Justification and Faith

 

JUSTIFICATION is a court room term where one under trial

is in the process of being declared INNOCENT or GUILTY

in the eyes of the JUDGE and JURY.

GOD IS THE JUDGE AND JURY 

WE CANNOT BE JUSTIFIED BY GOD’S LAW

We are all DECLARED GUILTY

because we have all sinned and broken His Law.

 

 

EVERYONE IS UNDER THE CURSE OF THE LAW

and IN DEBT to fulfill everything in the LAW

WHICH IS LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE

 

 

SO WHERE IS OUR HOPE TO BE FOUND?

 

THROUGH FAITH in HIS SON who

FULFILLED the LAW OR RIGHTEOUSNESS on our behalf

and took the Curse on the CROSS in our place

 

Galatians 3 : The Purpose of the Law (Romans 7:1-6)

15Brothers, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man cancels, or adds thereto. 16Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He said not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to your seed, which is Christ. 17And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot cancel, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

19Why then serves the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.21Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness should have been by the law. 22But the scripture has concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up to the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24Why the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified ^[g1344] by faith.25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 

We are JUSTIFIED (declared RIGHTEOUS) 

 

 

in God’s eye’s and SAVED from WRATH

through Him by FAITH 

in His Blood that was shed for us.

 

Being JUSTIFIED in HIS sight, means you are

TRUE, RIGHTEOUS, BLAMELESS, INNOCENT and UPRIGHT.  

Not because we deserved it, or through adherence to the Law, 

but His Mercy and Grace and through our FAITH

in the one who did fulfill all Righteousness on our behalf,

SO NO MAN CAN BOAST

1 Peter 1  : A Living Hope

7That the trial of your faith^[g4102], being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found to praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

 Galatians 3 : Christ Redeemed Us (Deuteronomy 21:22-23) 

10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11But that no man is Justified ^[g1344]by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12And the law is not of faith: but, The man that does them shall live in them. 13Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree: 14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

FAITH DOES NOT MAKE THE LAW VOID 

 

PLACING our FAITH in the one who FULFILLED THE LAW

ESTABLISHES THE LAW

THE LAW IS NOT OF FAITH

but because we are JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

we shall live in accordance with THE LAW

 

EXAMPLE:

 

If we were charged with murder, 

and we were somehow acquitted

(Grace/Mercy),

this should make me even more gracious

and mindful of never doing it again

(Turning from Sin/Obedience)

GALATIANS 3 :

No man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident the just shall life by FAITH.

The Law is not of FAITH, but the man that does them, shall live in them.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us, so that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the gentiles through Jesus Christ that we might receive the PROMISE of the Spirit through FAITH.

The PROMISES were made to Abraham and his seed.

The Law came 430 years later.

If the Inheritance comes from the Law, it is no more of PROMISE, but God gave it to Abraham by PROMISE.

The LAW was added because of transgression, until the seed should come to whom the PROMISE was made, and it was ordained by angels, in the hand of a mediator. 

Is the Law against the PROMISES of GOD? God Forbid No.

If there had been a law given which could have given life, then righteousness should have been by the Law

The scripture has concluded that everyone is under sin, that the promise by FAITH of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 

The law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be Justified by FAITH.

Galatians 3 : Faith and Belief (Genesis 15:1-7; Romans 4:1-12; Hebrews 11:8-19; James 2:14-26)

1O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2This only would I learn of you, Received you the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3Are you so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh? 4Have you suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5He therefore that ministers to you the Spirit, and works miracles among you, does he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

6Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7Know you therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify ^[g1344]the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel to Abraham, saying, In you shall all nations be blessed. 9So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

Christ Redeemed Us (Deuteronomy 21:22-23)

10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11But that no man is justify ^[g1344]by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12And the law is not of faith: but, The man that does them shall live in them. 13Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree: 14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The Law is pictured as a Jail cell (school master). This was a slave who took a young pupil for instruction and protected him from harm until he came of age. When the Gospel of Christ came on the scene, that role of the Law was no longer needed.

 

The Law was never in conflict with God’s PROMISES to Abraham. The Law played the necessary role of convicting people of Sin during the 1500 years between Mount Sinai and the Gospel of Justification by FAITH in Christ.

