Bible – James G. Owen, Author

Understanding the Sin Nature of Man

By James G. Owen

Why do I stumble? Fail? Why do I keep falling into sin after living by faith for a season? These are the questions I have asked myself these questions many times after receiving salvation. Before getting saved, being forgive by Jesus, I did not have these experiences nor thoughts of failure because I was in sin and did not know the wonderful blessing of being in a relationship with God Jehovah and his son Jesus.

What was the problem? I did not have the knowledge and understanding of scripture at the level where I am now. Growing up I needed the maturity that scripture and prayer to give me the strength I needed. I also cared what people thought about me when I should have been strong and let myself be myself. The other problems are that I let the sin capture me and keep me in bondage. I knew sin had pleasure attached to it and I kept looking over the fence. So, realizing all this what have I been doing to understand? I sat down and wrote a definition of the sin nature from my experience and studies.

What is the Sin Nature of Man?

Before defining we need to know the origin of the sin nature. In Genesis we find Eve and Adam in the Garden of Eden. Both God had instructed Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree of good and evil. The serpent we call Satan began to tell Eve that if she ate of the tree of good and evil, she would know the difference between good and evil and will become like a god. Adam, I believe was sitting there with her and heard the exchange of the conversation. Like any human, curiosity fed the imagination of how it would taste. The longer she thought about how the fruit tasted the greater was the temptation. Eve made the decision to eat of the tree. She enacted the free will that God gave all of us to whom we will serve. Either we search God Jehovah or Satan. That was the choice. As soon as Eve ate of the fruit her eyes was opened. The veil of innocence fell from her eyes. Her innocence was stolen by Satan who lied to her. Adam soon partook of the fruit as well. Scripture does not record why he did not object or direct Eve not to partake of the fruit, but scripture records the fall from perfection into sin.

The Sin Nature of Man Defined

The sin nature is a fallen position. A position that man fell from God’s safety, goodness, love, and a perfect world. The fallen position is the separation of man from God. The purpose of humanity was to worship God and be totally in his image. God created man to multiply and to oversee all of creation on earth. This was man’s habitation. From the soil of earth to the boundary of the first heaven—the sky. When man fell, he was no longer the subject of God, but in bondage to a new master, the slave of Satan. Man had dominion over the earth until his sin, but now Satan has dominion over the world. The Earth was a state of perfection before sin entered, and man went from a perfect creation, a glorified state, to a fallen state into darkness. With God man was always in his light and had direct access to all God possessed. Now Satan wants to illuminate humankind with his gloomy light. Now that sin entered the world and universe, the future generations of man defiled by the sin become part of every human being because the situation did not have a remedy. Sin is generational and has become innate. It is not genetic but is a spiritual transformation. The remedy is an atonement, a blood covenant, and a perfect sacrifice to die for man. No animal or sinful human is perfect. Only God’s son Jesus is the perfect sacrifice. He is pure. There is no spot or blemish, no defilement because he has never sinned. Yet, he took sin upon his shoulders for you and me to deliver us from sin and bring those who accept him back into perfection by believing in him and accepting him. Justification is now in place for those who accept him.

“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

Genesis 2:17

“So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”

Genesis 3:24

The tenets of sin are pride, selfishness, the rebellion against God, his word, and the image of God. Sin is about the destruction of innocence and causes man to be guilty before God and accountable to his rebellion. The nature of sin is humanistic using pleasure to enslave humanity and keep him in depravity. The type of pleasure is varied and affects the psyche of man causing a perversion in his thinking process, imagination, and spirit. Hate, rebellion, disobedience, selfishness, and pride enters the spirit. Now, man has a desire for power to control mostly because of pride. The prideful man is about controlling other men, and nations. Their desire is to be a dictator, a god, that other men look up to as a savior and worship. This is an antichrist type and destruction of God’s creation is the goal. We have seen in world history men who came to power considered themselves as god as evident in the Roman Caesars, and other prominent dictators as recent as the 20^th century. The sin nature is enmity against God. It is against God’s image to usurp his position while working to destroy man who was created by God in his image. Man was originally created above the angels, yet when he sinned his position was lowered below the angels.

Going further into the realm of sin, its claws grab ahold of mankind’s heart and brings upon humanity spiritual bondage. Humankind imprisoned by Satan’s control and now man is a prisoner, a peon, slave to sin and control. Man’s heart now deceives him since the seed of sin has been planted. Man’s master now is Satan because of sin imprisons.

