WHO JESUS IS

QUESTION #1
Matthew 16:13-17 >
"Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am?"

Son of Man > Jesus is the Son Man. Interestingly, Jesus is the only one who called himself the "Son of Man". 81 times in the 4 Gospels Jesus is the "Son of Man". And only once does another person make a reference to Jesus calling himself  the "Son of Man". It is a title that Jesus claimed for Himself because of its amazingly rich prophetic meaning.

From Genesis 3:15 we receive the idea of Jesus becoming the Son of Man when God promises that the "Seed of the Woman" will crush the head of the serpent, Satan. "Having received this promise, the human race awaited the seed of the woman, the Son of the woman; that is, the "Son of Man". It is therefore understood that the term was meant to indicate that the future Savior, the One who would crush the head of the serpent, would be the son of the woman who conceived without a male; that is, the son of one human being. This is saying that a "Man", or more to the point, "The Man" will come sometime in the future born of a Woman without the seed of a man, born of a virgin.This promise, prophecy, of a Man, or rather, "The Son Of Man" coming as a Savior and a Redeemer, became known as the "Expectation of the Nations". The Son of Man would be the Messiah of the whole world. Jesus, took this title, "Son of Man" and made it His primary identity. He was the "Expectation of the Nations". He was the One that God was speaking of that would be born of "The Virgin". Daniel the Prophet speaks of the Son of Man coming with clouds of heaven to the Ancient of days(Father God) and being given an eternal kingdom(7:13,14). And Daniel reveals that the fourth "man" in the fire with the "three Hebrew Boys" had the form like the "Son of God"(3:25). St John in the book of Revelation reveals that the "Alpha and the Omega", Jesus, is the "Son of Man"(Rev. 1:12-18).Each time Jesus called Himself the "Son of man" he was saying "I am the man you've been looking for". Psalm 80:17 says, "Let Thy right hand be upon the man of Thy right hand, upon the Son of Man...".

Christ > Jesus is the Christ. Christ is from the Greek and means the Anointed One. Messiah is from the Hebrew and means the same thing, "The Anointed One". Christ and Messiah both refer to Jesus and to the fact that He is the promised "Anointed One" that the Old Testament Law and Prophets foretold would come into the world, born of "The Virgin".

Son of God > Peter then reveals in his confession of faith that Jesus is not only the Christ, but that He, Jesus, is the "Son of the living God". Jesus is the Son of God. Peter reveals that the promised Messiah was to be divine. In Matthew 3:13-17(Christ's Baptism) and Matthew 17:1-8(Christ's Transfiguration) we see Jesus called by God from heaven, "My beloved Son". Note that in these two events that the "Trinity" is revealed, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus was given His Name by God through the angel Gabriel, Matthew 1:21-25. Jesus means Savior. And Matthew also says that this Virgin-born child shall be called Emmanuel which means "God with us".

                                QUESTION #2
Matthew 22:41-46 >
"What do you think of Christ? Whose son is he?"

Son of David > The term, "Son of David" was a title for the Messiah (Mark 12:35-37; Matthew 12:22,23). Jesus is called the "Son of David" 14 times in the New Testament. The angel Gabriel announced to Mary that Jesus, among many things, would be given "the throne of David...and of His kingdom there shall be no end"(Luke 1:31-33; Psalm 132:11). And since Jesus is the "Son of David" he is also the "King of the Jews"(Matthew 2:2; 27:11).

Lord > Jesus asks the Pharisees, "What do you think of Christ, whose son is he?" They answer, The son of David. Jesus then asks them, How can David call the son of David(the Messiah) Lord? And Jesus quotes Psalm 110:1, "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit on my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool." Jesus then asks, If David calls him(the Son of David) Lord, how is He his son?" Jesus is telling them that the "Son of David"(the Messiah) is the Lord(God). Jesus is not only David's descendant, but He is also his pre-existing Lord. Jesus is also revealing that within God there is a plurality of persons; "The Lord said unto my Lord, sit at my right hand..." Take note, God is One, but God is not a monad, a single unit. In Genesis we read, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth(Genesis 1:1). Then in verse 26 we read, "And God said "Let us make man in our own image, after our own likeness." So we see that God(Elohim) speaks of himself in the plural. Also in Deuteronomy 6:4 we read, "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord..." The oneness spoken of here is speaking of a compound unity(Achad-Hebrew). The Lord is not "one" in number(what would be the point in that assertion), but the Lord is "one" in unity. God is One Essence existing in three persons; Father, Son, Holy Spirit. The fact that Messiah should be both "God" and yet "sent by God" (as the Old Testament testifies) is a mystery unraveled in the revelation of the "Trinity". God is "One" existing in three persons.

