Matthew 4:4 (KJV): “But he (Jesus) answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” with: Luke 4:4 (KJV): “And Jesus answered him (satan), saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”
Old Testament reference: Deuteronomy 8:3 (KJV): “And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.” Read more in attachment:
Just for myself, i intend not to make accusations of a nother, this is directed too myself as affirmed in the “Scripture disclaimer” in the third attachment. When blue is used in a scripture passage it is my understanding and hopefully an edification to you.
At sermon presentations, Sunday School functions, small group settings and in home Bible studies i have observed and have been of the consensus that what i have to say be of importance. i am beginning to see that, that understanding is wrong, so very wrong. i am reminded of Jesus’s response to satan’s attempts to get Him, Jesus, to succumb to his suggestions, to oppose God; opposing what had been said of God in His word (Matt 4:1-11). This thought came to mind in meditating on His word recently. If i can’t support what i am about to say with scripture, do i really want to commit to saying it, in any particular group setting? Is not this mind set, apart of what Paul was saying when writing: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20. When i read that i see that i’m dead (am to consider myself dead) being crucified with Christ. But yet still living though, but not myself: so if not me it has to Christ’s life, in me, living. Then for me it stands to reason that all that i am, is to be Christ centered. My (physically) wants, desires, my needs, likes and dislikes should be, must be Christ centered, having Christ seen as paramount in my life, to such a point that i appear dead, o a dead world. Then and only then will or can i start to more understand: “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you (me), the hope of glory:” Colossians 1:27. Concerning being dead i will refer you to these scriptures: “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:2. “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:11 “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 ye are saved;) (to those who have believed) “Ephesians 2:4-5 “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;” Colossians 2:13 “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 What was the prime reason for His taking on flesh (Col 1:15-22), and coming to earth? “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners;” 1 Timothy 1:15a & b. Jesus Himself stated: “And when he (the Holy Spirit) is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.” John 16:8-12. It read concerning sin; “because they believed not on me (Jesus)”. What is it that mankind must believe to be saved now? “If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:” Ephesians 3:2. One must believe that God is: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6. That blood is required to be forgiven; “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” Hebrews 9:22. That all mankind being in Adam have sinned “For as in Adam all die (result of sin Gen 2:17),” 1 Corinthians 15:22a. That sin was accounted to Adam and all mankind being in Adam then sinned “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:17: die spirituialy, spiritual death was immediate and physical death follows.
Side bar; The clothing that Adam and Eve had in the garden was the clothing of God’s righteousness, when they sinned that spiritual clothing was removed because of their sin, disobedience, unbelief in what God had commanded, then seeing themselves as being naked. But God left promises for mankind: “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10. By that i see that Isaiah understood what the clothing of Adam and Eve was. “For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.” 2 Corinthians 5:4. Paul’s understanding of this spiritual clothing that will be received when we leave this fleshly body and receive our new spiritual body. Paul again writing: “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:” Romans 3:21-22. “And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?” Genesis 3:9-11. Here i believe is evidence of that “knowledge of good and evil” being revealed in man. God asked “Who told thee that thou wast naked?” They knew they where naked because that cloak of righteousness, the innocence of the knowledge of good and evil was immediately removed when they disobeyed what God had commanded, but did receive that knowledge, that knowledge that we now call conscience. God could not re-cloth them in righteousness until Jesus Christ should come to be sacrificed, then being able to reclothe humanity with righteous to those who have believed: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
Continuing then for salvation, one must agree with God that one is a sinner:
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23 with “For the wages of sin is death;” Romans 6:23a. Understanding that then one can receive the gospel as presented by Paul unto that salvation which is: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. Once one truly believes and has not “believed in vain” that Christ did die for their sin, that He was buried and did rise again the third day then God completes His promise:
“but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23b. “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:5-10. Immediately, at believing, not after believing but at belief God gives that spiritually dead man life, His life, eternal everlasting life: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10. “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized (not water but by the Holy Spirit) into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-13. Then by being placed into that body ( the church; Eph 5:32) then “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,” Ephesians 1:13-15. What God has promised and is doing in us: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” Ephesians 1:3. From God’s perspective, he see’s us already there, in heaven, in eternity withHim; remember God is outside of time, but that we are captive of time until we leave this earthly tabernacle. “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” Ephesians 1:5-7. “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,” Ephesians 3:9-10. “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;” Colossians 1:5. “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:” Colossians 1:12-13. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4. “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:” Philippians 3:20. If those passages don’t make one want to be joyful in the LORD Jesus Christ one may have then actually “believed in vain”; i pray that, that is not the case.
Thank You for loving me and giving me Your life. i rest totally in Your completed work in that fulfilling of the law, Your death for my sin, taking my punishment, shedding of Your blood for me, in my place, was buried showing that death was complete and rising again the third, defeating death, having victory over the grave and taking away the sting of that death, no longer to have control or to have power over the ones who have believed and now rest in completely You. Your “Amazing Grace” Your unending love is truly more than i will ever be able to comprehend. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You; In Jesus’s name, in Your name i pray, Amen . . . . . . . .
Post script: recently came across a interesting video of the how and why we’re where were at. It runs about 40 some minutes. Enjoy and prove by scripture if able.
www.cosmicconflict.com
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