The Mystery of Godliness

Fred R. Coulter

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This came in one of my latest packages of heresy:

Why Was Jesus Killed? by Marcus J. Borg

It makes no historical sense to say that Jesus was killed for the sins of the world.

This is the kind of thing that's being preached out there today.

"Daddy, why was Jesus killed?" my four-year-old son asked me as we drove through the rain to pick up a visitor at the London airport some 20 Years ago.

His question was very different from Why did Jesus die?" to which the familiar answer is that He died for the sins of the world. But I knew that that answer wouldn't work, it makes no historical sense to say that Jesus was killed for the sins of the world.

That's the whole key of the Gospel. Is faith everywhere being assaulted? There it is right there! Let's look at some things where it says why Jesus died, and then we'll get into what is called the mystery or the secret of Godliness!

Apparently this man never read the Bible, or he is one who doesn't want people to read the Bible, because if he would just read the Bible…

Romans 5:6: "For even when we were without strength, at the appointed time…"—the time set by God; according to the time of the prophecy that God had determined. That's when Christ died.

"…Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, although perhaps someone might have the courage even to die for a good man. But God commends His own love to us because, when we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (vs 6-8). An anything be clearer?

Did Christ die for sinners? Yes, He did! That's what the Bible says. Yet, this man says that "it makes no historical sense to say that Jesus was killed for the sins of the world." So much for scholars in he world! There's much more to the story than this, because that's only the start.

Verse 9: "Much more, therefore, having been justified now by His blood… [How can you be justified by His blood if He didn't die?] …we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His own Son, much more then, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life" (vs 9-10).

Romans 8:33: "Who shall bring an accusation against the elect of God? God is the One Who justifies. Who is the one that condemns?…." (vs 33-34).

There is no condemnation in Christ! That's why ministers should not be up there condemning people, and telling them:

• you need to bury your sins
• you need to carry your sins away
• you need to get sin out of your life

When the truth is, you need to go to Christ and let Him get sin out of your life. You need to go to Christ and let Him bury your sins and take away the condemnation. There is no condemnation. God called us not to condemn us, but to save us (John 3).

Romans 8:1: "Consequently, there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who are not walking according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."

Why? Christ died to justify us with His blood, and if we are justified to Christ, who can condemn us? Not even Satan the devil! Now, if we deliberately give that up and go out and commit the unpardonable sin, then it's going to be ourselves condemning ourselves by the Word of God.

Verse 34: "Who is the one that condemns? It is Christ Who died, but rather, Who is raised again, Who is even now at the right hand of God, and Who is also making intercession for us." For what reason? For us to:

• overcome
• be in His Family
• change
• grow
• become Christ-like

He's interceding for us. Christ is up there at the right hand of God, saying, 'Father, bless them, watch over them, protect them.' They may even decide to let you go through a trial. They'll see you through it. I mean, look at Job.

When I first read Job, as I said many times, I thought God was wrong. Job was so good, and I looked at my life and said, 'Oh man, I'm a terrible person compared to Job. And Job did all these things and he was so good.'

But the lesson in the whole thing with Job is that no man's goodness can equal the righteousness of God! So, Job had to come to see that his goodness, because he was human with the law of sin and death in him, could not bring him to the status of God; only God can!

Verse 35: "What shall separate us from the love of Christ?…." This is a fantastic thing when you really understand this. This is the whole commitment that we need to have to God, which no man—minister, person, husband, wife, anybody—should take to themselves to take away from you.

"…Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?" (v 35).

None of have gone through that. We just had a nice meal, we've had wonderful fellowship, we're right here in a nice house. But they had it tough then.

Verse 36: "Accordingly, it is written, 'For Your sake we are killed all the day long…'"

The time is going to come when that's going to be happening again. In things like we've seen in Waco, Texas, the 'wackos' in Waco. They deliberately select these kinds of people, to go after them to mentally program the people into the fact that Christians need to be eliminated. So, you go after the fringe group. Well, it's not too long before you get through the fringe and start getting up to us. I can see the day when they kill Christians. They'll say just like Jesus said, 'We're doing God's service' getting rid of them.

Verse 37: "But in all these things we are more than conquerors… [overcomers or victors] …through Him Who loved us…. [this is the commitment that Paul had] …For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (vs 37-39). Nothing!

That's the whole theme of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. That's why God passed over them in the land of Egypt on the Passover Day. He took them out the first day of the Fest of Unleavened Bread, walked down to the Red Sea and crossed it. They had everything against them:

• Pharaoh
• the army
• the chariots

But God was there and He took care of it. We have the same lesson here. This commitment, the sins of Christ for us:

Romans 14:8: "For if we live, we should live unto the Lord; and if we die, we should die unto the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's"—not a church member, not belonging to some minister! You belong to Christ!

Verse 9: "It is for this very purpose that Christ both died and rose and is living again, so that He might be Lord over both the dead and the living."

