Faithfulness (Fidelity)
Galatians 5:19-21, summarises the worst of human behaviour and condition. These are the facts of the condition of humans, and Scripture calls it the sinful nature of mankind since Adam! Gal. 5:22-25 are the standards of God for humankind, and have never varied since the beginning of God’s dealing with His created human beings, and in all Eternity! These are the facts of the condition of humans, and Scripture calls it the sinful nature of mankind since Eden. It is true that the Galatians, (derived from the Tribes of northern Europe, Gaul’s), were being written to by Paul in approx. AD 58, and that this was prior to Acts 28:28, but the content and message is relevant to all Ages, as they reflect the Standard of Almighty God!
God’s standards are referred to in many parts of Scripture, and in the New Testament, (NT), more can be read in:
Romans 1:24, 13:13, 2:8, 8:7, 16:17, 1:29, Acts 5:17, Luke 21:34, Revelation 9:21, 18:23, 21:8 & 22:15.
Ezek. 28:1:19 describes the origin of these problems, where the Entity called the “King of Tyre” is the type, of the antitype Satan! This is made clear in verse 15, showing that the antitype “was created”!
In verse 14, again reference is made to the supernatural, where Satan was “anointed” the covering cherub, for perhaps a previous Creation (2Peter 3:6), or the Garden of Eden, v.13 (Dr. Bullinger page 1146 CB).
It should be noted here that in verse14, the word translated “art” should be “wast” i.e; were, denoting a fall from the Grace of God; and the reason is given in verses 2, 5, 6, 15, 17 & 18.
In the following two verses, are statements by Almighty God which are from Eternity to Eternity!
John 1:1.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”.
Ephesians 1:10.
“That in the Dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in Heaven, and which are on Earth; even in Him”.
These show that Almighty God in Christ Jesus has a Plan for the undoing of the works of Satan, after his fall from God’s Grace, as described above.
The First Stage, Adam and Eve.
The scene is set in the Garden of Eden as described in the well-known passages of Genesis, describing the creation of Adam and Eve. The narrative then describes their fall from Grace, after the tempting of Eve, by Satan’s perversion of the Word of God (Gen. 3:3-5), given to Adam by God, (Gen. 2:16-17); which was believed and acted on by both of them. So; at the very beginning of this creation, mankind fell into sin by the perversion of the Word of God by Satan, and their overt acceptance of that perversion!
God brought to an end that Age, (period of time), by the Flood described in Genesis 7, allowing only Noah and his family to remain alive of all the peoples since Eden, so as to eventually fulfil His promise in Genesis 3:15!
The Second Stage, Jacob/Israel- The Nation.
In Genesis 12 is described the calling of Abram out from his homeland of Ur of the Chaldees, leaving his family and relatives, to a land “that I will shew thee”, said God Almighty!
Later, when both he and his wife Sarai were old, and well past child bearing age, they had a son (as had been promised by God), named Isaac, and at the same time his name was changed by God to Abraham, which means father of a multitude, or many Nations, Gen. 17:4, and Sarai’s name was changed to Sarah (princess).
The child Isaac had been promised many years earlier, as had also the boundaries of the future Promised Land (Gen. 15:18), which has not yet been fulfilled. The “sign” for all of Abraham’s descendants of the promises made by God to him, especially of the boundaries of their future land is Circumcision on the 8th day after birth of all male children (Gen. 17:10) and is meant as a constant reminder of God’s Promises!
Although Abraham had other wives and children, especially Ishmael, God established His Covenant (Promises), with Isaac, as he was the son of Promise and Miracle!
Isaac had two sons, Esau and Jacob, and Jacob proved to be the continuance of God’s purpose, as he acknowledged God, and his name was changed to Israel, (Gen. 32:24-30).
Jacob/ Israel had 12 sons, who fathered the 12 tribes of Israel, and who served as slaves in Egypt for 400 years.
They were liberated by God, using as their representative to Pharaoh, Moses and his brother Aaron, (Exodus 1-14).
After their liberation from Egypt, God gave them The Law, and the instructions for conduct when they reached the “Promised Land”, which they promised to keep, (Deut. 1-34). In the same instructions were a reiteration of God’s promise of blessings for compliance, and warnings of consequences if they reneged! They did renege, and the consequence was the Babylonian exile for 70 years.
After their return to Jerusalem under Ezra and Nehemiah, they again reneged, and lived by their own interpretation of the Law and the Prophets, which got worse up to the advent of Jesus of Nazareth (Christ Jesus).
