Semi-Arian Sabbatarian

To us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge (1Cor. 8:6,7). Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.... He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His SPIRIT that dwelleth in you (Rom. 8:9,11). The Holy Spirit is Himself [Christ disencumbered from humanity]. 14MR 23.3 Jesus was Mediator.

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Leaving our parents and joining our Parents

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Gen. 2:24).

“What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” (1Cor. 6:16,17).

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” (Rom. 8:16).

“The family institution is a divine ordinance. Parents stand in the place of God to their children. How grievous in the sight of heaven is the neglect of parents to train their children for the future immortal life. Christians should look upon children as the younger members of the Lord’s family, intrusted to the parents and to the church to be trained up as children of God, to be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The Christian family is to be a school of Christ, where parents are to be the visible teachers, but Christ himself the great invisible teacher. The lessons which Christ imparts to the parents they are to repeat to their children line upon line and precept upon precept. Patiently, tenderly, and lovingly their steps are to be guided in the narrow path of holiness. Parents are not to compel their children to have a form of religion, but they are to place eternal principles before them in an attractive light.” Signs of the Times, May 14, 1894 par. 1.

As children we grew up under the guidance of the ones who gave us life. Our parents were everything to us. They were all that we knew as consummate leaders. We needed their love and training. We were completely open to them and to their lessons. We learned from our parents rapidly because our hearts were knit with theirs. We had no fear to doubt their loving protection and providing. Home was our world and our parents were our Godhead.

Our young minds couldn’t comprehend a world bigger than our home. We couldn’t comprehend a humanity much larger than our family. Our young intellects couldn’t comprehend a Godhead bigger than our parents. Naturally we accepted our parents as God, their voice as the voice of God.

But wisely, they began to explain to us a bigger world, a bigger family, and a bigger God. They needed to stay ahead of our developing minds and hearts and consciences. If they had not trained us in the truth as we developed, the world would train us. We would get our training from somewhere and someone. We are always sponges for more knowledge.

So, as we developed under the tutelage of our self-sacrificing parents we were slowly being handed over to God. While our comprehension was young the home protected us from the ravenous, roaring lion-like devils who want to devour every child born to planet Earth, especially those being raised in the truth. While we were developing intellectually, spiritually, and physically we were vulnerable, but protected in those areas. While the devils were raging that we were over-protected and “mommy’s boys” and “daddy’s girls”, we passed on remaining oblivious and innocent of the grotesque traps those devils had created for us.

As we moved into adolescence our dependence on our earthly parents began to be challenged. Our natural-born identity and personality, which we were designed to have for our self-guidance as adults, came to the fore. We were becoming adults. We were transforming into the people that were coded into our genetics at birth. Our adulthood was the real purpose for our birth—to be rational, good, loving, energetic beings that would glorify our Creators in the heavens and bring honor to our parents who invested their lives in us.

As our intellect developed, so did our concept of God. Jesus became increasingly real to us because our godly parents and our pastors trained us to study for ourselves, to meditate on the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy, and to think for ourselves. An early foundation of faith was laid for our later conversion, a true conversion where we could understand the concept of sin, and have a conscience that recognized our personal sins. A need for a Saviour grew stronger and stronger until we cried out to Him and crumbled at His feet. Then the Son of God, who has charge over our redemption, justified us by our faith. He who died in hard labor to give us this second birth must raise us up in spiritual adulthood, sanctified and pleasing to His Father in heaven that He can trust us to assist Him in faithfully handling the affairs of His eternal kingdom.

Now we are walking in full man-hood or woman-hood. Our dependence on our earthly parents is cut off because our consciences are fully developed. Our moral compass is guided by our Creator, our spirit linked with the heavenly Spirit, Christ’s Spirit and God’s SPIRIT.

We are men and women by God’s estimation. We walk by faith. Faith links us to the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Our internal guidance system is not imagination. It’s not intellectualism. It’s not passion or emotion or epiphany. It’s faith. It’s surrender to the only true God. It’s trusting in the Father who alone is 100% faithful and true. And perfect trust brings liberty such as the world cannot comprehend. They that are in the flesh cannot please God because trust means everything to God. Trust is the whole loyalty and fealty that He requires for the restoration of His eternal government that Satan compromised.