That's a tremendous thing! The whole purpose of the New Testament is to build you up in that faith, that you can have confidence in Christ. And that you know:

• through prayer
• through study
• through fasting
• through drawing close to God
• thinking on His Word
• studying His Word
• meditating on His Word

that you have it inscribed in your heart and mind!

• You live by it!
• You operate by it!

It doesn't mean you're perfect. We all have a lot of things we need to overcome, but it means that you are well on the way.

You might note for an interesting study—it doesn't work all the way through, but there are some interesting parallels; just go through the New Testament and look at chapters 3 and verse 16 in the different books. You'll see how many important things come up:

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…"

1-John 3:16 shows that you have to love your brother, for even Christ died for him.

1-Timothy 3:16: "And undeniably, great…" The Greek there is 'megala' or 'megalos.' We have heard of megaton atomic bombs, hydrogen bombs. This means great and overwhelming.

"…great is the mystery of Godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, was justified in the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the Gentiles, was believed on in the world, was received up in glory" (v 16).

All this has to do with the Feast of Unleavened Bread. In fact, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when Christ was raised at the end of that Sabbath during the week of Unleavened Bread—when He was crucified—the world was, in fact, not completed, yet, unleavened before God. Because if Christ died for the sins of the whole world, which He did, then God is going to apply this to us as we come along in God's plan as God calls people and that whole plan is worked out through the Holy Days.

This is a tremendous week. The secret of God! Now, this is something that was not known:

• Adam didn't know this
• Abraham didn't know it

they had some of the promises

• Isaac and Jacob did not know it
• Moses didn't know it

Until Christ came, and even then, it had to be revealed! Let's see that this had to be revealed. Then we'll examine a little bit about Christ and what He did.

Ephesians 3:1: "For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles, if indeed you have heard of the ministry of the grace of God…" (vs 1-2)—meaning the operation of your relationship with God. Everything that God does is by grace.

• He calls us by His grace
• He forgives our sins by His grace
• We stand before Him in grace

Because we can't stand on our own, we have to stand in Christ!

• He imputes the righteousness of Christ to us by His grace
• He gives us His love by His grace

So, when He talks about the grace of God, it is like under a huge umbrella that we're standing, and from that comes love, faith and hope, and all these other things. Grace is really a wonderful and tremendous thing!

Verse 3: "How He made known to me by revelation the mystery (even as I wrote briefly before, so that when you read this, you will be able to comprehend my understanding in the mystery of Christ), which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His Holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles might be joint heirs, and a joint body, and joint partakers of His promise in Christ through the Gospel, of which I became a servant according to the gift of the grace of God, which was given to me through the inner working of His power. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, was this grace given…" (vs 3-8).

Being in the Apostle Paul's shoes, when he was a former murderer of Christians, that's always something I've thought about. I wonder how you would feel if you're sitting in the congregation and Paul came into preach and he killed one of the your sons or daughters? That would be pretty tough to take! Do you have forgiveness in your heart for that?
Well, he felt before God; he said, 'I'm the least, because I persecuted the Church. I did it in ignorance.' He didn't do it after he was called, but before he was called.

"…that I might preach the Gospel among the Gentiles—even the unsearchable riches of Christ" (v 8).

Let's see what God had to do, because there is a distinct and difficult, and a theological and philosophical problem, that has bothered many philosophers for years. Since we as human beings are flesh and blood, and since we are imperfect by nature, and as Rom. 7 says, 'we have the law of sin and death' in us, what is it that God is going to do for us?

I mean, it puts us in a terrible state, when you compare us to God Who is wholly righteous. The philosophers can rightly say that for a righteous God to condemn someone who is a sinner, just out of hand, that would not be just and right. In that they are partially correct. Remember Rom. 1 says that God revealed Himself to them, and they rejected him. What God did is solve the problem. Here' how He did it:

John 1:1: "In the beginning was the Word…"—that's a fantastic study, because if Jesus is:

• the Word
• the Word incarnate of God's Word
• preached God's Word
• inspired the Old Testament

which He did

• we're to live by every Word of God
• we're to eat His flesh and drink His blood

All that is all encompassed in this. It's really tremendous!

Verse 1: "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 through Him, and not even one thing that was created came into being without Him. In Him was life, and the Life was the Light of men" (vs 1-4).

Here's the Word that was God, very important to remember, because of a lot of people don't understand this. A lot of people do not accept the fact that God became flesh. If they admitted it, they don't admit what kind of flesh that He had, and they don't admit that God took a risk, which He did.

• Did God give you free moral agency?
• Did God give all of us free moral agency?
• Did He not take a risk in His creation to give us free moral agency?
• Yes, He did!

So, in sending Christ, yes there was a risk!
Verse 1: "In the beginning was the Word…" Now, we'll find out what kind flesh. I covered it pretty thoroughly in The Christian Passover book, but we need to go through it and really understand it because it gives us a greater love and appreciation for God.

Verse 14: "And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us (and we ourselves beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten with the Father), full of grace and truth." That's what He brought, grace and truth completely.

