Tag: Genesis 1

Intentions, Speaking, and Truth in Love

On By TimIn Ephesians 04, Prayer, RelationshipsLeave a comment

He gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, for the equipping of the saints, for the work of service, and for the building up of the body of Christ, until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, into a complete man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so we may no longer be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men, by craftiness with deceitful scheming. But, speaking the truth in love, we may grow up in all things into Him, who is the head, Christ Himself, from whom the whole body is joined together and connected by every joint and ligament, as every part effectively does its work and grows, building itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:11–16

The desire of God is for all to grow to maturity. That is why Jesus said in Matthew 5 to be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect. Perfect meaning to be mature or complete. Teachers and leaders help, but we must ourselves be diligent in the Word and also to speak the truth in love. Every part of the body of Christ is necessary to Its proper function. But there is something a bit deeper here. It is the intentionality that is needed to move on to maturity.

I started this post years ago and set it aside many times. I think it may have been a bit fearful in ways. However, the gist of the idea is not just using words, but the intentionality that comes with them. There are many other things I have encountered in the meantime that resoundingly reinforce the ideas here.

This post will be long and definitely drift into the blurry. Let’s set the groundwork.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

Ephesians 1:3

As believers, our reality interfaces with eternity. Not only does the eternal God love in us, transcending time and space, our blessings do, too.

As Paul moves a bit further ahead, this idea is even clearer.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and He raised us up and seated us together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:4–7

It’s laid plain right there. Paul says that Jesus raised us up and seated us in heavenly places. The verb tenses used for raised and seated is aorist, meaning the action is done and carries forward to present and beyond. It’s not undone. We are already seated together in a way that transcends space and time. The verbs also convey the truth that that situation cannot change.

He’s teaching us an important idea, I keep repeating it. I want it known that there is more to reality than what just meets the physical senses.

Transcending Dimensions

The first idea I want to communicate is rather grandiose. It is this idea of transcending dimensionality. What we know of our physical reality (space and time) is that it consists of four dimensions. Most understand three dimensions, height, length, and width. These are all physical properties, but there is a fourth physical property to consider. One that Einstein discovered. It is a fourth dimension called time. A proper description of the things we normally experience is the four dimensions of space-time. that is, the properties of three-dimensional objects change as time progresses. This fourth dimension gives room for movement. The three-dimensional object can move because of transdimensionality in the fourth dimension of time.

Time being a physical property of our existence also provides some peculiarities. Take looking up at the stars in the night sky. It is done in the present time, but the inescapable reality is that we are peering into the distant past. The light we see has traveled vast distances.

Consider also that the passage of time is affected by other things… Like gravity and velocity. It gets somewhat weird, but the tick-tock passing of time is contingent on the perspective of the observer. Time at sea level passes measurably slower than time on a mountaintop. It is called gravitational time dilation. This is a real observed proof of Einstein’s theory of relativity.

Granted, it is a big concept to grasp. I am certain my description is far from comprehensive, and I am trying to make the concept easier to understand. What is important to know is that the Bible has nodded to this truth long before it was affirmed by science. God stretched out the heavens. Keep all of this in mind.

It leads me to a question… Did Paul have peculiar knowledge about our four dimensions long before Einstein did?

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would give you, according to the riches of His glory, power to be strengthened by His Spirit in the inner man, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:14–19

I didn’t intend this to be a study in Ephesians, but it is looking like that. But this is where we leap off into this truly mind-blowing thing. Just ponder that paragraph and what Paul is conveying. First of all, don’t ever think that being called Christian is something to be denied or avoided as if it is watered-down in meaning. Paul says it is the identity of the whole family in heaven and earth. We are named for and bear the name of Jesus Christ. That, too, transcends dimensionality.

There is more. The gift we receive personally from His riches is the Holy Spirit. He gives us the power to be strengthened in our innermost parts. Remember, Christ dwells in our hearts rooting us and grounding us in that love of His.

Now the kicker… Paul is telling us to think really big thoughts. And he is calling us all to consider the vast magnitude of the love of God. He says it surpasses knowledge. He uses four-dimensional language; breadth and length and depth and height. Paul is saying that the love of Christ fills all of space-time we can experience in this physical universe. It covers our lifespan and more. It covers all lifespans in this physical world. It’s at least that BIG. If it occupies all of that, isn’t it then transcendent?

Now… For love to be that big to fill our space-time requires a space beyond what we can now perceive naturally. The scientifically minded call these hyperspaces. For a resource that explains the concept of hyperspace far more practically, read this article from Koinonia House.

While I mention Koinonia House, they have many well-written articles that expand on this subject. Save this list for future reference. Remember, what you already have now transcends space and time.

Our conversation now takes us to what seems to be an unrelated topic.

Soulish Versus Spiritual

We will examine both parts, but now, let’s consider the soulish part first.

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things. Yet he himself is not judged by anyone.

1 Corinthians 2:14–15

Here Paul uses a Greek term translated into our English word natural. Like English, this is an adjective in the Greek language. It is formed from the Greek word for soul which is psuche. The derived adjective is psuchikos, which sums up the action initiated by the soul. Psuchikos is translated in a variety of different ways: sensual, worldly, worldly-minded, unspiritual, without the spirit, following natural instinct, and natural. Without a direct English equivalence, I will logically use soulish to convey the meaning of that word.

The soul without the Spirit of God is disconnected from the original pattern of creation. The spirit of man came directly from God (Genesis 2:7.) That spirit related directly to God. There was a perfectly ordered relationship with God. God worked in a person’s spirit, the person’s spirit worked in the soul, which directed their body. With Adam’s rebellion pushing God out of the way, the spirit relationship of a person toward God was now compromised. The human had turned away from his direct relationship with God. Adam then became controlled by the soul, which is the will, the intellect, and the emotions. This hobbling of a person is described in another place by Paul as being dead. That is, it is useless to the purposes of God as they were established. We became enslaved to the governing powers of this world and to the desires of the carnality… soulish.

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the age of this world and according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among them we all also once lived in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and we were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 

Ephesians 2:1–3

I want to avoid a lot of the loaded language about soulishness, but it may not be possible. Given that, I do not embrace spiritual death as it is often employed. The spirit of man did not die, which is already clear. This truth will become plainly obvious as we progress.

These soulish men can still pursue real spirituality. Spirituality is not to be confused with godliness. Correct spirituality is the spirit acting on the soul, which then acts on the body. Without the spirit leading, the soulish person operates differently. His soul must use the body to operate spiritually. This practice is obvious. Some take substances to alter their consciousness. Others may employ various disciplines on the body; transcendental meditation, yoga, regulated breathing, and relaxing exercises. This list is not comprehensive.

