God Speaking
Isaiah 46: 8-13:
“Remember this, keep it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. 9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ 11 From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do. 12 Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are now far from my righteousness. 13 I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel.” (NIV)
First here the Lord God of Israel boasts he alone speaks “THE END FROM THE BEGINNIG.” Further he reinforces that he makes these things known “END FROM THE BEGINNING FROM ANCIENT TIMES WHAT IS STILL TO COME.” Isaiah writing 2700 years ago said: “I SAY, ‘MY PURPOSE WILL STAND, AND I WILL DO ALL THAT I PLEASE.’ Further, “WHAT I HAVE SAID, THAT I WILL BRING ABOUT; WHAT I HAVE PLANNED, THAT I WILL DO.” Then he begins speaking of “stubborn hearted rebels” who are “far from his righteousness.”
The New Covenant
Isaiah wrote his prophecies down as received from the Spirit of God to the northern ten tribes of Israel who fought a civil war against Judah, Benjamin and the Levites (priest class) of Jacob, called Israel. Ephraim as the northern ten tribes are collectively referred too. Jacob had twelve Sons as you can learn from Genesis.
Jeremiah prophesying to Judah, in Jerusalem lays out prophecy about Jesus (new covenant) and these two houses Judah and Israel (also called Ephraim) at Jeremiah 31: 31-34:
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. 3 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God,
and they will be my people. 34 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (NIV)
Notice here the words of God as spoken to us from Isaiah explains very clearly a new covenant was coming. He starts saying he will make this new covenant with the House of Judah and the House of Israel.
After That Time
Then he clarifies that “after that time” he will make his covenant with “the people of Israel” And the covenant stated:
“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God,
and they will be my people. 34 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (NIV)
Jesus’ Time And Fulfillment
Clearly “After That Time” above speaks to the time of Jesus. Here is how Jesus partially explains it in John with the caveat he has more to say to them than they can now bear. John 16: 7-11:
“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.” (NIV)
Jesus explained he was going away and would send the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God whom Jesus calls the Advocate could not be sent until the sacrifice for sin, just like the type in the Old Covenant law was offered for sin. Then the price paid, “God could as Isaiah revealed, “forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more.”
Paul Clarifies Jesus By The Spirit
Further as Paul (ordained personally by Jesus See: Acts 9: 15) says to us in Romans 10: 3, 4:
“Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.” (NIV)
The world is full of preachers who approach the new covenant from an old covenant perspective as though they “obey” thinking this is how God relates to us through Jesus. But read what it says. Paul (writing anonymously, because to Jews he was a villain) in Hebrews 7: 11-22 makes this very plain to Jews who’d become believers in Jesus. In chapter eight of Hebrews Paul restates Jeremiah’s words from 31: 31-34.
Jesus, returning to John 16: 9, says the Spirit will “prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness (use the Romans 10: 4 definition as you read also Jesus’ definition here) and judgment.
Just a little thought here provided by the Holy Spirit. The sin of not believing in Jesus is the only thing God the Father will consider. OMG they scream ya have tuh repint and leave yer life uh sin. (Sarcasm it’s one of my gifts).
Not what the Bible says or means. The indwelling of the Spirit is the only means God now provides for righteousness. Paul through the Spirit makes this plain at Galatians 5: 4, 5:
“You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. … The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (NIV)
HOLINESS!
Jesus in John 16: 10 (above) also speaks to the Spirit comes to “prove the world is wrong about righteousness.” And also “judgment.”
Jesus’ explanation: “… about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer.” This is why Paul, Jesus’ instrument to reveal his name to Gentiles, their Rulers and Israel says we await the righteousness we hope for: Galatians 5: 5:
“For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.”
Jesus on judgment there says: John 16: 11:
“… and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”
The Apostles Learn The Gospel
Jesus came and gave his life and rise from the dead to condemn no one except the devil. Men stand condemned from conception and birth by the authority over the earth and its people have passed to Satan called the Prince of the air.
God took responsibility through the person of his Son and offers to any man or woman (John 3) afree gift of his grace through faith in Jesus and his work done for you on the cross.
In John, once again unique among the four narratives of Jesus written by one who attended the meeting in Jerusalem with Paul, Peter and James with Paul (as personally ordained by Jesus Acts 9: 15) teaching the Gospel (Acts 15) to the others there.
James writing the letter there to Antioch: Acts 15:
“When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. 14 Simon[a] has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
16 “‘After this I will return
and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
and I will restore it,
17 that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
even all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things’—
18 things known from long ago.
19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21 For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.” (NIV)
The letter penned by James refuting his own grossly misinterpreted words in James. Acts 15:
“Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. 23 With them they sent the following letter:
The apostles and elders, your brothers,
To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:
Greetings.
24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25 So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
Farewell.
30 So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. 31 The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. 32 Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. 33 After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them. [34] [d] 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.” (NIV)
Your Own Sin, Not Jesus Condemns You
John 5: 24: (Jesus speaking):
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.“ (NIV)
John 8: 15:
“You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one.” (NIV)
John 6: 28, 29::
“Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (NIV)
So you may ask, how do you know Jesus was sent? GO HERE to view the evidence God has mercifully given so you may know Jesus came from the Father. (another post on my site)
Not By Our Own Effort
Many leaders and Christians are stuck on ideas we successfully do the things God wants to earn salvation. I Timothy 1: 5-7 (Paul speaking):
“The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.” (NIV)
Since they don’t know what they are talking about, or what they so confidently affirm, feel free to ignore them. I assure you, after 42 years reading it closely, this is not the teaching of the Bible.
Two More Points
Jesus explained to the apostles how the kingdom of God (quite different from the kingdom of heaven) operates for the believer. John 16: 12-14:
“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” (NIV)
Jesus on sanctification: (Set aside for a holy purpose) John 17: 17:
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” Jn. 18: 1:20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. (NIV)
It is all there on the page from the Holy Spirit to you. Please RSVP. Revelation 19: 9, 10:
“Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.” (NIV)
Thank you for reading my posts and visiting my site. Lord Bless you with the reality of his salvation we ask in Jesus name. Chris.