”His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.”

Proverbs 5:22

The spirit of man is now at war within himself. He may want out, but his flesh and mind war against each other. This is the prison. Within this prison we have become defective, ineffective, and impaired, not being able to function as created.

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

Romans 6:16

” But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”

Romans 7:23

The sin nature, a prison, a prison within ourselves that we cannot shake. We cannot provide the answer, the remedy, because of defilement and not in the perfect state. All of creation is wailing and groaning because what man has done. The remedy came in the form of a man and God. He has given his life as a reconciliation and broke the chains of death by giving his life on the cross. He further brought sin to its knees by his resurrection and procured eternal life for all who believe in him. Those of us who want out of the spiritual prison we have found ourselves can now choose the remedy and be set free from sin’s dominion. When we are set free our master becomes Jesus and the reward is eternal life. The sin nature of man will bring him to eternal death. Death being the penalty, the eternal death of separation eternally from God. The first step to a decision to eternal life is realizing and understanding the sin nature of man. Now, we know what holds us. Liberty is at hand.

Notes: All scripture has been taken from the King James Version. Public Domain. BibleGateway.

THE PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONAL CHURCHES COME TOGETHER IN UNITY

by James G. Owen

There are more denominations than choices of fishing tackle. Since the Protestant Reformation the Protestant Movement has grown in number of denominations. Churches split over various reason, but one reason is doctrine.

The denominations have different views for:

Water baptism.
Different millennial positions, such as Premillennialism, Amillennialism, and Postmillennialism.
Pretribulation, Mid-tribulational, and Post-tribulation.
Trinitarian or non-Trinitarian
Eternal Security
Predestination differences
Dispensational vs Non-Dispensational
Belief in the Speaking of Tongues and Baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues.

There are more differences in the denominations than the list I created I think, but we will carry on to making my point of unity. In today’s world, a bizarre year has unfolded, and there is an attack on the Christian Church—Christianity. The churches are not united in doctrine, nor united in spirit and the spiritual battle we are facing globally, and especially here in the United States must be defeated. This means that all differences in doctrine and of any kind must cease and find common ground in fighting this battle together. In numbers we will have victory, being split we are defeated.

The Protestant churches should respect one another and come to the basic of doctrines in scripture, and that is to preach Jesus born of a virgin, ministered, taught, healed, delivered, and raised the dead as spoken in the Gospels of the New Testament. We are called to make disciples of men. We are not to bicker over eschatological opinions and views, or for any other doctrine. Lay these differences down and preach Jesus as the Messiah the only way to salvation and eternal life. This is my point for unity. There may be other avenues for unity among the Protestants and Evangelicals, but we must stand together to fight the spiritual battle we are in globally. We are in a battle for the very soul of the nation of the United States of America. What happens here in this year of 2020 will determine the outcome for the whole world. In the last few months, I have seen reports of using a virus to bring global change, and that change has a name—the Great Reset. A name that I believe has changed from the original term I saw earlier in the year, and that was Tikkun Olam, meaning to fix the world.

To fix the world from the globalist view is to reconstruct the economy, set new rules for environmental issues such as climate change. I see an attack on the Christian churches of shutdown, and the outlawing of bibles. I am aware of the vaccines being produced that have been fast tracked and not taking the usual number of years to develop. For years I have been watching for a new world government to arise, and a new world religion, all set to become a One World System, and I believe I have seen the fundamentals being established using a virus to attain their goals.

So, I am making a clarion call to all Protestant Churches to assemble and to unite in a battle of good versus evil, a spiritual battle that will affect all mankind. Push back the differences and put on the Ephesians 6: 11-18 armor.

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

Centuries ago, there was a Dark Age and there were differences of doctrine and beliefs. Martin Luther came to the forefront of the Reformation Movement and wrote his 95 Theses. Today, we are seeing a New Dark Age coming now being called a Dark Winter, and I have heard this term from a presidential Democratic candidate. The result is the same, but I believe we are into a more difficult time, an indignation because of a political ideology that was not present in the current form we have witnessed in my lifetime.

So, concluding let all Christians who love Jesus project, teach, preach, and evangelize Jesus. Fulfill the evangelical call and go into all the world and preach the gospel.

Notes: All scripture used was taken from the King James Version, Public Domain, BibleGateway.

The Resurrection of Jesus: Is the Resurrection Real, or is it a Fable?