When one disciplines the body to enter spirituality, it’s an altered form of consciousness. It is as effective as using mind-altering substances. The practice of entering spiritual realities from soulish practices leaves the body and the mind vulnerable to all sorts of shenanigans from familiar spirits. Read those spirits as NOT the Spirit of God nor from God. Remember, the soulish person does not discern the spiritual things of God. Those are foolish. If the Spirit of God is not operating in one’s spirit, danger is afoot.

The spiritual person is markedly different. We have already encountered this in Ephesians 2. The true spiritual person is saved (and sealed) by the Holy Spirit. At that moment such has been made alive together with other believers in Christ. He has raised us up and seated us together with them in the heavenly places.

You and I know this because of the indwelling Spirit of God. (That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.) It’s that grounding in love that surpasses all things. With Him, we are given truthful discernment in spiritual things. When we let His Spirit operate our spirit, we can overcome the soulishness that comes from the corruption of sin. It requires submission in faith. So we ought to let Him operate in us.

Also, understand that all believers are knit together in the body of Christ. Past, present, and even future believers are included. This too, necessarily transcends space and time, heaven and Earth.

What I am saying is that you and I as believers operate in the spiritual realm because of our connection to God through His indwelling Spirit. That is why intentionality becomes so very important.

The Science

I spoke about Einstein before. His discoveries, at first unbelieved by even him, have become the foundations for quantum physics. It is when looking in that things in that quantum realm get really strange, nevertheless, it is reality. Quantum physics gives rise to quantum mechanics. There is an even narrower field of study called string quantum mechanics.

This is where we leap off into how big God is. String quantum mechanics theorizes that 10 dimensions are inadequate to contain the hinted-at reality. There is even a field of string quantum mechanics that “operates consistently in 26 dimensions.” And those 26 dimensions do not account for consciousness or intentionality. With that, I will use that to briefly summarize a published PubMed article called Retroactive prayer: a preposterous hypothesis? It is a fascinating read even though it may be technical.

Our reality is so much more than we think. In the physical universe, matter, energy, and time are interrelated. This is the basis of E=mc2. If something doesn’t have mass, it ceases to have time. It is a property called non-locality. Time and distance basically become irrelevant. The study cited above indicates this, clearly.

Sending Thoughts and Prayers

We have all said that at one time or another. And maybe we actually followed through on it. The modern culture in the United States ridicules this notion, often in light of mass casualty events. Sending thoughts and prayers is said to do nothing to help. Comedians make fun of it. The theophobes (my word for atheists) deny it. There are even some Christians who mock it. But what does the science reveal?

Well, thoughts and prayers do work. I am going to say that again. Thoughts and prayers do work. It has been measured.

Wait, there’s more.

The title of the paper I mentioned says retroactive prayer. It references a scientific experiment conducted on over 3,000 patients with sepsis. These patients were hospitalized between 1990 to 1996. Some years later, the patients were randomized and separated into either a control or intervention group. Prayers were then offered for those patients in the intervention group. (You can read the paper here: Effects of remote, retroactive intercessory prayer on outcomes in patients with bloodstream infection: randomised controlled trial.)

In the experiment, there was a measurable difference in better mortality, shorter length of hospitalization, and the lessening duration of fever in those patients randomly assigned to the intervention. This happened even though the prayer was offered years in the future.

Let that sink in. The conscious and intentional prayer for these patients not only transcended distance (space,) but it transcended the time. As strange as it might sound, it coincides with what we know of reality through the Bible and quantum physics.

Granted, I don’t know if those ones offering thoughts and prayers were operating soulishly or spiritually. The reality is the measured effect it had. (At the time I originally wrote this, a mass casualty event just happened in Philadelphia. Take a moment to pray for those affected even after the fact.)

Your intentions do have an effect on reality. Your consciousness affects this world physically. And that with no restriction on time and space.

Now, I will offer some ideas that may raise the hairs on your neck.

Not New Age

Long before finding any of this, I had considered the idea in my mind and realized that God is not confined by time and space. He is present in all those places and times. Think of the psalmist saying “Where can I go from your Spirit.” There is no place or time where God is not present. If that is true, and it certainly is, it follows that I can pray for Paul on his missionary journeys today. Those prayers are heard by God Who is not encumbered by time and distance. They really do accomplish things.

This is not to ‘name it and claim it.’ It’s not ‘manifesting one’s reality’ by speaking it into existence. At least not how many consider it, though it seems those things have a foundation in reality. What those things have in common is that they operate in soulishness. In some ways, these are real concepts. Practiced in this way, it is selfishly soulish and will have unintended consequences because of the addled way it is accomplished. It is not done with the Spirit of God.

A believer who submits his spirit to the Spirit of God can be led by God. The believer is set free from the bondage of soulish desires. It doesn’t mean that such will not have them, but that they do not have to have control over the believer. Instead, we can believe God let His Spirit work in our willing spirits. The Bible uses the phrase mixed with faith. When we send thoughts and prayers to someone, it is mixed with our faith in God. It really does things!

Remember those Israelites long ago…

Therefore, since the promise of entering His rest remains, let us fear lest any of you should seem to come short of it. For the gospel was preached to us as well as to them. But the word preached did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed have entered this rest

Hebrews 4:1–3a

In the same way, our prayers are made in faith. We know God hears and answers.

Let me help… As believers, we are to enter His rest. His rest is not necessarily heaven. But it is the place where we can be of use to Him. It’s that maturing to completeness, be perfect as He is. It takes faith. It takes submission. Sometimes we wander in a wilderness of sin. When we hear the Word, it needs to be mixed with faith to have any benefit in our lives before it can touch those of others.

It goes deeper.

But above all things, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by the earth or by any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes” and your “No” be “No,” that you do not fall into condemnation.
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone merry? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your faults to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much.

James 5:12–16

What we might gloss over in this passage is the strong intentionality James challenges us to have. Yes, we are to be careful in the things we might say. I know this is very verbose, but the idea is important. Our communication needs to be truthful, not necessarily curt. In the life circumstances James lists, he instructs us to give an intentional offering to God in the midst of them. Then he uses one word… Energoumenē. That gets translated to the English words… Effective and fervent. Everything about that word conveys intentionality.

As is clear with Einstein’s relativity… One’s perspective matters. (I think that is a pun.) It follows, that one’s intentions also matter.

This Principle is Hidden in Plain Sight

This is not new knowledge. And like most good things, the enemy counterfeits it and exploits it. Did you know the English word grammar comes from an old French word gramaire?

That French word is translated into English as grimoire. A grimoire is a book of magic, incantation, spells, and other mumbo-jumbo. Think hidden magic words that have power when used.

Given that, it could be said that writing with proper grammar is akin to scrying and speaking with proper grammar as casting spells. That might surprise everyone.

Consider how propaganda is readily employed in many cultures. Tell a lie long enough and it eventually changes reality. It is even more pernicious… The political left and the culture of the world have an inherent belief that language creates reality. They use it skillfully. Just think of the entire lot of moral issues that have been politicized. Marriage and abortion are but two. Change the language one uses and eventually the reality shifts.

