Meta-more-foo-may-I
Declaring good news of real change out of, through and into the Spirit of Jesus Christ, Rom. 12:2, Rom. 11:36.
Correction
Before I really start my approach to this serious subject, I want to take time to note a correction which was given to me a while back. For future reference, I will try to record any and all corrections sent my way, which bear the peaceable fruit of righteousness, as true corrective measures will do, with alacrity and humility, in a timelier manner. I have been brought to understand that without correction we are not God’s sons, Heb. 12:8. I waited with this one, because I wanted to use it to start this series of essay/articles.
In the article FAITH (part 2) THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD, I alluded to the process of deduction which a scientist uses “to either prove or disprove that which the scientist believes.” My brother Gregg caught up with me and let me know that scientists do not try to prove things true; they merely seek to show that given the exact set of circumstances and conditions, those things, what ever they may be, are not false. He informed me that the scientific community does not hold with a notion of absolute truth, because they believe that there are too many variables, some of which we are not even aware. So in a nut shell, he said that they don’t try to prove things true, they try to prove that they are not false. I confess; I was not aware of this distinction, so thanks.
Conviction
He also told me that I should spend more time in researching the things I write about. This convicted me greatly, as our Father had been dealing with me on the same line. Conviction is a primary tool God, through His Holy Spirit, uses to inform us of a need for correction, and indeed that correction has begun. Just to clarify, conviction is not condemnation. Conviction of the heart is a healthy signal that God is dealing with our lives in some area. If you feel convicted about something, go to God, where He may be found, in your own heart, and lay that thing upon the alter of sacrifice to be consumed. John 16:8 tells us that when the Comforter is come He will reprove or convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. John tells us further in verse 13 that this same Comforter, “the Spirit of truth” will guide us into all truth.
Picture if you will an archer’s target. You have basically a big circle with smaller and smaller circles painted on it. To miss the mark, to miss the target, entirely is sin. The word sin means to miss the mark. The base Greek word for sin is hamartano, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, # 264, pronounced ham-ar-tan-o, which means simply, “properly, to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), i.e. figuratively to err, especially, (morally) to sin.” Romans 3:23 says: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” King James Version. So the archer (Adam) stepped into the shooters box, and took his best shot. We know the result of that; he missed the mark. His best shot (good works through the knowledge of good and evil) fell woefully short of the glory that is God. Adam sinned. Romans 6:23 tells us: “For sin pays a wage, and the wage is death…” The Revised English Bible. But Adam’s sin had far greater consequences than just his own death, “For since it was a man who brought death into the world, a man also brought resurrection of the dead. 22. As in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be brought to life;” 1 Cor. 15:21-22, The Revised English Bible. (Author’s note—even though I used the Revised English Bible to quote this passage, if you notice, The King James Version also says: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall ALL be made alive.”) (Read also Romans 5:6-16)
So then, the first need is for the Comforter to convict (reprove) the world of sin, of missing the mark. That we need the Holy Spirit at all is because of missing the mark. In Adam, we all died; and so there is need for all of us to be convicted of missing the mark. Thank God that in Jesus Christ, there was a second contestant in that archery contest of life verses death. An archer, of such amazing skill and fortitude, that He not only hit the mark, but hit it square on center. “For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb. 4:15 from the King James Version)
Temptation
We have covered in our essay/articles on Faith how Eve (the woman) is a picture of the soul of man, and that Adam (the man) is a picture of the spirit of man. If you do not have this understanding, I humbly adjure you to go before God and ask that He might give you this good gift. With this understanding in mind then, let us, as diligent workmen, look into Genesis 3. I will however start in 2:25. There is something very instructional I wish to bring out. “And they were both naked the man and his wife (spirit of man and his soul), and were not ashamed. 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made…” from the King James Version. Would it surprise you to learn that the two words I have high-lighted, naked and subtil, are in fact the same word in the Hebrew text? What does this tell us then? In truth, a great many things, like the open door of our favorite store, we, from this little in-sight, can buy the truth, like the pearl of great price, and sell it not. To do so, however, we must sell all of our former understanding (all that we have Matt. 13:46) in order to purchase such a precious commodity.
