Randy Green's Blog - Posts Tagged "priest"
An Army of Phinehases – Part 1
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “ Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned away My wrath from the sons of Israel in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy. Therefore say, ‘ Behold, I give him My covenant of peace...because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the sons of Israel.’” [Numbers 25:10-13]
Have you ever read those words before? I’m not being sarcastic. Honest! Most Christians have yet to read the Bible. Oh, many read parts of the Bible—favorite verses, chapters on the Christmas story, Psalms and Proverbs. But read Genesis through Revelation, an entire Bible book at a time? Sadly, but not too many do so.
This is why I asked you whether you ever read the words of our text before. Well, it makes for a never you mind for our purpose today. Whether you did or didn’t, when you read them now, what questions pass through your mind…aside from the foreign names, that is? I’ll suggest a few for you.
1. How can a mere man turn away God’s wrath?
2. How can a mere man have God’s jealousy?
3. What is God’s jealousy anyway?
4. How can a holy God kill people in jealousy and still be holy?
5. How can a mere man make atonement for other men?
Hmm. Those are some stimulating inquiries. I bet we’re in for a smorgasbord of spiritual victuals today. I hear the dinner bell, so we mustn’t dawdle. Let’s wash our hands, recline at the table, and get to eating!
To help us get a handle on the issue involved, perhaps a story or two for illustration purposes will benefit us. We all know the one about the preschooler and the cookie jar, don’t we? It goes like this.
Mom walks into the kitchen and discovers little Johnny boy on the step ladder, his hand deep in the cookie jar which reclines atop the kitchen cabinet. Mom grabs Johnny off the ladder, before he is startled by her presence and winds up falling off. As she places him on the floor, Johnny looks up in her face wearing a whimper sort of expression. A tear or two drops out of the corner of his eye as he whines, “I’m sorry, Mommy.”
Well, if we could play Johnny’s private thoughts on the TV screen at that moment, we’d be cut to the quick by his real mindset. He was sorry all right, but not because he disobeyed Mom by invading the domain of the cookie against her express instructions. No! We’d hear this:
I’m sorry, Mommy, that you came in when you did. If you’d only have been a few seconds slower, I’d have a handful of cookies out back, chowing down and having the time of my life! Why couldn’t you have just waited a few moments, Mommy? Why’d you have to go and spoil my life again? I never get to have any fun. Wish you’d chill and let me be for once.
We will continue the tale on the morrow. Let’s pause a while and spend time with the Lord now.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Have you ever read those words before? I’m not being sarcastic. Honest! Most Christians have yet to read the Bible. Oh, many read parts of the Bible—favorite verses, chapters on the Christmas story, Psalms and Proverbs. But read Genesis through Revelation, an entire Bible book at a time? Sadly, but not too many do so.
This is why I asked you whether you ever read the words of our text before. Well, it makes for a never you mind for our purpose today. Whether you did or didn’t, when you read them now, what questions pass through your mind…aside from the foreign names, that is? I’ll suggest a few for you.
1. How can a mere man turn away God’s wrath?
2. How can a mere man have God’s jealousy?
3. What is God’s jealousy anyway?
4. How can a holy God kill people in jealousy and still be holy?
5. How can a mere man make atonement for other men?
Hmm. Those are some stimulating inquiries. I bet we’re in for a smorgasbord of spiritual victuals today. I hear the dinner bell, so we mustn’t dawdle. Let’s wash our hands, recline at the table, and get to eating!
To help us get a handle on the issue involved, perhaps a story or two for illustration purposes will benefit us. We all know the one about the preschooler and the cookie jar, don’t we? It goes like this.
Mom walks into the kitchen and discovers little Johnny boy on the step ladder, his hand deep in the cookie jar which reclines atop the kitchen cabinet. Mom grabs Johnny off the ladder, before he is startled by her presence and winds up falling off. As she places him on the floor, Johnny looks up in her face wearing a whimper sort of expression. A tear or two drops out of the corner of his eye as he whines, “I’m sorry, Mommy.”
Well, if we could play Johnny’s private thoughts on the TV screen at that moment, we’d be cut to the quick by his real mindset. He was sorry all right, but not because he disobeyed Mom by invading the domain of the cookie against her express instructions. No! We’d hear this:
I’m sorry, Mommy, that you came in when you did. If you’d only have been a few seconds slower, I’d have a handful of cookies out back, chowing down and having the time of my life! Why couldn’t you have just waited a few moments, Mommy? Why’d you have to go and spoil my life again? I never get to have any fun. Wish you’d chill and let me be for once.
We will continue the tale on the morrow. Let’s pause a while and spend time with the Lord now.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
An Army of Phinehases – Part 2
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “ Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned away My wrath from the sons of Israel in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy. Therefore say, ‘ Behold, I give him My covenant of peace...because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the sons of Israel’” [Numbers 25:10-12]
Johnny boy was caught red-handed, his hand still in the cookie jar. Straightway he went on the offense, feigning contrition in an attempt to wring pity from Mom.
Yep. Been there, done that. You too, right? That’s me personally and that’s my kids too. It comes from the sin nature inside each of us. We won’t tolerate any outside right and wrong. What we feel inside is right for us, so it is right! Begone with morality then and let us be.
Now let’s hear the way the story should be played out—no doubt occasionally it actually does happen this way. Johnny is a real kid, so in this story he’s still on the step ladder with his hand in the cookie jar. Mom is a real mom, so she by happenstance makes her way into the kitchen at just the right moment to bust Johnny in the act of cookie filching.