What kind of flesh did Jesus come in? Rom. 7 gets a little technical, but that's okay, we can get through it. This is why naturally sweet little children do not do what they're told, as well as full-grown adults! Kids don't have to learn how to sin, they have it in them. Even a 9-month-old will fight with a 1-month-old over who gets the rattle. Now, because we have in us, by an inheritance from Adam and Eve, 'the law of sin and death.'

We will see that Jesus took that same thing upon Himself. In other words, the truth of the matter is that "God is not going to judge us on a standard differently than He would judge Himself. Think on that for a minute! That's why He became flesh. No one can ever say, 'God, You never knew what it was like to sin.' He can say, 'Well, I knew what every temptation was, but I didn't sin.'

Romans 5:12: "Therefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and by means of sin came death; and in this way death passed into all mankind…"

Everyone is subject to death. From the instant of conception, until you die, however long or short your lifespan may be. You're subject to death from the instant of conception. Without a doubt, that's a scientific fact.

Now, in the King James this is not too clear. It says, 'for that all have sinned.' This actually means this is why everyone sins, because death was passed into them.

"…death passed into all mankind; and it is for this reason that all have sinned. (For before the Law, sin was in the world….)" (vs 12-13).

He's saying that before the Ten Commandments were given, sin was in the world. But you don't understand sin unless there's law, so the Law was still there.

"…However, sin is not imputed when law does not exist; nevertheless, death reigned… [as the result of sin] …from Adam until Moses, even upon those who had not sinned in the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the One Who was to come" (vs 13-14).

Now let's see that we have not only death in us… Of course, even the scientists haven't figured it out, but they know that there's something in ourselves that triggers aging. I mean, we all do what we can to sop it, but sooner or later it comes.

When you're 16, 17, 18, 19 you don't think of anything, You're always going to be 16-19 and tough and strong, and everything like that.

Rom. 7—this is the struggle we all go through. A lot of Christians misunderstand something, the longer you are a Christian and the longer you have the Spirit of God, the more you understand how sin is in you. So therefore, you begin to be convicted of sin when you sin in your mind. When you sin in deed, you get convicted of that sin. Whereas, before you were called, you weren't convicted of it. It is what it is; that's normal and natural. Now there is something working in you with God's Spirit to bring this out, so you can really see it.

Romans 7:13: "…sin might become exceedingly sinful. For we know that the Law is spiritual; but I am carnal, having been sold as a slave under sin" (vs 13-14).

Now let's think for a minute. The Apostle Paul wrote this when He was an apostle for 20 years, had been converted for 20 years. Notice what He said:

"…but I am carnal, having been sold as a slave under sin… [he's looking at just himself alone without God] …because what I am working out myself, I do not know…." (vs 14-15). In other words, he's doing things that he really doesn't want to do.

"…For what I do not desire to do, this I do; moreover, what I hate, this is what I do" (v 15). This is the struggle we all go through. This is very fitting for the Feast of unleavened Bread, because this is the pull that we have. The leaven of the world, the leaven in our lives pictures sin and getting that out of our lives and working toward righteousness.

Verse 16: "But if I am doing what I do not desire to do, I agree with the Law that it is good."

There's nothing wrong with the Law. Most Protestants don't understand that because they say, 'Well, no one can keep the Law perfectly,' which is true. So therefore, 'don't keep the Law at all,' which is wrong! Now, if you say we shouldn't keep the Law at all, who should I murder? 'Oh, we shouldn't do that.' Who should I steal from? 'We shouldn't do that!'

• What are you telling me to do?
• Are you going to get up and give a sermon on lust?
• Is that what you're going to do?

So, their whole theology is wrong! You consent to the Law that is good, not bad!

Verse 17: "So then, I am no longer working it out myself; rather, it is sin that is dwelling within me." That's why you need grace, because you can never be perfect before God without grace. That's why God has provided grace.

Verse 18: "Because I fully understand that there is not dwelling within me—that is, within my fleshly being—any good…."

We're going to read a statement that's really profound. Most of us read it and go right over it, and we have no idea what it means.

Matthew 19:16: "Now at that time, one came to Him and said, 'Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?'"

• everyone wants to do good
• everyone wants to live forever
• everyone wants to do it by good works

Verse 17: "And He said to him, 'Why do you call Me good? No one is good except one—God….'"

Think on it for a minute! We read that the Word was God, and he Word was made flesh. Isn't that true?And yet, He said of Himself, 'Why do you call Me good?' He could have said, 'Young man, I perceived that you really have insight. I am good, I'm the Son of God.' But He didn't! Why would He not claim any goodness to Himself when He was the most perfect Man on earth?

As long as He was in the flesh He was not good, because flesh is not good. Only God is good! Only the Father was still in heaven at that time. Christ being on the earth was sure enough God in the flesh, but He was not God. He was God in the flesh; He had human flesh. He had 'the law of sin and death' within Him. So, He couldn't be called good.

When Adam and Eve were made, God saw everything He made, and said, behold it was very good. But after they sinned they He didn't say that. God could have done this anyway He wanted and that He could of done it without Mary. Yes, He could have, but He didn't.

