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State Controlled Churches by Paul Roberts

Who’s the Head of Your Church?

The prophet Jeremiah spoke to this doctrine of the Nicolaitanes very succinctly since usurping rule over the people had also occurred in his day.  The priests who had turned away from obedience to God and who God no longer considered His priests, had arrogated to themselves authority over the citizens of the nation of Israel as recorded in the following scriptures:

“The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have itso: and what will ye do in the end thereof? Jeremiah 5:31

Nicolaitanes, Inc.

Again today, this Nicolaitane movement is alive and well and being promoted through the formation of non-profit corporations which are created by the State rather than Jesus and these non-profit organizations are being promoted as the only means of affording both the priests and laity tax free status under the 501.c (3) section of the IRS code.  While I’m not an attorney, it would appear that as a Church in this Country you do not need to be a corporation to be tax exempt according to the Constitution.  These ministers are arrogating authority to themselves over the laity through means of the legal authority conferred on them by their Corporate State Charter and their ungodly actions are being supported by the false prophets.

Rather than true elders who meet the qualifications of 1st Timothy 3:1-7 having a free hand in preaching and teaching the word of God with equal access to the pulpit for the feeding and welfare of the flock, these qualified elders can and are being legally refused official recognition by means of the Board of Directors and Officers who initially established the non-profit organization according to the Articles of Incorporation sanctioned by the State.  Men and women posing as elders, quite apart from the qualifications of 1st Timothy 3:1-7, can however, gain access to the pulpit if they find favor with the legal board of directors.   These scripturally unqualified elders can be duly recognized and legally appointed by the legal board of directors through the legal power conferred on them by the State through the Articles of Incorporation.

I was curious as to why the Church found it necessary to incorporate under the laws of the State of their incorporation since it seemed directors and officers of Corporation don’t necessarily have to meet the qualifications for an elder yet they wield legal power over the flock through the commandments of men (i. e. State Law) that cannot at this time be effectively challenged by scripture.  So, I went on-line and to my surprise found an article entitled “WOE TO THE CHURCHES: Obtaining Corporation Status (501c3) is Against God” @ http://www.guymalone.com/501c3church.htm  This article cited some of the following reasons for the Church to seek corporate status:

  1. 1.        They think they have to.
  2. 2.       They feel it gives them some benefit.
  3. 3.       They think it gives them prestige.
  4. 4.       Asset protection.
  5. 5.       Think it’s the only way gifts are tax deductible.
  6. 6.       Think it’s okay with God.
  7. 7.       They have always done it that way (tradition).

Then the article asked the reader to consider that the word “church” is not meant to refer to any physical building, but refers to the worldwide body of believers in Christ.  The word “church” (ecclesia in Greek – called out ones) does not refer to any organization, no matter it’s name or legal status.  The author then asks the reader to keep that in mind when considering the following points:

  1. 1.       The Lord is sovereign over His Churches:  Jesus is the Head of the Church, not man.  Paul compares the special relationship of Christ and His Church to the God given relationship of man and wife.  What can be closer or more special than this?  Would you bring another person into your marriage to control it with worldly principles?  I hope the answer is no.  Then why would you bring in a “fictitious entity” no less created by the State and man (i. e. a corporation) to run and regulate something that belongs to the Lord?  The relationship with Jesus and His Church belongs to Him alone.  He is the head of the Church and as such He governs it with His laws, His principles, and His directions.  After all His is our King and is sovereign over His Church.  To become a corporation in effect divorces the church from Christ, it’s Head and replaces it with the State. 

NOTE:  We, as Christians, need to realize what the courts have ruled about corporations and that a corporation has no rights, only privileges granted by the “State”.  To become a corporation removes the authority of the Lord over a corporate church and put’s it under bondage to man’s law.  According to man, the State is sovereign over it’s Corporations:

1.)     “A corporation is a creature of the State.  It is presumed to be incorporated for benefit of the public.  It receives certain special privileges and franchises and holds them subject to the laws of the State and the limitation of it’s charter.  It’s powers are limited by law.  It can make no contract not authorized by it’s charter.  It’s rights to act as a corporation are only preserved so long as it obeys the laws of it’s creation.  There is a reserved right in the legislature to investigate it’s contracts and ascertain if it has exceeded it’s powers” (Hale v. Henkel, 201 U. S. 43)