I AM > Jesus identifies Himself as the "I AM". "I AM" is the name of God given to Moses by God Himself when Moses asked him, "Who should I say sent me?" (Exodus 3:14). To the Jews Jesus revealed that He knew Abraham and then said to them, "Before Abraham was, I AM"(John 8:58). Jesus made many "I AM" statements. I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life"; "I AM the Good Shepherd"; "I AM the Light of the world"; "I AM the Door"; "I AM the True Vine"; "I AM the Resurrection and the Life"; "I AM the Alpha and the Omega".

THE SON OF MAN

“Who do men say that I the Son of Man am?” Jesus asked his disciples. Peter’s correct answer was finally, “Thou art the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the Living God”. (Matthew 16:13-19) So Jesus is named as the Messiah, and as the Son of God, but take note that these are descriptive titles of “the Son of Man”. The title “Messiah” (Hebrew) or “Christ” (Greek) is speaking of His ministry as Prophet, Priest, and King. “Son of God” speaks of His divinity, and His relation to the Father. Other titles of Jesus describe His other characteristics; “Son of the Blessed” and “Emmanuel” expresses His divine nature; “Son of David” reveals His human nature and His lineage, and the name “Jesus” conveys simply that He is “the Savior” of humanity. None of these titles on their own can give a complete meaning of the person of our Lord because each name only signifies one of His characteristics. However, the title “Son of man” is a comprehensive name, a name that is able to describe all His characteristics and attributes. The Lord Jesus, the very God-man, determined that the title “Son of man” would be his chosen and foundational title that would encompass His person completely. If you were to read carefully through the four Gospels you would discover that Jesus chose for Himself His primary title, “Son of man”. In fact it is the only title that He applied to Himself, and He speaks of Himself as the “Son of man” 80+ times. Do a phrase search at Bible Gateway for “Son of man” if you are interested in marking these verses in your Bible. The title “Son of man” has its origin in the book of origins, Genesis. When God cursed the serpent for his deception of Adam and Eve he said, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed; he shall crush thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15). This curse upon the serpent, Satan, was a promise to Adam and Eve and to all their descendants as well, and became the hope of the human race that a redeemer and savior would be born of a woman that would abolish the authority that Satan had stolen from Adam and Eve. This “seed of the woman” would be the “Son of the woman”, who is the “Son of Man”. Since a woman does not produce seed, this promise means that in the future there would be a woman, a virgin, who would conceive a Son without the seed of a human male. This virgin born Son would be at enmity with the seed of the serpent, that is, the devil and all his devotees. And in the mystery of God’s plan of redemption, this seed, this Son of man, would crush the head of the serpent, loosing us from the devil’s authority (1 John 3:8), destroying the power of death (Hebrews 2:14, 15), and granting life and immortality to those who believe in Jesus (2 Timothy 1:8-10). The Prophet Daniel foretold of this “Son of man” coming with clouds of glory and establishing an everlasting kingdom (Daniel 7:13, 14). This prophecy is fulfilled in the person of Jesus as we read in Revelation 1:12-18. Jesus is more than just a man, He is “The Man”, “Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the Son of man…(Psalm 80:17). Eighty plus times Jesus declares unequivocally that He is the “Son of man”, making it abundantly clear to all who will listen that He is the promised redeemer and savior foretold in Genesis 3:15. Amen.

WHAT HAPPENED FROM THE CROSS TO THE THRONE (PART 1) - THE CROSS

THE GOSPEL 
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 It is paramount for the Christian to know and understand what is the Gospel. For we have warnings that there will be those who "pervert the gospel of Christ"(Gal 1:7) and that teachers will come along to corrupt our minds with a different kind of gospel(2 Cor. 11:3,4).