The practices of what is ‘New-Age Modalism’ also employ this. It’s mindfulness that teaches people they can manifest their realities into existence. Some Christians embrace this as “name it and claim it.” There is even an adventure app based on this mindfulness concept that is growing popularity, even though it has real dangers.

The powers-that-be love to redefine words and terms. They use them to demonize, control, and subdue people. In other words, they are using grammar to make magic and cast spells. The brazen attempt is to change and control our reality as they want us to see it. They create reality by controlling language.

Casting Spells?

While writing this, I stumbled upon another interesting tidbit. It has to do with the magicians’ word abracadabra. The origins of this word are sketchy. Many theories are offered. One prevailing theory states it is from Hebrew evra ke-adaber, which means I will create as I speak. Another claim is an Aramaic source, evra ke-davra, which means I create like the word. These are surprising enough. But the earliest use comes from a second-century Roman physician named Quintus Serenus Sammonicus. In his work Liber Medicinalis, the word abracadabra was written in such a way that one letter is subtracted on each iteration. This created a triangle of the word that was then worn as a talisman or lucky charm to remove illness.

When reading through the writings of these fringy-ragged edges of the culture one collects thoughts that are salted away in the back of the mind. Pagans and Satanists use magic incantations to change reality. Sometimes these words are used to summon other entities from hyperspaces. They are now using these soulish practices to map out, subdue, and attempt to control the hyperspaces of spirituality. It’s by this manipulation they think they exercise power. Though the power is not theirs.

It is also in this kind of research where I have heard the charge from the ritualistic that Christians have a very powerful form of magic but don’t use it effectively, if at all. I have always wondered what that meant… But now I think I know. I will let the Bible explain this.

What and How

God worked powerful miracles by the hands of Paul. So handkerchiefs or aprons he had touched were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits went out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists invoked the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We command you to come out in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches.” There were seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva doing this. The evil spirit answered, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was jumped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled from that house naked and wounded.

Acts 19:11–16 (MEV):

I love that. No, not that someone got hurt. But that the responsibilities God gives to the believer are really real!

The sons of Sceva witnessed Paul performing miracles. They also saw exorcisms in the name of Jesus. For those, it was just a form of more powerful magic that they wanted. Their thinking was this is magic that can be exploited and used to manipulate others. Thus giving them the perception of great power. It backfired.

Was it Jesus that failed?

No. It was the soulish desire that the sons had to use His name for their own gain and notoriety. Also note that there is a very important lesson about order. People are subject to and yield themselves to spiritual powers. Engaging with them without circumspection may extend rights. Yet finally (and thankfully,) all powers yield to the Name above all names… Jesus Christ.

It’s crucial to understand that what we say is as important as how we say it. What I mean is that the intentions of what we say have real power. The sons of Sceva stand as a lesson. They knew there was power in the name of Jesus. Their intentions didn’t match.

The Lesson from James

See how we put bits in the mouths of horses that they may obey us, and we control their whole bodies. And observe ships. Though they are so great and are driven by fierce winds, yet they are directed with a very small rudder wherever the captain pleases. Even so, the tongue is a little part of the body and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles. The tongue is a fire, a world of evil. The tongue is among the parts of the body, defiling the whole body, and setting the course of nature on fire, and it is set on fire by hell.
All kinds of beasts, and birds, and serpents, and things in the sea are tamed or have been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring yield at the same opening sweet and bitter water? Can the fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a vine, figs? So no spring can yield both salt water and fresh water.

James 3:3–12

James tells us that the power of what we say defiles the body and it sets the course of nature on fire. Could it be that James is hinting at the ideas we have encountered?

It used to be in this country, that people were in church on Sundays. The vast majority of people gathered to sing praises to God together! Is it any wonder that this country flourished under that?

There is the power of collective voices and the power of collective wills united. In that proper way, it protected nature. Families flourished, the economy was the envy of the world. That was an old-fashioned idea called temperance. People exercised self-control of their own volition. Then something happened.

I don’t think it was one thing. I think it was a well thought-out campaign by dark powers. It came with the modern conveniences. It centered on changing language to steer the heart.

Convergence

At the beginning of the twentieth century, English was a single homogenous language in two flavors, American and British. American English users outnumbered the British. Enter the push for globalization and English became more diversified. By the end of that century, English had become the de facto language for commerce led by technology.

The lexicon grew, the rules of grammar relaxed. Word meanings changed and expanded. Slang terms entered. Restrictions on what is tolerated also came. With political correctness, words were now considered weapons.

There was massive growth in art. It became more accessible and with radio and television, folks had instant access. Advertisers learned how to control emotions with many techniques.

Church attendance began to wane. The mention of God and Jesus in the public square is less tolerated. Atheism and paganism began to grow.

Paganism also entered homes and minds of the unsuspecting through the media consumed. Music changed. The praises of God became the ballads of love. Love turned to promiscuity and pursuit of altered consciousness. People sang lyrics that at first glance seemed angsty, but closer inspection reveals a ritualistic aspect to them. People were subtly led to participate in mass rituals called concerts.

Television became a perfect vehicle to have these rituals brought into the home. By turning the channel and watching, people unknowingly gave permission for all sort of shenanigans in their homes. Listen to the sounds of the words, tell a vision. Where programs (think propaganda) are transmitted by channels (think as mediums channel spirits.)

Today, evil doesn’t hide. It’s welcomed almost everywhere.

This comes as no surprise to those who know their Bible. The world has converged on language and technology. Global communications are instant. Globalization charges forward a united planet-wide government. Populations are being readied for the man with a plan. One who is smart, charismatic, and worthy of worship.

What Do We Do?

I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:1–2

The first step is to go back to God. Repent of whatever shenanigans have sidetracked your mind and will. We are not to be conformed to the patterns in this world. That means we have to stop willingly participating in the rituals. That is going to require some discernment. And if we inadvertently do, we have to renounce any attachments they may bring.

Next, is renewing your mind. That starts with Scripture. You are going to have to spend time with God in His Word. Thankfully, God makes it easy to participate in the things that further His cause.

The enemy counterfeits that, and uses subtle manipulation to keep you from God. We have every excuse, “I have to watch Survivor.” “I will do it after the game.” “My friends want to go out.” “Let’s go fishing.” It’s the subtle things that don’t seem like distractions… Yet they are.

And yes, I am talking to myself, too.

Spend some time meeting with other Christians. Sing praises to God together. If the enemy can use words and intentions to further his cause, our God can trounce him in that. And we are extended the privilege to work with our God!

Ask!

In the looming shadow of Calvary, Jesus left His friends many instructions. Among them can be considered what is discussed at length. See if you catch it.

Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me. Or else believe Me on account of the works themselves. Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in Me will do the works that I do also. And he will do greater works than these, because I am going to My Father. I will do whatever you ask in My name, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

John 14:11–14

Using the name of Jesus is not a magic spell to be cast. His name has real power. Power to raise the dead, do you believe that?