2.)    “[A corporation is] an artificial person or legal entity created by or under the authority of the laws of the State.  An association of persons created by statute as a legal entity——–the corporation is distinct from the individuals who comprise it (shareholders)—–Such an entity subsists as a body politic under a special denomination, which is regarded in law as having a personality and existence distinct from that of it’s several members.”  Black’s Law Dictionary West Publishing Company, 1991; 6th Edition, page 340

3.)    “A corporation derives it’s existence and all it’s powers from the State and, therefore, has only such powers as the State has conferred upon it.  Power is used here to mean the legal capacity to execute and fulfill the objects and purposes for which the corporation was created, and the source of it’s power is the charter and the statute under which the corporation was organized.” Len Young Smith and G. Gale Roberson, Smith and Roberson’s Business Law, West Publishing Company, 1966, page 796.

NOTE #1:  The objects and purposes for which a corporation, non-profit or otherwise, for which a corporation is formed are expressly stated in it’s articles of incorporation, which delineate in general language the type business activities in which the corporation proposes to engage”  Smith and Roberson’s Business Law, West Publishing Company, 1966, page 789

NOTE #2:  “Instances of non-profit corporations are educational institutionsathletic clubslibrary clubsfraternitiessororitieshospitals, and organizations which have exclusively a charitable purpose”  Smith and Roberson’s Business Law, West Publishing Company, 1966, page 789

NOTE #3:  The purpose of the Church is not “charity,” nor is it’s purpose exclusively charitable.  Charity should be a function of every Church, but it is certainly not it’s purpose.  Offering worship to God, evangelism to the lost, bringing the saints into the unity of the faith are among the Churches exclusive and manifold purposes.

  1. 2.       Jesus Christ should be the undisputed Head of the Church – Why then Incorporate? 

1.)     Many people for some reason think that the Church has to.  This is far from the truth on a few different levels.  Here in the United States of America a church does not have to incorporate at all to be recognized as a local body of believers (Not sure why they would want recognition from the State anyway) and/or to be legitimately tax-exempt.  I know some of you are thinking “Well, Romans 13 says—“Most of us have been taught that whatever the government says, goes.  Wrong!  If the government passes a law that interferes or contradicts one of God’s laws we are not bound to follow it.  If the government wants you to receive a mark in your forehead or right hand are you going to obey?  There are Biblical examples of legitimate disobedience the laws men and/or the decrees of kings such as Daniel’s disobedience to king Darius and the disobedience of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to the decree of Nebuchadnezzar.

NOTE #1:  To think Christians are bound by the laws of men, when it comes to the work of the Kingdom, is just stupid.  If this were the case the church in Russia, China, Middle East and other places – if they listened to Romans 13 the way it is being applied now – would never have seen growth.  How about the brothers and sisters that smuggled Bibles into the old Soviet Block, China, Cuba, and others?  Whose law did they break?   Man’s.  The local governments.  They may be held accountable for their actions by men, they might even lose their lives.  Guess what?  God will reward them for their actions.  They were doing the work of the Kingdom.

NOTE#2:  Some in the Church think that the law requires a body of believers to incorporate to be a legal and lawful entity.  However, under the Constitution of the United States, a body of believers does not have to incorporate to lawfully carry on Kingdom work or to be tax exempt.  The Constitution expressly states:  “Congress shall make no law regarding an establishment of religion, or prohibiting free exercise thereof.” (U. S. Constitution, First Amendment).  Requiring a Church to incorporate would be making a law establishing a religion which is unconstitutional.

NOTE #3:  Some in the Church think that incorporating is the only way a Church can become  a tax exempt organization and that donations from members can be tax deductible.  According to the Internal Revenue Code, “a church, it’s integrated auxiliaries, and conventions and associations of the church are excluded from taxation.”  United States Code, Title 26, 508(c)(1)(A).

Section 503(c) of the Internal Revenue Code provides that churches are not required to apply for recognition of Section 501(c)(3) status in order to be exempt from federal taxation or to receive tax deductible contributions.  Churches are automatically exempt from Federal Income Tax, and contributions to churches are deductible by donors and section 170.

The government has no constitutional authority over the Church.  It is not allowed to violate the First Amendment protection that the constitution provides.  However, the current corrupt and ungodly government has found a way around this by holding out an unbiblical advantage hoping an ignorant clergy person will take the bait and bring the church into voluntary compliance by forming a 501(c)(3) corporation, thus placing the church under the authority of the State.

