Considerations of Time and Eternity

Considerations of Time and Eternity

Galatians 3:17

And 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 disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

The God who has revealed Himself in the holy scriptures is the “high and lofty one who inhabiteth eternity” (Isaiah 57:15). Eternity past, all of what we know as time, and eternity to come, is one eternal now, as it is decreed and known of the God with whom we have to do. The will and decree, the counsel and covenant, the mind and purpose, of God are all conformed to the eternity of His nature; and therefore cannot be mutable, for infinity and perfection never find need to change; therefore He saith, “I am the LORD, I change not, therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed” (Malachi 3:6), again in the epistle of James “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). Someone may object to the changelessness of God, by pointing to Genesis 6:6; for, there it is written: “And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” This is speaking anthropopathically (the ascribing human feelings to something that is not human) in this case it is ascribing human feelings to God, so that our weak understanding of his decree may be to some extent enlightened. For we know that “the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.” (I Samuel 15:29; see Numbers 23:19).

One of the names of our Lord Jesus Christ is: “The everlasting Father” (Isaiah 9:6) and therefore He must have had children from everlasting; and by adoption the children of the covenant, that is, all the elect of God, are made the children of God, and of Christ; “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abrahams seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:29; 4:5; see Ephesians 1:5), that is, heirs according to the covenants of promise (Ephesians 2:12). Parents make provision for their children before the children are born: and just so did the Everlasting Father make provisions for His children in the everlasting covenant of grace. Everything concerning the family of God was ordained, and in the covenant completed before the foundation the world. The covenant cannot be annulled by the events time, as though those events were unknown and not determined in the ancient settlements of eternity by the omniscient God. The covenant of God is “ordered in all things and sure” (II Samuel 23:5) the determinations set forth in the covenant were determined by the will God, and know no contingencies. This covenant is confirmed in the person of Him who is the covenant, that is, the covenant is confirmed in Jehovah the Son, Christ Jesus. The covenant stands, and has stood so firm and steadfast in Christ, without any possibility of miscarriage, that the events of the covenant are spoken of as having been accomplished already. As it is written: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified them he also glorified” (Romans 8:28-30). He, who cannot lie; has spoken of those things as if they had already occurred, because these events are settled in the covenant of God. The things that are determined of God and written in the covenant of grace are virtually done; they are done according to the will, purpose, and mind of God; therefore the Apostle Paul wrote: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace are ye saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” (Ephesians 2:4-6). All blessings are ours in Christ, who is Himself “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). Everything concerning the covenant in Christ, and the children of the covenant in Christ is virtually done and finished in Christ Jesus, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Therefore they speak very foolishly who declare that the eternal state of the souls of men are determined by men; for our Lord Jesus said to His disciples “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,” (John 15:16); it may be objected that, at that time our Lord was speaking to His disciples; which is true: but the whole body of Christ is “one bread and one body” (I Corinthians 1:17) therefore the choice of the Apostles, is not unique to the Apostles but is common to all the body. All the members of the body were chosen in the head of the body, Christ Jesus, from everlasting.

All the afore mentioned blessings of grace belong to believers in Christ, as considered in covenant, and in Christ from everlasting; although we were ignorant of them as considered as men in the flesh and under the law of God. We are born in this world not knowing anything of the law of God, and of our breach of that law in Adam. We had to be taught all those things, that we have no knowledge of at birth. And as we must be taught of our covenant relationship in Adam unto death, just so believers must be taught of our covenant relationship in Christ unto life. And that all the things of the covenant of God are considered finished in Christ, before the foundation of the world. The children of the covenant must be taught of their covenant privileges in Christ, (Acts 3:25). As it is written “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” (Isaiah 54:13). And “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me” (John 6:45). It is because of eternal covenant relationship in Christ that any of the sons of men come to Jesus Christ.  If there was no election of grace, in the covenant of grace, there would be no sons of men saved. But because God has loved His own in Christ, as He loved Christ, (John 17:23) He has counted us one in Christ from everlasting. Believers are adopted children of God from everlasting, not because they are believers but because they are named in the covenant of grace, (Hebrews 12:23). “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father (Galatians 4:6).