I do. Jesus is not sharing that He is going to meet our felt needs. He is telling us we will have all that we really need.

Want to slow the incursion of evil?

Want to change the feel of your local community?

Want to change hearts and minds?

Ask Him, expecting results!

When Philip asked to see the Father, Jesus gently chastised him and said:

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own authority. But the Father who lives in Me does the works.

John 14:10

The Christian has a Helper. When we petition God, we don’t do it in our own authority. It is not a soulish exploit to satisfy carnal desires. The words we speak have great power, in His Name. This is how the work of ministry gets done.

We need the Spirit of God in us to do it right. And when we do, it transcends all of reality.

Intentions matter. Words matter.

The Concluding Principle

God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Genesis 1:3

God’s Word has power. Real power to create, and real power to destroy. Our Bible teaches us the reality of the power in the words. The universe came to be by spoken word. It is held together by spoken word. Our redemption is also by the Word.

As we are created in His image, it follows that our words can also create realities. It is everywhere around us. Politics, media, music, news… You name it. Though their intentions most likely work in opposition to God’s.

Our words and the intent behind them have a real effect on reality. One that transcends time. With that in mind, I keep going back to that text in James, and the intentionality needed in the way we do things. I also think that people speak out of the treasures of their innermost person.

Be very careful what you speak over someone. Whether they can hear it or not, you are changing their reality. I know from my own experience. The things people spoke to me as a child became my inner voice. It became the lens through which I viewed myself. Someone else’s words became my reality. And the enemy craftily employed it as a tool to hobble me for much of my life. (He still does, and sometimes I am not cognizant enough to catch it.)

Yet, I am ever grateful for Jesus. He gently reminds me I am not what was spoken over me a lifetime ago. I’m not what someone thinks of me in secret. I am His. He is my Brother. I am a son of God. Not just because I say it, but because I know it.

Our words matter greatly. The intentions behind those words have great power. Use your intentions and then your words wisely.

Jesus Christ, Whom You Have Sent

On By TimIn Jehovah, Jesus, John 17Leave a comment

This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.

John 17:3

This is one text taken from the prayer that Jesus offered to God on the night before He was crucified. The real need for people is to have eternal life. Many use the term being saved, but that term has some baggage. Eternal life is a gift given to believers by God Himself. That gift comes by knowing the only true God, and Jesus Christ.

There is a point often debated, “Did Jesus really say He was God?“

Yes. He certainly did.

The idea is clearly laid out in His Own words. As it is said, oftentimes the Pharisees lets us know when He does that. They took up stones to kill Him.

This eternal life is knowing God and Whom He sent… Jesus Christ. Back during Jesus’ ministry, there was one of those episodes where the Pharisees took up stones. It was then that Jesus said:

My Father and I are one.”

John 10:30

The Jewish leaders tell us exactly what Jesus said:

Again the Jews took up stones to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?”
The Jews answered Him, “We are not stoning You for a good work, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, claim to be God.”

John 10:31–33

The Pharisees have verified Jesus’ saying He is God. Look back up to the introductory text from John 17. Keeping that in mind, I want to consider other ways that plainly show Jesus as God. To know God is to know Jesus, Whom He sent and it is to have eternal life.

Jesus often used words that echoed those expressed in the Tanakh. I know that might be shocking. Yet Jesus knows the words of the prophets, and He knows the writings of Isaiah.

Listen to Me, O Jacob
and Israel, whom I called:
I am He;
I am the First, and I am the Last.
My hand also has laid the foundation of the earth,
and My right hand has spanned the heavens;
when I call to them,
they stand up together.
Assemble, all of you, and listen.
Who among them has declared these things?
The Lord has loved him;
he will do His pleasure on Babylon,
and His arm shall be against the Chaldeans.
I, even I, have spoken,
and I have called him;
I have brought him,
and his way will prosper.
Come near to Me, hear this:
I have not spoken in secret from the beginning;
from the time that it was, there I am.
And now the Lord God has sent me
and His Spirit.

Isaiah 48:12-16

Already, it may be clear to see some familiar phrases that we know are applied elsewhere to Jesus. I will start with the first, “I am He.” Jesus said that.

Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

John 8:24

In the context of this passage, Jesus is speaking of the Father Whom the Jewish folk know as God. The text is clear, that unless one believes “I am He,” they do not have eternal life. For clarity, those that do not have eternal life will perish in their sins. Jesus is unequivocally saying, that one cannot have eternal life unless that person believes He is God.

The next has many witnesses. Here is the first…

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a great voice like a trumpet, saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and “What you see, write in a book, and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

Revelation 1:10–11

While in exile, the apostle John is caught up in a vision where he meets God. God calls Himself Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last. Most know that this Person is Jesus Christ.

Part of the reason for this post comes from a conversation over whether Jesus is now God. He is, but the protagonist in the conversation believes Jesus was God and is not now because of His location at the right hand of God. I get that these types of discussions are difficult for our minds to comprehend. God is like no other. That is why, there are none like Him. We have no frame of reference except what He says of Himself. It then becomes important to understand Him as He reveals Himself.

We know Jesus is Alpha and Omega. He offers something else about His identity. These are the key things to remember.

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though I were dead. Then He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, though I was dead. Look! I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

Revelation 1:17–18

This Person addressing John says, “(T)hough I was dead, Look! I am alive forevermore.” This is an indicator to identity. He identifies Himself again as First and Last. Putting both together with He died and rose again, there is only One Person that matches. It is Jesus.

Which leads to another objection that my protagonist scoffs at. He denies the idea that God has died. Clearly, Jesus as God says He died and lives forevermore.

There is one more witness from Revelation to examine.

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me to give to each one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

Revelation 22:12–13

Once again, this Person identifies Himself as Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End, First and Last. It has already been established Who is speaking. Yet another witness to identity is this One is coming again. We know the One Who returning to Earth again is Jesus Christ!

Back in the passage of Isaiah 48 above, it says I am He, the First and Last. From the context, Jehovah is being spoken of in third person. Yet clearly the One narrating is God. Israelis in the day would know this well. They were very familiar with the Tanakh. Note, when connected from Isaiah to the Gospel of John and then Revelation, the idea coalesces. It is clearly conveyed that when Jesus says “I am He,” He is saying He is God.

But as it is in the Bible, things get a bit blurry…

Come near to Me, hear this:
I have not spoken in secret from the beginning;
from the time that it was, there I am.
And now the Lord God has sent me
and His Spirit.

Isaiah 48:16

This is the same invitation from Jesus in the New Testament. The God of the Tanakh is the same God that Jesus is. And He is this same God that sent Jesus Christ. Keep in mind, the same God that sent Jesus is the First and the Last.

In my mind, it seems there can only be One Who identifies as Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last. The phrase leaves no room for others. That’s God and He is Jesus.