Once the church has been transformed into a corporation it then becomes subject to control by federal and state governments.  In truth, an incorporated church is no longer a church but merely a non-profit organization subject to total control by the government.  You will be controlled on who you hire, what you can and cannot preach.  Your cannot conflict with public policy nor assault the hearer’s sense of mental well-being, self-esteem, sexual orientation etc.. You can be sued.  The IRS prohibits such organizations from “carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation” (26 USC 501-C-3).  This prohibition extends, not only to the endorsement of a political candidate, but also any other attempts to “influence legislation,” including taking a public stand against such government-protected abominations as abortion or homosexuality.  Now, the church is discovering that favors from Washington D. C. have strings attached.  In this case, the string is a rope that is being used to throttle her once-powerful voice, to squeeze out her very life and, eventually, to hang her by the neck until dead!

NOTE#4:  Many of the clergy use and abuse incorporation as a “means” of obtaining and maintaining absolute control over the affairs of the church.  Rather than the scripture determining which men are qualified as elders to oversee the well-being of the flock of God, instead, the Articles of Incorporation of an incorporated non-profit organization allow the Board of Directors to legally determine who is a “so-called” elder and who is not.  These Directors can spend money anyway they please within the confines of the Articles of Incorporations and they can limit the pulpit to only those whose message agrees with theirs.  Incorporation is a means of controlling the church which arrogates decision making power away from the authority of the scripture according to the wisdom of the righteous laws of the kingdom of God to a Board of Directors according to their wisdom under the authority of the Articles of Incorporation of the State.

  1. 3.       What should we do now with respect to incorporated churches? 

1.)     They became incorporated, become unincorporated.

2.)    Talk to your pastor/minister about this important issue.

3.)    Rescind your membership in an incorporated church.

4.)    Don’t incorporate if you’re now unincorporated.

5.)    Find an unincorporated church.

6.)    Study your Bible daily.

7.)    Pray for the Body of Christ.

These Nicolaitane corporations can gain new members by building attractive facilities and they can maintain their influence over the laity by false prosperity teaching, teaching faith as rights to blessings without corresponding duties, and teaching for commandments the covetousness economic doctrines of men.  By means of this judicial misinterpretation of the “establishment clause” of the Constitution regarding freedom of religion the Church has been made vulnerable to the perspective of the confines of a private 501.c (3) non-profit corporate Church campus.  This new perspective has reduced the scope of their stewardship regarding the words of the righteous laws of the kingdom of God from a larger publicand national responsibility to a smaller private and local Church campus responsibility under the restrictions of a 501.c (3) non-profit corporation whose Articles of Incorporation are sanctioned by the laws of the State rather than the laws of the kingdom of God.  Look around in this nation called the United States and behold the results of a Christianity bridled by the laws of the State and Federal governments.  Judge for yourself whether our nation is prospering or in decline spiritually, morally,  financially, materially, or health-wise.

Paul Roberts

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The Truth about Tradition and Church Membership [podcast]

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Abiding

The Song of Moses: God’s Favor upon His People [podcast]


“And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.” Deuteronomy 31:30

Everything we read of the children of Israel was pointing to Christ and to His perfect salvation He would later come and accomplish and bestow upon His beloved people, the body of Christ which is “the Israel of God.” (Galatians 6:16)  And so this song is written to us (Romans 15:4;  Corinthians 10:11).

At the end of his days, at the end of the 5 books he penned, God gives us through Moses a summation of His salvation work among His beloved people.

“He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. 11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: 12 So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. 13  He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;  14  Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.” Deuteronomy 32:10-14

“32:10-14 The birth and childhood of the nation of Israel are described in verse 10. After the Exodus from Egypt, God guided, instructed, and preserved His people with the love of a mother eagle (v. 11). There was no foreign god who had a part in Israel’s preservation. Why then should the nation turn to idolatry and ascribe the goodness of Jehovah to another? Beginning in verse 13, the song is prophetic. He brought them into the blessings of the Promised Land.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

