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ii THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST STEPHEN S. BIKO
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THE UNSEARCHABLE

RICHES OF CHRIST

STEPHEN S. BIKO

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THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST

Copyright © 2018 by Stephen S. Biko

Published in Kenya All rights reserved

Email: [email protected]

No part of this book may be reproduced including photocopying without the permission of the publisher, with the exception of

brief excerpts in magazines, articles, reviews etc.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Scripture quotations marked (Amp) are from the NIV and Amplified Side–by-Side Bible published by Zondervan Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49530 USA

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Dedication

I dedicate this book to the Head of the church, our

LORD JESUS CHRIST and to the wonderful HOLY

SPIRIT who has inspired me to put down in writing, the

unsearchable riches of Christ that introduces in us the

hunger and thirst to understand the breadth and the

depth of Life that has been lavishly bestowed on us.

Jeremiah.30:2

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PREAMBLE

We have come to the “last days” and if we are to have a part in the

new Jerusalem, we must have relentless thirst for the impartation

of the righteousness and holiness of GOD on a practical level. Time

was when decisions could be made over a longer period of time, but

today important decisions are made in split seconds. If our

decisions are to be what we shall want them to be, we must know

of a surety what we believe and why. All of Christ’s unsearchable

riches are the endless spiritual blessings with which the Father has

blessed us in the heavenlies and in Christ (Eph.1:3). The

outstanding aspects of Christ’s riches reveals that the content and

the structure of the gospel of GOD are the incomparably rich Christ

as our righteousness, life and faith for the accomplishment of His

eternal economy. Rom.1:17 is the key to unlocking the treasure

house of Christ. It is the key word concerning the incomparably rich

Christ as the structure and the content of the gospel of GOD. When

we pay attention to the words, righteous, life and faith in Rom.1:17,

The righteous shall have life and live by faith. GOD dispenses

Himself to His chosen people through the procedure of His

righteousness and by the appropriation and substantiation of faith

in His believers.

We who were once mere sinners are now “the righteous” because

we have been justified by GOD (Rom.3:24). Christ is the

righteousness of GOD to us, as the procedure of GOD’s salvation,

to satisfy GOD’s judicial requirements for our justification. Christ

is the life of GOD to us to carry out the purpose of GOD’s salvation

within us so that we can be saved in out spirit by regeneration, in

our souls by transformation, and in our body by glorification.

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Finally, Christ is the faith of GOD to us for our realization and

appropriation of the riches of His Person as our righteousness.

Thus, the unsearchable riches of Christ is the content and structure

as well as the extract and essence of the entire gospel of GOD.

Rom.1:17 is quoted from Habakkuk 2:4. The name Habakkuk

means “embracing” or “clinging to” which shows us in a condensed

form the highest peak of divine revelation. GOD embraced us by

becoming a man for our judicial redemption and reconciliation to

Him so that we might cling to Him and become His children in life

and nature.

“Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that

he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an

appointed time, but at the end it will speak, and it

will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it, because it

will surely come. It will not tarry.” (Hab.2:2-3)

The LORD told Habakkuk to write the vision and render it plainly

on tablets, so that even he who runs by, may read it. On the other

hand, we need to see this great vision and proclaim it to others, so

that even if they are running by, they will not miss it. On the other

hand, when all us see this great vision, we will be burdened to run

and proclaim it. We have to inscribe this vision of the saving Christ

on the tablets of men’s hearts to make them living letters of Christ

for all to read. (2 Cor.3:3). The vision seen by Habakkuk was “for

the appointed time” There was an appointed time for this vision to

be opened up and proclaimed. Today is the appointed time, at the

end of this age, for this vision to be released and proclaimed. We

want to be one with the LORD so that we can be like Paul in his

faithfulness to live and proclaim this vision, thus declaring, “I was

not disobedient to the heavenly vision.” (Acts.26:19).

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Hebrews 10:37 say, “For yet a little while, and he who is coming

will come and will not tarry” This is a quotation from Habakkuk.

Habakkuk says that the vision “is yet for the appointed time” and

that, “it will surely come; it will not delay.” However, in the New

Testament, an addition is made that brings more clarification, it

says, “He who is coming will come and will not tarry.” This is a

reference to the LORD Himself! This vision is actually the person

of Christ.

The vision that Habakkuk saw is also the vision of GOD’s judgment

on mankind (Hab.2:5-20). Under GOD’s judgment, all sinners,

whether Jews or Gentiles, are destined to die. (Rom.6:23). How can

sinners escape GOD’s judgment and be saved eternally? There

must be faith in the LORD Christ and a zeal for the appropriation

of His righteousness in the regenerate soul. There must be a

discovery of the riches of Christ within the spiritual landscape, that

discovery is essentially the wisdom of GOD. This is a New

Testament gospel in an Old Testament prophetic book.

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Contents

Divine Predisposition 1

Wisdom at the Crossway 20

The Revelation of Grace 27

Hypostasis of Christ 55

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1

Divine Predisposition

“Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you - the sure mercies of David.”

- Isa.55:3

he moment of spiritual regeneration is never an end in itself,

but rather a means to an end. There is a niche or a place in

the process of this regeneration that GOD surely intends

every regenerated soul to come to. Within the vast spiritual

landscape, this place is singled out as the most essential ground

that every believer must stand on, to concretize his or her

Christianity. An expedition to this place is punctuated by the call

highlighted in Isaiah.55:3 and GOD starts this conversation by

saying, “HO! Every one that thirsts, come to the waters…” (cf.

Isa.55:1). Then later, He now says, “…and your soul shall live…”

(Isa.55:3). That means our souls shall live if only we come to the

waters, which again underscores the need for thirst. Therefore, this

call implies gravity since in it is the substance of redemption.

T

1

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This call is essentially a solemn invitation to everyone who is

thirsty to come to a place where there is complete satisfaction. That

is, where there is joy unspeakable and full of glory and peace that

surpasses all human understanding. This is where there is

satisfaction on GOD’s favor and salvation, regardless of your

outward condition. David describes the intensity with which we

ought to approach this place. He said, “O GOD, You are my God;

early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs

for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water….to

see Your power and Your glory…” (Ps.63:1-2). David wrote this

psalm while he was in the wilderness of Judah and it paints a grim

picture of a dire situation and he brings the connotation of this dire

situation to himself; he likens the despondent situation of the

wilderness to what his soul experiences. Thence, he says, “…my

soul thirsts for You, my flesh longs for You…” Meaning, he longed

for a spiritual renewal brought about by the power and the glory of

GOD. Again, somewhere he uses the analogy of a desert condition

that is fraught with distress to indicate the intensity of dryness and

thirst in such a manner that, that desert seems to literally cry out

for water so to speak. He uses that condition to describe the

yearning of his soul. He said, “I spread out my hands to You; my

soul longs for You like a thirty land.” (Ps.143:6).

He emphasizes this aspect further when he says, “One thing I

have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: that I may dwell in

the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the

beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple.” (Ps.27:4).

David is here expressing the desire of his poor soul which is to

always dwell in the presence of GOD to behold His beauty.

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In His beauty or delightful loveliness, is deliverance, joy,

righteousness and eternal salvation. When David found this place

in the spiritual landscape, he was so enraptured with the

experience of profound satisfaction that he desired to live there

forever. He could say. “…that I may dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life…” He wanted to stay there forever! Like

David, we must express this thirst, zeal and zest for GOD because

the beauty of the LORD is only realized by it and when our

preoccupation is to learn His ways, that is, to know and partake of

His righteousness and to experience His favor, then this desire to

dwell in His mighty presence will not go unfulfilled. He says,

“Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of

salvation.” (Isa.12:3) and in another place, He reiterates this as,

“For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul

with goodness.” (Ps.107:9).

However, the key point here is “thirst” because this is what

underpins our Christianity such that, without this thirst, we remain

dry. This thirst is not in vain since there is fulfillment and joy in the

end. There is a definite promise attached to it! “Blessed are those

who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be

filled.” (Matt.5:6). Thirst for GOD coveys us to a place of

fulfillment or complete satisfaction in the Holy Spirit. The contrast

of thirst breeds dryness which is typifies death, but GOD

emphasizes that He will pour water only upon who is thirsty. He

says, “For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods

upon the dry ground…” (Isa.44:3). Because man of himself is as

the dry and barren land, GOD promises that He will moisten him

with the waters of His Holy Spirit. Water is the emblem of the Holy

Spirit; as water refreshes, cleanses, and makes the earth fruitful, so

do the Spirit of GOD influences the soul.

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This gift of the Holy Spirit is the great blessing, the plentiful

pouring out of which GOD kept for the latter days. Where GOD

gives His Spirit, He will give all other blessings. Hereby shall be a

great increase of the church. Christ in His capacity as the Wisdom

of GOD says, “…Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will

make my words known to you.” (Prov.1:23). This is a promise

only to those who thirst for Him, who have a zeal for His

righteousness and are on fire for Him.

There was an Ethiopian eunuch, a man of great authority under

Candace queen of the Ethiopians who had come to Jerusalem to

worship the LORD, and while on his chariot returning, he read the

scriptures in the book of Isaiah.53:7-8 but his soul was troubled

because he could not understand what he was reading (cf.

Acts.8:26-39). His soul yearned, was filled with thirst to

understand the part of scripture he read and owing to his thirst, the

Holy Spirit swiftly responded by sending His servant, Philip who

opened up the scriptures for him and he understood and believed

that Jesus Christ is the Son of GOD and was baptized. At this, he

went on his way rejoicing (cf. vs.39). The centre of attention in this

whole event is the fact that if we dare to wholeheartedly desire to

be ever endowed with spiritual things, such that our souls are

marked with unrest until the thirst is quenched. Then GOD will

reveal Himself when He opens up our eyes to perceive and ears to

understand. How can we ever know the ways of GOD without His

Spirit? Dryness pervades a soul that is only complacent with the

born-again experience and is not thirsty for more of GOD. The

Christian is dry but is not aware! He wallows in his worldly success;

he is wealthy and rich, he has all that he would need.

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These are the things that he came to GOD to seek and found

them (cf. Eccl.6:2) but GOD silently brings to his attention the

depth of his deficiency. He says, “I know your works, that you

are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So

then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I

will vomit you out of My mouth.” (Rev.3:15-16). How

heartrending! The LORD Jesus Christ is here drawing out a

comparison of hydrology situation in Laodicea to explain the

spiritual condition of the church there. Hierapolis was a place

nearby to Laodicea and its hot waters were known for its medicinal

qualities, whereas Colossae was known for its cold, pure water.

Laodicea was forced to receive water by aqueduct or a conduit from

other areas such as Hierapolis and by the time that water arrived at

Laodicea, it was lukewarm and provoked nausea. So, the works of

the Laodicean church were as worthless as the city’s lukewarm

water, the church there lacked genuine faith.

When the church there thought that she is one of the bona-fide

or unquestionable beneficiaries of GOD’s blessings, the LORD

startles her with a dispirited report that highlights her spiritual

tepidness which enlists her to be spewed out. In His estimation, the

LORD swiftly prehends her thought process and reports, “Because

you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of

nothing’ - and do not know that you are wretched, miserable,

poor, blind, and naked.” (vs. 17). This latter report characterizes

dryness in a soul, a soul that superficially displays somewhat the

blessings of GOD yet so sick. It is a report that brings to our

attention the element of pretentious spiritual complacency which

typifies a lack of thirst for GOD.

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The LORD nudges the lethargic and complacent soul that has no

spiritual value to awake out of sleep and beckons him to come to

the waters, but He elaborates and puts it this way, “I counsel you

to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich;

and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame

of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes

with eye salve, that you may see.” (vs.18). This is the work of the

Holy Spirit upon a soul that thirsts, so the LORD tenders an ideal

counsel that requires us to resolve to completely surrender to Him.

This invitation radiates the thought expressed in Isa.55:3 where

GOD says, “Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul

shall live…” Again, this implies the LORD’s invitation in John.7:37-

38 in which He said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and

drink. He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, out of

his heart will flow rivers of living water.” This is a call that is

so specific as is suggested by “If” which subordinates a happening

to a condition. That, whenever you thirst, come to Him and your

thirst shall be quenched. Therefore, this is an appeal to only those

who have a spiritual enthusiasm, that is, they who cleave to, trust

in or rely on GOD!

