Monthly Archives: June 2017

Justified freely

Romans 3:23-24
[23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

The redemption that is in Christ Jesus, unfolds towards man in different stages. To those who first trusted in Christ, the body of Christ, and then all things in heaven and on earth, Eph 1:9-12. There is different doctrinal beliefs in today’s Christian world concerning salvation and being justified by grace. In order to understand what it means to be justified, the word itself should be defined, and then we will see what the scriptures themselves have to say about being justified. The following definition of the Greek word translated into the English word justified is from a Online Bible Greek Lexicon.

1344 δικαιοω dikaioo dik-ah-yo’-o

from 1342; TDNT-2:211,168; {See TDNT 192 } v

AV-justify 37, be freed 1, be righteous 1, justifier 1; 40

1) to render righteous or such he ought to be
2) to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered
3) to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be

The primary definition of render, from a online dictionary is “to cause (someone or something) to be in a specified condition”. That specified condition is righteousness, which is the goal of justification. Since we are justified and saved by grace, it would profit us to read a few sets of scriptures that specify how the justification process by grace takes place. But before we do that, a simple analogy might help in understanding the roles faith and grace play in salvation. Faith is the vehicle that transports us to our salvation, and grace is the gasoline that powers the vehicle and does the work in justifying the ungodly man.

Titus 2:11-12
[11] For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [12] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Titus 3:4-7
[4] But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, [5] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; [6] Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; [7] That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

These two sets of scriptures describe in a large part how we are justified by grace. It is God working within our hearts, purifying our heart by faith with the abundant washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Ghost, that is instrumental in helping to justify us. In conjunction with God working on us externally, judging and correcting our errant behaviors. More on this a little later on. Many Christian denominations view justification as positional, but I also see the scriptures describing it as a process. Since the end target of being justified by grace is righteousness, then how can justification be simply “positional”. A scripture that makes this apparent is in Galatians.

Galatians 5:5
[5] For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

If being justified is positional and based solely on believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, then there would be no reason to have to wait through the Spirit for the hope of righteousness by faith. Now don’t misunderstand me, being justified can only take place by being in Christ Jesus, so in that regard it is positional. But justification is a process a believer goes through to render him righteous.

Galatians 2:16
[16] Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified

The following two sets of verses put faith and belief in the proper perspective in regards to salvation.

Romans 1:16
[16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

1 Peter 1:5
[5] Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

I urge you all, in your study of scripture, to look at the definitions of the various Greek prepositions used in many scriptures describing being justified, salvation and the role grace plays in salvation. Let us look at a definition for the Greek preposition, G1519, that is translated into the English word “unto” in the KJV bible version in the above verses.

Thayer’s Definition
1. into, unto, to, towards, for, among

Many Christians are confused, I know I was in times past, about differentiating between the works of the law and grace. To understand the difference between works of the law and grace, in regards to being justified, and how it impacts the body of Christ, one has to examine the scriptures and see what they say concerning the law and what they say concerning grace and justification by grace. First, one should keep in mind, that when the Apostles mentioned the law and grace, they were often contrasting the two ways of life, in a absolute sense, in regards to how a individual would seek to be justified before God. A scripture that demonstrates this is in Acts.

Acts 13:39-41
[39] And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. [40] Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; [41] Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

The work that is being worked, is God’s work in justifying the ungodly man throughout his life, using His Spirit in the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, and chastising and disciplining a man. The element of time is often and easily overlooked when reading these scriptures. Largely due to the fact that the Aorist verb tense in the Greek is most often translated to the past tense. When in fact Aorist is said to mean without horizon, this verb tense is explained more fully by experts more qualified than I, in a upcoming article on this site. In the before mentioned verse, when it states that a man is not justified by the works of the law, one should keep in mind that the law was a way of life, that a person who lived under the law, observed their whole life. If one sinned, then he had to offer a sacrifice. So attempting to be justified under the law was very much so, a way of life, revolving around animal sacrifice. A fruitless way of life, in that the inner nature of the man observing the law was never really changed. Never the less, a Jew was bound to observe and live under the law. When we are called to Christ we are justified by, or throughout a life of faith. When a man works not, , and believes that God justifies the ungodly, through His grace, then his faith in God is counted for righteousness.

Romans 4:5
[5] But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

The Greek word and definition for the word counted or accredited for righteousness in the above verse.

“G3049 logizomai log-id’-zom-ahee

middle voice from G3056;

to take an inventory, i.e. estimate (literally or figuratively).

Might this in fact be similar to making payments on a item placed in a layaway plan? Every time a payment is made, it is counted or accredited towards the item that is being purchased. Once the total balance is paid, then the item in layaway is given to you. So to, believing throughout your life that God justifies the ungodly, that belief is counted, inventoried or accredited towards righteousness until the redemption of the purchased possession, . Now remember, it is written that we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. Even though a man’s faith is counted for or towards righteousness in God’s eyes, because the man believes God, and takes Him at His word. That does not mean that work is not being done throughout the man’s entire life, justifying him. Only the work that is being done, is done by God rather than by the man himself. And the work God is doing in a man’s life, is due to His grace, that changes a man to the point where the man is righteous in God’s eyes. This fact is crucial in understanding justification. The end result of the body of Christ being justified, is righteousness and to be found in Christ at the first resurrection.

Philippians 3:9-11
[9] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: [10] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; [11] If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

The man is not doing the work himself, but GOD IS!. God does in fact, by His grace, justify the ungodly. Let us see another one of the ways grace justifies a believer.

One aspect of the grace of God, is that through grace, we are being taught/disciplined/chastised. The Strong’s definition of the Greek word that is translated “teaching” in this verse is as follows:

_____Strongs_____

G3811 paideuo pahee-dyoo’-o

from G3816;

to train up a child, i.e. educate, or (by implication), discipline (by punishment).

KJV: chasten(-ise), instruct, learn, teach.

This same Greek word is used in the 12th chapter of Hebrews as the English word “chastening”. It is important to understand the distinctions Apostle Paul was making between a man, by his own effort, being justified or trying to be justified by works of the law, in contrast to God justifying a man through His grace. First off, Paul makes it clear that no flesh can be justified by the deeds of the law and that by the law comes the knowledge of sin:

Romans 3:20
[20] Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Furthermore the flesh is too weak to observe the law and that is why God sent His son as a sacrifice to redeem us from the law and to condemn sin in the flesh.

Romans 8:3
[3] For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

But all this does not somehow happen by magic, instantaneously, due to grace because we believe. God Himself is the one justifying us, and He does it freely, using His grace during our lives. Which teaches us and chastises us on the one hand and then being washed in the regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, on the other hand. But notice, God is freely doing this work in our lives. Another aspect misunderstood by many is the word freely, and what it implies. Let’s take a look at that verse in Romans:

Romans 3:24
[24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

You have to go to a couple verses later in Romans to understand what is being said in the previous verse, in context with the point Paul is making.

Romans 4:4-5
[4] Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. [5] But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

God wants a person to realize that He is the one that is justifying the ungodly man. Man, oh how he loves the work of his own hands. So much so it borders on idolatry. But God wants to make it clear, that none of our work entitles us or deserves the wage of salvation. God is freely justifying us by His grace, working in our lives, to make us capable for our inheritance, . God is doing the work. Have you ever heard the old saying, “If you want something done right, do it yourself.” Well, that is what God is doing. God is going to mature each and every one of us. God is building the house with Jesus Christ. The sacrifice of Jesus redeemed us from the law and now God is freely justifying us by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Jesus is the one who paid the price to redeem us from the law and reconcile us to God, and God is the one who does the work in justifying and sanctifying us, using His Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:11
[11] And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

We are God’s workmanship in Christ Jesus, , unto good works. These good works are not of ourselves but of God. A scripture that demonstrates this explicitly is , the latter part of verse 13 should read ” both to will and to work his good pleasure”.

Philippines 2:12-13
[12] Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. [13] For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

In Hebrews the 10th chapter, God Himself states what it is He is doing in the new covenant:

Hebrews 10:16-17
[16] This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; [17] And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

God is going to put His laws into our hearts and in our minds. Justification takes place in our hearts because the heart is what motivates our behavior. That is why Apostle Peter stated that our hearts are purified by faith, Acts 15:9. God sent Jesus to bless us by turning us away from our iniquities, Acts 3:25-26. God alone does the work in justifying the ungodly man freely by grace, and that grace is only available through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. In the book of Galatians, Paul uses a metaphor, that if you examine closely and in conjunction with what I have just wrote, is quite illuminating.