                                           THE CRUCIFIXION
Philippians 2:5-8 Our salvation in Christ begins with His incarnation. God manifests Himself to us in soul, body, and divinity, so that, as God, He could deliver us, soul and body, from death. He partakes of our nature and becomes man, in order to deliver us from the power of sin and death, creating the path for us to have His image restored in us, and also, to make the flesh immortal.

Hebrews 2:9,14,15 Jesus took on the human  nature, yet without sin, so that He could deliver us from a slavery of anxiety and distress over the possibility of dying and being deprived of the present life and then being subject to the sufferings of condemnation after death. Salvation is not only a forgiveness of  the sinner; it is not only a reconciliation of God with him. Salvation is the very removal, abolition and disappearance of sin; it is the deliverance of man from sin and death. Salvation was fulfilled upon the Cross, by the blood of the Cross(Col. 1:20; Acts 20:28; Rom. 5:9; Eph. 1:7). Not only with the Passion(Suffering) on the Cross, but with the death upon the Cross. This is how death was abolished, and defeated comlpetely. Death destroyed by death!!!

2 Corinthians 5:21 The death of Christ makes possible a new creation(2 Cor. 5:17); His death reconciles us, canceling out our sins, making it possible for us to live free of sin's power and to no longer live for ourselves, but instead, be motivated by the love of Christ(2 Cor. 5:14,15). A great transaction is possible! The distorted image in us can be healed and restored. A miraculous transformation is possible! We can become righteous with divine virtues - in Him!!!

Galatians 3:13,14 From the moment of Adam's sin God joined Himself to man's plight, promising that the seed "of the woman" would crush Satan's head. This is the Virgin-born Messiah who was later called Abraham's seed.

John 3:1-14 Nicodemus had questions. Jesus had mystical  answers. How does one see the kingdom of God? Be born from above! How does one enter the kingdom of God? Be born of water and the Spirit! How can these things be? The Son of Man comes down to earth from heaven to be lifted up on a Cross even as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness.





1 Peter 2:24 Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 53 in His life, and in His death on the Cross. In His life he healed the diseases of many, which was a fulfillment of Isaiah 53(Matthew 8:16,17). In His death upon the Cross He bore our sins, and by His stripes we were healed(Isaiah 53:4,5).

WHAT HAPPENED FROM THE CROSS TO THE THRONE PART 2 - CHRIST'S DESCENT INTO HADES

CHRIST'S DESCENT INTO HADES
Luke 16:19-31 At death the soul and the body separate > The body sleeps in the grave, the soul is awake in its place  - Here we see the reality of the departed, one in Paradise, the other in torment.  > Christ slept the sleep of death!!! > Christ's promise to the thief on the cross!

Matthew 12:38-40 Jesus Himself foretold of His descent into Hades. Jonah was a type of Christ, foreshadowing the sojourn of Jesus into Hades. Jesus descended as a Conquerer through the Cross, not as a victim!!! (Jonah 1:17-2:10)

Ephesians 4:9,10 St Paul reveals the mystery of what was happening with Christ between "the Cross and the Throne". There was 40 days between the Resurrection of Christ, where he raised up the Old Testament Saints from the graves(Matthew 27:52,53), and the Ascension of Christ where he ascended on high taking the saints with Him. Acts 1:2,3

                   Sts. Peter and Paul Proclaim the Gospel
Acts 2:22-32 St Peter's sermon on Pentecost Sunday reveals that Christ fulfilled the Old Testament Messianic prophecies. Jesus divine body did not, could not, see corruption(Acts 13:37). And Jesus soul could not, was not, left in Hades(Psalm 16:10) The Lord's body would undo the laws of corruption and would prove death powerless.

1 Peter 3:18-20; 4:5,6 Upon His death on the Cross the soul of Christ went immediately to the souls held in prison in Hades, and He preached to them the gospel of salvation.



Easter Hymn > "Lord, you descended into the lower parts of the earth, into the grave, to preach there your salutary gospel. There, as a powerful and omnipotent king, you crushed and broke the bonds of death and Hades that had kept in bondage for ages the souls of those who were dead. But after three days you rose from the grave, just as Jonah had come out of the belly of the whale in three days".