“Deuteronomy 32:10
a    [He found him in a desert land …] The sevenfold preservation of Israel:
1.    God found (literally, sustained) him in the wilderness (Deu_32:10).
2.    He led him around (Deu_32:10-12).
3.    He instructed him (Deu_32:10).
4.    He kept him as the apple (pupil) of His eye.
5.    He preserved him from idolatry (Deu_32:12).
6.    He exalted him among the nations (Deu_32:13).
7.    He gave him material prosperity (Deu_32:13-14).
b    [apple of his eye] Hebrew: ’iyshown (H380), the dark pupil of the eye; the hole, gate, or door of the eye (Psa_17:8; Pro_7:2)” Dake

“Deuteronomy 31:30-32:14
MOSES’ SONG: THE LORD’S FAVOR UPON ISRAEL
The song of Moses, like the fabled song of the swan, was his last and sweetest. It is probably the noblest ode in the whole compass of the Bible, and is the source from which subsequent singers derived suggestions for their noblest outbursts. The marginal references prove how deeply it dyed the national sentiment.

It excels in the names and designations of the Almighty. He is the Rock: Deu_31:4; Deu_31:15; Deu_31:18; Deu_31:30; Jehovah: Deu_31:6; Father: Deu_31:6; the Most High: Deu_31:8; God: El, the strong, Deu_31:15, etc. What a study are the names of God, scattered through the Bible! Each was coined to meet some need of the human soul. What the rocks of the desert are to its shifting sands God is amid the changes of this mortal existence.

This earlier part of the song is very tender. We are God’s portion; the apple of His eye; as young eaglets, whom the mother-bird is carefully teaching to fly, the favored recipients of God’s richest gifts, Deu_31:13, etc.” FB Meyer

Notice the descriptive language, the metaphors—how the LORD illustrates how He loves, protects, and provides for His people. In Scripture, the LORD uses imagery to communicate truth.

“Moses’ song and what our LORD reveals in this message, is such a beautiful picture of God finding us in our hopeless, miserable, and lost state. He pulls us out of the miry clay and gives us His supply of grace. He then clothes us with His righteousness, seating us in heavenly places in Christ and surrounding us with His care and protection. God’s love and goodness to us.” Karen Cochran

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High

shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will

say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my

God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee

from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome

pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers,

and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall

be thy shield and buckler.” Psalms 91:1-4

Read Psalm 91 often so this truth permeates you. Here the LORD uses the imagery of His “winged fowl” creation (Genesis 1:21). GOD made this very creature/bird for the express purpose of showing us how much He loves us and how He comforts, cares and provides for, guides, and protects His own (Psalms 91:1).

“The Song of Moses is recorded in Deuteronomy 32 of the King James Version (KJV), spanning verses 1 through 43. It is a prophetic poem given by Moses to the children of Israel just before his death, serving as a witness and a reminder of God’s faithfulness and Israel’s potential turning away.”

Prayer: Father, please grant that I know and understand You more and more. I love You LORD. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Jesus in Every Book of the Bible

First and foremost, God’s Word was written to reveal Christ.

The Bible is said to be “The only Book where the divine Author is present every time you read it.”

He’s divinely encoded and present on every page of His Word.

“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.” Luke 24:44 

Every book of the Bible is about the LORD Jesus, who is the central theme, the sacred substance of all of Holy Scripture. If we miss Him, we miss everything, we miss the grand subject and revelation of God’s Word.

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” John 5:39-40

This makes it clear that we can “search the scriptures,” we can know them, and yet not know the Author.

They knew the Word of God but did not know the God of the Word. They made the choice not to “come to” Jesus thorugh His Word. They made it about themselves, not Jesus.

The Bible is one Book from one divine Author. The divisions are there to help us navigator His Word. – Old and New Testaments, chapters, verses, etc.

“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” Psalms 119:18

The supreme and most important “wondrous” thing we are to behold in Holy Writ, is Jesus Christ.

Amen. Jesus Christ is King of all kings, LORD of all lords.