Galatians 3:24
[24] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

The meaning for the Greek word translated as “schoolmaster” in the Authorized Version, means a slave whose duty was to escort a child to school. This slave had little or no part in educating the child. Neither does the law, but when we are called to be in the body of Christ, we are in school. God’s school. Where He uses His word and His Spirit to discipline us and teach us and purity our hearts. All growth, all knowledge gained, all fruit of the Spirit, are all acquired through experience. You learn from a teacher or from books and even learn from the school of hard knocks. A school which I attended for many years and still sign up for a course every now and again. But you only learn through some form of experiencing. So that is why Paul was so concerned with the Galatian church observing the law. Because man’s effort to justify himself, by his own work, his own effort, frustrates the grace of God, and the Spirit of God.

Galatians 2:21
[20] I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. [21] I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Galatians 3:3
[3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Kept by the power of God through faith

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1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

If you do a word study on the word “kept” in the above verse, you will find it means to garrison, keep with a guard, protect or to hem in, so one cannot escape. The same Greek word is used in 2Co 11:32 and Ga 3:23. From past experience faith has protected me, encouraged me and kept/prevented me from walking away from so great a salvation. God be thanked. In light of being justified by grace it is essential that God garrisons us by faith so we can complete the justification process. All knowledge gained, all fruit cultivated and all righteousness acquired, so as to be found qualified for the first resurrection in Jesus Christ, can only come about by God teaching us, disciplining us, throughout our life in tandem with the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Ghost. The faith in Christ Jesus is given as a gift, Eph 2:8, and keeps those in the body of Christ from walking away from the process of God justifying that ungodly person. Well over a decade ago God chastised me sternly. I have a spinal cord injury. I was paralyzed for 10 days in 1984 following a car accident. Since 1995 I have been living with moderate to severe chronic pain. I was at a real low point. Pain dictated and controlled my life. I spent many hours in bed reading the scriptures from a small vest pocket New Testament, and due to much disinformation on the Internet concerning the validity of the bible and scriptures in general, and my inability to understand sound doctrine, I had come to the point where I was seriously questioning my faith. Due to the constant pain in my life, I was in great despair. I questioned God and His plan of salvation in Jesus Christ, and in my mind the truth of the scriptures seemed questionable. I was at the point where I was going to give up on the notion of being saved, because of the dire state of my life. It troubled me all that day. That night the presence of the Holy Spirit moved on me and I felt God’s stern presence. I was standing by the bed I spend so much time in due to weakness and pain and tucked my head into my shoulder and leaned against the wall, feeling like a five year old child being corrected by my Father. Two scripture verse came strongly to my mind.

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The word “I” of course was not in the Philippians verse. I was being admonished for questioning my belief in Jesus Christ. This type of strong presence of the Spirit had come on me one other time. In 1984, following a bad car accident and ten days of paralysis, I had a extremely hard and painful time walking again. It took me three months of intensive physical therapy in the hospital to be able to walk a hundred feet on my own. There was questions of whether I could go home with or with out a wheel chair. Whether a ramp would have to be built into my house. I was in a similar state of mind at that time also. And the presence of God moved on me and spoke a scripture in my head.

He 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

God’s powerful presence at these difficult times in my life galvanized me and gave me strength and patience to endure a difficult situation for many years thereafter. These instances in my life have shown me how the power of God through faith keeps us unto salvation. The chastising and stern correction in my life four or five years ago also brings these verses to mind.

He 10:36 & 38 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Living by faith is a lifetime occupation and if you read the 11th chapter of Hebrews you find mention of many of the old testament saints of God who demonstrated faith and although certain moments of their lives were highlighted to demonstrate their faith, it should be understood that they lived a life of faith. We are also to live a life of faith, faith in the one who saves us by his gospel, Mt 4:23, the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

Ro 1:16-17 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

The trial or testing of our faith , 1Pe 1:7, tests the trustworthiness and growth of our faith. Jesus learned obedience by the things he suffered, Heb 5:8. It seems obvious to me we need to learn obedience in the same manner. Obedience under fire, so to speak, is the only real determination of the trustworthiness of our godly character. The amazing thing about all the pain and suffering I have had in my life is that I have more faith now than I had 30 years ago. This refining of faith by fire and the acquisition of the other fruit of the Spirit, is the work of God in our lives. And the power of God through faith keeps us from walking away until God has accomplished His purpose in us. In Colossians, Paul gives thanks to the Father who makes us competent to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, Col 1:12. Having faith and believing that God will accomplish in us, that which He promised since the foundation of the world, Eph 1:4 , He 4:3, can be quite difficult in the midst of grievous trials but God gives the necessary grace to overcome and grow towards maturity as children of God. The power of God keeps us by faith unto salvation, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.

Ga 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Propitiation for sins

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Ro 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Many Christians do not have a clear understanding of Jesus as a propitiatory sacrifice, in context with the body of Christ. They view the death of Jesus on the cross as a sin offering, as being a substitute payment for mans sin. But his death on the cross was more of a inclusionary sacrifice in regards to mankind than a subsitutionary sacrifice of atonement. The primary definition from the Strong’s Concordance for the word propitiation used in Ro 3:25, is pasted below.

“a) used of the cover of the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies, which was sprinkled with the blood of the expiatory victim on the annual day of atonement (this rite signifying that the life of the people, the loss of which they had merited by their sins, was offered to God in the blood as the life of the victim, and that God by this ceremony was appeased and their sins expiated); hence the lid of expiation, the propitiatory”

The sprinkling of his blood represented OUR blood being shed in payment for the penalties of OUR sin, and as such, God is appeased. That is the true nature and meaning of a sin sacrifice. We are reconciled to God, through the body of his, Jesus, flesh through death, Col 1:21-22, precisely for that reason. More than a few times in the New Testament we are told that we are crucified with Christ, Ga 2:20, Ro 6:6. Are we not baptized into his death by water baptism, Ro 6:3? These are not just figures of speech but a firm reality. The tendency to put the sacrifice and offerings for sin by Jesus Christ largely in the past tense, and as a substitution for us, negates the power of the cross in our lives. Let us take a look at a literal translation of Ro 6:6 & 7.

Ro 6:6-7 knowing this, that our old humanity was crucified together with Him, that the body of Sin may be nullified, for us by no means to be still slaving for Sin,
7 for one who dies has been justified from Sin. CLV

I bought a Concordant Literal New Testament years ago and it does a good job indicating various verb tenses and verb functions used in the Koine Greek manuscripts. The verb tense for “dies” in verse 7, is a Act form of verb, which means the verb action is incomplete with action going on.

That is more consistent with the preceding verse 6, since it states the body of sin may be nullified/destroyed, which is indicative of a incomplete and on going process. This is also consistent with 1Pe 4:1-2. In order to understand Jesus and his offerings for sin, it is necessary to understand the component pieces. Two offerings, the offering of his blood in heaven as our blood and our death in payment for our past sins and the offering of his body on the altar outside the camp, as our body of sinful flesh, Heb 13:11. The simplicity of it is overwhelming. That is why Paul said the following to the Corinthian church.

1Co 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

In the rest of this article we are going to concern ourselves with the offering of his blood as mentioned in Ro 3:25. In a coming article the offering of his body, which most of the Christian world is largely ignorant of. The offering of his blood, as a propitiation for sin, gives those of us who have faith in his blood, remission of sins past, due to the fact that the death of Jesus and the offering of his blood represents our death in payment for the penalties associated for our sin. Remember the wages of sin is death, Ro 6:23. Since Jesus was sinless, Heb 7:26, he hardly needed to be a sin sacrifice for himself. All of this is very important to us in everyday life, in regard to the salvation process. Due to the offering of his blood as a propitiatory offering, we have remission of sins past, Ro 3:25, and we also have faith that if we confess our sins through Christ, God is faithful to forgive our sins, 1Jn 1:9. It is important to confess our sins because if we do not, we face judgment. The easiest way to understand all of this, is to look at it from God’s perspective, in light of His purpose in Christ, Eph 1:10-11. His will and purpose is to have Jesus Christ and the body of Christ, rule and reign with Jesus during the thousand year Kingdom of God, Re 20:6, from the nation Israel. God is using Jesus Christ, and his sacrifice and offerings, to purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

In order to prepare a people zealous of good works for the age to come, God has to be able to pass judgment on them. Judgment should largely be looked at as ultimately a corrective process by God, correcting that which is wrong in us. Jesus is our advocate and Satan is the accuser or prosecuting agent. All this is taking place before the throne of grace in real time. This is all very legalistic and God plays this all out, according to His rules. In order to comply with His rule that it is appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgment.

