Happy Heralds, IncMISUNDERSTOOD MYSTERIES MADE MANIFEST (CLEAR) by Dr. Fred Wittman V. THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION INTRODUCTION: How can God remove human guilt of SIN? How do you explain the mystery why Mary Magdalene could not touch Jesus on the resurrection morning (Jn. 20:17) but the women (Mt. 28:9) and His disciples (Lk. 24:39) could and did? “/Jesus says to her, Mary[Mahgdah-laynáy]! That one^ turned and says to Him, Rahbbou-née[O Great Master Teacher], which is being said, O Teacher! /Jesus says to her, Stop attempting to touch[in the motion to embrace] Me for I have not yet ascended to[the face of] My /Father! But journey to[the face of] My /brothers! And tell them, I am ascending to[the face of] My /Father and your& /Father and |to[the face of]| My God and your& God” (Jn. 20:16,17 APT). “Then as they[the women] journeyed to report to His /disciples, in fact lo! /Jesus met up with them, saying, Rejoice! Then they approached[the face of] and grabbed[take hold of mightily] His /feet and they bowed in homage to Him” (Mt. 28:9 APT). “And in the same hour they stood up and returned unto Jerusalem. And they found the& eleven and the+ ones together with them assembled together, . . . Now as they were telling these~ things, /Jesus Himself stood in midst of them. . . . And He said to them, Why are you& standing disturbed? And because of what are discordant reasonings ascending in your& /hearts? Behold My /hands and My /feet, that Myself, I am Myself continuously existing! Handle Me! And behold! Because a spirit does not have flesh and bones according as you& observe Me having” (Lk. 24:33,36,38,39 Apt). What is the significance and importance of the resurrection? Why did The Lord Jesus Christ rise again? Why is The Christ’s resurrection so closely connected with His ascension? Having considered the Mystery of The Christ, The Son Of A Human and His vicarious death, it is necessary to consider another mystery, the Mystery of The Christ’s Resurrection-Ascension. Remember the meaning of the New Testament use of ‘mystery’ is “a profound truth that has been hidden or mysterious and not understood in past ages, but revealed to the Apostles and Prophets of Jesus Christ by The Holy Spirit and is now known and understood by the obedient and godly regenerated saints.” Why is it necessary to understand this mystery? Because if Christ died and did not rise again, He could not be The Savior of Mankind. And there can be no Salvation from sin before a Holy God without a living Savior. A dead savior cannot save anyone from sin. But The Lord Jesus Christ did rise again! And if precious blood has not been applied to the Mercyseat in Heaven, there is no justification, no expiation for Sin, and no forgiveness of Sin. But The Lord Jesus Christ did ascend into Heaven and He did apply His own precious blood on the Mercyseat before being defiled by being touched with human hands! How do we know that? By studying with careful examination The Scriptures pertaining to the resurrection of The Lord Jesus Christ. The Christ’s resurrection firstly Indicated Victory over three fearful powers unconquerable by human beings, secondly it Incorporated Ascension, thirdly it Involved Vital Transactions, and fourthly it Inaugurated the New Covenant. A. CHRIST’S RESURRECTION INDICATED VICTORY over three fearful powers unconquerable by human beings: 1. The Christ’s resurrection indicated victory over Death (Rom. 6:9; 1 Cor. 15:54d-57); Death has a fearful grip on human beings who do not know The Lord Jesus Christ intimately. Until He came death was a horrible experience for the loved ones left behind with little hope for some Jews and for Gentiles no hope of ever seeing the loved one again. But since The Lord Jesus Christ resurrected from the grave hopelessness changed into hope and bondage in fear has been nullified. Victory over death was obtained by The Lord Jesus Christ, Who Himself conquered death by rising up from the grave. He said, “ I lay down My natural life that I may take it again. . . . I have power (authority) to lay down my life and I have power (authority) to take it again. I received this authority from My Father ” (Jn. 10:17,18). He told the Jews who challenged Him after He cleansed the Temple the first time, “Bring this temple to ruins and in three days I will raise it up. . . . But That One was talking about His /body. Therefore when He was raised up out of dead ones His disciples remembered that He was repeatedly saying this to them” (Jn. 2:19, 21,22 APT). The chief priests and Pharisees understood what He meant because the day after He was crucified they went to Pilate and said to him, “O lord, we remember that, while yet absolutely living, That /Misleader said, After three days I am raising Myself up” (Mt. 27:63 APT). Therefore they requested Pilate to make the tomb secure “until the third day.” Paul wrote to the Romans that the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ ended the lordship of death over Him. And for those who reckon themselves dead ones to sin but alive ones to The God in Christ Jesus, death has been conquered. “Now if (and it is true) we died off together with Christ, we continually commit trust that we also shall absolutely live together with Him, being aware that Christ, since being raised up out of 0dead ones, no longer dies off. Death no longer exercises lordship over Him. For what |death| He died off, He died off to the sin once for all. But what |absolute life| He continually absolutely lives, He continually absolutely lives to The God” (Rom. 6:8-10 APT). The reason why it is true that death can no longer exercise lordship over us is because The Lord Jesus Christ conquered death and He conquered it for us. The Greek word for conquer is neekah-ō. It means ‘to conqueror’ or ‘to overcome.’ Its noun form means ‘victory.’ Paul wrote to the Corinthians concerning the resurrection of The Christ and the resurrection of the regenerated disciples of The Christ when He comes again in the air to take ‘His own’ to Heaven to be with Him forevermore. “Then whenever this~ /corruptible shall clothe itself with incorruptibility and this~ /mortal shall clothe itself with immortality, at that time the saying shall come to pass which stands written[Isa. 25:8], The death is swallowed in victory. O death, where |is| your$[article as pronoun] sting? O Hades[Háh-ihdays abode of departed human spirits], where |is| your$[article as pronoun] victory? Now the sting of the death, the sin! But the ability of the sin, the law! Then gratitude |be| to The God, |namely| The One giving to us the victory through The Lord of ours, Jesus Christ!” (1 Cor. 15:54-57 APT). Since The Lord Jesus Christ conquered Death, death no longer holds the intimate child of The God in its grip of fear in the two aspects of death. Not only did The Lord Jesus Christ gain the victory over physical death on the one hand, but on the other hand also over spiritual death and over the Second (Eternal) Death as well. In addition He also gained the victory over Sin. 2. The Christ’s resurrection indicated victory over Sin (Rom. 7:23-25; 6:14,18; Heb. 9:26); Another fearful power over which human beings cannot gain the victory in their own strength and power is Sin. Once Sin gets its horrible grip on a human being, he or she is helpless to free self by sheer will-power. Some bad habits may be broken by sheer will-power by certain individuals. But the consequences of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). And that ultimate result cannot be overcome by one’s will-power. But The Christ gained the victory over Sin as well as over Death. Paul wrote to the Romans regarding his bondslavery to