“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:7-8

Jesus is present in every book of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Here’s a breakdown of how He is revealed in each book:

Old Testament Canon:

  • Genesis: Jesus is the seed of the woman (Gen 3:15) and the promised redeemer descended from the line of Judah (Genesis 22:17-18).
  • Exodus: Jesus is the Passover Lamb (Exodus 12:1-13).
  • Leviticus: Jesus is the Great High Priest (Leviticus 8:1-36; Hebrews 4:14).
  • Numbers: Jesus is the Rock (Numbers 20:2-13).
  • Deuteronomy: Jesus is the Bread of Life (Deuteronomy 8:3).
  • Joshua: Jesus is the Captain of the Lord’s host (Joshua 5:13-15).
  • Judges: Jesus is the Judge of Israel (Judges 2:11-15).
  • Ruth: Jesus is the Kinsman-Redeemer (Ruth 3:9-13).
  • 1 Samuel: Jesus is the King of Israel (1 Samuel 16:13).
  • 2 Samuel: Jesus is the Son of David (2 Samuel 7:12-13).
  • 1 Kings: Jesus is the King of Israel (1 Kings 1:30-40).
  • 2 Kings: Jesus is the King of Israel (2 Kings 17:13-15).
  • 1 Chronicles: Jesus is the King of Israel (1 Chronicles 17:11-15).
  • 2 Chronicles: Jesus is the King of Israel (2 Chronicles 6:16).
  • Ezra: Jesus is the Rebuilder of the Temple (Ezra 5:2-5).
  • Nehemiah: Jesus is the Rebuilder of the Walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 6:15-16).
  • Esther: Jesus is Mordecai (Esther 2:5-7).
  • Job: Jesus is the Ever-Living Redeemer (Job 19:25-27).
  • Psalms: Jesus is the Shepherd (Psalm 23:1-4).
  • Proverbs: Jesus is Wisdom (Proverbs 8:22-31).
  • Ecclesiastes: Jesus is the Teacher (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
  • Song of Solomon: Jesus is the Bridegroom (Song of Solomon 1:2-4).
  • Isaiah: Jesus is the Messiah (Isaiah 53:1-12).
  • Jeremiah: Jesus is the Righteous Branch (Jeremiah 23:5-6).
  • Lamentations: Jesus is the Suffering Servant (Lamentations 3:22-24).
  • Ezekiel: Jesus is the Shepherd (Ezekiel 34:11-16).
  • Daniel: Jesus is the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14).
  • Hosea: Jesus is the Husband (Hosea 2:16-20).
  • Joel: Jesus is the Day of the Lord (Joel 2:28-32).
  • Amos: Jesus is the Shepherd (Amos 5:24-27).
  • Obadiah: Jesus is the Redeemer (Obadiah 1:21).
  • Jonah: Jesus is the Savior (Jonah 2:9-10).
  • Micah: Jesus is the Ruler (Micah 5:2-5).
  • Nahum: Jesus is the Judge (Nahum 1:2-8).
  • Habakkuk: Jesus is the Righteous One (Habakkuk 1:13).
  • Zephaniah: Jesus is the Righteous Branch (Zephaniah 3:14-17).
  • Haggai: Jesus is the Desire of All Nations (Haggai 2:7).
  • Zechariah: Jesus is the Branch (Zechariah 3:8).
  • Malachi: Jesus is the Messenger (Malachi 3:1).

New Testament Canon:

  • Matthew: Jesus is the Messiah (Matthew 1:1-25).
  • Mark: Jesus is the Son of God (Mark 1:1-11).
  • Luke: Jesus is the Savior (Luke 2:11).
  • John: Jesus is the eternal, the divine Word of God (John 1:1-14).
  • Acts: Jesus is the Resurrected Lord (Acts 1:1-11).
  • Romans: Jesus is the Righteousness of God (Romans 3:21-26).
  • 1 Corinthians: Jesus is the Wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:18-25).
  • 2 Corinthians: Jesus is the Great Comforter, Consoler, grace-giver, sufficiency of/to His people (2 Corinthians 1:1; 12).
  • Galatians: Jesus is the Redeemer, liberty giver (Galatians 3:13-14).
  • Ephesians: Jesus is the Head of the Church (Ephesians 1:20-23).
  • Philippians: Jesus is the God of Peace (Philippians 4:7-9).
  • Colossians: Jesus is the Creator and Sustainer of all life (Colossians 1:15-17).
  • 1 Thessalonians: Jesus is the Coming King (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
  • 2 Thessalonians: Jesus is the Coming Judge and King (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12).
  • 1 Timothy: Jesus is the High Priest (1 Timothy 2:5-6).
  • 2 Timothy: Jesus is the Faithful One, Rewarder (2 Timothy 2:13).
  • Titus: Jesus is the Savior, the Blessed Hope (Titus 1:3-4).
  • Philemon: Jesus is the Ransom (Philemon 1:8-9).
  • Hebrews: Jesus is the Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14; 5:1-10).
  • James: Jesus is the Righteous One, Giver of wisdom (James 1:1-18).
  • 1 Peter: Jesus is the Shepherd, Rock (1 Peter 2:25).
  • 2 Peter: Jesus is the Lord, Day Star (2 Peter 1:1-21).
  • 1 John: Jesus is the Son of God, Light, Advocate, Truth (1 John 1:1-14).
  • 2 John: Jesus is the Savior, Truth (2 John 1:1-13).
  • 3 John: Jesus is the Savior, Way (3 John 1:1-15).
  • Jude: Jesus is the Savior (Jude 1:1-25).
  • Revelation: Jesus is the Lamb of God, King of kings (Revelation 1:1-20).