Hebrews 9:27 KJVS
[27] And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

God sent Jesus Christ as a propitiatory sacrifice for us. Simply put, God views us as dead in Christ, even though we are living, because Jesus is our propitiatory sacrifice, and in God’s view, we are dead. Thus liable for judgment.

2Co 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

2Ti 2:11 [It is] a faithful saying: For if we be dead with [him], we shall also live with [him].

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Read carefully 1Co 11:20-32 and see what the members of that church were doing and why Paul was correcting them. When the church gathered together for the love feast, some members were eating and drinking more bread and wine than they should have. When the time came to serve communion, there was not enough bread and wine to go around. Those that did not receive wine or bread, when the breaking of the bread and wine took place, which was representative of the body and blood of Christ, were shamed because they did not receive bread and or wine. That inconsiderate behavior towards fellow members of the body of Christ opened those individuals up for judgment, 1 Co 11:20-22, 29. 30, 31. Largely because they failed to understand who the Lord’s body is, 1 Co 11:29. The Lord’s body is fellow members of the body of Christ, 1 Co 10:17. It is necessary for the Lord to judge us and discipline us in order that He can correct and mature us and see that we possess the necessary fruit of righteousness, fruit of the Spirit to reign with Jesus Christ, He 12:6-11, Col 1:12. Let us look at verse 1Co 11:32, as there is so much doctrine to be learned from the verse.

1Co 11:32 But, being brought under judgment, by the Lord, are we being disciplined, lest, with the world, we should be condemned. Rotherham

The word “teaching” in Titus 2:12 and word “chasteneth” in Hebrews 12:6 & 7 were translated from the same Greek word, G3811 paideuo, which appears in 1Co 11:32, as the word “chastened”. Part of the Strong’s Concordance definition of this Greek word, is “to train up a child, i.e. educate, or (by implication), discipline (by punishment), chastening, (of the evils with which God visits men for their amendment”. Judgement is being disciplined by God so as to train mankind. We are brought under judgment by God when we do not judge ourselves and essentially force God’s hand to judge us, in light of correcting us and instilling righteousness. Always keep in mind that only the body of Christ is being judged at this time due to being dead with Christ. But even still, the problem of sin in the flesh, has not been fully dealt with. God can put His laws in our heart and minds and use His grace to teach/chastise us, to deny ungodly lusts. We can be forgiven our sins of the past and be judged when we sin against the body of Christ, in our day to day lives. But the old man, the sin nature, still resides within ourselves to plague us, Ro 7:17. That is where the sin sacrifice altar, which is outside the camp, comes into play. The place where sanctification takes place.

We have a altar

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He 13:10-13 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

The altar that is mentioned in He 13:10, is the altar where the carcasses of the animals used as sin offerings, were burned outside the camp of Israel, Exodus 29:14, Leviticus 4:11-12. According to Ernest L. Martin, in his book The Secrets of Golgotha, the sin sacrifice altar, where the bodies of the sin sacrifices were burned to ash, was very near where Jesus was crucified. http://www.askelm.com/golgotha/gol001.htm It was located east of the temple, outside the camp of Israel. The encampment of the tribes of Israel, in the wilderness, was arranged in a circular pattern around the tabernacle. There was a specific area encircling the tabernacle and the encamped 12 tribes and that area was consider clean. Anything considered unclean, such as the body of the sin sacrifice, was burned outside the designated “clean” camp area of Israel. This also held true for the temple of Jerusalem. The Eastern wall of the temple was lower than the other temple walls in order that the entrance to the holy of hollies was visible from that altar, which was on the Mount of Olives. In the sacrifice of the red heifer, the high priest needed to be able to look directly to the entrance of the Sanctuary as he sprinkled the blood during that sacrifice. The lower Eastern wall also allowed God to view the sacrifices on that altar and allowed him to watch the crucifixion of Jesus. It was strictly taboo for anyone in Israel to eat flesh from the body of the sin sacrifice, whose blood was brought into the holy place, and it was also against Mosaic law to drink blood, Le 6:30 and Le 17:12. John the Baptist publicly proclaimed Jesus as the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, Jn 1:29 and Jn 1:36. And yet not much later in time, Jesus proclaimed that his disciples needed to eat his flesh and drink his blood, so that in his words, they would “dwelleth in me, and I in him.”, Jn 6:56. Is it any wonder that he lost many disciples on that day, Jn 6:66, because what Jesus was suggesting, was repugnant and taboo to the Jewish laws and cultural morality of the day. The spiritual significance of this altar cannot be, but is quite often, overlooked. The offering of Jesus Christ as a sin offering is inclusive in regards to his body, the church, which is the body of Christ, He 2:11, He 10:5. It is not a past tense event, it is a aorist tense event. Aorist is also known as the Greek indefinite tense. As a reminder, aorist means “without horizon”. It helps to view the sacrifice and the work of salvation by Jesus Christ from this perspective of having no horizon and indefinite in regards to verb tense and time. The offering of the body of Christ for sin, in regards to the corporate body of Christ being sanctified, is not bound by past, present or future as is resides in all three. The individual members of the body of Christ have been and are being conformed to the image of Christ by God, and this has been taking place for nearly 2,000 years. It is ongoing, and will be ongoing in the future until the work is accomplished. It is quite difficult for the English language to describe this, lacking a indefinite verb tense. But the span of time covered, and our participation in this process emerges from the scriptures and a good bible translation helps. More than a few years ago I bought a Concordant Literal New Testament. One of the unique features of this translation is that it has different punctuation marks, placed before various verbs, that denote different verb tenses and verb forms. This bible has a short description of the verb forms and tenses and the following descriptions I give, are paraphrased from the information from within this bible. There are rare times when you have a combined verb form which the translator labels a Fact- State form. These verbs are designated with a small -o before the verbs as they appear in this bible. This denotes that the verb has two combined forms, Fact and State verb form. Fact verb forms are indefinite in regards to time and when conveying abstract ideas they express timeless truth. A Fact form is the Greek indefinite or aorist tense. State forms of verbs, denote a completed form that give the state resulting from an action. So a Fact-State form would be a completed form that is indefinite as regards to time. Now to see this in action.

He 9:14 how much rather shall the blood of Christ, Who, through the eonian spirit -o offers Himself flawless to God, be cleansing your conscience from dead works to be offering divine service to the living and true God? CLV
He 10:12-13 Yet This One, when -o offering one sacrifice for sins, is seated to a finality at the right hand of God,
13 waiting furthermore till His enemies may be placed as a footstool for His feet.

In both of these sets of verses from the epistle of Hebrews, “offers” and “offering” are both a Fact-State verb form and that sheds much light on the sacrifice of Jesus and the offering of his blood and body. The sin nature of the corporate body of Christ, the church, is being destroyed/sanctified, Ro 6:6, He 10:10, as a result of the offering of the body of Christ, once for all. This offering is indefinite in regards to time and is going on presently, because we are the Lords body, Heb 2:11, Eph 5:30. That is why it says to be cleansing your conscience from dead works to be offering divine service to God. Our works means nothing in regards to being justified and sanctified because Jesus, by the offering of his blood and his body, purges our sins and destroys our sin nature. Thus presenting his corporate self, the body of Christ, flawless to God. So in He 9:14 where it states that through the Spirit, Jesus offers Himself flawless to God, you should view it as a completed action and yet at the same time, a on going process. Does this mean that Jesus was and still is offering up his body, the body of Christ, flawless to God? And that the offering up of the Gentiles mentioned in Ro 15:16 is a part of that offering? It certainly seems so to me. But see the difficulties one has in regards to English verb tenses, specifically the past tense, in even trying to convey this! In He 10:5 the body prepared for him, is the body of Christ and the whole 10th chapter of Hebrews which follows, explains how the last verse of Hebrews the 9th chapter will be accomplished. That being so, that verse makes a good deal of more sense when viewed from the aorist tense perspective.