Sin as a master and to the law of Sin. And this bondslavery consciously or unconsciously pertains to and retains control over every human being unless and until The Lord Jesus Christ sets us free. “But I see another law in the members of mine, warring against the law of my comprehension and bringing me into captivity to the law of the Sin which is continually being in the members of mine. A wretched human, myself! Who shall rescue me out of the body of this /death? I give thanks to The God, Through Jesus Christ, The Lord of ours! Really therefore myself, I myself serve as a bondslave: on the one hand with the comprehension to 0God’s law, but on the other hand with the flesh, to Sin’s 0law” (Rom. 7:23-25 APT). Jesus rose again to free from bondage to Sin all who come to The God by and through Himself and as a result yield themselves as bondslaves to The God and His Son, The Lord Jesus Christ and as such are enslaved to the righteousness. “For Sin shall not exercise lordship over you&. For you& are not under 0law, but[on the contrary] under grace. . . . But gratitude |be| to The God! because you & were continually 0bondslaves to the Sin, but you& obeyed out of heart in regard to which type of doctrine you& were delivered. Then since being freed+ ones from bondage away from the Sin, you& became enslaved to the Righteousness” (Rom. 6:14,17,18 APT). Yes, The Lord Jesus Christ came to conquer Sin and Death and to set us free from these fearful powers by His sacrificial, vicarious death on Calvary under The Almighty God’s fiery wrath and His ensuing resurrection-ascension. Additionally the third fearful power unconquerable by humans over which The Christ had victory was Satan. 3. The Christ’s resurrection indicated victory over Satan (Heb. 2:14,15). The prophecy that The God uttered to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden after they sinned was, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15). This was fulfilled in The Christ’s death and resurrection. The Lord Jesus used the devil’s own weapon, death to destroy his power and bruise his head. “Therefore since the little children stand partaken of flesh and blood, He also Himself associated in sharing similarly the& same things in order that through the death He destroy the one having the might of the death, this one is the devil. And He rid judicially |from him| the+ ones, as many as because of fear of death through all the process of absolute living, were ones held guilty+ under bondage” (Heb. 2:14,15 APT). In death The Lord Jesus Christ destroyed the power through fear which the devil wielded over humans and in His resurrection-ascension He demonstrated His miraculous power over death and over the one with the power of death, the devil. He “was designated 0Son of 0God with [by means of] miraculous power according to 0Spirit of Holiness by means of resurrection out of 0dead ones” (Rom. 1:4 APT). Thus His resurrection-ascension both indicated and procured victory over death--physical death and the eternal (second) Death (Rev. 20:6; 21:8). Because of The Christ’s resurrection-ascension the second death has no power or authority over the regenerated disciples and Satan’s power is rendered powerless. “Blessed and holy |is| the one having part in the first /resurrection! Upon these the second /death is continually not having authority. But on the contrary, they shall be priests to The God and to The Christ and they shall reign with Him for a thousand years” (Rev. 20:6 APT). “But to /the cowardly\ ones and to faithless ones and to sinners and to abominating ones and to murderers and to sexually immoral ones and to sorcerers[dealers in black magic and drugs] and to idolaters and to all the lying ones, the part of theirs |shall be| in the lake, |namely| the^ one continuously burning with fire and brimstone, which is /the\ second //\death” (Rev. 21:8). Satan ultimately will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:10) where Death and Hell will be cast shortly thereafter (Rev. 20:14). Then Death will be no more (Rev. 21:4). B. CHRIST’S RESURRECTION INCORPORATED ASCENSION (Jn. 20:16,17; Acts 2:30-35; 5:30,31; 13:29b-34a,38,39; Eph. 1:19,20). Two penmen of the Psalms, when prophesying of The coming Messiah, quoted what The LORD said concerning His Son on the morning He arose from the dead. In both Psalms The LORD prefaces His Son’s resurrection with His enthronement in glory, known as His glorification after His ascension, thus The Lord Jesus Christ’s ascension is linked with His resurrection. The psalmist of Psalm 2 is not David, but another unknown penman. This is true because Paul quotes what David, the penman of Psalm 110 wrote and he also quotes what is contained in Psalm 2 by an unknown penman. Paul refers to Psalm 2 as another different kind (‘έτερος) of place than what is recorded which The God said in Psalm 110 (note Paul’s reference to these two Psalms in Heb. 5:5,6 APT below in this paper). So not only was the resurrection-ascension of The Christ an Old Testament prophecy which was accurately fulfilled but the resurrection-ascension of The Christ including His glorification was a vital doctrine mightily held and taught by the Early Church. Philip Edgecumbe Hughes claimed the resurrection, the ascension, and the glorification of the Christ “should be viewed as forming a unity . . .” (A Commentrary on the Epistle to the Hebrews. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publ. Co. 1977, p. 55 cf. Eph. 1:19,20 APT below). The first human to whom The Lord Jesus spoke after He rose again from among the dead ones was Mary Magdalene to whom He said, “Stop trying to embrace[touch, in the motion of] Me for I have not yet ascended to[the face of] My /Father! But journey to[the face of] My /brothers! And tell them, I am ascending to[the face of] My /Father and your & /Father and |to| [the face of] My God and your & God” (Jn. 20:16,17 APT). From this statement by The Resurrected Christ, it is clear that not only did He ascend after forty days of proving Himself alive by many demonstrative proofs, but first He ascended to Heaven to perform His High priestly ministry of applying His precious blood on the Mercyseat immediately after speaking to Mary Magdalene and before being touched by any human. This is why the Apostles emphasized resurrection-ascension. In his first sermon on the day of Pentecost, Peter linked the resurrection and the ascension. In speaking of David He said, “Therefore since existing a prophet and perceiving that The God swore[pledged] to him with an oath, Out of 0fruit of his /loins, according to the flesh, The Christ is to rise up to sit down upon his[David’s] /throne. Since |he| previously beheld, he spoke concerning the resurrection of The Christ, that His /soul not be left remaining behind in Hades [Háh-ihdays, abode of departed human spirits] neither did His /flesh behold utterly destroying corruption. The God resurrected This /Jesus, of Whom we all ourselves are judicial witnesses. Therefore being exalted[lifted high] on the rights& of The God and receiving the promise of The Holy Spirit from alongside The Father, He poured out This~, Whom you & yourselves now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the Heavens, but he himself says, The Lord said to my /Lord, Sit on My rights& until ever I lay down your$ /enemies a footstool under your$ /feet” (Acts 2:30-35 APT). Later, when brought before the Sanhedrin after The Lord’s angel freed them from prison, Peter and all the Apostles answered their challenge by referring to The Christ’s ascension as intricately linked to His resurrection. “The God of our /fathers raised up Jesus, upon Whom you& yourselves violently laid hands