Quoting from the notes of Dr. Bullinger, the commenter from The Companion Bible from which I draw all my King James Translation references, “subtil equals wise, Heb. arum (pronounced aw-room, with the long u sound—Author’s note)…same as 2:25; here wise.” The Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, reference #6175 says: “cunning (usually in a bad sense).” The confusion occurs in that the Hebrew word arom, pronounced aw-rome means “nude, either partially or totally:--naked.” Both of these words, aw-room, and aw-rome come from the same root word, Strong’s reference #6191, aw-ram (aram) which is a primary root word properly translated to be (or make) bare. In other words, this word aw-ram means to expose, or to be exposed. So then Adam and Eve were both exposers who were also exposed (crafty and cunning in spirit and soul, as well as naked physically) but were unashamed of their exposure. Why were they unashamed? Because they had not eaten of the tree of the KNOWLEDGE of good and evil, they did not KNOW they were exposed exposers. Some call it that primordial state of innocence, seems a bit fanciful, but it works to some degree. In any event, Adam and Eve had not yet been tempted. James 1:14 tells us, “But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed.” (KJV) To understand the lust in Adam, (soul and spirit) read Isaiah 14:12-14. Then ask yourself two questions: 1. what is a Latin word (Lucifer-which means light bearer) doing in a text written in either Hebrew or Aramaic? And then, ask yourself, 2. what does the context of the fourteenth chapter of Isaiah tell of this particular word? If you will allow yourself to receive, you will find the Holy Spirit open this up to you as talking about Adam in the Spirit, and about the King of Babylon in the natural. That they (Adam—Gen. 5:2) fell, should not surprise us either. They were given a word of God, (Thou shalt not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil); but because they were without understanding, by the wayside, (Matt. 13:18-19) the wicked one seized upon that very seed, the spoken word of God, which was sown in their hearts, and through cunning lies used it against them.
So along comes the serpent…was this by accident? I say no, based on Romans 8:20, and Rev. 13:8. But this serpent was the most cunning creature of all the beasts of the field, remember, that all the creatures were brought (King James says unto, but the real word is among (into) Adam to see what he would name them. A name speaks of the nature behind and suffusing through that name. Adam natured (named) the serpent, just as he natured the lion, the lamb and all of the other beasts of the field (Gen. 2:19). So it is no accident that the serpent was able to use craft and cunning to beguile the soul (Eve) into a separation from God; that was the nature given unto him out of Adam. By using the lust in her own being, (the desire to know good and evil just like God) he enticed her and she in turn enticed the spirit (Adam); and Adam sinned. Adam missed the mark. “For thou hast said in thine heart, ‘I will ascend into the heaven (through the knowledge of good and evil), I will exalt my throne above the stars of God (through the knowledge of good and evil): I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north (through the knowledge of good and evil): I will ascend above the heights of the clouds (through the knowledge of good and evil); I will be like the MOST HIGH’ (through the knowledge of good and evil).” Isa. 14:13-14 KJV Adam (spirit and soul) was tempted, and thus fell in temptation.
So we blame Eve then, right, Adam, the serpent? Lot’s of folks want to jump in on that one, but look at this. “Now the serpent was more subtil (crafty and cunning) than any beast of the field which the LORD GOD HAD MADE. Did the serpent just all of a sudden become cunning? NO! GOD MADE IT SO! God made Adam, spirit and soul, and the beasts of the field, right? God brought them all into Adam to see what he would call them, right? The nature of each beast is a part of Adam given to that particular creature. We feel such affinity for the quote-unquote “realm of nature” because it is all fragmented parts of ourselves, from Adam. Now, if for a moment we can come down off of our self-righteous need to find blame, we can begin to see that God has a plan. This fall of Adam (male and female) is just the beginning manifestation of His plan, just as The Lamb (Jesus Christ), slain before this ever occurred, is the true beginning and ending of His plan. Even the serpent, who got his nature from Adam, is guiltless in this extent; God planned this whole ordeal to bring about HIS NATURE (likeness) within the man creation which He had made.
In His Image, After His Likeness
The plan stated in Gen. 1:26 is this: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion…” 27. “So God created man in His own image…” Notice here, not a word said about the man being in the likeness of God, just in the image of God. But the word spoken was clearly: “in our image, AFTER OUR LIKENESS.” Our heavenly Father knew that in order for His creation to be made into His image, after His likeness, we would need knowledge, wisdom, understanding, discernment, all attributes connected with knowledge. He also knew that we would need to be exercised, pushed to the limit, therein to discern both good and evil.
Let me add a side note, discerning both good and evil does not necessarily mean seeing something, and having knowledge or understanding of that thing to say that is bad, or that is good. That is mere knowledge; and to feed off of that tree is death, just as God promised Adam. But to discern good and evil is to look at all things good or evil and to understand, discern, have wisdom to know that there is NO LIFE IN THEM AT ALL. Life is found only in the Tree of Life, which is Jesus Christ, in the midst/center of our being.