“So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Rom. 8:8). Only those in the Spirit can please God, and “Without faith it is impossible to please him.” (Heb. 11:6). Therefore, faith is the “eternal Spirit” (Heb. 9:14). The eternal Spirit is the permanent faith that comes with genuine conversion. Born again, we are all the necessary spiritual genetics encoded into our consciences that will either result in a sanctified representative of heaven, or it will result in death.

Being born again, Jesus is now our teacher. We will still have under teachers, such as our parents or pastors or educators. But, with Jesus as our Master teacher, He will show us which teachers to choose. Faith in Jesus is the operating program that we follow. We have followed after Him, fought to have Him, felt Him in the dark, and found Him. Now we will always fear that we might lose Him and say with Mary, “They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him.” (John 20:13).

Being led by the Spirit of the Lord Jesus we have life and peace.

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Rom. 14:17).

The mind of faith is a happy, free mind. The Christian has a liberty that the world doesn’t have. The Christian can think for himself like the world can’t. The Christian can be honest with facts like the world can’t. The truly profound things of life are comprehensible to his peace-filled, quickened, free mind. The worldling is blind to reality because Satan won’t let him be honest with hard facts. But with those who have found the Saviour reality is perfectly acceptable and wonderful.

“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2Cor. 3:17,18).

“Every soul that refuses to give himself to God is under the control of another power. He is not his own. He may talk of freedom, but he is in the most abject slavery. He is not allowed to see the beauty of truth, for his mind is under the control of Satan. While he flatters himself that he is following the dictates of his own judgment, he obeys the will of the prince of darkness. Christ came to break the shackles of sin-slavery from the soul. ‘If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.’ ‘The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus’ sets us ‘free from the law of sin and death.’ Romans 8:2.

In the work of redemption there is no compulsion. No external force is employed. Under the influence of the Spirit of God, man is left free to choose whom he will serve. In the change that takes place when the soul surrenders to Christ, there is the highest sense of freedom. The expulsion of sin is the act of the soul itself. True, we have no power to free ourselves from Satan’s control; but when we desire to be set free from sin, and in our great need cry out for a power out of and above ourselves, the powers of the soul are imbued with the divine energy of the Holy Spirit, and they obey the dictates of the will in fulfilling the will of God.

The only condition upon which the freedom of man is possible is that of becoming one with Christ. ‘The truth shall make you free;’ and Christ is the truth. Sin can triumph only by enfeebling the mind, and destroying the liberty of the soul. Subjection to God is restoration to one’s self,--to the true glory and dignity of man. The divine law, to which we are brought into subjection, is ‘the law of liberty.’ James 2:12.” Desire of Ages, p. 466.

“He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” (1Cor. 6:17).

By our parents letting go of us so that we could grow up into Christ we know the fullness of life, all the happiness and pleasures that He originally intended for Adam. Today we can be with Him in paradise.

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

The prophet Moses spoke of—Jesus, the Giver of prophecy and of every good thing

“For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that Prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:22,23).

“The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken…. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put My words in His mouth; and He shall speak unto them all that I shall command Him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto My words which He shall speak in My name, I will require it of him.” (Deut. 18:15,18,19).

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

And He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you.

And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that Prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

Unto you first God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” (Acts 3:19-26, cf Isa. 11:1-10).

In a past post we looked at Acts 3:26. This verse is the finale statement to the people that great day in Jerusalem. A miracle healing had grabbed the consciences of the people and their ears were circumcised to hear truth. How did the miracle happen? Was it Peter and John having divine power, or sufficient holiness, to heal? No. It was Jesus who had that power and holiness. “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole.” (Acts 4:10). “God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you.” (Acts 3:26). This was not referring to Christ’s blessing them during His 3 ½ year earthly ministry, but to His blessing as a result of the event that took place that day with Peter and John. About 5,000 people who saw the miracle and repented received blessing from their Father in heaven. “God, having raised up His Son Jesus” who “was preached unto you” “by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began”, “sent Him to bless you”. “Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.”

“These days” Jesus blessed the Jewish people who witnessed the healing of the man lame from birth, and He led them to repentance, per Isaiah 11:4-6 and Romans 4:2. That day God sent Jesus in Spirit to heal the lame man laid at the temple gate for the healing of the people’s souls. Their repentance created another revival like at the beginning under Joshua. “And an Angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break My covenant with you. And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed My voice: why have ye done this?... And it came to pass, when the Angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.” (Jdg. 2:1,2,4).

