Isaiah 48:16 - JESUS MESSIAH: GOD With us.
"Come near to ME, listen to this:From The First I Have Not Spoken In Secret, From The Time It Took Place, I Was There.And Now The LORD GOD Has Sent ME, And HIS SPIRIT." Isaiah 48:16.
Here in Isaiah 48, Prophecy Spoken Through Isaiah around 600-700 BC: GOD The SON: The WORD Of GOD Speaking that GOD The FATHER Has Sent HIM, And GOD The HOLY SPIRIT: being of The Coming Of MESSIAH And With HIM The New Covenant In HIS Blood, Through Which GOD Gives HIS HOLY SPIRIT To those who obey HIM; To those who will believe in HIM In Truth: having a Saving faith in GOD.
For we Through The SPIRIT, by faith, are waiting for The Hope Of Righteousness.Galatians 5:5.
...But when The Fullness of The Time Came, GOD Sent Forth HIS SON, Born of a woman, Born under The Law, in order that HE might Redeem those who were under The Law, that we might Receive The Adoption as sons.And because you are sons, GOD Has Sent Forth The SPIRIT Of HIS SON Into our hearts, crying, "ABBA! FATHER!"Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir Through GOD...Galatians 4:4-7. (Romans 8:12-17).
Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, JESUS stood and cried out, Saying,"If any man is thirsty, let him come to ME and drink."He who believes in ME, as The Scripture Said, 'From his innermost being shall flow rivers of Living Water.' " (Isaiah 12, Isaiah 44:3-5, Isaiah 58:11, Isaiah 59:21).But this HE Spoke Of The SPIRIT, WHOM those who believed in HIM were to Receive; for The SPIRIT was not yet, because JESUS was not yet Glorified.John 7:38-39.
Therefore having been Justified by faith, we have peace with GOD Through our LORD JESUS CHRIST, Through WHOM Also we have obtained our Introduction by faith into this Grace in which we stand; and we exult in Hope Of The Glory Of GOD.And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, Hope; and Hope does not disappoint, because The Love Of GOD Has Been Poured Out within our hearts Through The HOLY SPIRIT WHO Was Given To us...Romans 5:1-5.
The LORD GOD: THE FATHER And The SON And The HOLY SPIRIT.
As there are those who will refuse GOD in HIS Word in Isaiah 48:16 and look to distort what GOD Says, and in doing so, for the sake of their own choosing and in their own understanding, it is necessary to look through all Scripture to see exactly what GOD HIMSELF Says Of HIMSELF; Of HIS MESSIAH, understanding that there can be no contradictions held within The GOD Breathed Word, in order to be standing in Truth just as Truth Is In JESUS.
"Hear, O Israel! The LORD Is our GOD, The LORD Is ONE!And you shall love The LORD your GOD with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might... Deuteronomy 6:4-5.
The word here in Deuteronomy 6:4, translated as, Is ONE, is translated from the Hebrew word, Echâd.
Echâd in Deuteronomy 6:4 means one, yet not one in a singular sense (i.e., Genesis 2:24, Genesis 3:22, Genesis 21:15, Genesis 34:16, Genesis 34:22, Exodus 9:6-7, Exodus 14:28, Exodus 24:3).
It is why The LORD JESUS CHRIST, Written as we have as John 10:30, can Say and does Say,"I And The FATHER Are ONE."
But as man will make controversy and argue even over this, it is necessary to see what, in The GOD Breathed Word,(2 Samuel 23:2-4, Luke 1:68-70, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 1 Peter 1:10-12, 2 Peter 1:21 - 2:3), ALMIGHTY GOD States Of HIMSELF and Of HIS MESSIAH, as well as Prophecies concerning The Coming Of GODS' MESSIAH, Which are Fulfilled in The Coming Of JESUS and Show also that it is impossible to be fulfilled in and by any other.
"Truly, truly, I Say To you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin."And the slave does not remain in The House forever; the son does remain forever (Romans 8:12-17, Matthew 13:24-43)."If therefore The SON shall Make you Free (from sin), you shall be Free indeed...John 8:34-36 (Romans 6).
...As to this Salvation, the Prophets who Prophesied of The Grace that would come to you made careful search and inquiry, seeking to know what Person or Time The SPIRIT Of MESSIAH Within them was Indicating as HE Predicted the Sufferings Of MESSIAH and the Glories to follow.
It was Revealed To them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in These Things Which now have been announced to you through those who preached The Gospel to you By The HOLY SPIRIT Sent From Heaven - Things into which angels long to look.
Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on The Grace to be Brought To you At The Revelation Of JESUS CHRIST.
By Grace through faith are the things which we have Written in both the Old and New Testament for all who seek to know GOD'S Wisdom in a Mystery; to seek and to find The Hidden Wisdom Which GOD Predestined before the ages to our glory; Through and By faith in The LORD Of Glory, JESUS The SON Of GOD (1 Corinthians 2).
"You, search The Scriptures!Because you think that in them you have Eternal Life; and It Is These that Bear Witness Of ME; and you are unwilling to come to ME, that you may have Life..." John 5:39-40.Though in HIS Words here The LORD JESUS is referring to the Old Testament Scriptures, what we have now as the New Testament Scriptures are, in their correct interpretation, The Truth Of GOD fulfilled and HIS Way and Wisdom also Revealed to all who will humbly seek to find.