God loves His creation and He loves man and woman, and God chose a woman. That kind of activity only leads to death. There is nothing positive, there's nothing loving there's nothing but sickness, death, disease, perversion and wretchedness in that kind of existence that is promulgated from the capital of homosexuality in San Francisco. But it's still a fact, God chose a woman! So, that ought to make all you women feel better. Every woman is a special creation by God. So is every man.

Romans 7:18: "Because I fully understand that there is not dwelling within me—that is, within my fleshly being—any good…." And the flesh is willing and the spirit is weak; the spirit is willing the flesh is weak, too.

"…For the desire to do good is present within me… [that is the will, the desire to do good] …but how to work out that which is good, I do not find" (v 18).

What do you do when you come to just loggerheads, and you're trying to solve a problem and you don't know how to solve problems, and you can't figure it out. You go to God and say, 'God, help me, I'm in deep trouble.'

Verse 19: "For the good that I desire to do, I am not doing…" There are many times when you find that you do something real good and nice, and you're going to find you're going to turn around do something mean and horrible. Happens many times. You don't intend to, but it just happens. Because that's the way it is.

"…but the evil that I do not desire to do, this I am doing. But if I do what I do not desire to do, I am no longer working it out myself, but sin that is dwelling within me" (vs 19-20).

So, now we know that we have death dwelling in us, by inheritance. We also know that we have sin dwelling in us. Now he defines this a little more clearly here.

Verse 21: "Consequently, I find this law in my members…" It's a law, and law always works. Does the law of gravity work? Always! Does the law of sin and death work? Always!

"…that when I desire to do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the Law of God according to the inward man… [that's the right, good and wonderful thing] …but I see another law within my own members, warring against the law of my mind, and leading me captive to the law of sin that is within my own members. O what a wretched man I am! Who shall save me from the body of this death?" (vs 21-24).

That's the whole conflict of all human life! There it is right there! That's why politicians tell you they're going to do good, and you know very well they aren't. They can't!

Verse 25: "I thank God for His salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of this, on the one hand, I myself serve the Law of God with my mind; but on the other hand, with the flesh, I serve the law of sin." That doesn't mean He's out sinning, saying, 'Oh good, I'm going to go sin in the flesh.'

Romans 6:1: "What then shall we say?…. [because of the grace through Jesus Christ] …Shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound? MAY IT NEVER BE!…." (vs 1-2). The Greek there is 'me genoito.' It comes from the root word 'ginomai'—which means to bring into existence. It is saying, 'May this thought never come into existence!'

Yet, is that not what Protestants preach? You have grace, so go do whatever you want, unless 'I say not to.' God forbid!

Romans 8:1: "Consequently, there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who are not walking according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit; because the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus…" (vs 1-2). There's an actual law that is working and functioning. In other words, the Holy Spirit works by law.

 "…has delivered me from the law of sin and death…. [there it is, all brought together, the law of sin and death] …For what was impossible for the Law to do…(vs 2-3).

What is it that law can never do? Make perfect character! What does the Law do? The Law tells us what is right from wrong! In other words, by the Law is he knowledge of sin.

As we're going to go down the highway tomorrow, there is going to be a speed limit sign there. That represents the law that says you shalt not go more than 55 miles an hour! We all being sinner, and everyone including the highway patrolman, knows that as long as you don't go much more than about 62mph, he won't nab you. We all give ourselves a little leeway, but what is it that that sign cannot do? Make us drive 55mph!

• Did the Ten Commandments ever stop putting another God before human beings? No!
• Did it ever stop idolatry? No!
• Did it ever stop cursing and swearing? No!

but everyone knows that

• Did it ever stop Sabbath breaking?

though it says remember the Sabbath, to keep it

• Did it ever stop dishonoring parents?

though it says to honor our parents

You can go right on down the line!

No, the Law itself has no power to make you do anything! But what is it that you do once you have knowledge of the Law? You have to make a choice. You choose to do it. Now you can choose to do it because you want to, or because you're coerced to. 'You better clean up your room or you will have no dinner.' Yes, mommy!' They clean up the room because they're hungry. Did they really want to clean up their room? No! The law of sin and death!

Verse 3: "For what was impossible for the Law to do, in that it was weak through the flesh…" Why was it weak through the flesh? Because the law of sin and death was in the flesh!

"…God having sent His own Son…" (v 3). We saw that He was made flesh (John 1:14). The Greek there is 'sarx,' which means the same kind of flesh we are.

"…in the likeness of sinful flesh…" (v 3)—Greek: 'homoiomati'—the same identical likeness.

This is so profound that we really have to go over this to really get it in our mind what God really did. And it's fantastic what He did!

• What kind of flesh did He have?
• Righteous flesh?
• Sinless flesh? NO! Sinful flesh!
• Did Jesus die? Yes!
• Was He subject to death? Yes!

You can't die unless you're subject to death. So, we know that He had 'the law of death' in Him, otherwise He could not have died. Flesh is not eternal. It says He was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, therefore, Jesus had to have had 'the law of sin and death' within His own body and mind. Yet, never sinning.