From the floor Johnny hangs his head in shame, unable to even look Mom in the face. This time more than a couple of tears drop from one eye. Too many to count pour out of both eyes. He tries to apologize, but his emotions run amuck and his cries are too copious to allow speech to flow smoothly. In broken words and sentences Johnny thinks and tries to say,
I’m sorry, Mommy. You told me to leave the cookies alone until after supper, but I didn’t obey you. All the love you show me, always being there when I need you. You never do me wrong. You help me make it in school and in life. I never have to worry about being rejected or deserted. You never give up on me, call it quits, and walk out.
And here I go and do the one thing you told me not to do. I have no excuse, Mommy. I did wrong. Will you please forgive me? I know I must be punished, but I need your forgiveness first. Please forgive me, Mommy.
I embellished Johnny’s lament a bit…no, quite a bit! I know it’s too adult for a preschooler. But to whatever extent the kid could reason about right and wrong, that is what he would say, if he was truly sorry for doing wrong and not just sorry because he got caught and had to pay the piper.
Time to call it a day. I’m going to meditate on what we’ve been taught today, as I sit at the feet of Jesus. See you tomorrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Johnny boy was caught red-handed, his hand still in the cookie jar. Straightway he went on the offense, feigning contrition in an attempt to wring pity from Mom.
Yep. Been there, done that. You too, right? That’s me personally and that’s my kids too. It comes from the sin nature inside each of us. We won’t tolerate any outside right and wrong. What we feel inside is right for us, so it is right! Begone with morality then and let us be.
Now let’s hear the way the story should be played out—no doubt occasionally it actually does happen this way. Johnny is a real kid, so in this story he’s still on the step ladder with his hand in the cookie jar. Mom is a real mom, so she by happenstance makes her way into the kitchen at just the right moment to bust Johnny in the act of cookie filching.
From the floor Johnny hangs his head in shame, unable to even look Mom in the face. This time more than a couple of tears drop from one eye. Too many to count pour out of both eyes. He tries to apologize, but his emotions run amuck and his cries are too copious to allow speech to flow smoothly. In broken words and sentences Johnny thinks and tries to say,
I’m sorry, Mommy. You told me to leave the cookies alone until after supper, but I didn’t obey you. All the love you show me, always being there when I need you. You never do me wrong. You help me make it in school and in life. I never have to worry about being rejected or deserted. You never give up on me, call it quits, and walk out.
And here I go and do the one thing you told me not to do. I have no excuse, Mommy. I did wrong. Will you please forgive me? I know I must be punished, but I need your forgiveness first. Please forgive me, Mommy.
I embellished Johnny’s lament a bit…no, quite a bit! I know it’s too adult for a preschooler. But to whatever extent the kid could reason about right and wrong, that is what he would say, if he was truly sorry for doing wrong and not just sorry because he got caught and had to pay the piper.
Time to call it a day. I’m going to meditate on what we’ve been taught today, as I sit at the feet of Jesus. See you tomorrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
An Army of Phinehases – Part 3
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “ Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned away My wrath from the sons of Israel in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy. Therefore say, ‘ Behold, I give him My covenant of peace...because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the sons of Israel.’” [Numbers 25:10-12]
If only we puny humans would submit to the Holy Spirit, we would be Johnny #2 and simply come clean with our sins. Instead we have a doctorate in rationalizations. We are Johnny #1. We make excuses and wheedle in an effort to gain pity for ourselves.
In 1 Corinthians 11:31 the Apostle Paul explained to the troublesome Christians in the church of Corinth that, if they judged their own sins, the Lord wouldn’t have to judge them. This concept is quite apposite to the situation in Numbers 25, dear friends.
The Israelites were on the east bank of the Jordan River opposite Jericho. They were delivered from Egyptian slavery by the Lord their God. The Lord led them through the wilderness for forty years and brought them to the plains of Moab on the east bank. They were on the verge of crossing the Jordan to the west bank and receiving their landed inheritance, the Promised Land.
Well, the folks who lived on the west bank weren’t too keen on the thought of this happening. Neither were the folks on the east bank who attacked the Israelites and were exterminated in the doing. Israel now owned all their lands.
Israel’s neighbors on the east bank weren’t much enthused with the new tenants either. These neighbors included the Moabites and their partners the Midianites. So those two folks wanted to evict the Israelites, preferring them dead over expelled.
First they tried to arrange a military conquest of the Israelites. The first step in doing this was to hire a false prophet named Balaam to curse Israel. That way the Israelites would be too weak to stand their ground against the enemy coalition. But the Lord blessed Israel and repulsed Balaam’s attempts, forcing him instead to acknowledge the blessing of God upon Israel.
So Balaam concocted another scheme: if attacks from the outside failed, try attacks from the inside. Balaam directed the Midianites to bedeck their loveliest honeys in alluring attire. Then dispatch them to the camp of Israel to seduce the pubescent Israelite boys.
Once in the embrace of the Midianite babes, those boys would worship the Midianite gods without even knowing it. Then the Lord God of Israel would be furious and kill the Israelite men. What a plan! The Moabites and Midianites wouldn’t even have to kill the Israelites. Their own God would do the job for them!
Oh, dear. Outta time again! I can’t wait to find out how Balaam’s devilish machination came out. But we’ll have to…until tomorrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
If only we puny humans would submit to the Holy Spirit, we would be Johnny #2 and simply come clean with our sins. Instead we have a doctorate in rationalizations. We are Johnny #1. We make excuses and wheedle in an effort to gain pity for ourselves.