He 9:28 thus Christ also, being offered once for the bearing of the sins of many, will be seen a second time, by those awaiting Him, apart from sin, for salvation, through faith.

The faith of the son of God, is to have faith that his sacrifice and the offering of his blood and offering of his body is the mechanism that forgives sin and destroys our sin nature, Ro 6:6. For a good deal of time I was intent on understanding the offering of Jesus and his body as a sin offering, by rigidly trying to compare it by type and shadow to the Old Testament day of atonement sacrifice for sin. This effort was quite frustrating, as the two events by type and shadow, did not precisely line up in the scriptures. But God be thanked when I finally understood the implications of Hebrews 10:1.

He 10:1 ¶ For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

You cannot expect the sacrifice and offerings of Jesus Christ to be exact, by type and shadow, to the law and its sacrifices. One glaring difference is that the New Testament sacrifices, in Christ, are better sacrifices, He 9:23. And the sacrifices offered up to God which are in Christ, 1Pe 2:5, Ro 15:16, are spiritual sacrifices. One needs to look at what the New Testament scriptures have to say regarding this matter. Since being made perfect or mature, is the goal of the sin offering, that is a good word to take a closer look at. Below is a Strong’s Concordance definition of the Greek word translated as “perfect” from a bible interlinear I download from the following URL. http://www.scripture4all.org/download/download_ISA3.php

G5048 teleioo tel-i-o’-o

from G5046;

to complete, i.e. (literally) accomplish, or (figuratively) consummate (in character).

KJV: consecrate, finish, fulfil, make) perfect.

I like the “consummate (in character)” part of the definition because as sinners, that is what we are sorely lacking, character, godly character. But never fear God is equal to the task at hand and will remedy that situation. As stated in previous articles, Jesus death and his blood as a propitiation, it is as if his death and his blood sprinkled, is our death and our blood sprinkled as payment for our sins. That is evident in He 7:26,

He 7:26-27 For such a chief priest did become us — kind, harmless, undefiled, separate from the sinners, and become higher than the heavens,
27 who hath no necessity daily, as the chief priests, first for his own sins to offer up sacrifice, then for those of the people; for this he did once, having offered up himself; Young’s

He became us or represented us in the crucifixion so that his death for sin would be viewed by God as our death, as payment for our past sins. But it goes even deeper than that because being dead in Christ, allows us to be judged by God, He 9:27, in order to eradicate sin in our life and make us perfect/mature so Christ can appear a second time without sin unto salvation, He 9:28, 10:1. He became us, in that sacrifice/death on the cross, so that in him we might be justified and sanctified in order to become the righteousness of God in him.

2Co 5:21 For the One not knowing sin, He makes to be a sin offering for our sakes that we may be becoming God’s righteousness in Him. CLV

Another strong image of what the sin offering is accomplishing is when Jesus said “It is finished”, Jn 19:30, and the veil in the temple of Jerusalem was split from top to bottom, Mr 15:38. Couple that with the scriptures below and you will notice what was done.

Hebrews 10:19-23 KJVS
[19] Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, [20] By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; [21] And having an high priest over the house of God; [22] Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. [23] Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

By offering his blood as a propitiation for sins past and his body/flesh as a sin offering, Jesus opened the way for the removeal of the body of Christ’s sin and sin natures. His flesh is our flesh and the corporate body of sin is being destroyed on a figurative and yet real altar that is outside the camp, He 13:10-13. So yes indeed, “it is finished”. But even though the salvation work of the cross is finished, it still needs to be worked out and worked into our flesh, 1 Pe 4:1&2. It is hard to make a clear distinction between being justified and being sanctified in regards to the changes being made in us, outside of just reading the definition of the two words. The definition for justified is to render just or innocent. The definition of sanctify is to make holy. But of late I am starting to view being justified as taking place in the heart and being sanctified as the slow destruction of the sin nature in us. We are sanctified by the offering of the body of Christ once for all, He 10:10, which destroys the sin nature in us, Ro 6:6. God is ultimately going to save all men, 1Ti 4:10 and that will entail all men being justified, but for those who first trusted in Christ, Eph 1:11-12, He has promised a inheritance, and those that are to receive that inheritance, are being sanctified, which has to do with the altar outside the camp.

He 13:12-13 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

The meaning of verse 13 is somewhat elusive, but some clarity results when looking at the definition of the word “reproach”.

Strong’s Concordance-G36791) a reproach
a) such as Christ suffered, for the cause of God, from his enemies.

So what was the cause of God that Christ suffered and died for? He became sin for us who knew no sin, that we might become the righteousness of God in him, 2 Co 5:21. The insidious nature of many Christian theologies of the various denominations that are present in this world, is that they undermine God’s work in our lives. They look at the work of the cross as a past tense action by Jesus Christ, and then, in some fashion, go about to establish their own righteousness with the law and laws of their own. Very much like Israel of the flesh.

Romans 10:2-3 KJVS
[2] For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. [3] For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

We are to go without the camp and bear Jesus’s approach. We are that body of sin that he died for, we individually have a sin nature that needs to be destroyed. That can only happen by submitting ourselves to the righteousness of God. I honestly don’t know how to properly interpret the words to go without the camp and bear his reproach. Obviously the Jewish religious authorities rejected Jesus as messiah, as they were ordained by God to do, Acts 2:23. But it goes much deeper than that, the religious authorities in Israel turned a religious system, the law, that was initially a punishment for transgression into a hypocritical and posturing system of men that used the system for their own enrichment. Not only monetarily but also in regards to prestige and standing in their society. How much of this is true today with the thousands of different churches, small fellowships and splinter groups in the Christian church, I will let it up to the reader to decide. But to me the whole point of being told to going out the camp to that altar, is for us to realize we have a sin nature that needs to be destroyed, Ro 6:6. And that any actions we take toward establishing our own righteousness are futile. The altar outside the camp in the Old Testament, was a place where the carcass of the animals whose blood was taken into the holy place for sin, was burned. It was also a place where the carcasses of the various sin sacrifice animals slayed by the Levite priests were burned. Those ashes were used for purification and to sanctify, He 9:13. Which is a intriguing type and shadow in its own right, of the good things that are to come. I worked 14 years in the meat packing industry and can assure you that when a animal is dead, you have a carcass to deal with in some fashion or another. The law was not a exact type and shadow of the good things to come, He 10:1. So there is no real physical body on a literal altar being burning to ashes in regards to Jesus being a sin offering for the body of Christ. But you have a spiritual body and it is the collective body of sinful flesh, the sin nature of the body of Christ, which is presently being destroyed on that spiritual altar, outside the camp, before God. Romans 12:1 tells us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service. The Greek word for service, G2999, appears in He 9:1&6 describing the service the Levite priest preformed in the worldly sanctuary. One should read the whole 12th chapter of Romans as it offers some excellent guidelines on offering reasonable or logical service to God. Being kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love, is not always easy and grates against our fleshly nature and ego at times. That is exactly what needs to be burned up on the altar outside the camp. The fire of that altar is the trials, suffering and afflictions of life, Mt 3:11, 1Pe 4:12. How a person treats those around themselves while in the midst of these trails can be quite indicative of the flesh that still needs to be destroyed. You can confess sin and be forgiven for sin until the cows come home. You can then take those cows and sacrifice them and then burn their carcass on a sin sacrifice altar, and still the cause of sin, our sin nature, is not being destroyed. The sin nature, flesh, can only be destroyed by incorporation into the body of Christ and becoming dead in him, so that the flesh of the corporate body of Christ might be destroyed, Ro 6:6. When that is complete, then and only then, can that body of Christ become the righteousness of God in him, 2Co 5:21. The simplicity of it is astounding. It follows type and shadow up to a point but not exactly and greatly exceeds what the Old Testament sacrifice and offerings for sin could accomplish. Namely perfection. The law made nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better hope did, Heb 7:19. That hope is Christ in you the hope of glory, which enables us to draw close to God and His throne of grace, Heb 4:16. Both of whom, God and Christ, play their parts in the destruction of the flesh. But just exactly how is this body of sin destroyed?

Mortify the deeds of the body

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Early in the sixth chapter of Romans, Paul states that our old man is crucified with Christ, so that the body of sin might be destroyed, Ro 6:6. Which in my mind leaves the matter of our sin nature, the old man, and the problem of sin in the flesh, unresolved because it is written, “might be destroyed”. Now, that is not the only time in the scriptures where the reader is left up in the air, so to speak, in regards to sin in the flesh being done away with.