John the Baptist, Jesus (The Christ), and the Apostle Paul, tried to draw Israel back to Truth; but to no avail, and by approx. AD 62 the Jewish Nation was disowned temporarily by God, because of their rejection of His Son, their Messiah!
They had been Commissioned by God to be His representatives on Earth, and had instead joined the Enemy Satan, in corrupting God’s Word, as had happened in Eden!
The major element in their failure, was the use of their free will to go against God’s Word, as had Satan, as had Adam and Eve in Eden!
The Third Stage, The Church Age.
At Acts 28:28, the Apostle Paul made a startling statement.
“Be it therefore known unto you, that the Salvation of God is/was sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it”!
This statement is a turning point in the history of the Jewish people, as Paul refers in verses 25-27 to the prophecy of Isaiah (6:9-10), which meant that they were about to be “put to one side” (Lo-Ammi), for a period of time for the denial of Jesus as their Messiah!
Hosea 4 describes their sad state, and v.6 specifically details their rejection of Truth and knowledge of God, which is why they refused Christ Jesus, the Pharisaic leaders having miss-taught and misled the people by corrupting God’s Word and Law!
Hosea 1:9 describes this event figuratively, and vs.10-11 show the readopting (Ammi) at a later date.
Currently nearly 2000 years have elapsed between v.9 and vs.10-11, and is described in Chp. 3:4.
In Chp. 2, vs.19-23, and Chp. 3:5, is described the betrothal and readopting of the reunited 12 Tribes of Israel.
The failure of the Jews to be God’s representatives of Truth to the world, Hosea 4:1, meant that God in the Acts 28:28 pronouncement had appointed the Gentiles to be the next Stewards of His Plan to save humans.
The good news of death of Jesus the Christ on the Calvary Cross, rejected by the Jews, was then to be carried to the world by the Gentile Nations.
That is still the case, and although the simple truth of that event has been corrupted by particularly the Roman Church, and latterly by many Sects and Groupings, the Truth is still straight forward, and embodied in
Acts 4:12! “ Neither is there Salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved”!
This verse refers to Acts 4:10-11, which refers to Christ Jesus!
Unfortunately, this truth is being increasingly neglected, and this defined method of Salvation is not being preached or taught as God intended. Instead, a new teaching has emerged which states “there are many ways to God”. Some Pastors, Vicars etc. are happy to accept wrong Bible teaching, and people who believe many erroneous concepts, even witchcraft, but do not accept the truth of Acts 4:12!
It has been stated that the only ones not accepted are “fundamental Bible believing Christians, because they are too bigoted”!
So, the same thing is happening again; the Words of Scripture are being perverted for the convenience of men (in this case the Ecumenical Movement under the auspices of the Roman Church), which is similar to Stages 1 & 2 above!
As in the examples of 1 & 2, God Almighty will make a change to ensure that His Plan of Redemption is completed, but as also shown above, it will not happen until the right stage has been reached, as shown with the Jews in Acts 28:28.
The reason for the failures.
As shown at the beginning of this paper, the Galatian Christians in Chp. 5:19-21, were struggling with their human natures, and with the tendencies of that nature. In vs. 22-25 is shown the possibility with the help of Christ’s Holy Spirit.
In the stages 1, 2 & 3 above, conflict against God and His Truth, in conjunction with Satan perverting God’s Words, produces only failure and death!
The solution is provided by God in the person of Jesus the Christ, His Only Begotten Son (1John 4:9), see: God's Only Begotten Son.
Most people in the world are in mortal conflict with God, because they cannot accept His way of Salvation! They feel that they must earn the result, or do something to obtain the “reward”, and then “they” feel o.k., and can accept such a reward “by their own efforts”.
Some feel that they can “link to God, without the need to go through a mediator”, (particularly New Age adherents).
However, God says that “all our righteousness are as filthy rags”, Isa. 64:6.
People do not accept, or know, that they are fallen (Eden), and in need of a supernatural solution!
That “supernatural solution”, is Christ Jesus!
He is provided in Love by God the Father, and is Himself the solution!
“God will provide Himself a Lamb” Gen. 22:8.
“Your Lamb shall be without blemish” Ex. 12:5.
“Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world” Jhn. 1:29 & 36.
Those people that can accept Christ Jesus in simple trust and faith, are “sealed in Heavenly places” Eph. 4:30.
1) 2Cor. 1:22, sealed and given the earnest (2Cor. 5: 5) of the Spirit in our hearts!
2) Eph.1-13, sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise!