The city of Laodicea was famous for its wealth, its bankers, its

medical school, its popular eye-salve, and its textile industry. This

made the church there to keep abreast with these developments to

denote true blessedness but spiritually, they were poor, blind and

naked. True wealth is found only in GOD’s grace and bestowed by

the Holy Spirit and that bestowal foremost cleanses, and then

refreshes and then brings fruitfulness. Therefore, the LORD’s

counsel in Rev.3:18 presents a dichotomy between true blessedness

and the prevailing ideology in the Laodicean church.

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The church had no spiritual value so the LORD advises them to

buy of Him gold tried in the fire that they may be spiritually rich,

they had no virtue so He implores them to clothe themselves in

white garment to cover the shame of their nakedness and lastly,

they had no vision so He presents to them an opportunity to anoint

their eyes with eye-salve that they may see. He urges the church at

Laodicea and likewise we, to repent of our lack of spiritual

enthusiasm and understanding. The undisputed credibility of our

Christianity lies in our quest for GOD and moreover, we wouldn’t

want to miss out on that life-time opportunity of GOD’s relentless

call to come to the waters. Heedlessness to this call, especially now

that we have found out that GOD is appealing only to those who are

thirsty would right away make us of no spiritual value. But we must

be the poor in spirit who always yearn for GOD. We cannot do

without Him for He is our life and He is all we have. The level of

intensity of that desire for GOD is properly represented in Ps.42:1.

“As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for

You, O God.” These are they who are humble, who rate themselves

insignificant and therefore, submit to the will of GOD.

We must have known that GOD in His elaborate plan of

redemption delivers us from the dwelling place of sin, the realm of

darkness and brings us to His Cross and since He loves to hide (cf.

Isa.45:15), He leaves us there at the Cross and goes beyond to a

place of Wisdom or Truth so that we may seek Him and definitely

find Him as He has promised (cf.Matt.7:7). The LORD Jesus Christ

is neither on the cross nor in the tomb for He is risen and is seated

at the right hand of the Majesty on high (cf. Eph.1:20). The

deliverance from darkness to the cross is intended to create an

opportunity of hunger and thirst in our souls for Him.

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Henceforth, we yearn for more of Him, more of His goodness

and as we press toward the mark for the prize of high calling of

GOD (cf. Phil.3:14), we get deeper into the light and its intensity

upon us increases which gradually wears out sin. Then we become

locked in the place of Wisdom or Truth.

This is the place where the LORD encouraged the new Jewish

converts to come to. He told them, “…If you abide in My word,

you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth,

and the truth shall make you free.” (Jn.8:31-32). This is a place

where the holiness and righteousness of GOD is realized and it

owes its relevance up to date. In our quest for the excellency of the

knowledge of Christ, we must come to such a wonderful place in

our spiritual landscape and experience that glorious joy in the

Spirit and chorus with Paul the apostle saying, “I have been

crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives

in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith

in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

(Gal.2:20). My GOD!

However, the contrast of this is appalling and breeds spiritual

stagnation and worthlessness and the LORD Jesus Christ gave a

slight indication in the second segment of His statement on the

condition of those who have subscribed to this spiritual inactivity.

He said, “He has filled the hungry with good things; and the

rich He has sent away empty.” (Lk.1:53). Those who see their

need of Christ, and are desirous of righteousness and life in Him,

He fills with good things while He sends the self-sufficient away

empty handed without a gift. These are they who are full of

themselves and are self-righteous, who look upon themselves as so

significant that GOD needs them more than they need Him.

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They are the elite in their local churches who demand to be held

in high esteem by most. And often they have a thought that says,

“God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are…” (cf.Lk.18:11).

They are deluded and complacent with their present state of

spirituality who in their own wisdom, believe they are apprehended

of Christ Jesus and are waiting for Him to “rapture” them out of the

world and take them home. Shockingly, the LORD GOD says to

them, “…behold, My servants shall rejoice, but you shall be

ashamed.” (Isa.65:13).

As we hunger and thirst for GOD, He fills us with good things

which essentially implies His bestowal of righteousness and

holiness, and all the other things that accompany this rectitude.

The bestowal of these “good things” in actual fact makes us wise

Christians. They characterize true Christianity unlike the foolish

virgins (cf. Matt.25) who failed to appreciate the overwhelming

need to abide in the Truth but squandered that noble opportunity

in their moments of recklessness and were ashamed in the end. We

grasp these “good things” when we take into account that Christ is

fundamentally our righteousness, sanctification, redemption and

wisdom. Wisdom is the principle thing as it provides the

foundation upon which other works of grace are built. This wisdom

is hidden from man and only revealed to men who are apt to

recognize with gratitude the pricelessness of it.

Therefore, this wisdom is incomparable to the thought of mere

acquisition of intellectual skills, but it is essentially the gaining of

spiritual discernment as demonstrated in the Cross. It is within this

context and with a view to being partakers of Christ Jesus our

LORD, that GOD endears to us this infallible wisdom.

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This is expressed in the theme scripture of this book which is

Isaiah.55:3. “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your

soul shall live…” This is a beckoning to draw close and hear, and

the content of what we are to hear is demonstrated in Prov.2:1-2.

“MY son, if you receive my words, and treasure my

commands within you, so that you incline your ear to

wisdom….” And in another place, it says, “Wisdom calls aloud

outside…” (Prov.1:20). This shows us that attaining to this

wisdom occupies the centre of our Christian call such that without

it, all our other Christian duties are vanity. Our pursuit of eternal

life is meaningless without the valid quest for this wisdom, for this

wisdom is CHRIST HIMSELF!

GOD is therefore asking for our attention or aptness to

understand spiritual truths communicated in the word of GOD.

The spiritual truth that we are all implored to incline unto is the

Wisdom of GOD. “So that you incline your ear to wisdom…”

(Prov.2:2). “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get

wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.”

(Prov.4:7) This means wisdom is the chief, the primary, the main

or the most important element of our spirituality yet it is hidden

from many. (cf. Job.28:21). It is a worthy attribute that must be

sought diligently since it confirms the validity of our Christianity.

Once again, the degree of intensity applied in seeking for wisdom

is properly captured in Prov.2:4-5. “If you seek her as silver, and

search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will

understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of

God.”

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Job wondered where the place of wisdom is. Miners open shafts

in forgotten places and descend into them searching for the

preciousness of the earth. The silver, the gold, the sapphires, the

pearls and even iron! They make channels and passages through

the hard rocks beneath the earth, they dam up the streams that

water may not trickle into the mines and the thing that is hidden in

the deep of darkness, they bring forth to light. However, the

wisdom of GOD is neither in the land of the living nor beneath the

land. How precious is gold which man puts tremendous efforts to

discover? The price of the wisdom of GOD cannot be compared in

value to gold. “Neither gold nor crystal can equal it…”

(Job.28:17). This precious wisdom is the satisfaction of the need

of man, she supplies that peace and fulfillment of the soul. “For

wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may

desire cannot be compared with her.” (Prov.8:11).

However, man have attempted to find a sense of this fulfillment

and solace in material possession and other mundane things only

for his soul to experience emptiness and vanity. Money can provide

you the best mansion but only this wisdom procures you peace

beyond human understanding in it. Money can give you the best

bed but only this wisdom can bring in the much needed and quiet

sleep. Money can get you the best doctors and hospitals in the world

but only this wisdom will grant health. Money will give you that

emotional happiness or joviality but only this wisdom will supply

the real joy which is constant under all conditions, whether

favorable or unfavorable. When David, a man after GOD’s own

heart went beyond and found out the key that unlocks the mystery

that is the wisdom of GOD, he said, “The fear of the LORD is

clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true

and righteous altogether.” (Ps.19:9).

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Then listen to this, he further goes on to surely confirm the

subject of this introduction in verse 10. He says, “More to be

desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; sweeter

also than honey and the honeycomb.” My GOD! And look at

what prophet Jeremiah had to say concerning this, “Your words

were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy

and rejoicing of my heart…” (Jer.15:16). When he found it, his

soul was filled with the joy of the LORD. And prophet Ezekiel

described the pleasantness of the word of life as sweet as honey. He

said, “And He said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly, and fill

your stomach with this scroll that I give you.” So I ate, and it

was in my mouth like honey in sweetness.” (Ezek.3:3).

Whereas David actually found it to be sweeter than honey. That

means that the joy that comes with the revelation of this hidden

wisdom is indescribable. Peter the apostle calls it, “…joy

unspeakable…” (cf. 1 Pet.1:8). It is actually inexpressible!

Therefore, with the kind of intensity man applies in seeking for

silver or gold, it is with that same intensity we ought to apply in our

quest for wisdom. How treasurable is this! Proverbs.2:5 ventilates

or unpacks the concept of this wisdom. “…Then you will

understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.”

Its two major attributes are given out in this verse which are to

understand the fear of GOD and to find the knowledge of GOD.

These two combined gives a brief definition of wisdom but look at

what Job found out. “…Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is

wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.”

(Job.28:28) So Job essentially brings to us that understanding is

to depart from evil or sin. To discern, comprehend and interpret

the will of GOD in the word of God is understanding.

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This tells me that the word of GOD is actually an encoded

message which I must work to decode. That work is expressed by

an attitude which is inclined to decipher the word of GOD and that

which we must decipher in the word of GOD is a treasure that has

been kept hidden from the beginning. This is what the LORD Jesus

Christ came to reveal to those who have the aptness to hear and

submit, consent and understand the will of GOD. The amplified

Bible articulates it this way, “Incline your ear [submit and

consent to the divine will and come to Me; hear, and your soul

will revive…” (Isa.55:3)

Now we begin to understand why the LORD Jesus Christ would

put across His speech in form of parables. The intention was to

target those that are attentive or inclined to hear so that they may

discover the hidden wealth. GOD would say, “GIVE ear, O my

people, to my law: Incline your ears to the words of my

mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark

sayings of old.” (Ps.78:1-2). This surely tells you that we must go

deeper past the apparent worth of the word, to a full understanding

of it. This is so important that GOD had to tell Joshua that, “This

Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you

shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do

according to all that is written in it. For then you will make

your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

(Joshua.1:8).

This was to ensure that Joshua maintains his fear of the LORD

and so that meditation or deeper reflection on the word would

grant Joshua a profound understanding of it, hence exact

knowledge of the subject. So, Joshua and like us, was expected to

unravel something precious and hidden in the book of the law

which would make his way prosperous and to have good success.

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Now we clearly perceive why the LORD spoke in parables,

especially in regard to His parable of the hidden treasure. He said,

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a

field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes

and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Matt.13:44).

This discovery brings joy unspeakable and full of glory! This

discovery is what explains your unflinching love for GOD whom

you have not seen. Now He says that when a man discovers this

hidden treasure in a field, because of joy he goes and sells all that

he has and buys that field. The man considers it a worthy

investment! But what is the manner of this investment? Paul the

apostle tells us that when he was on his way to Damascus to

persecute the church, he met the LORD Jesus Christ. Then we see

Paul changing his direction and that tells me that when you meet

the LORD, you can’t remain the same. Wisdom changes your ways;

your thought-life, your talks, your perceptions and the like.

Therefore, a good part-summary on wisdom goes, “I have taught

you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths.”

(Prov.4:11). Thus, when Paul found wisdom, he had to abort his

mission in Damascus and to start walking the right way.

To recap on his ways before he met our LORD, Paul listed seven

of his religious credential or “bragging rights” on which he dared to

rely for salvation. He so believed in those credentials that it took an

astonishing disclosure of truth to dissuade him from this error. He

highlighted his merits as, “Circumcised the eight day, of the

stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the

Hebrew; concerning the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal,

persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which

is in the law, blameless.” (Phip.3:5-6).

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When we go through each of Paul’s credential, then we will find

out that surely those credentials are actually harmful to

Christianity. They do more harm than good! He begins by first

listing a ritual that was at the centre of the Judaizers’ teaching –

Circumcised the eight day. Unlike the Ishmaelite who was

circumcised after his thirteenth year, and the proselyte, that is a

new convert especially a gentile converted to Judaism who was

circumcised in adulthood, Paul had the rite performed on him by

punctilious parents in accord with the letter of the law.