All the persons in the Godhead had trusted Jesus Christ to fulfill all the engagements of the covenant; and had from everlasting, put all things in His hands; as it is written “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things in his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded” (John 13:3-5). Our Lord Jesus knew that the hour had come that He should fulfill the engagements that were His as the surety of the covenant. And in anticipation of the events that were to ensue He began to wash the disciples’ feet; as an emblem of the service He would perform on the cross. It is finished was His regard of the work which He came to do (John 17:4), and according to His resolution it had been finished from everlasting. The covenant was as good as fulfilled when put in the hand of the surety of the covenant; so much so, that Abraham’s nephew Lot, was declared both justified and righteous by the Apostle Peter, saying, “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overflow, making them and example to them that should after live ungodly; and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)” (II Peter 2: 4-8). There is but one justifying righteousness, it is the righteousness of God, which was established by Jesus Christ at Calvary; and imputed to saints of both the Old Testament and New Testament, “And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation” (Genesis 7:1). Those who are seen righteous in the eye of God, are justified before Him, as was Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and all the Old Testament  saints, as David, Daniel, Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:25, 37). See the writers blog at www.hebrews915.blogspot.com , Hear the true gospel preached at www.13thstbaptist.org  webcasting live at listed service times.     

 A.J. Ison

Daniel and the King's Law Part I

Daniel and the King’s Law Part I

Daniel 6:16

Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said to Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.   

This Old Testament narrative is “written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” (II Corinthians 10:11). The end of the world: as far as the Jewish Theocratic Economy is concerned, came to pass in A.D. 70: when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, and fulfilled the word of our Lord Jesus Christ; who said: “ And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the destruction thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains: and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.” (Luke 21: 20-23). This destruction is alluded to by the Apostle Paul, saying, Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.” (I Thessalonians 2: 15-16).

The Old Testament scriptures are written with the same subject in view as the New Testament; and that is, Jesus Christ. Christ Jesus is the Head of the elect family of God, all the members of that body are chosen in Christ Jesus, and are members in particular of His mystical body, the church (Isaiah 42:1; I Corinthians 12:12, 27). Since all the scriptures are in some way a revelation of Jesus Christ (Psalm 40:7; Hebrews 10: 7; Luke 24:44): if we would rightly divide the word of truth, we must seek Christ, revealed, in all the scriptures. Therefore in this narrative: (a.) The Prophet Daniel represents, the election of grace, or the church and people of God, (b.) King Darius represents God, the Law Giver, and of course the law of King Darius represents the law of God. (c.) The enemies of Daniel represent Satan, the enemy of God and His people. (d.) The lions represent death, the sentence of the law.  Next, must be asked how is Christ Jesus revealed in the narrative concerning the Prophet Daniel, and the king’s broken law? We shall (if the Lord permit) consider this Old Testament type of Jesus Christ under these heads: (1.) The regard King Darius had for the Prophet Daniel. (2.) What is the typical meaning of Daniel and the broken law? (3.) Human wisdom is insufficient to deliver. (4.) God must deliver. (5.) What is the typical meaning of Daniels enemies being destroyed by their own weapons, by which they intended to destroy Daniel? It is necessary to point out that no type of the scripture is perfect in all its facets, but types are used to convey a central idea, thought, or truth: (Mark 4:2, 16) and in other cases the same types, shadows, and parables are used to hide the truth (Matthew 13:10-13; Isaiah 6:9-10; 45:15; 29:10-14).

For clarity the reader should at this point read the sixth chapter of the book of Daniel. We begin; by noticing the regard King Darius had for the Prophet Daniel, this regard is displayed by the fact that King Darius sought to set Daniel over the entire kingdom. “It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was the first: that the princes might give accounts to them, and the king should have no damage. Then Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.” (Daniel 6:1-3). The king’s high regard for Daniel is further illustrated in that the king was greatly displeased with himself for Daniels sake, when Daniel was accused by His enemies. “Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him.” (Daniel 6:14). This high esteem of king Darius for Daniel is typical of the love of God for His church.

The love of God for His church is expressed in word to Jeremiah the prophet; the LORD spoke to Jeremiah, in the room of the whole church of God, in these words: “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” (Jeremiah 31:3). The love of God for His elect people is according to their union with Jesus Christ, for, the Apostle Paul wrote: “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8: 33-39). As the love of God is in Christ Jesus our Lord; and as the church has union with and in Christ from everlasting, so it is that God has loved the church in Christ, as He has loved Christ Jesus: for, it is written: “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:23). In fact the church has union with God in Christ; for it is written: “At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. (John 14:20). The love of God has established His purpose and grace; (II Timothy 1:9) and that purpose is in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:11), to deliver the objects of His love infallibly (Romans 4:16); that His many sons, certainly shall be brought to be arrayed in the glory of Jesus Christ, (Hebrews 2:10; II Thessalonians 2:14: II Peter 1: 3) to the glory of God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Ephesians 1:7; 2:6). The love of God is not such as gives up on its object, but endures to secure the loved ones in Christ to all eternity. The God of Holy Scripture is not such a one as loves unto death, and then if persons are not repentant, turns to hatred and casts into hell fire. This is a frustrated love, not the love of God. For, “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection to the father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” (Hebrews 12:6-14).                    