Jesus is not-so-secretly declaring that He is Jehovah. That same Jehovah Who sent Him!

This testimony of the Alpha and the Omega in the last book of the Bible connects it to one of those books in the rough middle of It, Isaiah. The text seems to draw the reader to closely examine the beginning. It is there that yet another witness identifies that Jesus is indeed Jehovah God.

All things were created through Him, and without Him nothing was created that was created.

John 1:3

John testifies that all things were created by Jesus. And God testifies in Isaiah that He spoke very clearly from the beginning. What does that mean?

Well, if all things that were created were created by Jesus… Jesus is not created. Which means He is the One Who created all things. Once again, in my mind that leaves no room for another creator.

Thus says the Lord,
the Holy One of Israel and his Maker:
Ask Me of things to come
concerning My sons,
and you shall commit to Me the work of My hands.
I have made the earth
and created man on it.
I, even My hands, have stretched out the heavens,
and I have ordained all their host.
I have raised him up in righteousness,
and I will direct all his ways;
he shall build My city,
and he shall let My captives go,
neither for price nor reward,
says the Lord of Hosts.

Isaiah 45:11-13

Thus says Jehovah, that is the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) translated as Lord. He testifies He has made the Earth. All this was spoken by the Lord of Hosts (Jehovah of Hosts.) That’s the military title of Jesus Christ. He is Jesus, the Son of God, and He is God.

It is like everything is pointing to the beginning. It might just be beneficial to check it out.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:1

I assume most are familiar with this verse. What many may not know are the not-so-secret things hidden just behind the translation into English. Here is the verse in transliterated Hebrew.

Bereshit bara Elohim et hashamayim ve’et ha’aretz

I tend to be a bit nerdy. I’m no Hebrew scholar. But I’m certain many see the word Elohim. It is well known as one of the names of God.

It is that two-letter word et, which is not translated into any English Bibles. There is much controversy over what the ‘word’ means. I am one that does not think it is a word, but is more of am identifying signature.

See, that two-letter et, in the Hebrew alphabet is also two letters, those being the aleph and the tav. The significance of those two letters is like the signature. It is as if it is literally saying, “In the beginning created God Aleph-Tav.”

The aleph is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The tav is the last letter. Has God spoken not in secret from the beginning?

Yes!

Jesus the Son, is the Creator God. The same Elohim Aleph-Tav Alpha-Omega Who spoke creation to be. The same God Who died and lives forevermore!

Spirit, Soul, and Body

On By TimIn Genesis 01, Resurrection, Triune God1 Comment

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Genesis 1:26–27

It is hardly hidden that we are made in the image of God. We also know God to be triune in nature, Father, Son, and Spirit. It is not accepted in some circles that we humans are also three-part beings. Is that true?

Here is what Paul said of the matter:

May the very God of peace sanctify you completely. And I pray to God that your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

Paul tells us that a human is spirit, soul, and body. In my study, I prefer the Biblical principal that a matter is established by two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15.) Considering that, let’s see if we can find another.

Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.

Genesis 2:7

From the very first moment Adam was created, a body was fashioned from the dust of the ground. Then God breathed spirit into that body. And finally, Adam became a living soul. It’s the three parts that make one whole.

For another witness, we have this:

For the word of God is alive, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

This text is a nexus for many other ideas. Especially when considering the immediate context. The verse that follows this hints at hyperspaces. That is another discussion for another time.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that all things are revealed to God. There is no hiding things from Him. His Word is powerful and can divide the spirit and the soul. There are two of the parts of the human. The third comes in the next phrase, where it also divided the joints and marrow. That is most definitely speaking of the physical body. This text indicates three parts.

There is another distinction in this verse, I think. The spirit and the soul seem to be containerized. That is, the body is the house for the soul and the spirit.

Body Shelters Spirit and Soul

We know that if our earthly house, this tent, were to be destroyed, we have an eternal building of God in the heavens, a house not made with hands. In this one we groan, earnestly desiring to be sheltered with our house which is from heaven. Thus being sheltered, we shall not be found unsheltered. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we wish to be unclothed, but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal might be swallowed up by life. Now He who has created us for this very thing is God, who also has given to us the guarantee of the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:1–5

It is of utmost importance to understand this concept. It goes right to the very heart of what it is to be Christian. Our current physical body is a home to our spirit and soul. Paul says when we die, leaving this shelter behind, we have an everlasting one in heaven awaiting us.

Because sin has been sequestered to the flesh, we are burdened by it. And our physical bodies show the wear and tear of sin. Our spirits and souls do not. How can that be?

Paul calls that the circumcision made without hands.

In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which also you were raised with Him through the faith of the power of God, who has raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has resurrected together with Him, having forgiven you all sins. He blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us and contrary to us, and He took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed authorities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them by the cross.

Colossians 2:11–15

Paul uses the metaphor of circumcision to explain what happened when we got saved plain to understand. Listen, when someone is circumcised, what is cut away is not reattached, it doesn’t grow back again, and it is removed to be discarded.

It’s like what happens to us Christians. The flesh part is separated from the other parts, the soul and the spirit. That is why Paul says that a believer is a new creation.

So from now on we do not regard anyone according to the flesh. Yes, though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet we do not regard Him as such from now on. Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away. Look, all things have become new.

2 Corinthians 5:16–17

We don’t regard any believer according to the flesh… Yes, we know them physically, but we don’t know them by their foibles. E we don’t identify our brothers and sisters by their sins. They, like us, are new creations.

It’s as if there is some kind of out-of-this-world surgery done… My mind screams Hebrews 4:13. It is the Word of God that divides joints and marrow. The Word is Jesus! He saves, and that is why the resurrection is so much better than the cross.

It’s the Resurrection

So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. So it is written, “The first man Adam was made a living soul.” The last Adam was made a life-giving spirit.

1 Corinthians 15:42–45

We see clearly that something about the natural physical body we have now cannot get to heaven. It is the natural man the Bible speaks of, the part that cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God.

Just as we see in Jesus’ life, the ugliness of the cross…. What came before… Does not compare with the glory of resurrection. Just as we do baptism, we provide a picture of this very thing. Baptism proclaims resurrection.

We are going to put off these bodies. They don’t go to heaven.

However, that which is spiritual is not first, but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second man was the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so are those who are of dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. As we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

1 Corinthians 15:46–49

At creation, God formed a body for Adam. We all share the genes given to Adam. They are part of the physical body in this physical world. We bare the image of the man of dust, and we bare the image of the One True God.

But there’s a problem.

Now this I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption.

1 Corinthians 15:50

In the Twinkling of an Eye

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible will put on incorruption, and this mortal will put on immortality.

1 Corinthians 15:51–53

I know some of you may roll your eyes at talk of rapture. It seems to be controversial. But Paul called it our blessed hope. And that is what it is. We move around burdened by these bodies marked up with sin. Our spirit and soul long to be free of what besets us.