Secondly, Paul ascertained that he was from the nation of Israel

– Of the stock of Israel. Israel was the covenant name of GOD’s

ancient people. The Israelites’ descent from Abraham was shared

with the Ishmaelites; his descent from Isaac was shared with the

Edomites. The Israelite alone could claim to descend from Jacob or

Israel who wrestled with GOD and prevailed. Thirdly, Paul asserts

that he was - Of the tribe of Benjamin, meaning he was a member

of one of the two most prestigious of the 12 Jewish tribes. Fourthly,

he further asserts himself as a – Hebrew of the Hebrews, that tells

you that he was a true-blooded Jew coming from a pure line of

Jews, tainted with no Gentile admixture. And his ancestors had, to

some degree, retained the Hebrew language and customs, thus

showing fidelity to the old culture.

Then fifthly, Paul could confirm that - as concerning the law, a

Pharisee. That tells you that as a Pharisee, Paul belonged to the

denomination that was the most orthodox defender, observer, and

expounder of the Old testament, and was a former student of their

great teacher Gamaliel.

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The sixth credential concerned Paul’s zeal – Persecuting the

church. Paul was so zealous for the Jewish religion that he once

persecuted Jesus’ followers to stamp out Christianity. Then lastly

the seventh, Paul could crow saying, - concerning the

righteousness which is in the law, blameless, Paul is saying here,

“concerning righteousness which is in accord with the law, I was

blameless”, that is, outwardly, no one could fault him for failing to

keep any point of the law. These seven credentials are what kept

Paul in his deranged version of spirituality. He was not aware that

his credentials that he held so dear were essentially, liabilities in his

quest for truth. Trusting in all these religious privileges and human

attainments for salvation had not brought him closer to GOD, but

farther away from Him. However, when he met Wisdom, his pricy

religious privileges and attainments had to be swallowed up in a

dawn of reality. At that moment, Paul realized the extent of his

delusion and he could later confess, “But what things were gain

to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also

count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of

Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all

things, and do count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”

(Php.3:7-8)

No wonder wisdom is the principle thing! Those credentials

occupied the place of wisdom, but when wisdom showed up in

Paul’s life, she had to replace his mistaken preferences. Paul had to

let go of self and grasp the truth that was able to save his soul. When

he uncovered the hidden treasure, he sold all that he had and

bought that whole field. Precious one, look at this! There was

remarkable exchange of rubbish for wisdom. Christ must be at the

centre of it all to ensure that our Christianity is meaningful and full

of joy.

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There can be no joy in your Christian life without that landmark

discovery of that hidden treasure – wisdom of GOD. Wisdom is the

substance of Christ Jesus our LORD! There must be an attitude! An

attitude that does not give up easily until the results are achieved.

This is an attitude that seeks to understand the truth and is never

satisfied with parables. GOD gives a picture of this attitude by

tendering an offer of mercy to all that would incline their ears and

come unto Him.

He says, “Ho! Every one that thirsts, Come to the waters,

And you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come,

buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do

you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for

what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is

good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.” Then He

says, “Incline your ear, and come to Me…” (Isa.55:1-3). This is

wonderful and I want to ask. How can you buy without money?

There is an offer made here to the effect that, come and buy wine

and milk without money and price! That tells you that the offer is

free and an invitation is made to those who are spiritually hungry

and thirsty. All that is required of us to “purchase” wine and milk is

simply self-surrender that accepts the blessing, and so we suddenly

realize that there is an exchange of abandoning the self for this. So

self-surrender is the unit of exchange! You no longer need to

depend on your religious credentials and human attainments like

Paul once did, to try and purchase this free gift of salvation but

rather, only a giving-up of these is needful. This is spectacular!

Once we have done our purchase, now GOD says, “…let your soul

delight itself in abundance.”

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That means now your soul can have that profuseness of spiritual

joy. My GOD! This is reliable, trustworthy and true that upon

purchase of this – wine, milk and bread, there is profuseness of

spiritual joy which is akin to the joy experienced when you find the

hidden treasure of Matthew.13:44. Then that again tells you that

the wine, milk and the bread are actually hidden treasures which

essentially constitute the unsearchable riches of Christ.

When Paul the apostle had purchased this, look at his ensuing

assignment. He said, “To me, who am less than the least of all

saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the

Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see

what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the

beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all

things through Jesus Christ. To the intent that now the

manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church

to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.”

(Eph.3:8-10). Halleluiah! Paul was preaching what he knew which

is, Christ the wisdom of GOD! He was preaching Life! He was

preaching the power of GOD! This same Paul who said, “I press

toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ

Jesus.” (Phil.3:14), also said, “…I have finished my course, I have

kept the faith.” (2 Tim.4:7) That he as a good workman and called

by GOD, he expounded to the Gentiles this mystery of godliness!

The mark was his objective of knowing Christ and the power of His

resurrection (cf.Phil.3:10).

Therefore, Paul had gained the joyful personal satisfaction of

having attained it, as well as the divine commendation and reward

to be granted in heaven for having reached this goal on earth. Paul

the apostle was therefore, preaching and imparting to the Gentiles

the revelation knowledge of Christ, the Wisdom of GOD.

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He was not only talking about what he had exact knowledge of

but was also fully persuaded! They which thirst or are inclined to

partake of the spiritual things of GOD through knowledge of the

truth shall reign in life, such that they will no longer be in bondage

to sin and evil. This inclination is of the soul and it is to hear with

your heart and that is why Isaiah.55:3 also refers to the outcome of

inclining to the will of GOD, as, ….and your soul will revive. David

said, “I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes

forever, to the very end.” (Ps.119:112).

When he had inclined and found how treasurable it is to obey

GOD’s will, he had to let go of all that would be dear to him in

exchange for it. Then he said, “Therefore I love Your

commandments more than gold; yes, than fine gold!”

(Ps.119:127). Therefore, we incline our hearts to get what is not

easily perceptible or openly visible and the need to discern or

comprehend or become aware of it is imperative. This tells you that

the word of GOD is a parable that when you decode, you end up

with wisdom. “In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom

and knowledge.” (Col.2:3). These treasures are hidden in Christ

Jesus our LORD, who is the Word of GOD!

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Wisdom at the Crossway

“The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, “Stand in the gate of the LORD’s house, and proclaim there this word, and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, and all you of Judah, who enter in at these gates to worship the LORD’” Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.” - Jeremiah.7:1-3.

he LORD had to command Jeremiah to stand at the entrance

to the LORD’s house and make a proclamation. The gate of

the temple was constantly a busy place with human traffic as

people went in and out of the temple by it and so it was a strategic

place for Jeremiah to proclaim the word of the LORD. Actually,

every passer-by would get wind of the LORD’s instruction.

However, those who passed through that gate to worship the LORD

had already compromised the standards of worship of the GOD of

Israel. There was a systematic deviation from trusting in GOD to

trusting the lying words of false prophets who maintained that

GOD will not bring people to judgment inspite of their evil ways but

protect Jerusalem altogether since His temple is there.

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Therefore, the worshippers ended up being confused and

complacent in their wickedness; they did not execute justice

between every man and his neighbor, they oppressed the orphans,

the widows and shed innocent blood by oppression and by judicial

murders.

They also went after other gods to their own hurt, while at the

same time reporting in the temple to worship the GOD of Israel.

Then the LORD asked, “Will you steal, murder, commit

adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after

other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand

before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say,

We are delivered to do all these abominations?” (Jer.7:9-10).

This suggested the height of their delusion because they could dare

come to the house of the LORD and continue in worship without

regard to their evil ways. They thought that by coming to the temple

regularly, they would be excused from judgment in discharging this

religious formality. Coming from the temple, they would relapse to

their wickedness and abominations. In fact, the temple was to

them, a place of temporary retreat between acts of impropriety.

“Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of

thieves in your eyes?” (Jer.7:11) asked the LORD.

This formal religion was also condemned by the LORD Jesus in

Matt.21:12-13. The LORD’s agitation to cleanse the temple

indicated His disdain for the corruption of organized religion which

lacked purity of life and the power of GOD. In light of the

seriousness of what He had come to do, the LORD Jesus could not

tolerate such gross perversion of the temple.

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The false prophets that contended with prophet Jeremiah were

actually the genesis of decay at the temple since there false

prophesies brought complacency that made the worshippers take

GOD lightly and live carefree lives. The fear of GOD had left the

temple and a rigorous process of reclaiming the right worship had

to be initiated, and this is what informed the LORD’s injunction to

send prophet Jeremiah to stand at the gate and proclaim a word of

restoration. “Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause

you to dwell in this place.”

Within this agitation for restoration of the temple was that

principle of the hidden wisdom of GOD. In the midst of confusion,

complacency and run-away wickedness, wisdom speaks out as she

takes her stand at a strategic crossroad to be noticed and to capture

attention of the people. “She takes her stand on the top of high

hill, beside the way where the paths meet. She cries out by the

gates, at the entry of the city, at the entrance of the doors.”

(Prov.8:2-3). What that hidden wisdom communicates is so

essential to the well-being of man yet in man’s deranged demeanor,

that wisdom sounds nonsensical or devoid of good sense. Many at

times, she is disregarded, neglected or abandoned to man’s peril,

yet that wisdom contains the life-blood of both spiritual and

physical wellness of man. This was the mainstay of apostle John’s

prayer when he said, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in

all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” (3

Jn.2). It is the central cohesive source of support and stability of

our Christianity, and so prosperity materially, physically and

mostly spiritually are what is drawn out by this superlative wisdom.

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However, wisdom has to aim to capture the attention of people

because it is easy to remain baptized in the mire of delusion than to

raise above it. It surely takes the power of GOD in the hidden

wisdom not only to deliver from that murky mire, but also to create

in us the consciousness of the need to be delivered.

Then, “When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is

pleasant to your soul, Discretion will preserve you,

understanding will keep you.” (Prov.2:10-11). When people are

eager to maintain the status quo, even after conversion, then such

a people deny themselves the lavish ability to walk with GOD in

holiness and righteousness and form the caliber of Christians that

Timothy once referred to as, “Always learning and never able to

come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Tim.3:7). Thence, GOD

would usually assign them to an appalling condition that seals their

fate, unless they quickly sanitize their lives in true repentance.

Otherwise, the adage, “…keep on hearing, but do not

understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.” (Isa.6:9)

befalls them. This is the lot that do not care to have that inclination

to gain knowledge of the truth but would rather retain a form of

godliness without power.

Wisdom is the chief, the principal, the main or primary element

that authenticates our Christianity and without which our

Christianity becomes a lifeless venture and really with no hope. But

again, as already determined before, wisdom has to be where it can

be recognized on the top of high hill yet remains hidden to the

extent that she must be sought diligently. Realization of wisdom

begs spiritual discernment since they are spiritually discerned. (cf.

1 Cor.2:14). Therefore, to those who will not rest until they perceive,

their eyes gets illuminated to behold the beauty of wisdom, to such,

she no longer remains hidden, but gradually unfolds for them.

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It was needful for the children of Israel to perceive that integral

divine requirement in prophet Jeremiah’s ‘Message in the Temple

Gate’ but they failed to perceive GOD’s instructions and thence

GOD said, “…I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but

you did not hear, and I called you, but you did not answer.”

(Jer.7:13).

That means the message of wisdom was completely neglected or

disregarded. Wisdom appeared as though it was folly and they

could not come to terms with it and the penalty for this gross and

blatant disobedience was severe because GOD said, “And I will

cast you out of My sight…” (Vs.15). This is very worrying

especially when you consider that these people would regularly go

to the temple to serve GOD, they were diligent to worship the LORD

like many in the church today but before GOD Almighty, the holy

One, they were being cast out of His sight. Many are not aware

today, that their string of ill fortunes or afflictions generates from

their formal religious lifestyles. If that false standard of life

procured judgment then, it will today also because GOD’s threshold

of righteousness remains the same. In fact, this dispensation of

grace has made it a lot easier to attain to that threshold!

The flesh will often resist the revelation of GOD which for us

contains life, health and righteousness. It does this imperceptibly

by slowly and gradually bringing in another way. The Galatian

church fell victim to this unseemly conspiracy and Paul the apostle

had to bring to their attention this unfolding event in their lives. He

said, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from him

who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel.”

(Gal.1:6).