Secondly: What is the typical meaning of Daniel and the broken law? Daniel represents the children of God in all their generations; and their condition as they are born in this world: that is, violators of God’s law; and spiritually “dead in trespasses and sins;” (Ephesians 2:1). And not only “dead in trespasses and sins” but their carnal mind is enmity against God as well (Romans 8:7); and not only this but also “alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works” (Colossians 1:21). Daniel’s disobedience to the law of King Darius is a contrasting type of the disobedience of the church to the law of God; for, as Adam was a contrasting type of Jesus Christ: in that, as covenant head, Adam brought sin and death to all his family: in contrast, Jesus Christ as Covenant Head of the church brought righteousness and life to all the family of God (Romans 5:14-19). The contrast in the type (Daniel) and in the antitype (the church) is that Daniel offended the law of king Darius, because of His love of the law of God: while the church offended the law of God because of their hatred of the God of the Bible, and His law. Some morally correct, unregenerate, and religious person may object, by saying, I have never hated God. But Christ Jesus said “they (the Pharisees, who represent natural man: writer) hated me without a cause” (John 15:25; see verses 18-25; Psalm 69:4; 109:3).

The king’s justice had a claim against Daniel for Daniel had not obeyed the letter of the king’s law. This is the case of the children of God; the justice of God holds them accountable for infractions, first for their violation in Adam and then for their own personal sins. All the posterity of Adam sinned in Adam (Romans 5:12) and that sin was laid to their account in the judicature of God. The sin of Adam brought spiritual death to him, and his posterity in him: his creature innocence was ruined; and his nature corrupted; and being total alienated from God and the truth of God: he became totally depraved; his moral compass toward God completely ruined, such that man (by his own means) became the irreconcilable enemy of God; and in partnership with Satan in their hatred of God (John 8:39-45). The natural man is born in the prison house of Satan, and happily remains in the servitude of sin and Satan because of the darkness of his own understanding through the blindness of his heart, for it is written: “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of your mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” (Ephesians 4:17-19). From this willing servitude human wisdom has no desire for release, nor has human wisdom the ability to release, so that, if the children of God are to be released from this captivity, God must intervene. This brings us to our third point: that, Human wisdom is insufficient to deliver. Continued in part II. See the writer’s blog at www.hebrews915.blogspot.com hear the truth of the gospel preached www.13thstbaptist,org webcasting live at listed service times.     

 AJ Ison     

Daniel and the King's Law Part II

Daniel and the King’s Law Part II

Daniel 6:16

Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions, now the king spake and said to Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

From the scripture we shall find that human wisdom is not sufficient to deliver the souls of men from the power of inflexible law. King Darius had signed a law “that whosoever shall ask any petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions” (Daniel 6:7). “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being opened in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime” (Daniel 6:10). The decree was established that it could not be changed according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which altereth not (Daniel 6:8) Daniel knew that the law was signed and that his prayer would not go undetected, but, Daniel prayed to his God though it appeared it would cost him his life. And being seen in the act of praying Daniel was accused in the presence of the king, and the penalty of being cast into the den of lions was demanded that the sentence be executed according to the writing of the king. “Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him.” (Daniel 6:14). “Then the king commanded and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions” (Daniel 6:16).

