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In Your Presence

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They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence [ paniym – face, figuratively of the person] of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" He said, "I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked [ erom – without clothing] ; so, I hid myself.” And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”                                    Genesis 3:8-11   The first mention of God being present in a given situation or circumstance is found in the above passage, where Adam was looking to hide from the Lord after he found himself naked. The fact that he knew he was n...
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Work Out Your Salvation

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The Apostle Paul wrote five different letters (Prison Epistles) from a Roman prison during the early 60’s AD: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon and Laodiceans (this letter did not survive). It is interesting to note that Paul spent a short time in a Philippian jail (see Acts 16:19-40) and now writes to the church from prison. This church had supported him on multiple occasions, so he had a special affinity for them. The church saw him as an ambassador of Christ, but he uttered the oracles of God with great authority. They treated him with great praise. Paul wanted them to develop the same measure of convictions that he had, and it began with an understanding of the work of God inside each believer. In Philippians 1:6, For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus . God will complete His work. So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed [ hupakouo – taken heed], not as in my presence only,...
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Session of Christ

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This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God [place of honor and approval], and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear .                 Acts 2:32-33 Peter spoke these words to the gathering in Jerusalem at Pentecost when 3,000 souls received Jesus as Messiah. He was introducing the period in history known as the Session (sitting) of Christ, the ministry of Jesus between His first and second coming as High Priest, Head of the Church, and mediator of the new covenant. Peter was also confirming his position as king, prophesied by David in Psalm 110: The Lord says [ ne um - oracle, divine communication between the Father and the Son] to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, “ Rule [ radah...
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Three that Remain: Faith, Hope, & Love

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  For we know in part [imperfect, obscure] and we prophesy in part [limited]; but when the perfect [finished] comes [the complete dispensation, the eternal state], the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now, we see in a mirror dimly [ ainigma – obscurely, an enigma], but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith [ pistis – trust, firm persuasion], hope [ elpis – desire of some good with an expectation of obtaining it], love [ agape – God’s unconditional, self-sacrificing benevolence to man], abide [ meno – remain] these three; but the greatest of these is love .                              1 Corinthians 13:9-13   ...
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