What does the word resurrection mean? It is the raising of the man, woman, or child from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit, which is a person in the in the godhead (God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) of the Father. God is a trichotomous God, yet he is One.

Is the resurrection real? In 1 Kings 17:17-24, I am reminded as I write this article of Elijah and the widow’s son. The widow’s son fell ill and died. The lady complained to Elijah saying she had to pay for her sin by her son’s death. I can imagine that Elijah was grieved by the complaint and learning of the boy’s death. He took the widow’s son to the bedroom and laid him there, and for three times he petitioned God the Father to raise up the boy. After the third time God permitted him to come to life, and the boy did live. Imagine the look on Elijah’s and the widow’s face. With Elijah it must have been the look of determination and of faith. With faith we can move mountains and in enacting our faith we have authority. Elijah’s authority at this time was with the Father, even though God’s Spirit raised the boy from the dead. Also, seeing is believing and the widow believed by sight, and by the word of God that came from Elijah which was truth.

“And the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”

1 Kings 17:24

In Ezekiel, we can read about the story of the dry bones coming together as an army to fight for the Lord. Many think this is a story of the Holocaust, and it could be, but as I have been thinking on my writings this week it could be the raising of an army to go forth to bring the gospel to every man on earth by those who believe in Jesus, the Church.

Also, the basis in the New Testament that the resurrection is not a fable, but truth lies in Jesus raising the body of Lazarus who was dead for four days. It is at this point in the degradation of the human body that it begins to have a stench. Jesus waited until this forth day to prove that the man was dead, I believe, for the people to believe. Jesus by the word of his mouth, just as in Elijah’s case, commanded Lazarus to come forth. Looking upon the sepulcher where Lazarus was laid the people watched as Lazarus came forth clothed in his grave clothes. Here, we see the Old Testament giving its account and the New Testament giving witness of the other.

On the third day after Jesus was crucified, he arose just like he told the disciples. On that same morning there is another account in the New Testament, and that is the saints in the graves of Jerusalem were resurrected and walked the streets. Imagine the power of the Holy Spirit, and the Father. In the Father there is all power and can do the impossible. Surely there were people who did not believe that Jesus was resurrected, but there were many who did because of his actions in his ministry prior to his death. Jesus, arose, folded the grave clothes as he came out of the grave with the gravestone having been rolled away by two angels. Was the sepulcher guarded? Yes, by Roman guards, but they fell asleep, being put to sleep by the angels.

“And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. And they entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,”

Luke 24: 2-6

Imagine the scene as Mary Magdalene and others came to the grave and saw his grave empty and wondering who took him. They didn’t believe at this time, but there were two men at Jesus’s grave site and reminded those present of Jesus’s words. Even telling the apostles they did not believe but came to believe after being reminded, and in the days forward of Jesus coming to him before his ascension. He was seen by many over the land of Palestine before the feast of Pentecost. It was important for Jesus to die for us, and to be resurrected. It is by his death and resurrection that Satan was defeated, and those who choose life through Jesus, death can no longer sting or take hold.

Resurrection is real. Jesus’s resurrection is real and not a fable. Even today, we see a form of resurrection in the hospitals where people are given a shock to get their hearts beating and through resuscitation. Being Pentecostal, I have heard many stories of people being resurrected by the Holy Spirit in church services. We have been given the power through the Holy Spirit given to us, and the Holy Spirit came after Jesus’s death. Remember, Jesus said he would be with us always, and he is through the Holy Spirit.

Note: All scripture used was taken from the King James Version, Public Domain, BibleGateway.

The Messianic Prophecies of the Crucifixion of Jesus in the Old Testament

In previous articles I have shown you the shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament, and that throughout the Old Testament we will continue to find Jesus through messianic prophecies. I have chosen two that prophesy and depict the coming scene many years later from the time of David and Isaiah.

As many have heard, and some may not, Jesus was crucified on a cross for our sins, having been rejected as Messiah and King by the Judeans, as a shepherd in some cases in Galilee. The Judeans sought to kill Jesus from the very start of his ministry by trying to push him off a cliff of which he escaped. Next, we see his triumphant entry into Jerusalem to show himself as Messiah and King, but knowing he is coming to his death. He enters the Garden of Gethsemane and goes to the millstone where olives were pressed, and there he pressed on in prayer trying to get relief from all he was feeling. It was here he prayed so hard in preparation to his sacrifice for man that drops of blood fell to the ground as sweat. The first drops of blood on the road to the cross.

