Genesis 1:1

In some ways, Gen.1:1 is the most important verse in the Bible.

> The verse states there is a Creator of the universe. There is meaning to existence.

> The fact it was "created" (Heb: bara) implies nothing preexisted. Only God can create from nothing, therefore we see evidence of God.

> God exists outside of nature and time. He controls space.

> A creation story has only one Creator.

> God is not born.

> This is the only God separate from nature because He created it.

> Who created God? If God were created, He would not be God.

> Christianity, and Judaism, has come to affirm that God is, was and will be. This cannot be said about any other God. Through science and logic, this cannot be.

> Science can only prove what is within nature.

> God remains the only rational explanation of existence. Science is at a loss about life from non-life.

> It only makes sense that the Creator would care about His creation.

> To create beings who care about good and evil stands to reason the Creator of such beings would also care about good and evil.

 

 

> The name of God's chosen people, "Israel", means "Struggle With God".

> The purpose of Genesis I is to teach about God, man and nature.

> There is reality outside of nature.

> God is not a sexual being.

> There is only one God Creator (existing in 3 entities).

> God represents order versus disorder.

> God has a special role for human beings.

> God is moral and has a will for morality.

> There is a higher meaning for life.

> Genesis I tries to teach wisdom rather than science.

Prince

 Regarding Ez. 44:3 & 46:12

The word "prince", a future High Priest serving in the earthly temple forever, who comes by way of the gate and leaves the same way.

> Melchizedek did not make sacrifices. Heb. 7:27 tells us he was a Levitical priest.

> The main purpose of the priest was to conduct sacrifices in the temple, under the law.

> Under the New Covenant, Christ is our physical sacrifice; so we no longer need a physical sacrifice. Christ sacrificed "once for all".

> The reason for a temple in the O.T. was for sacrifices. There will not be a physical temple in the New Jerusalem.

- Rev. 21:22 speaks of a SPIRITUAL temple

- Eph. 2:20 peaks of a spiritual temple

- Jn. 2:19 - 21 speaks of a spiritual temple

- I Cor. 16:19 speaks of a spiritual temple

- Heb. 8:4, 5 - 13 relates superior spiritual temple

> In Heb. 8:1 - 13, Pal teaches the New Covenant with greater promises, a superior High Priest and our spiritual sacrifice governed by the git of a loving heart to be obedient. Our sacrifice is now obedience through love/gratitude/understanding.

 

 

 

* Physical sacrifice was never the point

* It's our obedience that is considered our spiritual sacrifice.

- Micah 6:6 - 8

- I Sam. 15:22

> "Prince" = Civic authorities of the new community of Israel

> Ez. 45:8 & 9 = The coming prince is contrasted with Israel's previous rulers who oppressed their subjects (under law), absent of a shepherd or king which would have been attached to the title "prince".

> In Hebrew the word "sacrifice" is "Ha-Nosi".

> If you break down the Hebrew letters into their pictorial meanings you get a translation of the word "sacrifice": PAY ATTENTION to your LIFE; GOD works a MIGHTY DEED from the BEGINNING. (The meaning is the same in Aramaic)

God's Heavenly Story

> “Evil is always perverted good, as dirt is simply matter out of place. It is the spoilation of some better thing going before it. And so there is reason to think that there is, after all, some great original, divine science connected with the stars, which astrology has prostituted to its own base ends, and which is our duty to search out and turn to its proper evangelical use.”

 

> Any story anyone ascribes to these constellations other than their true gospel meaning is false.

 

> The gospel is laid out in pictures throughout the constellations of: a serpent, a cross, a dragon, a virgin, a seed, the serpent’s destroyer, conflict with the dragon, a lamb, a prince and kings, water, fish, sheep and a shepherd, warriors, and a lion.

 

 

> The North Rose Window of The Saint Denis Cathedral is called, “The Creation.” “God the Creator,” is depicted in the center, surrounded by “The Days of Creation.” The days are surrounded by each of the twelve signs of the Zodiac, which represent “The Order of the Heavens.” Outside of the Zodiac is the “Labor of the Months,” which depict the “Order of Earth.” In each corner outside of this circle are images of the “Fall of Mankind.” Originally constructed c. 1145, repaired 1805. Paris, France. Copyright: TTaylor [CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)]

 

> Twelve articles explain the biblical meaning behind each of the twelve signs of the Zodiac, their star groupings, and their part in telling the gospel story. The constellations are categorized into three groupings.