Most importantly, we see from the very beginning of why these things are so. If they weren’t, who really could be saved?

One last point, the angels in heaven are not made like we are. They do not have these three-part bodies. They do not bear the image of God. They have no Kinsman to redeem. That is why they tremble.

But you and I do.

Stars: As Military and Messengers

On By TimIn Angels, Genesis 016 Comments

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be signs to indicate seasons, and days, and years. Let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth.” And it was so. God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also.

Genesis 1:14–16

There is a thought rattling around my brain. It has it’s anchor here in the Bible. I thought I could coax it all out in one post, but alas… It will be in a series of I do not know how many.

God made the heavens. He set the sun and the moon to indicate seasons, days, and years. He made the stars also. That is the point from which to launch.

Kokabim

The Hebrew word for stars here is kokabim. It is the plural of the Hebrew word kokab. The total amount of stars created is never given, but it is referenced as a number that is uncountable (Genesis 22:17.) Yet God counts them and calls them all by name.

He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by their names.

Psalm 147:4

This is witnessed again for us in the prophets.

To whom then will you liken Me, that I should be equal to him? says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things, who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, by the greatness of His might and the strength of His power; not one of them is missing.

Isaiah 40:25–26

We have these two portions of Scripture that testify to the vast number of stars. We also see that stars are personified; they are given names. The prophet Isaiah reveals to us a different way to describe stars. He uses the Hebrew word tsaba, which is translated into English as host. To understand, the word host is a word that primarily refers to many persons assembled and appointed for military purposes.

The word tsaba was introduced in Genesis.

So the heavens and the earth, and all their hosts, were finished.

Genesis 2:1

The Bible speaks to many references of the host of heaven, like a favorite in 1 Samuel 17:45 where David names Him Jehovah Tsaba (LORD of Hosts.) David is speaking of God) as the Lord of Hosts.

A Star from Jacob

The Bible also likens Jesus to a star in a prophecy given by Balaam.

“I will see him, but not now; I will behold him, but not near; a star will come out of Jacob, and a scepter will rise out of Israel, and will crush the borderlands of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. Edom will be a possession, and Seir, a possession of its enemies, while Israel does valiantly. One out of Jacob shall have dominion, and destroy the survivors of the city.”

Numbers 24:17–19

At His first advent, the birth of Jesus was heralded by His star.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, wise men came from the east to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who was born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

Matthew 2:1–2

When they heard the king, they departed. And the star which they saw in the east went before them until it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great excitement. And when they came into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary, His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew 2:9–11

I had to add that because of the phrase when they saw the star, it occurs to me that it may be a reference to Jesus as well as the star in the sky. That is my speculation… But back on topic.

The prophecy given by Balaam has a parallel with the one given by John.

I saw heaven opened. And there was a white horse. He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written, that no one knows but He Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood. His name is called The Word of God. The armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Out of His mouth proceeds a sharp sword, with which He may strike the nations. “He shall rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury and wrath of God the Almighty. On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Revelation 19:11–16

I jumped a bit too far ahead but wanted to establish this firmly. The kokabim are an army led by none other than Jesus Christ. They were created at the beginning. There is another term associated with stars that we must also consider. That is sons of God. Tuck all these things into your memory banks, as you will need them to understand the next posts.

Kokabim as Messengers

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding. Who has determined its measurements, if you know? Or who has stretched the line upon it? To what are its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Job 38:4–7

I have not begun to exhaust the references of stars as angels. I will leave that for your own endeavors. As it is the glory of kings to search out a matter. Yet amongst all those different references to stars as persons with a military calling, they also serve another purpose.

“Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven candlesticks which you saw are the seven churches.

Revelation 1:19–20

This is not the first reference of the Greek word that is translated to angel here. It serves the purpose of connecting stars to angels. The Greek word translated to star is then translated in other places as messenger. Not only are stars the host of heaven, but they also serve as messengers doing God’s bidding.

It is not then too difficult to connect some dots. Let us consider what is said in this psalm:

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night declares knowledge. There is no speech and there are no words; their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them has He set a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; it rejoices as a strong man to run a race. Its going forth is from one end of the heavens, and its circuit extends to the other end, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

Psalm 19:1–6

The firmament is the home of the stars. It shows His handiwork and proclaims a message. It is one not spoken aloud. Note the change to the personal pronoun. Their line goes to all the Earth. In other words, the messengers of heaven are telling us something not using words. Something that is available to the entire Earth.

Paul quoted part of this psalm. In it he provides another witness to the personhood of the messengers.

But I say, have they not heard? Yes, indeed:
“Their voice went into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”

Romans 10:18

What is fascinating is that in this portion of Romans, Paul quotes a few other passages from the Tanakh. These passages are somewhat prophetic in nature as they speak of future truth that is revealed by Paul.

But I say, did Israel not know? First, Moses says:
“I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.”
And Isaiah is very bold and says:
“I was found by those who did not seek Me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for Me.”
But to Israel He says:
“All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

Romans 10:19–21

Your Bible ought to reference the source to all those quotes. They would be easy to find. I will leave that for those inclined.

Who has believed us, and to whom has the lovingkindness of the Lord been revealed?

That is an apparent lament by these messengers. What they have conveyed is not believed. Now, I know that this idea might upset some of what y’all know. Clearly, Paul connects the messengers to the host of heaven, the angelic beings.

Is it not by hearing that brings belief and hearing is by the word of God?

But from stars (angels?)

Messengers to Witness

The charge by Paul is that Israel ought to have known. Because they did not know, they rejected their expected King. Now the ministry of God is being taken away from Israel and given to a different body. That is the beginning of Romans 9 and continues in Romans 10 and 11. It is the body of Christ, who are not a nation. And the people that speak the truth will be taken as foolish by Israel.

God revealed Himself to those that did not seek or ask for God, He revealed Himself to Gentiles as was hidden in the prophets. The arm of the Lord revealed is His mercy in that He has stretched out His hands to a disobedient and contrary people. If that is not lovingkindness, I do not know what that is.

And yes, angels were (and are) always involved.

Which of the prophets have your fathers not persecuted? They have even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the disposition of angels, but have not kept it.”

Acts 7:52–53

How was the Law sent?

Therefore we should be more attentive to what we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken by angels was true, and every sin and disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation, which was first declared by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him? God also bore them witness with signs and wonders and diverse miracles and with gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His own will.

Hebrews 2:1–4

The inspired commentary from the New Testament tells us that angels are indeed the messengers to men. The stars are messengers. It is their witness that is plain to the whole earth. There are scholars who think that the position of the stars purposely relates a witness of the Gospel and the history of creation. This information was compiled long ago in an easily accessible work called Mazzaroth or The Constellations by Frances Rolleston.

Now the foundation has been laid. Taking what we now have gleaned, let us look back to the Tanakh.

Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who turn the many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.

Daniel 12:3

Do you see the witness of the heavenly host, and what it conveys?