In writing this it is to show that to refuse Scripture in all that is stated throughout The GOD Breathed Word is to be shown to be living apart from faith in GOD, no matter what is claimed, believed on and followed.We cannot deny GOD and at same time also claim to believe in GOD.
Many even will lay claim to being Christian, but will deny just WHO GOD'S MESSIAH JESUS Is and what means to follow HIM; all that is according to GOD HIMSELF, Written Throughout HIS Word.It is never the interpretation according to any mere mortal man himself (Jeremiah 23:16-32, 2 Peter 1:16 - 2:3, 1 Corinthians 2:7-16).
Now I urge you, Brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to The Teaching Which you learned and turn away from them.For such men are slaves, not Of our LORD CHRIST but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. Romans 16:17-18.
WHO Has Ascended Into Heaven And Descended?WHO Has Gathered the wind In HIS Fists?WHO Has Wrapped the waters In HIS Garment?WHO Has Established all the ends of the earth?What Is HIS Name Or HIS SON'S Name?Surely you know!Proverbs 30:4.
And in writing here, if read by one who professes to believe in The GOD Of Abraham And The GOD Of Isaac And The GOD Of Jacob (HE is not The GOD of the dead, but Of the living; for all live to HIM), and who will yet still deny and refuse HIS Word, it is no less than to obstinately choose to deny GOD HIMSELF for the sake of what is, through merely proving to be self-willed, stubbornly upholding a lie which will prove to be of no benefit to any in The Day Of Judgement: The Day Of Judgement and Destruction of ungodly men, which GOD States throughout HIS Word that is one day soon Coming upon the world.
Those Of GOD hear The Words Of GOD.
But do not let this one fact escape you, Beloved, that with The LORD one day is a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.The LORD is not slow about HIS Promise, as some count slowness, but Is Patient Towards you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
But The Day Of The LORD Will Come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.Since all these things are to be Destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in Holy conduct and Godliness, looking for and hastening The Coming Of The Day Of GOD, on account of which the heavens will be Destroyed by burning and the elements will melt with intense heat!But according to HIS Promise we are looking for New Heavens and a New earth, in which Righteousness dwells...2 Peter 3:8-13
As the Apostle Paul writes to The Church at that time in Thessalonica, and in The Foreknowledge Of GOD to those also who believe according to the Apostles' teaching, (Acts 2:22-42) from that day until now and to The Day Of Eternity,
... therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among The Churches Of GOD for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.A plain indication of GOD'S Righteous Judgement so that you may be considered worthy of The Kingdom Of GOD, for Which you are indeed suffering.For after all it is just for GOD to Repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when The LORD JESUS Shall Be Revealed From Heaven With HIS Mighty angels in Flaming Fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know GOD and to those who do not obey The Gospel Of our LORD JESUS.And these will pay the penalty of Eternal Destruction, away from The Presence Of The LORD And from The Glory Of HIS Power, when HE Comes to be Glorified in HIS Saints on That Day, and to be marvelled at among all who have believed - for our testimony to you was believed.
To this end also we pray for you always that our GOD may Count you worthy of your Calling and fulfill every desire for Goodness and The Work of faith With Power;in order that The Name Of our LORD JESUS may be Glorified in you, and you In HIM, according to The Grace Of our GOD And The LORD JESUS CHRIST...2 Thessalonians 1:4-12.
Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing?The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against The LORD and against HIS ANOINTED (HIS MESSIAH):"Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!"
HE WHO Sits In The Heavens Laughs,The LORD Scoffs At them.Then HE Will Speak To them In HIS Anger and terrify them In HIS Fury:"But as for ME, I Have Installed MY KING Upon Zion, MY Holy Mountain."
"I Will Surely Tell of The Decree Of The LORD:HE Said To ME, 'THOU Art MY SON, Today I Have Begotten THEE.'Ask of ME And I Will Surely Give the nations As THINE Inheritance And the ends of the earth As THY Possession.'THOU Shalt Break them With A Rod Of Iron, THOU Shalt Shatter them like earthenware.' "Psalm 2.
...As for the Saints who are in the earth,They are the majestic ones in whom is all my (MY) delight.The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied;I shall not pour out their libations of blood, nor shall I take their names upon my lips...Psalm 16:3-4.
THY people will volunteer freely in The Day Of THY Power;In Holy array, from the womb of the dawn, THY youth are to THEE as the dew.Psalm 110:3.
And in it all, for such a one who professes to believe in GOD and yet refuses HIS Word; being tantamount to calling GOD a liar, it is to be foolishly doing so over truly believing in HIM; believing towards a Saving faith in The Only True GOD and JESUS CHRIST WHOM HE Sent.
"For GOD So Loved the world, that HE Gave HIS Only Begotten SON, that whosoever believes in HIM should not perish, but have Eternal Life...John 3:16.
"And This Is Eternal Life, that they may know THEE, The Only True GOD And JESUS CHRIST WHOM THOU Hast Sent... John 17:3.