 

> Person, work and triumph of Jesus Christ:

Virgo: Seed of the Woman, Jesus Incarnate (August 23-September 22)

Libra: Redeemer (September 23-October 22)

Scorpio: Sufferer (October 23-November 21)

Saggitarius: Conquerer (November 22-December 21)

 

> The Fruit of His Work and Mediation, the body of people spiritually born to Him through faith:

Capricorn: Sacrifice (December 22-January 19)

Aquarius: The Pouring Out of the Holy Spirit & Living Water (January 20-February 18)

Pisces: Fishers of Men and the Persecuted Church (February 19-March 20)

Aries: Glorious Lamb (March 21-April 19)

 

> The final consummation of the Redeemer who is reunited with His Redeemed:

Taurus: Judge (April 20-May 20)

Gemini: Whose binary star points to Jesus of Nazareth (May 21-June 20)

Cancer: Journey from Dark to Light (June 21-July 22)

Leo: Victor (July 23-August 22)

 

Hopefully the true meanings of these signs will give hope and comfort to those who have put their faith in Jesus– and reveal Jesus to those who have not yet met him.

 

* * * Taken from writings by Joseph Augustus Seiss - According to a 1904 New York Times abstract, Seiss was long distinguished as a preacher and writer and founder of the The General Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in North America in 1867.

 

Second Book Begins Here

 HERE IT IS

> When I penned my book, "Evidence of God", it was meant to be followed by another. With the tragic onset of COVID, all plans for book signings, speaking engagements and publication was thwarted - even after Zondervan showed interest in publishing.

> "Evidence of God" was of a personal nature but I mean to follow that with an in depth writing of a book titled "From the Beginning" which has nothing to do with my life, finding my personal Jesus or finding my children after 50 years of separation.

> I am now prompted to do something with my writings and notes for this second book. 

> I am going to publish it right here - in parts. Whether I complete the entire volume or not, what I do have will be here for anyone to read who is interested in hermaneutics and/or apologetics in every day English, via Hebrew/Messianic interpretations.

> Hopefully, this will spur me to continue my research and actually complete this in-depth study.

> "In The Beginning" begins here.

> Dedication To Mary: My roll model. You are everything that I aspire to be. I love you, then, now and always

 

Book 2, "From The Beginning" 

The Disobedience of Moses

Do you remember Moses disobeying the Lord out of anger and striking the rock when he was told to speak to it - ? This was discussed in class yesterday and there were many insights:

> "Kadesh" translates from Hebrew into "Sacred" in English. This took place in a sacred place.

> The people were blaming Moses for bringing them into the wilderness. They had forgotten about the Lord and all the miracles He had done to save them from slavery, early death, torture and long hours of work in desert sun.

> They forgot the Lord parting the Red Sea, providing shade during the day, heat at night, the food of angels to eat, clothes that did not wear out and more.

> As always, the Lord was merciful about the complaining of His people and told Moses what to do to give them water. Speak to "THE Rock" in this sacred place.

> Moses could not control his anger toward the people enough to obey the Lord who told him to SPEAK to the rock. His anger is evident in verse 20:10 of Numbers when he calls the people "rebels".

> In Ex. 17, a similar situation occurred. That is when Moses was told to STRIKE the rock and he obeyed.

> Here, he is told to SPEAK through faith in the Lord as opposed to DOING something; just as we are to work through faith in Jesus rather than by our own works/actions.

> Nu. 20:12 notes that Moses did not trust enough to honor the Lord as holy to the Israelites, God's chosen people. The LORD, being Jesus pre-incarnate, was not being honored in the eyes of His People; the rebellious people He will lay down His life for.

** Let's look at this on a deeper level: Jesus is our ROCK (the foundation of the church; the corner STONE), the Holy Spirit is frequently referenced with water.

> In Ex. 17 Moses STRUCK the rock ONE time - just as Jesus has been struck down ONCE and water poured forth, as the Holy Spirit was given on the Day of Pentacost, documented in the book of Acts.

> Here in Numbers 20, Moses is told to SPEAK to this rock as we are to converse in prayer with our Lord Jesus who works through the pouring out of the Holy Spirit (water) upon us to work in and through us on the Lord's behalf.