THE CHURCH - WHAT IT MEANS TO BE MEMBERS ONE OF ANOTHER

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE THE CHURCH >
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 > The body is one yet has many members(verse 12), so it is with the "body of Christ", and we are members in particular(verse 27), and yet, we are also members of one another. We are members in particular, not rugged individualists. We are members of the church, the body of Christ.  We maintain a unique identity known to only the Lord, yet we have a communal identity simultaneously.  "We being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread"(1 Cor. 10:17). Holy Communion expresses our oneness, both with Christ, and with one another(1 Cor. 10:16,17; 1 Cor. 11:17-34)

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE MEMBERS ONE OF ANOTHER >
Christ's Household is governed by His commands > His ultimate  command is to "love one another as I have loved you"(John 13:34,35) > St Peter says, "Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently"(1 Peter 1:22) - there is to be no fakery or pretend love, only sincere love > Hebrews 10:24,25 - "consider one another"  ..."exhorting one another", never forsaking the gathering together for the express purposes of 1)the Apostles Doctrine, 2)fellowship(koinonia-Greek), 3)breaking of "the" bread(Greek), 4)"the" Prayers(Greek)(Acts 2:42) > Help and healing comes through our relationships with one another > Galatians 6:1-5 - "bear one anothers burdens" and so fulfil the law of Christ"(verse 2) - Are you obeying the law? The law of Christ? > Are you restoring your brother or sister who is overtaken in a fault? And if so, are you restoring them without judging them in a spirit of meekness >
Colossians 3:12-14 - "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another...even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do" - Put on "bowels of mercy" - have a heart of compassion, feel, from deep in your guts, an empathy for the suffering - Put on kindness - Put on Humbleness of mind - Put on meekness - Put on longsuffering - "And above all these virtues, put on charity/love, which binds them all together in perfect unity"(NIV) > Ephesians 4:29-32 - "be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you" - Note that the emphasis on "one another" is to communicate our "oneness" with each other, that we
are the "the church, the body of Christ" - always minister grace, always speak words that edify your brother and sister, lay aside all the dark feelings of anger, and bitterness, and evil speaking, and malice > Philippians 2:1-8 - We are to imitate Christ's humility - we are to share the encouragement that we experience in Christ with others - the comfort of his love we experience, and the sweet fellowship of the Spirit that we experience, and the tenderness and compassion we experience in the Lord - these are the things we can share with others + "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain deceit" - "Always consider others better than yourselves", "Always be looking out for the interests of others as well as your own" >

NOTE: Philippians 2:5-11 is a hymn that was sung in the early church - St Paul here is quoting from the hymns of the church - Ephesians 5:14 is an early baptismal hymn - 1 Timothy 3:16 is an ancient Christian creed or hymn, as is 2 Timothy 2:11-13;             1 Timothy 6:15,16; Ephesians 1:3-14; Colossians 1:15-20 >

Romans 14:1,10-13 - "Let us not judge one another".

Romans 15:1-7 - "be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus" - "receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God" - "bear the infirmities of the weak" - "Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification" > Luke 22:31,32 - Note how Jesus prayed for St Peter and then what St Peter wrote years later - 1 Peter 5:8-10.

James 2:1,14-18 - Meet one anothers needs > John 3:16-18 - Lay down your lives for one another starting with the basic necessities

James 5:13-20 - "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed..." (verse 16) - Convert the erring brother - "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep, Be of the same mind one toward another" (Romans 12:15,16).

THE GREAT MYSTERY REVEALED TO THE EPHESIANS - THE CHURCH, THE BODY OF CHRIST

God's plan from eternity was that in Christ Jesus he would "make in himself of twain(Jews and Gentiles) one new man...that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, slaying the hostility that was between them"(Eph. 2:13-18) and thus build the household of God(Eph. 2:19-22), the Church, which is His Body, which is the fulness of Him that fills all in all(Eph. 1:23), "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord"(NIV, Eph. 3:10,11). It was God's plan to save us(Eph 2:8,9) so that we would be a part of His eternal plan of grace which He will reveal to us throughout the ages to come(Eph. 2:7); This Mystery, has been revealed to us(Eph. 3:1-6), St Paul preached, "among the gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ. We have redemption, forgiveness of sins(Eph. 1:7); we have an inheritance(Eph. 1:11); we are sealed by the Holy Spirit(Eph. 1:13); we have promise of future bodily redemption(Eph. 1:14); we have been blessed with ALL spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ(Eph.1:3); "There is one body!!!, and one Spirit!!!...one hope!!!...One Lord!!!, one faith!!!, one baptism!!!, One God and Father of all!!!"(Eph 4:1-6). God gave gifts to the Church "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ(Eph. 4:8-14). God chose a committed and Godly marriage as a picture of the relationship between Christ and His body, the Church(Eph.5:22-33); the Church is the very flesh of Christ, "For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones"(Eph. 5:30); "THIS IS A GREAT MYSTERY: but I speak concerning CHRIST AND THE CHURCH(Eph.5:32).