"Sanctify them In The Truth; THY WORD Is Truth... John 17:17.
For I say that CHRIST Has Become A Servant To the circumcision On Behalf Of The Truth Of GOD To Confirm The Promises To the fathers and for the Gentiles to Glorify GOD for HIS Mercy; as It Is Written,"Therefore I will give praise to THEE among the Gentiles and I will sing praise to THY Name."And again he says,"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with HIS people."And again,"Praise The LORD all you Gentiles and let all the peoples praise HIM."And again Isaiah says,"There shall come the root of Jesse and HE WHO Arises To Rule Over the Gentiles, In HIM shall the Gentiles hope."
Now may The GOD Of Hope Fill you with all Joy and Peace in believing, that you may abound in Hope By The Power Of The HOLY SPIRIT.Romans 15:8-13.
Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes, and the deaf, even though they have ears.All the nations have gathered together in order that the peoples may be assembled.Who among them can declare this and proclaim to us the former things?Let them present their witnesses that they may be justified, or let them hear and say, "It is true."
"You are MY witnesses," Declares The LORD, "And MY servant whom I Have Chosen, in order that you may know and believe ME, and understand that I AM HE.Before ME there was no GOD Formed and there will be none after ME.
"I, Even I, AM The LORD;And their is no saviour besides ME."It Is I WHO Have Declared And Saved And Proclaimed, and there was no strange god among you;So you are MY witnesses," Declares The LORD, "And I AM GOD. "Even From Eternity I AM HE; And there is none who can deliver out of MY Hand; I Act and who can reverse it?" Isaiah 43:8-13.
"WHO Has Performed And Accomplished, Calling Forth the generations from the beginning?I, The LORD, AM The FIRST, And With The LAST.I AM HE.' " Isaiah 41:4,
"Thus Says The LORD, The KING Of Israel And his REDEEMER, The LORD Of Hosts: 'I AM The FIRST And I AM The LAST And there is no GOD Besides ME.'And who is like ME? Let him proclaim and declare it;Yes, let him recount it to ME in order, From The Time That I Established the Ancient Nation.And let him declare to them the things that are Coming and the events that are going to take place.'Do not tremble and do not be afraid;Have I Not Long Since Announced It To you And Declared It?And you are MY witnesses.Is there any GOD Besides ME, or is there any other ROCK?I Know of none.' " Isaiah 44:6-8.
Throughout the New Testament The LORD JESUS CHRIST and HIS Apostles both show and speak of exactly WHO HE, JESUS, Is.
We see uneducated and untrained men with confidence speaking of and doing things beyond the knowledge and capabilities of mortal man (Acts 4:13-14, Acts 3:1-26).
We see a man, Paul, of the Tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, as to The Law, a Pharisee, who was educated under Gamaliel, a teacher of The Law respected by all the people (Acts 5:34).
And Paul, who once persecuted The Church Of GOD, yet who, after the Risen LORD JESUS had Appeared to him, began preaching that JESUS Is The CHRIST and himself speaking of HIS Deity (Acts 22:1-21, Philippians 3:3-21).
The Apostle Paul writes in his letter to The Church, to those at that time at Philippi, who were also partakers of Grace with him through The faith that is in CHRIST JESUS (Philippians 1:3-11).And in the Foreknowledge Of GOD he writes to us also who are partakers of Grace with them (Acts 2:42), who follow the same example and Teaching as the Apostles Of our LORD JESUS CHRIST (Philippians 3:17-21, 1 Peter 5:2-5, 2 John:6-11), that we too might know the exact Truth, just as he at that time wrote to them, exhorting them to be of the same mind, maintaining the same love, United in spirit, intent on one purpose; that being GOD'S Purpose in accordance with the True Knowledge Of GOD And Of JESUS our LORD for all who will believe in HIM:
...Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each one of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in CHRIST JESUS, WHO, although HE Existed In The Form Of GOD, did not regard Equality With GOD a thing to be grasped, but emptied HIMSELF, Taking The Form of a Bond-Servant, being Made in the likeness of men.
And being found in Appearance as a Man, HE Humbled HIMSELF by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Therefore GOD (The FATHER) Highly Exalted HIM And Bestowed On HIM The Name Which Is Above every name, that at The Name Of JESUS every knees should bow, of those who are in Heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that JESUS CHRIST Is LORD, To The Glory Of GOD The FATHER...Philippians 2:3-11.
("It Is Written, 'You shall worship The LORD your GOD and serve HIM only.' " Luke 4:8, Matthew 4:10)
As he also writes, in his letter and instruction to Titus,
...For The Grace Of GOD Has Appeared, bringing Salvation To all men, Instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, Righteously and Godly in the present age, looking for The Blessed Hope and The Appearing Of The Glory Of our Great GOD And SAVIOUR, CHRIST JESUS; WHO Gave HIMSELF For us, that HE might Redeem us from every lawless deed and Purify For HIMSELF a people for HIS Own Possession, zealous for Good deeds.
These things speak and exhort and reprove with all Authority. Let no one disregard you.Titus 2:11-15.