He was arrested, presented before Pontius Pilate because it was against their law to kill a man, and told Pilate they wanted him crucified on the cross, yet Pilate saw no cause to kill an innocent man. To the Judeans insistence, Jesus was taken and flogged by a whip with sharp metal shard, and other pieces of sharp material. Blood was split there, and blood was split throughout Jerusalem. There Jesus was mocked having kingly garments placed on him, and with a crown of thorns as his diadem.

On the road to the cross, Jesus faltered under the burden of the cross he had to carry, and there standing on the side of the street stood Simon of Cyrene. He was there watching, and listening at the scene before him, his name fitting because of its meaning in Hebrew to hearken or listen. As he got under the cross for Jesus to carry the cross the verse comes to mind that Jesus said, “take up my cross and follow me.” As I look upon this scene recorded in the New Testament of Matthew 27, I see a Gentile and a Jew walking together on the road to salvation. The only way to salvation is to the cross, and it is a narrow way just as the streets of Jerusalem were narrow, and so were the road to Golgotha. This scene reminds me of the promise that the Gentiles would be included in prophecy for salvation as well in the Old Testament.

“And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.” Matthew 27:32

The scene of the crucifixion is seen in Psalm 22 written by King David, who was a messiah type. There he makes the cry, My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me? In the New Testament record we see it spoken by Jesus in Aramaic.

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?” Psalm 22:1

As we read further, we see other pieces of the shadow of the cross prophesied. The pieces are of trouble to come, and agony, of giants he had to face, his mouth becoming dry, and the mockery he endured. His strength is almost depleted, and they have pierced his hands and feet, having placed garments on him and have rolled the Roman dice for someone to win.

In Isaiah 53, we see more of the picture of the crucifixion. It is here that Jesus’s physical description is told. He is not a comely man, a man of plain facial features. Next is best described in scripture.

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Isaiah 53:3-5

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.”

Isaiah 53: 7-9

“He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.”

Isaiah 53:11

Jesus bore all the pain, the sins of the world, and agonized on the cross. As I look through spiritual eyes imagining the scene, it would be a horrible site to see a man being treated cruelly, and innocent man, and a perfect sacrifice before the Lord. His side was pierced, and not any bones of his body was broken. He was taken off the cedar tree where he was offered vinegar, and a sign above his head that told the world for generations then and forward. The sign read, “Jesus the King of the Jews.” He was a Judean, and from the line of David, and that qualified him as King and Messiah. He came first to the world as a Shepherd, a minister to tell the world of what it would mean to be saved, just as he told Nicodemus. He told his disciples who asked what would happen in the last days on this earth, and today we are seeing his words come to pass.

Remember this man, a man who was the Son of God having been seeded into Mary by the Holy Spirit. Remember him and believe upon him as you look for love and salvation, and to be delivered of you sins. Those sins cannot be redeemed, cannot be shaken off by any other means besides going to Jesus in prayer. So, my last thought is, always remember Jesus and make a stand for him.

Other references: John 19.

Notes:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_of_Cyrene

All scripture used was taken from the King James Version, Public Domain, BibleGateway.

Gethsemane: The Stone Anointed with Oil and the Treachery of Judas

The week of Passover is about the slaying of a lamb to shed its blood for the Hebrew people so that their first born would not die in the night that the death angel passed over. It is also a time of which the Paschal Lamb’ blood was spilt to provide redemption for all the people. Also, this story tells all mankind that the blood of the Lamb that was spilt during his time in Jerusalem before his blood was fully split at the hill of Golgotha on a cedar tree by the Romans so that all men, regardless of ethnic group which one belonged could have salvation from sin. In the New Covenant, which was prophesied in Jeremiah, this covenant was fulfilled on the cross that Jesus shed his blood for us.

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:

But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Before he went to his death, Jesus prayed through the night at an old olive press among the grove of olive trees, which is located between Jerusalem and the Mount of Corruption (Mt. of Olives). He prayed in agony because he was a man. He was not afraid, had no fear, but knew his destiny was to be the sacrifice and die. His death was to come by the accusations, and the desire of the Judeans who felt threatened by his ministry and wisdom, because he confronted their sins and telling the people when asked if he was the Messiah, Jesus said, “I AM”. In parts of Palestine Jesus was rejected as he cast out demons from those possessed, and those who kept their possessions fled to their city, and those who came to meet him told him to leave. (Matthew 8:34) They would not accept him, yet even this rejection of the messiah was prophesied as well in scripture. (Isaiah 6:10)

“And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.”