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They turned away from the true way and subscribed to another

way of a different kind. That new way seemed right to them as it

was much easier to adapt to and so delusion and consistent

desertion of truth had crept into the ranks of the Galatian church.

Motivational preaching, new-age teachings and modernism in

the church today are some of the new ways that have sought to

eclipse the right way, which is centered on the noble discussions on

the cross and the blood of Christ. Based on such prevailing spiritual

mix-up, GOD oftentimes prescribes a turning back to where these

ways meet, that is, where that mix-up started. At that junction, in

the midst of that mix-up is where wisdom makes a proclamation.

For example, motivational preaching, new-age teachings and

modernism are some of the new ways today but there is also the

true way of righteousness. One would start walking the way of

righteousness but as he goes on along the way, he is lured or

tempted to walk another way of new-age teachings and he soon

begins to embrace it, and in the end the true way of righteousness

is overshadowed in his life.

He starts to insensibly concede ground and allows things that he

strongly abhorred before but is not somewhat worried because he

believes he is still walking the right way. The verse that says,

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the

way of death.” (Prov.16:25), looks as it were, pale to him. He has

lost his perceptibility of the true way because his light has gone out.

He has become only a religious Christian busy with church

programmes, junkets from impious revival meetings to break-

through conferences, and such like.

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The enemy has blinded and kept him busy with these religious

ventures and not allowing him the opportunity to reflect on his

personal Christian life. He has even become unconscious of the

injunction, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the

faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus

Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are disqualified” (2

Cor.13:5).

The challenge is on him to ascertain whether he is a genuine

believer or a fake! And as he continues this way, he starts to

experience systematic ill-fortunes or adversities in his Christian life

and begins to wonder why things aren’t going well in his life as

before in spite of being a dutiful Christian. Then the LORD says in

His mercy, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old

paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find

rest for your souls…” (Jer.6:16). This is a call to repentance! A

turning back to the old paths which is the good way. The way of true

righteousness which that Christian used to walk before he

embraced the new-age gospel for example. Therefore, to the

proponents of formal religion devoid of purity of life and power of

GOD, the LORD holds to His standard of sanctity and says, “…I

know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but

you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which

remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works

perfect before God.” (Rev.3:1-2).

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The Revelation of Grace

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.” - Titus.2:11.

he appearance of grace is the flood-tide of GOD’s plan of

salvation of mankind. From the Book of Genesis through to

Revelation are dotted with unfolding events that

conspicuously affirms this scheme of salvation. The dispensation of

grace is the highest superlative in the plan of redemption which

insists upon the inseparable connection between creed and

character, doctrine and life and intimates the close relations

between the past, the present, and the future in the Christian

scheme of salvation. There are certain facts in the past which must

be believed; and there is a kind of life in the present which must be

lived; and there are things in store for us in the future which must

be looked for. Thus, the three great virtues of faith, love, and hope

are inculcated and this grace contains and ministers them to a

thirsty soul.

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Christ Jesus the LORD is the emblem of grace such that when

He came in the flesh, that is, when He revealed Himself in the flesh

and lived awhile among us, then John the Baptist says he saw His

glory - His honor and majesty! A little while, John goes on to

identify the outstanding elements of His glory he did behold, he

now says, “…the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full

of grace and truth.” (John.1:14). This imports to us a far-

reaching knowledge of His glory, that it is full of grace and truth!

Prophet Isaiah also realized beforehand the dispensation of this

grace and gave a prophesy of its revelation. He said, “The glory of

the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together:

for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (Isa.40:5). The

prophet gave this prophesy when he was looking beyond Judah’s

imminent captivity to such a dispensation that will bring with it

salvation.

Therefore, it was a consoling prophesy to the people of GOD who

are in covenant relationship with Him. We are indeed living in such

times of fulfillment of that prophecy and ministration of this

profound grace. When the Word was made flesh and dwelt among

us, it was a powerful revelation of grace and truth! This grace is out

of all proportion to the fall of man that took place through Adam,

this means that if many died through one man’s falling away, much

more profusely did GOD’s grace abound for the benefit of many.

This also means that grace brings a complete restoration and in

describing this restoration, Isaiah says, “The wilderness and the

wasteland shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice

and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly and

rejoice even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall

be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon.

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They shall see the glory of the LORD, the excellency of our

God.” (Isa.35:1-2). Then in the preceding verses, GOD is defining

the spiritual condition of His subjects that warrants divine

intervention. They are as dry as the wilderness and solitary, and

because His glory is revealed to them, which signifies a supply of

water in the wilderness, they shall be restored. In determining the

spiritual condition of His subjects as manifested in their physical

situation, He shines a ray of hope saying, “Strengthen the weak

hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are

fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God

will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He

will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be

opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the

lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing:

for waters shall burst for in the wilderness.” (Isa.35:3-6). This

restoration is a product of the revelation of grace!

As it brings restoration to our physical conditions, it

communicates also restoration to our spiritual situations. The signs

and wonders the LORD ever does are never for entertaining

purposes but they are always with a view to communicate a

spiritual recall. Henceforth, the subjects of the LORD are no longer

weak, but they are strong in the faith (cf. Rom.4:20); they are no

longer blind, but they can now perceive (cf. Eph.1:18); they are no

longer deaf, but their ears are opened to understand (cf.

Matt.13:16); they are no longer lame and leap as before, but they

now walk with the LORD neither turning aside to the right hand

nor to the left (cf. Deut.5:32).

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This means that in the revealed grace of GOD is the salvation of

man who have fallen short of the glory of GOD. This grace has come

forward for the deliverance from sin and eternal salvation for all

mankind but how have each one of us taken stock of this grace?

Have we used it to better our lives or abused it to disorient our lives

the more? There is a glaring possibility of abusing this grace in such

a manner as to construe that a judicial pardon from sin guarantees

practical Christian living as some have errored by such a

proposition. Due to such a possibility, Paul the apostle earnestly

requests that we receive not the grace of GOD in vain (cf. 2 Cor.6:1).

This is a request to the effect that we must bear in mind, the

application of the righteousness of GOD in Christ Jesus on a

practical level. So, Titus continues to highlight this practical aspect

of GOD’s grace that forms its inherent purpose. “Teaching us that,

denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live

soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present age. Looking

for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great

God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Tit.2:12-13).

The grace of GOD has ever offered salvation, but in Jesus our

LORD it was brought to our doors. In its first appearance, it came

to teach; in its second appearance, it will bring us glory. Have we

sat sufficiently long in the school of grace, that our gentle Teacher

may instruct us how to live? It must be soberly in regard to

ourselves, righteously toward others, and godly toward GOD. We

cannot realize any one of these unless we resolutely deny

ungodliness and worldly lusts. This was the aim and purpose of the

LORD Jesus Christ in coming to die for us. He wanted to redeem

us from all iniquity, purify us as His own and use us in all manner

of good works.

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It is a solemn question whether that supreme purpose has been

realized in your own experience. If not, why not? Attributable to

this, we realize that there must be an inclination towards GOD to

draw out the spiritual things hidden in the expanse of grace.

These hidden has been surely brought to our doors and He who

stands at our doors says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and

knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will

come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

(Rev.3:20). If we are thirsty for GOD, we would open that door at

the first instance of His knock, but if not, we would leave it closed

and as well close our ears to the persistent sound of the knocks but

the result of that heedlessness is death. The Gospel has a better

chance with the openly profane and godless than with those who

have been brought up under its influence and are so far unaffected.

The mischief with men generally and even within the Christian

circles is that many do not know themselves, and do not want to

know; and they are equally ignorant of the rich stores of

blessedness that Christ waits to bestow. We think that we abound

in gift and grace, when in Christ’s eyes we are most pitiable. Yet, at

this moment, He is standing at the door, laden with the gifts of

heaven.

Surrender and admit Him, or at least disembark the latch from

its groove so that He may push the door back and enter. Do not

attempt to deal with the squalor or dirtiness within; you had

attempted that to no avail. Allow Him in, He will see to that and

cleanse, keep, and enrich. Do not try to provide supper; He will

bring you His own flesh and blood (cf. John.6:56).

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A step to unlatch the door and open it is foremost an expression

of thirst and inclination to solicit the help and comfort of the

LORD. You are wearied by evil and sin, you have borne the brunt

of misery enough and now you want Him at whatever cost. As He

walks into your soul, He purifies it but again creates a thirst for

more so as to be allowed to occupy every inch of it.

He wants to diffuse throughout our souls and to have it all! The

effect is unspeakable joy! However, we are faced with a situation

that would hinder Him from having His way throughout our souls.

Many have deliberately had it that as they have admitted Him into

their souls, He is restricted from having it all. This has informed

the LORD to narrow down to particular recipients of His blessings.

He says, “…much more those who receive abundance of grace

and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the

One, Jesus Christ.” (Rom.5:17). The word, ‘receive’ is translated

from the Greek word, lam-ban’-o, which means to catch or to get

hold of. So, this scripture can be paraphrased as,“…much more

those who get hold of the abundance of grace…”

When we are thirsty for GOD as a wilderness is thirsty for water

and want Him to intervene in our physical and spiritual situations,

then He promises to bring us back to our original or usable and

functioning condition. He says “…seek, and ye shall find…”

(Matt.7:7). This is a definite promise! By this spiritual restoration,

we are brought to unbroken fellowship with the LORD in holy and

righteous living. The LORD saves, purifies and walk with us to

enrich us that we may be fruitful or be of spiritual value to GOD.

And so, “Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and

the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be

counted for a forest. Then judgment shall dwell in the

wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.

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And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect

of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.”

(Isa.32:15). And the LORD Jesus said, “By this My Father is

glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My

disciples.” (John.15:8).

In the finality of time, our restoration translates to coming back

to Zion or the holy city of New Jerusalem which is a type of Eden

restored. The way to the tree of life was closed off by the Cherubim

and a rotating flaming sword to guard it, (cf. Gen.3:24) after the

fallen man had been cast out from GOD’s presence into the

wilderness – a dry condition without the glory of GOD. “For all

have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom.3:23).

However, out there after many years of fundamental assumptions

of redemption, grace finally appeared and the result was creation

of a way in the wilderness that brings man back from where he was

expelled – the Presence of GOD. Walking this way with the LORD

is but only a foretaste of what we will experience in full bliss when

we get home, where the way has led us to. Therefore, Isaiah gave a

prophesy of such a powerful restoration under the auspices of the

dispensation of grace and inaugurated by the LORD Jesus Christ.

He said, “A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be

called the Highway of Holiness, the unclean shall not pass

over it, but it shall be for others, although a fool, shall not go

astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast

shall go up on it; it shall not be found there. But the redeemed

shall walk there: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,

and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their

heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and

sighing shall flee away.” (Isa.35:8-10). This is the essence of

grace!

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Grace carries with it the righteousness of GOD in such a manner

that there can be no manifestation of GOD’s righteousness without

it. This righteousness has been hidden from the general

understanding of man, but we see in a few instances where it has

percolated upon men before and in the Old Covenant. The likes of

Noah, Enoch, Abraham and many more found this grace and even

the law and the prophets testified of it. “But now the

righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being

witnessed by the Law and the Prophets.” (Rom.3:21).

Now, we quietly realize that there is something in this grace

which we must grasp. But how do we do that? We can no longer

depend on our meritorious works to earn GOD’s approval, these

works are good but when it comes to matters of eternal salvation,

they cannot count alone. When we depend on our own works, then

we can claim payment or reciprocation from GOD but payment or

reciprocation received from GOD of this sort is not a manifestation

of grace; they are earnings. Works remove grace from salvation and

therefore, we are notified that, “Now to him who works, the

wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who

does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly,

his faith is accounted for righteousness.” (Rom.4:4-5).

The conduct of the Scribes and the Pharisees presents a classic

example of dependence on the works of the law in an attempt to

earn grace but such works of the law were not sufficient enough to

bring out the righteousness of GOD in them. They went far, but not

far enough to procure that eternal salvation from sin, since those

works alone could not address the sorry-state of their conscience.

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Those works procured outward purification but when it came to

matters of the conscience, a better sacrifice by the blood of Jesus

was necessary which is sufficiently alluded to as, “How much

more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit

offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience

from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb.9:14). This is

the object of grace!

