GOD’S HEART to CREATION, and ONWARD

In our journey we are becoming awake to the realization that the goal of our Father will ultimately be reached in perfection, even as gold that has been purified by fire. However, before looking into the ways and means used to bring perfection, we need to step back and see what has been accomplished IN Christ, for it is IN him that we live and move and have our being and Christ is the perfection of God.

Most of us have an understanding of the facts of the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. At this point we seek to discover something of the plans to accomplish the purposes our FATHER’S HEART. In Ephesians 1:4 we again find that God has always been in charge and both knew, and knows, what he is doing. We read, “IN Christ he chose us before the world was founded, to be dedicated, to be without blemish IN his sight, to be full of love;” NEB.

Where were we chosen? IN CHRIST. When were we chosen? Back before it all began. Why were we chosen? In order to be the perfection of his purity and love which is only possible IN CHRIST, we can then be “to the praise of his glory.” Verse Twelve came alive to me as I spoke to a group of young people in about 1960. It gave me the needed sense of purpose that I was lacking. “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.” [KJV] It suddenly became clear that there was more than just being saved, not missing the rapture, and going to heaven when I died. Those beliefs were basically self centered objectives. It was in the NOW that my life should be lived, not for me, but for his glory.

It is a valid question to ask, whom did he choose? Was it just believers in Christ? The Jews? My dad got in trouble once for saying, “God thought of you before he thought of the Jew,” but it’s true. Is it just possible that this choosing covers everyone, past, present and future? Well, scripture is clear that we were CHOSEN IN CHRIST It was not based upon our merits, but rather a heart of love. How big is your view of God? Do you place qualifications on this previously made choice, because if you do, what are you going to do with the grace of God? I believe that grace has absolutely nothing to do with merit, and everything to do with the fact that IN CHRIST, there is no need of merit, for Christ is the perfection of God.

The GRACE of God is marvelous Regrettably it tends to be underrated by the Evangelical world as just being “unmerited favor,” but is it? The Scripture indicates that it is much more than a favor issue on man’s part, but rather one of Deity’s favors. Consider the following from Titus 2:11.

• The grace of God has appeared to every man, NASU.
• For the saving grace of God made its advent to all humanity, Concordant NT

This grace, this shining (epiphany) of God into our hearts, does bring positive change in order for us to live in righteousness. We are indeed “transformed by grace divine.” In the wording of the NEB, “For the grace of God has dawned upon the world with healing for all mankind.” Healing takes place where ever it is needed - spirit, soul, mind and body, however, it takes place in God’s timing.

We again see the predetermination of God in Ephesians 1:5. This true meaning of this verse is usually changed from the original meaning in order to have it fit with our modern understanding of word meanings. It reads, “He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,” [NASU] It is this word ADOPTION that is so misunderstood. This, “adoption as sons” is from one Greek word - huiothesia. It means “the placing as a son” which was a formal ceremony somewhat akin to the Jewish Bar Mitzvah, and NOT adopting someone into a family. Contrary to the Evangelical adoption myth, we are BORN into Gods family as children - Greek teknon - IN CHRIST - and adoption is a place of maturity, a place where one is no longer playing with spiritual toys, but as Moses did in Numbers 14:11-21 be able to speak to the LORD, in a manner that brought salvation to rebellious Israel.

The following quotation of R.B. Jones was used by DeVern Fromke in his first book, “The Ultimate Intention.” I received a first edition copy in 1962 when DeVern Fromke was introducing it at a Toronto convention. This Jones quotation is complementary to Galatians 4:1-5 which speaks of the careful training required for a child to come to sonship.

A child is one born of God,
A son is one taught of God.
A child has God’s nature;
A son has God’s character.

Having spoken a little of our Fathers “heart” and of his purposes, we must give consideration to the process which leads us to the great divide, known as THE CROSS. I would suggest we consider it as the start of the process leading to the resurrection, the ascension and glorification of Jesus to the right hand of God which resulted in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. This outpouring is the proof positive that Jesus Christ, the almighty conqueror, had completed his mission.

The scripture is clear that “all alike have sinned, and are deprived of the divine splendour,” [NEB] The whole Adamic race is gathered up together in this statement. I recall that Watchman Nee wrote, “God’s purpose for man is glory! Glory! Glory!” The coming into this place of GLORY is what Adam forfeited because of his sin. Now since ALL are included in Adam, all entered into the same position and have the disposition of a sinner. Geneticists claim that all of mankind can be trace back genetically to one woman who is said to have lived in Africa. Whether that is proven to be scientifically factual or not, it helps us to understand the human race since Adam - the First, and Eve. But, our Father has his LAST Adam - Jesus Christ to bring us into his heart desires.

In 2 Corinthians 5:21 we read of Jesus becoming “sin” for us. Many NT translations use the wording “sin offering” in place of “sin,” which if understood correctly has merit. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. NASU.

