Presents Mistaking The Identity of Christ Mistaking The Identity of Christ Compiled and Illustrated from The study of The Word of GOD And The Spirit of Prophecy, February 2015 Introduction-(2) Part (2) `

In the last illustration in Part (1) of the Introduction to this series of study, on “Mistaking The Identity of Christ”, we saw in the framework, the focus of what Paul was saying when he testified and said, “…that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed [it] unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:19, 20). We saw by focusing our minds on what Paul was saying, GOD has revealed to us that through the testimony of Paul, The Invisible Things of HIM can be clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made. There are two ways in which we might choose to comprehend what Paul is saying by his testimony.

The two views are both dependent upon that which we focus our minds upon. The first view says, if The Invisible Things of GOD are Invisible to us, then how are The Invisible Things of GOD clearly seen to us? GOD has revealed, or HE has manifested the answer through the testimony of Paul, in whom the answer is revealed. “The Invisible Things of HIM…are clearly seen” being understood by beholding, or focusing our understanding “in” the things that are made “from the creation of the world”. The second view in comprehending what is being said by Paul’s testimony, is that, if the things that are made include man, who is made in GOD’S Image, then it is “in” man That, Which may be known of God is manifested, to understand The Invisible Things of GOD, even HIS Eternal Power and Godhead. Now, in Part (1) of the study, we focused our view in the framework on what Paul was saying. And we understood his words to say…

“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” (1 Corinthians 13:9, 10).

We saw in the framework that, what we “know in part”, and what we “prophesy in part” is not perfect, if the understanding is only in part. But, when That, Which is perfect is come, then that, which is known partially shall be done away, because what is made known is clearly understood. Paul said…

“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:11, 12).

A person could be fully-grown, and still be like a child in his or her understanding of The Invisible Things of GOD. That person may speak as a child and say, “I do not see, or fully understand what you are saying.” “It is not clear to me what you are saying.” But, once The Invisible Things of GOD are made clear and are known to the understanding, then that same person will say, “Oh, now I see and understand what you are saying.” What was not made clear to the understanding is now made clear through that which is known. And the partial understanding is done away. For what we shall know, we shall understand, even as we also are known. But many in this world are in darkness to The Invisible Things of GOD, because man has the tendency to follow, or drift in the direction to where their eyes are leading them. As Isaiah said…

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).

And because of this blindness, or this darkness in our world, to not understand The Things of GOD, we have on one side of the understanding of that, which is known, those, who believe by faith. And we have in this world, on the other side of the understanding, those, who are like children in their understanding, who do not comprehend The Invisible Things of GOD, because no one has taken the time to help them to understand That, Which is seen and understood by that, which is made. What is known in part, or prophesied, or spoken in part has not been made clear to their understanding. As a result we have in this world a people ranging from those, who are in total darkness in their understanding, to those, who are walking in what ever light they have partially received. Faith is not founded upon, what we see with our eyes, which has the tendency to lead us astray, and everyone to follow his own way. But faith is founded upon That, Which we see and behold, to comprehend with our minds, based upon The Word of GOD. For The Word of GOD--The Spirit of Christ said through Paul…

“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Notice what is being revealed to us by The Word of GOD through the testimony of Paul. He said… look not at the things which are seen, the things which are seen [are] temporal; at the things which are not seen: the things which are not seen [are] eternal. While we… We are seeing both at the same time, because… Paul is using the word “While” we look not, but look at. To explain how we see, Paul said… But for but Notice that we are not seeing one, and not the other.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Hebrews 11:1-3).

Notice that the framework of understanding The Invisible Things of GOD is called Faith. It is through seeing by faith that we understand, and see The Things of GOD that are not seen. Paul said… the substance the evidence things hoped for things not seen. Now faith is… of For by faith… the elders obtained a good report. Through faith… we understand that the worlds were framed The Word of GOD, things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. of by So that

Paul said, “While we look not at the things, which are seen, but at the things, which are not seen”; this reveals that we are doing two things at the same time, to see the unseen, through the things that are seen. We look through the substance, to see clearly the things that we hope to see and understand. Here are some examples to understand.

It has been revealed in the writings of Paul, that through this gift of faith, the elders have obtained a good report, by seeing and comprehending The Things of GOD through the substance, and the evidence of the things they hoped to see and understand. We have read in Part (1) of this series, a report from Isaiah, who was one in whom That, Which may be known of God, The Word of GOD has revealed to men through him, that many might understand The Invisible Things of GOD through his witness. In Isaiah’s report, to reveal The Things of Him, Whom men could not see, he testified of Him, Who is Invisible and said, “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is The Arm of the LORD revealed?” In Peter’s report on Him, Who was revealed to him, he testified to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia of Christ Jesus…

“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls. 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” (1 Peter 1:8-11).

“Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance” (1 Peter 1:12-14).

Notice that Peter share his report to the strangers, who having not seen Christ Jesus, they love Him; in Whom, though they saw Him not, yet they believed the report of Him by the prophets, who enquired and searched diligently, and prophesied of the grace that should come unto us. The prophets like Isaiah were searching for what manner of time The Spirit of Christ, Who was in them did signify, when He testified beforehand of the sufferings He would endure, and the glory that should follow. They searched to understand The Things, Which even the angels desire to look into. In Peter’s report, The Word of GOD has encouraged us to gird up the loins of our minds, to be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto us at the revelation of Jesus Christ. And be as obedient children, not fashioning ourselves according to the former lusts in our ignorance.

During the preparing of Part (1) of this series of study, it was revealed through the devotionals that The LORD would help us in our understanding of HIS Word. In preparing this presentation by The Study of HIS Word, The LORD through another daily devotional was presented, to help in the presenting of this series of studies. And in connection with what was said by Paul, about seeing The Invisible Things of GOD, to clearly see, by understanding the things that are made, the devotional presented a topic, to help focus our minds in comprehending The Invisible Things of GOD. In her devotional book “This Day With God”, GOD by HIS Word led Ellen G. White to write a letter to a brother back in February 7, 1897, which by HIS leading of providence, brought the things therein, to be relevant and significant to what is being shared in this series of study on The Personality of GOD. Ellen G. White wrote and said…

The Heavenly Mirror "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" (2 Corinthians 3:18). My dear brother, what have you been beholding? By beholding the imperfections of men and women, you are gradually becoming changed into the same likeness. Make a decided change, and look to Jesus, that by beholding His perfection, you may become changed into His image. Then His spirit will take possession of your mind and character. By your piety and godliness, by your words and actions, by your spiritual activity for truth and righteousness, you will represent Christ. "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" (2 Corinthians 3:18). My dear brother, what have you been beholding? By beholding the imperfections of men and women, you are gradually becoming changed into the same likeness. Make a decided change, and look to Jesus, that by beholding His perfection, you may become changed into His image. Then His spirit will take possession of your mind and character. By your piety and godliness, by your words and actions, by your spiritual activity for truth and righteousness, you will represent Christ.

“When a man turns away from human imperfections, and beholds Jesus, a divine transformation takes place in his character. He fixes his eye upon Christ as on a mirror which reflects the glory of God, and by beholding, he becomes "changed into the same image, from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18). "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Rom. 8:9). “Turn your eyes from the imperfections of others, and fix them steadfastly on Christ. With a contrite heart, study His life and character. You need not only to be more enlightened, but quickened, that you may see the banquet that is before you, and eat and drink the flesh and blood of the Son of God, which is His Word. “When a man turns away from human imperfections, and beholds Jesus, a divine transformation takes place in his character. He fixes his eye upon Christ as on a mirror which reflects the glory of God, and by beholding, he becomes "changed into the same image, from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18). "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Rom. 8:9). “Turn your eyes from the imperfections of others, and fix them steadfastly on Christ. With a contrite heart, study His life and character. You need not only to be more enlightened, but quickened, that you may see the banquet that is before you, and eat and drink the flesh and blood of the Son of God, which is His Word.

“By tasting the good Word of life, by feeding on the bread of life, you may see the power of a world to come, and be created anew in Christ Jesus. If you receive His gifts, you will be renewed unto holiness, and His grace will bring forth in you fruit unto the glory of God. “The Holy Spirit reveals Christ to the mind, and faith takes hold of Him. If you accept Christ as your personal Saviour, you will know by experience the value of the great sacrifice made in your behalf upon the cross of Calvary. The Spirit of Christ, working upon the heart conforms it to His image; for Christ is the model upon which the Spirit works. By the ministry of His Word, by His providences, by His inward working, God stamps the likeness of Christ upon the soul. “By tasting the good Word of life, by feeding on the bread of life, you may see the power of a world to come, and be created anew in Christ Jesus. If you receive His gifts, you will be renewed unto holiness, and His grace will bring forth in you fruit unto the glory of God. “The Holy Spirit reveals Christ to the mind, and faith takes hold of Him. If you accept Christ as your personal Saviour, you will know by experience the value of the great sacrifice made in your behalf upon the cross of Calvary. The Spirit of Christ, working upon the heart conforms it to His image; for Christ is the model upon which the Spirit works. By the ministry of His Word, by His providences, by His inward working, God stamps the likeness of Christ upon the soul.

“To possess Christ is your first work, and to reveal Him as one who is able to save to the uttermost all who come to Him, is your next work.--Manuscript 10, Feb. 7, 1897, "Representing Christ." (This Day With God, Page 46) End of Part 2