It was notable that their religious impropriety of the Scribes and

the Pharisees conducted them to neglect the most important

elements of spirituality that could validate their works in the sight

of GOD. Therefore, the LORD Jesus Christ subsequently censured

them over this stance. He said, “Woe to you, scribes and

Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and

cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law:

justice and mercy and faith: These you ought to have done,

without leaving the others undone.” (Matt.23:23).

These weightier matters of the law clearly demonstrate what

GOD essentially requires of man (cf. Micah.6:6-8), and they all

stem out from our FAITH in the LORD Jesus Christ. Faith is the

only means through which GOD can impute the righteousness of

Jesus Christ to the sinner and this is faith in the sense that, we

believe in GOD as the only One who can vindicate a sinner, grant

him an acquittal of his offenses and bring him into eternal

deliverance from sin and evil. He is the only One who has the salve

for the death-trapped soul. He is the Anointed One! Therefore, the

word “believeth” or “believes” that denotes this faith in Romans.4:5

describes an action that is on-going.

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We are not justified by a temporary faith, otherwise our

justification would be temporary also. So, faith here must be on-

growing. Our condition of judicial justification must gradually

move to a practical level, which is inspired by our continual faith in

the LORD. Hence, our continual faith in the LORD sustains and

validates our justification. Now, Abraham was justified 24 years

before he was circumcised and so he was not justified because he

was circumcised but he was circumcised as a testimony to the fact

that he was justified (cf. Rom.4:11).

To demonstrate the continuity of faith, we are told that Abraham

is not only the father of the circumcision but more importantly of

those “…who also walk in the steps of that faith…” which he had

when he was yet uncircumcised. (cf. Rom.4:12). They who walk in

the steps of that faith, the saving faith are righteous. Peter the

apostle calls this saving faith as “…precious faith” (cf. 2 Pet.1:1)

while Jude the apostle calls it “…your most holy faith.” (cf. Jude

20). Against the back-drop of moral laxity, this faith is bound to

remain stunted. Therefore, we are prevailed upon to ensure that we

are involved in the growth cycle, which essentially is growing in

grace. This involvement defines walking in the steps of that faith

which is inspired by a desperate need to escape depravity and not

only so, but to be fruitful in our Christian lives, to demonstrate the

certainty of our calling and election and to have an abundant

entrance into heaven.

Jude briefly brings up the connotation of this growth cycle

involvement as, “…you to contend earnestly for the faith which

was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3).

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However, Peter takes his time to elaborate on what Jude is

alluding to, when he begins by saying, “Grace and peace be

multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our

Lord.” (2 Pet.1:2). That precious or holy faith is a work of grace,

because it was handed down to us and lavished upon us through

the blood of Jesus our LORD. However, this faith is not to exist per

se or of itself. To us who have obtained this precious faith through

the righteousness of GOD and our Savior Jesus Christ, we must

build on that faith by abounding in grace through the knowledge of

GOD, and of the LORD Jesus Christ. An understanding of walking

in the steps of that faith has been granted to us so that we come no

behind in concretizing our Christian call. This understanding

provides the substance of our spirituality and to straighten this out,

may we first of all know, “Therefore, having being justified by

faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in

which we stand…” (Rom.5:1-2).

The words, “…in which we stand…” intimates the essence of

walking in the steps of the faith of Abraham. Our judicial

justification or acquittal from sin and its penalty introduces us into

‘grace’, but we must remain standing in this grace to demonstrate

the spirit of justification in Christ Jesus our LORD. Faith in the

death and resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ effects our

salvation, but it is His life that sustains it and this He does by His

indwelling Spirit. “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit,

if indeed the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if anyone does

not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” (Rom.8:9).

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Therefore, any who lack the Spirit of Christ are not yet

regenerated and so are not His, but on the flip-side of this, it also

addresses the church. When it comes to the church, it beckons the

nature of true Christianity in a manner that if we are not abounding

in this grace, then we have fallen from grace. So essentially,

Romans.8:9 underscores both the understanding of standing in the

grace and walking in the steps of faith.

This is further articulated in 1 John.4:13 that goes, “By this we

know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has

given us of his Spirit.” This scripture presents a wealth of

information that we must endeavor to grasp. By being re-born, the

LORD Jesus Christ has imparted to us ‘something’ that belongs to

His Spirit which shapes and progressively dominates our character

as believers – the character of GOD.

The Spirit of GOD imparts the will to love! Briefly, the coming

of Christ the Son of GOD in the flesh is the manifestation of the love

of GOD towards man (cf. 1 Jn.4:9) such that His love is to create a

separation of sin from man so that he may live. “And such were

some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified,

but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by

the Spirit of our God.” (1 Cor.6:11). The outstanding

demonstration of GOD’s love is that it is unconditional, it sets the

standard of love that is only attainable through grace. We did not

love GOD but He loved us enough to take us away from the

dominion of death (cf. 1 Jn.4:10), so that we also may be partakers

of His divine nature and enter into life eternal.

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Consequently, even though we have been judicially justified by

faith, there is an occasion of believing in vain (cf. 1 Cor.15:2) in the

event of compromising our stand in the grace which Paul the

apostle sufficiently terms as, “…fallen from grace” (Gal.5:4). It

is great encouragement to know this because it grants us the

opportunity to quickly make necessary adjustments and ascertain

our calling and election. However, the substance of all this is that

GOD has given us the formula by which we must abound in His

grace. Foremost, He begins by introducing us to the end when He

says that His grace and peace can only be multiplied through the

knowledge of Him and of our LORD Jesus Christ (cf. 2 Pet.1:2).

This knowledge displays the inherent attributes of GOD – love,

which we must travail to be perfected in us by the Holy Spirit such

that, “He who does not love does not know God, for God is

love.” (1 Jn.4:8).

Therefore, “For whoever has [spiritual knowledge], to him

will more be given and he will be furnished richly so that he

will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he

has will be taken away.” (Matt.13:12 Amp).

GOD’s love is not a disposition that concedes to sin as many have

thought and errored thereby. May we understand that in His

holiness, His love and judgment are combined in a sense that His

love separates from sin and His judgment must administer severe

retribution on sin. These are two extremes that presents to us the

reality of the attribute of GOD that while He loves the sinner, He

has no tolerance to a sinful lifestyle and therefore, to the one who

continues in sin, He petitions to subscribe to His grace and lays out

this question, “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness,

forbearance, long-suffering not knowing that the goodness of

God leads you to repentance?” (Rom.2:4).

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The widely celebrated and misleading thought that GOD would

not bring judgment upon whom He has exercised mercy and love,

is responsible for lukewarm and lethargic Christianity. Therefore,

He lays it bare that our precious or most holy faith must be

subjected to growth to escape the ever-lurking depravity and fortify

our standing in His grace. To call our attention to this, we

appreciate that we are the house of GOD but GOD establishes that

this is dependent on only, “…if we hold fast the confidence and

the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.” (Heb.3:6), which is

resonated in another place as, “Hold fast the pattern of sound

words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which

are in Christ Jesus.” (2 Tim.1:13). That we must retain at

whatever cost, the excellently adapted truth which we have heard

and is the gist of the gospel of Christ.

However, this holding fast does not refer to delving and being

engrossed in our own religious duties that even though good, we

cannot dare neglect the weightier matters that precisely defines

allegiance to GOD. When we embrace the ‘weightier matters’ of the

law and with inclusion of our religious duties, then therein is the

act of contending for the faith! To actually demonstrate the essence

of holding fast which again, is walking in the steps of the faith of

Abraham, GOD shows us classic features of Christianity that

determines that if we are to escape depravity, we must become

involved in the growth cycle. He says,

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord

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Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” (2 Pet.1:5-9),

To grow in grace, and so in peace must be the centre of Christian

intentness. Believers are generally exposed to danger of falling

away which must be counteracted. To measure up to the occasion,

GOD prescribes a formula that ensures keeping apostasy at bay.

Today there is danger constantly arising from the boastful parade

of a knowledge that we are prevailed upon to avoid at all cost like a

plague.

This unbecoming knowledge is put across as, “…babble and

godless chatter, with the vain and empty and worldly

phrases, and the subtleties and the contradictions in what is

falsely called knowledge and spiritual illumination.” (1

Tim.6:20 Amp). These are empty talks devoid of truth and

heretical arguments used to oppose truth. So, Peter was confronted

with an upsurge of false teachers infiltrating the church ranks, who

professed to have a deeper and more mysterious interpretation of

the doctrines of the Gospel. This esoteric enlightenment they

specially named “knowledge,” and led men astray by profitless

inquiries concerning the absolute nature of GOD and the manner

of His communication with the world.

Paul the apostle refers to this false enlightenment when he

speaks of “foolish questions” (cf. 2 Tim.2:23) and “endless

genealogies,” (1 Tim.1:4). As an antidote for the poison, GOD urges

us to seek after a true and full knowledge of the Him and of His Son.

GOD our Savior desires, “…all men to be saved and to come to

the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim.2:4).

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It is specially the knowledge of GOD and of things Divine; it is

that knowledge which must temper religious zeal (cf. Rom.10:2)

that it may be effective and honestly it is the knowledge against

which if a man sin (cf. Heb.10:26) he is verily reprobate. This true

knowledge can only come of faithful service and so the LORD Jesus

Christ said, “If anyone wills do His will, he shall know

concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I

speak on My own authority.” (Jn.7:17). The LORD has set forth

for us the riches of His grace. In His grace, we have access to, “…all

things that pertain to life and godliness.” (2 Pet.1:3).

We have a bestowal of all helps toward life and godliness, and

not only that but there are also promises of GOD to rely on for the

future. These are promises whereby those who seek to renounce the

things which are not of the Father, but of the world, may become

partakers of the Divine nature. These blessings are assured and are

in store, but only for those who manifest a desire to receive them.

How this desire shall be shown, how it shall constantly grow

stronger and be ever fulfilling, until it attain perfect fruition in

Christ’s eternal kingdom, is what we are instructed as, “But also for

this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue…”

The diligence here is that sort of endeavor which springs from a

sense of duty: an earnest zeal and will to accomplish whatever it

finds to do. This is the spirit in which Christian growth is made.

And the lines on which such progress will go is as though, each new

step is evolved from and is a natural development of that which

preceded it. The faith which the Christian holds fast is the gift of

GOD, and it has the source of every grace that can follow and we

are inspired to foster these with diligence.

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Our scale of graces begins thus: “…add to your faith virtue.”

Here virtue means the best development of the Christian energy

GOD has bestowed on us, which is to be made excellent. We work

from a higher motive such that what we do is a constant attestation

of our faith. It is done as in GOD’s sight, and in the confidence that

in every act it is possible to give Him glory. There can be no room

for carelessness for we are filled with a sense of responsibility,

which is the first fruit of a living faith. Therefore, we have to supply

each grace in turn because we contribute by our careful walk to

wake it into life, to make it active, and let it shine as a light before

men.

“…and to virtue knowledge,” With the excellent development of

energy, there comes illumination over the path of life: now we

understand more of GOD’s dealings, and hence bring our lives into

closer harmony with His will. As we become sensitive to the

promptings of the Spirit such that we hearken to the voice which

whispers, “This is the way, walk in it…” (Isa.30:21), it will

become at every stage plainer and there will be shown to us not only

the how, but the wherefore.

“And to knowledge temperance.” There is a knowledge which

makes one proud, it does not bring humility which is the fruit of

true knowledge, but it brings self-conceit. It is a kind of knowledge

that germinates extravagance in thought and word and action. Self-

control or temperance safeguard knowledge and this is a virtue

which can be manifested in all things. “Now every athlete who

goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts

himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon

wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal

blessedness] that cannot wither.” (1 Cor.9:25 Amp).

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Hence, when we possess self-control, then we have conquered

ourselves and won our way thus to stability of mind and

consistency of conduct. Then we can go to the next stage!

“…and to temperance patience.” This is the true sequence of

spiritual self-control. This life is bound to supply us abundance of

trials. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD

delivers him out of them all” (Ps.34:19). Our efforts to daily

strive to die unto the world fixes our minds firmly on the divine

purposes and lifts us above the circumstances of time. We are

pilgrims and sojourners amidst the trials, but we are in no bondage

to them.

By the virtue of patience as imparted to us by the Spirit of GOD,

we shall not be moved even by great afflictions, to waver in our trust

in GOD. We can look on, as seeing Him that is invisible and can

persevere without being unduly cast down.