Luke 23:2

“He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”

John 1:11

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

I receive not honour from men.

But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.”

John 5:39-43

Isaiah’s prophecy set the stage for Jesus to be rejected by the Judeans. During his time in ministry, the gospel was given to the Judeans by John the Baptist. Jesus had very little contact with the Judeans because the sought to kill him, and he knew if they were successful then his death was to too early. So, he went among the Hebrew tribes in the rest of Palestine in Galilee, and preached, taught, healed, delivered, and raised the dead.

“Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

^“While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.”

John 12:35-40

All the rejection, and the sins of the world was upon his shoulders and grieved his spirit because of mankind’s sin, idolatry and pagan worship, sickness, diseases, mental disorders, demon possessions, the Law of Traditions, and their evil behavior. Every sin you can think of was all over the world, all in the region of Palestine. Therefore, he grieved, prayed, and sweated blots of blood over the millstone that was anointed by oil in a place called Gethsemane.

It was during this night after he prayed that Judas came with a band of people and Judeans. Here is the setting of Juda’s betrayal for a pittance of 30 pieces of silver. Every step of Jesus’s life was prophesied, and now being fulfilled. This is what happened during the first part of Passover, Jesus preparing for his death and being the last sacrifice for man.

Notes:

All scripture used was taken from the King James Version, Public Domain, BibleGateway.

https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/gethsemane-and-the-olive-press

The Shadow of the Cross and the Messiah in the Old Testament

Throughout the Old Testament we see Jesus in the manner of shadows and messiah types. Today, I will spend my time on an example of the shadow in Leviticus 14.

“Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:”

Leviticus 14:4 KJV

In this scripture we see the keywords cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop. The cedar being the tree, the cross that Jesus was placed on to die for our sins, and scarlet depicting his blood. Upon researching the hyssop, I found that it may not be the English mint, Hyssopus officinalis, but the Origanum syriacum which is known as Zaatar. Both plants are in the mint family. A prominent feature of any mint is its square stem. The Origanum syriacum is known to us as Syrian Oregano and is thought to be the biblical hyssop. The mints are aromatic. The Hebrew word that depicts the difference is the word ezob, and the modern Hebrew is ezov, thus rendering the English word hyssop. The Syrian Oregano, Zaatar is a prized herb used in their culinary dishes.

Where does the hyssop plant apply to in this shadow? The hyssop was used as a brush to apply the blood over the lintel and door posts of the houses the Hebrews were dwelling in Egypt during the Passover (Pesach, Pasha). The blood being placed on the doors of the homes and the people told to stay inside meant that their first born would survive. The blood being applied covered the indignation that was to come. The blood in this age covered. We think of the blood as covering our sins, but in the New Covenant it delivers us from sin because Jesus died on the cross to defeat sin and death, and to crush the head of Satan.

“And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.”

Exodus 12:22 KJV

As we look in John 19:29, we see the hyssop how the hyssop was used. While writing this devotional I am looking at this scripture to see its meaning as in symbolism being used in the Old Testament. In Exodus, it is used to apply the blood. The vinegar, which is a ruined wine would mean to me as a blood that was corrupted by sin. Man’s fall into sin affected his life, corrupted everything on earth and is a curse. This curse is generational and affects the blood of men spiritually.

“Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.”

There is another keyword in Leviticus 14 that is depicts what is to come. In verse 51 says,

“And he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times:”

What are the additional the keywords that applies to the Cross? Here we see the words running water. Water depicts the Holy Spirit and life. It was upon the Cross that Jesus would die for our sins but would always be with us through the sending of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 and fulfilling the prophecy of Joel. The Holy Spirit empowers and enables the Church to function and continue the ministry and works of Jesus. From the Crucifixion sin was defeated, yet life, strength, authority, and strength come from the Holy Spirit being with us and in us.

How do we know that Jesus was the sacrifice in the Old Testament? We see the symbolism above, and I will add another shadow keyword, that is red heifer. In Numbers 19:6 it says,

“And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.”

The red heifer, the shadow and symbolism of the blood and perfection. The red heifer in order to qualify must not have any dark hair on its body at all. All the hair must be red. The red heifer is symbolic of the messiah that comes to do the work for mankind forgiveness. The work of forgiveness only comes by confessing our sins to Jesus, the Intercessor between us and the Father.