3) Eph. 4:30-32, God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you!
After that has happened, God gives the Christ Spirit to each of His people (Christians), and “the earnest (2Cor. 5:5 ) & (2Cor. 1:22)”, which is “a foretaste and pledge of God’s future benefit”, which is locked into place in Heaven!
In the meantime; Christians live with their old natures, but instead of warring against God in partnership with Satan, they war against themselves, in partnership with Christ’s Spirit!
The great Apostle Paul relates this conflict in Romans 7:15-17, and bemoans the fact.
However, the “faith” of the Christian is in Christ Jesus, and He is the totally sufficient solution, and has satisfied our totally Holy God’s requirements for Christians to be seen as totally redeemed in His sight!
God the Father in Heaven, places great value in the faith of a person in Him!
This is seen in the Scriptures; there is in all the OT the hint of God’s acceptance of simple faith, back to righteous Abel, and Enoch!
FAITH!
Hebrews 11 gives a list of the men of faith who are well known, including Rahab the harlot.
Abram trusted God, and by faith left his household in Ur, on the word of God alone!
About 1500 years later, Habakkuk, stated, “The just shall live by FAITH”.
So: there is warfare between the flesh and the Spirit, as Paul described in Rom. 7, but, the solution is in the victory of Christ Jesus:
1Cor. 15:57: “but thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”! This is the victory over death in context, but, is code defacto for victory also over Satan !
How so?
Almighty God in Christ achieved the victory at the Calvary Cross, in the taking of the sins of the world on Himself.
He arose, and now sits at the right hand of the Father in Heaven, awaiting His next function. (Seal release, when His enemies are made His footstool).
All who will may turn to Him at present, and obtain everlasting life, as part of His Body, (by faith alone, Rom. 1:17, Gal. 3:11 & Heb. 10:38 ).
Our failures (as Paul described) He will forgive, as He (Jesus) is faithful and just: 1Jhn. 1:9-10, also the final refining, 2Cor. 5-10.
In the Capernaum Synagogue, our Lord stated that His Body and Blood was to be eaten and drunk for life to be obtained! This causing quite a stir! He explained to those that would listen, that His Words were/are His Body and Blood! He states clearly, that the flesh “profited nothing”, but that He/ the Word made flesh, is the true bread!
(His Word/s to be “eaten and drunk").
Lloyd Allen in his book THE CHURCH, WHEN DID IT BEGIN, SAID: “God does not expect perfection of mankind, but only the WILLINGNESS to try to obey within the limits of capability”!
The CAPABILITY is Spirit driven; we cannot witness without the SPIRIT!
We can and must ask for the SPIRIT’S help in each circumstance, the asking is “FAITH”: as Dr. Bullinger said we need to “BREATH” PRAYER, WHICH IN FAITH GIVES US THE NEEDED SPIRIT; Gal. 3-14.
We must be perfect, as He is perfect, without sin or blemish, as we move from the position of “sealed in Heavenly places” to final location in His Body. We have to go through this process, by self-control with the help of the Holy Spirit here on Earth, and by the meeting with Christ at His “Judgement Seat” Rom. 14:10, 2Cor. 5:10 & 1Cor. 3 (15). This to refine us to the point of acceptable entry, and give rewards for work and service.
It is Christ who is FAITHFUL, He who has the FIDELITY, to achieve victory over death, sin, and Satan in the battle in eternity and in time! It is He who is worthy, Rev. 4-11, to receive glory and honour!
He who is worthy to open “the seals” of the book, in the yet to be events of Revelation!
HE IS FAITHFULL! (His is the Fidelity).
WE HAVE FAITH, in Him!
1Cor.15:57 “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”!
Romans 4:25, “who was delivered (to the cross) for our offences, and was raised for our justification”.
In Eph. 3:12, “in whom we have boldness and access with confidence BY THE FAITH (FIDELITY) OF HIM”, which is Christ Jesus, v.11.
Interlinear: "through His faith" (Strongs Grk. 848).
Darby: "by the faith of Him".
Note: The clear message in this verse is that the Work and Faith of Christ Jesus is the Qualifying Justification for our freedom and acceptance by Almighty God. Christ's is the Fidelity to the Father's Will; ours is the simple trust and faith in Him; giving us the Holy Spirit Power in our daily struggle to that time when each of us is completed; in Christ!
The faithfulness of Christ Jesus, is confirmed in Isaiah 11:5, "and faithfulness the girdle of His reins", this when Christ Messiah is acting on Earth in the Millennial Reign!
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