November-December 2007

  1. Obedience
  2. Master, say on
  3. expectation of the messiah
  4. The most perfect gift?
  5. God's present to us
  6. The fifth day or epoch
  7. Letters to the Editor
  8. Announcements
  9. Publications
  10. the chart of the ages-back page

EXPECTATION OF THE MESSIAH

“For there is born to you this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ, the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger”
Luke 2: 11, 12.

    What was to be peculiar about Him to cause Israel to expect His birth? The answer to this question is that God had made a certain promise centuries before and the promise had not been fulfilled. This promise contained the thought that a holy child would be born, and that in some way, not explained in the promise, this child would bring about a special blessing for the human race. Therefore, every mother among the Israelites was very attentive that she might be the mother of a son rather than a daughter, that perchance she might be the mother of this promised child. As a result, the matter went on for centuries until, finally, the child was born.

    The promise back of the expectation was that which God made to Abraham, saying, “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.” From that time forward Abraham began to look for the promised Seed—the promised child. He looked first to his own children, and was finally informed that it would not be one of his own children, but that through his descendants, at some remote date, this child would be born—the Seed of Abraham. From that time onward, all the Israelites were waiting for the birth of the child that should bring the blessing.

    Why was a messiah necessary? Why wait at all for the birth of the child? The answer to this question is that sin had come into the world; that God had placed our first parents—holy, pure and free from sin—in the glorious earthly conditions of the Garden of Eden with every favorable prospect and everlasting life as their future if they continued in harmony with God. However, because of their disobedience they came under Divine displeasure and the sentence of death. This sentence has brought in its wake—aches, pains, sorrows, tears, sighing, crying and death—all of these experiences are the natural result of sin.

    Our heavenly Father said to our first parents—and this was the first intimation that He would give them deliverance—that “The Seed of the woman shall bruise the Serpent’s head.” The serpent in this expression means Satan—all the powers of evil, everything adverse to humanity, everything in opposition to the blessings which God had provided for them, and which they had lost by disobedience. However, the promise was vague and they understood little about the “Seed of the woman” and “bruising the Serpent’s head.” It merely meant in an allegorical way, a great victory over sin and Satan, without explaining how it should come.

    The human race continued to die; they continued to suffer the adverse effects of separation from their Creator; they continued going down to death and the tomb. They needed a savior to come and deliver them from the power of sin, to deliver them from the death penalty of sin—one who would be a life-giver. They were dying and needed new life. This is the meaning of the word “Savior” in the original language used by our Lord and the Apostles. They were looking for relief from their dilemma and their hopes centered in the promise, the Seed of the woman.

    It was on this account that the Jews were so deeply concerned regarding the promise made to Abraham—“In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed”—they shall be granted a release from sin and death. In no other way could humanity be blessed. It would be impossible to bless the race except by releasing them from sin and death. Hence, the Scriptures tell us of God’s sympathy; that God looked down from His holy habitation, and beheld our sorrow, and heard, figuratively, “the groaning of the prisoners”—humanity—all groaning and travailing under this penalty of death—some with few aches and pains, and some with more aches and pains; some with few sorrows, and some with greater sorrows, but all groaning and travailing in pain (Rom. 8: 22).

    God’s sympathy was manifested; and we read that, “He looked down and beheld that there was no eye to pity and no arm to save” and with “His own Arm He brought salvation.” This is what was promised to Abraham—that one should come from his posterity who would be the Savior of the world; and because this promise was made to Abraham and to his Seed, they were marked out as separate from all other nations and peoples. To the Jewish nation alone belonged this great honor—that through them should come this salvation. Hence, from that time onward the Jews spoke of themselves as God’s people, the people whom God had promised to bless, and through whom He would bring a blessing to all others. Therefore, all other people were called Gentiles (or nations, which the word means). Israel was thereby separated because God’s Covenant was with them, and not with the nations. Yet God’s Covenant with Israel was not only for their blessing but also for the blessing of all the peoples as we read: “In your seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” Now, we know why this wonderful child was born.

A SAVIOR—HOW?

    In what way could He be different from any other baby? Why not use some other child as the one through whom salvation should come? The answer from the Scriptures is that salvation could not come to mankind unless there should be a satisfaction of Justice on account of Adam’s Original Sin. That must be the first consideration. The penalty, “You shall surely die,” pronounced against the first man, must be met and alleviated before the world could be freed by salvation.

    Why not let any man die? Because all humans were under the sentence of the original condemnation, and none could be a ransom-price or a substitute (Psa. 49: 7). Hence, the necessity for a specially-born child, different from any other. In what way was this One differently born? The Bible explains to us very distinctly that He was not begotten of an earthly father. Although Joseph was engaged to Mary, yet this child was not the child of Joseph. The Bible explains that this child was specially begotten by Divine power, in the mother, though she was still a “virgin” when she brought forth the child.