That Jesus would be sent for a refreshing had been proclaimed to the Jews in advance of the Gentile world. First to the nation of Israel new hearts would receive conversion. They would have reprieve from the curse of God before the remainder of Isaiah’s chapter 11 prophecy would be completed for the world. Then when the Gentiles would join the Jews, it would be said, “His rest shall be glorious.” (Isa. 11:10, cf 49:7-13,17-26;59:17-21; 60:1-22). The reuniting of a redeemed race would be wonderful beyond description.

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and His rest shall be glorious.

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

And He shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.

But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.

And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with His mighty wind shall He shake His hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.

And there shall be an highway for the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.” (Isa. 11:6-16).

So, from scripture Peter explains to the people that this wonderful occurrence was the fulfillment of prophecy from Moses. Christ would bring to Israel a replacement, another Moses, and exalt Him from among His Israelite brethren. Moses had said that some of the people would heed Him and find Him to present the same truths that Moses gave. But whoever wouldn’t heed this Prophet to come would be cut off from God.

“The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:35,36).

Yet, there would remain forbearance for anyone who would turn and repent.

“And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.” (Rom. 11:23).

When Messiah came, Moses’ prophecy was fulfilled in every detail. Jesus, the Son of the Highest, who was God in the flesh and the fullness of the Godhead manifested, grew up among His people of Israel. Most of His own people knew Him not, but to as many as received Him He gave power to become sons of God. And His rejectors were blinded.

But, according to Peter, Jesus did not end His work of blessing the people after He ascended to heaven. He must serve as High Priest in our behalf before His Father. He must remain at His Father’s side physically, just as His 500 disciples saw Him bodily go into heaven. He must not yet return bodily in vengeance against all of His Father’s enemies for the reconstitution of His Father’s sinless kingdom in heaven and earth. But, until that full reconstitution, there would be, as there had been in the past, “times of refreshing” when the Father would send His Son.

Until the Day of Judgment, the promise would remain, “Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near.” (Isa. 55:6).

There would be times when their jealous God would be near enough to make contact with them, but only because they had removed all the idols that divided their hearts from full repentance and obedience.

“That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us.” (Acts 17:27).

“So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.” (Deut. 32:12).

Being humbled after seventy years of captivity would be one of those “times” when there could be restoration of the heaven-earth relation.

“For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform My good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you.

And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.

And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.” (Jer. 29:10-14).

The refreshing would come through deep repentance and conversion of the heart, sins blotted out and God’s reconciling blessing poured out.

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them…. I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.” (Eze. 36:26,27,29).

Jesus would cause them to “prosper and be in health, even as [their] soul prospereth.” (3Jn. 1:2). To His contrite and humbled children He promised, “[I will]…open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Mal. 3:10-12).

Jerusalem didn’t become that glorious utopia, but Antioch did. “Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.” (Acts 11:25-27).

Archeology shows that Antioch became a prosperous center of commerce and a city of comparably large dwellings, with a spiritual, scripture-based influence that stretched around the world. History declares of Antioch:

“It was at Antioch, capital of Syria, that the believers were first called Christians. And as time rolled on, the Syrian-speaking Christians could be numbered by the thousands. It is generally admitted, that the Bible was translated from the original languages into Syrian about 150 A.D. This version is known as the Peshitto… “The Peshitto in our days is found in use amongst the Nestorians, who have always kept it, by the Monophysites on the plains of Syria, the Christians of St. Thomas in Malabar, and by the Maronites, on the mountain terraces of Lebanon.” .… And the Greek New Testament, the Received Text they brought with them, or its translation, was of the type from which the Protestant Bibles, as the King James in English, and the Lutheran in German, were translated.… Onward then pushed those heroic bands of evangelists to England, to southern France, and northern Italy. The Mediterranean was like the trunk of a tree with branches running out to these parts, the roots of the tree being in Judea or Asia Minor, from whence the sap flowed westward to fertilize the distant lands.” B. G. Wilkinson, Our Authorized Bible Vindicated, p. 12-15.

Jesus was at the helm of this great spreading of the gospel truths, as Joshua had reclaimed the land of the Canaanites promised to Israel. “And I saw, and behold a white horse: and He that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto Him: and He went forth conquering, and to conquer.” (Rev. 6:2).

To a church newly delivered from the paganism of Rome, Jesus said, “As captain of the host of the LORD am I now come.” (Josh. 5:14).