“…and to patience godliness.” The mystery of godliness-that is,

Christlikeness-was made known by the Incarnation. The Son of

GOD became man, that men through Him might be made sons of

GOD. And godliness in the present world is Christ made manifest

in the lives of His servants. Toward this imitation of Christ, we will

aspire through our patience. We take up the cross and bear it after

our Master, the LORD Jesus Christ and thus begin discipleship, of

which the communion with Him advances to more intimacy day by

day.

“And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness

love.” This is love. It is that highest love, the love of GOD to men

which is set up as the grand ideal towards which we are constantly

to press forward. However, from this, the love of the brethren

cannot be severed but it must be made the stepping-stone unto it.

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For, we are told, “…for he who does not love his brother whom

he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?”. (1

Jn.4:20). This brotherly kindness is not to be narrowed in the

verse before us or elsewhere, to love of those who are already

known to the Churches as brethren in the Lord. The Gospel of

Christ knows no such limits! The commission of the LORD is, “Go

into all the world…” (Mk.16:15). Those who are in the world are

to be won for Him; all are embraced in the name of brethren. For if

they be not so now, it is our bounden duty to endeavor that they

shall be so. And in thus interpreting we have the mind of Christ

with us, who came to seek and to save them that were lost.

To die for the sins of the whole world, and who found His

brethren among every class who would hear His words and obey

them. We have with us too, the acts of GOD Himself, who would

have all men come to the knowledge of the truth and who, with

unconditional love, makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the

good, and sends His rain upon the just and the unjust, that thus

even the evil and unjust may be won to own His Fatherhood.

The knowledge of Christ is a lesson in which we cannot be

perfected till we behold Him as He is, but yet through it from the

first we receive the earnest and pledge of all that is meant by life

and godliness, and the culture of the Divine gifts, will yield a rich

increase of the same knowledge. “For if these things are yours and

abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the

knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We in this life can draw

nearer unto this full knowledge, and the bliss of each new gain

prompts to more zealous exertion.

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There can be no relaxation of effort, no remissness, in such a

quest. Our hope is fostered by the constant experience of a

deepening knowledge and receives continual pledges that the glory

to be revealed is far above what is already known. The enlightened

vision grows wider and ampler; and the path which began in faith,

shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The world offers other

lights to its adherents, but they lead only into darkness. “For he

who lacks these things is shortsighted...,” He who has not taken

heed to foster within him the light which is kindled by faith, and

which can only be kept alive by the grace of the Holy Spirit, is blind.

Yes, blind indeed, for he is self-blinded. He has quenched the

inward light which was of GOD’s free gift and made the light within

him to be pitch darkness.

Such a man has no insight into the things of the Spirit, no joy of

the widening prospect which captivates the gaze of the spiritual

man. He can only see things close at hand, and is as one bowed

downward to the earth, groping a dreary way with neither hope nor

exaltation at the end.

Hence, we must reckon and with utmost care that the expanse of

grace that has been revealed to all men presents in it a hidden

treasure. The Gospel of grace presents it, which is essentially the

Gospel of Jesus Christ. The most important message of the Bible is

summarized in the word, “Gospel” meaning, “Good News”. The

Gospel is both a proposition and a person. As a proposition, it

embraces the death, burial and resurrection of the LORD Jesus

Christ. Paul says, “For I delivered to you first of all that which

I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the

Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again

the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Cor.15;3-4).

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The Gospel is also a Person, that is, the Person of the LORD

Jesus Christ. Mark begins his discourse with a burst of information

that functions as a title, he says, “THE beginning of the gospel of

Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mk.1:1). This Gospel is the

content of Christian proclamation which centers on a Person and

to alter this Gospel in ANY WAY is to subject ourselves to a curse

from GOD (cf. Gal.1:8-9). To be saved eternally from sin’s

dominion, we MUST receive the Person of Christ as Savior (cf.

Rev.3:20). Therefore, salvation of men is only through the gospel

of Christ and Him crucified (cf. 1 Cor.2:1-5). This is the gospel that

brings to us the impartation of the righteousness and holiness of

GOD on a practical level. The LORD Jesus Christ is the splendor of

this gospel!

The person of Christ that promulgates the New Testament gospel

is essentially the foundation of Christian faith. The personality of

GOD Himself has been kept away from the general understanding

of man, which GOD has now sufficiently revealed and is briefly and

concisely stated as, “…Be holy; for I am holy.” (1 Pet.1:16). It is

revealed in the sense that it is now accessible to a desirous soul. The

grace of GOD that has appeared to all men has brought it closer

within our prehension. Being justified freely by GOD’s grace

submits to us a favorable chance to explore the riches of

redemption and so this justification indicates to us being declared

righteous and signifies our judicial standing before GOD, having

been released from the death penalty by Christ’s death. Now we

realize that, this judicial standing is not an end in itself, we must

actualize the terms of our release contained in the deed of our

acquittal as, “…that you should go and bear fruit, and that your

fruit should remain. (John.15:16).

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So, when Paul the apostle came to the Corinthian church, he

resisted the temptation to appeal to the Corinthian taste for

rhetoric and philosophy by exhibiting Christianity as a philosophy.

Conversion is the object of the Gospel of Christ and no other gospel

can compare in efficiency with the simple presentation of the cross

and the blood of Christ. The bare facts of the gospel regarding

Christ and His crucifixion (cf. 1 Cor.2:2) forms the foundation upon

which we MUST rise and grasp the deeper truths revealed by the

Holy Spirit.

When we are building on this foundation or rather, involved in

the growth cycle, the Spirit of GOD will not hesitate to unfold the

wisdom or philosophy of Christ’s truth. To expound the deeper

truths is useless or even hurtful to a carnal Christian because they

are foolishness unto him (cf. 1 Cor.2:14).

Therefore, Paul was shocked to learn of the prevailing spiritual

condition in Corinth; he found division in the church which

confirmed her immaturity. This condition forced him to withhold

dispensing advanced Christian doctrine since that church could not

bear it. They were still carnal Christians who were filled with envy,

strife and dissensions and so forth. Therefore, he opted to feed

them instead with milk and not with meat. (cf. 1 Cor.3:1-3). This

was embarrassing at this stage of their development for they still

needed elementary Christian instructions. To what he withheld, he

said,

“However, we speak wisdom among those who are

mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the

rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But

we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the

hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the

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ages for our glory…But as it is written, “Eye has not

seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart

of man, the things which God has prepared for

those who love Him.” (1 Cor.2:6-7,9).

This precious Wisdom is not on a level with human philosophies,

it is not one more added to human searches after truth. The princes

of this world, its men of light and leading have had their own

theories of GOD and man, and yet have really come to nothing, (cf.1

Cor.2:6). The incompetence of the men and theories that actually

control human affairs is put beyond a doubt by the crucifixion of

Christ. In the Person of Christ, the glory of GOD was manifested as

a glory in which man was to partake and had there been diffused

among men any true perception of the real nature of GOD, then

crucifixion would have been an impossibility.

The fact that GOD’s incarnate glory was crucified is a clear

demonstration of the insufficiency of all human perceptions and

previous teaching regarding GOD. Therefore, it behooves us to

appreciate at length that the wisdom of GOD is not devised by the

speculative ingenuity of man but it is a disclosure made by GOD of

knowledge unattainable by human endeavor. The three great

sources of human knowledge-seeing, hearing, and thought-alike

fail here. Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, it has not entered into

the heart of man to conceive, this wisdom. Hitherto it has been a

mystery, a thing hidden; now GOD has Himself revealed it. In as

much as this wisdom has been revealed, there must be a disposition

which we must adopt to attain to it, and not only so, but to walk in

it and be certain of our eternity with GOD.

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Without due adoption of this disposition or an inclination

toward GOD, this wisdom remains hidden even though it has been

submitted within the purview of our grasp. It is like life brought

near to us but again, folded away from us! This conducts us to begin

to understand why our LORD Jesus Christ could always speak to

the multitudes around Him in parables to utter things which have

been kept secret from the foundation of the world. (cf. Matt.13:35).

This indicated that He could not give a decoded message to lock out

those that are not interested or inclined to understand the meaning

of it. He did not and will never disclose the hidden treasure to the

carnal so that everything comes to them in form of a parable or a

metaphor since what is to be disclosed is noble, of high-value. A

treasure to GOD!

Therefore, “…the natural man does not receive the things of

the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him: nor can he

know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1

Cor.2:14).

His speech therefore, targeted a particular group of people for

often He would say, “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.”

(cf. Mark.4:23). In other words, if any man has the ability to sift the

facts and understand, let him do so. But what particular group of

people did He target with His parabolic messages?

This is sufficiently given away in both the LORD’s actions and

His disciples, “Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went

into the house. And His disciples came to him, saying, Explain

to us the parable…” (Matt.13:36). You will notice that the LORD

sent away the multitude although He knew they did not understand

what He had just spoken to them.

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So, they went away empty from His presence; they heard Him

speak but to understand what He said, they found not. There

spiritual insensitivity is an allegory of the LORD’s encounter with

some of the hearers of John the Baptist. He would ask them, “What

did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by

the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in

soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in

kings’ houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes,

I say to you, and more than a prophet.” (Matt.11:7-9).

Masses would gather around John the Baptist with various

reasons most of which did not reflect GOD’s desire concerning

them. So, some went to see this peculiar John the Baptist, some

were mesmerized by his clothing and some just went to behold a

prophet. John the Baptist was the fore-ordained forerunner of the

Savior and, technically, the last of the Old testaments prophets who

proclaimed preparation of the way for the coming of the Messiah.

However, it’s ironical that several people who went out to him

got the LORD, Whom John proclaimed His arrival, wondering as

to what they went out to do. This was in light that even though John

the Baptist preached repentance, most of those who went out into

the wilderness had not yet repented. They did not get his message

in the wilderness! Hence, they left as empty as the multitude the

LORD sent away. GOD hates pride and arrogance, evil ways and

self-willed conversation; these render men unwilling to hear His

humbling, awakening holy instructions. Now take note of the

tendency of the LORD’s disciples after He had sent the multitude

away, they came to Him! They were inclined to understand what

He had just spoken to them.

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Surely, they came to Him to dig out the meaning of what He had

just spoken, and so they said, “Explain to us the parable…” It was

due to this disposition that the LORD had earlier told them, “…it

has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom

of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whosoever

has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance;

but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken

away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables,

because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear,

nor do they understand.” (Matt.13:11-13).

These mysteries are hidden truths or unsearchable riches in

Christ which are revealed to those who have understanding. That

mystery is the hidden wisdom of GOD, which Paul the apostle also

referred to as the ‘mystery of godliness’ (cf.1 Tim.3:16). The

disciples were granted the ability to understand because of their

inclination or strong eagerness to know the truth. Therefore, may

we know that understanding breeds spiritual knowledge and these

two transmits wisdom to a Christian.

This hidden truth or wisdom, or rather the mystery of godliness

is again what Paul the apostle equates with, “…Christ in you, the

hope of glory.” He actually says, “The mystery which has been

hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been

revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known

what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the

Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col.1:26-

27). “Christ in you” is a mystery here.

Christ is our hope of glory, and that tells you that there is

certainty of the future, that is, for you it is the joyful and confident

expectation of salvation in the glorious state to be enjoyed by you

in heaven.

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This mystery is not only Christ revealed to us, but Christ revealed

in us. This revelation of this mystery is implied in Prov.8:17 where

GOD says, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me

diligently will find me.”

All prudence and skill are from the LORD. Through the

redemption of Christ's precious blood, the riches of His grace

abound in all wisdom and prudence, but before that, He says, “I

love those who love me…” GOD loves all (Cf. Jn.3:16) but here He

specifically determines that He loves them who love Him. This tells

you that this love is special and transcends the basic standard of

His love for all mankind. This love is only reserved for those that

love Him and this is well indicated in 1 Cor.2:9. “Eye has not seen,

nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the

things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Thence, there are things GOD has reserved for those who love Him

and not for all that He loves!

Then He defines or clearly brings out what entails love for Him.

He says, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

(Jn.14:15), and John the apostle sheds some more light on this

when he says, “…and His commandments are not

burdensome.” (1 Jn.5:3).

All these are pointers to what GOD had already revealed to

prophet Micah in His brief statement of what He requires of man.