and hanged upon wood. This+ One The God exalted, Prince [Originator, Captain] and Savior on the right$ of His, in order to give repentance and forgiveness of sins to /Israel” (Acts 5:30,31). Forgiveness of sins can be effective only after three conditions: the blood has been shed (Heb. 9:22b), the sacrifice has been burned (Ex. 12:8,9; Lev. 4:10-12,20,26,31,35; 5:10; 19:22 Num. 15:25,26), and after the High Priest applies the blood to the altar (Old Testament: Lev. 4:20-35; 19:22; Num. 15:25-28, note the words “make atonement and shall be forgiven”) and on the Mercyseat in the Holy of Holies both under the Old (Testament) Covenant and the New (Testament) Covenant (Num. 16:14-1,30 cf. Heb. 9:7,11-15,22-26). Until the blood has been properly applied, ‘atonement’ which includes satisfaction for sins, cleansing from sins, and forgiveness of sins is not and cannot be effected by The True God. All claims that (merely) “as long as the blood has been shed, forgiveness is obtained” are false and belong to ‘another gospel’ (Gal. 1:6-9; 2 Cor. 11:4,13-15). Dr. Luke, in his accurate historical account called The Acts, recorded the sermon Paul preached to the Jews in the synagogue in Antioch of Peeseedéeah. In his presentation of the transition from Israel’s history to the crucifixion of The Lord Jesus Christ, Paul very clearly linked the ascension to the resurrection when he said, “. . . after taking Him down from the wood, they placed |Him| into a memorial grave. But The God raised up out of dead ones Him, Who appeared for more days to the+ ones, who ascended together with Him away from /Galilee unto Jerusalem, who are His judicial witnesses to the people. And we ourselves are pronouncing to you& glad tidings: The promise^ to[the face of] the fathers came to pass, ‘The God has permanently brought this^ to completion to us their /children when Jesus resurrected. As it also stands written in the second /Psalm[2:7, not of David], You$ are My Son. Today I Myself have permanently begotten You$. Now that He raised Him again out of dead ones . . .’ Therefore, O men! Brothers! it is continually to be known to you& that through This+ One forgiveness of sins for you& is proclaimed everywhere! By means of This+ One everyone who is committing trust is being justified[to declare righteous--free from blame, guilt, and penalty for Sin] even from all~ things from which you& are not able to be justified[to declare righteous--free from blame, guilt, and penalty for Sin] by means of the law of Moses ” (Acts 13:29b-34a,38,39 APT). Thus Paul grasped this blessed truth prophesied by the Old Testament prophets and expounded upon it. He specified the day of resurrection as the day The God fulfilled the promise to the fathers stated in Psalm 2:7. He also very clearly linked the ascension to the resurrection when he wrote to the Ephesians, “. . . and what~ |is| the exceeding greatness of His /miraculous power unto us who are committing trust, according to the effectual working of the might of His strength which He effectively wrought in The Christ, when |He| raised Him up out of dead ones and seated |Him| at His right$ in the celestials” (Eph. 1:19,20 APT). Through His resurrection-ascension The Lord Jesus Christ completed procurement of salvation from Sin by becoming our Great High priest and by beginning His ministry as such by applying His blood to the Mercyseat even as the High Priest under the Old Covenant (Testament) secured atonement for and cleansing and forgiveness of sins (Lev. 16:14-16). “And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the Mercyseat eastward; and before the Mercyseat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the Mercyseat, and before the Mercyseat: and he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. . . . For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD . . . And apart from shed blood forgiveness does not come to pass” (Leviticus 16:14-16,30 cf. Heb. 9:22b). Paul alluded to this annual practice when he wrote to the Hebrews and explained what The Christ effected as our Great High priest on the day of His resurrection-ascension. “For The Christ did not enter into 0Holy Places made with hands, figures[antitypes] of the genuine ones, but on the contrary into the Heaven itself, now to appear in /person to The God in behalf of us. Neither that He offer Himself many times, even as the high priest repeatedly entering into the Holy Places era[cycle of seasons] by era with a stranger’s blood, since it would be absolutely necessary for Him to suffer many times from 0world’s foundation. But now once for ever before consummation of the ages He stands displayed for nullification of sin through the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb. 9:24-26 APT). In addition to indicating victory over Death, Sin, and Satan and that the Early Church incorporated The Lord Jesus Christ’s resurrection with His ascension as being closely linked together in the completion of procuring salvation from Sin, there is a third important impact by The Christ’s resurrection. C. CHRIST’S RESURRECTION INVOLVED FIVE VITAL RESULTS: Transmuting (Changing) the Priesthood, Transacting Propitiation, Transmitting Righteousness, Transporting Old Testament Saints, and Transferring Paradise. 1. TRANSMUTING (CHANGING) THE PRIESTHOOD (Acts 13:30-34; Heb. 5:5,6; cf. 1:5,6; 6:16-7:1a,3,11-25). The word ‘transmute’ means “to change or alter in form, appearance, or nature esp. to a higher form.” When The Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, The God declared Him to be His Son with miraculous power by means of resurrection out of dead ones (Rom. 1:4) and Firstborn out of dead ones (Col. 1:18) and He was sworn to be Priest forever according to the order of Mehlkhee-sehdék (Ps. 110:4 cf. Heb. 5:6,10; 7:17).
a. The Change of the Priesthood took place on the Day of Resurrection. Paul indicated in several Scriptures that at His resurrection He became Priest forever according to the order of Mehlkhee-sehdék. Inasmuch as the priests of The Old Covenant (Testament) must be the offspring of Aaron of the Tribe of Levi and that The Lord Jesus Christ was of the Tribe of Judah and that He was ‘stipulated’ by The God to be Priest forever according to the order of Mehlkhee-sehdék, the priesthood was transmuted (changed to a higher order or form) from the Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood to the Mehlkhee-sehdéhkian order. “So also The Christ did not glorify[exalt with majestic radiant splendor] Himself to become High Priest, but That+ One spoke to [the face of] Him, [cf. 1:5; Ps. 2:7, untitled, unknown psalmist] You $ are continuously My Son. Today I Myself have begotten You$. According as He says also in another[different kind] |place|,[Ps. 110:4, David] Yourself, 0Priest for /ever according to the order of Mehlkhee-sehdéhk” (Heb. 5:5,6 APT). EXCURSUS: “TODAY . . . BEGOTTEN” = DAY OF RESURRECTION The apostle Paul (for so the Author of Hebrews is, see paper entitled A Consideration of the Attestation of Scripture to the Author of Hebrews) has twice referred to The Lord Jesus Christ, Israel’s Messiah as The One The LORD God designated to be “My [adult] Son” (1:5; 5:5) and twice The LORD God uses anarthrous “Son” (1:5; 7:28). Additionally Paul refers to Him twice more anarthrously (1:2; 3:6) and five times with the article. The anarthrous construction indicates the quality, character, and nature of The God’s Son. The articular construction indicates that particularity, individual identity, and definitude is intended and emphasized. As noted in Hebrews 1:5 and 5:6 The LORD indicated the eternality and perpetuity of The Messiah’s relationship to Himself as “continuously My