In 1 Corinthians 11:31 the Apostle Paul explained to the troublesome Christians in the church of Corinth that, if they judged their own sins, the Lord wouldn’t have to judge them. This concept is quite apposite to the situation in Numbers 25, dear friends.
The Israelites were on the east bank of the Jordan River opposite Jericho. They were delivered from Egyptian slavery by the Lord their God. The Lord led them through the wilderness for forty years and brought them to the plains of Moab on the east bank. They were on the verge of crossing the Jordan to the west bank and receiving their landed inheritance, the Promised Land.
Well, the folks who lived on the west bank weren’t too keen on the thought of this happening. Neither were the folks on the east bank who attacked the Israelites and were exterminated in the doing. Israel now owned all their lands.
Israel’s neighbors on the east bank weren’t much enthused with the new tenants either. These neighbors included the Moabites and their partners the Midianites. So those two folks wanted to evict the Israelites, preferring them dead over expelled.
First they tried to arrange a military conquest of the Israelites. The first step in doing this was to hire a false prophet named Balaam to curse Israel. That way the Israelites would be too weak to stand their ground against the enemy coalition. But the Lord blessed Israel and repulsed Balaam’s attempts, forcing him instead to acknowledge the blessing of God upon Israel.
So Balaam concocted another scheme: if attacks from the outside failed, try attacks from the inside. Balaam directed the Midianites to bedeck their loveliest honeys in alluring attire. Then dispatch them to the camp of Israel to seduce the pubescent Israelite boys.
Once in the embrace of the Midianite babes, those boys would worship the Midianite gods without even knowing it. Then the Lord God of Israel would be furious and kill the Israelite men. What a plan! The Moabites and Midianites wouldn’t even have to kill the Israelites. Their own God would do the job for them!
Oh, dear. Outta time again! I can’t wait to find out how Balaam’s devilish machination came out. But we’ll have to…until tomorrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
An Army of Phinehases – Part 4
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “ Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned away My wrath from the sons of Israel in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy. Therefore say, ‘ Behold, I give him My covenant of peace...because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the sons of Israel.’” [Numbers 25:10-12]
Balaam squeezed some demon juice from his brain and fed it to the Moabites and Midianites. Let them bedeck their lovely lasses in alluring attire, then dispatch them to the camp of Israel to seduce the puberty-afflicted Israelite boys…of all ages! That’ll get them worshiping Baal, and force the Lord to kill them.
So bedecked became the Midianite femme fatales, and off to the camp of Israel they went. Straightway the camp was filled with pubescent Israelites, ambling along with Midianite sirens on their arms…and into the tents they went.
No sooner were they in the tents than a plague from the Lord struck and killed 24,000 Israelites. Balaam’s plan seemed to be working to a T. Why, even after all this, some clueless dufus Israelite actually walked out in front of Moses and the leaders of Israel, as they were praying to the Lord at the tent of meeting on behalf of the Israelites.
This dufus had a Midianite lassie on his arm, and he was the son of an Israelite leader! He called out to dad in front of all Israel’s leaders,
Hey, Dad. I’m taking my new girlfriend back to the tent to play and have fun. So stay away a while, okay?
Then off to the camp on the south side the two went. Moses and the leaders had to place an order for a crane to come and lift their jaws off the desert floor! Such temerity, such chutzpah was beyond belief. No one could be that anile…could he?
The son of the high priest, Phinehas by name, knew what the situation demanded. Thousands of Israelites were dying by the minute from the Lord’s plague, and all because dufuses like this boy sinned with heathen women.
The job of the priest was to intercede with the Lord on behalf of the Israelites. The Lord was in the process of judging the Israelites for their sin. In order for the priest to petition the Lord to cease and desist, first the sin had to be atoned for.
So how was sin to be atoned for? Well, the wages of sin is death, so the Lord put them to death. To stop the plague, first the Israelites needed to stop sinning, and secondly those who sinned needed to be put to death.
We’ll find out tomorrow how this was accomplished. For today let’s muse on what we’ve already learned. The prayer closet is a good place to do so. See you there.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Balaam squeezed some demon juice from his brain and fed it to the Moabites and Midianites. Let them bedeck their lovely lasses in alluring attire, then dispatch them to the camp of Israel to seduce the puberty-afflicted Israelite boys…of all ages! That’ll get them worshiping Baal, and force the Lord to kill them.
So bedecked became the Midianite femme fatales, and off to the camp of Israel they went. Straightway the camp was filled with pubescent Israelites, ambling along with Midianite sirens on their arms…and into the tents they went.
No sooner were they in the tents than a plague from the Lord struck and killed 24,000 Israelites. Balaam’s plan seemed to be working to a T. Why, even after all this, some clueless dufus Israelite actually walked out in front of Moses and the leaders of Israel, as they were praying to the Lord at the tent of meeting on behalf of the Israelites.
This dufus had a Midianite lassie on his arm, and he was the son of an Israelite leader! He called out to dad in front of all Israel’s leaders,
Hey, Dad. I’m taking my new girlfriend back to the tent to play and have fun. So stay away a while, okay?
Then off to the camp on the south side the two went. Moses and the leaders had to place an order for a crane to come and lift their jaws off the desert floor! Such temerity, such chutzpah was beyond belief. No one could be that anile…could he?
The son of the high priest, Phinehas by name, knew what the situation demanded. Thousands of Israelites were dying by the minute from the Lord’s plague, and all because dufuses like this boy sinned with heathen women.
The job of the priest was to intercede with the Lord on behalf of the Israelites. The Lord was in the process of judging the Israelites for their sin. In order for the priest to petition the Lord to cease and desist, first the sin had to be atoned for.
