulfill the promise of rest or eternal life in the presence of God. . . We must continue in faith because it is by faith that we are able to please God - that we are able to holdfast to the promise that God has given us. . . Holding on to Jesus is the key to the fulfillment of the promise. . . Jesus, as a result of hIs obedience to the Father, He now sits at the right hand of the throne of God - and we are there through Him (because of our relationship to Him). . .

Because Adam who was not only a human being but the representative for the race of humans transgressed the Law of God and got us into truble by allowing sin to enter in. Jesus being divine and human - represengting the human race is the sacrifice that God accepted as atonement for the sins of humanity. Man got us into trouble (the first Adam) and it was necessary for man (the second Adam) to get us out of trouble. Although Jesus was in the likenes of sin flesh, there was no sin in Him - He had no sin debt of His own to pay thereby enabling Him to pay our debt and redeem us from sin. This was the uniqueness about Jesus (having no sin in Him thereby owing nothing for sin) - whereas all other men - in fact all of humanity was and is born with a sinful nature making them and us unable to atone for our own sins or the sins of anyone else. . . His humanity provides encouragement and help for us when we are in trouble because He was tempted while in huiman flesh - He understands what it is to be tempted in all areas of which a human canbe tempted and yet not yield to sin. . . In this way He is able to help us and support us to resist sin when we are tempted. . .Hebrews 4:14-16 (NASB) 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

For the Christian being absent from the body is to be present with the Lord - after death the Christian is immediately in the presence of the Lord. . . Knowing this it removes all fear from physical death and as with the Apostle Paul it has a way of bring joy into our lives. . .Romans 8:18-28 (NASB) 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. 26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

By His death He defeated Satan and released us (humanity as a whole) from the power of death and our fear of judgment which was death as a result of sin. Jesus' death overthrew satan and took the authority he had of death from him. So that now as Jesus forgived us of our sins He frees us from the power and consequence of death - the second death which is an eternal separation from God. Jesus's death gives us access to God te Father and in the end eternal life in His presence. As a result of Christ's accomplishment - victory over Satan and taking from mhim the keys or authority of death - we no longer have any need to fear death or judgment - which in turn will make the life we will have afetr this present life we now enjoy even greater.

Fear robs us of the ability to continue functioning or being successful. It doesn't matter how well we have been doing, when fear comes in it prevents us from continuing in that successful action or activity. Fear is a results frrom the unknown, not knowing how a person is going to react to what we say as we witness - as opposed to continuing in faith trusting God for the outcome - we refuse to continue. . . Losing our life for the sake of Christ and the Gospel provides us with more than we lose or feel might be lost - in fact Jesus promised us a greater blessing, with persecusions and in the world to come eternal life if we would give up this life for faithful service to Him. . . I have no fear of witnessing. I try to take advantage of every opportunity the Spirit of God gives to witness understanding that I bear no responsibility for how or if a person accepts the witness of Christ. I am responsible to obey God's command to witness - I am not responsible for a person accepting or rejecting the Gospel. I am responsible to witness - the Holy Spirit is responsible to convict the hearts of people for sin, righteousness and judgment.

Jesus is the Leader we follow - His destination is glory which makes our destibation the same. Jesus, having gone before us, has fought and won the battle against our enemies, defeating them, and has already arrived at His destination - we therefore share innHis glory. . . Jesus was perfected through His suffering in that He resisted the temptation to sin and overcame the tempter (Satan). . . Although Jesus was tempted in every area of which we can alsoe be tempted He was able to overcome and defeat Satan without yielding to sin. Having endured all such temptations - He understands the power of sin and therefore aids and supports us when we are tempted to also endure without yielding to sin. . . The implications for us are that we, through our asociation with Jesus, have the ability to overcome the temptations to sin - and as overcoming in Christ Jesus we have the right to stand in the presence of God our Father.

To rejoice is a choice "this is a day that the Lord has made, I WILL rejoice and be glad in it". . . Rejoicing is a choice that can be made - and is made - based on the confidence we have in Jesus and His Word. Knowing that God is in control, no matter what the situation is, or what the outside circumstances may be - gives us the liberty to rejoice because we know that "in all things He is cause us to triumph in Christ Jesus" - and that He had already "given us the victory". . . I think that we place far too much emphasis on fighting a battle that has already been fought and won than on rejoicing in what God has already done for us in Christ Jesus. . . By faith I accept the fact that Jesus has already fought the battle and won the victory at Calvary - for me to continually try to fight this battle is an indication that I really don't believe that it has been fought and won by Jesus. The Word of God tells me that it has been fought and won - and for me to exemplify faith in this fact I can and must rejoice - because it is so. To rejoice in all situations is based on the knowledge that whatever happens WE WIN - and in knowing that we are "more than conquerors through Him that loves us". . . I believe this first of all because the Word of God tell us that we have already overcome in Christ Jesus - and secondly, because of what I have already experienced in my walk in Christ Jesus and what i continue to experience.