And the Apostle Peter, in his opening address in what we have as his second letter,
Simon Peter, a bond-servant and Apostle Of JESUS CHRIST, to those who have Received a faith of the same kind as ours, By The Righteousness Of our GOD And SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST:Grace and Peace be Multiplied To you In The Knowledge Of GOD And Of JESUS our LORD; seeing that HIS Divine Power Has Granted To us Everything Pertaining To Life And Godliness, Through The True Knowledge Of HIM WHO Called us By HIS Own Glory And Excellence...2 Peter 1:1-3.
The Apostle John, in The SPIRIT, begins to write his account of The Good News Of JESUS CHRIST, by writing of HIM,
In The Beginning Was The WORD and The WORD Was With GOD, and The WORD Was GOD.HE Was In The Beginning With GOD.All things Came Into Being By HIM And apart from HIM nothing came into being that Has Come Into Being.In HIM was Life and The Life Was The Light of men.And The Light Shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend It......HE Was In the world and the world was Made Through HIM, and the world did not know HIM......And The WORD Became Flesh and Dwelt among us, and we beheld HIS Glory, Glory As Of The Only Begotten From The FATHER, Full of Grace And Truth... John 1:1-5 & v 10 & v 14.
And so John here also writes both acknowledging and confirming The Deity Of JESUS CHRIST.Those who refuse this Truth, distorting The Scriptures, do so refusing GOD HIMSELF and calling HIM a liar.
In Scripture we see the Jews in their reactions to JESUS' Words and likewise to HIS Apostles and their preaching, which show that they understood exactly what JESUS was Stating at times To them, as well as what HIS followers understood and believed; and yet still they denied and refused GOD (John 8:43-47), even blinded by the hardness of their own heart.
..."I And The FATHER Are ONE."The Jews took up stones again to stone HIM. JESUS Answered them, "I Showed you many Good Works From The FATHER; for Which of Them are you stoning ME?"The Jews answered HIM, "For a good work we do not stone YOU, but for blasphemy; and because YOU, being a Man, make YOURSELF out to be GOD."... John 10:30-33.
Yet still, despite seeing all that JESUS Did and hearing HIS Words, Through Which The FATHER Bore Witness Of HIM, they still rejected GOD'S MESSIAH, just as Prophecy Foretold Of HIM, as Is Written in Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12 (written around 600 - 700 BC) and Psalm 22 (written even earlier).
But there were those who believed.
Thus Says The LORD GOD, WHO Created the Heavens and Stretched them out,WHO Spread Out the earth and its offspring,WHO Gives Breath To the people on it and spirit To those who walk in it,"I AM The LORD, I Have Called you in Righteousness, I Will Hold you by the hand and Watch Over you and I Will Appoint you as a Covenant to the people, as a light To the nations,To open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon and those who dwell in darkness from the prison (Luke 24:44-49, Mark 16:15-18, Matthew 28:16-20).
"I AM The LORD, That Is MY Name;I Will Not Give MY Glory to another, nor MY Praise to graven images.
"Behold, the former things have Come To Pass, Now I Declare New Things;Before they Spring Forth I Proclaim To you."Isaiah 42:5-9.
...How Blessed is he whose help is The GOD Of Jacob, whose hope is in The LORD his GOD;WHO Made Heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them; WHO Keeps Faith Forever; WHO Executes justice for the oppressed; WHO Gives food to the hungry.The LORD Sets the prisoners Free.
The LORD Opens the eyes of the blind; The LORD Raises Up those who are bowed down (humble); The LORD Loves the Righteous; The LORD Protects the strangers; HE Supports the fatherless and the widow; But HE Thwarts the way of the wicked...Psalm 146:5-9.
As written in Isaiah 44:6,"Thus Says The LORD, The KING Of Israel And his REDEEMER, The LORD Of Hosts: 'I AM The FIRST And I AM The LAST And there is no GOD Besides ME.,
That there is no GOD Besides HIM WHO Says,'I AM The FIRST And The LAST,' we see in Revelation 1:5-8, being, The Revelation Of JESUS CHRIST, where It Is Written,
...and from JESUS CHRIST, The Faithful Witness, The First-Born Of the dead (Romans 8:29) and The Ruler Of the kings of the earth (HE Is KING Of Kings And LORD Of Lords).
To HIM WHO loves us, and Released us from our sins By HIS Blood, and HE Has Made us A Kingdom, priests to HIS GOD And FATHER; To HIM The Glory And The Dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Behold, HE Is Coming With the clouds, and every eye will see HIM, even those who pierced HIM; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over HIM. Even so. Amen.
"I AM The ALPHA And The OMEGA," Says The LORD GOD, "WHO Is And WHO Was And WHO Is To Come, The ALMIGHTY."
And in Revelation 1:12-18, John, the Apostle who walked with JESUS in The Days Of HIS Flesh, seeing JESUS As HE Is, and HIS Appearance causing John, as he writes,
...And when I saw HIM, I fell at HIS Feet as a dead man. AND HE Laid HIS Right Hand Upon me, Saying,"Do not be afraid; I AM The FIRST And The LAST, And The Living ONE; and I Was Dead, and Behold, I AM Alive Forevermore, and I Have The Keys Of Death and Of Hades...Revelation 1:17-18.