    This is the Scriptural proposition; and while it may not seem clear to some, yet the Word of God stands sure. If the Redeemer was not perfect, then He could not be the Savior of the world. The promised redemption implied that Jesus would be perfect; it implied that He would be as the first man was before he sinned. “For since by man came death, by Man shall come also the resurrection of the dead”; “As all in Adam die, even so shall all in Christ be made alive” (1 Cor. 15: 21, 22).

    So this one must be, as the Apostle declares, “holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners” (Heb. 7: 26). He must be entirely detached and separate from humanity so far as sinful features were concerned. Hence, it was necessary in this case, as the Scriptures declare that God should beget this Son, not by human methods and power, but by power from on high. Therefore, that which was born of the “virgin” was separate and distinct from sinful humanity. His life came not from an earthly father, but from His Heavenly Father (Matt. 1: 18-25; Luke 1: 26-38).

WHO WAS HE?

    It is written that before He became flesh Jesus, had an existence; as He declared, “Before Abraham was, I am.” Again, in one of His prayers He said, “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory that I had with You before the world was” (John 17: 5). The Revelator tells us that “He was the beginning of the creation of God,” and Paul says that “by Him all things were made.” Therefore, our Lord Jesus was not only the beginning, but also the active agent of the Father in all the creative work in the universe. This was accomplished in the angelic world, with the human race, and for the lower animals on earth.

The Apostle John sums up the whole matter. We will give the literal translation of John 1: 1, “In a beginning was the Word.” [This expression, Word, in the Greek is Logos. The thought behind the word Logos is that in olden times a king, instead of speaking his commands directly to his people, sat concealed behind a lattice work, and his Logos, messenger, Word, or representative, stood before the lattice work, and spoke for the king to the people in a superior tone of voice. The king himself was not seen by the people—the Logos was the one seen. This is the portrayal the Scriptures show us how Jesus was the close representative of the Heavenly Father, the One through whom the Heavenly Father made Himself known—the Word, or in the Greek (Logos). So we read in the first chapter of John, “In a beginning was the Word (Logos), and the Word was with the God (ho theos) (Jehovah), and a God (theos) (a mighty being not Jehovah) was the Word. This was in a beginning with the God (ho theos), (Jehovah). By Him were all things made, and without Him was not anything made.” Note! This is the direct translation of the Greek from the Diaglott. This proves that Jesus in His preexistence was not the God (ho theos), Jehovah, but was a God (theos), (a mighty being). In other words, Jesus was the direct representative of God and became the Creator of all other beings and things. He was the Divine Power, Agent, Word, Messenger, the Logos of Jehovah. He did the great work of creation as the agent of the Father—Jehovah; however He Himself was the first and only direct creation of God, the First-born of all creatures, that in all things Jehovah might have the preeminence—the first place (1 Cor. 15: 27).

GOD’S GREAT PURPOSE

    When the time came that our Heavenly Father made known His great purpose that He would bless not only the Church but also the world, He gave opportunity to this First-begotten One, the Logos—this One only begotten of the Father—to be the servant in this great work He intended to accomplish for the human race. Consequently, the Scriptures state, “for the joy set before Him (Jesus) He endured the cross, despising the shame.” Now He has sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. He has this great reward because of His obedience even unto death, the death of the cross (Heb. 12: 2).

    The Apostle speaks of Him as having been rich, but for our sakes becoming poor, that through His poverty we might be made rich. He tells us how He left the glory which He had with the Father in the spirit realm and humbled Himself to the human nature. Why? Because, as already stated, it was necessary that a perfect human man should become man’s Redeemer; an angel could not redeem man, neither could an animal redeem man. The Divine law is “an eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth; a man’s life for a man’s life” (Ex. 21: 23, 24). This was to teach us a great lesson: that a perfect human life had been condemned to death; it would require a perfect human life to redeem it. It was therefore necessary that Jesus should become the “Man Christ Jesus,” in order “that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for every man” (Heb. 2: 9).

RESULTS

    The results that have followed have been that He Himself proved His own faithfulness. “Being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross”—the most ignominious form of death (Phil. 2: 8). It pleased His Father to prove Him in the extreme, not only by death, but also by the most dishonorable form of death—dying as a criminal, being crucified between two thieves. What a terrible humiliation to die in this way!

    It would be disgrace enough for us in our imperfection, but for Him, perfect, “holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners,” it must have been a cause for deep sorrow. Having completed the laying down of His life, at the end of the three and a half years, He cried, “It is finished!” Not all His work, for much of that lay in the future for Him! He merely finished this part of the work, finished laying down His life a Ransom-price.