So how was sin to be atoned for? Well, the wages of sin is death, so the Lord put them to death. To stop the plague, first the Israelites needed to stop sinning, and secondly those who sinned needed to be put to death.
We’ll find out tomorrow how this was accomplished. For today let’s muse on what we’ve already learned. The prayer closet is a good place to do so. See you there.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
An Army of Phinehases – Part 5
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “ Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned away My wrath from the sons of Israel in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy. Therefore say, ‘ Behold, I give him My covenant of peace...because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the sons of Israel.’” [Numbers 25:10-12]
So how was the sin of the pubescent Israelites atoned for? It happened like this:
Phinehas grabbed his spear and followed the dufus Israelite into his tent. Inside the tent Phinehas pinned both the Israelite boy and the Midianite girl to the desert floor with his spear, like a shish kabob. Then the plague on the Israelites was stayed.
You see, the Israelites judged the sin in their camp, so the Lord no longer had to do so. If we judge our own sins, we won’t have to be judged.
And this brings us back to the five questions we itemized at the start of this study. We just narrated how a mere man can turn away God’s wrath (answer to question #1). The mere man simply did what the Word of God commanded to be done. The Law of Moses was already given to the Israelites to govern their national existence. It afforded the answers for holy living and judging society accordingly.
This Law commanded the Israelites to follow the doctrine of separation: no intermingling with the heathen peoples of the world. The Law also forbade idolatry: no worshiping other gods. The priests were assigned to be God’s judges in Israel. Phinehas the priest judged the lawbreaker guilty and executed him according to the Law.
How can a mere man have God’s jealousy? Just the way Phinehas did. He didn’t get mad at the dufus Israelite for personal reasons and exact his personal revenge. Rather, Phinehas recognized from the Law that the Lord loved the Israelites as His own bride.
The Lord was betrayed by His bride, when the Israelites slept with the daughters of foreign gods and then worshiped those gods. This aroused the Lord’s righteous jealousy. So that is what God’s jealousy is (answer to question #3). When Phinehas acted on behalf of God’s jealousy, he displayed God’s jealousy (answer to question #2).
Because the Lord is always faithful, He never steps out on those with whom He is in covenantal relationship. The Lord expects the same in return. When His people play spouse-swapping and intermingle with the heathen gods, they forfeit any claims to being God’s people and willingly join the camp of the enemy.
The word “holy” means that God is the one and only. For a man to be holy means that he sides with God against all other gods or anything else. When a man doesn’t do so, then he is no longer holy and God cannot abide with him.
Yikes! That didn’t spell good news for those pubescent Israelites, did it? We’ll learn the specifics in our next study. Off to the Lord I’m going now.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
So how was the sin of the pubescent Israelites atoned for? It happened like this:
Phinehas grabbed his spear and followed the dufus Israelite into his tent. Inside the tent Phinehas pinned both the Israelite boy and the Midianite girl to the desert floor with his spear, like a shish kabob. Then the plague on the Israelites was stayed.
You see, the Israelites judged the sin in their camp, so the Lord no longer had to do so. If we judge our own sins, we won’t have to be judged.
And this brings us back to the five questions we itemized at the start of this study. We just narrated how a mere man can turn away God’s wrath (answer to question #1). The mere man simply did what the Word of God commanded to be done. The Law of Moses was already given to the Israelites to govern their national existence. It afforded the answers for holy living and judging society accordingly.
This Law commanded the Israelites to follow the doctrine of separation: no intermingling with the heathen peoples of the world. The Law also forbade idolatry: no worshiping other gods. The priests were assigned to be God’s judges in Israel. Phinehas the priest judged the lawbreaker guilty and executed him according to the Law.
How can a mere man have God’s jealousy? Just the way Phinehas did. He didn’t get mad at the dufus Israelite for personal reasons and exact his personal revenge. Rather, Phinehas recognized from the Law that the Lord loved the Israelites as His own bride.
The Lord was betrayed by His bride, when the Israelites slept with the daughters of foreign gods and then worshiped those gods. This aroused the Lord’s righteous jealousy. So that is what God’s jealousy is (answer to question #3). When Phinehas acted on behalf of God’s jealousy, he displayed God’s jealousy (answer to question #2).
Because the Lord is always faithful, He never steps out on those with whom He is in covenantal relationship. The Lord expects the same in return. When His people play spouse-swapping and intermingle with the heathen gods, they forfeit any claims to being God’s people and willingly join the camp of the enemy.
The word “holy” means that God is the one and only. For a man to be holy means that he sides with God against all other gods or anything else. When a man doesn’t do so, then he is no longer holy and God cannot abide with him.
Yikes! That didn’t spell good news for those pubescent Israelites, did it? We’ll learn the specifics in our next study. Off to the Lord I’m going now.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
An Army of Phinehases – Part 6
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “ Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned away My wrath from the sons of Israel in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy. Therefore say, ‘ Behold, I give him My covenant of peace...because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the sons of Israel.’” [Numbers 25:10-12]
The Lord is holy. If man is to be in a relationship with Him, we have to be holy also. This means we cannot live to please self and do our own thing. We cannot worship and serve other gods…or money…or sex…or fame. We have to worship and serve the Lord alone. We have to practice fidelity to one Spouse, the Lord.
The pubescent Israelites didn’t do this. The only alternatives then were either for the Lord to leave and give man his way, or else for the Lord to stay and send man away. Putting sinful man to death removed the sin and maintained God’s holiness. It sent sinful man away so that the Lord could stay (answer to question 4).