The Disciples, when they proceeded to Galilee, to The Mountain which JESUS had designated, and they saw The Risen LORD JESUS, Scripture tells us,...And when they saw HIM they worshiped HIM; but some were doubtful... Matthew 28:17.
"It Is Written, 'You shall worship The LORD your GOD and serve HIM only.' " Luke 4:8.
Later in Revelation, the Apostle John, one of the Disciples that worshiped JESUS on the mountain, says, that when he heard and saw great things shown him by an angel, he fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had showed him these things, and Scripture tells us the angels response,
And he said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and of your Brethren the Prophets and of those who heed The Words Of This Book; worship GOD."Revelation 22:1-9 (v 9).
This also occured, Written as we have as Revelation 19,...And he said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are Invited to The Marriage Supper Of The LAMB.' "And he said to me, "These are True Words Of GOD."And I fell at his feet to worship him.And he said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your Brethren who hold The Testimony Of JESUS; worship GOD.For The Testimony Of JESUS Is The Spirit Of Prophecy." (v 9-10).
The man born blind and Healed of his blindness by JESUS (John 9), who was then put out by the Pharisees, because the Pharisees rejected JESUS and rejected this man's testimony of HIS Healing him.On JESUS Hearing of this man's treatment at the hands of the Pharisees, HE then finds him and Speaks with him, and the man worshiped HIM; John 9:35-39.There is no rebuke for him, because The SON Of Man Is GOD.
Let THY Hand Be Upon The Man Of THY Right Hand, Upon The SON Of Man WHOM THOU Didst Make Strong For THYSELF.Then we shall not turn back from THEE; Revive us and we will call upon THY Name.O LORD GOD Of Hosts, Restore us;Cause THY Face To Shine, and we will be Saved.Psalm 80:17-19.
"It Is Written, 'You shall worship The LORD your GOD and serve HIM only.' " Luke 4:8.
As Is Written in Hebrews,
GOD, after HE Spoke long ago to the fathers in the Prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days Has Spoken To us In HIS SON, WHOM HE Appointed Heir Of All Things, Through WHOM Also HE Made the world.
And HE (JESUS) Is The Radiance Of HIS Glory And The Exact Representation Of HIS Nature, And Upholds All Things By The Word Of HIS Power.
When HE Had Made Purification of sins, HE Sat Down At The Right Hand Of The MAJESTY On High; having become as much better than the angels, as HE Has Inherited A More Excellent Name than they.
For To Which of the angels did HE ever Say,"THOU Art MY SON,Today I Have Begotten THEE"?And again,"I Will Be A FATHER To HIM And HE Shall Be A SON To ME"?And When HE Again Brings The First-Born (Romans 8:29) Into the world (HIS Second Coming), HE Says,"And let all the angels Of GOD Worship HIM."And of the angels HE Says,"Who Makes HIS angels winds and HIS ministers a flame of fire,"But Of The SON,"THY Throne, O GOD, Is Forever And Ever And The Righteous Sceptre Is The Sceptre Of THY Kingdom."THOU Hast Loved Righteousness And Hated Lawlessness;Therefore GOD (The SON), THY GOD (The FATHER), Hath Anointed THEE With The Oil Of Gladness Above THY companions."And,"THOU, LORD, In The Beginning Didst Lay The Foundation Of The Earth, and The Heavens Are The Works Of THY Hands;They will perish, but THOU Remainest;And they will all become old as a garment,And as a mantle THOU Wilt Roll Them Up;As a garment they will also be Changed.But THOU Art The Same,And THY Years Will Not Come To An End."
But to which of the angels has HE ever Said,"Sit At MY Right Hand,Untill I Make THINE enemies A Footstool For THY Feet"?
Are they not all ministering spirits, Sent Out to render service for the sake of those who will Inherit Salvation?
For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away.For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience Received a just recompense, how shall we escape if we neglect so Great A Salvation?
After It was First Spoken Through The LORD, it was confirmed to us by those who heard...Hebrews 1:1 - 2:3.
It is JESUS The SON Of GOD WHO Died and Rose again, as the Apostle Paul writes,...and HE Died For all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for HIM WHO Died And Rose Again On their Behalf...2 Corinthians 5:15.
And It Is JESUS WHO Says, "...I AM The FIRST And The LAST, And The Living ONE; and I Was Dead, and Behold, I AM Alive Forevermore, and I Have The Keys Of Death and Of Hades...
And as Luke writes, quoting The Words Of The Risen LORD JESUS before HE was Taken Up (Acts 1:6-11),Now HE Said To them,"These Are MY Words Which I Spoke To you while I was still With you, that all things which are Written about ME in The Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be Fulfilled."
Then HE Opened their minds to understand The Scriptures, and HE Said To them,"Thus It Is Written, that The CHRIST should Suffer and Rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance for Forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in HIS Name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem."You are witnesses of These Things...Luke 24:44-48.
And the author of Hebrews, in speaking of the faith of those who believed in GOD; men of old, those of whom the world was not worthy, who saw and welcomed The Promises Of GOD from a distance, who died in faith (Hebrews 11), writes,
...Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on JESUS, The Author And Perfecter Of Faith, WHO For The Joy Set Before HIM Endured The Cross, despising the shame, and has Sat Down At The Right Hand Of The Throne Of GOD.