King Darius had made a law that he must abide by; and, as was said earlier King Darius is typical of God, the law giver, and as king Darius must abide by his law, so it is that God must abide by His own law. For our God is a just God, but that is not all, our God is a “just God and a Savior” (Isaiah 45:21). So how can our God be a just God, and at the same time a Savior, of sinners, law breakers, ungodly persons, criminals, persons who deserve eternal death, and that according to the law of our God? The wisdom of king Darius was confounded, he was unable to deliver the object of his favor, this is not so with God. For, before God made the worlds He formed (in His counsel) a people for Himself (Isaiah 43:21) and set them apart in Jesus Christ (Jude verse 1; I Corinthians 1:2) their surety (Hebrews 7:22) to be kept safe forever. They are so united to Christ Jesus that the law and justice of God considers them one “from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2), So that in God’s judicature Christ and all His members have been slain for the sin of those chosen in Him from before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8; Ephesians 1:4).  For Christ’s goings forth as Surety, Great High Priest, and Mediator have been from eternity, when Wisdom was set up in all His offices (Proverbs 8 throughout). God has sanctified His elect in Christ from everlasting, considering them one with Him and one in Him, they are chosen together with Him in the everlasting covenant of grace, Christ Jesus is God’s elect (Isaiah 42:1), Christ’s people are chosen in Him before the foundation of the world (Psalm 65:4). Thus it is written: “And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me (Jeremiah 32:40). “And I will betroth thee unto me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies, I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD,” (Hosea 2:19-20), whom to know is life eternal (John 17:3; I John5:20).

Our Lord Jesus made this statement: “I have glorified thee on earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4). Men of carnal mind may complain, thus, Christ Jesus had not yet been crucified, and therefore it could not be said, in truth, that He had finished the work. To this it may be rebutted: The counsel of God is virtually done (Isaiah 46:10) His determinations to all generations stand fast (Psalm 33:11): “He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations” (Psalm 105:8). “The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed so shall it stand:” (Isaiah 14:24). The determinations of His heart are virtually done, and He considers them done, and since “He is of one mind and no one can turn Him, (Job 23:13) whatsoever He has determined, shall certainly come to pass in time. It is for this truth that Christ Jesus is considered a Lamb slain from the foundation of the world: God in the covenant of grace, had determined that His Holy Son should be crucified because of covenant union with His people who are sinners, His elect, so that the Persons in the Godhead have from eternity rested in the certainty of the event; and certain it is that worms of earth should find a sure place of rest in God’s Christ as well.

When Christ Jesus was crucified, He had all His members in covenant union in Him: so that, in the reckoning of God, Christ and all His members were nailed to the tree; and put to death according to the penal sentence of the law of God: for Paul speaking in the room of the church of God said “I am crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20) then it was that He washed all His church from their sins in His own blood (Revelation 1:5). Christ Jesus put all the sins of all His people away by bearing their sins in His own body on the tree; (I Peter 2:24) and because He had brought in everlasting righteousness for His members by fulfilling the law and the prophets in their room and stead (Matthew 5:17-18): the law of God finding the church of God standing in perfect righteousness in Jesus Christ, by covenant grace union: freely justifies them in Christ. Therefore the justice of God requires that eternal life be granted to those in union in Christ Jesus from everlasting. All the blessedness that is in Christ Jesus, wrought out, for His body the church is laid up in store for His body in the fullness of Christ. The Blessing of covenant union in Christ, is not subject to limitations of time, for it was established in the covenant of grace before the creation of time. Time had no bearing on the things determined and decreed: the will of God was the only determining factor, and the application of the blessedness of the covenant was irrespective of time for it was settled on in eternity, and the covenant was ratified in time in the death of Christ. Abraham is the spiritual father of the whole election of grace and is and was justified by the same blood as believers today (Galatians 3:10).

The children of God are taught that they are justified by the blood of Christ according to the terms of the everlasting covenant of grace and have access to God through the perfect righteousness that is theirs through union in Christ Jesus (Isaiah 54:13; John 6:45) Faith is not the cause of justification but the instrument that is used of God to teach His children that they are justified in His sight, therefore did Habakkuk write “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just (the justified, writer) shall live by his faith (2:4). When someone is taught, there must be a teacher; and so it is with spiritual truth, “And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34). God Himself is the teacher; and He teaches by revelation, for it is written, “He saith (Christ Jesus saith, writer) unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:15-17).  “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me” (John 6:45). And by Ezekiel the Prophet the Son of God said: “For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day,” (34:11-12) “I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment,” (34:15-16) “And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David: (Christ Jesus, writer) he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd (34:23). “Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord God, (34:30-31) (this is the spiritual seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel Galatians 3:7; Romans 2:28-29; 9: 6-8). “Therefore it is of faith, (not as a cause, but as an evidence of justification, and sanctification in Christ Jesus, writer) 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, (the Jew, writer) but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,” (Romans 4:16). See the writers blog at www.hebrews915.blogspot.com hear the gospel, in the truth of it, preached at www.13thstbaptist.org  webcasting live at listed service times.     AJ Ison    

  

     

   

But the legalist may protest saying they are sinners! No: they are in Christ and in Him is no sin, (I John 3:5).