The final question (#5) is, “How can a mere man make atonement for other men?” Answer: in just the way Phinehas did, viz., by following the Word of God and judging sin accordingly. The sin wasn’t atoned for in the case of the sinners. They weren’t atoned for: they were judged and condemned! The sin was atoned for in the case of the Israelites who weren’t committing the sin.
Sin in the camp of Israel required that the camp of Israel be judged. So the plague from the Lord struck the camp of Israel. So long as this fraternizing with the enemy continued, the rest of the Israelites were susceptible to being entangled in the devilish web. Phinehas put an end to the fraternizing by his bold act. No other Israelites volunteered to fraternize any longer, considering the consequences!
Ergo, Phinehas atoned for the sin by terminating its practice, as well as by judging the offenders according to the Word of God. The operative phrase is “according to the Word of God”. The Law of Moses was the legal code for the Israelites while they inhabited the Promised Land. It was given at Mount Sinai and went into effect forthwith. God gave them His Law in preparation for having their own country. He was the King of Israel.
We Christians today are not Israel in the Promised Land. The Law of Moses wasn’t given to govern us: the New Testament was. However, we still learn spiritual truths about God from the Lord’s picture stories in the Old Testament, so we continue to study it. However, let’s not be overly eager and go to executing sinners!
In the Church today we need an army of valiant Phinehases to combat the Gospel of Affluence which pervades the Christian community. Alas, but what we have seems to be a nursery full of wimpy Zimris. If you want to know what a Zimri is, read Numbers 25 and see. If you want to enlist in the army of Phinehases, report to the Lord in prayer. Think I’ll do so now. Want to join?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The Lord is holy. If man is to be in a relationship with Him, we have to be holy also. This means we cannot live to please self and do our own thing. We cannot worship and serve other gods…or money…or sex…or fame. We have to worship and serve the Lord alone. We have to practice fidelity to one Spouse, the Lord.
The pubescent Israelites didn’t do this. The only alternatives then were either for the Lord to leave and give man his way, or else for the Lord to stay and send man away. Putting sinful man to death removed the sin and maintained God’s holiness. It sent sinful man away so that the Lord could stay (answer to question 4).
The final question (#5) is, “How can a mere man make atonement for other men?” Answer: in just the way Phinehas did, viz., by following the Word of God and judging sin accordingly. The sin wasn’t atoned for in the case of the sinners. They weren’t atoned for: they were judged and condemned! The sin was atoned for in the case of the Israelites who weren’t committing the sin.
Sin in the camp of Israel required that the camp of Israel be judged. So the plague from the Lord struck the camp of Israel. So long as this fraternizing with the enemy continued, the rest of the Israelites were susceptible to being entangled in the devilish web. Phinehas put an end to the fraternizing by his bold act. No other Israelites volunteered to fraternize any longer, considering the consequences!
Ergo, Phinehas atoned for the sin by terminating its practice, as well as by judging the offenders according to the Word of God. The operative phrase is “according to the Word of God”. The Law of Moses was the legal code for the Israelites while they inhabited the Promised Land. It was given at Mount Sinai and went into effect forthwith. God gave them His Law in preparation for having their own country. He was the King of Israel.
We Christians today are not Israel in the Promised Land. The Law of Moses wasn’t given to govern us: the New Testament was. However, we still learn spiritual truths about God from the Lord’s picture stories in the Old Testament, so we continue to study it. However, let’s not be overly eager and go to executing sinners!
In the Church today we need an army of valiant Phinehases to combat the Gospel of Affluence which pervades the Christian community. Alas, but what we have seems to be a nursery full of wimpy Zimris. If you want to know what a Zimri is, read Numbers 25 and see. If you want to enlist in the army of Phinehases, report to the Lord in prayer. Think I’ll do so now. Want to join?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Double-edged Attorney – Part 1
Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted [Hebrews 2:17-18].
The famous criminal defense attorney Yen Actlike has a new client. Of course the client is accused of first degree murder. Actlike wouldn’t waste his time or talent on anything less. So the client comes to Actlike’s office to enumerate the facts of the case to his attorney.
I am fabricating this case, so don’t try finding it to watch on the internet. The client is Ms. Chastity. She could never do the dastardly deed as she is accused of…even if she had the smoking gun in her hand.
Leave it to Actlike to get her off. He’ll probably prove the bullet holes in the victim’s head are really snake holes. The victim was killed by a brood of vipers, not by bullets from Ms. Chastity’s gun. Anyway, that’s Actlike’s interpretation of the facts, and he is determined to sell it to the twelve arbiters who comprise the jury.
Across the aisle sits the country’s most famous D.A., a certain Mr. Snidely Whiplash. Scratch that. The dude is already taken. He is the arch villain who makes life miserable for the Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman, Dudley Do-Right. So we’ll name our D.A. Dudley Adversary.
Well, D.A. Adversary isn’t intimidated by Actlike’s reputation. He has a few tricks up his sleeve too. According to him, a smoking gun is a smoking gun. And that resolves the matter. It is the sum total of whatever evidence might be required to convict.
Mr. D.A. Adversary once saw another attorney say, “If the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” So he decided to borrow the parlor trick for use in his own case. Actlike wasn’t about to pull the wool over the eyes of his jurors, you see.
So Mr. D.A. Adversary pronounced in their hearing, “If the gun is smoking, you must be joking!” He couldn’t figure why the jurors all had dropped jaws and blank stares on their faces. Apparently the lights were on but nobody was home…not with the jurors, mind you, but with the good D.A. Adversary. Actlike should expect a slam dunk.