 

The Abrahamic Covenant was a one party contract as seen in the way that ratified the covenant as the only active party because Abraham was asleep. Such covenant is unconditional.

 

The divine purpose of the law was to clarify sin until Christ, the seed came. An angel was involved as a mediator which was needed because the law was a 2 party contract with both God and Israel responsible for keeping it.

 

Christ is the one who fulfilled God’s promises to Abraham. However the Jews are his physical seed and those in Christ his Spiritual seed. The covenant of FAITH was made 430 years before Moses received the Law. The Law cannot override the Law of Christ in Fulfilling the Abrahamic Covenant or Abraham’s example of Justifying FAITH.

 

The Gentiles who followed not after righteousness, have attained righteousness, which is of FAITH (The Gentiles being Ephraim, who had assimilated into the nations), but Israel, which followed after the Law of Righteousness, hath not attained to the Law of Righteousness, because they sought it not by FAITH, but as if it were by works of the Law. They stumbled at the stumblingstone.

 

They being ignorant of God’s Righteousness and going abut to establish their own Righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the Righteousness of God.  Christ is the End of the Law of Righteousness for all whom believe.

FAITH is the substance of things HOPED for, the evidence of things not seen.  

 

FAITH = BELIEF x ACTION x CONFIDENCE

• BELIEF is something we are convinced of as being true which is what we make our decisions off of
• When we believe the truth, his word, with enough CONFIDENCE to take action, we are exercising FAITH
• FAITH without action, or evidence of our faith, is dead
• CONFIDENCE comes from spending time and being diligent in his word.
• The word is near to thee, even in they mouth and heart, that is THE WORD OF FAITH which we preach. 
  • If we confess with the mouth, the Lord Jesus,
  • and shall believe in thine heart that God has raised Him from the dead, thou shall be saved,
    • for with the heart man believes unto righteousness
    • and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation,
  • the scripture says whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed.
• WE are to hold fast our confession of FAITH, and the confidence and the rejoicing of the HOPE firm, until the end, without wavering
• FAITH comes from hearing the word of TRUTH
• The End of our Faith is salvation of the soul
• FAITH makes us whole
• Without FAITH it is impossible to please him, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
• Whatever is not of FAITH, is sin
• The SHIELD of FAITH to quench the darts of the wicked
• in Latter Times people will depart from the FAITH , giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
•  if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the FAITH,   and is worse than an infidel.
• For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the FAITH
•  keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science (gnosis) falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith

THE LADDER OF FAITH

• Virtue > Knowledge > Self-Control > Patience > Godliness > Kindness > Love

 

• FAITH is the Doorway through which we enter into His Grace and His Kingdom
• We have FAITH in JESUS, who is the door of the sheep, who became the passover lamb
• FAITH is means by which we receive His Holy Spirit, which is what guides us in TRUTH and in the straight and narrow path that has been set before us, just as an angel prepared a way for them in wilderness after the exodus.
• We walk by FAITH not by Sight
• Jesus is the author an finisher of our faith who provides provision for our journey, which is his word, mixed with faith.
• Through much Tribulation we enter into the Kingdom
• Tribulation > Patience > Experience > Hope

HOPE is a confident expectation and anticipation of something that has been PROMISED, a guaranteed result, that changes the way we live (turning from Sin).

•  
• The HOPE set before us is the anchor of our soul. 
• Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the HOPE that is in you with meekness and fear
• The LAW made nothing perfect but bringing in of a better HOPE it did, by which we draw near to God. 
• We now have a lively HOPE by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fades not away reserved in heaven for us who are kept by the power of God.

 

We all place our HOPE in something and we ask that hope to deliver. We are hardwired for HOPE . We all project our lives into the future to imagine things as we would like them to be. We all surrender our hearts to some kind of expectation.

 

HOPE always has 3 elements:

1. an assessment
   • HOPE looks around and assesses something or someone or somehow is broken.
   • If things were perfect, you wouldn’t need to HOPE .
2. an object
   • HOPE always has an object, or the thing you bank your HOPE on.
   • You ask the object of your HOPE to fix what is broken or to deliver what is desired or needed.
3. an expectation.
   • HOPE has an expectation, or what you ask the object your HOPE to give you, what you HOPE the object of your hope will deliver.