He 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto to them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Paul asks in the sixth chapter of Romans if we should continue in sin so grace might abound, Ro 6:1. And also asks if we should sin because we are not under the law but under grace, Ro 6:15. The answer of course is no, but we are still left up in the air in regards to the problem of sin in our lives. Paul then, in the next chapter poises the problem of sin in the flesh, by describing the insidious nature of sin in the flesh. That in fact, sin has a mind of its’ own.

Ro 7:18-20 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Thankfully, in the eighth chapter of Romans, Paul gives the sinner some relief from the problematical nature of sin in the flesh, and a sinner’s worry concerning it.

Ro 8:1 ¶ There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The reason for this is that God has provided a process by which the sin nature of the body of Christ will be destroyed. Which is Jesus role as a sin offering.

Ro 8:3-4 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

But even still, the mechanics of exactly how this is all worked out in the flesh, is not made clear. There is a verse in the eighth chapter of Romans that shines some light on how the sin nature in the body of Christ is destroyed, so that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us.

Ro 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

This naturally brings to mind the question of how exactly does the Spirit, with our apparent involvement, mortify the deeds of the body? It is not too much later in the 8th chapter that this question is answered but it took me a good many years to see and understand these verses and their implications.

Ro 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

The following is a definition from Strong’s for the word infirmities.

G769 astheneia as-then’-i-ah

from G772;

feebleness (of mind or body); by implication, malady; morally, frailty.

I would contend that the infirmities or weakness of the flesh that the Spirit is interceding to God in our behalf, in regards to the redemption of our bodies, are largely moral weaknesses. Largely the lusts of the flesh as listed in Ga 5:19-24. But when a person reads the word infirmities, they can naturally assume it means sickness or bodily weakness. No one wants healing of the body more than I do after having lived 30 years with a spinal cord injury. But in the last decade, maybe less, I have been doing much groaning in the Spirit. I didn’t really know what was going on as I never gave it much thought. When chancing upon Ro 8:26 in my daily scripture readings, I thought it to be my ardent desire to be healed that was behind the groaning in the Spirit. The funny thing about scripture is, that as you read the verses, you often feel you know what they mean, when in fact you don’t. Not fully. You always have to read scripture in context, so let us look at a couple verses just before Ro 8:26.

Ro 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Now it comes into focus. The Spirit of God in me has been interceding to God, on my behalf, for the grace to grow in the fruit God wants me to possess, in this age and the one to come. The redemption of our bodies entails our being made righteous and the fruit of righteousness are the fruit of the Spirit. It is through the travail of the difficulties of my life, that I am giving birth within myself, to a new creation. The manifestation of the sons of God, mentioned in Ro 8:19, is the birth of this new creation. This is not a easy process and the analogy of being in childbirth describes it quite well. The pain, suffering and travail are all a necessary part of my godly character development. So by the prompting of the Spirit, I groan within myself quite often. The Spirit is searching my heart and interceding on my behalf for the weakness and even hostile and negative attitudes I posses because of the difficulty of my situation. In short, God is purifying my heart by faith. Now we can fight this or facilitate it. We are told to pray in the Spirit always, Eph 6:18, and to not quench the Spirit. 1Th 5:19, and for good reason. Because, it is by this symbiosis with the Spirit of God, that we mortify the deeds of the flesh. It is also necessary to come before the throne of grace in times of need. If you read He 4:16 in context, you will again see it is talking about infirmities of the flesh, He 4:15, and links them to being tempted, or tested by sin. The word of the Lord is a sharp two edged sword and shows you, the thoughts and intents of your personal heart, and what comes out of our hearts is often what defiles us. These scripture verses in Mark, recording the words of our Lord, and are quite relevant.

Mark 7:20-23 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Galatians 5:19-21 also lists some of the works of the flesh and against these infirmities is what the Spirit of God is interceding to God for, on our behalf. Often times the Spirit moves on me and I pray in the Spirit, in tongues or with groanings which can not be uttered. This whole process was prophesied by John the Baptist, before he first saw Jesus.

Mt 3:11-12 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

The baptism of fire is compared to burning the chaff of wheat at harvest. The chaff, outer covering of the grain, being the flesh and we know that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, 1Co 15:50. Fire is also used to refine silver and gold. In my past I have smelted aluminum at a junk yard. Just before a ingot was poured you would skim the dross off of the top of the liquid aluminum in the furnace. So to, unless one has the dross brought to the surface and removed in the refiners fire, Mal 3:3, by the difficulties of life, he has little value to God in the age to come. Hand in hand with the Spirit mortifying the deeds of the flesh, is also suffering. Because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 1Pe 4:1-2, so that we no longer should live the rest of our time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. In light of the analogy of smelting or refining gold, the fire of the sufferings of life, is what brings the dross, weaknesses and impurities of character, to the surface to be removed from our hearts by God.

Fellowship of his suffering

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Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

There are many scripture verses indicating the need for suffering in order to reign with Jesus Christ, Ro 8:17, 2 Ti 2:12, 1 Pe 4:19, 1 Pe 5:10. Apostle Peter in 1 Pe 4:2 gives the reason why it is necessary. That we no longer live the rest of our lives to the lusts of the flesh, but to the will of God. Paul in Php 3:10, uses the phrase “fellowship of his suffering”, and that suffering is instrumental in being made conformable unto Jesus death. Part of the Strong’s definition for fellowship is “partnership, i.e. (literally) participation”. This in fact, sheds some light on 1 Pe 1:11 .

1 Pe 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

The sufferings of Christ also includes the sufferings of the members of his body, the church.

Romans 8:17 KJVS
[17] And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him , that we may be also glorified together.

1 Pe 4:12 ¶ Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

The Greek word for fellowship G2842, is also translated into the English word “communion”.

1 Co 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

In a previous article I pointed out that the altar outside the camp of Israel, the sin sacrifice altar, is the altar that the body of Christ is to eat/partake of, He 13:10. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ himself said:

Jn 6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

It certainly stands to reason that the members of his body should have communion with the sufferings of Christ, because our Lord himself learned obedience and was made perfect or mature by the things he suffered, He 5:8-9. No one likes to suffer or be chastised but unless a person undergoes these corrections, it does not bring about the peaceable fruit of righteousness, He 12:11. In Hebrews 12:6 it states that God scourges the sons he receives. This suffering is necessary and appointed for us, 1 Th 3:3, 1 Pe 4:19, in order to conform us to the image of Christ, Ro 8:22&23, 29. Paul links the fellowship of his suffering with being made conformable unto Jesus death, Php 3:10. Which is just another way of saying conformed to the image of Christ. In order for the church to grow up to the head, Jesus Christ, Eph 4:15, it is necessary for sufferings to take place by the individual members of the body of Christ before the glory of God can take place on earth, which is the thousand year reign of Jesus Christ, Re 20:6. A somewhat convoluted set of scripture verses in 2 Co 1:3-6 show how that if we share in the sufferings of Christ we also share in the consolation with Christ. Even the word often times used for patience in the scriptures, longsuffering, directly indicates the need to endure sufferings. We need to have longsuffering with the trials, tribulations, temptations and afflictions in life and most importantly with one another.

1 Co 13:4-5 ¶ Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

A great deal of suffering and self sacrifice is involved with being able to love in this fashion. These sufferings need to be endured, keeping in mind that they are necessary for the manifestation of the sons of God, Ro 8:17-19. So comfort yourselves with these verses. Paul in Philippians 2:1-13 asks us to have mutual love for one another and that the same mind be in us, which was also in Christ Jesus. Jesus humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death on the cross. And then in verse 12, Paul asks that church to obey him and to work out their salvation with fear and trembling.

Php 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. ESV

The not so obvious point being made, is that suffering is a part of the process of working out our salvation. God allows the sufferings that are necessary in order to bring ourselves to the place as having the same mind and fruit of the Spirit as Jesus Christ. Jesus took on the form of humanity in his death on the cross, so that we, the body of Christ, could be made the righteousness of God in him, 2 Co 5:21. Being made the righteousness of God in him, entails we have communion, with the sacrifice and offering of his body, whose body we are, on that altar outside the camp, He 13:10-11. I just ran across a interesting account concerning Apostle Peter. The following account can be found in Fox Book of Martyrs which can be read online.