So, in conclusion, we see the keywords, the shadows all coming together in the Numbers 19. The cedar, scarlet, hyssop, and the red heifer. In the running water, the Holy Spirit is to come later as a mighty rushing wind to fill the temples of men, women, and children. As I look upon this shadow and think on how it all came to be, I see beauty in the manner God works and how much he loves all of us. His love being shown in willing to die for mankind.

Notes:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origanum_syriacum

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Za%27atar

All scripture used was taken from the King James Version, Public Domain, Biblegateway.

Portion Three: Educating the Christians of the Noahide Law and Code. Are These Laws and Codes a Path to Apostasy?

All my life I have heard the teaching in my church and Sunday School that one day people will begin listen and to believe other doctrines, search out other religions, and deny or renounce the deity of Jesus as Messiah. Reading and studying this week since Portion Two I have come to think and believe that we are living in the days of apostasy. Studying the Noahide Code there are some Jews that believe that Christianity is idolatry. I stress that not all Jews believe this view, and there are sweet, loving righteous Jews that love God, and a remnant of Messianic Jews who believe in Jesus, or Yeshua.

But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it be received with thanksgiving:
1 Timothy 4:1-4 ASV

For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; ⁴and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 ASV

How does Christianity become idolatry from those who believe Christianity is idolatry? Most Christians believe that God is Elohim, that is his deity and nature is trichotomous, meaning a trinity of God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. Also, another aspect of Christian belief is that God sent his Son Jesus to earth by being conceived of a virgin by the Holy Spirit, ministered to the people of Israel through the teachings of the Torah and Tanakh (Pentateuch and Old Testament), ministered miracles, healings, and raised the dead. The final aspect that God loved the world his Son as a sacrifice to die on a Cross for the sin of all mankind, and that Christians pray to Jesus as an intermediary, an intercessor before God to make our petitions known. Because we believe in a man who was God, a perfect man who kept the total law, then this sect of Jews believe we are avodah zarah, idolaters, creating a shituf (association), and by certain Talmudists as Rambam, then this infraction is punishable by death.

How does the Noahide code bring mankind to apostasy? By making a declaration to a Noahide Court, or the Sanhedrin by quoting the Noahide declaration one must denounce that Jesus is deity, and Messiah. It is the Gentile groups of churches, and people who no longer believe in the deity of Jesus. Has anyone quoted this declaration and made the statement of no longer believing in Jesus? Yes, they have.

Does one have to declare themselves a Noahide to bring their mind and life to apostasy? This is just one way, but other ways are simply not believing in Jesus as Savior, worshiping pagan and occultic gods, false doctrine and teachings that causes one to renounce God and Jesus. Within Christian circles there are congregations who do not believe in the deity of Jesus, and these groups will not be characterized as idolaters, but will be considered Noahides because of their disbelief in Jesus. Within the bible from Genesis to Revelation, particularly the synoptic gospels and the book of John, there is plenty of evidence that Jesus was the Messiah, and that he was in himself God as well.

So, how does one know how to escape the deception that is among us and is also finishing its presence? By the reading of the Word of God, placing it within your heart and mind, believing upon Jesus and relying on his Holy Spirit to reveal the truth to us by discernment. Also, in scripture there is coming a time when a One World Government will be functioning, that the concern of the Noahide law and codes may be part of this government and of their enforcement.

And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.
Revelaton 13: 15-17 ASV

Being in the word of God, praying, keeping our minds on God we will be vigilant in seeing these things and will be able to avoid them by not making a declaration, nor accepting the mark of the beast. I have been thinking in the last few days, maybe weeks, readying myself should a day come that I must choose between the Noahide law and code, or Jesus, that my spirit will be at peace knowing that choosing Jesus as my Savior and Messiah is the right decision even knowing I would pay a physical price in standing firm in my faith. It is a decision, a conscious one, but I do stand firm courageously knowing my eternity and reward is assured and that my future is in being with God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit in heaven.

Notes

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNrfTobsr4I Israeli Elections, Talmud and Noahide laws Steve and Jana De Noon www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Noahide_Laws

www.breakingisraelnews.com/109789/non-jews-take-noahide-vow-on-temple-mount-recreating-biblical-ger-toshav/ Four Texans making Noahide Declaration in Israel no longer believers of Jesus
https://www.charismanews.com/opinion/62500-what-s-behind-the-seemingly-unrelenting-rise-of-satanism

All scripture given was taken from the American Standard Version, Public Domain, Biblegateway.