Son.” “For to which of the angels did He say at any time? [Ps. 2:7 LXX]You$ Yourself are continuously My Son” (Heb. 1:5). However the use of “Today” evokes the question, When? What day was He declared begotten as “My Son”? First of all, it is important to realize and / or remember that hueeóhs indicates both male relationship and maturity = adult son. It is not the moment of His incarnation when He became the Babe of Bethlehem because he is not yet an adult. Additionally, the next quotation concerning Him is stated “when again He ushered The Firstborn into the inhabited Globe” (Heb. 1:6). This indicates a second coming into this inhabited planet. This quotation relates on the one hand with reference to the angels (v. 6), but on the other hand to The Son He speaks of His throne and His scepter (v. 8) and of His enthronement upon his ascension (v. 13). Thus the context indicates that rather than referring to the day of Jesus’ birth, it refers to His reappearance upon Earth after His death. The designation of The Son with respect to The God as “The Firstborn” is found four other times in The New Testament (apart from reference to Mary, the mother of Jesus twice). Twice the use relates to redemption and the result of His resurrection (Rom. 8:29; Col. 1:15) and twice it refers directly to His resurrection - “Firstborn out of dead ones” (Col.1:18; Rev.1:5). Therefore the title, “My Son” and “today” relates to the day of resurrection or the unity of doctrine: resurrection-ascension-glorification. This eliminates the first entrance into the inhabited Globe at His birth and refers to His entrance back into the inhabited Globe on the day of His resurrection. b. The Change of the Priesthood nullified the Law. By means of an oath by The God the change of priesthood nullified the Law, which made not one thing perfect, but the Inviolable Priesthood which ushered in a better hope did. “For in fact, humans swear[pledge with an oath] by The Greater+ One. And for verification the oath |is| a conclusion of every contradiction for them. By means of which when The God, was more abundantly desirously willing to exhibit the unchangeable |characteristic| of His /counsel to the heirs of the promise, He mediated |it| with an oath in order that, by means of two unchangeable matters in which& |it is| impossible for God to lie, we, who fled for refuge, continually have a strong encouragement to take hold mightily of the previously set hope, which we continually have as both a certain and steadfast Anchor of the Soul, and |Who| also entered into the inner~ |place| separated by the full curtain where Jesus, 0Forerunner in behalf of us, entered and became High Priest for /ever according to the order of Mehlkhee-sehdék. For this /Mehlkhee-sehdék, king of Sahláym, priest of The Most High /God, ( . . . without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of absolute life, but having been in much likeness to The Son of The God,) He continually abides a priest in perpetuity. . . . Therefore, actually if (and it is not true) perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people had law enacted), why yet a need for another[different kind] priest to be raised up to be termed, According to the order of Mehlkhee-sehdék, and not, According to the order of Ah-ahrōn? For since the order of priesthood is being transposed, out of necessity also a removal of 0law comes to pass. For He, about Whom these things are being said, stands associated in sharing with another[different kind] tribe, from which not one+ stands holding fast to the altar. For |it is | obvious that The Lord of ours rose out of Judah, in regard to which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet exceedingly quite apparent if (and it is true) another[different kind] priest is raised up according to the likeness of Mehlkhee-sehdék, Who has come to be, not according to fleshly-commandment 0law, but[on the contrary] according to 0miraculous power of an indissoluble absolute life. For it is being testified,[Ps. 110:4] You$ |are| 0priest for /ever according to the order of Mehlkhee-sehdék! For on the one hand a nullification of the prior commandment came to pass because of the weakness and lack of benefit of it. For the law made not even one~ thing perfect, but on the other hand an ushering in of a better hope through which we continually draw near to The God |did|. And according to as much as not apart from a sworn oath; (for in fact those[article as pronoun] are still becoming priests apart from a sworn oath, but This+[article as pronoun] One [in company]with a sworn oath by means of The+ One saying to Him, 0Lord swore [pledged with an oath] and He shall not regret |it |, You$ |are | 0priest for /ever according to the order of Mehlkhee-sehdék!) according to so much Jesus has become Guarantor of a better covenant. And on the one hand the majority in fact are still becoming priests because of the fact of death hindering |them| to continue abiding alongside. But on the other hand This+[article as pronoun] One, because of the process of Him continually abiding for /ever, is continually having the priesthood inviolable. Whereupon also He is able to save unto the absolute the+ ones approaching The God through Him, since He always absolutely lives in order to intercede in behalf of them” (Heb. 6:16-7:1a,3,11-25 APT). In addition to transmuting the priesthood The Christ’s Resurrection involved transacting propitiation by applying His precious blood on the Mercyseat which effected three couplets of indispensable results. 2. TRANSACTING PROPITIATION. By means of applying His own precious blood on the Mercyseat in Heaven, He put into effect three accomplishments (1 Jn. 2:2;4:10): confirming redemption and forgiving sins, cleansing the conscience and clearing the guilt, and commencing a new creation and constituting the Church. “And He Himself is 0propitiation[satisfaction of God’s righteous demands] in behalf of the sins of ours, but not in behalf of ours only, on the contrary, also in behalf of the whole world” (1 Jn. 2:2 APT). “In this is the love[sovereign preference over self and others], not that we ourselves loved The God, but on the contrary, that He Himself loved us and He sent[with commission] The Son of His as 0propitiation[satisfaction of God’s righteous demands] in behalf of the sins of ours” (1 Jn. 4:10 APT). ‘Propitiation’ is the translation of Heelahsmóhs from heelahstáyriohn = ‘Mercyseat’ or the place in which The God’s righteous demands are met or propitiation is effected. Heelahstáyriohn stems from heeláhskomai which means ‘to satisfy God’s righteous demands, to propitiate.’ The suffix -mohs indicates the action and occasionally the result of the action, thus the action upon and the result of the Mercyseat, which is propitiation. The action upon the Mercyseat is the sprinkling of sacrificial blood by the High Priest. There cannot be propitiation without sacrificial blood being shed and applied to the Mercyseat and the sacrifice being burned, then appropriated by the sinner. “But when Christ emerged alongside, High Priest of the imminent beneficially good things by means of the greater and more perfectly complete Tabernacle, not made with hands, that is not of this creation, neither by means of 0blood of he-goats and of calves, but by means of His own blood He entered once for all into the Holies, after finding in Himself an eternal ransoming[payment of release price]. For if (and it is true) the blood of bulls and of he-goats and 0ashes$ of an heifer by sprinkling the+ ones having been ceremonially unclean[defiled] sanctify to the ceremonial purification of the flesh, by how much rather shall the blood of The Christ, Who through 0Eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to The God, cleanse the conscience of yours& from dead works in order to continually sacredly serve The absolute Living God? . . . Therefore on the one hand |it was| a necessity for the imitations of the things in the Heavens to be cleansed by these; but on the other hand the celestial~ things themselves by better sacrifices than these. For The Christ did not enter into 0Holy Places made with hands, figures[antitypes] of the genuine ones, but on the contrary into the Heaven itself, now to appear in /person to The God in behalf of us. Neither that He offer Himself many times, even as the high priest repeatedly entering into the Holy Places era[cycle of seasons] by era with a stranger’s blood, since it would be absolutely necessary for Him to suffer many times from 0world’s foundation. But now once for ever before consummation of the ages He stands displayed for nullification of sin through the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb. 9:11-14,23-26 APT). Since The Lord Jesus Christ, the sacrificial Passover Lamb of God was sacrificed on Calvary, shed his precious blood, endured the fiery wrath of God in supernatural darkness, rose again and has been declared High Priest by Jehovah God, and has ascended and applied His blood on the Mercyseat, propitiation has been provided. It remains for each individual human being to appropriate for oneself this wonderful gift of The Christ which includes the following three couplets of Eternal value. a. Confirming Redemption and Forgiving Sins: The apostle Paul links justification and forgiveness of sins to the redemption which The Lord Jesus Christ purchased at the price of His Precious Blood. (1) Confirming Redemption (Rom. 3:24,25); ‘Redeem’ is the translation of three Greek verbs which together form the doctrine of redemption. The first of these is ahgohráhdz0 which means ‘to buy in the marketplace.’ In Scripture it often relates to a bondslave being purchased in slavery (1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23,30; 2 Pet. 2:1; Rev. 5:9; 14:3,4). The Lord Jesus Christ redeems slaves in the marketplace of Sin. The second word is eks-ahgohráhdz0 which means ‘to buy in and remove out of the marketplace.’ The Lord Jesus Christ is not a slave trader. When He redeems a slave, He takes him or her out of the marketplace of Sin never to be sold again (Gal. 3:13; 4:5). But not only is The Lord Jesus Christ not a slave trader, He is not a mandatory-slave owner. His bondslaves must be willing to be such out of love for Him and yield themselves to Him to be His bondslaves. The third word translated ‘redemption’ is ah-pohlútr0sis which means ‘release for ransom paid.’ This Greek word is used for redemption in two aspects: spiritually in the present time (Rom. 3:24; 1 Cor. 1:30; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; Heb. 9:15) and physically in a future time when The Lord Jesus Christ comes again to take His Bride, The Church to Heaven (Lk. 21:28; Rom. 8:23; Eph. 1:14; 4:30). Those who were bondslaves to Sin and held for ransom by Satan are released from that bondage by means of the price Jesus paid on the cross of Calvary. They are free to serve as bondslaves to The God and His Son through yielding as bondslaves in obedience to Righteousness (Rom. 6:16-18). Justification includes two aspects in regard to redemption of the sinner who commits total persistent trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. One aspect is the purchase of the sinner and forgiving his sins; the other aspect will be explained under the next heading: 3. Transmitting Righteousness. “. . . all the ones committing trust . . . are being justified[to declare righteous and free of: blame, guilt, and / or penalty] gratuitously by His /grace through the redemption[release for ransom paid], |namely| the one in Christ Jesus, Whom The God purposed, as 0Mercyseat[place of satisfaction of God’s righteous demands] through the faith [committed trust] in His /blood for exemplification of His /righteousness for the sake of the letting-go-unpunished of the previously standing occurred sins in the forbearance of The God” (Rom. 3:24,25 APT). The shedding of His Blood in sacrificial death under the fiery wrath of The God in supernatural darkness purchased redemption and with it forgiveness of sins, which were confirmed in His resurrection. (2) Forgiving Sins (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14); In order for The God to forgive sins, there must be the shedding of the blood and the burning sacrifice of The Lamb of The God. John the Baptist pointed out to his disciples The Lord Jesus Christ as “The Lamb of The God Who is carrying off the Sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29 APT). The apostle Paul indicated to the Corinthians, “Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us” (1 Cor. 5:7). It was absolutely necessary for the Passover Lamb to be roasted with fire (Ex. 12:8). So must also the sin offering be burned without (off away from) the camp (Lev. 4:20,21,26; Heb. 13;11,12) as The Lord Jesus Christ was, if there is to be forgiveness of Sin. The God demands a sacrifice shedding blood and burned in fire in order for atonement to be effected and forgiveness proffered (Num. 15:25,26). Why? Because the penalty for sinning is burning in the outer darkness of the Lake of Fire for ever in fire and brimstone (Mt. 22:13; 25:30; Rev. 21:8). The Lord Jesus Christ designated as The Lamb of The God meets all of the qualifications of the Passover Lamb to provide redemption. “The Beloved+ One, in Whom we have the redemption [release for ransom paid] through the blood of His, with reference to the forgiveness of the gross stupid errors, according to the wealth$ of the grace of His” (Eph.1:7 APT). “The Son of His love in Whom we have redemption[release for ransom paid] /through His blood\ with reference to the forgiveness of the sins” (Col. 1:14 APT). “And apart from shed blood forgiveness does not come to pass (Heb. 9:22b APT). In addition to confirming redemption and forgiveness of sins the result of propitiation includes cleansing the conscience and clearing the guilt of sin. b. Cleansing the Conscience and Clearing the Guilt; Some American Indians have said that the conscience is like a circular sensitive nerve tissue surrounding a wheel with pins or needles protruding all the way around spinning slowly inside the conscience. When one does something wrong the wheel pricks the sensitive tissue and indicates one has done something wrong or sinful. If the impulse is repeatedly ignored the tissue gradually becomes calloused until it is insensitive to wrong, evil, and sin. However the apostle Paul spoke differently of the conscience. (1) Cleansing the Conscience (Heb. 9:13,14; 10:21,22) The apostle Paul spoke of the conscience on the one hand as testifying (Rom. 2:15; 9:1), being weak and defiled (1 Cor. 8:7,10,12; Tit. 1:15), seared (1 Tim. 4:2), and wicked (Heb. 10:22 APT). But on the other hand he mentioned the conscience being purged with no more conscience of sins (Heb. 9:14; 10:2), pure (1 Tim. 3:9), without offense (Acts 24:16 APT), good (Acts 23:1; 1 Tim. 1:5,19; Heb. 13:18;1 Pet. 3:16,21) and for The God (1 Pet. 2:19 APT). Because of The Christ’s resurrection and His High Priestly ministry of offering himself including His blood, cleansing of the defiled and wicked conscience is available to all who appropriate His completed work and apply His precious blood to one’s heart by totally committing persistent trust unto Him. “For if (and it is true) the blood of bulls and of he-goats and ashes$ of an heifer by sprinkling the+ ones having been ceremonially unclean [defiled] sanctify to the ceremonial purification of the flesh, by how much rather shall the blood of The Christ, Who through Eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to The God, cleanse the conscience of yours& from dead works in order to continually sacredly serve The absolute Living God? And |having| Great Priest over the house of The God, let us approach with a genuine heart in full assurance of faith and our hearts standing sprinkled from a wicked conscience and with reference to the body, ones standing bathed with clean water!” (Heb.9:13,14:10:21,22 APT). (2) Clearing the Guilt (Heb. 10:2); Paul indicated that this totally committing persistent trust results in being cleansed once for ever so that there is not one bit of conscience of past sins still disturbing the totally trusting one. The guilt is cleared. This is vitally important because one who has not been cleared of guilt could never be happy in Heaven. It would be impossible to enjoy the perfect holiness and bliss in Heaven while remembering the sins committed on Earth. The True God said, “I will remember their sin(s) no more” (Jer.31:34; Heb. 8:12; 10:17). However, additionally The Lord Jesus Christ provided that those bondslaves he redeems shall have no more remembrance or conscience of sins. “Or else they themselves [repeated sacrifices for sins every era] would cease to be offered, would they not? because of the[article of direct thought] thought, ‘The ones sacredly serving, having been cleansed once forever, |are| to have not one bit of conscience of sins any[yet] more” (Heb. 10:2 APT). So The Lord Jesus Christ by reason of His resurrection provided for cleansing of the conscience and clearing of the guilt from sins committed. c. Commencing a New Creation and Constituting His Church. In addition to confirming redemption, forgiving sins, cleansing the conscience, and clearing the guilt, propitiation effected by The Lord Jesus Christ included commencing a new creation and constituting His Church. (1) Commencing a New Creation (1 Cor. 15:20-23;) The Scriptures use the title ‘Firstfruit’ with reference to The Christ in relation to His resurrection. Firstborn is the term given to the first offspring of a family. It relates to The Lord Jesus Christ as the first offspring out of dead ones in the Family of The God and the new creation . “But even now Christ is permanently raised up out of 0dead ones. He became 0Firstfruit$ of the + ones sleeping in death. For inasmuch as the death |is| through a human, 0resurrection of 0dead ones |is | also through a human. For even as in the Adam all are dying off, so also in The Christ all shall be made absolutely alive. But each in his own rank, Christ 0Firstfruit; thereafter the ones belonging to Christ at His coming presence. . . . And so it stands written, The first human, Adam came into being as an absolutely living soul; The Last Adam as 0Spirit making absolutely alive! But[on the contrary] the spiritual |is| not first, on the contrary the soulish, afterward the spiritual! The first human |is| out of the Earth, dusty. The Second Human, The Lord out of Heaven! Of what sort the dusty+ one |is|, the dusty ones also |are| such like& ones. And of what sort The Heavenly + One, the Heavenly ones also |are| such like& ones! Even according as we wore the image of the dusty+ one, we shall also wear the image of The Heavenly+ One. Now this I express, O brothers, ‘Flesh and blood is not able to inherit God’s Kingdom, neither is the destruction by corruption inheriting the incorruptibility’” (1 Cor. 15:20-23, 45-50 APT). When The God created Adam, He breathed into him the breath of life and Adam commenced life as a created being. When on the Day of His resurrection at evening, The Lord Jesus met with His disciples. He said to them, “Peace to you&! According as The Father has sent [with commission] Me, I also Myself am sending you&. And after saying this, He breathed[cf. LXX: Gen.2:7; Ezek. 37:9] into |them | to begin new life. And He says to them, Certainly soon receive&[dramatic aorist: a future certainty cf. Jn.7:37] 0Holy 0Spirit!” (Jn. 20:21,22a APT).
The event (of The Holy Spirit being received by the disciples of The Lord Jesus) had not taken place until after Jesus was glorified (John 7:39). But the provision for receiving new life had been accomplished through The Christ, The Firstfruit and was completed fifty days later when the disciples received The Holy Spirit at Pentecost. [Further explanation of this truth is explained in the book entitled Have You Got the Gift by the same author, available for down load at our website, www.happyheralds.com or www.happyheralds.org.] Thus The Firstborn has commenced the New Creation as a result of His resurrection. All that are regenerated and in Christ are new creatures, and therefore offspring of the New Creation (Rev. 3:14; Eph. 2:8-10; Jas. 1:18; 2 Cor. 5:17). First note that The Christ is the Beginning of the Creation of The God. “And to the messenger of the church in Lah-ohdee-keh-éeah write! The Amen, The Faithful and Genuine /Witness, The Beginning of The Creation of The God is saying these~ things here” (Rev. 3:14 APT). Then observe that we, the ones saved by faith, who are created ones in Christ Jesus, are His workmanship created to walk in works beneficial to The God. “For by the grace you& are being permanently saved ones through the faith. And this~, not of yourselves! |It is | the consecrated gift of 0God! Not by means of works! lest anyone boast. For we are His workmanship [product of doing], being created + ones in Christ Jesus for beneficially good works, which The God prepared beforehand in order that we walk in them” (Eph. 2:8-10 APT). Regeneration (born into the New creation) of those “in Christ” is accomplished by The Person, The Holy Spirit (Jn. 3:5,6), Who accomplishes it by means of The Word of Truth. “Since desirously willing, He generated us by means of 0Word of Truth in order for us to be a certain firstfruit of the created beings of His” (Jas. 1:18 APT). “So that if (and it is true) anyone |be| in 0Christ, a new[in nature or quality, unused] creature! The early~ things passed away. Lo! the all~ things are permanently become a new[in nature or quality, unused] kind. . . . ones standing regenerated+ not by means of corruptible seed, but on the contrary by means of incorruptible, through God’s continually absolutely living and continually abiding-for-ever Word.” (2 Cor. 5:17; 1 Pet. 1:23 APT). So the resurrection put into effect regeneration as soon as The Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples who were gathered together in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost in obedience to The Lord Jesus Christ’s command to them, just before He ascended (Acts 1:4,5). And since The Holy Spirit was not to abide continuously in humans until after The Lord Jesus was glorified, the promised baptism of The Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4,5) did take place (Acts 2:1-4 cf. 1 Cor. 12:13) and regeneration commenced to bring into being the New Creation on the day of Pentecost. (2) Constituing His Church Coupled with the commencment of the New Creation is the act of constituting (establishing) His Church. Again this is predicated upon the resurrection of The Beginning, the Firstborn out of dead ones. He commenced the New Creation, comprised of new creatures in Christ Jesus, and at the same time the baptism by The Holy Spirit took place (1 Cor. 12:12,13). “And This+ One is the head of the Body, |namely | the Church, Who is 0Beginning, Firstborn out of 0 dead ones, that He Himself become 0Preeminent One” (Col. 1:18 APT). “For just as the body is one and is continually