First the Question: Was the Dispensation of the Mystery (Ephesians 3:2-9), the SECRET of God until AFTER Israel rejected Christ in resurrection. Yes or No?
Please take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day
And now the answer to the LLM Question of 11-10-2011
Question: The Apostle Paul never referred to the LORD Jesus either as the Son of Man, or as Jesus of Nazareth, in writing or speaking to Gentiles. True or False?
Answer: TRUE! The Apostle Paul mentioned the second coming or appearing in glory of the Lord Jesus in at least ten of his fourteen Epistles, but NEVER referred to the Lord Jesus either as “the Son of Man” or as “Jesus of Nazareth” in writing to Gentiles or in speaking to them. There is some hidden and significant meaning to Paul’s words in 2 Cor. 5:16, “though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more.” Now, out of the 713 responses we received to this question, 73.5% of you got it right! Therefore,
Today let us consider, THE GOSPEL OF JOHN....THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, Appendix Number 1
WHO IS THIS SON OF MAN, John 12:34
Note John 6:62, John 8:28, and John 3:13, “What and if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up where He was before?” “When ye have lifted up the Son of Man, then, shall ye know that I AM” “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, the Son of Man Who is in heaven.” In Revelation 1:13 we read that the Apostle John, on the Isle of Patmos, saw One like unto the Son of Man standing in the midst of seven assemblies (symbolized). Then in Revelation 4-5 John saw into the open heavens more than the Son of Man and angels or holy ones.
Now, of course, we would like to know all that the Apostle Paul saw when He was caught away to the third heavens, caught away into Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. (2 Cor. 12:1-6). Paul testified in Galatians 1:11-12 and Ephesians 3:1-3 that he received his ‘Grace’ Gospel by direct revelation and his knowledge of the Mystery of Christ concerning the Dispensation of the Grace of God for Gentiles by direct revelation. Paul, by a special direct revelation from the RISEN Christ, visited the other Apostles at Jerusalem. (Galatians 2:1-2).
As we said, Paul mentioned the second coming or appearing in glory of the Lord Jesus in at least ten of his fourteen Epistles, but NEVER referred to the Lord Jesus either as “the Son of Man” or as “Jesus of Nazareth” in writing to Gentiles or in speaking to them. There is some hidden and significant meaning to Paul’s words in 2 Cor. 5:16, “though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more.”
When Stephen said to Israel, “behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56), that is the first time, so far as the New Testament is concerned, that any person other than Christ Himself used the title “The Son of Man.” The one exception is the question of the Jews in John 12:34, “Who is this Son of Man?” This title is found in Matthew 32 times; in Mark, 15 times; in Luke, 26 times; in John, 12 times. The total 85 times. In speaking of Himself as ‘The Son of Man’, the Lord Jesus declared that He had power on earth to forgive sins and that He was Lord of the Sabbath day. (Luke 5:24, and Luke 6:5).
In the verses where the Lord Jesus, in John’s Record, calls Himself “The Son of Man,” the statements concerning the Son of man in these verses differ from all of the 73 statements concerning “The Son of Man” in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. In John 5:22 and John 5:27 we learn that the Father hath committed all judgment unto His Son, “because He is the Son of Man.”
It is not easy to understand the meaning of Christ’s words to Nathanael (the gift of God) in John 1:51, “hereafter ye shall see the heavens open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” But this takes us back to Luz and Jacob, to pillows of stone, a ladder, and God’s promise to and concerning Israel and their God given land and their future earthly glory. If you will read Genesis 28:10-22, you should find it one of the most interesting stories in the Bible. If you prayerfully study this wonderful experience of Jacob and God’s guarantee, you should believe Romans 11:26-29, “all Israel shall be saved; as it is written: There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is My covenant, when I shall take away their sins . . . they are beloved for the fathers’ sake (the fathers are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob): for the gifts of God are without repentance.” Remember that Nathanael means “the gift of God.”
Now the interesting and significant experience of Jacob in Genesis 28:10-22, “He took stones for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold, a ladder set up on the earth; and the top reached to heaven: and behold, the angels of God ascending and descending upon it. And behold, the Lord stood above it.” Then read what follows; for there the Lord God confirmed all that He had promised to Abraham and Israel in His covenant and oath; to establish Israel in Canaan. “I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.” (Genesis 28:15). Jacob awaked and he said, “surely the Lord is in this place. This is none other than the House of God, and the Gate of heaven.” Then Jacob poured oil on the stones which had been his pillow and called the place ‘Bethel’, meaning “the House of God.”
Keep in mind one reason why God will save Israel. “For Abraham’s sake, for Isaac’s sake, for Jacob’s sake; for the fathers’ sake.” (Romans 11:28). But according to Ezekiel 36:21-22 and Ezekiel 36:31-32, the Lord God will save Israel for the Lord God’s sake. It is impossible for God to lie. (Hebrews 6:18). God confirmed His covenant of promise with an oath. (Hebrews 6:17). And God will save Israel, because His gift is without repentance. (Romans 11:29).
As we read Ezekiel 36, that God will save Israel for His own Holy Name’s sake, note in Ezekiel 36:25-29 that God will make a ‘NATHANIEL’ out of all Israelites, who shall know the Lord from the least to the greatest. (Hebrews 8:11-12). Then the Lord will say, “Behold, Israelites in whom there is no guile,” as He said concerning Nathaniel, “behold an Israelite in whom there is no guile.” (John 1:47). The cleansed, guileless Israelites will say, “Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God: Thou art the King of Israel.” (John 1:49). Read about the ‘FIG TREE’ in 1 Kings 4:25, Psalm 105:33, Micah 4:4, and Zechariah 3:10. “They (Israel) shall sit every man under his fig tree: and none shall make him afraid.” (Micah 4:4). In referring to the signs of the second coming of the Son of Man, Christ said, in Luke 21:29, “behold, the fig trees and all the trees.”
Christ said to Nathanael (the gift of God), “I saw thee under the fig tree.” (John 1:50). Before the Lord sees His kingdom nation under their own vine and fig tree, He will see them in the time of Jacob’s trouble; but Jacob shall be saved out of it. (Jeremiah 30:7-9, Jeremiah 30:18). Since the day that Christ came unto His own and His own received Him not (John 1:11), since the day “the children of the kingdom” were cast into darkness (Matthew 8:12), since the day Israel said concerning Christ, “we will not have This Man to reign over us (Luke 19:14),” we have been living in “the times of the Gentiles,” politically and spiritually. Israel will be saved when “the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24), when “the fullness of the Gentiles be COME IN.” (Romans 11:25).
“Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31, while there is still time!
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide. The time is short
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry
Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)
Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook
No comments:
Post a Comment