• Is that not a tall order?
• Is that not a tall mission?
• Is that not a Godly mission?

I mean, you think of it. God made all of us human beings and condemned us all; gave us all over to 'the law of sin and death.' What is God going to do about it? Kill all of them because they are sinners? NO! He said, 'I'm going to save them. I'm going to take the same nature upon Me, in the flesh, that I gave to them.'

Not only did He not sin, but He had to always be righteous and do the things that were right and pleasing to God. What did He tell the Pharisees? I always do the things that please the Father! I mean, that's tremendous!

No wonder God said, 'This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.' That he would empty Himself as God, take upon Himself the form of a human being, and take upon Himself 'the law of sin and death' and never sin! Does that not cover all the sins of the whole world? Yes!

Yet, a man has the audacity to write and say that it makes 'no historical sense to say that Jesus was killed for the sins of the world.' Well, obviously they don't know anything about the Bible.

Verse 3: "For what was impossible for the Law to do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God having sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh."

The sin had to be in Him to condemn it in the flesh. Now then, what does this do to people who say that Jesus could never sin? Or as the Catholics say that Jesus came and He appeared in the flesh and He didn't have the stain of Adam's sin because it was an immaculate conception of Mary so that she could immaculately conceive Jesus. This is nonsense and never happened that way.

Let's see exactly what He did. This is profound! The biggest thing that people do is they want to have God in their hip pocket. You're doing what to God? You are limiting God! One of the things that Jesus told the disciples, which I emphasized in The Christian Passover book is, Jesus said, 'I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.'

You combine that with Acts 4:12, that there is no other name given under heaven by which you can be saved, or ought to be saved, except the name of Jesus Christ. God is merciful and kind to forgive sin, but God is not tolerant of Buddha, Confucius or Mohammed. Christ is the Way, the only way! Why? Because He was God Who became human, and took upon Him the law of sin and death to save us!

• Did Buddha? No!
• Did Confucius? No!
• Did Mohammed? No!
• Did Luther? No!
• Has he pope? No!

None of them! They can't give salvation. We find that confirmed right here:

Hebrews 1:1: "God Who spoke to the fathers at different times in the past and in many ways by the prophets, has spoken to us in these last days by His Son."

The greatest manifestation of God that He has ever given. That He came and lived as a human being, took upon Himself 'the law of sin and death,' and manifested Himself to His own creation. Yet, His own creation rejected Him! So, when we get in trouble and we think we're being persecuted, let's get it all in perspective.

Verse 2: "Whom He has appointed heir of all things…" The greatest and most miraculous thing about the secret of God, the mystery of Godliness is that God is going to share that with us! Isn't that something? To share the God existence with us! That something most people don't like to hear, because they think it's blasphemy, but that's what the secret of Godliness is!

"…by Whom also He made the ages; Who, being the brightness of His glory and the exact image of His person…" (vs 2-3).

That means stamped with God's own character. Being filled with the Holy Spirit from birth. Therefore:

• He could put down every temptation
• He could put down every sin
• He could put down everything that came to Him

because He used the power of God, and always did things that pleased God!

(go to the next track)

"…and upholding all things by the word of His own power..." (v 3). You think about that for a minute. By the Word of God everything came into existence. He spoke it and it was so. By His Word He upholds the heavens. That's what Jesus does right now. You think about the One Who was so great, Who created everything that there is, came down and became a human being, and took 'the law of sin and death' upon Himself to save us. Does that not tell us how much God loves the world? Absolutely!

People can quote John 3:16 day and night, but unless they understand that they have no comprehension of what it is…

"…when He had by Himself…" (v 3)—all alone. That's why He said just before He died, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' That's is 'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?' He had to do it Himself!

"…purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high" (v 3).

• this will help you love God even more
• this will help you understand what Christ has done for you
• this will help you understand that you can go to God with any problem any trouble and difficulty any disaster, and ask for help because He is there to help

if God has done his to save us:

• Do you not think He will answer our prayers?
• Do you not think that He will intervene to help us?

That's why this is the Feast of rejoicing a Feast of Unleavened, because we get sin out and we draw close to God, and He uplifts us and inspires us and watches over us.

Hebrews 2:9: "But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor on account of suffering the death, in order that by the grace of God… [the actual functioning of the grace of God to be imparted to us] …He Himself might taste death for everyone."

You think on that for a minute! That's why you need to understand the Holy Days, because the Holy Days tell us when God is going to apply this to everyone. Obviously, God is not trying to save the world right now. If He were, He's failing utterly. Evil is abounding evermore! It's not His time to save the whole world.

I firmly believe that God is also going to save every one of those little aborted fetuses that have been killed by the murderous insanity of men and Satan the devil. The human being is a human being at the instant of conception.

• Are you not what you are when you are initially conceived? Yes, you are!
• What is the only difference between that conception and another person? Physical growth!

So, once there is the sperm from the father and the egg from the mother that unites and creates instantly by conception a new life. That is a new life! Is it going to be any great thing for God to resurrect that, as a full-term baby?