having many members but all the members of the one /body, although being many, it is one body, so also |is| The Christ. For also by means of One Spirit we ourselves, whether Jews, whether Greeks, whether bondslaves, whether free+ ones from bondage, all were baptized into One Body” (1 Cor. 12:12,13 APT). The Church of The Lord Jesus Christ is His Body comprised of members. She is also the Bride of The Christ (Eph. 5:22,23 cf. Rev. 21:2,9) as well as the Building of The God composed of living stones (Mt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 3:9; Eph. 2:21; 4:11-16; Heb. 3:6; 1 Pet. 2:5-7; 4:17). The Lord Jesus Christ has been building His Church for 1971 years since the foundation was laid (Eph. 2:20) on the day of Pentecost, Sunday, 5 Sivan (May 24), A.D. 33. Any church which has not traced its origin to the day of Pentecost is not His Church. It has not been built by The Lord Jesus Christ through The Holy Spirit even though it claims to belong to Him. According to Paul it is another church of a different kind preaching another Jesus of the same kind, of another gospel of a different kind, and empowered by and presenting another spirit of a different kind (2 Cor. 11:3,4,13-15; Gal. 1:6-9). Be sure you are regenerated and belong as a member to The Christ’s Church and not a false church! In addition to transmuting the priesthood and transacting propitiation which confirmed redemption and provided for forgiveness of sins, cleansing the conscience and clearing the guilt, and commencing the New Creation and constituted (established) His Church, The Christ’s Resurrection involved transmitting righteousness by imputing His righteousness to every lost guilty sinner who totally commits persistent faith to Him. 3. TRANSMITTING RIGHTEOUSNESS In order to transmit (“transfer from one person to another”) righteousness from The Christ to completely trusting sinners who through faith exchange their sinful lives for eternal absolute life in Christ, justification must take place immediately before or con-temporaneously with the forgiveness of sins indicated under 2. TRANSACTING PROPITIATION above. Justification includes two aspects in regard to redemption of the sinner who commits total persistent trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. One aspect is the purchase of the sinner and forgiveness of his sins; the other aspect is transmitting or imputing The Christ’s righteousness to the forgiven sinner and transmitting the forgiven sinner’s sins and iniquities to The Christ on the cross of Calvary. Justification is defined as “the complete clearance of all guilt of Sin (the root) and sins (the fruit) and judicial declaration that one is righteous, free of: blame, guilt, and penalty (Rom. 3:20-25; 4:22-5:1,9; 13:38,39). Justification is by grace through the redemption. Justification was not in effect until the precious blood of The Lord Jesus Christ was applied on the Mercyseat at His resurrection-ascension. “For the reason that by means of 0works of 0Law all flesh shall not be justified in His presence. For through 0Law |is| the full knowledge[from experience] of Sin. But even now God’s righteousness apart from 0Law stands being displayed, being testified by the law and the prophets. But God’s righteousness through Jesus Christ’s faith unto all and upon all the ones committing trust, (for there is not a distinction; for all sinned and of themselves are falling short of the glory[majestic radiant splendor] of The God) ones being justified[to declare righteous and free of: blame, guilt, and / or penalty for Sin] gratuitously by His /grace through the redemption [release for ransom paid], |namely | the one in Christ Jesus, Whom The God purposed, as 0Mercyseat[place of satisfaction of God’s righteous demands] through the faith[committed trust] in His /blood for exemplification of His /righteousness for the sake of the letting-go-unpunished of the previously standing occurred sins in the forbearance of The God” (Rom. 3:20-25 APT). Paul uses Abraham as an illustration of one committing the faith and being reckoned for righteousness based upon The Lord Jesus Christ being crucified for our failings and fallings short and upon being raised up for our justification. If The Christ was just being raised up, this would be insufficient to accomplish justification, redemption, and propitiation. His precious blood must be applied also (see the following Scripture quoted), even as it was necessary for the blood of the lamb or he-goat to be applied by The High Priest on The Day of atonement era by era. “Wherefore also it[the faith] was reckoned to him for righteousness. Now it was not written that it was reckoned to him for the sake of him only, but[on the contrary] also for the sake of us, to whom& it is about to be reckoned, to the ones continually committing trust upon The+ One |Who|, out of 0dead & ones, raised up Jesus, The Lord of ours, Who was delivered over for the sake of the gross stupid errors[failings to stand upright when one should] of ours and was raised up for the sake of our /justification[being declared righteous, free of: blame, guilt, and penalty for Sin]. Therefore since being justified by means of faith[committed trust], we continually have peace with [to the face of] The God through The Lord of ours, Jesus Christ, . . . Therefore much rather being justified now by means of His blood, we shall be saved away from the anger through Him” (Rom. 4:22- 5:1,9 APT). Justification is linked together with forgiveness of sins and both are a result of The Christ’s resurrection-ascension. “Therefore, O men! Brothers! it is continually to be known to you& that through This+ One forgiveness of sins for you & is proclaimed everywhere! By means of This+ One everyone who is committing trust is being justified [to declare righteous--free from blame, guilt, and penalty for Sin] even from all ~ things from which you & are not able to be justified by means of the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38,39 APT). In addition to transmuting the priesthood, transacting propitiation, and transmitting righteousness, The Christ’s Resurrection involved transporting Old Testament saints 4. TRANSPORTING OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS Where did the souls and spirits of Old Testament Saints go when they died? Remember what we learned when we studied the third Mystery: THE MYSTERY OF LIFE AFTER DEATH -- THE PIT (GRAVE)? (If not, please refer to it and also to the Chart: The Abode of the Dead on our website for details. Click on highlighted titles to bring up.) The Old Testament word for the abode of the dead is Sheh-olé and The New Testament word is Háhı -days. Both words refer to the place of departed spirits, which is divided into two parts separated by a great fixed gulf. The abode of The Old Testament saints was called, Abraham’s Bosom and Paradise. The abode of the lost went to the place of torment called Háhı -days, Géh-ennah, and Táhrtahrohs (all are translated ‘Hell’ in most English translations). When The Lord Jesus told of Lazarus, the poor man and the certain rich man in their after-death experience, Lazarus was in Abraham’s Bosom (Lk. 16:22,23). But on the cross The Lord Jesus promised the repentant criminal that He would be with Him in Paradise (Lk. 23:43). At His resurrection-ascension The Lord Jesus Christ transported Old Testament saints from Abraham’s Bosom(&) in Háhı -days in the Heart of the Earth to Paradise in Heaven. It is known that a transfer was made at His resurrection-ascension by what Paul wrote in his Epistle to the Ephesians. “Wherefore He says,[Ps. 68:18 (67:18 LXX)] When ascending unto |Heaven’s| height, He led captivity captive and He gave gifts to the humans. (Now the |fact|, He ascended! What is it except that he also descended first unto the lower parts of the Earth? He Himself Who descended is also Who ascended over above all the Heavens in order that He fully fulfill the all things.)” (Eph. 4:8-10 APT). Those departed spirits of Old Testament saints, who were kept captive under death in Paradise which was in the heart of the Earth, He took with Him when He ascended into Heaven immediately after His resurrection and after speaking (Jn. 20:17) with Mary Magdalene (Mahgdahlaynáy). At the same time The Lord Jesus Christ transported Old Testament saints from Paradise, the compartment holding the saints in Háhı-days in the Heart of the Earth, to Heaven, He transferred Paradise to Heaven. 