Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God 1 John 3:1
Have you ever really sat down and contemplate the love of God for you? This blog is an attempt to demonstrate it. My presentation will not give enough justice, for the love of God is far beyond human comprehension.
However, the glimpse presented in this article would be enough for us to be able to appreciate God’s love, and to express our gratitude and praise to Him.
1. WHY WERE WE CREATED?
Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Isa. 43:7; ….whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10:31
God created us for His glory. For His purpose, and He is looking forward to the end time when the lost glory will be restored in His creature. This is so important, that an angel is portrayed in Revelation in the end of time with this message:
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; Rev. 14:6-7
2. WE WERE CREATED TO EXPEND THE FAMILY OF HEAVEN, AND TO REPLACE THE GA GP THAT WAS MADE IN HEAVEN
Lucifer, a created being, and the number 1 angel, wanted to be like God himself. He disrupted the peace and harmony in heaven. Since he did not repent, he was cast out of heaven, thus creating a gap in the heavenly family. Since then, he seeks revenge on God, but because he cannot do anything to God, he takes it out on God’s children seeing that God’s children are very dear to God.
God created man for His own glory, that after test and trial the human family might become one with the heavenly family. It was God’s purpose to repopulate heaven with the human family if they would show themselves obedient to His every word. Adam was to be tested, to see whether he would be obedient, as the loyal angels, or disobedient. If he stood the test, his instruction to his children would have been only of loyalty. His mind and thoughts would have been as the mind and thoughts of God….
From God’s Amazing Grace – Page 344
Satan knows that those who ask God for pardon and grace will obtain it; therefore, he presents their sins before them to discourage them. Against those who are trying to obey God, he is constantly seeking occasion for complaint. Even their best and most acceptable service he seeks to make appear corrupt. By countless devices, the most subtle and the most cruel, he endeavors to secure their condemnation.
Satan has an accurate knowledge of the sins that he has tempted God’s people to commit, and he urges his accusations against them, declaring, that by their sins they have forfeited divine protection, and claiming that he has the right to destroy them. He pronounces them just as deserving as himself of exclusion from the favor of God. “Are these,” he says, “the people who are to take my place in heaven, and the place of the angels who united with me? They profess to obey the law of God; but have they kept its precepts? Have they not been lovers of self more than lovers of God? Have they not placed their own interests above His service? Have they not loved the things of the world? Look at the sins that have marked their lives. Behold their selfishness, their malice, their hatred of one another. Will God banish me and my angels from His presence, and yet reward those who have been guilty of the same sins? Thou canst not do this, O Lord, in justice. Justice demands that sentence be pronounced against them.“
3. LETS TALK ABOUT THIS STORY
The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore, with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Jer. 33:3
A plan to save human was made from the foundation of the world. We did not have to do anything to earn it. We cannot do anything to earn it. Our acts of obedience, though necessary, cannot earn it.
“ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16-17
This text tells of an eternal that is present and current and is given to us immediately when we accept Jesus. It happens right away, and not held for some future time. What is held for a future time is immortality that will enhance this eternal life.
4. HOW IS GOD GOING TO HELP US UNDERSTAND HIS PLAN OF SALVATION?
For mankind to understand and comprehend this love plan to save lost mankind, God presented to his prophets, some symbols and ceremonies to try to show how the love plan worked. These were just intended to be used as symbols in a human format so that we could understand. They pointed to Jesus. every single one of them. So, when these were fulfilled in Jesus, they were no longer needed. The real thing was available.
- Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. Amos 3:7
- And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. Num. 12:16
- And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritualRock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. I Cor. 10:4
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Heb. 1:2
Jesus TOLD Phillip that by looking on Jesus, he was actually seeing God the father. He presented The Beatitudes, or attitude to be for His people while sojourning on this earth, awaiting the final fulfilment of His kingdom. He constantly spoke about God’s kingdom and His love for mankind.
The best manifestation of God’s love as shown by Jesus, was Jesus dying on the cross for the sin of the world. That was God himself, in Jesus, dying on the cross.
“ And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever” John 14:16. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you”. John 14:26 “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me” John 15:26
5. THE ASCENTION AND RETURN OF JESUS AS GOD
Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory.” (John 12:23). Jesus is going to return to this earth as the victorious God, King of kings, and Lord of the lords. He would have accomplished his work as Jesus the redeemer and returned as God himself.
“And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was”. John 17:5. He says that when he returns, he will not come in the glory of Jesus, but in the glory of God: “For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father”. Mat. 16:27
Jesus stated: “I am. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:62) . What does the term right hand mean? It does not mean that there will be God and there will be Jesus, and Jesus will be sitting at God’s right hand, as you and I would sit at someone’s right hand. The term “Right hand denotes power, full power, original power. The power that He had before the creation of the earth when there was that three in one God.
I do not fully understand this mystery. I will try to explain, though it may not be the most accurate description. Let us look at water. There is only one water. The basic and empirical form is the liquid form. This form is needed when liquid is needed for a specific function. When you want to keep something cold, this water assumes a solid or ice form. Something that the liquid cannot do. And when you want to do a function that requires steam, like a steam engine, the water assumes the vapor form. Something the liquid or solid form cannot do.
God in His great and infinite love, He himself assumed those forms, at the time and instances they were needed to save man. Isn’t that love, can you beat that? A God doing that for you, or me. It was God on the cross saving us. We are told that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. Now that His mission on earth was accomplished, He no longer has to be Jesus, but be God, God himself. He went back to heaven to resume His work as God and will return as God, himself.
6. THE PURGING OS SIN AND PURIRFICATION OF THE EARTH
John in Revelation takes us to this scene: “When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison. He will go out to deceive the nations—called Gog and Magog—in every corner of the earth. He will gather them together for battle—a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore. And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them. Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever (or until the burning is complete, and there is no more to be burned)”. (Rev. 20:7-10)
Now, hear the good news: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” Rev. 21:1-8
I WANT TO CAREFULLY OBSERVE WHAT IS SAID “God Himself” It does not say Jesus. In another place the Bible says we will see him as He is. So, when I get to heaven, I will see God, not Jesus, for Jesus would have been in God. However, the mystery is.
7. THE HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH
What will we do on a purified earth, our restored home? “In those days people will live in the houses they build and eat the fruit of their own vineyards. Unlike the past, invaders will not take their houses and confiscate their vineyards. For my people will live as long as trees, and my chosen ones will have time to enjoy their hard-won gains”. (Isa. 65:11-22) “For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the Lord, “So shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another. And from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the Lord. Isa. 66:22-24 NKJV).
If you have never kept a Seventh-day Saturday Sabbath on earth now, you better start practicing from now, for that is what the redeemed will do and glorify God on the new earth..
You are now invited. Will you accept this invitation?
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. Mat. 11:28
When all my labors and Trials are over,
And I am safe on that beautiful shore,
Just to be bear the Dear Lord I adore.
Will through the ages Be glory for me.
Oh, that will Be glory for me,
Glory for me, glory for me,
When by His grace I shall look on His face,
That Will be glory, be glory for me.
When, by the gift of His Infinite grace,
I am accorded in heaven a place,
Just To Be there, and to look on His face,
Will through the ages Be glory for me.
Friends will be there I have loved long ago.
Joy like a river around me will flow,
Yet, just a Smile from my Savior, I know,
Will through the ages be glory for me.
Oh, that will Be glory for me,
Glory for me, glory for me,
When by His grace I shall look on His face,
That Will be glory, be glory for me