Jesus is present in every book of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, as the seed of the woman, the Passover Lamb, the High Priest, the Rock, the Judge, the King, the Redeemer, the Shepherd, the Husband, the Savior, and more.

Jesus Christ is King. – “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:7-8

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Redemption Through Christ’s Sacrifice [podcast]


The Glories
of the
Scarlet Thread

(Few things could be this important to your spiritual life)

Of the scarlet of redemption, one writer notes:

“The Wonder of Redemption: The blood is the power of redemption and you will see this as we follow through the Bible from the beginning to the end of God’s revelation of Himself to man as recorded in the Bible.”

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” Colossians 1:12-14

The great apostle of Jesus declared the Gospel to us:

“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 

The Fall of Man

The Good News is so good due to the very bad news of our fall.

“Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: … Therefore as by the offence of one (Adam) judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” Romans 5:12, 18

When the man and woman whom God had created chose to sin against Him, He separated them from His presence. They attempted to cover their nakedness by sewing fig leaves together and girding them around their waists (Genesis 2:7). This was man’s attempt to cover his own sin and shame.

“The aprons of fig leaves speak of man’s attempt to save himself by a bloodless religion of good works.” William MacDonald

God did not honor the fig leaves so He shed the blood of animals to make them “coats of skins, and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21). Because He had already foretold that His Son would be sent to redeem the fallen race (Genesis 3:15), God chose to depict the sacrifice that the coming Redeemer would make by the sacrifice of innocent animals. The atonement for the man and woman by the sacrifice of these animals pointed to the prophesied Savior who would later come and personally shed His blood to atone for the sins of His creation which had been contaminated by sin.

“And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” Ezekiel 22:30

This Scripture above speaks to the utter need and absolute divine exclusivity and uniqueness of Christ.

From the cradle of creation through the dispensation of the Mosaic law, in Christ’s redemptive blood on Calvary’s cross, and throughout eternity future, we see that in the Creator’s economy it is blood that quenches the fire of His holy vengeance.

“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is NO remission.” Hebrews 9:22

God obviously instructed Adam and Eve to sacrifice animals to continue to cover their sin because their son Abel brought “the firstlings of his flock” at the time of sacrifice (Genesis 4:4).

The blood sacrifice that Abel offered to God was accepted because it demonstrated faith in the coming Redeemer.

When Israel was in bondage God informed the nation that each family was to shed the blood of an unblemished lamb and place the blood upon their doorposts before He delivered them from Egypt (Exodus 12). He said that this blood would save them from His wrath. The unblemished lamb was a type of the spotless Lamb of God which was to come to be slain (1 Peter 1:19), saving those who would receive Him, from the wrath of God (Romans 5:9).