You can search for HOPE horizontally in situations, experiences, possessions, locations, and relationships of everyday life, which all suffer from some level of brokenness. They are part of the problem therefore they are unable to deliver what you are seeking. They were never made to be the source of our HOPE but to point us to where hope can be found. HOPE can only be found vertically.

 

Only when God is your HOPE is your HOPE sure and secure.

• Only he is able to give you the life your heart seeks.
• Only he is able to give your soul the rest it needs.
• Only he can deliver the internal peace that is the hunger of every human being.

Its only when grace has hooked you to him that you are connected to what life is really all about.

 

If you HOPE disappoints you, its because its the wrong HOPE.

• if in this life only, we have HOPE in Christ, we are  of all men most miserable.
• our HOPE is eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, PROMISED before the world began 

A PROMISE is assurance from one party will deliver or furnish something for the other party. 

 

Abraham believed in HOPE that he might become the father of many nations and heir of the world, even though he was 10 years old and Sarah was barren, when he had no reason to HOPE.  Why?  because he was PROMISED this by God, and he did not stagger at the PROMISE God made to him through unbelief.  He was fully persuaded that God was able to perform and deliver what he PROMISED.

 

Romans 4 : Abraham Receives the Promise  (Genesis 15:8-21; Numbers 34:1-15)

13For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15Because the law works wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

16Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17(As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who vivifies the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they were. 18Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall your seed be. 19And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: 20He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.

THE PROMISES WE anticipate to receive/inherit through FAITH and PATIENCE:

• An INHERITANCE un-defiled…Eternal Life, promised before the world began
• Attaining Righteousness
• Resurrection
• Salvation of our soul
• The Crown of Life
• We will enter into His Rest
• We will not be ashamed of our HOPE
• The Holy Spirit (our PROMISSORY NOTE) which seals us until the day of Redemption and offers us comfort and guides us in TRUTH
• It does not appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is and every man that hath this HOPE in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure
• Eyes have not seen nor ears heard that which he as prepared for those who love him.

•  there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain,

• A new heaven and earth
• Matthew 5:5 KJV – Blessed [are] the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
  Matthew 19:29 KJV – And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
  Matthew 25:34 KJV – Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
  Luke 18:18 KJV – And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
  1 Corinthians 6:9 KJV – Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
  1 Corinthians 6:10 KJV – Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
  Galatians 5:21 KJV – Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
  Hebrews 6:12 KJV – That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
  Hebrews 12:17 KJV – For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
  Revelation 21:7 KJV – He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Hebrews 11 : Faith and Assurance

1Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. 2This is why the ancients were commended.

3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 

4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

5By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”a For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. 

8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. 9By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

11By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised. 12And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

13All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

14Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son,b 18even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”c 19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death. 

20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.

21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

22By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones. 

23By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict.

24By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin. 26He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.

27By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.

29By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow,d they were drowned. 

30By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

31By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.

32And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.

35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.

37They were stoned, they were sawed in two,e they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated. 38The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.

39These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. 40God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.

FAITH without works is DEAD,

meaning there has to be EVIDENCE of our FAITH.

 

 

THE EVIDENCE OF OUR FAITH

is our keeping of HIS COMMANDMENTS

and TURNING FROM SIN

 

Romans 2 : God’s Righteous Judgment (Genesis 4:1-7; Jude 1:3-16) 

 13 (For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

RECONCILIATION is used in terms restoring a relationship by removing hostility between the 2 parties.

 

 

We have been reconciled to God through His Son and brought back into right relationship with the father.  We can now again take part in His promises and covenant.

RECONCILIATION is used in terms of making one account consistent with the other, by allowing for transactions begun but not yet completed.  An accounting process in which two sets of records are compared to make sure that the figures are in agreement.  The goal is to make sure there is no difference between accounts and that the ending balance is $0, and that no mistakes have been made by either party, by matching expenses. A bank reconciliation statement is a useful financial internal control tool used to thwart fraud.