But that we need knowledge can be attributed to the very nature of God who created us. If we are to be in His likeness, and have dominion, we need knowledge, understanding, discernment, enlightenment and wisdom. We cannot rule, have dominion, without knowledge. We cannot be in the likeness of God without knowledge.
We could remain in that primordial state of innocence no longer. We needed to grow up. If we can for one moment take our eyes off of the day to day, and look into the realm of the throne of our heavenly Father, we will see that in His Spirit, through Jesus Christ, His plan is coming to fruition. That there is a plan, can be seen in that the Lamb was slain from before the foundation (more properly translated--casting down, or disruption) of the world. When Adam sinned, the entire world, the entire ordered arrangement of the cosmos, was cast down into disruption. Is this not clear? Is this not true? Death had been introduced by the rhema (spoken word) of God, upon the disobedience of Adam. “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.’” (Genesis 2:16-17 King James Version) God knew that Adam would eat of the tree of knowledge. Did God make Eve, and so Adam, eat of the tree? No, rather they were led astray of their own lusts and tempted, and they did eat.
“And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked (cunning natured and crafty)…” (Gen. 3:7)exposers, exposed. Innocence lost, never to be recaptured again! Now it was to work and to die for the man, the woman, (the soul) could be saved in child-bearing, but that in itself was to be fraught with great pain and travail. Ever wonder why it is so hard to be transformed into the image of Christ? I did, until God started to show me this, quickening my understanding to His plan of the ages, and the vastness of His vision for us. Now we can see why it is a comfort to be convicted. God’s Holy Spirit shows us each area faithfully in which the spirit of man (Adam) needs to die, and the soul can begin to bring forth the likeness, or nature of Christ, by faith through the spoken (rhema) word of God, in His Holy Spirit, the redemptive correction of humanity.
But there was need for the manifestation of The Lamb, who by virtue of being uniquely born is indeed our Lord Jesus. Adam stepped up, took of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and ate. The bow of his will was pulled back, and an arrow loosed at the mark of the prize of the high calling of God. That arrow fell far short of the glory which is our God. This we know. Enter Jesus, the uniquely born Son of God, unique in that He was born of a virgin, according to prophecy. Adam was a son of God, did you know that (Luke 3:38)? But Adam missed the mark, he sinned. So along comes Jesus, called the last Adam, to take another shot. Slain from before the foundation or casting down/disruption of the world, Jesus knew what He had to do. “…Who for the joy that was placed before Him, He endured the cross, despising the shame, and is now set down at the right hand of the throne of God”, making intercession for us (Heb. 12:2 and Rom. 8:34 KJV). “And for this purpose it was necessary that in all respects He should be made to resemble His brothers, so that He might become a compassionate and faithful High Priest in things relating to God, in order to atone for the sins of the people. 18. For inasmuch as He has Himself felt the pain of temptation and trial, He is also able instantly to help those who are tempted and tried.” Heb. 2:17-18 from Weymouth’s New Testament. Adam said, “I will.” Jesus, in the garden, in great anguish and travail said: “…nevertheless, not my will, but Thine, be done.”
Sons, One and Many
With that statement and subsequent follow through of obedience, Jesus was instituted for all time and space as the faithful High Priest who upon His resurrection was given all authority and rule. The correction for and of humanity was/is complete in Jesus Christ. In Him, we are brought step by step, line upon line, precept upon precept into that same power of correction, that same power of life. This is why Peter was so adamant to proclaim that we should count it all joy when we suffer diverse temptations. This is also why I say it is healthy and necessary for conviction to play a part in our spiritual upbringing. God has one Son, obedient unto the death of Adam. Through the shed blood of The Lamb we can experience Adam’s death being swallowed up in victory in the Life of Christ. Hallelujah! This is GOOD NEWS!
“For it became Him, for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things, in bringing MANY sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” But, let us not forget “the exhortation which speaketh…as unto children, ‘My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth’…Heb. 12:5-6.” And, “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons”…Heb. 12:7 all from KJV. Are we sons? If we allow God to correct us we are. Think on that, you and I, we are sons of God. Let us therefore “…be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, AND LIVE!” (Heb. 12:9)
Joy and peace to all who read, in Christ Jesus…Larry.
References: Faith (part 2) THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, The Companion Bible with the King James Version, The Revised English Bible, Dr. Bullinger-Notes in the Companion Bible, Weymouth’s New Testament.
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