Do you consider yourself as one of those wise?

Is it not the stars who turn the many to righteousness?

The many is synechdoche. It is used to mean Israel, and by extension in the New Testament… God’s people.

It is not my intent to shame any people. It is to show that the God portrayed in the Tanakh is the loving God of the New Testament. When I read the Tanakh, the tender mercies of God are everywhere. Just reading this song of Moses moves me to tears. It demonstrates the great mercies our Lord has extended to Israel. And by them, to all of us foolish Gentiles who believe Him, He calls wise.

He said: The LORD came from Sinai and rose up from Seir to them; He shone forth from Mount Paran, and He came with ten thousands of holy ones; from His right hand went a fiery law for them. Surely, He loved the people; all His holy ones are in Your hand, and they sit down at Your feet; everyone receives Your words.

Deuteronomy 33:2–3

God Set Them in Place

On By TimIn Creation, Genesis 01Leave a comment

Then God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,

Genesis 1:17 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

God set or placed them in the expanse. This is the Hebrew word yitten. The meaning of the word conveys something that is given but can also be used as something loaned with an expectation of interest.

This speaks to the anthropic principle of creation. Things are made just so for human existence. This includes the sun, moon, and stars. They are set, just so, in place.

Furthermore, the possible idea of these being loaned is intriguing. We know there will be no more use for the sun, not as it seems to be purposed for.

The city has no need of sun or moon to shine in it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

Revelation 21:23 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The purpose of the sun is temporary much like a loan. It is also expected to give interest. This it does, serving as the main energy source for the plants that would be the food for humans and other creatures.

In this way, the creation is giving us an agrarian typology of planting for harvest. We’ve read the texts that a seed is expected to produce more than it is when planted. In the same way, the sun is expected to be the impetus to produce a harvest of souls.

I looked. And there was a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like a Son of Man, having on his head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. Then another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap. The time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” So He who sat on the cloud thrust His sickle on the earth, and the earth was harvested.

Revelation 14:14–16 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

God Made the Expanse Separating the Waters

On By TimIn Creation, Genesis 011 Comment

Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” So God made the expanse and separated the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse. And it was so. God called the expanse Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.

Genesis 1:6–8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The word translated to English expanse is the Hebrew word raqia. Much is said about the word, and what it means. I have something, too.

The word raqia is used as the barrier between waters above and waters below. The word raqia is relatively rare in the Old Testament. It means something firm which is why it is translated to the firmament in some versions and heavens in others. My preferred uses expanse.

Now with that in mind, I am going to speculate a bit. My speculations will be about the meanings conveyed by the words translated as water and expanse (firmament, heavens.) The science is real and conveyed as best I understand it.

I like to think of the word waters as a description of something like a fluid of super-plasmas. Plasmas are an ordered superheated state of matter that consists of ions (nuclei) and electrons. In this state, electrons are free of their orbits around the atom. Plasmas are superabundant in the universe and comprise almost all visible matter.

All four (known) fundamental states of matter are found in the expanse. Even now, I cannot help but to speak of an unsettling aspect of plasmas that may clue us to something fantastic. Every particle in plasmas ‘knows’ what every other particle is doing. It is like ‘something’ (wink-wink) is in control. With that, perhaps waters describe a super state of plasmas that is non-local and has a closer interface to eternity. Perhaps this idea of waters is a super-dimensional reality just beyond our perception.

And as I sit pondering this, it may be that the idea of firmament is not a hard dome as is often asserted. Perhaps it is a domain where matter is cooled to a ‘firmer’ (harder) and ‘timier’ states like gas, liquid and solid. Matter takes on the physical (four-dimensional spacetime) properties of our universe. It is an expanse where electromagnetic matter interactions can happen.

What I mean by matter interactions are the things we can experience such as our three dimensional bodies moving around a four-dimensional spacetime. Couple that with the senses we use to interact; sight, touch, hearing, for example.

As plasmas cool, the electrons resume orbit around the nucleus of the atom. It means they become more ordered.

For some perspective on the forces that come to bear on ‘cooled’ plasmas that become lower fundamental states of matter, you will need a correct idea of an atom. The one you learned in school is quaint and wholly insufficient. Take the simplest atom hydrogen. It has one proton and one electron. To make the model easy enough to understand, let’s say the nucleus is the size of the pinhead. The electron that orbits the nucleus is about 100 yards away. Think of the forces needed to keep two pinheads interacting separated by a football field.

What that entails is that our perception of solid matter like a block of wood has far more empty space than actual particles. The solidity we perceive is due primarily to electrical forces.

Which leads some to say that our reality is more like a simulation.

It is satisfying to ponder. I hope I made the science easy enough to grasp. I thank you for your indulgence in my feeling free enough to post like this. How presumptive of me to expect you to read this far. Seriously… Thank you. My goal is to get you to not be afraid of trying to understand science.

The latest science seems to parallel the things in Genesis. There is a Creator just beyond our perception. It seems like a plausible, even reasonable explanation of greater domains where He is more perceptible.

God bless you.

One Day is Day One

On By TimIn Creation, Genesis 01Leave a comment

God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

Genesis 1:5 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It occurs to me that there are many foundational ideas present in Genesis, as there are even in this verse. I hate to use the word first, but it is probably best suited.

This is the first mention of the naming of the light period of the day as day, and the dark period of the day as night. The Hebrew word for the day is yom. It is used twice in the verse as is reflected in the English.

Two other words are introduced, erev and boker, the Hebrew words for evening and morning. These have another intriguing usage. Erev generally reflects the idea of mixing, when things become less discernible just as in twilight. Boker connotes the idea of dawn when things become more discernible. Boker also means a splitting of the day. In the Biblical reckoning, dawn is midday.

God is teaching us that these things combined make one day. That is what the Hebrew literally says, one day. It is misleading to think the Bible calls it the first day.

When we read Genesis, most of us are familiar with the idea that there is the first day of creation followed by a short series of more creation days. Consider the idea of reading this without any prior assumptions, like another day following. Also think that there was not a day before, either. What God has done is show us the defining characteristics of one day… Dark and light… Evening and morning. These are the first occurrences of each, and the pair makes one day.

The Hebrew word that is translated as first is echad. It is a cardinal number. It also can serve as an ordinal number. One and two are considered cardinal numbers. First and second are ordinal numbers. Interestingly, echad can be translated one and it can be translated first. It is a seeming peculiarity this one day is day one and the first day.

One day as day one, as there is no second day yet to make this a first day. It is just one day as day one. It is only when the second day comes that the word can mean first.

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

Genesis 2:24 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

As we venture forward, the idea introduced earlier is reinforced.

God draws the woman from the man. He takes a part of the man to fashion the helpmate. In this verse are also the first mentions of the words father and mother as well as spouse. The man and wife become one flesh.

There is that Hebrew word echad again. And it is used to again to unify a plurality. Just as evening and morning make one (day,) man and wife make one (flesh.)