“Hegesippus saith that Nero sought matter against Peter to put him to death; which, when the people perceived, they entreated Peter with much ado that he would fly the city. Peter, through their importunity at length persuaded, prepared himself to avoid. But, coming to the gate, he saw the Lord Christ come to meet him, to whom he, worshipping, said, “Lord, whither dost Thou go?” To whom He answered and said, “I am come again to be crucified.” By this, Peter, perceiving his suffering to be understood, returned into the city.”

Hegesippus was a Christian chronicler of the early church. The account of what our Lord said to Peter agrees with Jn 17:23, Mat 25:40 and many other verse but also makes clear that not only do we partake of the sufferings of Christ, but also our Lord partakes of our suffering. Enough so that Jesus considers anything done to us is the same as being done to him.

Matthew 25:40 KJVS
[40] And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

If one views the sacrifice and offerings of Jesus Christ for sin, only in the past tense, and endured by Jesus alone, then the power of the cross is absent in our lives. The early church understood the symbolism of animal sacrifice on the various altars and their partaking and being one with those altars, 1 Co 10:18, Jew and pagan alike. Until you understand Christ in you the hope of glory. Until you understand that a seed has to fall in the ground, your flesh, and die in order to bring forth fruit. Until you have communion with the sacrificed body of Christ on the altar outside the camp of Israel, He 13:10-11, in a living way, Ro 12:1, by dying to the flesh. Until you see that your participation in the sufferings of the Christ is necessary for the sin nature in you to be destroyed, Ro 6:6-7. Then you are blind to the realities of God’s plan for the salvation of mankind through the cross.

2Co 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Often times, well after the fact, I see something that needs to be added to an article. More often than I like, I see on YouTube videos where the the claim will be made that believers don’t have to be perfect. Which is contrary to scripture.

Hebrews 10:12-18 KJVSQ
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; [13] From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. [14] For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. [15] Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, [16] This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; [17] And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. [18] Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Very long time ago, I ran into the following scripture that puzzled me.

Romans 15:16 KJ21
that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the Gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

In time, I realized since there is no more offering for sin , then the offering up of the Gentiles can only be in Christ.

Hebrews 2:11 KJ21
For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of One, for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
John 17:23 KJVS
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Also a long, long time ago, I worked on the crew that built the house I was to live in. I learned the practice and value of countersinking a nail. I certainly pale in comparison to the master builder, Apostle Paul.

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 KJ21
According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. [11] For no man can lay another foundation than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Also, in the past, I was a woodworker and used traditional joinery. And the Holy Spirit taught me how to compare spiritual things with spiritual, compare and combine scripture, which Apostle Paul wrote about in the previous chapter. Which, of course, is very similar to woodworking.

1 Corinthians 2:12-13 KJ21
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God. [13] These things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

By the which will we are sanctified

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Hebrews 10:10 KJVS
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

I don’t think there is a chapter in the New Testament which I have read more frequently than the 10th chapter of the book of Hebrews. There are verses in the chapter that are essential in terms of understanding sound doctrine concerning the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross as it pertains to sanctification. Such as the following verse.

Hebrews 10:14 KJVS
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Being sanctified is the same as being perfected or made mature. So we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ. Three chapters later in the book of Hebrews are these verses.

Hebrews 13:9-13 KJVS
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. [10] We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. [11] For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. [12] Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. [13] Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

Some of the chapters in the book of Hebrews draw on symbolism surrounding the day of atonement sacrifice, and apply it to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as our High Priest. The above verses are a prime example. But while trying to draw parallelisms between the two sacrifices one should consider the first few verses in the 10th chapter of Hebrews.

Hebrews 10:1-4 KJVS
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. [2] For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. [3] But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. [4] For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

The New Testament doesn’t come out and write exactly what sanctification is. But it is there if you have been given the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10,12-13 KJVS
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. [10] But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. [12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. [13] Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Definition for the word “comparing” in verse 13.
Thayer’s Definition
1.. to joint together fitly, compound, combine
2. to interpret
3. to compare

So to me comparing spiritual things with spiritual means combining Scripture to come to a deeper understanding. So let’s do just that.

Romans 6:6 KJVS
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Romans 12:1 KJVS
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

We are crucified with Jesus Christ, and we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to the end of which is sanctification. Our bodies of sin or sin nature are on this symbolic altar outside the camp.

Romans 15:16 KJVS
That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

The offering up the Gentiles, is not just a metaphor, it is not just symbolism, but it is a reality of being sanctified and justified in Christ. Because it is due to the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Keep in mind, there’s two offerings on the day of atonement, the offering of blood and offering of the body of the sin sacrifice victim. And our Lord had this to say about his sacrifice.

John 6:56 KJVS
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

And apostle Paul wrote this.

1 Corinthians 10:16-17 KJVS
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? [17] For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

Primary Definition of communion in this verse.

Thayer’s Definition
1. fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse

Having communion with the body and blood of Christ is having a joint participation in his offering of his body.

Hebrews 2:11 KJVS
For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Ephesians 5:30 KJVS
For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
1 Corinthians 12:27 KJVS
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
John 17:23 KJVS
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Which brings me to this.

Hebrews 10:5 KJVS
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

The body that was prepared for him was the body of Christ.

Ephesians 1:4 KJVS
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

All of this does not answer the question of just how exactly does the result of sanctification come about in a believer? The not so obvious answer to that question is through suffering.

1 Peter 4:1-2,12-13 KJVS
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; [2] That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. [12] Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: [13] But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Apostle Paul echoes the same message.

Philippians 3:9-11 KJVS
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: [10] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; [11] If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

The ability to join the above verses together by the Spirit in me, is due to growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Which had a beginning nearly 40 years ago with the reading of this verse.

Colossians 1:24 ESV
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,

When reading this verse years ago I questioned what was lacking in Christ’s afflictions in regard to his church. That one verse did not line up with the theology of Jesus Christ and the cross that I was familiar with at that time. 2 to 3 weeks later I was in a car wreck and I was paralyzed for 10 days. I walked again but it took many of the 39 years of weakness and suffering, reading and studying the scripture to be able to answer that question.

Harden not your heart

Hebrews 3:8-10 KJVS
[8] Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: [9] When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. [10] Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.

Sufferings, trials, afflictions and even temptations are allowed by God in our lives for a reason. In the midst of a grievous trail it is easy to lose sight of that fact. For years the words “Harden not your heart, as in the provocation in the wilderness” echoed in my mind. A incomplete spinal cord injury can be quite painful and frustrating, naturally after 30 years a man can oftentimes become bitter and develop a hard heart. Many a time I have repented of having a hardening and embittered heart towards God. Many a time God has softened and lifted that great weight off my heart by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5. The definition for the Greek word translated as “temptation” in verse 8 is full of meaning in regards of knowing the ways of God.

G3986 peirasmos pi-ras-mos’

from G3985;

a putting to proof (by experiment (of good), experience (of evil), solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implication, adversity.

KJV: temptation, X try.

God is putting to the proof the godly character He is instilling in those of us in the body of Christ. I remember Army boot camp in 1971, a war was going on, and the drill instructors made life very hard for every one involved. They were trying to get raw recruits ready for war. Obedience and discipline was hammered into every man. Not only was the body being brought into shape but a willing and obedient mind also. Back then I was in good shape, as my father worked me like a man since I was a child. I grew up along the Mississippi river, climbing the hills and bluffs, taking long walks in the woods. I could scamper up trees like a monkey. So in boot camp, I could easily do all the drills and physical training, obstacle courses and so on, quite easily. I had a little bit of a attitude, a bit cocky and towards the end of basic training the drill instructors kind of keyed in on me, even taking it to the point of trying to push me into a fight. They wanted to put me in my place, humble me. Even though I had done everything they asked of me and was in good shape, I was not torn down and humbled to the point where I was obedient from what they deemed the proper motivation driving the obedience. This is a apt analogy of what God is doing with justifying and sanctifying the members of the body of Christ. A humble Spirit and contrite heart is not something you can fake, especially with someone who knows the thoughts and intents of the heart, Heb 4:12 . Paul makes a analogy of being a soldier in 2 Timothy.