He said, “He has shown you, O man, what is good, and what

does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy,

and to walk humbly with your God?” (Mic.6:8). Nevertheless,

our share in Christ’s life, character, virtues, values, thoughts,

attitudes, and deeds is the only evidence that confirms we are

headed toward glory (heaven).

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Now look at how Col.3:9-12 further ventilates on this. It says,

“Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man

with his deeds, and have put on the new man, who is renewed

in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor

uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free: but

Christ is all and in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and

beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility,

meekness, long-suffering…”

This is a new-lifestyle that is perceivable to the world. We now

possess a new nature, values and aspirations. It is not only sin to be

put to death, but again we are divinely required to put away man-

made barriers that divide people and that nourish the vices of the

old life. To the renewed humanity, there are no national,

ceremonial, cultural or social distinctions. Christ is our everything;

He is what matters most to us and He dwells in all of us!

This attests as to why Christians are also referred to as epistles,

because they emit light to the world. “You are our epistle…

known and read by all men.” (2 Cor.3:2). Therefore, this

wisdom, which is essentially understanding and spiritual

knowledge is Light.

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Hypostasis of Christ

“IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was

with God, and the Word was God.” - John.1:1.

eaning before all time was the Word, which was hidden. It

was not yet revealed anywhere and so the key idea is ‘the

Word’ expressed in Greek as ‘logos’. In the logos was

Christ, which is now revealed. This Christ, the revealed Word is

what John the Baptist was assigned to introduce to the nation of

Israel, as the Light. This was the light of Gen.1:3! “Let there be

light: and there was light.” Then John adds, “In Him was life…”

(Vs.4). In the Word was Life and for this Life to be manifested to

mankind, He had to become flesh. “And the Word became

flesh…” (Vs.14). John the apostle is presenting to us his account

as an eyewitness of the manifestation of this Life in the flesh.

M

4

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He begins by stating, “THAT which was from the beginning,

which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,

which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled,

concerning the Word of life-the life was manifested, and we

have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal

life which was with the Father and was manifested to us-” (1

John.1:1-2).

The disciples were eyewitnesses of the Word, they heard the

Word, they gazed upon for themselves the Word, and they even

touched the Word with their own hands. Then an aspect of the

Word was revealed or demonstrated to them, “For the life was

manifested…”. John the Baptist who was the harbinger of this

Word had earlier spoken of this revealed aspect of the Word as, “…

and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of

the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John.1:14). This is the

element of the Word incarnate which had to be demonstrated.

Therefore, He had to partake in the likeness of our flesh to

demonstrate Life to man. So, Christ is in the Word! This element

which is also the Light is what John the Baptist as a witness, came

to testify of. (cf. John.1:7-8).

John the Baptist was the fore-runner or announcer of Christ and

his ascetic life-style and dress dramatized the urgency of his

message, involving Israel’s need to repent before the imminent

arrival of the Messiah. The LORD Jesus Christ said of him that

there was none “greater than John” (cf. Matt.11:11) during the Old

Testament dispensation to imply that John the Baptist was the

epitome of the message of the Old Testament itself.

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Therefore, John the Baptist had the honor to introduce Christ at

such a time that marked the end of the Old Testament and

inauguration of the New Testament dispensation that would bring

in eternal deliverance from sin. Thus, as a witness to the Light, that

is, as one who bore record of the Truth, he came baptizing for the

forgiveness or remission of sins. Therefore, John the Baptist breaks

a centuries-long prophetic silence in Israel. Other Jewish groups in

the Old Covenant practiced ritual water cleansing, but John called

all Israel to repentance. He did this, “…preaching a baptism of

repentance for the remission of sins.” (Mk.1:4).

His baptism was not regarded as equal to baptism in the name

of the Trinity as a testimony to one’s personal trust in Christ. “For”

as used in Mark.1:4 means “with a view to” that is, in order to attain

remission of sins. Therefore, it is not baptism but repentance that

secures remission of sins. That baptism in actual fact indicated a

baptism into the Light, or a baptism into Christ. For this reason,

John the Baptist rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees who

approached the shores for baptism, asking them to give evidence of

“fruits meet for repentance” (cf. Matt.3:8). The New Testament

concept of repentance means far more than an intellectual change

of mind. Genuine repentance proves itself by the fruits of a changed

life. It is this concept which grew out of its usage in the Old

Testament that John the Baptist emphasized as a standard

appraisal of preparation for the impendent arrival of the Messiah.

Hence, the baptism of John bespoke of the work of the Spirit at

salvation, which later Paul the apostle referred to saying, “Or do

you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ

Jesus were baptized in His death?” (Rom.6:3).

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This is not the baptism of water but the baptism of the Spirit, so

Paul in this question is not exhorting the Roman Christians to be

baptized by the Spirit. Rather he asserts that they have all been

baptized and this occurred at the moment of their regeneration.

This experience began at Pentecost (cf. Acts.1) and was repeated

upon every new group of converts (Samaritans, Gentiles, John’s

disciples) until it became normative for all Christian believers. This

is confirmed to us as, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized

into one body…” (1 Cor.12:13). As a consequence of Rom.6:3,

Paul then continues and begins Rom.6:4 with a conjunction,

“therefore” to introduce a logical conclusion that answers Rom.6:3.

He said, “Therefore we were buried with Him through

baptism into death…”. The use of this conjunction corresponds

to, “due to this reason”. That is, because of what has taken place in

Rom.6:3, so Rom.6:4. Therefore, Rom.6:4 speaks of water baptism

which symbolizes the union. It testifies of the baptism of the Spirit.

John the Baptist therefore, as a fore-runner of Christ came

baptizing for the remission of sins. He called the nation of Israel to

turn away from sin into the light, to which he was a witness. That

light, which is essentially the wisdom of GOD was kept hidden, and

later brought forth in an episodic event of creation and again

remained imperceptible until John the Baptist formally introduced

Him as the true light coming into the world and illuminates every

person (cf. John.1:9). Prophet Isaiah gave a prophecy of His

commission to be a light to the Gentiles (cf. Isa.49:6) and later the

apostles implied their eye-witness status, having heard of Him and

made a landmark discovery that He is light (cf. 1 John.1:5).

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The Book of Genesis chapter 1 silently brings out the

participation of Christ in the creation activity. Foremost, before

time began, He was, and He was with GOD the Father and His role

in creation is properly captured in Prov.8:22-30.

“The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way,

before his works of old. I have been established from

everlasting, from the beginning, before there was ever

an earth. When there were no depths, I was brought

forth, when there were no fountains abounding with

water. Before the mountains were settled, before the

hills I was brought forth: While as yet He had not made

the earth or the fields, or the primal dust of the world.

When He prepared the heavens, I was there, when He

drew a circle on the face of the deep: When He

established the clouds above: when He strengthened

the fountains of the deep, when He assigned to the sea

its limit, so that the waters would not transgress His

command, when He marked out the foundations of the

earth: Then I was beside Him, as a master craftsman;

and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before

Him.”

This is clearly the LORD Jesus Christ speaking in His capacity as

the Wisdom of GOD. That hidden personality which He later

referred to, saying, “For whoever finds me finds life…”

(Prov.8:35). This is the aspect of Him that was brought forth as

the master and director of the work of creation and which was later

to be fully revealed. He was with GOD which signifies the perfect

fellowship between Him; GOD the Son and GOD the Father in

eternity.

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At creation, the earth was without form, and void or unfilled (Cf.

Gen.1:2). But how the earth became formed and filled is now

described in the preceding verses. However, while the earth was in

its unformed and unfilled state, the Spirit of GOD moved upon the

face of the waters clearly referring to His creative activity. GOD

sends forth His Spirit to bring form to the earth. “You send forth

Your Spirit, they are created; and You renew the face of the

earth.” (Ps.104:30). Then GOD said, “…Let there be light: and

there was light.” (Gen.1:3).

This light does not refer to the sun which was created later on the

fourth day but is as a result of inauguration of Christ by GOD the

Father, in creation activity. By saying, “Let there be light…” GOD

elicits or evokes the cohere of all things, who is Christ, the Light

and the Wisdom of GOD. This is a command that brings Christ into

the scene as the wisdom that is needed in creation! This light that

was spoken was not created, per se, but a sudden revelation of the

knowledge, goodness, power, love and righteousness of very GOD.

In the beginning, GOD did not create or make light, but He

simply said it “be.” Using the Hebrew verb “to be” is what the Bible

translators translated as “let there be light.” When initially it was,

“Light, be.” This light, neither “created” nor “made” is therefore a

manifestation of what had been previously in existence— ‘Let light

be,’ or rather, ‘Light shall be;’ not the formation of an element or

matter which had no being at all till this divine command was

issued. So, this light was always in existence and simply brought

into play. That which was in existence before all time and was now

brought forth in creation is Christ Himself, the Light and the

Wisdom of GOD.

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Light is the revelation of GOD's love in Jesus Christ and the

penetration of that love into lives darkened by sin (cf. 1 John 1:5-

7). The LORD Jesus Christ declares that He is “the light of the

world” (cf. John 8:12; 9:5). The LORD Jesus Christ is the incarnate

Word of GOD, who has come as the light that enlightens all people

(cf. John 1:4-14), so that those believing in Him will no longer be in

darkness (cf. Jn.12:46).

Paul the apostle concurs as he harks back to the creation

account: “For it is God who commanded light to shine out of

darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the

knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2

Cor. 4:6). By GOD commanding the light to shine out of darkness,

He essentially “divided light from the darkness.” (Gen.1:4). With

the dawn of light, darkness gave way since light cannot co-exist

with darkness. My GOD!

If we walk in Truth, sin take its leave! John the apostle

exemplifies this very well and says that owing to the gravity of the

revelation of Truth which he witnessed personally, he realizes that

GOD is light and that there is no darkness in Him at all. Then John,

in his presentation of this discovery, deduces that, “If we say that

we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie,

and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He

is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the

blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1

Jn.1:6-7).

Apostle John is bringing to our attention a significant element of

our fellowship with the LORD. He wipes away the cloud and

narrows down to the most important element which actually

underscores the substance of fellowship with GOD.

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He suddenly discovers that GOD is light, and that in Him there

is no darkness at all. (cf.1 John.1:5). Then he finds out that for us to

be partakers together and enjoy fellowship with this GOD, then we

must be in the light as He is in the light. This goes deeper beyond

the religious “good works” to the real condition of the soul. For

instance, a Christian repented from the sin of stealing so to speak,

he no longer steals but he still covets or craves for another person’s

property.

That crave is a reserved shred of darkness in his soul. Because of

this existence of shred of darkness, he cannot safely determine that

he is in fellowship with GOD, in Whom there is no darkness at all,

no, not in any way. I have italicized the word ‘reserved’ to indicate

that the Christian has knowingly or intentionally held back the

residue of this trait. The Christian may be a regular church-goer, a

wonderful worshipper, even a pastor or a Bishop but before the

GOD of light, he is not at one with Him.

In actual fact, the Christian do not live or practice the Truth

which the Gospel submits. Apostle John further clarified on this

when he said, “He who says he is in the light, and hates his

brother, is in darkness until now.” (1 John.2:9). Righteousness

issues from the deep recesses of the soul, not merely from the mind.

The idea is to “practice’ the truth which is to learn repetitiously

or by exercise. Therefore, to practice the Truth qualifies us to be in

the light even as GOD is in the light. That practice brings us into

fellowship with GOD and it was on this back-drop that Paul said,

“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you

should obey it in its lusts.” (Rom.6:12). Having arguably

exhausted the practical happenings on the Cross and explaining the

reality of the work of the Holy Spirit at salvation,

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Paul now concludes the whole matter in Romans.6:12. “Let not”

is a command that owing to the knowledge of the reality of the work

on the Cross, we should not allow sin to have its way in our mortal

bodies. In other words, GOD determines that henceforth, we

practice the Truth and this call is later made more comprehensible

as, “…exercise yourself toward godliness.” (1 Tim.4:7).

This further confirms that it is not only knowledge of truth that

brings us into right standing with GOD but conforming to it,

therefore we realize this when we always exercise and discipline

ourselves by mortifying our bodies, deadening our carnal

affections, bodily appetites and worldly desires and endeavoring in

all respects to have a clear conscience, void of offence toward GOD

and men. (cf. Acts.24:16).