How is God going to defeat one of the most evil perpetrations on mankind by Satan the devil, if he cannot overcome abortion? I mean, just think on that! And when most babies are aborted, they're one inch long, because they are about 6-weeks-old, and they are fully developed.

I have one way you can get to the abortionist. You say, 'We're going to vote in a new law, everyone that's 5-feet and under is going to be killed.' Oh you cant do that! 'Well then, 3-feet 6-inches.' You would have all the midges writing against you. So, let's say 21-inches, that's the size of a normal baby at birth.

Yet, they have no problem killing a one-inch fully developed human being in the womb. They are fully developed at 6-weeks. They have to grow to be more developed, but they have the head, they have their eyes, they had their hands and arms and legs and internal organs and everything. Is God powerful enough to overcome that? I believe He is!

"…for everyone… [that's what we are] …because it was fitting for Him, for Whom all things were created, and by Whom all things exist, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Author of their salvation perfect through sufferings" (vs 9-10). He was made to die.

Verse 14: "Therefore, since the children are partakers of flesh and blood… [that's what we are] …in like manner He also took part in the same…"
Phil. 2 is one of the most profound areas that Paul wrote about. Philippians was one of his best churches. It was also a church that was predominantly female; the first convert was Lydia, the seller of purple. Wonderful church, no correction at all.

Philippians 2:5: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; Who, although He existed in the form of God…" (vs 5-6)—actually existing as God. Greek there is 'huparcho'—which means existing as God.

"…did not consider it robbery to be equal with God… [not less, equal] …but emptied Himself…" (vs 6-7)—no reputation (KJV). I tell you what, if you give up being God to become a human being, you sure make yourself of no reputation.

"…and was made in the likeness of men, and took the form of a servant" (v 7)—'doulous'---a slave. And he Greek for "…the likeness of men…"—'homoiomati'—same as we are.

Verse 8: "And being found in the manner of man… [lest anyone think that He didn't have the bodily processes] …He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." A very heinous, wicked and painful death.

Hebrews 2:14: "Therefore, since the children are partakers of flesh and blood, in like manner He also took part in the same, in order that through death He might annul him who has the power of death—that is, the devil; and that He might deliver those who were subject to bondage all through their lives by their fear of death" (vs 14-15).

• the bondage of sin
• the bondage of fear
• the bondage of Satan's way

Verse 16: "For surely… [verily/truly of the truth I am telling you, Paul is writing] …He is not taking upon Himself to help the angels… [He could have done that] …but He is taking upon Himself to help the seed of Abraham. For this reason, it was obligatory for Him…" (vs 16-17).

He was obligated by the very fact hat God put 'the law of sin and death' in Adam and Eve to pass on to all of their offspring. God obligated Himself, which is profound when you really think about it. God obligated Himself to be made like unto His brethren.

Why? So that no one can ever say, 'God you don't understand.' How can a man talk to God, when we're on a completely different level?

Verse 17: "For this reason, it was obligatory for Him to be made like His brethren in everything that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, in order to make propitiation... [not condemnation] …for the sins of the people. For because He Himself has suffered, having been tempted in like manner…" (vs 17-18).

If you don't have 'the law of sin and death' in you, how could you be tempted? I says of God, no man can tempt God, as God is God. Why?

• He's perfect
• He's righteous
• He doesn't have a sinful nature

But Jesus ook upon Himself the sinful nature so that He could be tempted!

Remember the temptation of Satan in the wilderness (Matt. 4 and Luke 4)? Yes, mighty temptations—He fasted 40 days—He was completely weak in the flesh! So that He could not say, 'I'm big, strong and tough, and God is My Father and I can take on Satan just like that!' NO! He was tempted!

"…having been tempted in like manner, He is able to help those who are being tempted" (v 18).

We can go to God, and say, 'God, You know what it's like to be tempted. Your Son Jesus Christ was tempted in every way like we are, yet, without sin. You know! Lift this burden from me,' whatever it may be. Sometimes sin is so automatic, it's just like the commercial; you'll be tooling down the road and BAM! a commercial jingle will come in your head. I know it has happened to everyone of you; it's happened to me many times. That's just the way sin does. You can go along and BAM! there it is right there.

Key this back to John 1; Hebrews 5:7: "Who, in the days of His flesh… [during the time he lived as a human being] …offered up both prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears…"

It wasn't an easy task! Jesus didn't come down here and waltz through Galilee and Judea. He came down here and He suffered and struggled, prayed and cried, just like you. When He cried, He had mucus running out of His nose.

"…to Him Who was able to save Him…" (v 7). In the flesh Jesus Christ needed to be saved! Not from His sins, but the sins of the whole world! And that's is astounding!

"…from death, and was heard because He feared God. Although He was a Son, yet, He learned obedience from the things that He suffered; and having been perfected…" (vs 7-9). How?

• through the suffering
• through this temptation
• through is overcoming

Never, never sinning once!

"…He became the Author of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him" (v 9).