    What came next? After His death came His resurrection; and we read that “God raised Him from the dead on the third day.” According to the Scriptures He was raised up from death a glorious being—“sown in corruption, raised in incorruption; sown in dishonor, raised in glory; sown in weakness, raised in power; sown a natural body, raised a spirit body”; “Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, those in heaven, and those on earth, and those under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2: 9-11).

    We see not yet all knees bowed to Him. Why not? The Scriptures tell us that before He begins His tremendous work for the salvation of the entire human race, He first does a work for the elect, the Church, those who desire to walk in His footsteps, who are gathered out of the world as His Bride, to be co-workers with Him in all the future work of the Father. This work took over eighteen centuries to accomplish. We see how He gathered out the saintly ones from amongst the Jews, “Israelites, indeed, in whom there was no guile.” Not finding enough to make the desired number, He proceeded to gather them from all nations, kindreds, tongues and peoples.

    The Apostle tells us that when this Bride class is united with Him, they shall be parts of the Seed of Abraham; as we read, “And if you be Christ’s then are you Abraham’s Seed, and heirs of the promise” (Gal. 3: 29). This statement relates to the promise made to Abraham, that through him and his Seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Accordingly, we see the work that Christ has accomplished.

    The invitation to become the Bride of Christ was a very special invitation and those who would be His, walked as He walked in the “narrow way.” They now sit in His Throne, having suffered with Him. If they suffer with Him, they shall also share His glory. Therefore, “the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that shall follow,” were not only to be accomplished in our Lord Jesus, personally, but He was an example for all the Church who were justified through faith in His blood. They had a share with Him in His sufferings, and now share in His glory; they also had a share in the First Resurrection, as the Revelator declares. “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the First Resurrection, over such the Second Death has no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Rev. 20: 6).

    Saint Paul says, “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord,” “that I might know Him and the power of His resurrection” to the Divine nature. How? By being made conformable to His death; for, “If we suffer with Him we shall also reign with Him.”

THE FUTURE?

    All the families of the earth are to be blessed, as originally promised in Eden: “The Seed of the woman shall bruise the Serpent’s head.” In addition, as St. Paul states in the 16th chapter of Romans, “The very God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.” So, then, the next thing in order in the outworking of God’s Plan will be to bruise Satan and destroy sin.

    When and how will this be done? Now that the earthly development of the Bride class is complete; in God’s due time, the promised Free Grace to all the families of the earth will come. Messiah’s earthly Kingdom shall come. He has promised that when He shall reign, His entire faithful Bride shall reign with Him: “To him that overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My Throne, as I also overcame and am sat down with My Father on His Throne.” All the Church will be associated with Him in His great Messianic Kingdom; and “He shall reign from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth”; and “Unto Him every knee shall bow and every tongue confess, to the glory of God the Father”; “The knowledge of the glory of God shall fill the whole earth.” The whole earth will become as the Garden of Eden. Paradise Lost will be Paradise Restored. The Divine Image lost by Adam will be restored to man. Human nature will be brought to perfection. However, the glorious reward to the Church was the Divine nature, to be like her Lord, to sit at His right hand, and to bless the human race. Man restored on earth will become not only perfect, having all that Adam had, but will have additional experience, knowledge and character; and there is every evidence that this shall work an eventual blessing in the Times of Restitution (Acts 3: 19-21).

SHALL NONE BE LOST?

    Yes, the Scriptures tell us that some who ran for the prize of the High Calling during the Gospel Age will be lost, and that they have lost life altogether—and therefore extinction of life Heb. 6: 4-6.

    The world during the Millennial Kingdom will have their eyes opened to understand God’s glorious character, and they will have had the opportunity to observe and enjoy His blessing. Then, if they intentionally and willfully reject the grace of God, and rather desire to live in sin, and in opposition to His rule of righteousness, they shall die the Second Death, from which there is no resurrection, no hope of recovery. “They shall be as though they had not been”; “They shall be destroyed from among the people.” St. Peter says, “They shall be destroyed not to live again” (Acts 3: 23; 2 Pet. 2: 12). However, thank God, there shall be no knowledge of suffering, no torment of any kind for them; they shall merely die and not live again. On the other hand, in proportion as we believe in this Babe of Bethlehem, we shall rejoice in God’s provision through Him for our salvation. In proportion as we believe He was manifested on our behalf; in proportion as we believe He died for our sins; in proportion as we recognize Him as the glorified Savior; in proportion as we have surrendered our hearts to Him and seek to do the things well pleasing to Him shall we have the peace of God.

    Our hope on behalf of humanity in general is that in God’s due time, His blessing shall reach them. Not, with the Divine life as the Church received, but restoration to perfection of human life. St. Peter describes it this way: “Times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord, and He shall send Jesus Christ, who before was preached unto you, whom the heavens must retain until the Times of Restitution of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy Prophets” (Acts 3: 19-21). * * *