> When Moses disobeyed and STRUCK the rock the situation is as though Jesus were struck down more than once. NOT SO! He was struck down once as our sacrifice and will not be struck down again! He is returning as the defeating warrior King! Not only was this disobedience, but a great lack of respect for all Jesus will do.

** I put to you that Moses was aware of the pre-incarnate Savior and God's eternal plan of salvation. (This revelation for another time.)

 

 

> Moses actually HIT the rock TWICE, out of uncontrolled anger, symbolizing Jesus struck down three times.

> This was insult on two levels: disobedience to the Lord and a lie about our Savior, Jesus, our Rock.

> This was such a rebellious act that it kept Moses from entering the Promised Land after a lifetime of serving the Lord.

** Will any of us be kept from Paradise because we slander the sacrifice of Jesus by our daily actions - our obedience? Do we know what it is to be obedient? How do we find out what it is to be obedient to God's word?

> We should never underestimate the gratitude of God for the unwavering sacrifice of His Son to save us, His family.

 

Small book, Big story

Philemon: a very small book in the New Testament; a letter from Paul who is under house arrest in Rome.

> This is a lovely letter asking a Christian slave owner to forgive his run away slave.

> This is a perfect letter for us to remember when we are in a position to forgive - or not.

 

 

> In Rome, a runaway slave was in very, very serious trouble; he could loose his life.

> But . . . there is a wonderful underlying message from the book. It tells us of Jesus as our Mediator with God; the one who speaks for forgiveness on our behalf.

> Just as Paul is pleading for Onesimus, so does our Savior now plead for us when we do wrong.

> In the right circumstances and a poor heart, we could loose our salvation.

> Paul had a personal interest in Onesimus because he was instrumental in the slave's conversion to Christianity - just as Jesus has an interest in us after the suffering He did on our behalf.

> Paul was also very close to Philemon through their Christian brotherhood - just as Jesus is part of God.

> Got a minute? Take a look at this sweet letter and see Jesus in the place of Paul, Christians in place of Onesimus and God as Philemon. Read it with the deeper meaning to see the concern of our Mediator and how He offers to pay for what we owe.

> Postscript: The letter does not say if Philemon did forgive his slave BUT . . . the name "Onesimus" means "Useful" and the name "Philemon" means "He Who Shows Kindness". We can also relate these definitions to how God sees us and it reminds us of His kindness.

 

Song of Songs

 Song of Songs/Song of Solomon:

> This is a love letter between Jesus and His bride to be, the Church 

 

 

> 1:1 - 4, Love wants intimacy. Jesus wants a personal relationship with each believer.

> 1:7, This is the Good Shepherd tending His flock.

> 2:2, Jesus sees His church as believers among sinners/sheep among wolves

> 2:3b, His blessings

> 2:11 & 12, See Rev. 22:1-3

> 4:2, He sees His followers as pure, bright and perfect

> 4:3 line 3, He sees your thoughts as pure thru the blood.

> 4:3 line 4, Fruit of blessing; seeds of pure thought; God sees our thoughts as pure.

> 4:4 line 1, The neck refers to your will (the neck turns to right or left, good or evil)

> 4:4 line 2, Our will is submitted to the Lord

> 4:7, How God sees the church through the blood of His Son

> 4:16, Refers to God's people, believers in Christ.

> 5:1, Jesus saying He is among His followers and enjoys being with us.

> 5:2 Lines 4 thru 6, This is Jesus calling in desperation.

> 5:3, The church hesitates to answer His call.

> 5:6, States the chance of missing out on our calling to follow.

> 5:8, This is the right answer. Fall in love with your Savior.

> 5:10, The ruddy complexion references the blood running down His body.

> 5:11, Referencing His head as gold is referencing His mind as pure.

> 6:1, Because of the testimony of the church, others seek after Jesus.

> 6:2, This is Jesus on earth (the church) seeking after those who will follow.

> 6:11, He is on earth to add to the body of His bride, the church.

> 6:13, Last minute followers desperate for Jesus.

> 8:5, The wilderness is the world, "Who" is the church, Beloved is Jesus.

* Far fetched? I think not. Read through this short, beautiful and poetic book with new insight.