The One not knowing failure (sin; error) by intimate experience He made a failure over us (or: He constructed [as] a sin [offering] for our sake; He accomplished a miss of the target for us), to the end that we may be birthed (come into existence being; come to be) God's right-wising (God's right relationship with fair and equitable dealing in accord with the Way pointed out; God's justice; God's well-ordered living with right thinking), within Him. Jonathan Mitchell NT.

In the Sixteenth Chapter of Leviticus, we read about the atonement process, in which a ram was chosen to be a burnt offering, and two male goats were chosen to be a two-part sin offering. One goat was slaughtered for a “sin offering” and the other goat became a “scapegoat” (Verse 21). Aaron laid his hands on the head of the live goat, and confessed over it the sins of the people. After this impartation of sin by the laying on of hands, the scapegoat (goat of departure) was driven into the wilderness as it bore the blame, the responsibility for the sins of Israel.

What is atonement, which is also called propitiation, or expiation? It is not “at-one-ment” as some would say, even though it is true that God included us IN Christ at his death. It actually has to do with covering of blood that was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat (kapporeth - Strong’s #3727) and was also placed on the horns of the altar. The Mercy Seat was a covering on top of the Ark and God would meet with the High Priest there. “There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony,” Exodus 25:22 NASU.

The importance our Father’s provision for us in Jesus is stressed in 1 John 4:10, “in this is the love, not that we loved God, but that He did love us, and did send His Son a propitiation for our sins.” [YLT] This is indeed the one spoken of in Matthew 1:21 who was to be named JESUS because he was to “save his people from their sins.” As Jonathan Mitchell puts it, “for he will restore His people to health and wholeness (will rescue, save and deliver His people and return them to their original state and condition), away from their failures to hit the target (from their mistakes, errors and sins)." And Matthew 1:23 continues with, 'Lo, the virgin shall conceive, and she shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel,' which is, being interpreted 'With us [he is] God.' YLT [Young’s Literal Translation].

Jesus lived his life on earth doing the will of his Father, which brought him to death on the cross. We are well aware of the historical and outward cross, and the horror of it all, including the point where he became sin. We remember his cry on the cross of, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Lamsa’s translation from the Aramaic has it this way, My God, My God, for this I was spared! (The footnote reads “This was my destiny.) Between the Greek and the Aramaic we get a good understanding of the intensity of what was happening. However, it is imperative that we move beyond the cross, for which we are truly thankful, for if we stay there and worship it, as some seem to do, we will miss the power of the resurrection.

In 1956 I lived in a rooming house in Chicago, and one of roomers wanted me to see the beauty of his (Roman Catholic) church edifice. Indeed it was, however, what left a lasting impression was the huge crucifix covered with a veil (It was the Easter season) and I found myself feeling the heaviness of death. As we walked out into the sunshine, I found these words springing up within me - “I serve a risen Saviour - - - HE LIVES!” Frankly, there is too much melancholiness about the death of Jesus. It really is very religious, and not life giving as it should be.

We must never forget the INWARD working of the cross in the life of Jesus, for it brought him to that place of total surrender. It was a present tense working, not only in the various testings, but in the limitations of his sonship, something that few appreciate as he functioned in with human limitations and that he did not do what his humanness may have wanted to do.

Previously I wrote, “Since God made the choice, to be manifest in the flesh, he also made the choice to take on the limitations of humanness. How else could he relate to us unless he took the same kind of fleshly journey as had begun with Adam?” Remember that Adam made the choice to “do it his way.” Now would this human - the Last Adam - do it his way or do it the easy way?

In Matthew Chapter Four we read how Jesus was “led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” It was the SPIRIT that put him into this place of temptation, this place of testing and trying where Jesus was enticed to do something FOR himself - turn stones into bread to satisfy his hunger; to do something WITH himself - test God by taking a ‘swan dive’ from the pinnacle of the temple; and to do something OF himself - worship Satan in order to obtain the kingdoms of this world which would have side-stepped the cross. However, it says in Romans 15:3 “For even Christ did not please himself.” What a lesson that is to would be rulers in God’s kingdom! Sadly much of the Evangelical/Charismatic church world thinks that God should fulfill every carnal desire they have – just name it and claim it - BUT Jesus did NOT take the self-centered way.

We read in Hebrews 2:18, “For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.” [NASU] That he can come to our aid is something to rejoice in; however the question must be asked, Where the tests genuine tests where there was the possibility of Failure? It may shock you to suggest that if the temptation or testings were not genuine, then one wonders how can he come to our aid, or understand us in our situations.

Since our Savior was subject to intense testing within his humanness, should we expect to be exempt from testing, temptation, trying or proving? God does have a purpose in everything that we go through, and even our limitations are ordained of God in order that we will learn to trust him wholly and find him in him both all that we both need and want. This is the principle of the inward working of the cross. It is not my will be done, but only yours, not what I wish to be, but only how, and what, you want me to be. To you O Lord be all the glory, honor and praise! Hallelujah!