“And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou?” (Dan. 4:35).

Jesus was that prophet Moses spoke of and His work as commander of the hosts of heaven would bring blessing and cursing.

“Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against.” (Luke 2:34).

Jesus, whom His Father had raised up, even from the dead, brought Him up to Himself as He ascended to God to sit at His right hand. “While they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” (Acts 1:9). The “[Man-]Child was caught up unto God, and to His throne.” (Rev. 12:5).

This same Jesus would be sent to bless us. As that day at the temple their hearts were convicted of sin, the Man-Child comes to all as the Spirit of truth. “God…sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” (Acts 3:26). “Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21). It is by turning us away from iniquity that Jesus blesses all who will be humbled by the conviction of sin. To them truth becomes more precious than all besides.

Jesus comes as a Prophet. “I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.” (John 14:29). Thus, “the Lord is that Spirit.” (2Cor. 3:17). The Spirit of Prophecy is His voice, His testimony. “The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy.” (Rev. 19:10). “Thou shalt stand before Me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as My mouth.” (Jer. 15:19).

“Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” (1Pet. 1:10,11).

“And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14:16-18).

Jesus would come to the prophet as He came to faithful and “greatly beloved” Daniel.

“He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him. Judas saith unto Him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that Thou wilt manifest Thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.” (John 14:21-23).

To all who hold truth dear, the Father would give the Spirit of truth, the Comforter. It would be the presence of Jesus to His forlorn disciples. He would come to them via this divine transmission from God. The Father would “receive of Mine, and…shew it unto” His apostles. Gabriel would have a part in this transmission, as he had to the greatly beloved prophet of the past (see Dan. 10:4-21, cf Dan. 8:16; 9:21).

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.

And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Of sin, because they believe not on Me;

Of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and ye see me no more;

Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.

He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you.

All things that the Father hath are Mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall shew it unto you.” (John 16:7-15).

The Spirit of truth who “will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13), is the Lord’s breath and His anointing. “He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” (John 20:22). Jesus enacted Pentecost in miniature. “The anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him. And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” (1Jn. 2:27,28).

The Prophet of prophets is the Spirit of prophecy, the Giver of every gift and every truth. “The same anointing…is truth” “I am…the truth” (1Jn. 2:27; John 14:6). The anointing that teaches us all things is Jesus as He promised to draw near to us, to be with us, and even to be in us unto the end of the world. No man spake like this Man because no other man was the Truth. The Spirit of Christ which was in the prophets was the voice of Christ to their soul. He anointed them with His presence, where is fullness of joy. His Father anoints Him with His own Spirit; and Jesus takes of His own Spirit and anoints His fellowservants, His brethren who “have the testimony of Jesus”, which “is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10, cf Rev. 1:1).

“Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of My lips shall be right things. For My mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to My lips.” (Prov. 8:6,7).

“Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.” (Ps. 45:7).

“Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.…

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Ps. 16:9,11).

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Prōtotokos Monogenēs

In the previous post I wrote,

“‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.

In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through Him might believe.

He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

And, then I quoted a large section from Proverbs chapter 8. I won’t quote Proverbs 8 again, but I will quote a portion of it from my comment that followed the larger scripture I quoted from Proverbs 8.

“Both ‘beginnings’ [in Proverbs 8 and John 1] were not eternity past, but what seemed like eternity past; that is, creation week. Creation was ‘the beginning’ to the Israelites and the Bible writers. Thus, we can know from Proverbs 8:22,23,30 that the Word of God and the Wisdom of God was the only begotten of God the first-begotten Son of God, the Prōtotokos. ‘The LORD possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old.

I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:...

Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him;

Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth; and My delights were with the sons of men.’”

In Patriarchs and Prophets Ellen White quoted John 1 and Proverbs 8 when describing the growing up of Michael, the only begotten of God.

“The Sovereign of the universe was not alone in His work of beneficence. He had an associate—a co-worker who could appreciate His purposes, and could share His joy in giving happiness to created beings. ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.’ John 1:1, 2. Christ, the Word, the only begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father—one in nature, in character, in purpose—the only being that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God. ‘His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.’ Isaiah 9:6. His ‘goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.’ Micah 5:2. And the Son of God declares concerning Himself: ‘The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting.... When He appointed the foundations of the earth: then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.’ Proverbs 8:22-30.” Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 34.