2 Timothy 2:3-7 KJVS
[3] Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. [4] No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. [5] And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. [6] The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. [7] Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruit. It took awhile for the Lord to give me understanding regarding this verse. The fruit we are to be first in partaking of, are the fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 KJVS
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

We are to perfect or mature the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. God has chosen us to be soldiers in Christ but our warefare is not carnal.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 KJVS
[4] (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) [5] Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

And Paul’s words are still a challenge and call to duty for the body of Christ today. It is not a easy thing bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Especially when we are being tested and tried. It is all about the heart. Those in the wilderness always erred in their hearts and we are warned not to develop a evil heart of unbelief.

Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

We are kept by by the power of God through faith and faith worketh by love, 1Pe 1:5, Ga 5:6. Again, keep in mind that the qualities God is developing in us, are the fruit of the Spirit. Love , joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. These are not the qualities with which the people in this world hold in high esteem but we are not of the world. If you look at the definition for the word “kingdom” as it is used in the New Testament, in regards to the Kingdom of God you will find a interesting fact.

_____Strongs_____

G932 basileia bas-il-i’-ah

from G935;

properly, royalty, i.e. (abstractly) rule, or (concretely) a realm (literally or figuratively).

KJV: kingdom, + reign.

The very first part of the definition is,”properly, royalty, i.e. (abstractly) rule”. The kingdom of God is largely associated with Jesus Christ and those that will rule and reign with him for a thousand years. The members of his body, the body of Christ, are being prepared by God for this task and a good many of the churches in this world have entangled themselves with the affairs of this world, 2Ti 2:4, and have lost sight of this fact. Maybe that is what it means in He 13:12&13, when it says we are to go outside the camp. In the coming age, the age of righteousness, things will be much different, in that those that rule and reign with Christ, will be no longer subject to the lusts of the flesh, as they will have died to the flesh. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh, Ro 8:3. It will not be the same old same old of the last 6 thousand years. Peace, equity and love for God and one another will rule in that 1,000 year long day. It helps if one keeps this in mind when he is being tested, tried and chastised by God.

Hb 12: 11, Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Despise not thou the chastening of the Lord

Hebrews 12:5-8 KJVS
[5] And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: [6] For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. [7] If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? [8] But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

When the Lord chastises you, it can produce varying emotions within you, during and after the fact. Shame, embarrassment and regret at first, and later there can be resentment, anger and bitterness. We are told not to harden our hearts when being tempted or tried earlier on in the book of Hebrews, and cautioned not to let a root of bitterness spring up in us, a few verse later in the 12th chapter of Hebrews, He 3:8-10, 12:15. Keep in mind our hearts are purified by faith, Acts 15: 9, and part of that process entails for us being tried, or put to the proof, by fiery trial, 1Pe 4:12. The peaceable fruit of righteousness, He 12:11, can only come about through chastening by the Lord. When we were reconciled to God by the blood of the cross, we were still, at times, enemies in our mind by wicked works, Col 1:21. But in time God will correct that situation if you continue in the faith and be not removed from the hope of the gospel, Col 1:21-23. It is amazing how many years you can read and study scripture and still come away with new knowledge and timely insight pertaining to yourself, in light of your individual salvation process. I suppose that is why it is called the living word. God scourges the sons he loves and due to the deceitful nature of sin, He 3:13, Ro 7:11, you can receive chastisement many times for the same sin or lack of holiness. A couple times in my life, the small still voice of the Spirit in my head gave a warning, and I either ignored it or did not catch the significance of it at the time. And then payed the consequences for my action. We are exhorted to lay aside the sin that so easily beset us, He 12:1, but not more than four verses later we are told to faint not when we are rebuked by the Lord. It is perplexing at times the struggle we face concerning sin in our lives. Paul tells us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in us to will and to do His good pleasure. To me, sin is the symptom of the underlining true problem God has with man. The hearts of mankind and what their heart’s motivates them to do, Mt 15:19-20. It is easy enough to have a heart overflowing with kindness and love when the sun is shining and everything is going your way. But when trial and difficulty is a part of your daily life it is a entirely different matter. Read the book of Job sometime. I know I have more than a few times trying to find insight on why I have had to suffer as I have. It would profit us to take a closer look at the Greek word and definition for that word which is translated into the English word chasten and its derivatives

Strong’s Number
G3809
Original Word
παιδεία
Transliterated Word
paideia
Phonetic Spelling
pahee-di’-ah
Parts of Speech
Noun Feminine
Definition
1. the whole training and education of children (which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose now commands and admonitions, now reproof and punishment) It also includes the training and care of the body
2. whatever in adults also cultivates the soul, esp. by correcting mistakes and curbing passions.
a. instruction which aims at increasing virtue
b. chastisement, chastening, (of the evils with which God visits men for their amendment)

The very last part of the definition jumped out at me a week or so ago. Odd that I noticed it now, but not so odd in light of a recent evil visited on me for my amendment. It would appear from the book of Job, that God doesn’t directly visit evil on a man but uses Satan, in his role as the adversary, to do so. And the evils visited on us are due to our being drawn away and enticed by our own lusts.

James 1:12-14 KJVS
[12] Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. [13] Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: [14] But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Keep in mind the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. The longer you are a child of God and continue to grow into maturity. The more knowledge you attain, the less latitude your are given in regards to behavior and feelings in your heart. You reach a point where you begin to comprehend fully these two verses mentioned previously.

Philippians 2:12-13 KJVS
[12] Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. [13] For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

The trouble is, A person really has little power over themselves to generate a life that is pleasing to God. We are God’s workmanship in Christ Jesus. Our works of righteousness mean nothing and attempting to justify ourselves by observing the law and laws of religious organizations, using our own strength, actually makes us fallen from grace, Ga 5:4. Remember by grace we are taught, chastised and disciplined by God, Titus 2:12. The Greek word teaching in Titus 2:12 is G3809 whose Strong’s Concordance information is pasted just above in the article. If you have the time it would do you well to look up the verses in which that word is used in the New Testament. You can only learn true obedience and submission to God’s will through having been put to the proof, tested and tried, through suffering, afflictions, tribulations and perhaps even persecutions. The analogy the Marine Corps used in a commercial years ago, of a sword being forged through fire, hammered and shaped into a sharp, tempered instrument of great beauty and strength, lends itself well to how the body of Christ is being prepared for the age to come. But the weapons of our warfare are not carnal.

2 Co 10:3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. NIV

This war, a significant part of which is against our own flesh, can ultimately only be won by obedience to the will of God in our lives. Suffering, due to being scourged by our Father in heaven, is part of how God changes us into the new creature in Christ. So of late, I try and keep in mind the exhortation in Hebrews, and admonishment in Corinthians.

Hebrews 12:5-6 KJVS
[5] And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: [6] For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 KJVS
[12] Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. [13] There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

I have often looked at the previous verse for meaning and a hope for escape. I have suffered due a spinal cord injury for over 30 years, and at the beginning of this suffering, was encouraged by the Holy Ghost with this verse.

Hebrews 11:1 KJVS
[1] Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

At the time I thought that if I had enough faith I would be healed. And I am being healed but not in the way I even slightly envisioned 30 years ago. We are being blessed by God, by Him sending His son to turn us away from our iniquities, Acts 3:25&26. In order to understand He 11:1, the verse needs to be read in context. The 11th chapter of Hebrews gives examples of the Old Testament saints who demonstrated faith and the last several verses in chapter 11 and first verse of chapter 12 puts the whole 11th chapter in context.

Hebrews 11:36-40 KJVS
[36] And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: [37] They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; [38] (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. [39] And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: [40] God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Hebrews 12:1 KJVS
[1] Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us , and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

So how exactly are we to lay aside that sin that so easily besets us? A few verse later provides a answer to the question and offers this advice which brings us full circle.

Longsuffering of our Lord is salvation

2 Peter 3:15-17 KJVS
[15] And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; [16] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. [17] Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

Apostle Peter was recognized as head of the early church, our Lord personally instructed Peter to feed his sheep, Jn 21:17. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that some of the last verses he penned in the inspired word of God was used to endorse apostle Paul’s epistles. In verse 15 Peter repeats what Paul wrote in the first epistle of Timothy.

1 Timothy 1:15-16 KJVS
[15] This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. [16] Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Apostle Peter by repeating that the longsuffering of the Lord is salvation, Mt. 18:16 KJVS, establishes the importance of that statement written by Paul in regards to how we should view salvation. Which is largely overlooked by the present day church. When I first read that verse in the first chapter of Timothy nearly years ago, I knew it was important but I just could not determine in what way. Verse 16 alters the criteria for salvation. I am well acquainted with the New Testament, and from my daily reading and studying the scriptures, I came to see that Paul and the other apostles were given certain timely revelations regarding salvation.