Sitting in the magistrate’s chair and wielding his gavel was the most notable judge this side of heaven, the Honorable Blindside Barabbas. He would brook no shenanigans in his courtroom, he wanted both attornerys to know…even though he only looked at Actlike when he threatened reprisals.
On the morning of the trial everyone is present in the courtroom, everyone, that is, except the Honorable Blindside Barabbas. He was in the wing, awaiting his summons by the court bailiff. Suddenly the bailliff’s voice echoes through the room and into the judge’s chambers,
Hear ye! Hear ye! The Honorable Blindside Barabbas’ courtroom is called to order. His Honor is about to make his entrance. Stand and salute him, one and all!
This is about to get good, dear friends. Be sure to return after the commercial break, or rather, tomorrow. It is now time to visit with the Lord Jesus a bit.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Levitucus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The famous criminal defense attorney Yen Actlike has a new client. Of course the client is accused of first degree murder. Actlike wouldn’t waste his time or talent on anything less. So the client comes to Actlike’s office to enumerate the facts of the case to his attorney.
I am fabricating this case, so don’t try finding it to watch on the internet. The client is Ms. Chastity. She could never do the dastardly deed as she is accused of…even if she had the smoking gun in her hand.
Leave it to Actlike to get her off. He’ll probably prove the bullet holes in the victim’s head are really snake holes. The victim was killed by a brood of vipers, not by bullets from Ms. Chastity’s gun. Anyway, that’s Actlike’s interpretation of the facts, and he is determined to sell it to the twelve arbiters who comprise the jury.
Across the aisle sits the country’s most famous D.A., a certain Mr. Snidely Whiplash. Scratch that. The dude is already taken. He is the arch villain who makes life miserable for the Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman, Dudley Do-Right. So we’ll name our D.A. Dudley Adversary.
Well, D.A. Adversary isn’t intimidated by Actlike’s reputation. He has a few tricks up his sleeve too. According to him, a smoking gun is a smoking gun. And that resolves the matter. It is the sum total of whatever evidence might be required to convict.
Mr. D.A. Adversary once saw another attorney say, “If the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” So he decided to borrow the parlor trick for use in his own case. Actlike wasn’t about to pull the wool over the eyes of his jurors, you see.
So Mr. D.A. Adversary pronounced in their hearing, “If the gun is smoking, you must be joking!” He couldn’t figure why the jurors all had dropped jaws and blank stares on their faces. Apparently the lights were on but nobody was home…not with the jurors, mind you, but with the good D.A. Adversary. Actlike should expect a slam dunk.
Sitting in the magistrate’s chair and wielding his gavel was the most notable judge this side of heaven, the Honorable Blindside Barabbas. He would brook no shenanigans in his courtroom, he wanted both attornerys to know…even though he only looked at Actlike when he threatened reprisals.
On the morning of the trial everyone is present in the courtroom, everyone, that is, except the Honorable Blindside Barabbas. He was in the wing, awaiting his summons by the court bailiff. Suddenly the bailliff’s voice echoes through the room and into the judge’s chambers,
Hear ye! Hear ye! The Honorable Blindside Barabbas’ courtroom is called to order. His Honor is about to make his entrance. Stand and salute him, one and all!
This is about to get good, dear friends. Be sure to return after the commercial break, or rather, tomorrow. It is now time to visit with the Lord Jesus a bit.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Levitucus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Double-edged Attorney – Part 2
Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted [Hebrews 2:17-18].
The Honorable Blindside Barabbas sits at the judge’s bench, presiding over the two prima donnas who occupy the attorneys’ chairs. The defense prima donna, er, I mean the defense attorney, is Mr. Yen Actlike, while the district attorney is Mr. Dudley Adversary. Attorney Actlike’s client is Ms. Chastity, yes, none other than the sweet and innocent Ms. Chastity, one and the same.
As is customary with all “innocent until proven guilty” societies, the D.A. has to present his case first. Either he proves beyond a reasonable doubt that Ms. Chastity did the foul deed, or else Ms. Chastity doesn’t even have to prove her innocence. The only thing she need do is adequately dispute Dudley Adversary’s evidence if need be. And that is Yen Actlike’s job anyway, not Ms. Chastity’s.
So D.A. Adversary goes first.
If it please the court, I’d like to request an adjournment for a month or so.
To which Mr. Actlike responds,
Objection, Your Honor. This is a delaying tactic because no real evidence exists to support the charges against my client.
Dudley Adversary doesn’t take too kindly to the insinuation and retorts with vehemence,
Oh, yea. What do you call the photos of Ms. Chastity holding the smoking gun while standing over the warm corpse, you shyster you?
He shouldn’t have spoken so harshly to Attorney Actlike. Now ol’ Yen’s dander was up, and was he riled. He countered,
And seeing that no substantive evidence exists to support the charges against my client, I move to dismiss.
Judge Barabbas gets into the act. Rapping his gavel on the judge’s desk, he thunders,
Both attorneys make excellent points. Court is both adjourned for several months, and the case is dismissed due to the lack of evidence! So go home and watch my TV show.
Didn’t I caution you at the conclusion of the last study not to miss out on this exciting court case. Have you ever witnessed such a sterling display of jurisprudence by a judge? Did two attorneys ever go at it any better than Yen Actlike and Dudley Adversary?
Oh, but we must go to commercial break at this time. We will meet back here same time, same channel, tomorrow. See you then, and see Jesus now.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Levitucus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The Honorable Blindside Barabbas sits at the judge’s bench, presiding over the two prima donnas who occupy the attorneys’ chairs. The defense prima donna, er, I mean the defense attorney, is Mr. Yen Actlike, while the district attorney is Mr. Dudley Adversary. Attorney Actlike’s client is Ms. Chastity, yes, none other than the sweet and innocent Ms. Chastity, one and the same.