From the other verses in Proverbs 8 we see that not only was Michael brought up with God the Father, but He was brought forth from God the Father. How the bringing forth happened may forever remain a mystery. But what is revealed is for us and our children forever. And what has been revealed is that the begetting of Michael did happen. And the begetting from the Father happened only once; it never happened again. One begetting. One bringing forth of the only-Begotten, “the beginning of the creation of God” (Rev. 3:14).

“When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth^H2342…”

H2342 chûl a primitive root; properly to twist or whirl…, to writhe. in pain (especially of parturition) or fear…: - bear, (make to) bring forth, (make to) calve…be in pain,… travail (with pain), tremble, trust, wait carefully (patiently)…

H525 ‘âmôn From H539, probably in the sense of training; skilled, that is, an architect (like H542): - one brought up.

Among other related interpretations of chûl the meaning comes through that the bringing forth of the Holy One, the Son of the Highest was a real event. Added to Mrs. White’s use of Proverbs 8 are her non-trinitarian statements in the same paragraph from Patriarchs and Prophets, page 34. Even though she didn’t quote from the “bringing forth” verses, she repeatedly used Christ’s title as, Only-begotten Son, and described another non-trinitarian thought—that a third person of a trinity was not involved in creation. “The Sovereign of the universe … had an associate”, “a co-worker”, “Christ, the Word, the only begotten of God”, “one in nature, in character, in purpose—the only being that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God”, “…the Son of God declares concerning Himself: ‘The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting.... When He appointed the foundations of the earth: then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.’” Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 34.

“The King of the universe summoned the heavenly hosts before Him, that in their presence He might set forth the true position of His Son and show the relation He sustained to all created beings. The Son of God shared the Father’s throne, and the glory of the eternal, self-existent One encircled both. About the throne gathered the holy angels, a vast, unnumbered throng—‘ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands’ (Revelation 5:11.), the most exalted angels, as ministers and subjects, rejoicing in the light that fell upon them from the presence of the Deity. Before the assembled inhabitants of heaven the King declared that none but Christ, the Only Begotten of God, could fully enter into His purposes, and to Him it was committed to execute the mighty counsels of His will. The Son of God had wrought the Father’s will in the creation of all the hosts of heaven; and to Him, as well as to God, their homage and allegiance were due. Christ was still to exercise divine power, in the creation of the earth and its inhabitants....” Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 36.

The only-begotten Son was the only being who could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God, “…the Son of God declares concerning Himself: ‘The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting.... When He appointed the foundations of the earth: then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him..’” Then what does that make the Holy Spirit if Christ could be the only other being in the work of creation? Doesn’t it make the Spirit a non-being? Doesn’t the above texts exclude the Holy Spirit as a co-worker in creation? Doesn’t it exclude a third person of a trinity as an associate among Them who said, “Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness”, and then They made Adam and Eve without a third person?

“This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him; male and female created He them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.” (Gen. 5:1,2).

All by itself, her use of those two words, “Only-Begotten”, makes Ellen White a non-trinitarian, because the Trinity doctrine states that Father, Son, and Spirit are co-eternal, and that they were three co-equal Gods who decided at some point in eternity past to each role-play three parts for the benefit of intelligent creation. The Trinity was pagan pantheism dressed in Christian theology. Paganism is at the core of the very subtle Godhead heresy. The Bible and Ellen White both call the Son “firstbegotten” “only begotten”, G3439 G4416, “prōtotokos” “monogenēs”, the only first begotten Son of God.

Our Prōtotokos Monogenēs is and—from the beginning—was the only Co-worker with His Father in the work of creation, “Christ, the Word, the only begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father—one in nature, in character, in purpose—the only being that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God.”

Friday, February 23, 2018

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God through Christ

This post may seem thrown together and without much direction. I planned to do more with it before publishing it, but I ran out of time and wanted this post to go out. This is a compilation of Spirit of Prophecy quotes and scripture that show the true meaning of the Holy Spirit. I will make my comments in the next post. My comments may be self-evident.

“The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, which is sent to all men to give them sufficiency, that through His grace we might be complete in Him. The Lord has provided that we should always be under the teaching and influence of the Holy Spirit. We shall then discover that the law of God is holy, just, and good, and we would learn to delight in the law of God. We love the requirements of the law, and from our hearts render obedience to its requirements.” {14MR 84.3}

Does grace come through a third person? Are we complete in a third person? No, grace and completeness comes from Jesus. He dwells in us. “Christ in you” is “the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).