Hebrews 4:12—this is really powerful: "For the Word of God…" Who is he Word? Christ! This is talking about the Word of God as he written word in this case, but it's still necessarily can apply. It becomes very profound.

"…is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of both soul and spirit, and of both the joints and the marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is not a created thing that is not manifest in His sight; but all things are naked and laid bare before the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account" (vs 12-13).

We're never going to fool God at any time. We may fool ourselves, we may go along with sin just like David did with his sin. We may find ourselves in difficulties and problems and troubles, but God always knows. God is merciful, and will lead us to repentance through His Holy Spirit, and that is an operation of grace!

Verse 14: "Having, therefore, a great High Priest…" Fantastic! Marvelous! 'Megalos; again. That's why every knee is going to bow to the name of Jesus Christ.

"…Who has passed into the heavens…" (v 14). You don't have to go to a temple on earth, you don't have to go to Mecca or to Jerusalem. You get on your knees and worship God in Spirit and Truth, and say, 'Abba Father, ' and you're right in contact with God the Father. That is something! That is overwhelming! The more I think on that, and the longer I think on it, the more overwhelming it becomes. That you can, on your knees, go before the greatest Being in the universe, by jus saying, 'Our Father…' Where does that put all of the little Hitler ministers? Nowhere!

"…Jesus the Son of God, we should hold fast the confession of our faith. For we do not have a High Priest Who cannot empathize with our weaknesses…" (vs 14-15). He knows! He had that 'law of sin and death' pulling against Him. He knows!

"…but One Who was tempted in all things according to the likeness of our own temptations; yet, He was without sin" (v 15).

That's amazing! That is so wonderful! Never do we ever have to come to the point where we say, 'O God, You won't understand.' Yes, He understands!

Verse 16: "Therefore, we should come with boldness to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." I tell you, that's all the time!

This is what is so good, and this is what is missing in the Gospel that's preached by various churches. Protestants don't understand this, and the Catholics don't have a clue. None of the other pagan religions know anything about it. All they are is they go along and say that everything that God has created is part of God, so therefore, it's God. 'The tree is god, the bug is god, you're a god, god is in you.' That's nonsense!

1-Peter 2:21: "For to this you were called because Christ also suffered for us…" That's why it was so excruciating, painful and unjust. A lot of us get bent out of shape when something happens to us. We say, 'I didn't deserve that!' Well, neither did Jesus.

"…leaving us an example, that you should follow in His footsteps; Who committed no sin…" (vs 21-22). Committed not one sin, though 'He was tempted in every point like we are, and was made in the likeness of sinful flesh.'

"…neither was guile found in His mouth" (v 22). That's part of human nature that we all kind of love a little bit. We got out little hooks and our barbs and we go after people.

Verse 23: "Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when suffering, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him Who judges righteously; Who Himself bore… [that is carried] …our sins within His own body… [in the likeness of sinful flesh with he law of sin and death] …on the tree, so that we, being dead to sins, may live unto righteousness; by Whose stripes you were healed" (vs 23-24). That's very profound!

That would take an awful lot of love wouldn't it? I mean, you think of the love to do that. Of course, all these people who do these evil things, sooner or later have to repent of it, and in the second resurrection they'll have a chance to repent. But you think of it the next time you see some of these awful murders and murderers and things going on, and you think: Christ died for that sin! Willingly carried it in His body to that tree of crucifixion! That helps us an awful lot.

We are to hate sin, but I tell you one thing, it helps you just to really understand that they are caught up in their own sins, and God hasn't called them, and God will deal with them in His own time. Christ died for that person!

2-Corinthians 5:18: "And all things are from God, Who has reconciled us to Himself… [God he Father] …through Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; which is, that God was in Christ…" (vs 18-19). Did He not tell the disciples, 'You believe not that I am in the Father and the Father in Me'?

"…reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them…" (v 19). Because 'the wages of sin is death' and God by judgment, if He imputed all of our sins to us, should literally blow this orb out of existence and kill all human beings!

"…and He has entrusted to us this message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ; and God, as it were, is exhorting you through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, 'Be reconciled to God.' For He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (vs 19-21).

Take this old fleshly body, with 'the law of sin and death,' give the Holy Spirit to us, give us His grace, give us His righteousness that we could be the righteousness of God! That's something! That is profound! You know we go through some of the Scriptures, and I've been a minister for 50-plus years, and these things just overwhelm me when I go through them. That God did that! Why?

That's why we don't call God by any of the formal names of the Old Testament, by the way. Because He's our Father, and that is the New Testament revelation that His name is the Father, and the Son is Jesus Christ. All the other names in the Old Testament are fine, good and so forth, they all describe what God is and who God is, that's fine.

But our relationship is not a formal distant relationship, as it was with the Old Covenant, that they had to come to a temple, that they could not call to God, their Father. They had to go to the temple. Sure, they could pray wherever they were, that's not saying they couldn't. But that Old Covenant was handled with the dispensation of angels, it was a secondhand, second person covenant.