Acts 10:44-47 KJVS
[44] While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. [45] And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. [46] For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, [47] Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

And this.

Acts 19:1-6 KJVS
[1] And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, [2] He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. [3] And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. [4] Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. [5] When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [6] And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is key. There’s two aspects regarding this, many mainline Christian denominations baptize by just a sprinkling of water. Contrary to this.

John 3:23 KJVS
[23] And John also was baptizing in AEnon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

Matthew 3:16 KJVS
[16] And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

Many baptize in the name of the Father the son and the Holy Spirit. But again Peter being the head of the church had this to say.

Acts 2:38-41 KJVS
[38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. [39] For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. [40] And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. [41] Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

The salvation message in the New Testament unfolds at a certain pace. It is a progressive revelation of God’s plan of salvation based on when God inspired the writers of the New Testament to write the Gospels and epistles, and the content that is in them. For example. There’s a lot of information in the book of Romans, but it lacks a complete description of the salvation process. For example in the book of Romans Paul writes we are justified by grace.

Romans 3:24 KJVS
[24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

It is not until the epistle of Titus that he writes aspects of how grace justifies a believer.

Titus 2:11-12 KJVS
[11] For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [12] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Titus 3:4-7 KJVS
[4] But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, [5] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; [6] Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; [7] That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

So you can’t base the salvation message solely on what is written in the epistle of Romans. Or the epistle of James for that matter. Another example. Paul in the 15th chapter of Romans first mentions believers being sanctified.

Romans 15:16 KJVS
[16] That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

Again no information is given as to how a believer is actually sanctified. In the next chapter he briefly mentions the mystery of God, but no actual information about the mystery of God is given outside of what is written in that verse.

Romans 16:25 KJVS
[25] Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

Later on in other epistles more information is added about the mystery of God which is directly related to a believer’s sanctification.

1 Corinthians 2:6-10,16 KJVS
[6] Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: [7] But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: [8] Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. [9] But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. [10] But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. [16] For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Why is that? Because it was necessary for Jesus to die in order to become the comforter or the spirit of Christ so he could indwell the members of his body, the body of Christ. Which is instrumental in sanctifying the members of the body of Christ.

John 17:23 KJVS
[23] I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Hebrews 10:5,10,14 KJVS
[5] Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: [10] By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. [14] For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

The body that was prepared for our Lord was the body of Christ, which was chosen in him before the foundation of the world, Eph 1:4.

Colossians 1:24-27 KJVS
[24] Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: [25] Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; [26] Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: [27] To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

The mystery of God is Christ in you, the hope of glory. And as I explained before sanctification comes from having the indwelling spirit of Christ helping you die to the flesh.

2 Corinthians 4:10 KJVS
[10] Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

“To whom God would make known”, is a important phrase in verse 27. One cannot come to the knowledge regarding what is the riches of the glory of this mystery on their own. I have tried to teach about this mystery and if God does not make this knowledge known to an individual they just don’t get it. They also usually do not see the inheritance we have in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:17-18 KJVS
[17] That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: [18] The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Much later in the book of Revelation we find out we are going to rule and reign with Jesus Christ as priests of God and of Christ for 1000 years, Re 20:4-6.,

Revelation 20:4-6 KJVS
[4] And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. [5] But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. [6] Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

As I have now properly set the stage, it would be a good time to circle back and explore the two sets of scriptures I opened this article with.

To be honest, over the years I’ve looked at what Peter had to say as simply Peter endorsing the statement made by Paul and also endorsing his other epistles.
But it is always a good idea to read any verse in context. A half a dozen or so versus previously, Peter wrote this.

2 Peter 3:7-9 KJVS
[7] But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. [8] But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. [9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

In the early days of the Christian Church, not only Christians, but Jewish authorities and the Jewish population were looking to see an imminent conclusion of the 70 weeks mentioned in Daniel. Christians of course were looking for the return of the Lord and the rapture of the church.

1 Corinthians 7:29,31 ESV
[29] This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, [31] and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

And all the sudden Peter changes that hope that Christians for the return of our Lord by writing 2 Pe 3:7-9. Due to that revaluation apostle Paul prepares the churches in Asia minor for the long haul, by instructing the various churches to appoint bishops and deacons and also addressing other church matters in the epistles of Titus and Timothy.

But I don’t get the overall sense that what Paul writes in 1 Timothy is the same as what Peter writes in 2 Pe 3:7-9. Peter is writing in a overall sense about the body of Christ whereas Paul is writing about himself and individual members of the body of Christ from that point forward.

1 Timothy 1:12-16 KJVS
[12] And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; [13] Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. [14] And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. [15] This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. [16] Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Buttress this by the fact that Peter ends his 2nd epistle by suddenly endorsing Paul’s epistles and agrees with him by writing “the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation”. I think it goes deeper than that. Previously in his first epistle Peter writes this.

1 Peter 4:1-2,12-13 KJVS
[1] Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; [2] That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. [12] Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: [13] But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Partakers of Christ’s sufferings is very similar to what Paul wrote in one of his epistles.

Philippians 3:10 KJVS
[10] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Which brings these verses to mind.

Colossians 1:24 YLT
[24] I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and do fill up the things lacking of the tribulations of the Christ in my flesh for his body, which is the assembly,
Matthew 25:40 KJVS
[40] And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
2 Corinthians 4:10 KJVS
[10] Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
Galatians 2:20 KJVS
[20] I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Does the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation only apply to our Lord, himself or also to every individual member of the body of Christ? I ran across this account a couple years ago that is related to the subject matter at hand. The following account can be found in Fox Book of Martyrs which can be read online.

Hegesippus was a Christian chronicler of the early church. This account of what our Lord said to Peter makes clear to me that not only do we partake of the sufferings of Christ, but also our Lord partakes of our suffering. Enough so that Jesus considers anything done to us as the same as being done to him. The writing of this article gave me a very strong sense of closure in regards to the sense of purpose that I have had in publishing this website. In a very real sense it has brought me full circle to something that happened over 38 years ago. I was boning hams at a meat packing plant second shift. I had been baptized and had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit several years before. Which was a very powerful experience. There is ample time to daydream while doing a job like that. At the time I was spending considerable amount of time studying the scriptures using a hard copy of the Strongs Concordance. Weeks before I had read Php. 3:10 and I found it intriguing and very puzzling. So while I was working that scripture kept rolling through my head when I wasn’t involved in conversation with the workers near me. I had pervasive sin in my life, sexual in nature, and the small still voice of the Holy Spirit was warning me to stop it. But I didn’t stop it, hardhead than I am, largely because of my carnal nature, Ro 7:14. A couple of weeks later while driving at a high rate of speed, listening to hard rock music, I got into a single car accident and broke three vertebrae in my neck each in three places, I was paralyzed for 10 days. I walked again by the grace of God, but the years since have been increasingly difficult for me. Probably in the last decade I have been writing articles for this website. The subject matter in this website was centered around the role suffering plays in being conformed to the image of Christ, Ro 8:29. Writing for me has been increasingly more painful and slow as the condition of my neck has worsened over the years. But while I have been writing this last article, I have gradually been feeling a sense of accomplishing the overall task I have felt driven to do. Hopefully I have finished the course that God has laid out for me, 2 Ti 4:6-8. I am beyond weary of the life I live. I’m pray that God has mercy on me in my distress. May the grace of God be with you all. Luke

As a sidenote, and not directly related to the subject matter of the article, in the course of writing this article I was curious on how many times Paul started a statement by writing “This is a faithful saying”. I was surprised that he use it only four times. Each of which are significant in terms of doctrine.

1 Timothy 1:15 KJVS
[15] This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
1 Timothy 4:9-11 KJVS
[9] This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. [10] For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. [11] These things command and teach.
2 Timothy 2:11-14 KJVS
[11] It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him : [12] If we suffer, we shall also reign with him : if we deny him, he also will deny us: [13] If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. [14] Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
Titus 3:8 KJVS
[8] This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Justified Freely

That we might become the righteousness of God in him.

Monthly Archives: June 2017

Justified freely

Kept by the power of God through faith

Propitiation for sins

We have a altar

Mortify the deeds of the body

Fellowship of his suffering

By the which will we are sanctified

Harden not your heart

Despise not thou the chastening of the Lord

Longsuffering of our Lord is salvation