By becoming human, a member of the human race and dying for sin, He became a substitution for humanity thereby dying in our place - atonibg for our sins. Adam, as a substitute for all of humanity brought us into sin, Jesus in His humanity tasted death for all of humanity by becoming the acceptable sacrifice of sin. This is dependent on the grace of God because it is something that humanity did not deserve, earn, or could be rewarded. It was only by and because of God's love for humanity as a whole that He sent His Son to atone for our sins. Christ dying for my sin indicates that I am free from the power of sin and its consequence. Sin no longer has any control or power over me.

When we have endured sufferings and have been delivered from those sufferings by Christ - it gives us a greater awareness of the love God has for us as well as His power to deliver us - this causes our witness and testimony to have a greater effect. HEBREWS 10: 32 - 39 NLT. . .32 Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. 33 Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. 34 You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever. 35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God

He was humiliated, beat, spit upon, scorned, rejected, lied on, misrepresented, and finally killed. We can expect to suffer in may of the same ways though few of us, if any of us will suffer death becaus eof our belief in Christ. Yes, there is some value in our suffering, we are tld that "he that suffers has ceased from sin." Suffering also has a way of maturing us and drawing us closer to Jesus - which result sin our having a greater faith and trust in Him. When we live our lives in such a way to avoid suffering we fail to grow or mature - our faith also becomes stagnant. Jesus said that if we try to save our lives we will lose them, lose fellowship with Him in this life and eternal life - but if we lose our lives for the sake of the Gospel, we will gain eternal life.

Discernment always puts us in a position to both be our best and do our best while yet growing and maturing in our walk with God. Discernment results or causes us to mature in the ways of God - increase in faith as we are more apt to act upon the Word of God as we hear it - and as a result become more faithful or diligent in our service to God. Selfishness not only clouds deiscernment it hinders and impedes our growth in God as believers. It results in complancy and causes a person to settle for whatever comes their way as opposed to striving for their best. (Philippians 3:7-15 NASB) 7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; Good is the enemy of best in our lives because when we settle for good it robs us of the desire or determination to continue on to achieve the best. as was stated by the apostle Paul above - we must develop an attitude that demands our best because we are serving the best in serving Christ Jesus. Whatever we do we are to do it "Heartily - with our whole heart - unto God and not unto man.

In addition to the record left us in the Word of God confirming the truth of salvation - there have been major changes and improvement in my personal life that are a definate indication to me of these truths. Signs and wonders are yet a great help to establishing the truth of Christ's ministry today - because as in the past when these signs and wonders were manifested it resulted in the people turning their attention to God and on many cases surrendering to and accepting God's plan of salvation. My opinion has been formed and reinforce through the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and the Book of Acts.

Paul expects that God will help the Philippian Saints to become better than they presently are through a process of maturing and or perfecting them. Paul expects God to do this based on two things, (1) His love for the Philippian saints, and (2) because of the promise He made - never to fail us, leave, abandon, or forsake us, He promised to be with us alway, even to the end of time. We can and should expect the same thing - as we are already complete in Christ Jesus. We can and should expect the same thing based on God's love for us - His desire to fellowship with us both in this world and in the world to come.

There is no immunity to drifting away from the Gospel for us or anyone who does not do what it take to retain what they have learned and gain more. It is evident by the Word of God that we must not only be hearers of the Word - we must be doers of the Word. It is when we come into a living agreement with the Word of God that we have an anchor to hold us, to steady us in our walk with Christ. It is when we live in agreement with the Word of God that have have stability. It is only by applying the Word of God in our lives and living in agreement with it that we have any possibility of successfully resisting the tendency to drift. Jesus indicated that we must be firmly planted or rooted in the Word of God to aviod drifting. There has to be more than just hearing the Word to remain stable - more than a simple reaction to hearing the Word. According to Jesus we must also be willing and able to be more focused on the Word of God than the things the world has o offer if we are going to remain in a growing relationship with Him.

The joy in knowing that we have aided in the salvation and personal blessing of many that we do not know personally or may never see or come into personal contact with - also knowing that we have fulfilled the commission assigned to us by Jesus - reconciling men back to God through Christ Jesus. Other kinds of support we can give to missionaries, ministers, ministries, and churches are to pray with and for them and we can lend our gifts and talents, whatever they might be.

The attributes used by the author to describe the Son indicates He has the same attributes and charateristics as the Father, attributes that the Father did not share with any of His creations. This tells me that the Son is divine. The roles the Son has in doing the Father's will according to these verses are the agent of creation, the sustainer and preserver of the universe and co-ruler.