This is a first person covenant. Not just with Christ, He's the One Who's made it possible, but with the Father. How many of you walk up to your father and say, 'Mr. So-and-So'? None of us do! It's Father or Dad, and that's what 'Abba' means.

John 16:23: "And in that day you shall ask Me nothing. Truly, truly I tell you, whatever you shall ask the Father in My name, He will give you"

Isn't that something? You ask the Father! Now whatsoever means according to His will, it's something that God wants to give you, something that you need and so forth.

Verse 24: "Until this day, you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full."

Verse 26: "In that day, you shall ask in My name; and I do not tell you that I will beseech the Father for you."

Notice how bad the Catholics are off; they say to pray to Mary or one of the saints and they'll intercede. Nonsense!

Verse 27: "For the Father Himself… [God the Father is personally involved in you] …loves you…" The Father Himself is loving you! That's profound! God is actively, this minute, continuously loving you! That's why He called you; He called you to life, not death.

"…because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God" (v 27).

• God manifest in the flesh
• justified in the spirit
• seen of angels
• ascended up into heaven

All of this is involved so that God can complete His work and His Family. This becomes absolutely something here when we really understand it!

Ephesians 3:8: "To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, was this grace given, that I might preach the Gospel among the Gentiles—even the unsearchable riches of Christ; and that I might enlighten all as to what is the fellowship of the mystery…" (vs 8-9).

And this secret—the mystery—is that God the Father is personally, individually loving those that He is calling. The secret is that Jesus Christ:

• came in the flesh
• shared the law of sin and death
• was tempted in every way that we are
• never sinned
• overcame and reconciled us to God the Father

"…that has been hidden from the ages in God, Who created all things by Jesus Christ; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the Church to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places, according to His eternal purpose… [God has purpose, He does everything with purpose] …which He has wrought in Christ Jesus our Lord, in Whom we have boldness and direct access with confidence through His very own faith" (vs 9-12). That is by His very own faith, Jesus' faith given to us!

Verse 13: "So then, I beseech you not to faint at my tribulations for you, which are working for your glory. For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of Whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named" (vs 13-15). God has called us to that Family. That's why He is our Father!

Verse 16: "That He may grant you… [by grace] …according to the riches of His glory…" Are the riches of God's glory sufficient? That's fantastic! Just step out and behold the universe some night.
"…to be strengthened with power by His Spirit in the inner man… [person] …that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; and that being rooted and grounded in love…" (vs 16-18). His is how we're able to grow:

• being rooted and grounded in that love
• loving God
• God loving you
• loving the brethren
• loving each other
• even loving our enemies as Christ said, which is hard to do

"…you may be fully able to comprehend with all the saints…" (v 18). God wants us to know; He wants us to understand; this is a secret being revealed, to be understood.

"…what is the breadth and length and depth and height… [the whole fantastic plan of God] …and to know the love of Christ, which surpasses human knowledge… (vs 18-19). In other words, there is no human knowledge available to tell us the love that Christ has for us! That He would do what He did!

"…so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" (v 19). That's a tremendous purpose! That is a tremendous destiny! To be as God is God!

1-John 3:1: "Behold! What glorious love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God! For this very reason, the world does not know us because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be; but we know that when He is manifested, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him exactly as He is" (vs 1-2). We shall see Him that way!

Ephesians 3:19: "And to know the love of Christ, which surpasses human knowledge; so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Now here's a promise that God is going to fulfill. Maybe not in this life; I'm sure, I'm convinced not in this life.

Verse 20: Now, to Him Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…" The greatest thought we could possibly have before God, God's thoughts are greater toward us!

"…according to the power that is working in us, to Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all generations, even into the ages of eternity. Amen" (vs 20-21)—and to be in the Family of God! That is something!

That means that the whole total summation of keeping the Feast of Unleavened Bread comes down to the fact that the day is going to come when you will no longer have the sinful nature! But you will be truly unleavened and without sin with Christ in God the Father forever!

All Scriptures from The Holy Bible in Its Original Order, A Faithful Version

Scriptural References:

• Romans 5:6-10
• Romans 8:33-34, 1, 34-39
• Romans 14:8-9
• John 3:16
• 1 Timothy 3:16
• Ephesians 3:1-8
• John 1:1-4, 14
• Romans 5:12-14
• Romans 7:13-18
• Matthew 19:16-17
• Romans 7:18-25
• Romans 6:1-2
• Romans 8:1-3
• Hebrews 1:1-3
• Hebrews 2:9-10, 14
• Philippians 2:5-7
• Hebrews 2:14-18
• Hebrews 5:7-9
• Hebrews 4:12-16
• 1 Peter 2:21-24
• 2 Corinthians 5:18-21
• John 16:23-24, 26-27
• Ephesians 3:8-19
• 1 John 3:1-2
• Ephesians 3:19-21

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• 1 John 3:16
• Romans 1
• Acts 4:12
• Matthew 4
• Luke 4

Also referenced: Book:
            The Christian Passover by Fred R. Coulter

FRC: bo
Transcribed: 5/25/17