As is customary with all “innocent until proven guilty” societies, the D.A. has to present his case first. Either he proves beyond a reasonable doubt that Ms. Chastity did the foul deed, or else Ms. Chastity doesn’t even have to prove her innocence. The only thing she need do is adequately dispute Dudley Adversary’s evidence if need be. And that is Yen Actlike’s job anyway, not Ms. Chastity’s.
So D.A. Adversary goes first.
If it please the court, I’d like to request an adjournment for a month or so.
To which Mr. Actlike responds,
Objection, Your Honor. This is a delaying tactic because no real evidence exists to support the charges against my client.
Dudley Adversary doesn’t take too kindly to the insinuation and retorts with vehemence,
Oh, yea. What do you call the photos of Ms. Chastity holding the smoking gun while standing over the warm corpse, you shyster you?
He shouldn’t have spoken so harshly to Attorney Actlike. Now ol’ Yen’s dander was up, and was he riled. He countered,
And seeing that no substantive evidence exists to support the charges against my client, I move to dismiss.
Judge Barabbas gets into the act. Rapping his gavel on the judge’s desk, he thunders,
Both attorneys make excellent points. Court is both adjourned for several months, and the case is dismissed due to the lack of evidence! So go home and watch my TV show.
Didn’t I caution you at the conclusion of the last study not to miss out on this exciting court case. Have you ever witnessed such a sterling display of jurisprudence by a judge? Did two attorneys ever go at it any better than Yen Actlike and Dudley Adversary?
Oh, but we must go to commercial break at this time. We will meet back here same time, same channel, tomorrow. See you then, and see Jesus now.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Levitucus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Double-edged Attorney – Part 3
Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted [Hebrews 2:17-18].
We’ve been enthralled the past couple of studies by the courtroom theatrics of D.A. Dudley Adversary and Defense Attorney Yen Actlike. The Honorable Blindside Barabbas got into the act too.
But sorry. We must now switch channels to watch an even better courtroom scenario. This is necessary so that we can learn how all of this applies to our Bible verses. I do apologize though. I didn’t mean to yank the show in midseason and leave you hanging.
Our Bible verses afford us a panoramic view of a courtroom in eternity. Off in the distance we can see Judge Theos sitting on His judge’s bench with gavel in hand. Standing there in front of Him is that disgusting ogre, D.A. Diabolos, bringing countless charges against a good deal of mankind.
Not to worry though. In our corner is Defense Attorney Yeshua HaMashiach, the renowned Israeli world champion. He will have a thing or two to say about El Diabolos’ infernal lies.
How does this relate to our Bible verses? It’s like this. Jesus is God’s great High Priest, given to stand before the eternal throne and defend every person who comes to Him to live. Let’s examine how this is so, as it is presented in Hebrews 2:17-18.
In verse 17 we are taught that Jesus was 100% perfect humanity, just like you and me, sin excepted. That is the significance of the words “made like His brethren in all things”. The eternal Son of God took upon real humanity. He became one of us, while still remaining fully God. He is the God-man. He is not a hybrid of the two natures, nor is He God with an appearance of flesh and blood. He was made like us “in all things”.
The reason He fully became one of us is expressed in the words “so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people”. Jesus’ ministry as the God-man was to be God’s high priest on behalf of sinful man.
To adequately fulfill His ministry, Jesus had to be both a merciful high priest and a faithful high priest. A high priest’s functions had to do with “things pertaining to God”. God chose His priests. No one was ever permitted to take this honor unto himself. God had to appoint him to the ministry.
His duties were to do the things God required of him, not to make up his own rules and regulations. His role was to “make propitiation for the sins of the people”. This means he had to appease God, Who was angered over the violations of His Law by sinful man. This is an excellent example of how the high priest’s functions had to do with “things pertaining to God”.
Wow! Already our time is up! We will conclude this topic on the morrow. For now we are privileged to learn from our Lord Jesus. May the Holy Spirit imbue His teaching into our heads and hearts.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Levitucus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
We’ve been enthralled the past couple of studies by the courtroom theatrics of D.A. Dudley Adversary and Defense Attorney Yen Actlike. The Honorable Blindside Barabbas got into the act too.
But sorry. We must now switch channels to watch an even better courtroom scenario. This is necessary so that we can learn how all of this applies to our Bible verses. I do apologize though. I didn’t mean to yank the show in midseason and leave you hanging.
Our Bible verses afford us a panoramic view of a courtroom in eternity. Off in the distance we can see Judge Theos sitting on His judge’s bench with gavel in hand. Standing there in front of Him is that disgusting ogre, D.A. Diabolos, bringing countless charges against a good deal of mankind.
Not to worry though. In our corner is Defense Attorney Yeshua HaMashiach, the renowned Israeli world champion. He will have a thing or two to say about El Diabolos’ infernal lies.
How does this relate to our Bible verses? It’s like this. Jesus is God’s great High Priest, given to stand before the eternal throne and defend every person who comes to Him to live. Let’s examine how this is so, as it is presented in Hebrews 2:17-18.
In verse 17 we are taught that Jesus was 100% perfect humanity, just like you and me, sin excepted. That is the significance of the words “made like His brethren in all things”. The eternal Son of God took upon real humanity. He became one of us, while still remaining fully God. He is the God-man. He is not a hybrid of the two natures, nor is He God with an appearance of flesh and blood. He was made like us “in all things”.