“Every loyal child of God will seek to know the truth. John stated the truth so plainly that a child may understand it, ‘If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him.’ Do we choose to be numbered with those who cannot discern the truth, who are so blinded by the deceptive power of the enemy that they see not Him who is the express image of the Father’s person?” {TM 137.2}

“Again He says, ‘If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth [not deception]; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not [Jesus, the author of truth], neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.’” {7MR 72.2}

Jesus, the Author of truth, said that it’s the Father and Jesus Himself that “the world seeth not”.

“Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more; but ye see Me: because I live, ye shall live also.

At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in me, and I in you.” (John 14:17-20).

Being present when Jesus is explaining the mystery of godliness, Judas asks a very telling question, “Lord, how is it that Thou wilt manifest Thyself unto us, and not unto the world?” John added this to the discourse to clarify the message of Jesus to all after generations who weren’t there to hear Christ’s intonation and see His facial language.

“He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.

Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that Thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.” (John 14:21-23).

In the clearest language possible, Jesus revealed that the Spirit without measure was the presence of Himself and of His Father. Judas’ question is key to seeing the mystery of the Spirit. The Spirit is not really a complete mystery; it’s actually simply the presence of God through His Son. Thus both Father and Son can dwell in us. We can be a habitation of God through Their Spirit. “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col. 1:27). “In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Eph. 2:22).

“The Lord will teach us our duty just as willingly as He will teach somebody else. If we come to Him in faith, He will speak His mysteries to us personally. Our hearts will often burn within us as One draws nigh to commune with us as He did with Enoch. Those who decide to do nothing in any line that will displease God, will know, after presenting their case before Him, just what course to pursue. And they will receive not only wisdom, but strength. Power for obedience, for service, will be imparted to them, as Christ has promised. Whatever was given to Christ--the ‘all things’ to supply the need of fallen men--was given to Him as the head and representative of humanity. And ‘whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.’ 1 John 3:22.” {DA 668.4}

“The spirit of Jesus slept in the tomb with His body, and did not wing its way to heaven, there to maintain a separate existence, and to look down upon the mourning disciples embalming the body from which it had taken flight. All that comprised the life and intelligence of Jesus remained with His body in the sepulcher; and when He came forth it was as a whole being; He did not have to summon His spirit from heaven. He had power to lay down His life and to take it up again (3SP 203, 204).” {5BC 1150.6}

“Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally; therefore it was altogether for their advantage that He should leave them, go to His father, and send the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth. The Holy Spirit is Himself divested of the personality of humanity and independent thereof. He would represent Himself as present in all places by His Holy Spirit, as the Omnipresent. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall (although unseen by you), [THIS PHRASE WAS ADDED BY ELLEN WHITE.] teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” [John 14:26]. “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will come not unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you” [John 16:7]. {14MR 23.3}

The Saviour had not come to set aside what patriarchs and prophets had spoken; for He Himself had spoken through these representative men. All the truths of God’s word came from Him. {DA 287.4}

“In all these revelations of the divine presence the glory of God was manifested through Christ. Not alone at the Saviour’s advent, but through all the ages after the Fall and the promise of redemption, 'God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.' 2 Corinthians 5:19. Christ was the foundation and center of the sacrificial system in both the patriarchal and the Jewish age. Since the sin of our first parents there has been no direct communication between God and man. The Father has given the world into the hands of Christ, that through His mediatorial work He may redeem man and vindicate the authority and holiness of the law of God. All the communion between heaven and the fallen race has been through Christ. It was the Son of God that gave to our first parents the promise of redemption. It was He who revealed Himself to the patriarchs. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses understood the gospel. They looked for salvation through man’s Substitute and Surety. These holy men of old held communion with the Saviour who was to come to our world in human flesh; and some of them talked with Christ and heavenly angels face to face. {PP 366.1}

“Christ was not only the leader of the Hebrews in the wilderness--the Angel in whom was the name of Jehovah, and who, veiled in the cloudy pillar, went before the host--but it was He who gave the law to Israel. [SEE APPENDIX, NOTE 7.] Amid the awful glory of Sinai, Christ declared in the hearing of all the people the ten precepts of His Father’s law. It was He who gave to Moses the law engraved upon the tables of stone. {PP 366.2}

“It was Christ that spoke to His people through the prophets. The apostle Peter, writing to the Christian church, says that the prophets “prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow.” 1 Peter 1:10, 11. It is the voice of Christ that speaks to us through the Old Testament. “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10. {PP 366.3}

“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.” (1Cor. 8:6).