NOTE: Had the princes of this world known what the Mystery was they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory(1 Corinthians 2:6-8). "But we see Jesus, made a little lower than the angels by the suffering of death...bringing many sons unto glory"(Hebrews 2:9,10). St Paul was "made a minister, to fulfil the Word of God; even the mystery which has been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles; which is Christ in you the hope of glory"(Colossians 1:25-27). "Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen."(Romans 16:25-27)

MARRIAGE AND VIRGINITY

As Taught By the Gnostic Sects of the First Four Centuries

Of The Church and the Answer of the Holy Scriptures
 

    Among the Gnostic heretics and sects of the first four centuries, after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, was a wide range of false teachings about ‘Marriage and Virginity’. These teachings were completely non-Christian, and contrary to the revealed truth of God about these topics as recorded in Holy Scripture. The one extreme, ‘excessive asceticism’, was championed by Tatian, Marcion, and Saturnius. These heretics actually called marriage ‘fornication’. No Marcionite was permitted to marry because to marry and procreate was to participate in the evil work of the demiurge (the heavenly beings responsible for the created world). The other extreme was to be ‘openly licentious’. Two sects that taught this view of ‘Marriage and Virginity’ were the Carpocratians and Borborites. Their views were rooted in popular Gnostic cosmology which taught that the created world was born out of the spiritual copulation between heavenly beings. Between the two extremes of ‘excessive Asceticism’ and ‘open licentiousness’ were the Gnostic heretics, Basilides, Valentius, and Isidore (Basilide’s son). These men taught that marriage was not sinful, but should be avoided by the fully mature believer. Monogamous marriage was acceptable, but the asceticism of the virginal life was belittled. Then, overlapping all these heretical sects were the Manichaean’s , a wildly successful sect that became a world religion. The founder, Mani, of Babylonia, was portrayed by the Manichaean missionaries as the ‘Apostle of Jesus Christ’ to the Roman Empire; to India and Central Asia he was touted as the Buddha; and to China he was presented as the reincarnation of Lao Tzu. Concerning Marriage and Virginity, Mani taught that there were two types of Manichaean disciples: the elect, and the hearers. ‘The elect’ were forbidden to marry and to participate in sexual intercourse, because both the body and procreation were evil. ‘The hearers’ were permitted to marry, or have mistresses, and could have intercourse as long as they avoided procreation.

  

  As you can see, the religious world swirling around the Church was speaking to mankind’s basic instincts, and redefining marriage from the age-old norm of marriage that Jesus validated when he said, “Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder" (Matthew 19:4-6). Then Jesus spoke to the disciples about the one alternative to married life when they asked him if "it is not good to marry". Jesus said, "All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs ,which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake.He that is able to receive it, let him receive it" (Matthew 19:10-12). Here Jesus gives us three classes of men who abstain from marriage: First, those men who were born without the inclination, or ability to be married; second, those men who were made eunuchs against their will, and therefore are incapable of having a marriage relationship; and thirdly, those men who choose to live celibate by the grace of God. St. Paul carries forward Jesus’s teaching on this “twofold grace” of ‘marriage and virginity’. The entire 7^th chapter of First Corinthians is dedicated to the two callings of ‘marriage and virginity’. The answer to all the false teachings of heretical sects, then and now, as well as detailed instruction concerning how Christians are to live either a married life in Christ, or the life of a virgin fully devoted to Christ are found here in the Scriptures. So read carefully Paul’s instruction that he was inspired to write in response to the Corinthian’s questions. In verse one Paul advocates for living a virginal life, “It is good for a man not to touch a woman”. But for those who cannot resist sexual impulses he says in verse two, “Let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband”. The remaining thirty eight verses expound on these two particular callings that a Christian must discern between or choose between. Once committed to marriage or virginity, “Let every man abide in the calling wherein he was called (verse 20).
    Finally, let us realize that the heresies that early Christians battled concerning 'marriage and virginity' are the same heresies that Christians must battle in the 21st century. "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry..." (1 Timothy 4:1-3). We live in a time when marriage is defined according to doctrines of devils, and where living a virginal life is mocked as unnatural. Let us choose God's truth on the matter. Amen.