So again, there is an aspect in practicing the Truth which

actually validates our Christianity. We have just learnt that

practicing the Truth or exercising it brings us into the light,

whereby we have fellowship with GOD. “But he who does the

truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen,

that they have been done in God.” (John.3:21). He who

practices what is right comes out into the light, so that his works

may be plainly shown that they are divinely prompted, done with

GOD’s help, in dependence upon Him. This aspect of practicing the

Truth unfolds as, “…and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses

us from all sin.” (cf. 1 John.1:7).

As we practice the Truth with our whole heart in it, our

fellowship with GOD remains unbroken because the blood of Jesus

Christ removes us from all sin and guilt. The blood keeps us

cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations.

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This is the estimation in Paul’s quest to attain to the knowledge

of the Truth, when he could say, “…but one thing I do, forgetting

those things which are behind, and reaching forward to those

things which are ahead.” (Phi.3:13). Like Paul learnt, we also

must learn that as we press on in our practice of the Truth and come

to be acquainted with it, the precious blood separates us, creates a

boundary or a demarcation between us and the sin which we so

much abhor. So that in the end we, “…lay aside every weight, and

the sin which so easily ensnares us.” (Heb.12:1). In this

unyielding quest to attain to Truth, surely, sin must take its leave!

Sin must wear out and leave because you are bringing light into its

domain by your practice of what is right and so, GOD divides the

light from the darkness. What is this?!

Now we know that GOD helps us through His blood when we

abhor sin and expose it, that is, we do not condone its reign in us.

We are thirsty of the Truth and our souls cannot rest until we get

into it. So as we practice this Truth from deep within us, then we

are assured of the “much more” of the blood of Jesus Christ. The

blood of Christ cleanses our conscience from dead works and

lifeless observances to serve the ever-living GOD! (cf. Heb.9:14).

However, in contrast, GOD brings to attention the implications of

a kind of “Christianity” we have exampled above. He says, “If we

say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is

not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to

forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all

unrighteousness.” (1 John.1:8-9). First of all, since GOD is light

and in Him there is no darkness at all and we seek to fellowship

with Him, then its means that we too must be totally in the light

with no admixture of darkness.

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This tells you that you cannot have the pleasure of calling

yourself a sinner while you are not. “No one born (begotten) of

God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin…”

(1 John.3:9 Amp). Therefore, a sinner is called so because he

deliberately, knowingly and habitually commits or practices sin. If

you take pleasure in calling yourself a sinner while at the same time

admitting to fellowship with GOD, then what a confusion!

I would rather repent from the sin that makes me a sinner and

take pleasure in admitting to fellowship with GOD, right? I believe

that GOD is not pleased, in fact, it adds no value at all to our

Christianity when we take pleasure in being a sinner. There is no

sign of humility there! The LORD Jesus Christ did not call Himself

a sinner as a sign of humility rather His humility was displayed in

His obedience to the will of GOD the Father. A quick reference to

Micah.6:8 highlights the supreme will of God for us, which

warrants our obedience and therein is humility. If you walk in

obedience to the will of GOD, why repute yourself as a sinner? We

have been justified freely through the redemption which has been

provided in Christ Jesus. (cf. Rom.3:24).

Hence, we can now put 1 John.1:8-9 in its proper context that

would give glory to GOD. The intention is that if we refuse to admit

that we are sinners while we are, we delude and lead ourselves

astray, and the Truth is not in us. From the exampled Christian who

repented from stealing and actually stopped stealing but still covets

in his heart, he deludes himself when he regards himself as

righteous and refuses to admit that he is a sinner. His sin which he

has covered up in covetousness, remains. He cannot be separated

from that sin by the blood of Christ until he acknowledges it and

abhors it.

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This is properly drawn out when the LORD Jesus Christ was

addressing the matter of spiritual blindness, where He used the

healing of the blind man in John.9 to draw a comparison in order

to show similarity in some respect. The Pharisees had cast out the

healed blind man from the synagogue but later the LORD heard of

it and found the healed blind man and they conversed, then he

believed in the LORD and worshipped Him.

Then the LORD said, “For judgment I have come into this

world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see

may be made blind.” (John.9:39).

The essence of judgment here is to bring separation between

those who believe in Him and those who reject Him, and to make

those who claim sight to be blind and to make the sightless see. The

latter are they who truly acknowledge their spiritual short-coming,

they are the escapees from sin’s dominion and are running towards

the Light while, like the two blind men, cry out and saying, “Son of

David, have mercy on us.” (Matt.9:27). The LORD also came to

make those who claim to see, that is, those who affirm that they are

righteous while in reality they practice sin, to be spiritually blind.

These are they who are deluded by their self-righteousness and

have rejected the Truth like the five foolish virgins, whose lamps

were going off. (cf. Matt.25.1-13). There sin remained until the last

minute when the Bride-groom arrived woke up to the reality of

their spiritual condition at the “rapture” when it will be too late and

lament, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are

not saved!” (Jer.8:20). How could they be saved at the snick of

time?

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Oh! when GOD appears against us, everything that is against us

appears formidable, as salvation only can be found in the LORD, so

the present moment should be seized. Is there no medicine proper

for a sick and dying kingdom? Is there no skillful, faithful hand to

apply the medicine? Yes, GOD is able to help and to heal them when

there is still the Light, but if sinners die of their wounds, their blood

is upon their own heads. The blood of Christ is balm in Gilead, His

Spirit is the Physician there, all-sufficient; so that the people may

be healed but will not. Thus, men die unpardoned and unchanged,

for they will not come to Christ to be saved.

Therefore, John presents that, “If we confess our sins, he is

faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all

unrighteousness.” (1 John.1:9). This means that if we confess our

sins, and again, in the example we gave, if the Christian further

acknowledges that there is a residue of sin of stealing in his soul

expressed in covetousness and surely abhors it, GOD is faithful to

forgive him and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses him, removes or

separates him from that unrighteousness.

Wow! However, if he covers it, whether knowingly or

unknowingly, and becomes unaware of the true state of his

Christianity and only relishes in the ‘repentance’ from actual

stealing, then the LORD says, “…therefore your sin remains.”

(John.9:41).

Having briefly talked over the kind of interactions we have with

the Light, then we further ascertain that through the Word of GOD,

light came into existence (Gen 1:1-3), and through the revelation of

GOD in Jesus Christ the Word brought light to humanity. The light

that came out of the Word is Christ, the revealed Word.

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This personified revealed Word is the Wisdom of GOD by whom,

“…all things were created that are in heaven and that are on

earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or

principalities or powers. All things were created through Him

and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things

consist.” (Col.1:16-17). This wisdom is the testimony of GOD that

when Paul the apostle came to the Corinthians, he gave a careful

thought to his approach, and resolved to lay aside the ornaments of

speech and philosophical skill to announce Jesus Christ and Him

crucified. (cf. 1 Cor.2:1-2).

It was the pure, unadulterated Gospel of Truth and the intention

of his careful approach in presenting the testimony of GOD is to

ensure that the faith of his hearers “…should not be in the

wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Cor.2:5). We come

to understand when we draw out that the wisdom of GOD is the

power of GOD, who again unto us is, “Christ the power of God, and

the wisdom of God.” (cf.1 Cor.1:24). Therefore, Paul was bringing

to the Corinthians a testimony of the Light, that “…hidden wisdom

which God ordained before the ages for our glory.” (1 Cor.2:7).

This means that our faith should stand in the wisdom of GOD

which is now revealed in Christ, the Son of GOD. It was based on

such knowledge of this revelation that the LORD Jesus Christ said,

“…and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of

Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matt.16:18). Carefully give

a thought to “my church” and you quickly notice that He is

addressing a chosen or called-out assembly for Him. That is, those

who are in Him! They represent the mature or spiritual church and

not natural or fleshy church.

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Therefore, to the mature Christian, his faith is fortified in the

rock, who is Christ Himself, the Wisdom of GOD. Now we

understand why Paul said, “Yet when we are among the full-

grown (spiritually mature Christians who are ripe in

understanding) we do impart a [higher] wisdom (the

knowledge of the divine plan previously hidden) …” (1 Cor.2:6

Amp).

The substance of the “Rock” is therefore a revelation of this

wisdom which is imparted only to Christians who are maturing and

have understanding. Now, to further ventilate on the nature of this

called-out assembly or the church, Paul the apostle determines

their essential quality with a tone of seclusion.

They are separated and according to them, Christ is presented

differently and His treasures are now revealed to and in them. It

says, “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us

wisdom from God- and righteousness and sanctification and

redemption.” (1 Cor.1:30). The use of ‘became for us’ goes deep

to reveal what constitutes true Christianity as emitted by those who

are in Christ, that is, those who have inclined to the wisdom of

GOD. To them, Christ radiates a different perspective that changes

them into Christlikeness.

He changes their ways and thoughts. Surely, He has become for

us wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

Now, we may say, “Therefore, from now on, we regard no one

according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ

according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old

things have passed away; behold, all things have become

new.” (2 Cor.5:16-17)

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The LORD Jesus Christ died for us on the cross, He is our healer,

our protector, our deliverer. He is our life and so forth. These

statements are worthwhile when made in the back-drop of the

knowledge of Him. We cannot continue knowing Him outwardly

because there is life in the deeper knowledge of Him. Of which

knowledge, we are told, “For they are life to those who find

them, and health to all their flesh.” (Prov.4:22). Underline the

word, ‘find’. It indicates a sense of duty and something reserved. To

‘find’ means there is a duty to look for it and that is where our

inclination comes in. We incline unto wisdom which is from above

and not from beneath. “Set your mind on things above, not on

things on the earth.” (Col.3:2)

Then it is reserved! That means in the sight of GOD, it is a high-

valued treasure that cannot be dispensed impulsively. He says, “Do

not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before

swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and

tear you in pieces.” (Matt.7:6). The dogs and swine refer to those

people who have deliberately rejected the message of truth. They

are natural or unspiritual hence the natural man is unreceptive. He

does not admit the truth into his heart.

Spiritual discernment is only generated by the Holy Spirit, the

capacity to know spiritual truth is beyond the innate powers of the

natural man. He does not have the ability to sift the facts. No

wonder, “…the natural man does not receive the things of the

Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know

them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor.2:14).

We know therefore that GOD only “…stores up sound wisdom

for the upright…” (Prov.2:7)

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GOD stores up this high-valued treasure only for the righteous.

My GOD! In this treasure, there is abundant life and health. Again,

look closely at what the LORD Jesus Christ is saying! He says, “He

who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who

loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father,

and I will love him and manifest Myself to him…. If anyone

love Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him,

and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

(John.14:21, 23). He manifests or reveals Himself to the

righteous, that means, that stored up sound wisdom who is Christ

revealed is made manifest in the life of a believer. And what are the

results? They are numerous but to bring up a few.

“…He is a shield to those who walk uprightly, He

guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way

of His saints.” (Prov.2:7-8)

May we notice the italicized words, ‘walk’ ‘paths’ and ‘way’. See

how eager this tremendous Wisdom is to deliver the unwary from

the evil way and to direct the feet of the righteous. The path of safety

and permanence is that in which we are perpetually conscious of

the presence of the Master, Christ.

He is the unseen companion of the soul in its difficult and

perilous pilgrimage and we may in that companionship,

appropriate the shield of Prov. 2:7, the integrity of Prov. 2:8, and

the stability of Prov. 2:21.

“HE who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will

say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;

My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver

you from the snare of the fowler and from the

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perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His

feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge;

His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall

be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the pestilence

that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that

lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your

side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it

shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall

you look, and see the reward of the wicked.”

(Ps.91:1-8).

We that by faith chooses GOD for our protector, shall find all in

Him that we can desire. We have found the comfort of making the

LORD our refuge and cannot but desire that others may do so.

Our spiritual lives are protected by His grace from the

temptations of Satan which are as the snares of the fowler, and

from the contagion of sin which is a noisome pestilence. Great

security is promised to us in the midst of danger. Wisdom shall

keep us from being afraid without cause, and faith shall keep us

from being unduly afraid. Whatever is done, our heavenly Father's

will is done and we have no reason to fear. GOD’s people shall see,

not only GOD’s promises fulfilled, but His foreshadowing of evil.

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