And we will roll backward just a bit.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:1 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This is fascinating. God introduces Himself. But underlying the proper English grammar here is Hebrew that doesn’t follow grammar.

The word translated to God is elohim in Hebrew. It is a plural word used as a singular. Hebrew plurals are different. There are two types of plural, the dual plural which uses a suffix of -ayim, and the more-than-two plural which uses the suffix -im.

The singular is eloha.

The dual-plural is elohayim.

The more-than-two plural is elohim.

There is already this idea of a plurality being one. We clearly see the usage of the word echad to convey a unity of parts.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God. The Lord is one!

Deuteronomy 6:4 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This is the Shema. It is the central affirmation of faith for Israelis. It is also a spoken affirmation of God.

This will show the blazing truth.

Note back to the Shema, let’s substitute some Hebrew words for the English.

Hear, O Israel: YHWH is our Elohim. YHWH is Echad!

When Were Angels Created?

On By TimIn Angels, Creation, Genesis 012 Comments

When it comes to when angels were created… The questions arise. I think it is easy to trust that the Bible can provide evidence.

Suddenly there was with the angel a company of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

Luke 2:13 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 18:10 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels of God in heaven.

Matthew 22:30 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven, and threw them to the earth. The dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as He was born.

Revelation 12:4 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

I think that is more than sufficient evidence as to where the abode of angels is. Their abode is in heaven. That is their domain.

Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” So God made the expanse and separated the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse. And it was so. God called the expanse Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.

Genesis 1:6–8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The domain for angels didn’t exist until the second day of creation.

Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Declare, if you have understanding. Who has determined its measurements, if you know?
Or who has stretched the line upon it?
To what are its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Job 38:4–7 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The angels were in existence before the foundations of the earth were laid.

Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. Then God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:9–10 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

There is more than sufficient evidence to satisfy the question.

What say you?

A Child is Born, a Son is Given

On By TimIn Creation, Daily Walk, Encouragement, Eternal Security, Freedom, Heaven, Isaiah 09, Jesus, Prophecy, Reconciliation, Resurrection, Salvation, The CrossLeave a comment

Here’s something that has occupied the spare processing cycles in my brain when the screen saver is active. In other words, there is something that I have been considering deeply.

For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder. And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This is one of those memory verses I learned from years of listening to Handel’s Messiah. In that first line is a distinction that is easy to overlook. A child is born and a son is given. It is a prophetic announcement of the birth of Jesus. A child would be born to us humans. Not just any child, but a Son would be given. That Son would be unique. This announcement clearly shows that Jesus is God, not that He came from God.

In a discussion on the Godhead I just perused, I again pondered this idea. This God-Man… This Son, or Word, that was given to us. The interesting part of the conversation prompted me to write my thoughts down and share them.

The discussion was over the Son or Word and whether saying He is begotten by God somehow darkens the idea of His existence from “eternity past.” It’s precisely what derives from the idea of being begotten means, and sort of considers the hypostatic union. That is the union of God and man that is Jesus.

I want to give a foundation from here. This is what God says of Himself in the final chapters of the Old Testament.

For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.

Malachi 3:6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no change or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.

James 1:17–18 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

From these two witnesses, it is clear that God doesn’t change. The writer of Hebrews adds to this.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

Hebrews 13:8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

How does a God Who doesn’t change incarnate?

It sort of intrigues me that the God Who clearly says He is the same and doesn’t change somehow put on humanity.

It is precisely that idea that I think is too simplistic of an explanation. If He puts on humanity, He changes. Or maybe that doesn’t count as a change.

God has a Unique Relationship with Humans

I think it goes back to something foundational.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Genesis 1:26–27 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This idea of God making us in His image. What is that, really?

I know one of my favorite Bible nerds says we are imagers. Meaning we get to make God known to others in unique ways.

What if this image is something profound like it is something that is really a part of God?

No… I am not drifting off into pantheism or panentheism.

I’m not saying we are God. Yet there is something more here. When you read the Bible, you’re going to read some things that you might be tempted to glance over.

Beloved, now are we children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

1 John 3:2 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

There is something so spectacular reserved for humanity. It cannot be put into words.

For those whom He foreknew, He predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He justified, He also glorified.

Romans 8:29–30 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It’s this imager-thing. We are made in His image initially and will be conformed to His image. There are other texts that iterate these ideas like being a joint-heir with Jesus.

Jesus even spoke of this in some of His last words before the crucifixion.

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You. May they also be one in Us, that the world may believe that You have sent Me. I have given them the glory which You gave Me, that they may be one even as We are one: I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfect in unity, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

John 17:20–23— Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

I don’t think we can even begin to ponder what is in store for each of us who loves Jesus.

Why a Kinsman?

On By TimIn Atonement, Daily Walk, Genesis 01, Jesus, Love, Matthew 23, ReconciliationLeave a comment

I was asked a question today.

“If GOD is all-loving then why can’t he just forgive Satan?”

Now that is a deep question! That requires lots of heavy study. I am going to try to sum it up succinctly, but will not show all of its points, nor develop them fully.

Let’s start at the beginning.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Genesis 1:26–27 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This might be easily passed over, but humanity bears the image of God. Built into the creation of humanity is a “kinsman” relation to God Himself. The only creatures mentioned as being created in the image of God are humans.

With that foundation of humanity, we must then understand who or what ha shatan is. Jesus personifies the idea. And from Old Testament Scriptures we can understand a few things about the person involved. (By person I don’t limit the term to human persons.)

From those Old Testament Scriptures we infer his name and his office. He was the best of the best of creation.

At the first advent of Jesus, He taught a principle:

He who is greatest among you shall be your servant. For he who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Matthew 23:11–12 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

If we understand the implications of what Jesus taught, then this adversary—the epitome of creation— would have to serve creatures made of dirt. Instead he rebelled wanting the creatures to serve him. Using the idea of a serpent to take dominion of this world from the humans because humans were to have dominion over even serpents… Required a kinsman Redeemer to restore humanity to God’s order.

That’s the basis, and requires lots of digging into the Bible.

That said, let’s look at some of the things God said.

“Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched-out arm and with great judgments.

Exodus 6:6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This is just one of many places where God put Himself in the place of Redeemer. Because humans are image-bearers of God, there is a kinsman relationship.

There is also another principle that was taught in the covenant given to Israel. It is summed up for us here:

For when Moses had taught every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded you to keep.” Likewise he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of worship with blood. And according to the law almost everything must be cleansed with blood; without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Hebrews 9:19–22 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Now… Blood is required. Not any blood, but that of a Kinsman. That’s Jesus. God Himself taking humanity on Himself that He could shed His blood for His kin—image-bearers.

We know that humans can be redeemed. And by extension human dominion can be redeemed.

But… Spirits do not have blood. Angels do not have a kinsman to redeem.

The way I think of it, as humans were necessary to quash the rebellion.