FATHER GOD’S KNOWABLE PURPOSE

08-28-22 This message may be viewed live streaming video at youtube.com and tabernacleofmoses.org today Sunday at 11:00 am, and repeated 24/7 thereafter. The video, audio, and study notes are archived.

IF CHILDREN OF GOD, THEN SONS OF GOD

(Rom 8:16-19) The Spirit itself [the Holy Spirit, i.e., God’s Thoughts] beareth witness [testifies] with our spirit [with our thoughts], that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs [Gk: inheritors]; heirs of God, and joint-heirs [Gk: co-heirs, participants in common] with Christ [Gk: anointed /// smeared or rubbed with oil, by implication consecrated to an office or religious service]; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together [Gk: exhalted to dignity] [1]. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [i.e., of our present lives] are not worthy [Gk: deserving] to be compared with the glory [the indescribable joy] which shall be revealed [Gk: to take off the cover: disclosed] in us. For the earnest expectation [Gk: intense anticipation] of the creature [Gk: creation] waiteth [2] for the manifestation [Gk: disclosure: appearing, coming, revelation] of the sons of God. 

1.    dignity = Dict.: 1. the quality of being worthy of esteem or honor; worthiness. 2. high repute; honor. 3. the degree of worth, repute, or honor. 4. a high position, rank, or title. 5. loftiness of appearance or manner; stateliness. 6. proper pride and self-respect.

2.    (Luke 21:19) In your patience [Gk: cheerful (or hopeful) endurance: waiting] possess [Gk: acquire: purchase] ye your souls [i.e., your thoughts]. 

a.     The Nelson Study Bible = “Patient allegiance to Jesus leads to eternal life.”

WE ARE THE SONS OF GOD CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE

(Rom 8:28-30) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called [i.e., summoned] according to his purpose [1]. For whom he did foreknow [Gk: to know beforehand], he also did predestinate [Gk: predetermine] to be conformed [Gk: jointly formed: fashioned like unto /// through the idea of adjustment of parts; shaped] to the image [Gk: likeness] of his Son, that he [Jesus Christ] might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate [Gk: predetermine], them he also called [at the brasen altar]: and whom he called, them he also justified [at the brasen laver]: and whom he justified, them he also glorified [in the holy place]. 

1.    (Eph 1:4-6) According as he hath chosen us in him [in Jesus Christ] before the foundation of the world [i.e., before Gen 1:1], that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated [Gk: predetermined] us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved [i.e., accepted in the Body of Jesus Christ]. 

THE SPIRITUAL BODY OF JESUS CHRIST IS

ONE BODY (ONE SPIRIT) WITH MANY MEMBERS

(1 Cor 12:12-14) For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized [Gk: to make whelmed (fully wet): washed] [immersed] into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.                   

1.    Commentary: Every spirit (good or evil) is composed of many lesser spirits [i.e., soldiers]:

a.     (Mark 5:9) And he asked him [“thou unclean spirit” v.8], What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion [a Roman Legion consisted of about 6,000 soldiers]: for we are many.

b.    (Luke 8:30) And Jesus asked him [“the unclean spirit” v.29], saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils [Gk: demonic beings] [unclean spirits (evil spirits, fallen angels)] were entered into him. 

c.     (2 Tim 2:3,4) Thou therefore endure hardness [Gk: undergo hardship: suffer trouble], as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth [Gk: to serve in a military campaign] entangleth [Gk: entwines: involves] himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 

THE SONS OF GOD ARE MANY MEMBERS COMPACTED INTO THE SPIRITUAL BODY OF JESUS CHRIST WITHIN WHICH WE EACH SHALL FIT PERFECTLY

(1 Cor 12:15-27) If the foot shall [ignorantly] say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall [ignorantly] say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member [(singular)], where were the body [(plural)]? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts [Gk: well-formed: honorable] have no need: but God hath tempered [1] the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism [Gk: split or gap: division, rent] in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. (1 Cor 12:27) Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular [2]. 

1.    Commentary: “tempered” = formed (assembled) the Body of Christ, like a table-top puzzle, into a properly proportioned mixture of individual parts compacted together, strengthened with the adhesive (fastening strength) of love.

2.    (1 Cor 12:27 Amplified Bible) Now you (collectively) are Christ’s body and (individually) you are members of it, each part severally and distinct – each with his own place and function.

HENCEFORTH BE NO MORE CHILDREN, BUT SONS OF GOD

(Eph 4:14-16) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight [Gk: artifice or fraud] of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie [(double-meaning)] in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head [i.e., Jesus], even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together [Gk: organized] [perfectly] and compacted [Gk: driven together, united: knit together] by that [consummation of love (mutual attraction)] which every joint [Gk: a ligament (as fastening) /// to attach oneself to, to touch /// to set on fire] supplieth [Gk: contributes], according to the effectual working [Gk: efficient] in the measure [quantity, ability] of every part [person], maketh increase of the body [of Christ] [1] unto the edifying [Gk: architecture: building up] of itself in love. 

1.    Commentary: THIS IS FATHER GOD’S KNOWABLE PURPOSE:

a.     (Mark 16:15) And he [Jesus Christ] said unto them [His disciples], Go ye into all the world [Gk: kosmos; “cosmos” (universe)], and preach the gospel [of Love] to every creature [Gk: (every) creation] [of which man is a subcategory]. 

Amen