For consider HIM WHO Has Endured such hostility by sinners against HIMSELF, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.Hebrews 12:1-3.
That GOD'S MESSIAH would be both GOD And Man, and that to be equal with GOD HE Had To HIMSELF Be GOD, is given in Old Testament Scripture; in The Law and The Prophets and The Psalms.
Written in what we have as Luke chapter 20, The LORD JESUS Asks the scribes a question, quoting from Psalm 110,
And HE Said To them,"How is it that they say The CHRIST is David's son?"For David himself says in The Book of Psalms,'The LORD Said To my LORD, "Sit At MY Right Hand, until I Make THINE enemies a footstool For THY Feet." '"David calls HIM 'LORD,' and how Is HE his son?"...
David was then king, and as such had none, other than GOD, with whom he would call them his LORD.
The LORD (GOD The FATHER) Said To my LORD (MESSIAH) Sit At MY Right Hand, Untill I Make THINE enemies(enemies through HIS First Coming and HIS being rejected by Israel; Isaiah 49:7-13, Romans 11:25-36, 1 Corinthians 2:7)a footstool For THY Feet.
As MESSIAH is Said to Sit at GOD'S Right Hand, throughout Scripture, MESSIAH has to be Equal With GOD.
"Awake, O sword, against MY Shepherd and against The Man, MY Associate (Kinsman; Equal)," Declares The LORD Of Hosts."Strike The Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered; and I Will Turn MY Hand Against the little ones.Zechariah 13:7.
To Sit at The Right Hand Of GOD, again, The SON Of Man must be Equal With GOD.The Jews at that time understood this, yet many today seem not to understand this.
Caiaphas, who was the high priest in The Days Of HIS Flesh, asked JESUS after HE had been betrayed and was brought before the whole Council and suffering many false witnesses who were speaking against HIM, (and according to the Prophecy concerning HIM; Psalm 22:12-13) saying to JESUS,"I adjure You by The Living GOD, that YOU tell us whether YOU are The CHRIST, The SON Of GOD."
JESUS Said To him,"You have said it; nevertheless I Tell you, hereafter you shall see The SON Of Man Sitting At The Right Hand Of Power And Coming On The Clouds Of Heaven."Matthew 26:62-63.
Caiaphas the high priest understood exactly what JESUS was Stating in The Words of HIS Reply, and is why Scripture goes on to tell us,
Then the high priest tore his robes, saying, "HE has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; what do you think?"Matthew 26:65-66a.
Prophecy States that MESSIAH would be born in Bethlehem, being both GOD; having Existed from the Days Of Eternity, and A Man, having been Born of a woman:
"But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah,From you ONE Will Go Forth For ME To Be Ruler in Israel.HIS Goings Forth Are From Long Ago, From Days Of Eternity."Micah 5:2 (Matthew 2:1-6, Luke 2:1-20).
..."Therefore The LORD HIMSELF Will Give you A Sign: Behold, the virgin will be with Child and bear a Son, and she will call HIS Name Immanuel (GOD With us).Isaiah 7:14 (Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-56).
In Psalm 110, verse 4 states,The LORD Has Sworn And Will Not Change HIS Mind, "THOU Art A Priest Forever According to the order of Melchizedek,"
In Hebrews, It Is Written,...This Hope we have as an anchor of the soul, A Hope both Sure and Steadfast and One Which enters within The Veil, where JESUS Has Entered As A Forerunner For us, Having Become A High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest Of The MOST HIGH GOD, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation, king of righteousness and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like The SON Of GOD, he abides a priest perpetually...Hebrews 6:19 - 7:3.
ALMIGHTY GOD Is From Everlasting To Everlasting.
GOD'S MESSIAH Is both High Priest And A King, being according to the order of Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-24), and not for a time, but as Psalm 110:4 States, being forever.
This too is the fulfillment of Prophecy in JESUS and can only be Of JESUS.In AD 70 with the destruction of the temple all the records were lost, and from that time none could prove their lineage being of the Tribe of Judah, which is where Prophecy States MESSIAH will Come from;
"The Sceptre Shall Not Depart from Judah,Nor The Ruler's Staff from between his feet,Until SHILOH Comes,And to HIM the obedience of the peoples.Genesis 49:10.
Under The Law which Came later after the time of Abraham and Melchizedek, it was not possible for one to be both king and priest, as priests had to be of the Tribe of Levi (Exodus 38:21, Deuteronomy 18:1-5) and kings of the Tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10, See also Matthew 1:1-16).
So the New Covenant In HIS Blood did away with the Old Covenant; The Law, and all according to GOD'S Promise, which can be seen and understood in reading Hebrews chapters 7 - 10.
Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received The Law), what further need was there for another Priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of Law also.For The ONE Concerning WHOM These Things Are Spoken Belongs to another Tribe, from which no one has officiated at The Altar.For it is evident that our LORD was Descended from Judah, a Tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.