5. TRANSFERRING PARADISE Since The Scriptures previously cited indicated that the Hebrew Sheh-olé and the Greek Háhı-days refer to the same place in regard to the abode of the departed spirits, and since both have two compartments separated by a great fixed gulf in the Heart of the Earth, and since New Testament Scripture refers to Paradise in Heaven (2 Cor. 12:4; Rev. 2:7), it is obvious a transferral of location took place. “ . . . the such like+ one[Paul] being snatched away as far as 0third heaven . . . that he[Paul] was snatched away unto the Paradise. And he heard undeclarable declarations, which is not lawful for a human to speak” (2 Cor. 12:2b,4 APT). “The one having a hearing organ is to hear at once what The Spirit is continually saying to the churches, To the one continually overcoming I shall give to him to eat out of the tree of the absolute life, which is in midst of the Paradise of The God /of Mine\” (Rev. 2:7 APT). Such transferral of location took Paradise from the Heart of the Earth to Heaven where the throne of The God is situated. The Lord Jesus Christ’s resurrection-ascension, in addition to completing the procurement of salvation from Sin, involved five vital results: Transmuting (Changing) the Priesthood, Transacting Propitiation, Transmitting Righteousness, Transporting Old Testament Saints, and Transferring Paradise. The fourth and final accomplishment of The Christ’s resurrection-ascension is the Inauguration in the New Covenant. D. THE CHRIST’S RESURRECTION-ASCENSION INAUGURATED THE NEW COVENANT (Heb. 8:6; 9:15-17; 10:9 APT). Not until the precious blood of The Lamb of The God was applied to the Mercyseat by The Mediator-High Priest could The New Covenant take effect. Paul (see the author’s paper entitled A Consideration of the Attestation of Scripture to the Authorship of Hebrews on our website) uses three terms for ‘covenant.’ Two words other than ‘covenant’ which Paul uses are ‘testament’ and ‘will.’ In chapters eight and half of nine He discusses a Better Covenant (7:22-9:14), in chapter nine into ten he calls it the New Testament (9:15-10:4), then in chapter ten, it becomes the determined will of The God (10:5-10). Paul opens chapter eight by referring to Jesus, Who was declared High priest after the order of Mehl-khee-sehdék by The God (6:20 cf. 7:17), as seated at 0right of the throne of the Majesty in the Heavens (8:1). Therefore what is said of Him and His ministry in chapter eight is based upon His resurrection-ascension. “But even now He has obtained a more superior public ministry, for as much as in fact He is 0Mediator of a better Covenant, which stands enacted upon better promises” (Heb. 8:6 APT). Thus His mediation or inauguration of the New and Better Covenant could not have taken place before His ascension. “And because of this He is 0Mediator of 0New[in nature and quality] Testament[Covenant], so that by emerging[genitive absolute participle of means] from [objective genitive]death for 0release-for-ransom-paid[redemption] for the transgressions during the time of the first Testament [Covenant], the ones being summoned receive the |fufillment of| promise[metonymy: cause for effect] of the eternal inheritance. For where a testament |exists, it is| a necessity that death be brought upon the testator! For a testament |is| steadfast upon dead ones, since it is not ever prevailing when the testator is absolutely living” (Heb. 9:15-17 APT). The Lord Jesus Christ inaugurated the New Testament or Covenant by means of His resurrection-ascension. The New Testament is the new determined will of The God which The Lord Jesus Christ came to establish. “At that time it stands said, Lo! I arrive in order to do the determined will of Yours$, O God, He abolished the first[will], so that He establish the second [will]!” (Heb. 10:9 APT). All who are regenerated are obligated and empowered by His Holy Spirit to fulfill all His determined will (all that is included in The New Covenant or Testament). Therefore it behooves us to carefully read and study The whole Bible, especially The New Testament, considering all references to The Old Testament in order to understand what is expected of us to comply with the determined will of The God. CONCLUSION: Only through The Lord Jesus Christ’s application of His Blood on the Mercyseat could God complete all these ten accomplishments: effect propitiation, confirm redemption, forgive sin, cleanse the conscious, remove and clear guilt, transmit righteousness, declare one righteous, commence the New Creation, constitute His Church, and inaugurate the New Covenant. And only through the application of His Blood to your heart can you experience all these blessings of The God: be forgiven of your sins, be cleansed and liberated from bondage to Sin, be freed from guilt, be justified in The God’s sight, be baptized into His Church by The Holy Spirit and become a member of His Body, His Bride, and a living stone in His Building--the Holy Temple which is the habitation or place of residence of The Holy Spirit, and come into covenant relationship with The God under The New Covenant of Grace. You and I have two options: to continue in sins and bear the punishment of sins forever or to appropriate the all-inclusive work of The Lord Jesus Christ and apply His blood to our own hearts by complete persistent faith so as to make all of The Christ’s accomplishments our very own blessings. I made my choice! The choice is yours NOW and FOREVER! Which will you choose?
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Oh the wonderful, marvelous wisdom and counsel of The Almighty God, Who worked out the amazing, mysterious plan of salvation! And Oh His wondrous, phenomenal wisdom by which He out-worked and effected it all through His Beloved, Obedient Son, The Lord Jesus Christ! “. . . through Jesus Christ unto Himself according to the delight of the determined will of His, 6unto acclamation of 0glory[majestic radiant splendor] of the grace of His, by means of which He highly favored us in The Beloved+ One, 7in Whom we have the redemption[release for ransom paid] through the blood of His, with reference to the forgiveness of the gross stupid errors, according to the wealth$ of the grace of His. 8Of which He was in abundance unto us in all wisdom and prudence 9after making known to us the mystery of the determined will of His, according to His /delight which He purposed for Himself in Him 10until 0dispensation of the fullness of the appointed times in order to sum[number up to The Head] up the~ all things in The Christ, both the~ things in the& Heavens and the~ things upon the Earth, in Him, 11in Whom also we obtained an inheritance, being predestined+ ones according to 0purpose[setting before] of The+ One working the all~ things according to the counsel of the determined will of His” (Eph. 1:5b-12 APT). AMEN! ____________________
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