The reason He fully became one of us is expressed in the words “so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people”. Jesus’ ministry as the God-man was to be God’s high priest on behalf of sinful man.
To adequately fulfill His ministry, Jesus had to be both a merciful high priest and a faithful high priest. A high priest’s functions had to do with “things pertaining to God”. God chose His priests. No one was ever permitted to take this honor unto himself. God had to appoint him to the ministry.
His duties were to do the things God required of him, not to make up his own rules and regulations. His role was to “make propitiation for the sins of the people”. This means he had to appease God, Who was angered over the violations of His Law by sinful man. This is an excellent example of how the high priest’s functions had to do with “things pertaining to God”.
Wow! Already our time is up! We will conclude this topic on the morrow. For now we are privileged to learn from our Lord Jesus. May the Holy Spirit imbue His teaching into our heads and hearts.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Levitucus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Double-edged Attorney – Part 4
Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted [Hebrews 2:17-18].
In eternity’s courtroom God is the Judge. The devil accuses God’s people and Jesus defends them against the devil’s charges. Hebrews 2 makes note of this under the job title “high priest”.
Because Jesus has the ministry of defending God’s people against the devil’s charges, it is necessary that Jesus be able to relate to us in a real way. God knows all things, yes, but God doesn’t have the mindset, worldview, weaknesses, attitudes, and emotions of sinful men and women.
The question to be answered is, “How can a thrice holy God who is far above mankind, who is sinless and incapable of sin—how can such a One relate to sinful mankind. God and man are so far removed from each other that they cannot connect on any level.”
God resolved this apparent dilemma. God the Father gave God the Son to mankind as man’s Savior. In order to resolve the dilemma just noted, the eternal Son of God became a real flesh and blood human, all the while remaining the eternal Son of God. Verse 18 of Hebrews 2 explains what this accomplished:
For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
Do we sinful humans go hungry? So too did Jesus. Do we hurt? So too did Jesus? Do we become sleepy, suffer poverty, miss our family and friends, face countless temptations…and the list could be extended to cover every facet of being human? Yes, we do. So too did Jesus.
Jesus became one of us so that He could experience for Himself who we are and what we go through. That qualifies Him to represent us to God, don’t you think? We can no longer assert that God doesn’t know what it’s like to… You can fill in any answer you want. We are without excuse now. In Jesus God not only knows all things, but He also experienced all things human, sin excepted. He is qualified to be our representative to God.
God’s high priest had a two-fold ministry. His ministry made Him a “double-edged attorney”, if you would. The priest stood between God and man. On the one hand he represented man to God, on the other he represented God to man.
As man’s representative to God, the priest served as man’s defense attorney. As God’s representative to man, the priest served as the one who taught God’s Law to man.
On the basis of obedience to God’s Law man was allowed to be a part of God’s people. Disobedience to God’s Law made man a lawbreaker, a criminal, at which time the devil entered the story as the D.A. to bring charges against man for breaking God’s Law.
Jesus is one of us in truth. He can relate to us and represent us to God, dear friends. This spiritual truth is taught us so that we will flee to Jesus for salvation and forgiveness. Won’t you go to Him now and ask Him to be your eternal defense attorney? His suffering and death allows Him to win your pardon at the bar of God.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Levitucus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Categories: Church Age
In eternity’s courtroom God is the Judge. The devil accuses God’s people and Jesus defends them against the devil’s charges. Hebrews 2 makes note of this under the job title “high priest”.
Because Jesus has the ministry of defending God’s people against the devil’s charges, it is necessary that Jesus be able to relate to us in a real way. God knows all things, yes, but God doesn’t have the mindset, worldview, weaknesses, attitudes, and emotions of sinful men and women.
The question to be answered is, “How can a thrice holy God who is far above mankind, who is sinless and incapable of sin—how can such a One relate to sinful mankind. God and man are so far removed from each other that they cannot connect on any level.”
God resolved this apparent dilemma. God the Father gave God the Son to mankind as man’s Savior. In order to resolve the dilemma just noted, the eternal Son of God became a real flesh and blood human, all the while remaining the eternal Son of God. Verse 18 of Hebrews 2 explains what this accomplished:
For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
Do we sinful humans go hungry? So too did Jesus. Do we hurt? So too did Jesus? Do we become sleepy, suffer poverty, miss our family and friends, face countless temptations…and the list could be extended to cover every facet of being human? Yes, we do. So too did Jesus.
Jesus became one of us so that He could experience for Himself who we are and what we go through. That qualifies Him to represent us to God, don’t you think? We can no longer assert that God doesn’t know what it’s like to… You can fill in any answer you want. We are without excuse now. In Jesus God not only knows all things, but He also experienced all things human, sin excepted. He is qualified to be our representative to God.
God’s high priest had a two-fold ministry. His ministry made Him a “double-edged attorney”, if you would. The priest stood between God and man. On the one hand he represented man to God, on the other he represented God to man.
As man’s representative to God, the priest served as man’s defense attorney. As God’s representative to man, the priest served as the one who taught God’s Law to man.
On the basis of obedience to God’s Law man was allowed to be a part of God’s people. Disobedience to God’s Law made man a lawbreaker, a criminal, at which time the devil entered the story as the D.A. to bring charges against man for breaking God’s Law.
Jesus is one of us in truth. He can relate to us and represent us to God, dear friends. This spiritual truth is taught us so that we will flee to Jesus for salvation and forgiveness. Won’t you go to Him now and ask Him to be your eternal defense attorney? His suffering and death allows Him to win your pardon at the bar of God.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Levitucus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Categories: Church Age