And this is clearer still, if Another Priest Arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, WHO Has Become Such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to The Power Of An Indestructible Life.For It Is Witnessed,"THOU Art A Priest Forever According To The Order of Melchizedek."
For, on the one hand, there is a Setting Aside of a former Commandment because of Its weakness and uselessness (for The Law made nothing perfect)(Romans 8:3a, and v 7-8), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better Hope (Romans 8:8-17, Hebrews 9:11-15), through which we draw near to GOD.
And inasmuch as not without An Oath (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but HE With An Oath Through The ONE WHO Said To HIM,"The LORD Has Sworn And Will Not Change HIS Mind,"THOU Art A Priest Forever' ");so much the more also JESUS Has Become The Guarantee Of A Better Covenant.
And the former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers, because they were prevented by death from continuing, but HE, on the other hand, because HE Abides Forever, Holds HIS Priesthood Permanently.
Hence also, HE Is Able to Save forever those who draw near to GOD Through HIM, since HE Always Lives To Make Intersession For them.
For it was fitting that we should have such A High Priest, Holy, Innocent, Undefiled, Separated from sinners and Exalted Above The Heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for HIS own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this HE Did Once For all when HE Offered Up HIMSELF.
For The Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but The Word Of The Oath, Which Came after The Law, A SON, Made Perfect Forever. Hebrews 7:11-28.
In Being A High Priest, MESSIAH had to be A Man (See Hebrews 2:14-18).
The LORD JESUS, Speaking with the Jews and Testifying Of The Witness Of GOD (John 5:25-47), States to them to search The Scriptures, "...because you think that in Them you have Eternal Life; and It Is These That Bear Witness Of ME; and you are unwilling to come to ME...
..."For if you believed Moses, you would believe ME; for he wrote of ME (Deuteronomy 18:15-19)."But if you do not believe his Writings, how will you believe MY Words?" John 5:39-41 & v 46-47.
As Moses spoke the Prophecy, saying, "The LORD your GOD Will Raise Up For you Prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him (HIM)...And The LORD Saying To Moses, 'I Will Raise Up A Prophet from among their countrymen like you (Numbers 12:6-8) and I Will Put MY Words In his (HIS) Mouth, and he (HE) shall Speak to them all that I Command him (HIM).'And it shall come about that whoever will not listen to MY Words Which he (HE) Shall Speak In MY Name, I MYSELF Will Require of him. Deuteronomy 18:15 & v 18-19.
To see and to understand how and why The FATHER HIMSELF Will Require of any who do not listen to HIS Words, Spoken Through HIS SON, Through WHOM also GOD Will Judge the secrets of men (Romans 2:1-11), see John 8:23-36, John 12:24-33, John 12:44-50.
Let THY Hand Be Upon The Man Of THY Right Hand, Upon The SON Of Man WHOM THOU Didst Make Strong For THYSELF.Then we shall not turn back from THEE; Revive us and we will call upon THY Name.O LORD GOD Of Hosts, Restore us;Cause THY Face To Shine, and we will be Saved.Psalm 80:17-19.
As early as Genesis 3:15, Scripture states that MESSIAH would Come through humanity, though not as usual, by the seed of a man, but will be the seed of a woman (Isaiah 7:14).
The LORD GOD, Speaking To the serpent, who is the devil, after the fall when death entered the world, Said,
...And I Will Put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed;HE Shall Bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise HIM on the heel." Genesis 3:15.
And here also, HE Shall Bruise you on the head, refers to The GOD Of Peace Crushing satan (Romans 16:20) and yet still future is his final defeat in eternal destruction (Revelation 20:10).
The bruising of MESSIAH'S Heal was the crucifixion, yet was the Plan and Purpose Of ALMIGHTY GOD to reconcile the world to HIMSELF Through CHRIST: Saved By HIS Blood.
For it is HIS Blood by reason of HIS sinless Life Which Cleanses us from all sin: The Sacrifice for sin Once For all.Saved By The Blood Of The LAMB; Saved By Grace through faith.
And we cannot go on wilfully sinning after receiving The Knowledge Of The Truth.To do so is to trample under foot The SON Of GOD and regard as unclean The Blood Of The Covenant By Which any are Sanctified, and is to insult The SPIRIT Of Grace.
Rather, ours is to walk by faith in JESUS CHRIST; in obedience to HIM (John 3:22-36); through which GOD Gives HIS HOLY SPIRIT (John 14:15-17, Acts 5:32); Chosen Of GOD By The Sanctifying Work Of The HOLY SPIRIT that we may obey JESUS CHRIST and be Sprinkled With HIS Blood (1 Peter 1:2), to the Preserving of the soul (Hebrews 10).
As the Apostle Paul writes to The Church,
But he who boasts, let him boast in The LORD.For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom The LORD Commends
I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18-31); but indeed you are bearing with me.For I am jealous for you with a Godly jealousy (James 4:1-12); for I betrothed you to One Husband, that to CHRIST I might present you a pure virgin.But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity to CHRIST.2 Corinthians 10:17 - 11:3.
..."For your Husband Is your MAKER,WHOSE Name Is The LORD Of Hosts; And your REDEEMER Is The Holy ONE Of Israel, WHO Is Called The GOD Of All the earth.