 

 

Christ made our account (flesh) consistent with His (spirit) by giving us His Holy Spirit and cancelling our debt ($0 balance) of sin while also allowing for transactions (sins) begun but not yet completed.   Our debt is covered (atoned for) and we are clothed (covered) with HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

 

We will not be restored and reconciled completely until the Day of Redemption when the Debt from the Law is due.  We are in a state of  “ALREADY” but “NOT YET”.   Our Sins are accounted for.  They are Covered

2 Corinthians 13 : Examine Yourselves 

5Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates? 

Jeremiah 17 : a pen of iron 

9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Psalm 44 : Redeem us

15My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face has covered me, 16For the voice of him that reproaches and blasphemes; by reason of the enemy and avenger. 17All this is come on us; yet have we not forgotten you, neither have we dealt falsely in your covenant. 18Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from your way; 19Though you have sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death. 20If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; 21Shall not God search this out? for he knows the secrets of the heart.

IS THERE EVIDENCE OF OUR FAITH?

 

 

IS HIS WORD WRITTEN IN OUR HEART?

 

DO WE OBSERVE AND DO WHAT HE HAS COMMANDED US?

 

DO WE BEAR HE FRUIT OF HIS SPIRIT

which he gives to those who place their FAITH in Him?

 

When faced being CONVICTED of Crime, people are often

 asked to take a LIE DETECTOR TEST, 

 where  they tie a band around your HEART.

 

 

It measures and records several physiological

indices such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity 

while the subject is asked and answers a series of questions.

 

You are first asked basic questions like:

“What your name”?,  “what is your age”?

 

 

TO ESTABLISH A 

 

(“a minimum starting point used for comparisons “) 

 

You are then asked more interrogating questions…

The Needle

 

 

is Established (Fixed) in

 

TRUTH

 

because of HIS  

 

 We are DECLARED RIGHTEOUS and

SAVED FROM THE WRATH OF THE LAW

The MEANS:  FAITH & OBEDIENCE

The CAUSE:  GRACE & MERCY

The EFFECT:  SALVATION OF SOUL

We are NO LONGER UNDER

The CURSE, BONDAGE, and DEBT

of THE LAW of SIN and DEATH

---

 

We are NOW FREE UNDER

THE LAW of RIGHTEOUSNESS

and TRUTH

---

PUT ON THE NEW MAN

1 Peter 1  : A Living Hope

7That the trial of your faith^[g4102], being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found to praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Psalm 66 :

10For you, O God, have proved us: you have tried us, as silver is tried. 11You brought us into the net; you laid affliction on our loins. 12You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but you brought us out into a wealthy place.

MALACHI 3 : THE COMING DAY OF JUDGMENT (John 1:6-13)

1Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in: behold, he shall come, said the LORD of hosts.2But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appears? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:3And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness. 4Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant to the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. 5And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, said the LORD of hosts.

zechariah 13 : The Shepherd Struck, Sheep Scattered

7Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, said the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn my hand on the little ones. 8And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, said the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. 9And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

WORTHLESS METAL : DROSS

---

-vs-

TRIED PURIFIED SILVER

---

DROSS HEART

---

-vs-

PURIFIED  HEART

---

PSALM 17

3You have proved my heart; you have visited me in the night; you have tried me, and shall find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. 4Concerning the works of men, by the word of your lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. 5Hold up my goings in your paths, that my footsteps slip not.

Psalm 11 :

4The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. 5The LORD tries the righteous: but the wicked and him that loves violence his soul hates.6On the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.7For the righteous LORD loves righteousness; his countenance does behold the upright.

God’s standard of Righteousness

JUSTIFICATION

is also builders term for whether

a stone is “TRUE” or not

by using a PLUMMET

 

 

 A PLUMMET is a line or cord

that has a weight such as a plumb bob at the end

and determines VERTICALITY.

 

ie.  is the STONE upright or 90 degrees

LEVEL, SMOOTH, and TRUE?

 

If the STONE “IS NOT TRUE”

then it is considered to be WORTHLESS

 

Isaiah 28 :  A Cornerstone in Zion (1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 1 Peter 2:4-12)

14Why hear the word of the LORD, you scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. 15Because you have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing whip shall pass through, it shall not come to us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: 16Therefore thus said the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believes shall not make haste.17Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 18And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing whip shall pass through, then you shall be trodden down by it. 