Not Just Any Blood

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem…” Galatians 4:4-5

Sin separated men from their holy Maker and God (Isaiah 59:2). Under the law God instructed the nation of Israel to approach Him by the sacrifice of animals. The sins of the people were atoned for by the blood of animals because this demonstrated faith in the prophesied and coming Redeemer (Leviticus 16:34, 17:11). In Leviticus 16 there is a twofold typology of Christ found. Aaron, the priest of Israel, was to take two goats to atone for the sins of the people (Lev. 16:8-10). One of these two goats was used as a “sin offering” and the other for a “scapegoat.” The “sin offering” goat that was sacrificed was a type of Christ who would later shed His blood, “offering Himself without spot to God” (Hebrews 9:14). His blood, which was depicted here in the blood of the animal, was to be the ultimate price for atonement (at-one-ment) that the Father required for the removal of the sins of the fallen race. The word “scapegoat” here literally means the goat of departure. Concerning this live goat of departure, the LORD instructed Aaron to lay both hands upon him and confess all the sins and iniquities of Israel upon him and then send him away into the wilderness (Leviticus 16:20-22). This goat, the scapegoat, was a type of Christ in that it would carry the sins of God’s people away from them. It would separate them from sin so that their sin wouldn’t separate them from God. This is a type of Christ in that He was to come and shed His perfect blood to “take away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Jesus cried: “Why hast thou forsaken me?” (Psalms 22:1; Matthew 27:46)

“It was the human body which God had given Him. It was the sacrifice that cried-the Lamb about to die! The Son of Man knew Himself forsaken. God dumped that vast, filthy, slimy mass of human sin on the soul of the Savior-and then backed away.” A.W. Tozer.

“Wow! All that filth was ours! Jesus was our ultimate sacrifice! And Isaiah says in 53:10 that it ‘pleased the Lord to bruise Him.’ This was God’s divine plan that Jesus would be the sacrifice for our sins so we could have redemption and reconciliation with God. We cannot understand the depths of this kind of love for us! All we can do is praise Jesus! And love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37), and obey and follow Him all the days of our lives! All praise to You Jesus for loving us this much!” Karen Cochran

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This prophetic pattern continued to cover the sins of His people from the time of the fall until the One whom these sacrifices foreshadowed appeared (Hebrews 10). Those in Israel who truly loved the LORD fervently anticipated the arrival of the prophesied Messiah a Lamb of God. About 4,000 years after man had fallen, a prophet named John the Baptist, saw Jesus approaching and declared “Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). It was the fullness of time and the Father had sent the promised Redeemer into the earth to “take away the sin of the world.” The sacrifices that once atoned for Israel would now be superseded by the one sacrifice of God’s only begotten Son (Hebrews 10:1-23). His pure and spotless blood would now be shed to remove the sins of the world. The Lamb which was slain before the foundation of the world (in the mind of God) was now manifest in the flesh to redeem mankind from his sinful and separated state (Revelation 13:8; John 1:14). He became the “propitiation” (atoning sacrifice) for our sins (1 John 2:2).

Just before He went to His ordained altar, the cross, to be offered up for the sin of the world, Jesus said;

“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28

As is clearly announced in the God-breathed New Testament records, redemption, remission, and the forgiveness of sins comes only from the blood of Jesus, the one and only Redeemer of men (Ephesians 1:7).

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” Ephesians 1:7

THE ULTIMATE AND FINAL SACRIFICE

He who knew no sin became the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world (2 Corinthians 5:21).

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” John 19:30

It was out of the riches of His mercy and grace that our sins have been remitted by the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. Note the finality of language He uses to convince you of this in the following passage:

“But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God…For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified…. And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith…” Hebrews 10:12-22

Not only does the blood of Jesus take away/remove the sins of the one who personally receives Him, but also the guilt that is always coupled with sin (Hebrews 9:14; 1 John 1:9). What great salvation!

“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first-begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.” Revelation 1:5

His blessed sinless divine blood is available to those who will simply “Come” to Him as He invites them to do … before and in order to be saved AND afterward, that fount is always available during this season …. (Matthew 11:28-30; Hebrews 4:14-16)! Anyone else thankful and happy about “the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” today? (1 Peter 1:18-19)

For a topical study of deeper proportions on this subject, see The Blood of Jesus.

Where is YOUR Christology friend? What know thee of Christ? Have you sought and studied Him? Go here: Christology (the study of Christ)

If you will be planted deep into Christ, your Christology, your study of, your personal knowledge of Christ must be deep, not shallow (Colossians 2:6-10).

If you truly desire to know more about how to really know the LORD, go here:  Born Again: What is It?

Sign up for free email devotional HERE… The Moments with My Master email devotional is sent out for the edification of the body of Christ.

PEACE with GOD

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“Amen! Words cannot express our thanks in what our Lord Jesus has done on the Cross for us, His suffering. We thank You Lord for all you have done, though we are undeserving, we thank you so much. Otherwise I would be lost, on my way to hell w/out your salvation.” Paula L.

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