"For The LORD Has Called you, like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, even like a wife of one's youth when she is rejected,"Says your GOD.
"For a brief moment I Forsook you, but with Great Compassion I Will Gather you."In an Outburst of Anger I Hid MY Face from you for a moment;But With Everlasting Lovingkindness I Will Have Compassion On you,"Says The LORD your REDEEMER.
"For this is like the days of Noah to ME;When I Swore that the waters of Noah should not flood the earth again, so I Have Sworn that I Will Not Be Angry With you,Nor Will I Rebuke you.
"For the mountains may be Removed and the hills may Shake (Hebrews 12:25 - 13:1), but MY Lovingkindness Will Not Be Removed From you,And MY Covenant Of Peace Will Not Be Shaken."Says The LORD WHO Has Compassion On you.Isaiah 54:5-10.
Ephesians 5:22-32.
Revelation 21:1-8
Now HE WHO Prepared us for this Very Purpose Is GOD, WHO Gave To us The SPIRIT As A Pledge.Therefore, being always of good courage and knowing that while we are at home in the body (the flesh) we are absent from The LORD - for we walk by faith, not by sight - we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with The LORD.
Therefore also we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent (Romans 7:14-25), to be pleasing to HIM (1 John 1:9-10, 1 John 3).
For we must all appear before The Judgement Seat Of CHRIST, that each one may be Recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Therefore knowing the fear of The LORD, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to GOD; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.
We are not again commending ourselves to you (2 Corinthians 10:17-18) but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, that you may have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart (Luke 12:1-12).
For if we are beside ourselves, it is for GOD; if we are of sound mind, it is for you For the love of CHRIST controls us (John 13:34-35, John 14:15), having concluded this, that ONE Died For all, therefore all died; and HE Died For all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for HIM WHO Died and Rose Again on their behalf.
Therefore from now on we recognise no man according to the flesh; even though we have known CHRIST according to the flesh (Titus 3:1-8), yet now we know no longer (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Therefore if any man is In CHRIST, he is a New Creature (Romans 12:1-3); the old things passed away; behold, New things have come.
Now all these things are From GOD, WHO Reconciled us to HIMSELF Through CHRIST, and Gave us the Ministry Of Reconciliation, namely, that GOD Was In CHRIST Reconciling the world to HIMSELF, not counting their trespasses against them and HE Has Committed To us The Word Of Reconciliation (Galatians 6:1-5, Matthew 7:1-2, James 4:11-12, Luke 18:9-14, Romans 3:9-23).
Therefore, we are ambassadors for CHRIST, as though GOD were Entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of CHRIST, be reconciled to GOD.
HE Made HIM WHO Knew no sin sin on our behalf, that we might become The Righteousness Of GOD In HIM.
And working together, we also urge you not to receive The Grace Of GOD in vain -...2 Corinthians 5:5 - 6:1.
"I AM The LORD, and there is no other;Besides ME there is no GOD.I Will Gird you, though you have not known ME;That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no GOD Besides ME.I AM The LORD, and there is no other,The ONE Forming light and Creating darkness, Causing well-being and Creating calamity;I AM The LORD WHO Does All These.
"Drip down, O Heavens, From Above and let the clouds Pour Down Righteousness;Let the earth open up and Salvation Bear Fruit And Righteousness Spring Up With It.I, The LORD, Have Created It.
"Woe to the one who quarrels with his MAKER -An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth!Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?'Or the thing you are making say, ' He has no hands'?"Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you begetting?'Or to a woman, 'To what are you giving birth?' "
Thus Says The LORD, The Holy ONE Of Israel, and his MAKER:"Ask ME about the things to come concerning MY sons and you shall commit to ME The Work Of MY Hands."It Is I WHO Made the earth and Created man upon it.I Stretched Out the Heavens With MY Hands and I Ordained all their host.
For Thus Says The LORD, WHO Created The Heavens (HE Is The GOD WHO Formed the earth and Made it, HE Established it and did not Make it a waste place, but Formed it to be inhabited),"I AM The LORD and there is none else."I have not Spoken in secret, in some dark land;I did not Say to the offspring of Jacob, 'Seek ME in a waste place';I, The LORD, Speak Righteousness Declaring Things That Are Upright.
"Gather yourselves and come;Draw near together, you fugitives of the nations; they have no knowledge, who carry about their wooden idol, and pray to a god who cannot save.
'Declare and set forth your case;Indeed, let them consult together.
WHO Has Announced this From Of Old?WHO Has Long Since Declared It?Is It not I, The LORD?And there is no other GOD Besides ME, A Righteous GOD And A SAVIOUR;There Is None Except ME.
"Turn to ME and be Saved, all the ends of the earth;For I AM GOD and there is no other.
"I Have Sworn By MYSELF, The Word Has Gone Forth From MY Mouth In Righteousness And Will Not Turn Back,That to ME every knee will bow, every tongue will swear.
"They will say of ME, 'Only In The LORD Are Righteousness And Strength,'Men will come to HIM and all who were angry at HIM will be put to shame."In The LORD all the offspring of Israel will be Justified, and will Glory."Isaiah 45:5-12 & v 18-25