IS YOUR FAITH GROWING?

 Your faith can grow. God has given to every one of us “the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3). Your faith is designed by God to grow, and to grow exceedingly. The Apostle Paul in 2 Thessalonians 1:3 says, “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet (fitting), because that your faith grows exceeding, and the charity (love) of every one of you all toward each other abounds”. Here we are shown this very fact of the spiritual life! You, who possess faith in God, and in his Son Jesus, have a faith given to you by God that should ever be growing stronger, and greater, and fuller and richer. Let us take note that Stephen the Deacon (Acts 6:5) was chosen for his ministry because he was “a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost”.  So our faith in God is measurable. We can have a faith that is a quarter full, half full, or like Stephen, completely full. And what is the primary way in which our faith may grow? It is by hearing the word of God. “For faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). 1 Peter 2:2 instructs us about our spiritual beginnings as newborn babes in Jesus, “…desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby”.  As we grow in our knowledge of God’s word, we become acquainted with his commands, and as we become doers of these words / commands, we increase in faith to overcome that which his word reveals to us is of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Note in the verse prior that we are to be, “laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes (1 Peter 2:1, 2a). Faith is for overcoming; overcoming these worldly ways that are a part of our old fallen nature, but which can be transfigured by the glory of the Holy Spirit through our obedience of faith. “For whosoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, EVEN OUR FAITH.” (1 John 5:4) Please note that the verses immediately before we have revealed to us this victorious faith life (the amazing fact that we who are born of God possess a world overcoming faith), we are taught that we who believe in Jesus are born of God, and that we in turn love him who has begotten us again, AND we love all those who are also born again through faith in Jesus. For, “we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments”. (1 John 5:1-3) This is what is meant by “the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith”. In the world we feel malice toward our neighbors; we use cunning and guile in our relationships; we play the hypocrite, wearing masks of deceit, thinking we fool our neighbors while we pretend to be someone other than who we really are; we envy what our neighbor possesses, coveting their house, their wife or husband, their belongings and wealth, all the while breaking the tenth commandment (read Exodus 20:17); and we speak evil of our neighbors. Living in victory means we live in victory over the lack of love for our brothers and sisters by keeping God’s commandments by faith. Our faith in Jesus, knowing his example, believing in his promises, fearing his commands, all of these truths, inspire overcoming faith. May we grow in faith as we grow in love as we come to know God’s Holy Word.

THE EXPECTATION OF THE NATIONS

I would like to introduce here that Jesus is the fulfilment of what is known as "THE EXPECTATION OF THE NATIONS". The idea that from the beginning, from the time of the "fall of Adam and Eve", all nations were awaiting the arrival of a "Redeemer God" coming in human form Who would teach the whole truth in order to obliterate evil, bring peace, make brothers of all nations, and bring the kingdom of heaven to the earth. This promise was an anchor of hope throughout the centuries. Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Jews, Chinese, Indians, Persians, Arabs, even the inhabitants of the New World; all had stories, myths, prophecies foreshadowing a God-Man appearing to deliver the world from evil, from the great serpent. Confucius, Plutarch, Zoroaster, Socrates, Maurikios, Pascal, and many wise people spoke of this tradition of the nations.

The Holy Scriptures declare, "When the fulness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to 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 your hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ"(Gal. 4:4-7). God's Son, the Light of Light, broke into the darkness of this fallen world at the very perfect moment in human history. Jesus is this very "Truth" that all the nations were expecting.

Therefore, "THE CHRISTIAN FAITH is not a "religion" (except in the conventional everyday use of the word). It is the fulfillment of all religions in their search for divine truth and human meaning as inspired by God's law written on human hearts. In this understanding, God's Gospel in Jesus is the end of all religions as human constructions, however good and inevitable they are in their desire to deal with life's mysteries and to comprehend the ways of God (or the gods) and creatures in a demon-riddled, death-bound world." (Thomas Hopko).