I WILL LAY JUDGEMENT TO THE LINE

ad RIGHTEOUSNESS TO THE PLUMMET

 

The plummet represents the cross on which

the SPIRITUAL STONE of ISRAEL was crucified

and established GOD’S STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Matthew 21 : Parable of the Wicked Tenants

42Jesus said to them, Did you never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? 43Therefore say I to you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.44And whoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 45And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke of them. 46But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

Christ became the TRUE CORNERSTONE upon which the new TEMPLE

would be built and upon which all stones

added will be set in reference to this one, Peter being the first.

Matthew 16 :Peter’s Confession of Christ(Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-20; John 6:66-71)

13When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14And they said, Some say that you are John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15He said to them, But whom say you that I am? 16And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but my Father which is in heaven. 18And I say also to you, That you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.20Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Just as Solomon hired Stone Squarer’s to hew justified stones for the temple…

 

1 Kings 5 : Solomon’s Workmen and Laborers

. 17And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house. 18And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew them, and the stone squarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.

He works to carve His image into us and to make us TRUE stones through his Holy Spirit.  We are justified by HIS BLOOD through FAITH and obedience to His Commandments.  Being JUSTIFIED in HIS sight, means you are TRUE, RIGHTEOUS, BLAMELESS, INNOCENT and UPRIGHT.  

Our JUSTIFICATION as “TRUE” stones

IS NOT BASED OFF OUR OWN WORKS

 

 

but by the WORK DONE FOR US on the CROSS

and OBEDIENCE to HIS WORD

 

Christ dwells in our hearts by faith, being rooted and grounded in love, so we may be able  to comprehend what is the breadth, length, depth, and height. Together we work and labor to EDIFY each other, which is “the act of building up” and promoting growth, by serving others and not ourselves. 

 

 

Each stone is bound together (bundled/united) through the Holy Spirit, and we endeavour to keep the unity in the bond of Peace by walking with all lowliness, meekness, long suffering, forbearing one another in love. 

 

We are the LIVELY TRUE STONES, through Faith and OBEDIENCE that make up the rest of the Temple.  Built upon the foundation laid by Christ and held together by the TRUE cornerstone.  We are built up as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 13 :

12Why Jesus also, that he might sanctify ^[g37]the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate  13Let us go forth therefore to him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.  15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. .

Psalm 51 :  Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God (2 Samuel 12:1-12)

1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving kindness: according to the multitude of your tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight: that you might be justified when you speak, and be clear when you judge. 5Behold, I was shaped in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6Behold, you desiretruth^[h571]in the inward parts: and in the hidden part you shall make me to know wisdom. 7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which you have broken may rejoice. 9Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from your presence; and take not your holy spirit from me. 12Restore to me the joy of your salvation; and uphold me with your free spirit. 13Then will I teach transgressors your ways; and sinners shall be converted to you. 14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, you God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness. 15O Lord, open you my lips; and my mouth shall show forth your praise.

16For you desire not sacrifice^[h2077]; else would I give it: you delight not in burnt offering. 17The sacrifices^[h2077]of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 18Do good in your good pleasure to Zion: build you the walls of Jerusalem. 19Then shall you be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks on your altar.

Before constructing and laying the FOUNDATION of a building,

 

 

the area must be PREPARED by SMOOTHING & LEVELING 

 

Strong’s Hebrew Concordance

THRESHINGFLOOR ^[h1637] occurs 36 times in 36 verses (17 books)

• from an unused root meaning: TO SMOOTH (as made EVEN) , a place levelled.

David purchased the THRESHING FLOOR at MOUNT MORIAH in Jerusalem

 

 

where EARS of GRAIN would then be CUT & CRUSHED with the threshing board

 

 

in order to  SMOOTH & LEVEL 

 

 

which would be where SOLOMON’S TEMPLE would be built upon.

 

2 Chronicles 3 : Temple Construction Begins (1 Kings 6:1-4)

1Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah ^[h4179], where the Lord appeared to David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 2And he began to build in the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.

God does does not dwell in temple made with hands

and thus served as a SHADOW of Heavenly things

Mark 13 :  

1And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! 2And Jesus answering said to him, See you these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone on another, that shall not be thrown down.