In the following two verses Paul defines what he means by the Spirit. It is the Father’s Spirit that comes to us through Christ. Thus it is the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of God--it is God through Christ; it is Christ in God. “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” (Rom. 8:9). And like Ellen White in the above quote from 14MR, page 84, Paul puts both in us, using both the Spirit and Christ interchangeably. “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” (Rom. 8:10).

Paul also uses the Spirit in conjunction with the Father. “But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Rom. 8:11). We know that the Father raised up Christ, and not a third person. “…and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.” (Acts 3:15), “But God raised Him from the dead” (Acts 13:30), “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead;)” (Gal. 1:1),” Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead.” (Col. 2:1), “Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” (1Pet. 1:21).

“Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” (Rom. 1:3,4). This Spirit of holiness is the Holy Spirit, “that holy Spirit of promise.” (Eph. 1:13). The Holy Spirit is not the name of the Spirit; holy is its quality, the Father’s attribute.

“For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His name.” (Luke 1:49).

“He sent redemption unto His people: He hath commanded His covenant for ever: holy and reverend is His name.” (Ps. 111:9). “For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall He be called.” (Isa. 54:5).

The holy Spirit of God is also the power of God. “And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done to Me great things; and holy is His name.” (Luke 1:47-49). “God was … justified in the Spirit.” (1Ti 3:16). “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb. 9:14).

The Spirit without measure. “For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him.” (John 3:34).

“And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” (Gal. 4:6).

“Unto you first God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” (Acts 3:26). “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole.” (Acts 4:10). Jesus came in His invisible Spirit form to heal the lame man through the word from Peter and John.

“At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you.” (John 14:20).

“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2Pet. 1:21).

“Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” (1Pet. 1:11).

“And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” (Rev. 5:6).

“For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:19).

“That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ.” (Col. 2:2). There is no third person in the Godhead.

“At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you.” (John 14:20).

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.” (Rev. 1:10). When in the Spirit Jesus came to John by His own Spirit.

“But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” (1Cor. 2:10,11).

“Even He shall build the temple of the LORD; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a Priest upon His throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” (Zech. 6:13).

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Rom. 8:26).

“Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Heb. 7:25).

“For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1Cor. 2:16).

“Come ye near unto Me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and His Spirit, hath sent me” (Isa. 48:16).

The Lord is the Spirit and the Lord has the spirit. Just like we are a soul and have a soul.

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Gen. 2:7). “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance…. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” (Ps. 42:5,11). “And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held.” (Rev. 6:9).

“Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?” (Isa. 53:1).

“All the while my breath is in me, and the Spirit of God is in my nostrils.” (Job 27:3).

“The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.” (Job 33:4)

“If He set His heart upon man, if He gather unto Himself His Spirit and His breath.” (Job 34:14).

“Thus saith God the LORD, He that created the heavens, and stretched them out; He that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; He that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and Spirit to them that walk therein.” (Isa. 42:5).

“And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of the most high God? I adjure Thee by God, that Thou torment me not.” (Mark 5:7).

“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David.” (Luke 1:32).

“And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35). In this one context we see that the power of the Highest is not a third person, but simply something in relation to the Most High God. And the Holy Ghost is spoken in parallel with the power of the Highest. The Holy Ghost is the power of the Most High God.

“Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool: where is the house that ye build unto Me? and where is the place of My rest?” (Isa. 66:1).

“Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.” (Jer. 23:24).

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” (Gen. 1:1,2). “God [Theos] is a Spirit.” (John 4:24). The Spirit of God is God’s Spirit.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.

In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through Him might believe.

He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-10,14).

And also notice the similarities between the Word in John 1:1-10 and Wisdom in Proverbs 8:11-31, both which were at the beginning.

“The LORD possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old.

I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

When He prepared the heavens, I was there: when He set a compass upon the face of the depth:

When He established the clouds above: when He strengthened the fountains of the deep:

When He gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment: when He appointed the foundations of the earth:

Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him;

Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth; and My delights were with the sons of men.”For Wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Counsel is Mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

By Me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

By Me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me.

Riches and honour are with Me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and My revenue than choice silver.

I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

That I may cause those that love Me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

The LORD possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old.