Hebrews 8: A more excellent ministry

2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true ^[g228]tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.  3For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: why it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. 4For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:5Who serve to the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, said he, that you make all things according to the pattern showed to you in the mount. 6But now has he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

The New Covenant

7For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 8For finding fault with them, he said, Behold, the days come, said the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 9Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, said the Lord. 10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, said the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 13In that he said, A new covenant, he has made the first old. Now that which decays and waxes old is ready to vanish away. 

Jesus, the TRUE son of David,

would laid THE NEW FOUNDATION and CORNERSTONE in our hearts,

where he rebuilt the temple not made with hands in 3 days

by writing HIS LAWS into our HEARTS and MINDS

through his giving of the HOLY SPIRIT

 

This is why John the Baptist, whose LOINS were GIRDED with TRUTH,

and who Malachi & Isaiah prophesied would “PREPARE THE WAY”,

was sent before Jesus to “PREPARE PEOPLE’S HEARTS”

and to make their PATHS “STRAIGHT, LEVEL, or SMOOTH”

 by preaching REPENTANCE and baptism.  

LUKE 3 : THE MISSION OF JOHN THE BAPTIST (Isaiah 40:1-5; Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; John 1:19-28) 

 4As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying,   The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare you the way of the Lord, make his paths straight^[g2117].  5Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

 

 EVERY MOUNTAIN & HILL SHALL BE BROUGHT LOW

EVERY VALLEY SHALL BE FILLED

ROUGH WAYS

 

 

 

SHALL BE MADE SMOOTH

 

 

Strong’s Greek Concordance

Straight ^[g2117] 

• (literally) LEVEL or SMOOTH 

• (figuratively) TRUE;

Matthew 3 : The Mission of John the Baptist(Isaiah 40:1-5; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-20; John 1:19-28)

1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2And saying, Repent you: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare you the way of the Lord, make his paths straight^[g2117]. 4And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leather girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 5Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. 7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say to you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.10And now also the ax is laid to the root of the trees: therefore every tree which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  11I indeed baptize you with water to repentance. but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. 12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his grain into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

JESUS then WINNOWED

the loosened GRAIN and HUSKS with His Hand

 

 

TO

THE LIGHT CHAFF 

---

 

-vs-

 

THE  HEAVIER LOOSENED GRAIN : 

---

 

Luke 14 : The Cost of Following Jesus (Matthew 8:18-22; Luke 9:57-62; John 6:60-65)

25And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said to them, 26If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27And whoever does not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counts the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?29Lest haply, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,   

When you make a

DECISION

to follow Christ,

 

and take up your cross you are 

CUTTING OFF from SIN

---

from lusts of the flesh,

and ways of the world

 

-and-

 

 

 

 

JOINING to HIM

---

by crucifying our

passions and lusts.

 

When we begin to understand our

Justification as TRUE STONES

 

 

we can rest and rejoice in the ongoing

discipline, chastening, & refinement of our

 

Strong’s Greek Concordance

Just, Righteous ^[h6663] צָדַק tsâdaq, tsaw-dak occurs 41 times in 40 verses

• a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense):—cleanse, clear self, (be, do) just(-ice, -ify, -ify self), (be turn to) righteous(-ness).

• to be just, be righteous
• to be right, straight

Strong’s Greek Concordance

Just, Lawful, Righteous ^[h6662] צַדִּיק tsaddîyq, tsad-deek’; occurs 206 times in 197 verses

• from H6663; just:—just, lawful, righteous (man).

• used of a judge or king, who maintains the right and dispenses justice, both in punishing and rewarding

Strong’s Greek Concordance

Just, Righteous ^[g1342] δίκαιος díkaios occurs 81 times in 76 verses

• righteous, observing divine laws

  • in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God

    • of those who seem to themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves to be righteous, who pride themselves in their virtues, whether real or imagined

    • innocent, faultless, guiltless

    • used of him whose way of thinking, feeling, and acting is wholly conformed to the will of God, and who therefore needs no rectification in the heart or life

      • only Christ truly

    • approved of or acceptable of God

  • in a narrower sense, rendering to each his due and that in a judicial sense, passing just judgment on others, whether expressed in words or shown by the manner of dealing with them

   

• from G1349; equitable (in character or act); by implication, innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively):—just, meet, right(-eous).

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